With a combined investment to-date of EUR130 million in a new satellite, the new company, specialising in the emerging market for Mobile Satellite Services in Europe, is projected to create up to 50 high value jobs over three years in Dublin.

The establishment of Solaris Mobile was announced in October 2006 by the two companies as a joint venture operation for the provision of a new satellite-based service throughout Europe. A satellite supporting the new service has been under construction since October 2006 and is scheduled for launch in early 2009.

The Dublin HQ will have responsibility for all corporate functions including regulatory support, sales and marketing, communications and brand awareness, finance and billing, compliance and legal for the European market. It will also be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, negotiating and managing partnerships with international broadcasters, content developers, network operators and mobile phone handset manufacturers.

Solaris Mobile’s new infrastructure will enable the broadcasting of TV, video and radio, as well as providing a platform for new two-way communication services to handheld mobile devices - mobile phones, PDAs, vehicular devices, etc. The infrastructure will enable the deployment of a fully-fledged TV experience on mobile devices on an “anytime and anywhere” basis and, for the first time, will allow satellite infrastructure to compete and complement with existing terrestrial networks for the provision of broadcasting services to the mobile sector.

Welcoming the investment, Coughlan stated:

“This project is the first investment in Ireland by international satellite operators and as such is a unique investment for the country, particularly as it is being made by two of the highest profile brand-name companies in the global satellite communications industry. The sophisticated technical qualifications, knowledge and experience requirements of the new positions is once again a significant endorsement of Ireland’s wealth of talent and expertise. It is also a measure of the confidence which leading global companies have in the ability of this country to deliver on projects at the forefront of their industry. This project will provide an important marketing reference for IDA’s continuing work to attract new business within the mobile, media and telecommunications sectors.”

“Ireland continues to be one of the most attractive places in the world as a location for global business. With our highly educated, skilled and adaptable workforce, our strong focus on R&D and knowledge, and our can-do, responsive and open attitude, we remain a location of choice. As a small open economy, Ireland welcomes the continued strong interest demonstrated by some of the world’s leading companies in investing and expanding here. Ireland has transformed as an economy over recent years, and we are well positioned to continue this transformation over coming years. We are pro-business, pro-European and proud to be always to the forefront of the minds of global business leaders as they make critical investment decisions.

CEO of Solaris Mobile, Steve Maine, added:

“Solaris Mobile is of major strategic importance to both our parent companies as it seeks a first mover advantage within the European market for the commercial delivery of TV and other broadband services to mobile phones and other portable devices via satellite. It also represents the first joint venture between the two companies who are combining their industry-leading experience and expertise in data and video broadcasting, as well as in two-way services, to support Solaris Mobile. With so much at stake we needed to find the right location in Europe for our Corporate Headquarters. Following a detailed assessment of a number of locations across Europe we decided that Ireland would deliver this project to the tight deadlines required and would be best at ensuring its successful development to the most stringent standards.”