Ontario-based Com Dev International Ltd. said Feb. 24 it signed a contract with Hughes Space and Communications Inc. [GMH] for $3 million worth of space-qualified microwave switches for a 12-satellite constellation. Hughes is the prime contractor for mobile satellite operator ICO Global Communications Ltd. Com Dev said it is providing Hughes a new type of switch designed specifically for mobile uses; in general, microwave switches allow low-loss routing of communications traffic through a satellite, and redirect traffic to backup systems if primary equipment fails. (Com Dev, 519/622-2300, ext. 616.)
