ICO North America (ICO) announced March 16 that the company signed an agreement to launch its geostationary payload on an Atlas V rocket provided by International Launch Services (ILS).

ICO’s satellite launch, scheduled for a period beginning May 31, 2007, will be performed from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida using the Atlas 5-421.

ICO’s hybrid satellite/terrestrial MSS system is scheduled to be operational in July of 2007. Space Systems/Loral (Loral) is building ICO’s satellite. Loral and ICO North America have completed certification of all applicable FCC milestones to date. In August 2005, ICO North America raised $650 million in privately placed debt to fund its advanced hybrid 2 GHz MSS system.