The estimated contract value for the space and ground segments, including launch services and system operations, is more than $1.4 billion. Up to 300 Boeing employees will work on the project, which will primarily be based in Southern California.

Boeing will be an equity partner and systems integrator contractor with MCHI for Ellipso, which is to bring affordable fixed, mobile and airborne voice and data telecommunications to new markets worldwide. Ellipso will focus on telephone service, but also will provide digital data transfer, fax, paging, voice mail, messaging and geopositioning services.

The MCHI Ellipso constellation has a unique, patented elliptical orbit configuration using two complementary sub-constellations totaling 17 satellites, one of which will be an on-orbit spare. Use of elliptical orbits requires fewer satellites and launch services, significantly reducing costs. These distinctive orbits allow Ellipso to maximize mobile personal communications coverage of highly populated areas during peak daylight hours.

"Boeing leadership in the satellite industry offers tremendous technological and project management expertise and will strongly advance fulfillment of the Ellipso project," said David Castiel, president and chief executive officer of MCHI. "This arrangement with Boeing further validates the system's viability and signals the industry enthusiasm generated by the unique Ellipso orbital configuration bringing low-cost telephone and data service to the world."

As a systems integrator contractor, Boeing will use its capability as a large systems producer and integrator to achieve a low-cost satellite-based communication system.

Boeing, as space segment prime contractor, will take advantage of its experience with the production of the highly successful Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. The Ellipso space segment, including satellites and launch services, will be managed by the Boeing Satellite and Ground Control Systems organization located in Seal Beach, Calif.

Besides providing the tracking telemetry and command system, Boeing also will perform at least two launches.

"Our involvement with the Ellipso project demonstrates the combined strengths of the new Boeing," said Jim Evatt, president of Boeing Information & Communications Systems. "We will be an active participant in a wide variety of satellite communications markets, including the marketplace in which Ellipso will reside. It is extremely important to our future."

The Ellipso system, designed by Mobile Communications Holdings Inc. (MCHI), is a global, mobile satellite-based communications system utilizing unique elliptical orbits to provide low-cost, high-quality mobile and fixed telephone and data services.

Patented Elliptical Orbits

Ellipso, a licensed Big LEO (low earth orbit) satellite system, uses a unique elliptical configuration that tailors satellite coverage to match population distribution. Ellipso also offers greater capacity during daylight hours with sun-synchronous orbits that can be adjusted to the time of day.

Orbital Configuration Dramatically Reduces Capital Requirements

The elliptical architecture of Ellipso's system dramatically reduces the level of capital required for the system and therefore reduces consumer per-minute cost. Due to its unique configuration, the Ellipso system:

-- Minimizes the number of satellites needed to serve markets by focusing specifically on areas of greatest market demand. -- Achieves global coverage with just 14 satellites and can be revenue generating with only six satellites in orbit. -- Requires only 17 satellites (including spares) to complete its entire constellation, reducing total system costs by two to four times that of competitors. -- Integrates the spare satellites into the operational orbits, allowing their capacity to be fully utilized by the system.

Unique Orbits Drive Strategy for Market Entry

Due to its efficient design and thus low per-minute cost, the Ellipso system is strategically positioned to meet the needs of developing countries, small businesses, and "middle market" users worldwide. The system is particularly well suited for rural communities seeking to expand or initiate telecommunications without the installation of a cost-prohibitive traditional infrastructure.

Ellipso sees its greatest market opportunity in developing countries that are poorly served by existing telecom networks or presently lack an established telecommunications infrastructure altogether. With the help of satellite-based communications, the total market for worldwide subscriber terminals is estimated to reach 42 million by 2006 (12.8 million fixed and 29.2 million mobile).

Partners Facilitate Market Entry

Ellipso is committed to building relationships with regional operators to facilitate effective distribution and marketing of services worldwide. Currently, Ellipso has partnerships with:

Vula Communications of South Africa: Sub-Saharan Africa & Spectrum Network Systems Ltd.: Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea.

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