Globalstar LLC and New Horizons Telecom Inc. announced Sept. 8 they signed a contract for the first phase of construction of a new satellite gateway in Wasilla, Alaska. The gateway will enhance the quality and coverage of Globalstar’s voice and data service offerings for residents and companies with operations in Alaska.

Preliminary work on the site has begun, with official groundbreaking set for Sept. 13. The gateway is expected to become fully operational by summer 2006, subject to U.S. Federal Communications Commission approval. Eastern and southern portions of Alaska are currently served by a Globalstar gateway in Alberta, Canada.

“Alaska has been a region with huge growth potential for Globalstar ever since we launched commercial service in 1999,” Jay Monroe, Chairman and CEO of Globalstar, said in a statement. “We’ve seen a consistent upswing in the number of minutes used by companies and individuals in Alaska, and a demand that we expand our primary coverage area to cover the majority of the state.”