Currently, only 40 percent of the 60,000-80,000 large ships worldwide enjoy satellite communications. Just one percent of yachts and fishing boats have such capabilities. Five million small boats in coastal and inland waters mostly rely on fragmented terrestrial cellular coverage. ICO Global Communications is scheduled to begin launching its satellites later this year and will initiate affordable global mobile communications services (digital voice, data, and fax) in August 2000. The company will provide 100 percent global coverage and will offer a line of rugged, water-resistant, simple-to-install user terminals designed for all segments of the marine industry by such manufacturers as Nera, JRC and Furuno.