ALCATEL AND FRANCE TELECOM SECURE GLOBALSTAR OPERATING LICENCE IN FRANCE.

Through their Tesam joint venture, France Telecom and Alcatel, have secured an operating licence for the exploitation of the Globalstar satellite mobile telecommunications network in France. France's Ministry for Economic Affairs, Finance and Industry has authorised Tesam to establish and exploit an open telecommunications network and supply a public telephony service. Created by France Telecom (51%) and Alcatel (49%), Tesam is already licensed in 31 countries to offer the Globalstar service, a digital mobile telecommunications system built about a constellation of 48 satellites in low orbit. Tesam will initially focus...