The European Gateway will provide the terrestrial link that allows Orbcomm's satellite constellation to service subscribers in 42 countries across Europe. This opening marks the first Orbcomm satellite communications gateway available outside the United States, and is one of ten milestones in Orbcomm's ``Countdown to Global Service.''

The European Gateway is comprised of one Gateway Earth Station (GES) in Southern Italy at Telespazio Matera Space Center and a Gateway Control Center (GCC) in Northern Italy at Telespazio Lario Space Center. In the near future, mobile or fixed subscriber communicator customers in Europe will be able to send messages through Orbcomm's constellation of satellites to the GES, which then relays the messages via dedicated terrestrial lines to the GCC. The GCC then routes the message to the final addressee anywhere in the world via the Internet or dedicated telephone line. The European Gateway provides a signficant step in making Orbcomm data communications an attractive business solution for industries throughout Europe.

The Orbcomm European Gateway will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by MCS Europe, the sole European telecommunications company offering Orbcomm services in Europe.

``The opening of the European Gateway is a watershed for Orbcomm, a key step towards bringing Orbcomm services to millions of potential customers across Europe,'' said Andre Halley, Managing Director of Orbcomm International. ``MCS Europe has proven to be the perfect partner to bring the unprecedented solution of Orbcomm to life in Europe.''

``MCS Europe and Orbcomm are working to reshape the communications landscape in Europe,'' explains Bartolo Mignosa, Chief Executive Officer of MCS Europe. ``The Orbcomm satellites will offer global tracking, remote two-way communication and enhanced asset management for European businesses. We are excited about the fact that the European Gateway is ready for pre-commercial testing and that MCS Europe is going to provide data communications services.''

MCS Europe is a telecommunications company providing worldwide data communication solutions and services. The company was founded in 1996. It is a joint venture of five leading satellite communications companies in Europe, and is led by Telespazio (Telecom Italia Group). The companies are: Telespazio (Telecom Italia Group) in Italy, INSA (Ingenieria y Servicios Aerospaciales S.A.) in Spain, OHB - System GmbH in Germany, SATCOM International PLC in the United Kingdom and SSC (Swedish Space Corp.) in Sweden. The headquarters of MCS Europe are located in Amsterdam.