Press Release

Issued by Iridium Communications.

January 3, 2008

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council approved standards and recommended practices (SARPs) that will permit Iridium® Satellite to provide Aeronautical Mobile Satellite (Route) Services (AMS(R)S) for commercial aircraft on transoceanic flights.

"The ICAO AMS(R)S approval opens a significant new market for Iridium in the international commercial aviation sector," said Greg Ewert, executive vice president, Iridium Satellite. "Iridium's dramatic double-digit growth in the aeronautical marketplace over the last few years has been largely driven by the business jet and helicopter sectors. The ICAO decision means that member states can now approve Iridium satellite equipment to meet the international requirements for redundant communications when flying over ocean regions. As a result, we expect to see rapid adoption among long-haul commercial carriers in the coming year."

Iridium is the only mobile satellite service (MSS) that provides ubiquitous, gap-free, reliable coverage over Polar Regions, which are used by aircraft on international flights. Iridium's lightweight, low-drag aeronautical satellite terminals are less costly to install and maintain than those needed for geostationary satellite systems.

Ewert noted that a growing number of air carriers have installed Iridium satellite terminals for cockpit communications, especially on high-latitude flights. "The ICAO approval means they can also have the Iridium systems certified by member states for air safety communications."