RESTON, Va. -- Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) and its joint venture partner, MSV Canada, today announced that it had reached an agreement with Boeing to accelerate the deployment of its two North American satellites, which will form the backbone of its satellite-cellular wireless communications network.

The agreement will move up, by approximately eight months, the construction, launch and operations of each of the two North American satellites, with the launch of the United States satellite scheduled for mid-2009 and the Canadian satellite in early 2010. These two new satellites will replace and expand upon the current MSAT satellite system operated by MSV and MSV Canada and offer consumers the most highly advanced wireless communications services available. The development of the third satellite for South America, MSV-SA, has been deferred to the third delivery position for the MSV system.

"Our decision to amend the agreement reflects a need in the marketplace to focus on North America as a priority in launching an advanced ubiquitous network solution and reflects a better return on our investment for our shareholders," said Alexander Good, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Mobile Satellite Ventures. "We look forward to providing wireless service with devices that are virtually identical to cell phone handsets in terms of aesthetics, cost and functionality. The applications for a commercial service, including deployment of an anywhere, anytime broadband network, are enormous. The benefits to homeland security are also compelling, as satellites can act as the primary form of communication for emergency responders during natural disasters when usual means of communication can fail."

"This agreement will now bring the most advanced, integrated network to benefit Canada and the U.S. alike in 2009," said Larry Boisvert, Chairman and President of MSV Canada. "Our venture with MSV provides for complementary and redundant operations blanketing North America, and once the first satellite is up will provide far-reaching benefits to all of North America."