There is a compelling and huge demand throughout Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) for access to Little LEO wireless data messaging and information services that are affordable on the local economy. For this reason, WRC-2000 has an important significance for us because this conference can put into place the framework for consideration of future allocations for mobile-satellite services (non-GSO MSS <1 GHz) at WRC-2003.

This window of economic development and opportunity for wireless data communications in Russia can be thrown wide open if we do not close the discussion of additional allocations for the Little LEO industry. Beyond the broad economic impact, we see many excellent benefits (on a human scale) resulting from these data messaging and information applications.

What can Little LEO mobile-satellite services do for us in Russia? In a country as vast as ourswith widely scattered population centres, the opportunity to connect and unite our peoples and to develop businesses across as many as eleven time zones in a reliable, efficient and cost-effective way is an exciting prospect. In Siberia alone, we will at last be able to unite as many regions as almost half of the whole country, with new wireless data messaging and information services.

The Russian railroad system, for example, provides an enormous market for tracking railcars and the goods they contain from Moscow in the West to Vladivostok in the Far East. In addition to railcars, cars, trucks and other capital assets can be tracked and managed more cost-effectively. Remote sites such as oil and gas pipelines can be monitored at small cost.

Little LEO services can also be highly efficient and cost-effective in measuring utility usage for large cities or scattered villages across Russia and the CIS. Medical and educational information, law enforcement data, and environmental data can be stored and transferred quickly and easily where no reliable means exist today.

For data messaging, the coverage areas of existing terrestrial networks can be extended through Little LEO systems throughout the region across terrains that would be largely impossible to connect by conventional means. Inexpensive messaging and data information services delivered by Little LEO systems will keep the most remote locations in Russia and the CIS reliably in contact with government and logistical centres, family to family, business to business, and service to service.

POLYOT has a prominent chapter in the history of aerospace. Throughout its nearly sixty years of existence, the enterprise has played a significant role in aerospace development building more than 200 spacecraft.

Our Cosmos launch system boasts hundreds of launches over 30 years, with a success rate of greater than 99% since 1986. This includes two Little LEO demonstration satellites, FAISAT-1 and FAISAT-2 for our business partner, Final Analysis of the United States. POLYOT has also provided launch services for India, Sweden, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy.

Our initial interest in the mobile satellite industry began when POLYOT filed plans with the ITU in 1992 for COSCON MSS wireless service for Russia and the CIS. At TELECOM 95, POLYOT and Final Analysis announced a strategic alliance in which POLYOT would provide MSS in Russia and throughout the CIS. In addition, POLYOT would launch the commercial constellation of Final Analysis Little LEO satellites.

To support this bright new future in wireless data technology through mobile-satellite services, WRC-2000 should keep their options open for consideration of additional allocations for non-GSO MSS systems below l GHz.

Little LEO bands under study include those bands around 1.4 GHz (for feeder-link operations), 401-406 MHz (for service downlinks), and 450-460 MHz (for service uplinks). With studies in hand, WRC-2003 can approach the granting of additional allocations for feeder links and service links to satisfy the demand for wireless data for the many users anticipated in Russia and elsewhere.