Inmarsat of London is the big daddy of mobile satellite communications services, and there are few more successful satellite TV companies in the world than British Sky Broadcasting.

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As an example, the Navy's newest communications satellite, the Mobile User Objective System, or MUOS, is intended to provide more-reliable links for special-operations personnel and other military users than current Navy-operated satellites.

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The communications equipment includes mobile and satellite phones and radar equipment.

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Indeed, increasingly mobile phones, Internet and satellite are becoming more central to all communications.

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Of the four mobile satellite services companies now active, two, Iridium and ICO Global Communications, are in bankruptcy proceedings.

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The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and Internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.

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Mr Thaksin himself, who was reckoned to be the richest man in Thailand until he transferred most of his assets to his son last year, made much of his money from mobile phones, and his company launched Thailand's first communications satellite.

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Harris makes communications products such as satellite and other wireless networks, transcommunication equipment, air control systems, and mobile radio network systems.

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