FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             News Media Contact:
September 29, 2000                      Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0511

                                
       INMARSAT GRANTED EXTENSION OF TIME TO CONDUCT IPO


     Washington, D.C. - The FCC has granted a request by Inmarsat Ventures Ltd. (Inmarsat)
for a nine-month extension of the October 1, 2000 deadline by which it must conduct an Initial
Public Offering (IPO).  Inmarsat Ventures Ltd. is the United Kingdom-based company created as
a result of the 1999 privatization of the former intergovernmental satellite organization.

Inmarsat is required by the Open Market Reorganization for the Betterment of International
Telecommunications Act (the ORBIT Act), to conduct an IPO of securities on or about October
1, 2000.  The purpose of the requirement is to ensure that Inmarsat becomes an independent
commercial entity with a pro-competitive ownership structure by substantial dilation of the
aggregate ownership held by former Inmarsat signatories.  The Commission has authority to
extend the IPO deadline up December 31, 2001.

The Commission concluded that an extension to July 1, 2001 would give Inmarsat the
opportunity to conduct an IPO at a time and under market conditions that will achieve the
purposes of the ORBIT Act.



     Action by the Commission September 28, 2000, by Memorandum Opinion and Order
(FCC 00- 356)  Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell, and Tristani.


     International Bureau Contacts: Michael McCoin at (202) 418-0774