Globalstar is a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based telecommunications system founded by Loral Corporation and Qualcomm Inc. that will fill gaps between terrestrial wireless systems with low-cost, high-quality digital telecommunications services.

Globalstar will consist of 48 operational spacecraft with four in-orbit spares.  Space Systems Loral is the prime contractor for the Globalstar satellites, but will employ Aerospatiale, Alcatel, Daimler-Benz Aerospace, Alenia, Finmeccanica, and Hyundai in the design and manufacturing process.

In parts of the globe lacking a communications infrastructure, the handheld Globalstar unit, supplied by Qualcomm, will send a signal to a satellite overhead.   The satellite will then relay the signal to a regional ground station where the signal travels through a terrestrial network to its final destination.

Commercial service is anticipated to roll-out in late 1999.