BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 2001-- Inmarsat Fleet Family of Services Offers Faster and More Cost-Effective Satellite Communications Beginning in 2002 - COMSAT Mobile Selected to Participate in Fleet Service Sea Trials -

COMSAT Mobile Communications (CMC), a business unit of Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, today announced that it will be a premier provider of the Inmarsat Fleet family of new global high-speed and cost-effective data communications services.

CMC plans to be among the first to provide Fleet service to the maritime community, currently anticipated to be commercially available beginning in the first half of 2002.

CMC's offering of Inmarsat's new Fleet services will provide Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) including high quality voice and 64 Kbps data, supporting a number of communications functions such as: broadcast quality audio and voice; high volume data transfer; e-commerce; remote performance monitoring; and video teleconferencing.

The Fleet services will also offer the flexibility of mobile packet data service providing maritime users resource-efficient satellite access for global Internet applications such as Web access, file transfer, and e-mail. Packet data technology enables satellite resources to be shared, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

Customers who use Fleet's cost-efficient mobile packet data service are charged only for the data packets they transmit and receive, instead of paying for the entire time they are connected to the satellite.

"Maritime customers using COMSAT Mobile's new global high-speed service via Inmarsat will be able to select the speed of ISDN, or the flexibility and cost-efficiency of mobile packet data," said Kathryn Y. Holman, vice president and general manager of COMSAT Mobile Communications. "Because of advancements in mobile satellite communications technology, our new high-speed maritime service will make satellite communications more affordable and practical for a much wider variety of vessels, from ocean-going commercial ships to coastal ships and yachts."

Initially, Inmarsat will offer two Fleet services, brand named F77 and F55. Both services will be available commercially through CMC.

F77 service is targeted primarily for ocean-going vessels such as tankers, container ships, and large fishing vessels, using equipment slightly smaller than current Inmarsat-B antenna. The service is Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) compliant when used with an Inmarsat-C terminal and is anticipated to be available commercially in the first half of 2002.

Later in 2002, Inmarsat will commercially offer F55 service, the first high-speed data solution available for costal and regional vessels and large yachts. F55 will offer customers the same dynamic high-speed data communications capabilities in smaller equipment suitable for smaller vessels. F55 will operate in spot beams and is not GMDSS compliant.

CMC has been selected as one of three satellite service providers to participate in the sea trials of the F77 service. Testing is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2002 and will last for about two months.

"CMC's selection to participate in the sea trials of Inmarsat's Fleet offering is a result of our position as a premier provider of high quality services, as well as our technical leadership within the Inmarsat community," Holman said. "During the sea trials, the Fleet service and equipment will be put through a rigorous series of tests to ensure that the Fleet services meet CMC's standard for high quality, efficient, and reliable maritime communications."

COMSAT Mobile Communications (CMC) provides worldwide services using Inmarsat satellites in geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the equator, in combination with COMSAT's global network of land earth stations and 24-hour customer support. CMC offers maritime, aeronautical, and land mobile satellite services to customers around the world and throughout the United States via the Inmarsat network.

For additional information on CMC's portfolio of services call 800/685-7898 or 301/214-3100 or send an e-mail to cmcsales@lmgt.com.

Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications (LMGT), a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT), delivers secure, reliable, advanced-technology solutions to help enterprise customers leverage their telecommunications and information technology assets.

LMGT has annual revenues in excess of $1 billion and employs 3,500 personnel worldwide with major points of presence in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Additional company information and news releases are available on LMGT's Internet homepage at www.lmgt.com.