ROME — Globalstar is preparing to take delivery of its first batch of second-generation satellites as it seeks to become the first satphone operator to reach the market with a global high-speed voice/data service.

Company officials told a press gathering here Jan. 27 that the first batch of spacecraft in the 1.39 billion euro ($1.95 billion) system will be launched this summer and the first 24 spacecraft will be in place by the second half of 2011, along with a good deal of the planned ground system improvements. The spacecraft will replace the older units of the 48-unit constellation, which has been in operation for more than 11 years.

Unlike the first-generation network, which provided circuit-switched voice and data communications, the second-generation system will supply Internet-based voice, messaging, mobile video and other services requiring much higher data rates.

Thales Alenia Space, the prime contractor for the system, showed off the first batch of second-generation spacecraft at its plant here last week, where the Globalstar satellites are being assembled. The first three units are fully mated and in testing, while the second three are awaiting the arrival of their communications payloads, expected by early March. All six units are scheduled to be shipped to Baikonur, Kazakhstan, by June for launch aboard an Arianespace/Starsem Soyuz rocket, Thales Alenia’s Rene Serret said.

The satellite dispenser, built by Astrium, and launch vehicle for the inaugural mission are ready and the launch window will open in July. But liftoff may not occur until September, in part because the Starsem pad has been out of service for some time, according to Alex Madema-Sy, the Arianespace program director. Management had been hoping to have the first batch in orbit by the first quarter, but delivery was delayed, primarily because of the need to finalize financing, said Tony Navarra, Globalstar’s president of global operations. An earthquake that struck a key Thales Alenia components plant in L’Aquila, Italy, also factored into the delay.

The following three batches are expected to be orbited in December 2010, and March and June of 2011, although Navarra said engineers will only clear subsequent launches once trials with initial spacecraft demonstrate the system performs as specified. This task, which should take 6-10 weeks, is necessary to meet underwriter requirements.

The deployment delay will have little impact on introduction of the new high-speed service, however, because ground segment improvements will take somewhat longer to complete. Enhanced telemetry control units being installed at seven gateways will be ready in May-June, but a network upgrade intended to hike capacity and boost the data rate from 9.6 kbps to 256 kbps are unlikely to be completed before 2012, Navarra said.

Artist's concept of Globalstar satellite: Space Systems/Loral