CHAPTER 99: IRIDIUM

Eva's approach to Motorola through a PR agency quickly yielded results, and as a market leader in both mobile and network solutions, Motorola did not push Yota Communications as a strong partner. They soon sent someone to the city of Cambridge to talk to Yota Communications.

Motorola is very interested in Eva's crazy plan, and according to preliminary estimates, the number of low-Earth orbit satellites needed to achieve satellite communications on a global scale is about 77, and this number includes spare satellites. The total investment is more than half a billion dollars. This money is definitely a significant investment for Motorola, but for the deep-pocketed Gorky company, it is nothing more than a year's worth of money to help Medellín Group deal with the funds. With the idea that if you don't make an investment, it will depreciate, and Yota Communications is interested in operating the satellite company exclusively. And the reason why we have to pull Motorola is because of the satellite technology in the hands of the other party.

"We're very interested in your plans, I want to know what we're going to give and what we're going to get?" The vice president of negotiations sent by Motorola asked straight to the point.

"To be honest, I'm not particularly optimistic about your investment in this project, we are not short of funds at all, what we lack is mature communication satellite platform technology. If you are willing to sell this technology to us, then we will communicate the next step of cooperation. Eva replied domineeringly. To tell the truth, the technology of YOTA communication is irreplaceable in today's era, and there are more mature communication satellite platforms, and Motorola is reluctant to have a large number of companies behind it as alternatives, such as the British Marconi, the French Alcatel, and even the American arms company Lockheed Martin also has very mature technology in this regard.

"What are the conditions, do you know how much money we put in the satellite platform? Unless you can come up with the conditions that we can see, I'm afraid there is no basis for cooperation between us? Not to be outdone, the vice president of Motorola said.

"Okay, then I'll talk about our conditions, if you are willing to transfer the satellite platform technology to us, we can pay you a considerable income, and at the same time, you can also choose to use this technology to invest in our upcoming Iridium company, of course, there is also a third option, that is, you can obtain an exclusive license in North America to produce terminal equipment that can be involved in YOTA communication, and the license period is three years." Eva has already planned a way to cooperate, choose one of the three, either take the money and leave, or exchange technology, or join the shares to do it together, but the controlling stake will definitely be in the hands of Yota Communications.

All three conditions have pros and cons for Motorola, and if you take a stake, then once this company fails, then Motorola will most likely get nothing. It is neat to take the money and leave, but it also loses the opportunity for Motorola to enter the field of telecommunications operations. And the third condition is to obtain the exclusive authorization of terminal equipment in North America for three years, which does not seem to be a good condition. After much hesitation, the other party finally put forward a fourth suggestion.

"If you're willing to pay some of our satellite technology and give us an exclusive license for the terminal equipment, I think we can consider it? Of course, we are also very interested in your new company and would like to get a stake? The vice president of Motorola was reluctant to accept all three conditions, and he wanted to maximize the company's benefits. So he wanted to get some rights in each of the three conditions.

"Sir, isn't your company a little too greedy? I don't want to pay and I want to take the shares for nothing, I think if we change the way, we will give you the authorization, and at the same time we will pay a part of the cash in return, at the same time we can give you the right of first refusal to buy the shares, once we need new investors in the future, your company can buy the shares of our telecommunications operating company under the same conditions, I don't know what you think? Eva modified the conditions slightly, and although she did not relax in terms of shares, she also gave the other party the right of first refusal. This is actually more beneficial for Motorola, because no company does not need financing, and when the time comes, Motorola can take a look at the development trend of YOTA in the carrier field before making a decision.

"I personally have no objection to this condition, I think I need to go back and make a report to the board of directors, and we will get back to your company within a week." The other party replied with a smile, and it could be seen that the other party of Eva's bid was already tempted.

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After seeing off Motorola's vice president, Eva didn't stop there, and through her connections with the Harvard Alumni Association, she approached the director of the commercial launch division at NASA to consult with her satellite launch plans. Eva's Iridium needs to send 77 low-Earth orbit communications satellites into space, a crazy launch plan that no commercial company has ever done before.

"Oh! This plan of yours is simply so cool, it's a crazy plan. I don't think NASA will turn down a customer like you, after all, if we take this order, then we will have the most successful cooperation in the history of commercial launches. I can tell you without hesitation that we are willing to undertake a series of launch missions for your company. Eva's alumni replied excitedly.

"However, we are still in the secrecy phase, and we hope that this matter will not be known to the media and the public until Motorola gives us a formal confirmation answer. Because of our current relationship with AT&T, I don't want them to sabotage our cooperation. Eva reminded her alumni.

"No problem, absolutely no problem! Rest assured, we at NASA are more than willing to participate in your Iridium project at YOTA Communications. I think if you succeed, the old Inmarsat system can be thrown in the trash for $7 a minute, and they'll just rob the bank! Eva's alumni said disdainfully.

……

A month later, at the Plaza Hotel in New York. YOTA Communications, Motorola, NASA's commercial launch companies, and Columbia Insurance Company have announced a partnership that will shock the world's telecommunications industry, and the four companies will work together to form Iridium Satellite Corporation, RDUM, a global mobile communications network operator based on YOTA second-generation mobile communications technology, with the company's logo in the golden Big Dipper. Just after Yota's announcement, AT&T's stock suffered a heavy crash, falling as much as 12 percent intraday, shocking the market. ...