The last decade proved to be hugely successful for the mobile communications industry,
characterised by continued and rapid growth in demand, spurred on by new technological
advances and innovative marketing techniques. Of course, when we refer to mobile commu-
nications, we tend to implicitly refer to cellular systems, such as GSM. The plight of the
mobile-satellite industry over the last decade, although eventful, has, at times, been more akin
to an out of control roller coaster ride.
