Wireless: AT&T and American Mobile Extend Satellite Services Contract; AT&T to Utilize Wireless Communications Network Support Through 2004 - American Mobile Satellite Corp - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, May 31, 1999

American Mobile Satellite Corporation Monday announced it had signed a five year contract extension to provide AT&T with its SKYCELL satellite dispatch and telephone wireless communications services. According to the Reston-based provider of integrated terrestrial and satellite networks, financial terms and value of the extension were not disclosed.

The two companies began their relationship in 1995 when American Mobile first supplied AT&T with satellite dispatch and wireless telephone services in support of AT&T's remote field service technicians communicating to Network Control Centers (NCC). The American Mobile SKYCELL service allows secure radio transmissions and cross-country voice communication necessary for AT&T personnel while performing regular maintenance and emergency repair on AT&T's nationwide fiber optic and long distance telephone lines. The service offers AT&T reliable and private dispatch capabilities as an alternative in situations where cellular services are generally unavailable and wireless voice and data are required.

The SKYCELL service assists AT&T in addressing emergency situations such as cable intrusions and interruptions, a common threat to long distance networks. Using the satellite service, field technicians are better equipped to communicate possible threats to AT&T cables and alert NCC personnel. Additionally, they can react more quickly to protect, repair and restore AT&T's voice and data communications services.

The new agreement contains additional service enhancements that include plans to deploy fixed site satellite units to critical offices across the country to meet Y2K communications contingency objectives.

"We have renewed our association with American Mobile because its SKYCELL service has become vital in assisting AT&T maintain network integrity in its nationwide telecommunications infrastructure," said Gordon Persons, AT&T logistics support manager. "Reliable and seamless communications for our thousands of field service technicians ensure optimum service for our customers in North America, and SKYCELL consistently delivers the coverage we require."

"American Mobile is pleased to continue providing AT&T with real-time, always-on satellite communications coverage" said Walter V. Purnell, Jr., American Mobile president and CEO. "We fully understand the importance attached to reliable communications in extremely remote areas, such as found in the southwestern and western United States. Our network capabilities provide AT&T with a communications solution for their field technical staff."

For businesses that have remote or mobile operations, ranging from mining and transportation to emergency management, the ability to communicate is crucial to ensuring safety, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. American Mobile's SKYCELL services deliver a nationwide two-way radio network for dispatch communications, circuit-switched data transmission, telephone connectivity and Group 3 fax across North America, Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and hundreds of miles of coastal waters.

AT&T (www.att.com) is the world's premier provider of voice and data communications, with more than 80 million customers, including businesses, government and consumers. AT&T runs the world's largest, most powerful long-distance network and the largest wireless network in North America. The company is a leading supplier of data and Internet services for businesses and the nation's largest direct Internet service provider to consumers. AT&T also provides local telephone service to a growing number of businesses.

American Mobile (www.AmMobile.com) owns and operates an integrated terrestrial/satellite network and provides a wide range of mobile communication services, including digital voice dispatch, data communications, dual-mode mobile messaging, position reporting services, and satellite telephone to the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and hundreds of miles of U.S. coastal waters. American Mobile services are used in the transportation, field service, maritime, two-way messaging and telemetry markets.