The North American mobile satellite system (MSAT) began providing the United States and Canada with an unprecedented range of innovative mobile satellite services in 1995. MSAT is the first dedicated system in North America for mobile telephone, radio, facsimile, paging, position location, and data communications for users on land, at sea, and in the air. Canada-based TMI Communications & Company Ltd. of Ottawa, Ont., and American Mobile Satellite Corporation (AMSC) in Reston, Va., signed contracts with Hughes and Spar Aerospace Ltd. of Canada in 1990 to build their respective satellites for the initial systems. TMI and AMSC each own and operate identical spacecraft. Both will provide complementary mobile services, and each will provide backup and restoration capacity for the other. MSAT-1 operates at 106.5 degrees West longitude. AMSC-1 is at 101 degrees West.