If an MSS/ATC wireless partnership is as promising as mobile sate...

huge amount of interest in it still, but people are considering all the alternatives.” ICO and MSS rivals TerreStar, Mobile Satellite Ventures, Inmarsat and Globalstar refer often to ATC discussions under way with potential partners aiming to tap their nationwide satellite spectrum holdings from the ground. But aside from references to AWS auction prices -- which MSS firms are using as a barometer for spectrum valuations -- details are scant and guidance is vague, frustrating analysts. ICO’s talk at the UBS conference was no different. “MSS and ATC are ubiquity and capacity,” said Pres. Craig Jorgens. ICO has paid for 90% of its satellite and 60% of its launch vehicle, officials said. “This is not a plan on a piece of paper. This is real work being done,” Brian said of the company’s next-generation S- band system. ICO could use its 20 MHz of nationwide S-band spectrum for a mobile voice, video or wireless broadband play, he said. “We spend a lot of time on cellular,” he said, noting that ICO’s largest backer is wireless pioneer Craig McCaw. He, Bill Gates and others put $1.2 billion into ICO to bring it out of bankruptcy several years ago. The company has since raised $650 million more in convertible debt. “The same economic decisions would apply to deploying in the S-band as in the AWS band, and given the spectrum clearing advantage of the S-band, it will probably be quicker to deploy there than in AWS,” Jorgens said. ICO’s gateway development is complete, its chipset and RF R&D are under way, and a satellite operation deal has been made, he said. Other ICO news: (1) Expect to see additional independent directors hired in coming months. (2) ICO’s $2 billion lawsuit against Boeing is set to go to trial in Sept. 2007. (3) ICO is still battling for access to S-band frequencies in Europe, where it wants regulators to consider it a legacy operator.