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VSNL-ICO joint venture to offer satphone services

ICO Global Communications General Manager Dr B P Pradhan has said that VSNL would be selling ICO services in different markets. He was addressing a seminar on 'global mobile satellite phones for the transport

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industry' in Bombay recently.

A joint venture between the companies would handle billings and other services besides marketing, he explained.

ICO Global Communications has already discussed the application of its services with the railways, maritime authorities, truck operators and others, he said.

Throughout the world, medium to large truck owners face difficulty in tracing vehicles due to lack of in-cab communications equipment. ICO Global Communications wants to fill this need. With satellite phones, transport companies can locate their vehicles and keep in touch with them; no matter where they are, he said.

Pradhan pointed out that railway companies could also use satellite phones and train passengers could make personal phone calls.

ICO offers a range of terminals and end-to-end services. ICO's transportation services allow calls and data to be transmitted and received via satellite and they are routed through ICO's network, he explained.

With the ICO maritime services, ICO expands the benefits of mobile satellite communications to the whole marine community with high performance and reliability, more products and services, smaller user terminals and much lower equipment and usage charges, he said.

Starting in 2000, the company will deliver digital voice data, fax and messaging all over the world through handheld ICO phones similar in appearance, size and weight to today's phones.

The company also aims to serve rural and remote communities, aircraft, ships, land transport, public services, governments and the military, he added.

D K Nimal, chief general manager, corporate affairs, VSNL, said with ICO services, the country could have its communication service at international standard and compete globally.

UNI

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