ACeS
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- See also: Aces (disambiguation)
ACeS is an Asia-specific satellite telecommunications company that operates 2 satellites Garuda 1 launched on February 12, 2000 and Garuda 2 which is a ground spare. Share holders are: PT. Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) of Indonesia, Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunication (LMGT) of USA, Jasmine International Overseas Ltd of Thailand and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) formed a joint venture for this satellite project. National Service Providers are: PT. Pasifik Satelit Nusantara in Indonesia, ACeS Regional Services in Thailand and Smart ACeS in the Philippines, TMTouch/Celcom in Malaysia, AVCO in Nepal and Mobitel in Sri Lanka.
ACeS has been assigned the virtual country code +88220, an international networks code rather than a GMSS code as the system does not operate globally. The company currently supplies one handset, the ACeS R190 which is claims is the world's smallest satellite phone[1]. This a dual mode GSM phone that does not support sending SMS in satellite mode
In 2006 ACeS entered into a collaboration agreement with Inmarsat[2].
[edit] Garuda 1 satellite
The Garuda 1 satellite was launched on February 12, 2000. The launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, was conducted by International Launch Services, using a Proton rocket with a Block 1 DM upper stage.[3]