ICO Selects DiBcom for DVB-SH Trial in US

Wednesday, September 5th, 2007

Mobile TV Leader to Deliver New Chipset for Mobile Interactive Media (MIM) Trial

RESTON, Va. — ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited (NASDAQ: ICOG) today announced DiBcom has joined its Mobile Interactive Media (MIM) alpha trial team to provide DVB-SH chipsets. DiBcom joins Hughes Network Systems, LLC (NASDAQ: HUGH) and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris:ALY) (NYSE:ALU) as technology partners for the MIM trial, which is set to start in Spring, 2008.

ICO MIM is a converged mobile media service capable of delivering a wide range of consumer entertainment and communication services, and is based on ICO’s next-generation geostationary satellite (ICO G1) and the deployment of an Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC). ICO G1 is scheduled for launch in January, 2008.

ICO MIM terminals developed by Hughes will incorporate DiBcom’s DVB-SH chipsets for live multicast video via ICO G1 and ATC, as well as provide full-duplex satellite IP data communications services using Hughes’ GMR air interface technology.

As the end-to-end network integrator for ICO, Alcatel-Lucent will develop the system architecture and network design, and provide end-to-end multivendor network integration for the alpha trial.

“We have assembled world-class technology partners in Alcatel-Lucent and Hughes for our MIM alpha trial, and as a world leader in mobile television, DiBcom is the perfect complement to the alpha trial team,” says Tim Bryan, chief executive officer of ICO. “With the launch of ICO G1 and the commencement of our alpha trial, ICO will be uniquely positioned to deliver a superior mobile video experience combined with our voice and data capabilities.”

“We strongly believe in the use of the DVB-SH standard for broadcasting mobile video and TV, and we believe that utilizing a hybrid satellite-terrestrial infrastructure will be a key enabler for global coverage,” according to Yannick Levy, chief executive officer of DiBcom. “As part of the Alcatel-Lucent Unlimited Mobile solution, DiBcom joined Alcatel-Lucent in a development program for mobile video early on to support the advancement of mobile TV based on DVB-SH in the S-Band. We are pleased to work together with ICO and Hughes for this exciting trial in North America, which is a significant milestone in the evolution of mobile TV worldwide.”

“With Hughes’ proven GMR high-performance air interface, and the integration of DiBcom’s DVB-SH chipsets and technology into our terminals and antenna system, we’ll be able to deliver a truly differentiated mobile communications and entertainment capability for ICO,” commented Matthew Mohebbi, vice president and general manager of Hughes’ Mobile Satellite business unit.

Links: ICO; Hughes; DiBcom; Alcatel-Lucent