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Iridium's Application to Provide Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Services Receives Support From International Maritime Organization Sub-Committee

DGAP-News: Iridium Communications Inc. /
Iridium's Application to Provide Global Maritime Distress and Safety
System Services Receives Support From International Maritime
Organization Sub-Committee

07.07.2014 / 13:00

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Iridium Moves One Step Closer to Recognition as a GMDSS Mobile Satellite
Service Provider

MCLEAN, Va., 2014-07-07 13:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) today announced that its application
to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the provision of mobile
satellite communications in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
(GMDSS) was reviewed by the IMO Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and
Search and Rescue (NCSR). The application will now proceed to the Maritime
Safety Committee (MSC) at its next meeting in November, before advancing to a
group of experts for comprehensive technical and operational evaluation.

Overwhelmingly, the delegates stated support for the United States position to
advance Iridium's application to the next stage for evaluation. Final approval
will be up to the Maritime Safety Committee, following review of the experts'
report by NCSR, which is expected by mid-2016.

'This is a victory for Iridium and the maritime industry,' said Matt Desch,
CEO, Iridium. 'The overwhelming support for our application to provide the
industry an alternative and equally capable option for GMDSS services is a
testament to the value and benefit the Iridium(r) network can provide to maritime
safety.' This is particularly important for coverage of Polar regions, where
the incumbent GMDSS provider is not able to provide service.

Iridium's constellation of 66 low-Earth orbit, inter-connected satellites
operates as a fully-meshed network and provides robust and reliable coverage
everywhere on Earth - including Polar regions - where demand for reliable voice
and data communications is on the rise as shipping and trade routes continue to
expand into these remote waters.

Iridium will begin deploying its second generation constellation (Iridium
NEXT), in 2015, offering greater capacity, bandwidth and data speeds, as well
as backwards compatibility for existing products and services in the market.

In anticipation of IMO recognition, Iridium is working with established
maritime communications equipment manufacturers for the production and
certification of GMDSS terminals that use the Iridium network, along with
Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers and service providers for the provision of