ICO and Alcatel-Lucent to Demonstrate First Mobile TV Broadcast in North America Based on the DVB-SH Satellite/Terrestrial Standard at CES

RESTON, Va. & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited (ICO) (NASDAQ:ICOG) and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE:ALU) will demonstrate North America’s first video broadcast based on the DVB-SH (Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite services to Handhelds) mobile broadcasting standard at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) next month in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Alcatel-Lucent is looking forward to delivering this Mobile TV first in North America”

This demonstration is a key milestone for ICO’s initiative to deploy a fully-integrated DVB-SH hybrid satellite/terrestrial network in North America. Alcatel-Lucent, as the end-to-end network integrator for the project, is supplying the system architecture, design and installation for the network.

In the demonstration, ICO and Alcatel-Lucent will deliver mobile high-resolution live television programming to display terminals located in a moving vehicle outfitted with DVB-SH receivers. In addition, ICO will demonstrate high-resolution DVB-SH video reception by delivering pre-encoded content to portable monitors in ICO’s exhibit suite at the Venetian hotel. ICO and Alcatel-Lucent will also be demonstrating at the CES “ShowStoppers” press event on Monday, January 7 from 6:00 until 10:00 pm at the Wynn Hotel.

These standards-based demonstrations are the first displays of the cutting-edge solution being developed for the ICO alpha trial of mobile interactive media (mim) services, which will take place in 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.

The ICO mim™ product is a converged mobile media service that addresses a wide variety of consumers’ entertainment, information, and two-way communication needs: live and stored mobile TV in vehicles, interactive navigation, and roadside assistance, all with nationwide coverage. ICO mim will provide multiple channels of high-quality mobile video to portable, larger-screen (4.5 to 10 inch) user devices.

Last spring, ICO announced agreements with Alcatel-Lucent and Hughes Network Systems (Hughes) to develop key architecture and technology for use in ICO’s alpha trial based on ICO’s next-generation geostationary satellite (ICO G1) and the deployment of an Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) using the mobile multimedia DVB-SH open standard. ICO G1 is scheduled for launch in March 2008, and the alpha trial will take place in Raleigh-Durham and Las Vegas after the launch of ICO G1.

ICO mim will also offer interactive IP data communication services between customer devices and ICO satellite base station equipment using Hughes’ proven ETSI standard GMR air interface technology, with a focus on Internet access and other data applications. In addition, Hughes is developing an integrated satellite terminal and antenna system that will incorporate GMR and DVB-SH technologies, as well as a GPS receiver.

To further complement this initiative, leading vendors from the DVB-SH ecosystem have been brought together to support the ICO mim program, namely DiBcom for the DVB-SH chipsets, TeamCast for the DVB-SH modulators and test receivers, UDcast for the DVB-SH IP encapsulators, Envivio for encoders, Thales Alenia Space for the broadcast head-end, SES Americom for content distribution to the terrestrial repeater network, and StreetDeck for software applications that link mobile TV, navigation and assistance features of ICO mim.

“CES is a major milestone for ICO as we prepare to launch our satellite in March and commence alpha trials later in 2008,” said Tim Bryan, ICO’s CEO. ”We’ll be demonstrating for the first time our compelling mobile video offering, with great picture quality featuring larger screens more suited to a robust mobile video experience.”

“Alcatel-Lucent is looking forward to delivering this Mobile TV first in North America,” said Olivier Coste, chairman of Alcatel-Lucent’s Mobile Broadcast activities. “This demonstration with ICO gives us the opportunity to showcase the enhanced user experience and reception quality made possible by the improvements which the DVB-SH open standard brings to DVB-H technology and our end-to-end network integration experience.”

About ICO

ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited (NASDAQ:ICOG) is a satellite communications company developing an advanced next-generation hybrid system, combining both satellite and terrestrial communications capabilities. ICO is deploying a mobile interactive media service, to be known as ICO mim™. ICO mim will combine ICO’s unique interactive satellite capability with nationwide coverage to deliver a new level of interactive navigation, enhanced roadside assistance and the ultimate mobile video experience, including 8-15 channels of premium television content. ICO is based in Reston, Virginia. For more information, visit www.ico.com.

About Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE:ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organizations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved adjusted proforma revenues of Euro 18.3 billion in 2006 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. [All figures exclude impact of activities transferred to Thales]. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in providing broadband satellite networks and services for large enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers. HughesNet^® encompasses all broadband solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies. Hughes has shipped more than 1.2 million systems to customers in over 100 countries. Its broadband satellite products are based on the IPoS (IP over Satellite) global standard, approved by the TIA, ETSI, and ITU standards organizations.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes maintains sales and support offices worldwide. Hughes is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:HUGH). For additional information, please visit www.hughes.com

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the timing, location and content of ICO’s alpha trial and its ICO mim™ offering. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expected results. More information about risks is contained in ICO’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak as of the date hereof, and ICO undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.