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Iridium Communications Inc.“™s Russian division has received government approval to operate commercially in that country, the company announced Monday.
Service will go live by the second quarter of 2012 after the company completes technical licensing requirements.
CEO Matt Desch said the company expects to attract at least 40 percent of the mobile satellite service market in Russia in 2015, adding that this market could be worth between $70 and $100 million.
Desch added that the company has targeted the maritime, aviation, emergency response, civil government, oil and gas, mining and transportation sectors.
Russia will use Iridium’s services to support search and rescue missions, said Victor Chernov, acting chief of the country’s state emergency and rescue marine service.
Established in 2009, the division aims to expand its product and service offerings such as voice, data, tracking and other critical connectivity across all industries in Russia.
It will also deliver voice and data communications in remote areas across the country and around the Arctic region.
