Sessions & Jones
Motorola's futuristic telecommunications network of 77 satellites, as originally planned, was named IRIDIUM after the chemical element with an atomic number of 77. Since then, the original design the number of satellites has been reduced to 66, and the system's transponders have been reduced from 48 to 37. These reductions were to diminish the coverage of the polar regions with their minuscule populations, thereby reducing costs. Whether Motorola will change the name of the system to Dysprosium, the chemical element with an atomic number of 66 is doubtful given the amount of publicity already accorded to IRIDIUM. On the other hand, the word Dysprosium, a rare earth metallic element, is derived from the Greek dyspros(itos) which means "hard to get at." Literally, a satellite system like Motorola's might justifiably bear such a name.
The satellites will orbit the earth at a relatively low altitude of 413 miles to assure communications with hand-held radio telephones on the earth. This digital, cellular system will allow anyone on earth to reach anyone else on earth within reach of a telephone, regardless of location. Constructed from off-the-shelf technology it is supposed to be working in 1993-94. The government sector is expected to use 18 percent of its capacity; business and private sectors 42 percent and 40 percent, respectively. The satellite-based network will provide both terrestrial communications and coverage within an altitude of 100 miles. IRIDIUM is expected to serve millions of users, ten times the number now served by geosynchronous systems.(Note 1)
Motorola has gone one step further in announcing a new pocket-sized device, named InfoTACH, that allows users of laptop and notebook computers to send and receive data over ARDIS, a national network operated by Motorola and IBM.(Note 2) Does this complement IRIDIUM?
A more recent development is Globalstar, a subsidiary of L'Oral. Globalstar will provide telecommunication services worldwide. The 48 low-orbiting satellites and local service telephones are scheduled for a 1997 debut.(Note 3)
Given CIM's objective to use more off-the-shelf technology, to say nothing of C4I for the Warrior's intentions, should Congress, through military appropriations be supporting IRIDIUM? Given the reduction in the number of satellites and transponders, would the military be justified in subsidizing the costs of IRIDIUM to gain uniform worldwide coverage? In the event, how would you allocate the developmental and operating costs, to say nothing of sharing profits? Or, should IRIDIUM remain totally in the private sector? What are the real differences between the public and private sectors as far as interoperability is concerned? Is it probable that IRIDIUM's projected governmental sector share of 18 percent is too low? On what basis would you predict market share by sector of use? Within what range of error?
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