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WorldSpace, Inc – ‘10-K’ for 12/31/07

On:  Monday, 3/31/08, at 4:37pm ET   ·   For:  12/31/07   ·   Accession #:  1193125-8-71173   ·   File #:  0-51466

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Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For The Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2007

Commission file number 000-51466

WORLDSPACE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

8515 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

301-960-1200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by checkmark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a small reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “small reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  ¨        Accelerated filer  ¨        Non-accelerated filer  x        Smaller reporting company  ¨

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of the close of business on June 30, 2007 was $37,822,320.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

PART III—Certain portions of our definitive Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Stockholders for 2008.

Table of Contents

INDEX

Table of Contents

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to our growth strategy and our future financial performance, including our operations, economic performance, financial condition and prospects, and other future events. We generally identify forward-looking statements by using such words as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” or variations of such words or other similar expressions and the negatives of such words. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are based on our current expectations.

In addition, a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could affect the accuracy of these statements, including the risks outlined under “Item 1A. Risk factors”. Some of the more significant known risks that we face are uncertainty regarding market acceptance of our products and services and our ability to generate revenue or profit. Other important factors to consider in evaluating our forward-looking statements include:

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee our future results, levels of activity or performance. Any or all of our forward-looking statements in this annual report on Form 10-K may turn out to be inaccurate. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial, political and social trends and assumptions we made based on information currently available to us. These statements may be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might have made or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties described in “Item 1A. Risk factors.” In light of these assumptions, risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this annual report on Form 10-K may not occur as contemplated, and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this report. Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events or otherwise. You should, however, review the factors and risks we describe in the reports we will file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

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PART I

Overview

We were the first company to establish an operational satellite-based digital radio system, commonly known as Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) and today are the only licensed DARS provider outside of North America, South Korea and Japan.

Through the end of December 2007, we have spent approximately $1.7 billion in connection with the development and launch of our business. With the signing of a major distribution arrangement with Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. (Fiat), we are close to launching in Italy our first mobile service; we expect to launch this mobile service in early 2009. In 2009, in addition to Italy, we are planning to launch a mobile service first in Bahrain and then in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and potentially in Switzerland; in each of these jurisdictions we now have the regulatory authorizations to establish a mobile service. We have delayed previously scheduled launches in the Middle East in order to take advantage of the enhancements to our planned mobile system provided by our European standard technical development activities undertaken for Italy and other countries in the European Union. These enhancements include, among other things, a new generation of satellite receivers, which will receive broadcasts from our networks of terrestrial repeaters as well as from our satellites. We are planning similar system enhancements in India, where we initiated a non-mobile service in 2005, subject to the resolution of the satellite radio regulatory issues and the formation of a strategic alliance with a local partner.

Our operational system consists of four main elements: two geostationary satellites, AfriStar and AsiaStar; the associated ground systems that provide content to and control satellites; a terrestrial repeater network to be built out (subject to regulatory approval) in each of our target jurisdictions, commencing in Italy, in order to facilitate a mobile service; and the receivers owned by our customers. Each of our satellites can service three large geographic areas through three beams capable of carrying up to 50-60 channels each, based upon the waveform and other changes we are making in implementing our European technology. As a result, we will have the technical capacity to broadcast a tailored mix of up to 50-60 channels on a subscription basis in each of six target areas.

We are focusing our current efforts on Europe beginning with our launch in 2009 in Italy. During the period 2005-07, we concentrated substantial efforts on marketing our non-mobile services in India where we have, beginning in 2007, reduced spending and marketing and sales activities pending the issuance of a terrestrial repeater license and the completion of a strategic alliance with a local party. In China, although we continue to work with a local partner to obtain the regulatory approvals necessary for service launch, we are not confident of a breakthrough in the near term.

We currently continue to offer a subscription package for non-mobile services in India for $3.75 (Rs.150) per month, a subscription package for non-mobile services in Africa and the Middle East for $5.00 per month and a premium package for non-mobile services targeted to English-speaking expatriates living throughout our current broadcast area for $9.99 per month. As of December 31, 2007, we had more than 174,000 paying subscribers, including approximately 163,000 subscribers in India, and over 11,000 subscribers in the rest of the world, including Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. We have ceased, however, traditional marketing and promotional activities for our non-mobile services in these areas.

Our strategy is to keep a narrow focus and establish a strong set of local alliances and strategic partnerships to assist in funding operations and provide support for distribution, content procurement, regulatory compliance and the build-out of a terrestrial infrastructure prior to embarking on a full roll-out in a particular market.

We continue to face severe problems in financing our development and operations. See “Risk Factors—We have faced in the past and may face in the future, challenges and constraints to obtaining financing” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Results of Operations—Future Operating Liquidity and Capital Resource Requirements” and “—Capital Expenditures.‘

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Our Markets

Within our broadcast coverage area, we believe that Europe, India, the Middle East and, possibly China, are the most attractive target markets for the launch of our service. Other markets we may pursue opportunistically include Africa, the expatriate communities within our coverage area and government agencies.

Our European business plan

We currently offer service in parts of Europe through satellite receivers and have a relatively small number of subscribers. Mobile reception there, however, requires the implementation of complementary terrestrial repeaters. These repeaters would operate within our assigned frequency band and would be used to fill gaps in satellite coverage, particularly in urban zones.

Following our establishment in 2006 of an Italian joint venture with minority partner Class Editori, a media company based in Milan, the joint venture company, WorldSpace Italia, S.p.A., received a license from the Italian government to establish a repeater network in Italy and provide a mobile service. WorldSpace Italia concluded the Fiat transaction in July 2007 and based upon Fiat’s commitment to OEM distribution and after-market support we have accelerated implementation for a scheduled roll-out in early 2009. We have installed terrestrial repeaters in Milan currently used for the testing of various components of the system. Chipset and receiver development, repeater network deployment, and the integration of a robust conditional access system are all moving towards the launch next year. We are also in discussions with content providers and other potential partners. In early 2008, we signed a development agreement with Delphi Corporation, one of the leading satellite radio providers, to design an after-market receiver for the Italy launch. Fiat is working with Delphi to develop an OEM receiver.

Our regulatory franchise, including radio frequency assignments and the associated orbital location of our AfriStar satellite as well as our Italian and Swiss licenses, position us to initiate our DARS service in Europe. However, for countries other than Italy and Switzerland, we will need to obtain additional local regulatory approvals for the deployment of our mobile DARS service. We are in discussions with potential partners and regulatory authorities in a number of other European countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain, among others. We expect to achieve positive regulatory results in at least two additional countries in 2008. Accordingly, we plan to launch our hybrid mobile service in Europe in two phases. The first phase would offer mobile services in a single national market, Italy, while the second phase would focus on adding selected other targeted countries. Phase One would utilize the west beam of our AfriStar satellite, which has sufficient capacity to provide an attractive product offering in at least one European country (Italy), and a complementary terrestrial repeater network in that market’s urban zones. We are also evaluating the potential reconfiguration of our AfriStar satellite payload to provide additional capacity for a second European market. In Phase Two, we plan to provide a pan-European service through the launch of a third co-located L-band satellite (AfriStar-2) and the deployment of complementary terrestrial repeater networks in urban zones within additional service countries. We have received authorization from the FCC to launch and operate an additional satellite at the same orbital location as our AfriStar satellite. We plan to launch this additional satellite, which is fully assembled and in storage, subject to receiving required terrestrial repeater approvals in additional countries in Europe and arranging financing.

We intend to offer multiple country-specific program packages, consisting, respectively, of various European language programming, together with a number of English language pan-European channels. We anticipate each country package would contain around thirty to fifty channels including music, talk and sports, as well as niche services such as a mixed audio and data nautical channel. The content offering will include original and exclusive channels targeting different population segments that have been identified by our market studies. Although the intended primary focus of our plan is to target the automobile market, other potential applications such as the home reception or commercial vehicle markets would also be implemented.

In preparing for the launch of a mobile DARS in Europe, we continue to pursue strategic relationships with automobile OEMs, media groups, content providers, receiver manufacturers and technology providers.

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Our India business plan

India has proved to be a difficult market to achieve the level of subscriber additions we were expecting when we launched our commercial service in 2005 with marketing and promotional spending. We still believe the India market fundamentals are attractive, but we have continued to reduce spending pending the approval of our request for licenses to support the launch of our hybrid mobile service and the completion of a strategic alliance with a local partner. We plan to use 2008 to work to meet these two objectives and plan for the launch of a mobile service. We plan to introduce a terrestrially augmented mobile service in India after receiving appropriate regulatory approvals and are currently studying the use of our technology developed for Europe to that end. We believe a terrestrially augmented signal along with next generation receivers will not only make a mobile service possible, but will also eliminate a number of the challenges consumers face with our current service, such as antenna installation and manual password insertion.

We currently offer subscribers in India to our non-mobile service 45 channels of music, entertainment and information programming in twelve languages, and may introduce additional channels in the near future. This programming ranges from regional to national and international in its focus. The basic subscription package that we offer in India consists of international news (such as NPR, BBC and CNN International); WorldSpace-branded English language channels playing a full range of international music; Indian niche genre channels such as Gandharv, Shruti and Farishta; Indian news channels such as CNN/IBN and CNBC TV-18; Indian regional music channels such as Sparsha, Spandana, Tunak, Umang, Surabhi, Falak, Sonar, KL Radio and Madhuri; and lifestyle and meditation channels such as Moksha and the Art of Living. We have also featured the WorldSpace-created channel PLAY, which is the first all-sports, talk radio channel in India and provides comprehensive coverage of cricket and other sports for the Indian market. The channels are broadcast 24 hours a day. In 2007 we launched a comedy channel (Punchline), an 80’s-90’s pop hit channel (Retro Radio), a channel featuring Christmas/Holiday music which ran for a six week period in November and December (Holly) and the CNN/IBN and CNBC TV-18 channels. In 2007 we also added additional live programs on a number of WorldSpace branded channels. Our long term strategy focuses on live music broadcasting, the creation of unique, compelling and exclusive content events that can be leveraged on one or more WorldSpace channels, as well as increasing channels of both music and talk that target a mass audience.

We plan to use India’s extensive electronics and automobile aftermarket networks to sell our early automobile-mountable mobile receivers. We are working to establish partnerships with automobile manufacturers so that they can offer factory-installed WorldSpace receivers in their new cars. We also plan to establish distribution relationships with auto accessories store chains, which play an important role in the Indian aftermarket.

Our Middle Eastern business plan

In light of the regulatory success we have experienced in markets in the Middle East, we have been targeting the launch of our mobile service in markets such as Bahrain and the UAE. These target segments will include the local Arabic population as well as South Asian and western expatriates. We are implementing a mobile service based upon authorizations received from the telecommunications regulatory authorities of Bahrain and the UAE, and intend to roll out our mobile service initially in Bahrain, followed by the UAE. We expect to launch the service with our Europe standard technology, which we expect to be ready in early 2009. We have added two dedicated Arabic channels, Ranin (new Arabic hits) and Min Zaman (Arabic retro/classical), concluded on agreement with CNBC Arabia, and have begun efforts to launch additional Arabic channels covering key genres of Arabic music. We plan to leverage our Indian content to provide a “voice from home” for the large number of expatriates from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. We believe the South Asian expatriates, as well as the western expatriates who are interested in receiving reliable news, information and entertainment from sources and in formats that they are used to receiving at home, provide an attractive market with a high disposable income and strong ties to their homeland.

Our China business plan

While we have in place our satellite infrastructure for China, we have not yet begun to offer DARS in China. The path to the launch of a commercial business in China remains unclear, even though we continue to work with our local partner to structure an arrangement that will receive government approval. Pursuant to a

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series of agreements and approval documents issued by relevant governmental authorities, China Satellite Communications Corporation (ChinaSat), our agent and one of six state-owned telecommunications operators in China, has acquired satellite spectrum allocation and certain other approvals to operate complementary terrestrial retransmission services in China. ChinaSat has installed four repeaters in Beijing and two repeaters in Tianjin to conduct the experimental L-band network operations. Additionally, our agent, ChinaSat, has established an uplink station in Beijing for our AsiaStar satellite.

We have developed a “China-Only” version of our receivers, which is programmed to decode only those broadcasts intended for listeners within China. This feature will ensure that programming from outside China will not be decoded by China-Only receivers within China. To facilitate local low-cost production in China, we have an active agreement with China-based receiver producer Tongshi.

We believe we are well positioned to offer an initial DARS system to the Chinese market, subject to the required government approvals. Through WorldSpace China, we have established relationships with several third-party providers of content relating to these services, including China National Radio, China Radio International, SEEC Media Group, Ltd., and Hunan Radio & TV and we expect to activate these relationships upon receiving government approval.

Programming and Content

Consumer radio

Our content is a key differentiating factor in attracting subscribers and increasing our subscription revenue. Our approach to content comprises three key strategies: (i) to form relationships with the best international, national and regional content providers; (ii) to create high-quality unique content, including content that has not been available through the local radio providers in a particular market; and (iii) to aggregate in each of our markets the most appealing mix of audio programs. The mix of audio content provided in each market is tailored to the needs and preferences of major, as well as niche, target listener segments within such market. Each of our satellites can broadcast three beams of information covering different parts of the satellite’s footprint. Each beam will have the capability to broadcast 50-60 channels with its own individual mix of programming.

Overall, we currently broadcast a total of 90 separate digital channels, delivering music and multilingual news, sports, information and data. Currently, 39 channels are provided by international, national and regional third parties and 35 are WorldSpace-branded channels produced by us, or by third parties uniquely for us. The balance are data and First Voice channels. In 2007, we introduced six new channels, a comedy channel (Punchline), an 80’s-90’s pop hit channel (Retro Radio), Hosanna (Christian) a channel featuring Christmas/Holiday music which ran for a six week period in November and December (Holly), CNN/IBN (Indian News) and CNBC TV-18 (Indian and global Business News). We are exploring ways of enhancing our talk, entertainment and sports related programming in a cost-effective way.

On our WorldSpace branded channels we generate exclusive, compelling and unique content by creating events or partnering with existing events in the entertainment world. An example of this is the UPop Sessions @ Abbey Road in which we brought in over 30 bands for live recording sessions. We broadcast this three day event live on our UPop channel as well as archived all the content for future playback. In 2008, we expect to create a special channel “WorldSpace Live” to showcase all of the Abbey Road content we have collected over the last three years as well as other live content we have recorded in the WorldSpace studios over the years. In addition to WorldSpace-created events, we also partnered with existing events such as the Brit Awards, Live Earth, the Virgin Mobile Festival and many others to deliver the most current, exciting entertainment content to our subscribers. We use encryption technology to mitigate signal piracy and to protect access to, copying of and tampering with the manner and method through which our content is offered as well as the content itself. Our next generation receivers will use improved compression technology, eventually allowing a greater number of channels to be sent over our existing bandwidth.

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We have agreed to provide free of charge 5% of the capacity of each of our satellites to First Voice International (First Voice) through the life of such satellites and to provide uplink service for First Voice’s content at least through June 2005. At present, we continue to provide uplink service to First Voice at no charge. First Voice is a nonprofit organization whose establishment was inspired by our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Noah Samara, and which provides free informational and educational programming to local communities within our broadcast coverage area. Mr. Samara is also the Chairman of First Voice.

AsiaStar

The northwest beam of our AsiaStar satellite offers 45 channels to our primary market of India. Some of our channels are available free-to-air, but most require subscription service.

The other two beams on the AsiaStar satellite are configured to broadcast in China and Southeast Asia.

AfriStar

Our AfriStar satellite offers 59 channels, most of which are available on two of the three beams, the west beam having been substantially cleared for testing preliminary to the launch of our mobile service in Italy. The programs offered on these channels are broadcast into Africa, the Mediterranean basin countries, the Middle East and parts of Europe.

Receivers and Multimedia and Data Devices

Technology and Waveforms

WorldSpace has developed for Europe and other markets a satellite-terrestrial broadcast technology based on the Satellite Digital Radio (SDR) standard approved in September 2006 by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

This waveform uses state-of-the-art error correction codes (turbo-codes) together with highly adaptable time interleavers. In addition, the product implements a flexible modulation scheme that addresses low-power and high-power satellites. Furthermore, the standard’s built-in quality of service (QoS) capabilities optimizes bandwidth utilization by enabling bandwidth allocation based on the class of service required. This feature enables real-time audio and video service and product implementations that need bandwidth resources reserved and/or protected while also enabling less bandwidth intensive data services that can benefit from retransmission techniques at the application layer. The terrestrial component of our SDR system uses carriers of 1.5 MHz each, thereby facilitating frequency coordination and planning at the pan-European level.

The WorldSpace SDR technology will also use the following:

Partnerships to implement the new ETSI waveform

WorldSpace has entered into a contract with the Fraunhofer Institute (Germany) for the development of an SDR receiver reference design. This design will:

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WorldSpace has recently concluded agreements with ST Microelectronics, a major chipset development company, and Delphi Corporation, a leading satellite radio system developer to develop the ETSI chip-set, OEM, and After-Market products for Europe (see below—Consumer audio receivers).

WorldSpace has awarded a contract to Certicom—an experienced conditional access (CA) vendor with a proven track record in the satellite radio space. The CA system delivers entitlements to receive over-the-air and enables pre-activation of OEM and After-Market receivers at the factory. This capability, in turn, enables WorldSpace to offer and better manage customer trial periods without unduly burdening the call centers/dealers, which we anticipate should improve the service adoption rate by users.

Following an international competitive bid, WorldSpace awarded in June 2006 a contract to Sodielec (France)—a leading company in DVB-T transmitters—for the development and delivery of eight repeaters. The initial compatibility tests between repeaters and receivers were performed successfully in December 2006 and repeaters were installed in Toulouse (France), Erlangen (Germany) and Milan (Italy) for field trials. Following the field trials, in 2008, we have commenced activities to install the repeater network required to launch service in Italy.

Consumer audio receivers

Until now, we made available for our markets satellite reception only receivers, which, although many were portable, were used primarily for fixed reception, since we had not built out any terrestrial repeater networks that are needed for mobile reception. These receivers have been available in a range of individual, home and office models. In anticipation of our upcoming launches of our mobile services first in Europe and then in the Middle East, we have been working with key vendors to have ready a mobile reception receiver to work in conjunction with our newly developed European technology. We expect to use this technology for all our European market launches and our launch in the Middle East and are studying its introduction into India once we have secured a repeater network license there. In order to take full advantage of the new capabilities of the European technology, we will have to broadcast our signal in a new waveform; which our current generation of receivers will not be able to interpret. As we introduce new technology and market our next generation receivers in markets where there are significant numbers of current subscribers with first generation receivers, we are developing transition plans that could involve, among other things a promotional program to address replacement of the older receivers. Another potential plan under evaluation may include a period during which we could broadcast in both waveforms. Under this potential plan, at some point in the future as our next generation receivers achieve broad market acceptance, we expect that we will discontinue broadcasting the signal used by our current generation of receivers.

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WorldSpace has recently concluded an agreement with Delphi Corporation, a leading satellite radio receiver product developer to develop the after-market products for Europe. The first such agreement to develop two generations of the first after-market SDR receiver was signed with Delphi in January 2008. In addition, WorldSpace and Delphi are in the final stages of negotiating the development agreement for the first generation OEM receiver implementing the new ETSI Technology.

Europe & Middle-East

Products: WorldSpace intends to provide a wide range of receivers to its subscribers in Europe and the Middle East. The primary focus is the automotive market which is expected to drive the growth in the early stages. Within the automotive space, two markets will be addressed:

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers):

Addressed by the following two kinds of receivers

After-market: Addressed by “plug and play” (PnP) receivers that are removable from the car. The initially planned PnP receiver will be positioned in the mid to high end for the market and may include a color screen and enough memory to appeal to tech-savvy, early adopter consumers.

All the above mentioned receivers will be capable of supporting advanced data and data-enabled media applications through easy integration with existing and emerging sources of data in cars, including navigation (GPS) and telematic systems. Advanced data applications and premium services geared towards motorists will enable consumers to view in real time a wide range of relevant information including up-to-date traffic conditions, weather forecast, parking space availability, and other valuable information.

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Some receiver models may feature capabilities that include pause and rewind, preview of next artist, and many other attractive services, including push download services.

Networks

After WorldSpace obtained a license to build and operate the first L-band satellite radio repeater network in Italy, WorldSpace signed an agreement with Telecom Italia to design and deploy the terrestrial repeater network throughout Italy for the launch of its first service in Europe. We are currently considering a plan for Switzerland where we recently received a license to deploy terrestrial repeaters.

India & Rest of the World

Our existing receivers used in India are manufactured by BPL and are sold in the retail market at prices ranging from Rs.2,499 to Rs.3,599 (approximately, $60 to $90). Currently, the lowest cost BPL receiver is the One World, which is offered at a retail price of Rs.2,499 (approximately $60). To help achieve this price point, we currently provide a subsidy for this receiver. Substantially all receiver sales are of this low-cost BPL receiver. We continue to pursue all opportunities to reduce receiver costs.

We are considering plans to introduce our new ETSI receiver product line intended for automobile use in India, upon receiving the terrestrial license. Although this entails developing a transition plan for our current subscribers (since full introduction of this technology will result in the first generation receivers being unable to receive our signal), using this technology systemwide provides synergies and potential cost efficiencies that we expect will ultimately benefit our subscribers. For the automobile market initially, we plan to introduce after-market oriented products, which will be housed in a docking station on the automobile’s dashboard and will use an omni-directional antenna mounted on the automobile’s roof. Similar to the receivers used by Sirius and XM, these automobile receivers would access our satellite when in line of sight of our satellite or a terrestrial repeater network when line of sight to our satellite is blocked, which would generally only be the case when the receiver is in a major metropolitan area and large buildings, trees and other natural obstructions obscure the line of sight with our satellites.

The WorldSpace System

Our system is a complete digital audio, data and multimedia system comprising three major components: the space segment, the ground segment, which includes satellite control, content uplinking and terrestrial repeaters (when we complete the repeater network installation in Italy), and the user segment. The space segment is designed to cover most of the geographical areas of the world (except North America and Australia) using three geostationary satellites. We have spent approximately $747 million on required infrastructure, including the satellites and the earth stations. Presently, two of the satellites, AsiaStar and AfriStar and their associated ground control systems, are providing operational services to Asia, all of the Middle East and Africa, and parts of Europe. In addition, we have a fully assembled satellite in storage (which we plan to use to expand our mobile DARS in Europe) and the long lead parts for another (which may serve as a ground spare). The satellites are designed to provide digital audio, multimedia and data broadcasting to small fixed and portable L-band receivers in their line of sight anywhere in their broadcast coverage area. In order to provide a robust mobile service, we are implementing terrestrial repeater networks, initially in Italy, that will be part of our system in selected markets within our satellite broadcast coverage area. With the addition of suitably located terrestrial repeater networks, the system can provide more reliable urban broadcast services to receivers in automobiles (similar to the services provided by XM and Sirius in the United States).

We built our system working with industry leaders, including Alcatel Space (now Thales Alenia Space), EADS Astrium and Arianespace (France), SED (Canada), GSI (USA), Fraunhofer Institute (Germany), ST Microelectronics (Italy), Micronas (Germany) and others, to realize high quality and reliability of service.

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Space segment

Our orbiting satellites, AfriStar and AsiaStar, and our satellite in storage are Matra Marconi Eurostar 2000+ buses built by Alcatel Space and EADS Astrium, formerly known as Matra Marconi Space. Both are geostationary orbit satellites broadcasting programs in the L-band frequency (1452-1492 MHz range). Each of the two satellites has three downlink spot beams, with each beam covering approximately 14 million square kilometers of the earth. The AfriStar satellite, launched in October 1998, is located at the 21º East Longitude orbital location with beams covering all regions of Africa, the Mediterranean basin countries, the Middle East and parts of Europe. The AsiaStar satellite, launched in March 2000, is located at the 105º East Longitude orbital location with beams covering the most densely populated parts of Asia, including India, China and the southern part of Russia. The third satellite, which is fully assembled and ready for launch, is currently in storage at EADS Astrium’s and Thales Alenia Space facilities in Toulouse, France and Stevenage, U.K. A fourth satellite of identical design, for which long lead parts have been procured and partially assembled, is also maintained in storage in Toulouse, France and can be integrated and tested for launch in an abbreviated period of time.

Each satellite has a design life of twelve years, with an orbital maneuver life of 15 years, which means that each satellite has been designed and fueled to maintain its assigned orbital position (within 0.1 degrees) for 15 years. After that point, the satellite must be decommissioned. Our AfriStar satellite has developed a defect in its solar panels. As a result of this defect, the energy collected by those panels is less than intended. Based upon the past few years operational experience with this issue and consultations with Astrium, we believe the defect’s likely effect is limited to potential satellite power inadequacy during solar eclipses. We have adapted our satellite procedures accordingly and, in consultation with Astrium, we have implemented operational procedures that would extend the useful life of the satellite relevant to this solar array issue through careful management of the power generated by the solar arrays. Such procedures, which are expected to be invoked during the critical eclipse periods, may result in a temporary and relatively insignificant reduction of the power radiated by one or more of its beams with a resulting reduction of the broadcast coverage area of such beam(s).

Each of our satellites provides two types of channel capacity: transparent and processed. In the transparent mode, signals from ground stations are sent to the satellite in a time sequence known as time division multiplex (TDM). In this mode, different channels are brought to a central hub station for aggregation and uplink to the satellite. The satellite receives and broadcasts these channels to ground receivers within its coverage area. The three downlink beams receive programs from corresponding uplinks in different frequencies. In the processed mode, the satellite has the ability to process the received signals before transmission to its coverage area. This second mode allows individual broadcasters to uplink to the satellite directly from their respective sites. In the processed mode, any program uplinked on a single frequency can be broadcast in any or all of the downlink beams.

Ground segment

Operation of each satellite currently in-orbit is monitored and controlled by the ground control system, comprising a regional operations center (ROC), two telemetry, command and ranging (TCR) stations and one communications system monitoring (CSM) station that performs monitoring of the downlink signal quality and control of each satellite. Our regional operations centers are located in Silver Spring, Maryland for AfriStar and Melbourne, Australia for AsiaStar. The regional operating centers, through their satellite control centers, manage the performance and status of the satellite by controlling the satellite and monitoring the status of the onboard communications payload. In addition, the regional operations centers, through mission control centers, facilitate delivery and control the quality of the signals from the individual uplink stations to the satellites by assigning signals to the appropriate uplink frequencies and routing them to their appropriate downlink carriers. The system architecture is identical for each region.

The regional operating centers control the satellites via dedicated data lines to the TCR stations. Each satellite has two TCR stations with sufficient geographic distance between them so that if natural disasters or any unforeseen events were to make one inoperable, a back-up station will be available. TCR stations consist of an

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X-Band uplink command and control system and an L-band telemetry monitoring system. A backup mode has also been provided using an S Band link from Bangalore, India. The TCR stations for AfriStar are located in Bangalore, India and Port Louis, Mauritius and for AsiaStar in Melbourne, Australia and Port Louis, Mauritius.

In addition to the TCR stations, a CSM station is associated with each satellite to monitor continuously the quality of the downlink services. Our CSM facilities are located in Libreville, Gabon for AfriStar and Melbourne, Australia for AsiaStar.

Network management system

Our network management system provides the connectivity between the programming sources, the satellites and the receivers. The satellite transponders permit (i) a multiplicity of uplinks to the satellites directly from the broadcaster’s studio or from common hub feeder link stations (linked terrestrially to broadcasters through dedicated communication lines) and (ii) downlinks directly to receivers.

In the common hub mode, the WorldSpace-branded broadcast channels, all audio channels from external broadcasters and multimedia content are backhauled and aggregated to a broadcast operations center (BOC) and the content is fed directly to a transparent hub feeder link station (TFLS). The external broadcaster’s contents are backhauled to the BOC using off-the-shelf codec equipment and dedicated communication lines. The TFLS multiplexes all the incoming audio channels and data, and translates the encoded signal into the TDM format compatible with the receivers. The TFLS then uses a single carrier frequency to uplink transmissions to the satellite. Onboard the satellite, the signal is routed by the transparent transponder to a specific downlink beam and transmitted via L-band frequencies to the receivers. A TFLS located in Johannesburg provides the uplink to the AfriStar satellite. A station in Singapore provides the uplink for the west and south beams of the AsiaStar satellite. The north beam of the AsiaStar satellite is supported by a TFLS located in Beijing, China.

As an alternative to the TFLS, individual broadcasters may also uplink directly to the satellite from their own facilities or from a central location via a Processed Feeder Link Station (PFLS). The PFLS can be installed

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at the broadcaster’s location or a location central to several broadcasters (to which programming is transmitted by the broadcasters via dedicated communication lines). The PFLS, after coding, translates the signal into PRCs for onward transmission to the processed transponder onboard the satellite. The processed payload transponder receives multiple uplink signals and processes them for rebroadcast in L-band. PFLSs in London and Toulouse currently provide access to AfriStar; a new PFLS has been constructed in Dubai to replace a decommissioned Nairobi PFLS. PFLSs in Melbourne and Singapore provide access to AsiaStar. The TFLSs and the PFLSs are equipped with custom-built encryption nodes to encrypt any channel or a group of channels to support the subscription management service.

We will also introduce an over-the-air authorization capability, which will allow suitably equipped receivers to be activated or de-activated using a dedicated channel without requiring consumers to enter passwords directly into a receiver. This will facilitate quick and easy activation and deactivation of receivers over the air without requiring the manual entry of passwords into a receiver.

Terrestrial system

Since uninterrupted line of sight reception may be difficult in the urban areas in which we operate, we intend to install terrestrial repeating transmitters to rebroadcast our satellite signals in the largest metropolitan areas of our intended mobile DARS markets. Our next generation receivers will be capable of receiving this broadcast. The development and introduction of next generation mobile receivers will coincide with the launch of our first terrestrial repeater network in Italy and will follow in other markets in which we intend to offer a mobile service. The satellite component of the system will be based on the same TDM signal we currently use, but will use a modified waveform with several significant enhancements designed to improve in-vehicle reception in areas partially shadowed by trees or other obstructions.

User segment

Users must purchase a receiver compatible with the L-band frequency in order to access our system. The radio receiver processes, decodes and descrambles the signals to allow users to receive our programming content. Our broadcast frequency and satellites require a special receiver design incorporating either a small patch antenna measuring approximately 6 to 8 cm (2.4 to 3.2 inches) which folds neatly into the receiver unit or a similarly sized omni-directional antenna mounted on the car rooftop. Each receiver is individually addressable via a unique identifier that can be used to unlock specially coded audio or multimedia signals. This capability provides us with the flexibility to deliver free, subscription and/or premium services to consumers.

The currently available receivers are manually coded for subscription authorization. A password, valid for varying periods of time depending upon the length of the subscription purchased and paid for, is provided to a subscriber and entered into the receiver. Currently passwords are re-validated on a quarterly basis. Upon subscription renewal, a new passcode is provided and similarly entered into the receiver. As new receiver products are introduced, we plan to provide for over-the-air activation of subscriptions.

Competition

We expect competition for our services from a diverse mix of audio, video and data providers ranging from traditional AM/FM and shortwave broadcasters to cable television and DTH satellite broadcasters, Internet-based radio broadcasters and other potential satellite DARS providers.

Traditional radio

We face competition from traditional AM/FM and shortwave radio broadcasters. The shortwave and AM/FM radio industries are well established and generally offer free-to-air reception paid for by commercial advertising. In addition, certain stations offer free-to-air programming without commercial interruption. Many

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shortwave and AM/FM radio stations also offer information programming of a local nature, such as local news or traffic, which we may not be able to offer. Radio stations compete for listeners and advertising revenue directly with other radio stations within their markets on the basis of a variety of factors, including program content, on-air talent, transmitter power, audience characteristics, local program acceptance and the number and characteristics of other radio stations in the market. AM/FM radio is deeply rooted in most European markets. And although there has recently been limited expansion of AM/FM radio in India, traditional AM/FM radio there is still not as important a source of competition as in other markets because of the poorer quality and narrow selection of programming currently offered.

Terrestrial Digital Broadcast Services

We may also face competition from terrestrial digital broadcast services in the future, such as Terrestrial Digital Radio (TDR) services. TDR is a digital technological upgrade of traditional radio that offers up to CD-quality radio in over-the-air broadcasts with text information such as song title, weather and news alerts included. TDR experimental services are being conducted in a number of countries worldwide, including China, parts of Europe, India and Israel. A few countries, including Canada, the U.K., Denmark and Germany, have started regular commercial TDR services, and France has announced its intention to launch a similar service in 2008. Standards for providing such services in the United States were authorized by the FCC in October 2002.

Other digital broadcast systems and services include technological upgrades which permit the service to provide digital TV and multimedia signals to mobile phones and other portable devices – or mobile TV. Experiments in terrestrial mobile TV services are being conducted in a number of countries worldwide, including Germany, the US and France, while Korea and Italy started offering regular commercial services in January 2005 and in 2006, respectively. It is possible that the anticipation of the 2008 Olympics may stimulate the introduction of similar services by the summer of 2008 in China and other European countries.

Satellite television and cable

Traditional cable operators and DTH satellite broadcasters programming television offer programming that may compete with ours. Many cable television operators provide a set of music channels as an ancillary service for cable subscribers. Delivery of television via DTH satellite transmission is a growing phenomenon worldwide, including in most of the countries we have targeted, and these satellites may broadcast audio channels. Many DTH satellite services provide a set of music channels accessible through fixed dish receivers mounted on a home or building as an ancillary service for customers investing in the television dish and receiver, and paying the monthly or annual subscription price. DTH and cable audio programs may offer high quality signals and a customer’s choice of available programming is considerably broadened by these offerings—both aspects common to our planned service. Cable services and DTH television, however, are not portable and can only be heard through televisions or stereo receivers wired into the satellite antenna or cable television system, so they will not compete with our portable satellite receivers or our intended mobile automotive service. In addition, most DTH and cable audio services are presently limited to packaged recorded music and are secondary in marketing emphasis to television. However, there are a few existing providers of DTH radio, such as Digital Music Express in the U.S., which offers over ninety channels of digital commercial free sound through a subscription service. However, such DTH radio services do not offer traditional radio type broadcasts, which include live DJs and up-to-the-minute news.

Internet radio broadcasts

There are large numbers of Internet radio broadcasts which can be accessed from any PC connected to the Internet anywhere in the world. In general, the audio quality of these broadcasts is dependent on the bandwidth available and the quality of the Internet connection. To the extent that higher quality sound is available, for the listener to experience a high quality broadcast they must have a broadband connection to the Internet and the listeners must connect their PC to quality speakers or earphones. It is unlikely that there will be a portable

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Internet solution in the markets we are targeting for some time to come. Much of the current radio broadcasts are pre-programmed music playlists, not traditional radio type broadcasts with live DJs or up-to-the-minute news programming.

PC users can download music in formats suitable for storage and playback on their PCs. In contrast to music that is played on a PC directly from the Internet, the sound quality of music that is downloaded from specialty Internet sites for future listening on PCs can be comparable to our broadcasts.

Other satellite service providers

Direct satellite DARS competition in the L-band is limited by the digital satellite radio spectrum allocation established by the 1992 WRC, referred to as WARC-92, and by our current use of this allocation. Although a number of countries have since submitted filings to the ITU for potential use of the same unique L-band frequencies allocated to satellite radio, we are not aware of any other satellite DARS providers in the L-band. While new competitors could emerge, particularly if our service proves to be a commercial success, any potential satellite users of the L-band are required to protect our receivers from harmful interference. Moreover, our two satellites currently occupy most of the L-band spectrum allocation in our target regions.

In addition to direct satellite DARS competition in the L-band, we may face competition from satellite “Digital Multimedia Broadcasting”, or DMB, service providers in one or more of our target markets. Satellite DMB consists primarily of delivering TV programs and multimedia content, including audio, to mobile phones. While the service is aimed primarily at the mobile phone market, it is also possible to provide in-vehicle reception of the service. While satellite DMB is currently available only in Japan and South Korea, similar services have also been proposed for provision in different S-band allocations in other parts of the world, including Europe, India, the Middle East and China. Since satellite DMB consists mainly of delivering video channels, while satellite DARS is tailored to provide multiple audio channels, especially to automobiles, we believe any potential competition from future satellite DMB operators is likely to be mainly indirect.

Music players

In addition, listeners increasingly have additional choices for high quality music reproduction, such as CDs, cassettes and MP3 players. Prices for devices to play these media may be lower than the price for our receivers. However, CDs, cassettes and MP3 players cannot provide the “real-time” news and public affairs programming offered on radio. The vast majority of mass-produced, portable MP3 players do not have any AM, FM or satellite radio capability.

Intellectual Property/Trademarks/Patents

We use and hold intellectual property rights for a number of trademarks, service marks and logos for our system and services and for our receivers. We have two main marks—“WORLDSPACE” and the “Orbital Logo”—both of which are registered in over 25 countries in the international categories for satellite communications or radio and data business. We have under consideration certain modifications to our main marks and expect to make a decision in the near term. We also hold, in various jurisdictions, a small number of regional taglines or channel brand names including but not limited to “AmeriSpace”, “AmeriStar”, “AfriStar”, and “AsiaStar”. In addition, we currently own or have applied for more than 40 patents in more than 40 countries relating to various aspects of our system and receivers, and at any time we may file additional patent applications in the appropriate countries for various aspects of our system. Our patents cover various aspects of the satellite direct radio broadcast system and terrestrial repeaters with formatting of broadcast data, and the processing thereof by the satellite and reception by remote radio receivers. In India we have six patents pending, and in China we have been issued two patents and have five additional patents pending. We also have exclusive rights in various Fraunhofer Gesellschaft patents.

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We believe that all intellectual property rights used in our system were independently developed or duly licensed by us, by those we license the rights from or by the technology companies who supplied portions of our system. We cannot assure you, however, that third parties will not bring suit against us for patent or other infringement of intellectual property rights.

We have granted XM, a royalty-free, non-exclusive and irrevocable license to use and sublicense all improvements to our technology made up to January 1, 2003. This license renews automatically on an annual basis unless terminated for a breach which has not been or cannot be remedied.

The recording rights federation, International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), and we have entered into a global blanket license for sound recording rights that is expected to cover those rights for our soon to be launched service in Italy. We are currently exploring the licensing of composers rights for that market. For the India market, we entered into a license agreement with Phonographic Performance Ltd. (PPL) for the equivalent rights granted by IFPI for the India catalogue once PPL opted out of the global arrangement with IFPI. The term of this agreement expired at the end of 2007 and we remain in good faith negotiations with PPL for a renewal.

We also hold a blanket license granted by the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS), to broadcast, perform, transmit and otherwise use all musical works which COMPASS has or will have the right to license. The license is deemed to continue from year to year unless terminated by notice in writing by either party at least 60 days before the end of the prior covered year. It was granted concurrently with the launch of transmissions through our AsiaStar satellite. The license covers our transmission of music contained in the COMPASS catalog to and from AsiaStar on a direct-to-receiver basis only, but does not cover third-party retransmissions. With respect to certain music works not contained in the COMPASS catalog and which we may wish to include in future programming, we may approach the rights-holders directly for licenses, which may result in increased costs.

Although we believe the license granted by COMPASS covers all necessary broadcasting rights for transmissions from our Singapore uplink station to India, China and other countries within the AsiaStar broadcast coverage area, its sister rights societies in other jurisdictions within the AsiaStar broadcast coverage area may not recognize such license and may seek to require separate licenses for broadcasts into their jurisdictions. This could increase our cost of broadcasting in such jurisdictions. Indeed, the society in India, India Performing Rights Society (IPRS), has recently announced that it is opting out of the COMPASS arrangement with respect to its India catalogue. We are in good faith negotiations with IPRS and expect to reach agreement on terms in the near future.

Regulatory Matters

As an international satellite system operator and provider of DARS, we are subject to regulation at the international and national levels. At the international level, we are subject to the radio frequency spectrum allocation process and satellite coordination procedures of the ITU. Additionally, at the national level, we are subject to regulation by jurisdictions that have licensed our satellites and their associated ground segments. Finally, while provision of our satellite-only service in most markets does not require service authorization, the implementation of hybrid satellite and complementary terrestrial networks requires that we obtain prior service and/or frequency authorization(s) in each respective market.

Regulation at the international level

The ITU radio-frequency spectrum allocation process

The ITU, a specialized agency of the United Nations with over 190 member countries, meets every three to four years at a World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC). The purpose of the WRC is to update frequency

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allocation decisions and other conditions for use of radio frequency spectrum at the international level. Once the ITU allocates a particular frequency band to a given service, individual member countries may assign and license frequencies within that band to specific communications and media service providers in such countries.

At WARC-92, the ITU allocated the 1452-1492 MHz frequency band (within the so-called “L-band”) to the Broadcasting-Satellite Service (Sound), (BSS (Sound)) referred to as DARS in the United States, on a global basis. Recognizing the line of sight physics of satellite broadcasting and the need to provide seamless coverage in urban areas, the ITU specified that the global allocation covered BSS (Sound) and complementary terrestrial broadcasting. Further, WARC-92 limited BSS (Sound) initial operations to the upper 25 MHz of the L-band allocation (1467-1492 MHz), with the use of the lower 15 MHz of the L-band to commence after the conclusion of a planning conference, which has not been scheduled.

ITU satellite coordination

Our use of the orbital locations assigned to us in our licenses is subject to the frequency coordination and registration process of the ITU. In order to protect satellite systems from harmful radio frequency interference from other communications systems, the ITU maintains a Master International Frequency Register (MIFR) of radio frequency assignments and their associated orbital locations. Each ITU member state (referred to as an “administration”) is required by treaty to give notice of, coordinate, and register its proposed use of radio frequency assignments and associated orbital locations with the ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau.

In our case, the governments of the United States, Australia and Trinidad and Tobago have licensed or authorized our AfriStar and AsiaStar satellites and the satellite intended for use in Central and South America (AmeriStar), respectively, and are therefore the notifying administrations for each of those respective satellites as well as another satellite intended as a replacement for AfriStar. As our notifying administrations, they are responsible for filing and coordinating our allocated radio frequency assignments and associated orbital locations for each satellite with both the ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau and the national administrations of other countries in each satellite’s service region.

BSS (Sound) services share the L-band frequencies on a co-primary basis with terrestrial fixed, mobile and broadcasting services. Therefore, our satellites were required to be coordinated with existing systems either lawfully operating in our service regions or enjoying date priority ahead of us. While our notifying administrations, as the formal members of the ITU, are responsible for coordinating our satellites, in practice they require that we, as the satellite licensee, identify any potential interference concerns with existing systems or those enjoying date priority ahead of us, and provide the analytical work and interface necessary to coordinate with such systems. If we are unable to reach agreement and finalize coordination, our notifying administrations would then assist us with such coordination.

When the coordination process is completed, the ITU formally enters each satellite system’s orbital and frequency use characteristics in the MIFR. Such registration notifies all proposed users of frequencies that such registered satellite system is protected from interference from subsequent or nonconforming uses by other nations.

In the event disputes arise during coordination, the ITU’s Radio Regulations do not contain mandatory dispute resolution or enforcement mechanisms. Rather, the Radio Regulations’ dispute resolution procedures are based on the willingness of the parties concerned to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. Neither the ITU specifically, nor international law generally, provides clear remedies if this voluntary process fails. As further described below, each of our satellites in-service has been fully coordinated and registered in the MIFR and therefore enjoys priority over all later-filed requests for coordination and any non-conforming uses. Further, coordination information has been submitted for our AfriStar-2 satellite. However, while the ITU’s Radio

Regulations set forth the procedures for the resolution of disputes that may arise either during coordination or

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after coordination is completed and satellites are registered, as a practical matter there are no mandatory dispute resolution or enforcement mechanisms at the ITU.

Regulation at the national level

Regulation of the satellites

AfriStar-1: Regulation by the United States. Following a previously issued experimental license, on December 17, 1999, the FCC granted AfriSpace, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary (AfriSpace), a full license authorizing AfriSpace to launch and operate the AfriStar-1 satellite at the 21° East Longitude orbital location to provide commercial digital audio broadcasting services in the L-band to Africa and the Middle East. The license specifically provides for a ten year license term and expires in January 2010. It is renewable at that time.

We successfully coordinated the operation of AfriStar-1 with each of the administrations in the satellite’s coverage area. On February 7, 2006, the ITU registered the AfriStar satellite network in the MIFR. Under current ITU spectrum priority rules, therefore, AfriStar-1 has priority for use of the relevant radio frequencies and the associated orbital position. The AfriStar-1 filing has a period of validity of thirty years, through October 2028.

Our AfriStar satellite is licensed to serve all markets within its footprint. As noted above, AfriSpace received its license to serve the Africa and Middle East regions. As a U.S. -licensed satellite system, AfriStar is subject to the FCC’s general policies governing satellite services. In this regard, in its DISCO I Report and Order, the FCC gave U.S. satellite operators the flexibility to serve any market within their satellites’ footprint, provided the United States’ international obligations to coordinate the spacecraft are satisfied. AfriStar has been fully coordinated for service throughout its service region, which includes not only the Middle East and Africa, but also portions of South Asia and Europe. Therefore, on April 8, 2004, AfriSpace notified the FCC that it intended to provide service to all regions within the satellite’s footprint.

Additionally, on February 5, 2008, AfriSpace filed with the FCC a request to modify its AfriStar-1 license in order to allow that satellite to operate in a configuration which provides expanded coverage of Europe. The request has not yet been granted by the FCC.

AfriStar-2: Regulation by the United States. On January 3, 2006, we were awarded a license by the FCC to launch and operate AfriStar-2, and to co-locate it with AfriStar-1 at the 21° East Longitude orbital location. The satellite would operate within the same authorized frequency band (from 1467 to 1492 MHz) as AfriStar-1 and is expected to enhance our service coverage in North Africa, the Mediterranean basin and Europe, as well as provide certain “overlap” redundancy for the northwestern and northeastern portions of AfriStar’s current coverage area. The first request for coordination with respect to AfriStar-2 was published by the ITU on May 3, 2005 and a second request for coordination, identical to the first but with a later validity date to cater for possible launch delays, was published by the ITU on June 12, 2007.

The FCC did not impose a performance bond requirement on AfriStar-2 and only required that it be launched and placed into operation prior to decommissioning AfriStar-1.

A number of ITU filings for the L-band currently have date priority over our AfriStar-2 filings. Although we are required to coordinate our AfriStar-2 filings with these prior-in-time filings, those filings must themselves be coordinated with our AfriStar-1 and AsiaStar satellite notifications.

On February 2, 2006, an application for review was filed asking the FCC to reverse the order by which the FCC had granted the AfriStar-2 license. We timely submitted an opposition to this application for review. While we believe that the application for review lacks any legal basis that would justify a reversal of the FCC’s decision to grant the AfriStar-2 license, there is no guarantee that the FCC will uphold its order and our license.

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Other United States regulation. We are also subject to U.S. export controls laws and regulations, specifically the Arms Export Control Act, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Export Administration Regulations and the trade sanctions laws and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls in the operation of our business. We have obtained all the specific authorizations currently needed to operate our business and believe that the terms of these licenses are sufficient given the scope and duration of the activities to which they pertain.

AsiaStar: regulation by Australia

Our AsiaStar satellite is subject to regulation under the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (Cth) and the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Apparatus Licence) Determination 2003 (Cth), related subordinate legislation and a Deed of Agreement between the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) (now the Australian Communications and Music Authority (ACMA)) and AsiaSpace Limited, the Company’s wholly-owned Australian subsidiary (AsiaSpace).

In 1995, the ACA (now the ACMA) on behalf of the Australian government agreed to be the ITU notifying administration for our AsiaStar satellite, operated by AsiaSpace. In 1999, following the ACA filings with the ITU on behalf of AsiaSpace, a Deed of Agreement between the ACA and AsiaSpace was executed that provided for the frequency coordination and operational control of the AsiaStar satellite network from Australia (the Deed).

The Deed remains in force as long as AsiaSpace fulfills its obligations as specified therein, which include compliance with the ITU Radio Regulations, maintenance of a telemetry, tracking and control facility in Australia, AsiaSpace’s continued incorporation in Australia and location of its central management and control in Australia. If AsiaSpace is determined to have breached the Deed, the ACMA has the discretion to terminate the Deed and suppress the ITU notification of the network. In 2005, AsiaSpace agreed in principle to amend the Deed so that it is responsible for all costs payable to the ITU. This requirement is imposed upon other satellite operators in Australia who have entered into similar deeds with the ACMA. AsiaSpace is presently discussing draft amendments with the ACMA. Once the AsiaStar satellite reaches the end of its service life, if a new satellite is launched from Australia or an Australian national (including an Australian corporation within the WorldSpace group) authorizes the launch, the Space Activities Act 1998 (Cth) would apply and we will need to apply to the ACMA and the Space Licensing and Safety Office (SLASO) for authorization to launch a replacement satellite. However, there can be no guarantee that the ACMA and SLASO will grant such an authorization, in which case, the radio frequency assignments and associated orbital location currently used by our AsiaStar satellite could become available for use by other satellite operators.

AsiaSpace also currently holds apparatus licenses 1105214, 1105215, 1317666 and 1317667 which are issued by the ACA (now ACMA) and authorize the use of certain frequencies and facilities necessary in Australia for the operation of the AsiaStar satellite. The licenses are renewed annually. Although renewal is not automatic, there is a reasonable expectation that they will be renewed at the appropriate time.

AsiaSpace has successfully coordinated the AsiaStar satellite at the 105º East Longitude orbital location and, on June 15, 2004, the ITU registered the AsiaStar satellite network in the MIFR. Under current ITU spectrum priority rules, AsiaStar has priority for use of the relevant radio frequencies and the associated orbital position.

AmeriStar: regulation by Trinidad and Tobago and France

On December 30, 1992, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago granted a special license to WorldSpace Caribbean Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary, to provide commercial digital audio broadcasting services from the 95° West Longitude orbital location. This license expired on April 2, 2000 and was subsequently renewed in December 2001 and would have remained effective for twelve years (until 2013) unless we failed to launch the satellite within the period of validity of the ITU filing (January 2002).

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As a result of a lengthy coordination process, the initial filing for AmeriStar expired in January 2002. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago subsequently submitted a new advance publication filing to the ITU effective January 2002. This new filing will expire in January 2009 if a satellite is not launched by that time.

Since we do not intend to launch a satellite by January 2009, the 2002 filing will expire at that time, and we do not intend to seek a renewal of our license from Government of Trinidad and Tobago. As an alternative strategy, the French administration, at our request, has submitted to the ITU on February 22, 2008, two filings, at 78° West Longitude and 65° West Longitude, respectively. We will seek a corresponding license(s) from the French administration at the appropriate time.

Regulation of the WorldSpace ground system

Operation of the satellites

Our satellites are monitored and controlled by the ground control system, which is comprised of regional operations centers (ROCs) in Silver Spring, Maryland and Melbourne, Australia; telemetry, command and ranging (TCR) stations in Bangalore, India, Melbourne, Australia and Mauritius; and in-orbit testing/communications system monitoring (IOT/CSM) stations in Libreville, Gabon and Melbourne, Australia that control and monitor the downlink signal quality of each satellite. Pursuant to our contracts with relevant in-country service providers such as Gabon Télécom, Antrix Corporation Limited of India and Mauritius Telecom, the responsibility for obtaining and maintaining all necessary regulatory authorizations for operation of the ROC, TCR and IOT/CSM stations not owned or operated by WorldSpace resides with the applicable local service providers. We believe that our ground system service providers have obtained all necessary regulatory authorizations for the operation and monitoring of the AfriStar and AsiaStar satellites. In Mauritius and Gabon, our previous long-term agreements for ground systems services have expired and we are currently operating on a month-to-month basis with no change in terms.

Regulation of Receivers. Our receiver manufacturers have the broad responsibility to market the receivers. Pursuant to our receiver development, production, marketing and license agreements, the relevant receiver manufacturers are responsible for obtaining and maintaining any permits and similar approvals relating to the sale of the receivers and for complying with all applicable export compliance laws.

In the international trade of products, most countries follow the Harmonized Commodity and Coding System, also referred to as the Harmonized System (HS), as a basis to calculate customs tariffs. To date, most countries that have allowed the importation of satellite DARS receivers have used the Harmonized System 85.27 classification, which also applies to conventional analog radios. Thus, customs restrictions and tariff levels may vary from country-to-country or region-to-region.

Regulatory status in Europe

Digital radio broadcasting services constitute a relatively new commercial sector in Europe; consequently, many European administrations are re-examining their existing regulatory frameworks to accommodate the potential new services. At the pan-European level, European administrations have established a frequency plan, known as the Maastricht 2002 plan, to facilitate and encourage the introduction of national terrestrial digital radio networks. As described below, one consequence of the terrestrial frequency plan is the reduction of the available spectrum in Europe for the deployment of satellite radio networks.

In July 1995, the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), met in Wiesbaden, Germany and agreed on a Special Arrangement concerning the introduction and planning of Terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcasting (T-DAB), in the VHF frequencies (174-230 MHz) and L-band (1452- 1467.5 MHz) in the territories of the signatory Administrations (referred to as the WI-95 arrangement). In the Special Arrangement, each of the signatory administrations received a certain number of allotments, consisting of T-DAB frequency blocks that were geographically limited and pre-coordinated so as not to interfere with each other, and distributed with a view to forming two complete national coverages per country.

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Subsequently, terrestrial digital radio proponents requested that additional L-band spectrum resources above 1467.5 MHz be allocated for T-DAB, in addition to the WI-95 plan. In October 2000, the European Radio communications Committee (ERC), the highest body within the CEPT in charge of radio communications matters, authorized seven additional frequency blocks (approximately 12 MHz) from the satellite-only part of the upper 25 MHz of the L-band to be used for the planning of one further T-DAB coverage in each country. A CEPT Conference took place in June 2002 in Maastricht to develop this third coverage plan and to transfer former L-band T-DAB allotments from the WI-95 arrangement into the resulting new “MA-02 Special Arrangement.”

The resulting MA-02 plan leaves 12.5 MHz (1479.5-1492 MHz) of the original WARC-92 allocation for satellite digital audio broadcasting, including ancillary terrestrial components, and our AfriStar satellite has been coordinated to use this frequency range within its broadcast coverage area, which includes most of Europe. We believe the 12.5 MHz set aside by the MA-02 plan provides sufficient radio-frequency spectrum to execute our business development plans in Europe, including our contemplated provision of DARS and mobile DARS.

Italy and Switzerland

In May 2006, our Italian subsidiary, WorldSpace Italia S.p.A., received an authorization from the Italian Ministry of Communications to launch a subscription satellite radio and data service in Italy, utilizing the frequency band 1479.5-1492 MHz for the operation of the corresponding hybrid satellite/terrestrial network. We anticipates launching Europe’s first satellite digital radio service to portable and vehicular devices in early 2009, using our AfriStar satellite and a terrestrial gap-filler network to be rolled out in the major Italian cities.

In April 2008, we also received approval from Switzerland’s Office Fédéral de la Communication (OFCOM) to operate terrestrial repeaters that will work in conjunction with our AfriStar satellite.

United Kingdom

In May 2001, the Radio Authority issued WorldSpace U.K. Ltd. a Radio Authority Satellite Service License under Part III of the Broadcasting Act 1990, which authorizes WorldSpace U.K. to offer a multi-channel service receivable via custom-built receivers and carried on the AfriStar satellite. The Radio Authority ceased to exist on December 29, 2003, and its duties were assumed by a new communications regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Ofcom varied the license in December 2003 to conform with the requirements of the Communications Act 2003 (CA). The license will remain in effect until surrendered by WorldSpace U.K. or revoked in accordance with the conditions of the license, and requires payment of such fees as Ofcom may specify.

Ofcom has recently confirmed its plans to auction 40 MHz of L-band spectrum suitable for a range of services, including satellite radio and mobile TV. The release of 40 MHz of L-band spectrum is part of a wider plan of Ofcom to release around 400 MHz of valuable spectrum, including the spectrum that will be freed-up through the future switch to digital television. The L-band spectrum will be auctioned in two sub “packages”, on an application-neutral basis, with associated rights of spectrum trading:

We intend to participate in the L-band auction, which will likely take place during the second quarter of 2008.

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Other European countries:

We are actively pursuing regulatory authorizations to deploy terrestrial repeaters in additional European markets, notably Germany, France and Spain. In France, the authorities recently approved the ETSI SDR standard for deployment in the L-band allocation for satellite radio.

India

We began offering free-to-air service to India in 2000, and started providing the first subscription digital radio service in India in 2002. We are now in the advanced stages of seeking approval to offer a “hybrid” digital radio service in India. This service will utilize terrestrial repeaters located in urban and other areas where reception is problematic, in conjunction with our AsiaStar satellite, in order to develop a new mobile service intended for use in automobiles. Radio services in India are governed by the central government pursuant to the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 which, among other powers, give the central government the power to grant licenses to persons establishing, maintaining or working a telegraph apparatus, or even possessing a wireless telegraph apparatus, including radios, within any part of India. Each successive step in our Indian business strategy entails an increased level of regulation, and involves various regulatory authorities. These include: the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, which is responsible for policy formulation; the Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, which is responsible for licensing and wireless spectrum management, among others; the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), an autonomous government entity created under the TRAI Act, 2000, which is charged with regulating the telecommunications sector and providing recommendations to the government; the Wireless Planning & Coordination Committee (WPCC) Wing of the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, created under the Government New Telecommunications Policy, 1999, which sets spectrum policy in India; the Ministry of Home Affairs; the Department of Space; and the Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocation (SACFA). The regulatory aspects of the different stages of our business plan for India, as well as the respective roles of these governmental bodies, are described in more detail below.

Free-to-air services. India does not currently require downlink service/frequency authorizations to provide free-to-air, satellite-only digital radio services, including ancillary data transmissions. Currently, only Indian companies are authorized to downlink and uplink television channels to and from India. With respect to protection from interference into our L-band frequencies, the Indian administration has adopted the WARC-92 allocation for BSS (Sound) in its national table of allocations on a co-primary basis with the fixed service. Any potential interference issues are coordinated on a case-by-case basis.

Satellite-based subscription services. We have secured a general business license to carry out various activities including the collection of revenue. This, in turn, allows us to provide subscription audio services in India. Under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, establishing, maintaining or working any telecom equipment or possessing any wireless equipment, including satellite receivers, uplinking equipment or terrestrial repeaters, requires the approval of the Department of Telecommunications unless the equipment has been issued a general license or has been specifically exempted from the licensing requirement. Radio receivers have been exempted from specific licensing requirements. We also hold an import license for our receivers.

“Hybrid” services. For the terrestrial retransmission component of our “hybrid” digital radio services, we must obtain a spectrum allocation, spectrum and transmitter authorizations and may also be required to obtain a service license from the Indian government pursuant to the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, Indian Wireless Telegraph Act, 1933, the National Telecommunication Policy, 1999 and related regulations of the TRAI. We are studying the use of the ETSI SDR terrestrial waveform for our terrestrial component in each urban/suburban area where the satellite signal will be retransmitted. The WPCC process is to allocate terrestrial frequencies after assessing the spectrum requirement and utilization in each city. We expect that the WPCC will carry out this exercise in advance of issuing a full wireless operating license, and in parallel with the separate process of obtaining a service license.

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The transmitter authorization, which is under the authority of SACFA, covers the transmitter equipment inclusive of antenna, RF, IF and Baseband. All radio transmitters require SACFA and WPCC clearance, which is issued by the WPCC based upon the equipment specifications. The transmitter authorization is also required for importing equipment into India, as is a Telecommunications Engineering Center certificate. The manufacturers of our receivers are contractually required to obtain all relevant regulatory authorizations.

In addition to the SACFA and WPCC licenses described above, the terrestrial retransmission component may also require a service license and other related authorization from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to operate a digital “multiplex” of channels. At the moment, the Ministry does not have regulations governing service authorizations for hybrid DARS.

Pending DARS deliberations. In response to the gap described above in the regulations of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, TRAI issued a consultation paper in December 2004 and on June 27, 2005 issued a recommendation paper to the Ministry on appropriate terms and conditions for satellite DARS licensees. As we are currently the only DARS provider in India, WorldSpace India has been participating in the government’s deliberation process regarding the DARS policy.

In its recommendation paper, TRAI recommended that licenses for DARS be granted for periods of 10 years. Licenses would only be granted to Indian subsidiaries. TRAI recommended that no licensing fee be imposed, unless the number of license applications exceeds the available spectrum space. Instead, satellite DARS providers that are permitted to use terrestrial repeaters would be subject to a revenue share of 4% of gross earnings generated in India. TRAI also recommended that 100% foreign ownership be permitted in Indian DARS licenses, including terrestrial repeater licensees. The Indian government may or may not accept the TRAI recommendations. Even if the government accepts the TRAI recommendations, it can be selective in accepting the recommendations and may accept them in part.

When a regulatory regime is established, WorldSpace may be required to obtain approval from the WPCC, SACFA, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Space or other government bodies. WorldSpace may also be required to partner with a local entity to provide service. Although TRAI’s recommendations for DARS do not include foreign ownership restrictions, the laws governing most other telecommunications and broadcasting services in India, including the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, do include foreign ownership restrictions. We anticipate that WorldSpace will be able to continue providing service in India in some fashion, either through its wholly-owned subsidiary, a joint venture with a locally-owned service provider, or some other arrangement.

China

Our wholly owned subsidiary, WorldSpace (China), Information Technology, Ltd. has entered into a memoranda of understanding with several third-party providers of content with respect to possible cooperation agreements. In addition, WorldSpace China intends, through local Chinese media entities or alliances with local Chinese media entities, to provide services to local radio broadcasters and other media groups who hold appropriate licenses granted by SARFT to engage in radio broadcast and television programming business in China. While we are not yet providing commercial DARS service in China and the path to such service is not clear, we have established the necessary satellite infrastructure that will allow us, through cooperation with local China media entities, to begin providing service, if we receive the necessary regulatory approvals.

The telecommunications industry in China is subject to extensive government regulation. The Ministry of Information Industry (MII) is the primary agency of the Chinese government for regulating the telecommunications industry in China. As such, MII is responsible for, among other things: formulating and enforcing telecommunications industry policies and regulations; establishing technical standards; granting telecommunications services licenses; supervising the operations and quality of service of telecommunications operators; allocating and administering telecommunications resources, such as spectrum and telephone numbers; and, together with other relevant government agencies, formulating tariff standards.

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Currently, a national telecommunications law is in the process of being drafted. If and when the telecommunications law is adopted, it is expected to become the basic telecommunications statute and provide a new regulatory framework for the telecommunications industry in China. The Telecommunications Regulations, effective as of September 25, 2000, were promulgated by the State Council, and provide the primary regulatory framework for China’s telecommunications industry until finalization and adoption of the new telecommunications law. The Telecommunications Regulations primarily address: entry into the telecommunications industry; network interconnection; telecommunications resource allocation; tariffs; and service standards.

The Telecommunications Regulations distinguish between basic and value-added telecommunications services, which are subject to different licensing requirements. According to the Catalog of Telecommunications Services, promulgated by the MII and made effective as of April 1, 2003, satellite communications services are categorized as basic telecommunications services. All operators of telecommunications businesses in China must obtain appropriate licenses or permits. An operator of a basic telecommunications business is required to obtain certain authorizations, such as a license for providing VSAT service, a license for leasing a satellite transmitter and a frequency approval, in order to provide such specific telecommunications services. Further, the Administrative Regulations on Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises, promulgated by the State Council and made effective as of January 1, 2002, provide that the foreign equity ownership in a basic telecommunications service provider must not exceed 49%. However, foreign investment in basic telecommunications services, including but not limited to satellite communications services, is highly restricted and regulated.

Currently spectrum utilization by our AsiaStar satellite for broadcasting services to individual households in China must be implemented through a local satellite service provider with appropriate license(s) granted by the MII. In 2000, we entered into several agreements, including an exclusive agency agreement, with China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corporation, through which, after a restructuring in 2001, ChinaSat (acting, as appropriate, through its parent company, subsidiary or subsidiaries or affiliated company), became the sole agent to lease our AsiaStar satellite and develop our satellite leasing business in China. ChinaSat is one of six state-owned telecommunications operators in China and is the largest satellite operator. All existing licenses/permits regarding our satellite leasing business in China were granted to ChinaSat by the MII, including a basic telecommunications business license, and an operation license for leasing a satellite transmitter. According to the agency agreement, ChinaSat assumes full responsibility for obtaining the requisite government approvals, licenses and permits (if any) to ensure the legality of our satellite leasing business. In 2000, China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corporation, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Satellite Corporation after a restructuring in 2001, obtained MII’s approval for its one year commercial testing of satellite-based information service using the L-band of AsiaStar. In October 2004, ChinaSat obtained the MII’s approval to establish an L-band satellite digital audio broadcasting transmission system and uplink station subject to annual review by the MII.

Foreign investment in value-added telecommunications services, including but not limited to Internet data center and Internet access services, electronic data interchange services and information transmission services, is also subject to regulatory restrictions. In connection with China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), the threshold of the foreign investment in a company, which is engaged in value-added telecommunications services, can be up to 50%. It is, however, not permitted in China to operate value-added telecommunications services by either a foreign company or its wholly foreign-owned enterprise. Under such a WTO commitment, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, have entered into memoranda of understanding with several third-party providers of content with respect to possible cooperation agreements. WorldSpace China is validly existing in China and holds a business license to engage in, among others, researching and developing technologies for electronic equipment and multimedia information services, providing e-business information services, and providing technology services, consultations and training concerning its own products and sale of its own products.

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The radio and television industry in China is highly regulated by the Chinese government. The SARFT, along with the Ministry of Culture and the Information Office of the State Council regulate and censor the information which can be provided via radio, film and television. Foreign investors are currently prohibited from operating radio and television stations, radio and television transmission networks comprising transmission stations, relaying stations, satellite up-link stations, satellite receiving stations, microwave stations, monitoring stations and cable broadcasting and television transmission networks as well as publishing and playing broadcast and television programs. However, as of November 28, 2004, foreign investors are allowed, subject to approval by the SARFT and the Ministry of Commerce, to cooperate with local partners in China to produce television and radio programs, provided that the local Chinese partners hold a majority of the interests.

Although beginning in 2004, the regulatory framework for the radio and television industry in China has become more deregulated and transparent, restrictions remain tight on foreign investment in the radio and television fields in China and censorship procedures remain relatively restrictive with respect to content that is to be broadcast in China. The SARFT has indicated its intention to further liberalize this industry and strengthen the development of the digital television and broadcasting service, however, it is uncertain as to when and how these restrictions will be liberalized. Under the current Chinese regulatory regime, we are neither allowed to hold, or to establish any foreign-invested company with Chinese entities to hold, a license or permit with respect to the broadcasting business, nor are we currently engaged in the radio or television broadcasting business in China. If the Chinese government further opens the radio and television industries and grants licenses and permits to foreign investors or foreign-invested companies, we intend to implement a broadcast service using our AsiaStar satellite.

In China, a permit from the Ministry of Commerce or its local counterparts is required for any technology licensing agreements between foreign companies and the Chinese licensees for technology which is subject to restrictions on importation under Chinese laws. With regard to technology that may be freely imported, Chinese licensees are required to register the technology licensing agreements with the Ministry of Commerce or its local counterparts and obtain a registration certificate. If the licensed technology is protected by a Chinese patent, the parties to the technology licensing agreement are required to file the agreement with the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) or the local patent offices authorized by SIPO. Chinese licensees are also required to present the permit or the registration certificate or, if the licensed technology is protected by a Chinese patent, the filing documents, as the case may be, to the Chinese foreign currency control departments, local banks, taxation departments and customs when they make payment of the royalties to us. We have entered into technology license agreements with several Chinese companies to manufacture the receivers necessary for Chinese customers to listen to our programming upon the successful launch of our services in China.

Singapore

In February 2000, The Singapore Broadcasting Authority issued an International Satellite Radio Service License to WorldSpace Asia which authorizes WorldSpace to downlink its DARS service into Singapore. The license expired on January 31, 2005, but has been renewed for an additional 5 year term.

Executive Officers of the Company

Below please find certain information concerning each of our executive officers.

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Noah A. Samara has served as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of WorldSpace and its predecessors since inception. Mr. Samara has been involved in the development of both geostationary and low earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems since the mid-1980s. Mr. Samara’s early career was in satellite telecommunications, first with Geostar Corporation and later with the Washington law firm of Venable, Baetjer, Howard & Civiletti.

Sridhar Ganesan has served as Executive Vice President—Chief Financial Officer of WorldSpace and its predecessors since October 2004. Mr. Ganesan joined the WorldSpace group in September 2001 as Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Development. Prior to joining the WorldSpace group, Mr. Ganesan was the founder and Chief Executive officer of a US-based applications services provider, Skymach Corporation, from 2000 to 2001. Prior to that, Mr. Ganesan worked at Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunication in business development positions. Mr. Ganesan has more than twenty years of experience in business development, implementation of international businesses and projects and marketing and sales in the satellite, telecommunication, Internet, information technology and media areas.

Gregory B. Armstrong has served as Co-Chief Operating Officer of WorldSpace since May 2006. Prior to joining WorldSpace, Mr. Armstrong had been Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd., Japan’s largest multiple system telecommunications operator based on the number of subscribers, since January 2002. As Executive Vice President he was responsible for franchise operations, sales and marketing, AIT & billing, customer service, operations, engineering/construction, new technologies and digital product development. Prior to joining Jupiter, he held numerous positions with Liberty Media, a holding company owning interests in electronic retailing, media, communications and entertainment businesses, and its affiliated companies, including Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of On Command Corporation, one of the largest providers of in-room entertainment for hotels; Managing Director for Latin America at Liberty Media International; Senior Vice President of Cable Operations at Tele-Communications International, Inc.; and Vice President of UK Operations of Viacom Worldwide.

Alexander P. Brown has served as Co-Chief Operating Officer of WorldSpace since May 2006. Mr. Brown has held international leadership roles with a variety of major content companies in the media industry. Prior to joining WorldSpace, he had been President and CEO of CNBC Asia Pacific, a cable television network specializing in business news, since May 2002. From January through November 2001, Mr. Brown was President and CEO of Virtual Spectator, Inc., a developer of on-line software for sports applications. From 1996 until 2000 Mr. Brown was managing director of ESPN Star Sports, a joint venture between ESPN, a sports and entertainment network, and Star TV. From February 1992 until 1996, Mr. Brown was Managing Director of ESPN Asia, where he launched and established ESPN’s Asian operations.

Donald J. Frickel has served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of WorldSpace and its predecessors since January 1999. Mr. Frickel joined the WorldSpace group in March 1996 as Senior Vice President, Legal & Regulatory Affairs. Prior to joining the WorldSpace group, Mr. Frickel served as Associate General Counsel for Mobil Oil Corporation.

Available Information

Copies of our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to the reports are available free of charge through our Internet website, http://www.worldspace.com. We post each of these reports on the website as soon as reasonably practicable after the report is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information on our website is not incorporated into this Form 10-K.

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Our business, prospects, financial condition, operating results or cash flows may be materially and adversely affected by the following risks, or other risks and uncertainties that we have not yet identified or currently consider to be immaterial.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS

We have faced in the past, and may face in the future, challenges and constraints in obtaining financing.

We will need to raise additional financing to continue our operations, including the launch of service in Europe and the Middle East, the launch of a mobile service in India and possibly the launch of a service in China (if we are able to construct a workable arrangement there that is approved by the Chinese government). We have faced, and continue to face, severe challenges and constraints in financing our development and operations. For several years we experienced severe working capital constraints and incurred substantial delays in implementing our business plan largely as a result of our inability to raise financing. For example, prior to 2005, financing shortfalls forced us to limit our Indian marketing effort and the roll-out of our services in India. Recently, the potential exercise of an optional redemption right by our convertible noteholders presented cash flow constraints and made fundraising more difficult. In 2007, we entered into an agreement with the convertible note holders to restructure the notes and eliminate the optional redemption right. As part of the restructuring we used $50 million of our current cash reserves to redeem a portion of the outstanding notes and issued new senior secured notes, amended and restated convertible notes and warrants in exchange for the remaining principal amount of the convertible notes. The senior secured notes and amended and restated convertible notes contain mandatory prepayment provisions and limitations on the amounts of additional secured indebtedness we may incur, including a $27.5 million prepayment requirement for May 31, 2008, of which we repaid $9.8 million plus interest in January 2008 and the remaining $17.7 million plus interest must be paid on May 31, 2008. Going forward, we will continue to need significant amounts of cash to fund our operations, capital expenditures, administrative and overhead costs, and other contractual obligations as well as to pay down existing and future indebtedness. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Future Operating Liquidity and Capital Resource Requirements” and “—Capital Expenditures.” This will require us to continue to depend on the availability of outside financing. If we are not able to obtain additional financing, we would be forced to curtail, or even cease, operations. We cannot give any assurance that, either in the near-term or the long-term, we will be able to raise the required financing on favorable terms or at all, or that we will not continue to experience periods where our operations are severally restricted by our limited funding.

Our business has experienced significant losses and we may not be able to generate sufficient revenue to fund our business or to become profitable.

Through the end of December 2007, we have spent approximately $1.7 billion in connection with the development and launch of our business. To date, the build-out of our infrastructure and our day-to-day operations have been financed substantially entirely by our financing activities, and we have had limited revenue from operations. As of December 31, 2007, we had incurred aggregate losses of approximately $2.5 billion. We plan to dedicate significant resources to our current business strategy, including launch of service in Europe and, launch of a mobile service in India. If we are able to construct a workable commercial arrangement in China that will pass regulatory approval, we expect we will make similar expenditures there. In addition, to the extent we have positive annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), we are required to make payments of 10% of our EBITDA, if any, to Stonehouse Limited (“Stonehouse”) for each annual period through December 31, 2015 under a royalty agreement with Stonehouse Capital Ltd. (“Stonehouse”). See Note C to our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 herein. We anticipate that, in the near term, we will continue to rely on the proceeds from financings to sustain our operations. In the future, we will need to generate significant revenue in order to achieve a profit from operations, and we can offer no assurance that we will ever generate such levels of revenue or become profitable from operations.

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If we do not achieve sufficient demand for our services or are unable to retain our customers, we may not generate sufficient revenues for us to become profitable.

We cannot estimate with any degree of certainty the potential market demand in our target markets for a subscription-based digital satellite radio service or the degree to which our service will meet such market demand. We will achieve or fail to gain market acceptance depending upon many factors, some of which are not within our control, including:

If for any reason we cannot achieve a rapid and significant level of consumer acceptance for our service, or we are unable to retain sufficient percentages of our customers (including promotion subscribers), we may not generate sufficient revenues for us to become profitable.

Our mobile service business model is reliant on car manufacturers’ integration of satellite receivers into their new automobiles.

We intend to target our mobile service offering on consumers who listen to radio in their automobiles and, in order to be effective with this strategy, we need major car manufacturers to agree to integrate our receivers into their new automobiles (OEM distribution), as Fiat Group Automobiles has agreed to do in Italy commencing in the latter part of 2009. Although we are in discussions with several car manufacturers with distribution in Europe, the Middle East and India, there is no assurance that these manufacturers will agree to OEM distribution of our receivers or, even if they agree to do so, will aggressively implement such agreement in a significant portion of their production in any given market.

We may incur significant delays and expense in the development and installation of terrestrial repeater transmitters, and we cannot be certain that the systems will function properly.

Our planned introduction of a mobile service in Italy and other European countries, India, Bahrain and the UAE requires the installation of a network of terrestrial repeating transmitters (terrestrial repeaters), which serve as gap fillers to avoid signal disruption in the markets in which we plan to offer a mobile service. The eventual roll-out of our mobile services in China or elsewhere would also require the installation of networks of terrestrial repeaters.

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We intend to install terrestrial repeaters to rebroadcast our satellite signals in various cities in Italy as we prepare to roll out our mobile services. We have developed new technology for the terrestrial repeaters in cooperation with the Sodielec group and have commenced taking repeater deliveries in Italy. As our current receivers are not compatible with the terrestrial repeaters, we will also need to offer a next generation of receivers that can receive these rebroadcasts as well as broadcasts directly from our satellites. Although our initial tests in Milan have been positive, until we have installed and tested a substantial portion of the new equipment, we can not be certain that our mobile DARS will function in accordance with expectations using the terrestrial repeaters. In addition, some areas may still experience “dead zones” and we may incur additional costs to install terrestrial repeaters to cover these areas. We also may experience significant delays and expense in the implementation of our current plan to install terrestrial repeaters in the event that third-parties with existing terrestrial repeater networks, including radio broadcasters, upon whom we may be relying to secure optimal sites and install our terrestrial repeater network, do not cooperate with us or do not act in a timely and effective manner.

We may also experience signal interference with our new receivers due to terrestrial transmissions in portions of the L-band spectrum. When we identify a signal that is interfering with our terrestrial rebroadcasts, we will seek to negotiate a solution with the local operator of the transmitter. However, we may not always be able to reach a timely agreement through the relevant government authorities responsible for frequency management that will allow our customers to receive our service without any interference.

We may be unable to obtain the authorizations required to operate our terrestrial repeater networks in key markets in Europe, the Middle East and India or to retain the necessary authorizations to operate a subscription service.

While we believe our regulatory franchise positions us favorably to become a provider of mobile DARS in Europe, and while we have already obtained authorization from the Italian and Swiss governments to install our repeater networks and to commence DARS in Italy and Switzerland, we will need to obtain additional spectrum allocation, transmitter and service licenses from local regulatory authorities in other countries to develop a terrestrial repeater network and to operate a mobile DARS subscription service. In the United Kingdom, for example, the regulatory authority Ofcom has decided to auction in the second quarter of 2008 the part of the L-band we need to provide our service. Depending upon the number of additional bidders and the price they may be willing to pay, there is no assurance that we will prevail in the auction. In addition, we must coordinate the use of our allocated L-band spectrum in Europe with providers of Terrestrial Digital Audio Broadcasting, or T-DAB, to avoid any instances of harmful inter-system interference. Any failure to obtain required licenses or authorizations to develop a terrestrial repeater network and operate a mobile DARS subscription service in European countries other than Italy and Switzerland could adversely affect our ability to conduct business in the region.

The Indian government does not currently have a regulatory framework or written policy governing satellite radio services, and we are presently the only satellite radio services provider in the country. We have received the government authorizations that are presently required to provide our existing (non-mobile) subscription service and to import our current receivers. However, in order to deploy complementary terrestrial repeaters in India, we will be required to obtain spectrum allocation and transmitter authorizations and may also be required to obtain service licenses. In addition, the Indian government may require that we obtain additional authorizations or licenses or may impose restrictions on our business. Moreover, in the recommendation paper issued on June 27, 2005 the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended to the Indian government that a revenue share fee of 4% of gross earnings generated in India be imposed if the satellite broadcaster uses terrestrial repeaters. Further, the Indian government is planning to issue regulations governing DARS, and such regulations may require us to obtain additional authorizations or licenses or impose restrictions on our business. In addition, TRAI has also recommended that the Indian government regulate content of DARS providers. Any failure to obtain any required licenses or further authorizations or any material changes in our current authorizations or imposition of any additional restrictions could adversely affect our ability to carry out our business plan in India.

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Moreover, we are planning to introduce a new generation of receiver products incorporating new technology. We expect some increased risk during the period when our manufacturing partners begin commercial manufacture of receiver products incorporating the new technology.

We may incur significant delays and expense in the build out of additional elements of infrastructure needed to launch our mobile service in Italy.

In addition to the installation of a terrestrial repeater network in Italy for the launch of our mobile service there, we propose to build, test and operate a production studio in Milan and a broadcast operations center with a new uplink facility in Europe, which we anticipate will serve a number of markets in Europe, beginning with Italy. Delays in completing the studios or the broadcast operations center could delay the launch of our mobile service in Italy.

We may experience delays and incur significant costs in the development and production of our new generation of receivers.

We have commenced a new development project for our European technology (SDR) mobile receivers and may experience delays and significant costs in the project. Because the market for our receivers is still limited, the financial incentive for manufacturers to produce significant quantities of our receivers at an attractive price is similarly limited. Our business plan depends on the reduction of the cost of our receivers in order to make them available to consumers at an attractive price. The new mobile receivers will initially cost more than current models and, to encourage sales, we plan to subsidize the after-market version of the receivers in Italy and possibly other markets as well. We already subsidize our non-mobile receivers in India. We expect that in the near term future, we will need to continue to subsidize the cost of our receivers by offering them to distributors at a price below their cost to us. If we cannot reduce such subsidies in the future, our earnings and results of operations will be negatively affected.

Our mobile receivers will eventually replace our current receivers, which may result in increased costs, higher subscriber turnover, or lower receiver sales.

In connection with the introduction of our mobile DARS and the introduction of our next generation of receivers, we intend to begin broadcasting our signal in a modified waveform. Our current receivers will not be able to decode the modified waveform signal. While we are considering a plan to broadcast in both waveforms for a period of time in markets with significant numbers of subscribers, even if we decide to implement such a plan we will eventually cease broadcasting in the older waveform. We will have to transition our subscribers from the older receivers to our next generation receivers. Because our next generation of receivers will, when introduced, be more expensive than our existing receivers, we will face increased costs to the extent we decide to subsidize the transition of our current subscribers to our next generation receivers. In addition, new customers may not be willing to pay for the higher priced new receivers. We may also experience higher subscriber turnover if existing subscribers decide not to purchase a new receiver.

High subscriber acquisition costs could adversely affect our profitability.

We expect that the introduction of our mobile service will increase subscriber acquisition costs due to increased subsidies and higher marketing and promotional expenses. The Italy mobile introduction may require aggressive advertising, promotions or other marketing efforts to promote faster subscriber growth or to respond to competition, or are otherwise advisable. If these subscriber acquisition costs become sufficiently high they could materially adversely affect our financial performance.

We may not be able to compete effectively against conventional radio stations or other potential providers of consumer audio services.

In seeking market acceptance, we will encounter competition for both listeners and future subscription and advertising revenue from many sources, including traditional AM/FM radio, shortwave radio, Internet based

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audio providers, satellite television and cable and digital music players. We could also face competition from Terrestrial Digital Radio services, which are offered in several markets in Europe. We may also face competition from satellite “Digital Multimedia Broadcasting,” or DMB, which is directed primarily at the mobile phone market but can also provide in-vehicle reception, although DMB consists primarily of delivering TV programs and multimedia content. See “Business—Competition.”

Unlike our service, traditional AM/FM radio already has a well-established market presence for its services and generally offers free-to-air broadcast reception supported by commercial advertising, rather than by a subscription fee. Also, many radio stations offer information programming of a local nature, such as news and sports reports, which we may not be able to offer as effectively as local radio stations. To the extent that consumers place a high value on these features of traditional AM/FM radio, we are at a competitive disadvantage to the traditional providers of audio entertainment services.

In addition, although potential competition in our target markets with other satellite broadcast radio services is limited by regulatory and other restrictions, such competition could emerge. While all of our target countries have selected the L-band frequency allocation for satellite radio, India, Pakistan, Mexico and Thailand have also selected the S Band as an additional allocation within their respective territories. If an alternative satellite radio broadcast system that is comparable or superior to our system were to be introduced in our target markets, or if any competitor were to begin offering another mobile DARS before we do, we could experience competitive pressure or be at a competitive disadvantage.

Our failure to acquire new content or maintain our current content may make our service less desirable to subscribers.

Third-party content is an important part of our service, and if we are unable to obtain or retain third-party content and brands at reasonable costs, we will not be able to carry out our business plan successfully. We may face increased costs in the future with respect to third-party content, particularly in Europe where popular content such as sports programming is in high demand and expensive. We currently offer many channels of third-party content on our system, and plan to offer additional channels in the future. We also plan to add additional channels of third-party content in any new markets into which we expand our service, including Europe and the Middle East, for example, in order to tailor our service to such markets. We may not be able to obtain or retain the third-party content we need at all or within the costs contemplated by our business plan.

In addition, we may not be able to retain the third-party brand name content offered on our channels. Broadcasters of brand name content can choose one or more of several alternative methods of reaching our coverage area, such as television, radio and the Internet. If we do not develop and maintain a subscriber base that is an attractive audience for some of our brand name content broadcasters, they may not wish to continue broadcasting through our service. Brand name broadcasters may also demand greater compensation than we may be willing or able to pay. If we lose brand name content and are unable to replace it with similar programming, our ability to deliver diverse programming will suffer and our service may become less desirable to our current and future subscribers.

We are dependent on key suppliers and distributors and a failure to maintain and continue these relationships could adversely impact our business.

We have a number of key relationships with suppliers, distributors and other parties, the loss of which would have a material, adverse effect on our business. Our current receivers are manufactured by a limited number of third-party vendors and our mobile receiver development program is contracted with a single, albeit DARS experienced, vendor. In India, one manufacturer accounted for all of the WorldSpace receivers sold in 2006 and 2007. While we expect other manufacturers to initiate and expand production for the European, Middle East and Indian markets in the next few years, we expect receiver supply to remain dominated by a handful of manufacturers. We anticipate a similar dynamic in China if our Chinese business opportunity becomes a reality.

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In addition, key component parts of our DARS system are also developed and supplied by third-party vendors with which we have established working relationships. For example, ST Microelectronics is currently developing next-generation chipsets for our mobile receivers and working with Fraunhofer and Delphi on the integration of their chipsets into our next generation of receivers. We are dependent on Telecom Italia to install and operate our repeater network in Italy and Singapore Telecom to operate our primary uplink station for our AsiaStar satellite. We are dependent on ChinaSat, as our agent, for any operation of DARS in China.

If we are unable to maintain such established relationships, develop comparable relationships with new parties, or should any of our key relationships fail to work effectively, we could experience, among other problems, delays in the production of receivers, interruption in the broadcast of our services or loss of our ability to operate in a particular market.

The launch of mobile services will require significantly increased expenditures and management resources that will strain our management, operational and financial infrastructure.

We expect to experience significant and rapid growth in the scope and complexity of our business as we plan for and launch mobile services in Europe, the Middle East and India. We do not currently employ sufficient staff to handle all of our expected operational efforts in Europe and the Middle East, in particular, The same is true for China should we develop a path to a commercial business there. Although we have hired experienced executives in this area, we must hire additional employees as we expand the commercial operations of our service.

In addition, our growth may strain our management and operational and financial infrastructure. In particular, our growth may make it more difficult for us to:

The improvements and increased staff required to manage our growth will require us to make significant expenditures and allocate valuable management resources. If we fail to manage our growth effectively, our operating performance will suffer and we could lose part of our subscriber and broadcaster base.

Given the lack of mandatory dispute resolution or enforcement mechanisms at the International Telecommunication Union, there is no guarantee that the frequencies used by AfriStar and AsiaStar will be protected from interference from non-conforming uses.

Even though the AfriStar-1 and AsiaStar frequency assignments have completed coordination and notification procedures under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and therefore enjoy priority over other uses, there is no guarantee that the use of those frequencies will be protected from interference from non-conforming uses by other administrations. Further, while we have filed a coordination request to the ITU to accommodate the technical operating parameters of AfriStar-2, and believe that we should be successful in coordinating with the other administrations in the service area of AfriStar-2, particularly given the priority of AfriStar-1, there is no guarantee that we will be able to address all interference issues regarding AfriStar-2. In the event that harmful interference is caused by a non-conforming frequency assignment or we are unable to address all coordination concerns regarding AfriStar-2, the ITU procedures described in Article 8 and Article 15 of the Radio Regulations would apply. While these procedures set forth the good faith obligations to resolve any such interference, they do not contain mandatory dispute resolution or enforcement mechanisms.

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Rather, the Radio Regulations’ dispute resolution procedures are based on the willingness of the parties concerned to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. Neither the ITU specifically, nor international law generally, provides clear remedies if this voluntary process fails. Since the frequency band that can be used for Broadcasting-Satellite Service (Sound) is limited to 25 MHz (1,467—1,492 MHz) and our two satellites combined occupy virtually all of that spectrum, it may not be possible to eliminate interference by changing frequencies in the area(s) affected.

Our satellites have a limited life and may fail in orbit.

Satellites utilize highly complex technology and, accordingly, are subject to in-orbit failures after they have been successfully placed into operation. Our AfriStar-1 satellite was launched in October 1998, and our AsiaStar satellite was launched in March 2000. Our satellites are designed to operate reliably in orbit for not less than 12 years after launch. After this period, our satellites’ performance in delivering our service may deteriorate. Each satellite has an orbital maneuver life of 15 years, which means that each satellite has been designed to maintain its assigned orbital position (within 0.1 degrees) for 15 years. The useful life of our satellites may vary from our estimate. If one of our satellites were to fail or suffer significant performance degradation prematurely and unexpectedly, it would cause interruption in the continuity of our service or impair the quality of our service.

A number of factors could decrease the useful lives of our in-orbit satellites, including:

Our AfriStar satellite has developed a defect in its solar panels. The panels are collecting less power than intended, and we have adapted our satellite operating procedures accordingly. We have developed, in consultation with Astrium, operational procedures that should extend the useful life of the satellite through careful management of power generated by the solar arrays. Such procedures, which are relative to this solar array issue invoked during the critical eclipse periods, would permit the temporary reduction of the power radiated by one or more of its beams with a resulting reduction of the broadcast coverage area of such beam(s). Certain of our target markets served by the AfriStar satellite could be affected by the performance of our AfriStar satellite.

Our insurance may not cover all risks of operating our satellites, and we may elect not to renew in-orbit insurance for one or both of out in-orbit satellites.

We currently maintain in-orbit insurance coverage for our AsiaStar and AfriStar-1 satellites, which would reimburse us for a portion of the insured satellite value in the event of a partial loss or for the full insured value in the event of a total loss, subject to stipulated deductibles and exclusions. The in-orbit policy for AsiaStar, which was renewed in March 2008, is for one year. The current in-orbit policy for AfriStar-1, also a one-year policy, expires in June 2008. We anticipate that in-orbit insurance policies will continue to be on a year-to-year basis, which has become standard in the industry. In-orbit insurance for a satellite will not protect against all losses to a satellite. Our current AsiaStar and AfriStar-1 policies contain specified exclusions, deductibles and material change limitations. Any determination we make year to year as to whether to maintain in-orbit insurance coverage with respect to either satellite will depend on a number of factors, including the availability of insurance in the market and the cost of available insurance. We will also consider the exclusions to coverage, if any, required by insurers and the other terms and conditions upon which the insurance is available. Even if we seek to obtain replacement insurance in the future, we may not be able to obtain this insurance on reasonable terms and conditions. Moreover, this insurance coverage may be costly, if available at all.

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Our on-ground satellites may be damaged or destroyed during launch.

In addition to AfriStar and AsiaStar, we have two additional satellites, one fully assembled satellite (AfriStar-2) and another satellite (F4) for which the long lead parts have been procured and partially assembled, which are currently maintained in storage in Toulouse, France and Stevenage, U.K. We have accepted risk of loss for these satellites and maintain ground insurance for both these satellites. The AfriStar-2 satellite, which could be used to replace either AfriStar or AsiaStar, is currently planned for modification and launch to provide additional capacity for our DARS in Europe. In such case and depending upon when we would make that decision, it is possible that the F4 satellite, if fully assembled (the longer we wait to assemble the parts into a complete satellite, the more likely it is that the availability of newer satellite technology will influence us to decide to procure a wholly new satellite instead of completing F4), would be maintained as an on-ground spare satellite that could be launched in the event that one of our other three satellites experienced an in-orbit failure. The launch of a satellite is subject to significant risks, including launch failure, satellite destruction or damage during launch or failure to achieve proper orbital placement. Launch failure rates vary depending on the particular launch vehicle and contractor, which have not yet been determined with respect to our AfriStar-2 and F4 satellites. If the launch of either our AfriStar-2, F4 or a new satellite were to fail, result in destruction or material damage during launch or fail to achieve proper orbital placement, we would suffer, in addition to any cost relating to building or procuring a replacement satellite and launching such satellite that is not covered by insurance, a significant disruption in the development of the relevant portion of our business as well as a significant impact on our earnings as a result of the delay in revenue producing activities.

Technological innovation in the satellite industry and the audio entertainment industry is subject to rapid change, and we will need to develop and introduce on a timely basis new technology that addresses the changing preferences of our customers.

The satellite industry and the audio entertainment industry are both characterized by rapid technological change, frequent new product innovation, changes in customer requirements and expectations and evolving industry standards. Our success will depend in part on our ability to develop and introduce on a timely basis new technology that keeps pace with technological developments and emerging industry standards, and addresses the increasingly sophisticated and changing needs of our customers. We also depend on technologies being developed by third parties to implement key aspects of our system. The development of new technologically advanced services and equipment is a complex and uncertain process requiring capital commitments and high levels of innovation, as well as the accurate anticipation of technological and market trends. Our failure to keep pace with, anticipate and respond adequately to changes in technology or consumer preferences could have a material, adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operation.

Future royalty and other contingent payments could materially limit our available working capital and negatively impact our results of operations.

We have significant contingent annual payment obligations for the next ten years under our royalty agreement with Stonehouse. We are obligated to pay to Stonehouse 10% of our annual EBITDA, if any, for each annual period through December 31, 2015. In addition, we must maintain a segregated reserve account to be funded in each quarter of any year in which EBITDA is forecast to be positive at the rate of 25% of the estimated annual payment. In addition, $27.5 million of the principal amount of the senior secured notes will be repayable on May 31, 2008, of which we repaid $9.8 million plus interest in January 2008. See Notes C and N to our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 herein. The contingent royalty payment and reserve account obligation under the royalty agreement and the repayment obligation could each limit our cash flow and funds available for our working capital, and in the case of the royalty agreement obligations could result in a charge against our earnings which could have a material, adverse effect on our results of operations.

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Because the vast majority of our revenue will be derived from operations outside the United States, while our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, changes in the exchange rates between the local currencies of our operations and the U.S. dollar could materially affect our reported results of operations.

We anticipate that the vast majority of our revenue will be derived from our operations outside the United States, particularly Europe, the Middle East India, and China . We present our consolidated financial statements in U.S. dollars. Because we report our financial results in U.S. dollars, our consolidated financial statements will include gains and losses from foreign currency translation adjustments, and these adjustments could have a material impact on our reported results of operations and could result in significant period-to-period fluctuations in our reported results of operations which are not attributable to, and may be at variance with, our actual business performance. Exchange rate fluctuations may also affect the relative values of working capital advances between our various subsidiaries and of payments to and receipts from third parties, the effects of which impact our results of operations.

The loss of key personnel, including our Chairman and CEO, Noah Samara, could significantly harm our business and our credibility in the marketplace.

Our success will depend, in part, upon key technical and managerial personnel, as well as our ability to attract and retain additional highly-qualified personnel as we develop our services in Europe and the Middle East and develop a mobile service in India. The loss of Mr. Samara, our Chairman and CEO, or certain other executive officers or key technical or managerial personnel or the inability to hire and retain qualified personnel in the future could have a material adverse effect on our ability to staff and manage various parts of our business or otherwise materially adversely affect our business.

If we are unable to maintain appropriate internal controls we will not be able to comply with applicable regulatory requirements imposed on reporting companies.

During 2006 and 2007, we have worked aggressively to improve and maintain our internal controls and established such new and enhanced systems of internal controls as we believe necessary to allow management to report on, and our independent auditors to attest to, our internal controls, as required after December 31, 2008 with respect to the Company by the management certification and auditor attestation requirements mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We perform system and process evaluation and testing (and any necessary remediation) of our internal control system on an ongoing basis.

In addition to addressing the accounting and internal controls of our current operations, our employees and systems will have to accommodate increasingly complex financial reporting demands as we continue to expand our existing operations and as we introduce our services in other markets.

If we are unable to attract and retain qualified personnel, or if we are unable to scale our financial reporting and accounting systems to our growth, we may not have adequate, accurate or timely financial information, and we may be unable to meet our reporting obligations or comply with the requirements of the SEC, The NASDAQ Global Market or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which could result in the imposition of sanctions, including the suspension or delisting of our Class A Common Stock from The NASDAQ Global Market and the inability of registered broker dealers to make a market in our Class A Common Stock, or investigation by regulatory authorities. Any such action or other negative results caused by our inability to meet our reporting requirements or comply with legal and regulatory requirements or by disclosure of an accounting, reporting or control issue could adversely affect the price of our Class A Common Stock.

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Failure to maintain our FCC license authority, to comply with obligations under our Deed of Agreement with the ACA (whose regulatory powers are now exercised by the ACMA) or to receive license renewals and extensions for our AfriStar and AsiaStar satellites from the relevant regulatory agencies could have a material, adverse effect on our business and operations.

The operation of our AsiaStar satellite is authorized by a Deed of Agreement (the Deed) with the Australian Communications Authority (ACA). As of July 1, 2005, the functions of the ACA became the responsibility of a new regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA). The Deed remains in force as long as our wholly-owned Australian subsidiary, AsiaSpace Limited (AsiaSpace), fulfills its obligations as specified therein, which include compliance with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations, maintenance of the telemetry, tracking and control facility in Australia, our subsidiary’s continued incorporation in Australia and location of its central management and control in Australia. If AsiaSpace is determined to have breached the Deed, the ACMA has the discretion to terminate the Deed and suppress the ITU notification of the network.

Additionally, once the AsiaStar satellite reaches the end of its service life, if a replacement satellite will be launched from Australia or an Australian national (including an Australian corporation within the WorldSpace group) authorizes the launch, the Space Activities Act 1998 (Cth) would apply and we will need to apply to the ACMA and the Australian Space Licensing and Safety Office (SLASO) for authorization to launch a replacement satellite. However, there can be no guarantee that the ACMA and SLASO will grant such an authorization. In addition to the ACMA and SLASO authorizations, we will also need approval from the ITU to operate a new satellite from the current orbital location. In March 2004, the ITU published an extension to the frequency assignment of AsiaStar from 15 to 30 years. As the life of the AsiaStar satellite is no more than 15 years, this provides an indication that a replacement satellite would be approved by the ITU to replace AsiaStar at its current orbital location. There is a risk that authorization to operate the new satellite from the current orbital location may not occur, and in that case, the orbital location currently occupied by our AsiaStar satellite could become available for use by other satellite operators.

The AfriStar-1 satellite is licensed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Our FCC license provides for a ten-year license term that expires in January 2010, which is subject to renewal at that time. If we fail to comply with the terms of this license, the FCC may deny our request to renew the license. On January 3, 2006, we received an authorization to launch and operate a second satellite, called AfriStar-2, to be co-located with AfriStar-1. AfriStar-2 is intended to enhance our service coverage in Europe and North Africa, and to extend the useful life of AfriStar-1 which has been affected by a defect in its solar panels described above. See “—Our satellites have a limited life and may fail in orbit.” The FCC did not impose a bond requirement on AfriStar-2 but did require that AfriStar-2 be placed into operation prior to the removal of AfriStar-1 from service. On February 2, 2006, an application for review was filed asking the FCC to reverse the order by which it had granted the AfriStar-2 license. We timely submitted an opposition to this application for review. While we believe that the application for review lacks any legal basis that would justify a reversal of the FCC’s grant of the AfriStar-2 license, there is no guarantee that the FCC will uphold its order authorizing AfriStar-2. If the FCC reverses the order by which it granted the AfriStar-2 license, if we are unsuccessful in constructing, launching or placing AfriStar-2 into operation prior to removing AfriStar-1 from service, or if AfriStar-1 expires prior to AfriStar-2 commencing operations, we may lose the AfriStar-2 authorization and the orbital location currently occupied by AfriStar-1 could become available for use by other satellites operators. We may decide to launch a third collocated satellite to continue to service the region currently served by AfriStar-1 and, in order to do so, we would need to obtain a satellite authorization from the FCC. The FCC’s rules do not guarantee that it will grant licenses for replacement satellites or for additional co-located satellites. In practice, however, the FCC generally grants such requests to a licensee in good standing. If the FCC does not issue to us a license to launch and operate a third or replacement satellite for AfriStar-1, then when AfriStar-1 expires we may not be able to continue to serve certain potentially significant parts of the current service area of AfriStar-1, resulting in an adverse impact on our revenues from the AfriStar coverage area.

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Failure of our ground network infrastructure would adversely affect our ability to broadcast content up to our satellites.

We rely on our ground network infrastructure, including our satellite control network and our broadcast facilities, for key operations, including transmitting broadcast signals up to our satellites. We have limited broadcast facilities to transmit content to our satellites for broadcast to our customers. We are also planning a new uplink facility to handle content for our European services, beginning with Italy. A new uplink facility has been established in Dubai owned and operated by Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company to serve our Middle East business. We rely primarily on our Singapore uplink station, which is hosted by Singapore Telecom, to transmit content to our Indian market, as our Melbourne, Australia uplink station only has the transmitting capacity to transmit approximately four channels. Our uplink stations were uniquely built for us and, therefore, it will take a significant amount of time to obtain replacement parts in the event they are needed. If a natural or other disaster significantly damaged our broadcast system, particularly our Singapore uplink station, if key parts were to fail for any reason, or if Singapore Telecom failed to support the Singapore uplink station properly or terminated their host services contract, our ability to provide service to subscribers, at least on an interim basis, would be limited substantially.

Consumers may steal our service.

Like all radio transmissions, our signal is subject to interception. Consumers may be able to obtain or rebroadcast our signal without paying the subscription fee. Although we use encryption technology to mitigate signal piracy, we may not be able to eliminate theft of our signal. Widespread signal theft could reduce the number of consumers willing to pay us subscription fees.

Our patents and licenses may not provide sufficient intellectual property protection.

We hold licenses from third parties to utilize patents covering various types of technology used in our system, including our digital compression technology. In addition, we have obtained patents and have patent applications pending with respect to our proprietary intellectual property. Although these licenses and patents cover various features of satellite radio technology, they may not cover all aspects of our system. Others may duplicate aspects of our system that are not covered by our patents without liability to us. In addition, competitors may challenge, invalidate or circumvent our patents. We may be forced to enforce our patents or determine the scope and validity of other parties’ proprietary rights through administrative proceedings, litigation or arbitration. An adverse ruling arising out of any intellectual property dispute could subject us to significant liability for damages, prevent us from operating our system, preclude us from preventing a third-party from operating a similar system or require us to license disputed rights from or to third parties. In the event that we need to license rights from third parties, we may not be able to obtain the licenses on satisfactory terms, if at all. We also hold a global license from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) for the sound recording rights that we believe will cover those rights in conjunction with our Italy business. We are currently exploring the licensing of composers rights for that market. We have also obtained a blanket license granted by the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS) to broadcast, perform, transmit, and otherwise use musical works which COMPASS has or will have the right to license. Moreover, we have had a recording rights license from the India Phonographic Performance Ltd. (PPL). Although we believe the licenses granted to us by COMPASS, IFPI and PPL, along with licenses from other smaller copyright societies would cover all necessary broadcasting rights for transmissions from our Singapore uplink station to countries within the AsiaStar broadcast coverage area, it is possible that other sister rights societies in other jurisdictions within the AsiaStar broadcast coverage area will not recognize such license and will seek to require separate licenses for broadcasts into their jurisdictions. The India Performing Rights Society has indicated that it may seek to require a separate license. Any requirement in a jurisdiction that we obtain a separate license could increase our cost of broadcasting in such jurisdiction.

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Risks Related to the Conduct of Our Business in Europe

Our ability to develop a mobile DARS business in Europe may be adversely affected by the fragmented and diverse nature of the European market.

We are in the process of implementing the launch of a new service in Europe, first in Italy, by building out a terrestrial repeater supported system targeted at automobile listening. We are developing Italian programming content and will do the same for additional markets. However, given Europe’s fragmented markets and wide variety of ethnic and linguistic groups, we may face challenges in creating and maintaining an appealing mix of content and programming in various languages to address the needs and preferences of the target listener segments. Our inability to develop and maintain desirable programming for the diverse ethnic and linguistic listener segments in the targeted European markets could adversely impact our future plans to provide mobile DARS in the region.

See also the preceding Risk Factors for risks in implementing a mobile DARS network in Europe, in particular: “—If we do not achieve sufficient demand for our services or are unable to retain our customers, we may not generate sufficient revenue for us to become profitable,” “Our mobile service bundle model is reliant on car manufacturers’ integration of satellite receivers into their new automobiles,” “—We may incur significant delays and expenses in the development and installation of terrestrial repeater transmitters, and we cannot be certain that the systems will function properly,” “—We may be unable to obtain the authorizations required to operate our terrestrial repeater network in key markets in Europe, the Middle East and India or to retain the necessary authorizations to operate a subscription service” and “—We may incur significant delays and expense in the build out of additional elements of infrastructure needed to launch our mobile service in Italy.”

Risks Related to the Conduct of Our Business in India

Future changes to Indian regulations and policies governing the market in which we operate may have a material, adverse effect on our ability to carry out our India business plan.

The TRAI consultation paper dated December 29, 2004 and the recommendation paper dated June 27, 2005 highlight certain areas of potential changes in the regulation of satellite services, including:

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Although the TRAI recommendation paper proposed that 100% foreign ownership be permitted in Indian DARS licenses, it is possible that the involved ministries may determine to require some limitation on the amount of foreign ownership in the entity holding a DARS license. If such a limitation became part of the approved policy, it is likely there would be a period of time to come into compliance, but it is possible that such an imperative to divest a part of our interest in the WorldSpace Indian company could have a negative effect on the price we could achieve for the partial interest sold.

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Changes in the policies of the government of India or political instability could delay the further liberalization of the Indian economy and adversely affect economic conditions in India, which could adversely impact demand for our services in India.

The role of the Indian central and state governments in the Indian economy is significant. Although the current government of India supports liberalization of the Indian economy, this economic liberalization may not continue in the future and specific laws and policies affecting technology companies, foreign investment, currency exchange and other matters affecting our business could change as well.

The imposition of economic sanctions could affect our operations in India and adversely impact our business.

The United States, Japan and certain other nations have announced and imposed economic sanctions against India in the past. For example, as required under Section 102 of the Arms Export Control Act, sanctions were imposed in response to the detonation by India of nuclear devices. Although the current sanctions do not directly affect U.S. businesses, additional sanctions could be imposed which could have a material adverse effect on U.S. businesses with operations, sales or suppliers in India. Although our operations have not been substantially affected by the sanctions to date and we do not believe our activities will be affected by the current sanctions, we cannot assure that our technologies will not, in the future, be included in the specific technologies subject to sanctions or affected by the prohibition on items exported by third parties.

Companies operating in India are subject to a variety of central and state government taxes and surcharges.

Tax and other levies imposed by the central and state government in India that affect the tax liability of our India operations include: (i) central and state taxes and other levies; (ii) income tax; (iii) sales and value added tax; (iv) turnover tax; (v) service tax; (vi) customs duty; (vii) excise duty; (viii) stamp duty and (ix) other special taxes and surcharges which are introduced on a temporary or permanent basis from time to time.

The central and state tax scheme in India is extensive and subject to change from time to time. The statutory corporate income tax in India, which includes a surcharge and education tax, is currently approximately 34%. The central or state government may in the future increase the corporate income tax it imposes. Any such future increases or amendments may affect the overall tax efficiency of companies operating in India and may result in significant additional taxes becoming payable. Additional tax exposure could have a material adverse effect on our India operations’ business, financial condition and results.

Risks Related to the Conduct of Our Business in China

Extensive government regulation of the telecommunications and broadcasting industries restricts our direct entry into China and may limit our ability to attract customers or generate profits.

Our business in China is highly regulated and subject to restrictions on foreign investment in the telecommunications industry and restrictions on the broadcasting industry in China.

Foreign companies are currently not allowed to directly provide satellite communications services to Chinese end users, and must conduct such business through qualified local telecommunications operators holding appropriate licenses and permits. Although we currently anticipate that all necessary approvals for satellite transmission services will be granted to ChinaSat, there can be no assurance that it will be granted, or that either the spectrum allocation or the service license will continue to remain in effect if the regulatory landscape in China changes.

Additional examples of issues, risks and uncertainties relating to the Chinese government’s regulation of the telecommunications industry include:

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We have entered into a Technical Service and Consulting Agreement with Beijing Guoxin Synchronization Data System Technology Limited (“Guoxin”), with respect to multimedia information to be broadcast in China. Because this agreement contains certain profit-sharing provisions which may raise issues under Chinese law, we cannot be sure that relevant Chinese authorities will find the transactions under this agreement in compliance with PRC laws. If they are found to be non-compliant, the transactions under this agreement may be prohibited or amendments to this agreement may be required.

Currently, most radio broadcasting in China is restricted to Putonghua, the national language of China. The likely continuation of such restrictions will reduce the availability of overseas content for use in our business operations.

If any of our business conducted through WorldSpace China is found to be in violation of Chinese laws, rules or regulations regarding the legality of foreign investment in China, we could be subject to severe penalties.

Our wholly owned subsidiary, WorldSpace China, has entered into memoranda of understanding with several third-party providers of content with respect to possible cooperation agreements. In addition, WorldSpace China intends, through local Chinese media entities or alliance with such entities, to provide services to local radio broadcasters and other media groups who hold appropriate licenses granted to engage in radio broadcast and television programming business in China. It is possible that Chinese authorities could, at any time, assert that any portion of WorldSpace China’s business violates Chinese laws, regulations or policies. If WorldSpace China were found to be in violation of Chinese laws or regulations, the relevant authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations, including, without limitation, the following:

Our ability to conduct our business in China may be adversely affected if we cannot maintain our relationship with ChinaSat or another licensed Chinese telecommunications operator and obtain approval for our content from the appropriate Chinese regulatory authorities.

Due to the ownership restrictions under Chinese law and our intention to broadcast Chinese programming through an uplink station in Beijing, we have depended on China Satellite Communication Corporation (ChinaSat), in which we have no ownership, to obtain the necessary regulatory authorizations from the MII and SARFT. We are also a party to two active agreements with Chinese companies to manufacture the receivers necessary for our customers to receive our service. We will also need to partner with local institutions to obtain regulatory approval from SARFT for our audio content broadcast by our service and approval from the appropriate Chinese regulatory authorities for data content. Our ability to execute our business plan in China will depend on our relationship with ChinaSat (or with another of the licensed Chinese telecommunications operators that are able to obtain and hold the necessary spectrum and operations licenses), the MII and SARFT. Therefore, any disruption in these relationships could materially delay or impair the implementation of our China business plan and our future profits. Moreover, there can be no assurance that ChinaSat (or such other operator) or other future local partners will obtain the necessary licenses or approvals. In addition, should ChinaSat or any other entity with which we partner in China fail to perform its obligations under our agreements, we may have to rely on legal remedies under Chinese law. The laws and regulations relating to contractual arrangements and foreign investment in China are relatively new and their interpretation and enforcement involve uncertainties, which could limit our ability to enforce these agreements in China.

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Even if we are in compliance with Chinese governmental regulations relating to licensing and foreign investment prohibitions, the Chinese government could prevent us from distributing particular content and subject us to liability for content that it believes is inappropriate.

China has enacted regulations governing the distribution of news and other information. In the past, the Chinese government has stopped the distribution of information that it believes to violate Chinese law, including content that it believes is obscene, incites violence, endangers national security, is contrary to China’s national interest or is defamatory. We are subject to potential liability for content distributed through our satellite transmission network that is deemed inappropriate and for any unlawful actions of our customers. We may face liability for defamation, negligence, copyright, patent or trademark infringement and other claims based on the nature and content of the materials that are provided via our satellite transmission network. Our business in China may be adversely affected if we do not get sufficient flexibility in our programming content to attract customers in China. If the Chinese government were to take any action to limit or prohibit the distribution of information via our satellite broadcasting services or technical and content providing business, or to limit or regulate any current or future content or services available to users on our network, our business could be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

Control by our executive officers and directors will limit other stockholders’ ability to influence the outcome of matters requiring stockholder approval and could discourage our potential acquisition by third-parties.

As of March 28, 2008, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Noah Samara, owns, in the aggregate, directly or through entities which he controls or in which he has shared control, 20,192,905 shares of our outstanding Class A Common Stock, such shares constituting approximately 47% of our Class A Common Stock. In addition, Mr. Samara holds options and SARS to acquire an additional 7,977,232 shares of our Class A Common Stock. Accordingly, Mr. Samara is in a position to exercise extensive control over all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of our board of directors and the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions. This concentration of ownership could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in our control or otherwise discourage a potential acquirer from attempting to obtain control of us, which in turn could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock or prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium over the market price for their shares of our common stock.

Allegations of ties between certain of our investors and terrorism could negatively affect our reputation and stock price.

Certain of our original investors, consisting of three members of the Bin Mahfouz family, Mohammed H. Al-Amoudi and Mr. Salah Idris, all of whom are Saudi Arabian citizens, have been the subject of allegations that they and/or charities they were involved in have supported terrorism, and three of these investors were also named, along with a number of Saudi Arabian government officials and prominent Saudi Arabian citizens, in civil actions brought on behalf of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks on the United States, which actions also contain allegations that certain of such persons were involved in charities that supported terrorism. Such former investors have repeatedly denied all such allegations. In addition, in 1998 Mr. Idris acquired an interest in a pharmaceutical factory in Sudan which, five months later, was bombed by U.S. military forces, purportedly in retaliation for manufacturing chemicals used by terrorists. These allegations were subject to serious challenge in the press and to our knowledge have never been substantiated. Moreover, Mr. Idris has never appeared on the U.S. Government’s designated terrorist list.

None of such investors any longer has any direct debt or equity in our company or has any voting rights in our company. Stonehouse, an entity controlled by two Bin Mahfouz sons, is entitled to conditional royalty payments from us for each annual period through December 31, 2015. Mr. Idris holds only non-voting shares in Yenura Ptd. Ltd., a Singapore company, which owns 17.4 million shares of our Class A Common Stock, and the

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right to convert convertible notes issued under its $40 million financing facility with us at a price of $4.25 per share. As of the date hereof, $19.2 million in convertible notes have been issued under the facility, which if converted would result in the issuance of approximately 4.5 million shares to Yenura. Yenura is controlled by our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Samara, but Mr. Idris, through his ownership of non-voting shares of Yenura, holds a majority of the economic interest in Yenura. We cannot assure that past or future allegations against these individuals will not impair our ability to retain advisors, impair our future attempts to raise additional financing or negatively impact the price of our stock.

The future sale of our Class A Common Stock could negatively affect our stock price.

As of March 28, 2008, we have 42,385,966 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding. Any sales of a substantial number of our shares of Class A Common Stock in the public market could cause the market price of our Class A Common Stock to decline. In addition, 16,948,674 shares are issuable to our convertible noteholders and warrant holders upon the conversion of outstanding convertible notes and warrants. XM may require us to file a shelf registration statement registering for resale its shares and warrant shares. We have registered all shares of Class A Common Stock that we may issue to our employees under our 2005 incentive award program and a prior award program maintained by a predecessor company. Shares that have been registered are eligible for resale in the public market without restriction.

We may face claims from former employees regarding previously granted stock options.

We could face claims from a number of former employees that they were promised options to purchase shares of our Class A Common Stock, or that they were told that they had been granted stock options exercisable for period after termination of their employment. Although no such claims have been asserted against us, and we believe that any such claims would have expired several years ago, the availability of a public trading market for our Class A Common Stock since our initial public offering could increase the likelihood of such claims. Such claims could seek contract damages or other remedies relating to putative options to purchase shares of our Class A Common Stock at prices significantly less than the trading market price.

Our stock price may be highly volatile.

The market price of our Class A Common Stock could fluctuate significantly in response to the risks inherent in our business, as well as to events unrelated to us. In recent years, the U.S. stock market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. Our Class A Common Stock may experience volatility unrelated to our own operating performance for reasons that include:

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In the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been the subject of securities class action litigation. We may be involved in securities class action litigation in the future. Such litigation often results in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources.

Stonehouse has certain limited approval and other rights with respect to a sale of our assets.

Stonehouse, in addition to its right to receive royalty payments of 10% of EBITDA, if any, for each calendar year through December 31, 2015, has limited approval and other contractual rights with respect to the sale of our assets. Under the Royalty Agreement, neither we nor our subsidiary, WorldSpace Satellite Company Ltd. which owns our satellite assets (the “WorldSpace Parties”), may voluntarily liquidate or sell substantially all of our respective assets, at any time prior to December 31, 2007, without the prior written consent of Stonehouse, which consent is not to be unreasonably withheld, and the WorldSpace Parties are not permitted to sell certain key assets of the group, other than for fair value. The WorldSpace Parties have agreed with Stonehouse that to the extent that any sale or transfer of assets by them would be reasonably likely to diminish materially the overall return to Stonehouse under the Royalty Agreement, such sales or transfers are not permitted under the Royalty Agreement. In addition, Stonehouse has the right to be paid a fee in lieu of royalty payments from certain asset sale transactions. Stonehouse’s interests in the matters over which it has approval or other contractual rights may be adverse to the interests of our stockholders in such matters.

We are subject to anti-takeover provisions which could affect the price of our common stock.

Certain provisions of Delaware law and of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third-party to acquire, or of discouraging a third-party from attempting to acquire, control of us. For example, our certificate of incorporation and by-laws provide for a classified board of directors, limit the persons who may call special meetings of stockholders and allow us to issue preferred stock with rights senior to those of the common stock without any further vote or action by our stockholders. In addition, we are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a sale of our company or may otherwise discourage a potential acquirer from attempting to obtain control of our company, which in turn could have a material, adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

None.

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As of December 31, 2007, we leased approximately 222,288 square feet of executive offices, regional offices, studio and production facilities, broadcast operations centers, uplink stations and sales offices in various locations as indicated in the chart below.

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In addition to the locations leased by WorldSpace companies listed above, the following locations are owned or operated by our partners:

We are subject to various claims and assessments during the normal course of business. In our opinion, these matters are not expected to have a material, adverse impact on our financial position or results of operations. There were no proceedings commenced or terminated in the fourth quarter of 2007 which are required to be reported here.

In April and May 2007, securities class action litigation suits were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, on behalf of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired the Company’s publicly traded securities. The lawsuits were filed against the Company, Noah A. Samara, President and Chief Executive Officer; Sridhar Ganesan, Chief Financial Officer; Cowen & Co. LLC, and UBS Securities LLC (“Defendants”). The complaints (all similar) allege violations of Sections 11, 12(a)2, and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933. The suits claim that certain customers were incorrectly counted as subscribers after they had ceased to be paying subscribers. The complaints have been consolidated and on August 9, 2007, an amended complaint was filed on behalf of all the plaintiffs. The Company is planning to vigorously defend against these claims.

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2007.

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PART II

Price Range of Our Class A Common Stock

Our Class A Common Stock has been quoted on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “WRSP” since August 4, 2005. The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of the Class A Common Stock as reported on The Nasdaq Global Market:

On March 28, 2008, the reported last sale price of our Class A Common Stock on The Nasdaq Global Market was $1.45 per share. As of March 28, 2008, there were 124 holders of record of our Class A Common Stock. Because many of these shares are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these holders of record.

Dividend Policy

We have never declared and paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to finance the further development and expansion of our business and do not currently anticipate declaring or paying cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to declare and pay dividends, should we legally be entitled to do so based on our surplus or earnings, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow, capital requirements, restrictions contained in financing instruments to which we are a party and such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant.

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Shareholder Return Performance Graph

This performance graph does not constitute soliciting material, is not deemed filed with the SEC and is not incorporated by reference in any of the Company’s filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether made before or after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates by reference this performance graph therein.

The following graph shows the cumulative total stockholder return on our Class A common stock compared to the Russell 2000 Index and the Nasdaq Telecommunications Index (composed of publicly traded companies which are principally in the telecommunications business) between August 4, 2005, the date our Class A Common Stock began trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market, and December 31, 2007. The graph assumes $100 was invested on August 4, 2005 in (1) our Class A Common Stock, (2) the Russell 2000 Index and (3) the Nasdaq Telecommunications Index. Total stockholder return assumes that all dividends, if any, were reinvested.

Use of Proceeds

On August 9, 2005, the Company completed its initial public offering of 11,868,400 shares of Class A Common Stock at an initial public offering price per share of $21.00. Of the 11,868,400 shares of Class A Common Stock offered, the Company sold 11,500,000 shares and a selling stockholder sold 368,400 shares. The Company did not receive any of the proceeds of the sale by the selling stockholder.

The aggregate proceeds of the offering were $249.2 million, of which the aggregate gross proceeds to the Company were approximately $241.5 million. Net proceeds to the Company were approximately $220.8 million. The Company incurred expenses in connection with the offering of $20.7 million which included direct payments of: (i) $3.6 million in legal, accounting and printing fees; (ii) $16.9 million in underwriters’ discounts, fees and commissions payable by the Company and (iii) $0.2 million in miscellaneous expenses. None of the offering expenses were paid to directors, officers, ten percent stockholders or affiliates of the Company.

As of December 31, 2007, the Company held approximately $9.9 million of the net proceeds from the offering, all of which are invested in money market instruments, demand deposits and restricted cash with various banks. The Company utilized $210.9 million of the net proceeds towards the following expenditures:

(1) Capital expenditures to an extent of $11.8 million;

(2) Income taxes to an extent of $19.8 million;

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(3) Sales and marketing expenditures to an extent of $21.6 million;

(4) Cost of goods sold, general and administrative expenses to an extent of $103.5 million: and

(5) Convertible debt restructuring payment of $50 million and $4.2 million for financing costs and legal fees

WorldSpace, Inc. and Subsidiaries

In considering the following selected consolidated financial data, you should also read our consolidated financial statements and notes and the section captioned “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The consolidated statements of operations data for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2007 and the consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003 are derived from our consolidated financial statements. These statements have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.

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The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes which appear elsewhere in this Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this 10-K, particularly in Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”

Overview

We were founded in 1990 and pioneered the development of satellite-based digital radio service, commonly known as Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS). Our vision was to offer on an international basis a variety and quality of international, national and regional radio programming not available from AM and FM broadcasters through low-cost portable and mobile radio receivers owned by customers. We were the first company to establish an operational DARS system and today are the only licensed DARS provider outside of North America, South Korea and Japan.

Through the end of December 2007, we have raised and spent approximately $1.7 billion in connection with the development and launch of our business. Our operational system consists of four main elements: two geostationary satellites, AfriStar (fuel life until 2013) and AsiaStar (fuel life until mid-2015); the associated ground systems that provide content to and control the satellites; a terrestrial repeater network to be built out (subject to regulatory approval) in each of our target jurisdictions, commencing in Italy in order to facilitate a mobile service, and the receivers owned by our customers. Each of our satellites can service three large geographic areas through three beams capable of carrying up to 50 - 60 channels each, based upon the waveform and other changes we are making in implementing our European technology.

Our initial focus was rolling out our services in India, and securing the required licenses and approvals in Western Europe and China to launch DARS in those markets. In 2007, our focus and execution included continuing to build towards the launch of mobile services in Italy and the Middle East. We continue to fund business development and technology related expenses geared towards a service launch in Italy and the Middle East in early 2009, we anticipate minimal technology-related and other expenditures for a service launch in Bahrain. For China, other European markets and other selected markets within our coverage areas, we anticipate limited business development expenses.

Our 2007 highlights include the following:

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Our goals for 2008 include the securing of further licenses or approvals in Europe and India. We are also in the process of rolling out a mobile DARS for which we plan to establish terrestrial repeater networks in Italy, the Middle East (subject to securing the licenses and frequency authorizations required to operate terrestrial repeaters) and India. Through our mobile DARS, we expect to provide services to automobiles and to improve the reliability of our service in urban areas. We expect to introduce new receiver products in different markets targeted at stratified market segments.

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Summary Operating Metrics

The key metrics we use to monitor our business growth and our operational results in India and the rest of the world (“ROW”) are: ending subscribers, Average Monthly Subscription Revenue Per Subscriber (“ARPU”), Subscriber Acquisition Cost (“SAC”), Cost Per Gross Addition (“CPGA”) and EBITDA presented as follows:

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods presented. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions which we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results could differ from those estimates. We believe the following critical accounting policies require the most significant management estimates and judgments used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.

Revenue recognition

Revenue from subscribers consists of subscription fees and non-refundable activation fees. We recognize subscription fees as our service is provided to a subscriber. We record deferred revenue for prepaid subscription fees and amortize these prepayments to revenue ratably over the term of the respective subscription plan. Activation fees are recognized ratably over thirty months, the estimated term of the subscriber relationship. Promotions and discounts are treated as an offset to revenue during the period of promotion. Sales incentives, consisting of discounts to subscribers, offset earned revenue. Management estimates the amount of required allowances for potential non-collectible accounts receivable based upon past collection experience and consideration of other relevant factors. However, past experience may not be indicative of future collections and therefore reserves for doubtful accounts may increase as a percentage of accounts receivable and sales. Our current policy is not to accept product returns but if in the future, we were to accept product returns that are not covered under the manufacturers warranty, a sales return allowance will be established based on the guidance provided under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 48, “Revenue Recognition When a Right of Return Exists” and Staff Accounting Bulletin, Topic 13A-4b.

Evaluation of satellites and other long-lived assets for impairment and satellite insurance coverage

We assess the recoverability of our long-lived assets pursuant to SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. The costs of specific satellites are grouped together with other associated assets when assessing recoverability. Periodically, and when a change in circumstances occurs, this group of assets is compared with the expected future undiscounted cash flows to be generated by us from the related satellites. Any excess of the net book value for this group of assets over the expected future undiscounted cash flows of the related satellite would result in an impairment charge that would be recorded in our statement of operations in the period the determination is made. The impairment charge would be measured as the excess of the carrying value of the group of assets over the present value of estimated expected future cash flows related to the asset group using a discount rate commensurate with the risks involved. Changes in estimates of future

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cash flows could result in a write-down of the asset in a future period. Estimated future cash flows could be impacted by, among other things:

If an impairment loss was indicated, such amount would be recognized in the period of occurrence, net of any insurance proceeds to be received so long as such amounts are determinable and receipt is probable.

Depreciable satellite lives

We calculate depreciation on a straight line basis over a ten-year period. As the communications industry is subject to rapid technological change and our satellites have been subject to certain anomalies, we may be required to revise the estimated useful lives of our satellites and communications equipment or to adjust their carrying amounts. Accordingly, the estimated useful lives of our satellites are periodically reviewed using current engineering data. If a significant change in the estimated useful lives of our satellites is identified, we would account for the effects of such changes on depreciation expense on a prospective basis. Reductions in the estimated useful lives of our satellites would result in additional depreciation expense in future periods and may necessitate acceleration of planned capital expenditures in order to replace or supplement the satellite earlier than planned. If the reduction in the estimated useful life of a satellite results in undiscounted future cash flows for the satellite, which are less than the carrying value of the satellite, an impairment charge would be recorded.

Stock-based compensation

In accordance with SFAS No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share Based Payment (“SFAS No. 123R”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rule amending the compliance dates of SFAS No. 123R, the Company began to recognize compensation expense for equity-based compensation using the fair value method in 2006 using the “Modified Prospective Method”. This method allows the Company to apply the fair value provisions of SFAS No. 123R only on the future share-based payment arrangements and unvested portion of prior awards at the adoption date.

The Modified Prospective Method allows the Company to account for the stock-based awards issued prior to the adoption of fair value provisions under SFAS No. 123R using the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.

Prior to our adoption of SFAS No. 123R, we accounted for the employee and director stock options using the intrinsic-value method in accordance with Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations and the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. Stock options and warrants issued to non-employees are recorded at their fair value as determined in accordance with SFAS No. 123 and Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) No. 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services, and amortized over the service period. A pro-forma disclosure for outstanding awards accounted for under the intrinsic value method of APB Opinion No.25 during 2005 and 2004 is not disclosed since the Company used minimum value method to account for stock based awards in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 and the Company’s common stock was not publicly traded until 2005.

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Valuation of deferred income taxes and income tax reserves

We are subject to taxation by federal, state and international jurisdictions. Our annual provision for income taxes and the determination of the resulting deferred tax assets and liabilities involve a significant amount of management judgment and are based on the best information available at the time. We believe that we have recorded adequate liabilities and reviewed those balances on a quarterly basis.

Judgment is also applied in determining whether deferred tax assets will be realized in full or in part. When it is more likely than not that all or some portion of specific deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is established for the amount of the deferred tax assets that are determined not to be realizable. Realization of our deferred tax assets may depend upon our ability to generate future taxable income, which is dependent upon our ability to successfully introduce and market our product, general economic conditions, competitive pressures, and other factors beyond management’s control.

Valuation of Inventory

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value using the first in, first out (FIFO) method of accounting. Inventories primarily consist of satellite radio receivers manufactured to our specifications by independent third parties. We periodically evaluate inventory levels on hand as to potential obsolescence based on current and future selling prices. Currently, we do not provide our customers with a right of return, and are covered under manufacturer’s original warranty, and hence no provisions have been made for such purpose. We will adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 48, “Revenue Recognition When Right of Return Exists” if and when we provide such rights in the future.

Pre-Production Design and Development Costs

The Company entered into agreements to reimburse vendors for certain costs related to pre-production design and development of new receiver models. The Company treated these costs as fixed in nature and will subsequently be amortized as cost of equipment over the units specified in the production agreement. The Company follows the guidance provided under Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 99-5, “Accounting for Pre-Production Costs Related to Long-Term Supply Arrangements” for recognizing and amortizing such costs. During 2007, the Company switched to a standardized European technology which required the Company to redirect its resources in the design and development of new receiver models. As a result, the Company has written off all pre-production design and development costs associated with the initial receiver models under development. These costs of approximately $2.4 million have been recorded to Research and Development in the income statement.

As the Company incurs pre-production design and developments costs related to the new receivers, they will be accounted for Under EITF No. 99-5, “Accounting for Pre-production Costs Related to Long-Term supply Arrangements. As of December 31, 2007 no costs have been recognized in the accompanying balance sheet.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. This Interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. This Interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The Company has adopted this Interpretation effective January 1, 2007. Refer to Note I—Income Taxes, for further discussion.

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In September 2006, The Financial Accounting and Standards Board has issued FAS 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”), which provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. The standard also responds to investors’ requests for more information about the extent to which companies’ measure assets and liabilities at fair value, the information used to measure fair value and the effect that fair-value measurements have on earnings. SFAS 157 will apply whenever another standard requires (or permits) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. The standard does not expand the use of fair value to any new circumstances. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of SFAS 157 on its results of operations and financial position.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.” This statement permits, but does not require, entities to measure many financial instruments at fair value. The objective is to provide entities with an opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. Entities electing this option will apply it when the entity first recognizes an eligible instrument and will report unrealized gains and losses on such instruments in current earnings. This statement 1) applies to all entities, 2) specifies certain election dates, 3) can be applied on an instrument-by-instrument basis with some exceptions, 4) is irrevocable and 5) applies only to entire instruments. With respect to SFAS 115, available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities at the effective date are eligible for the fair value option at that date. If the fair value option is elected for those securities at the effective date, cumulative unrealized gains and losses at that date shall be included in the cumulative-effect adjustment and thereafter, such securities will be accounted for as trading securities. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS 159 on its results of operations and financial position.

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Results of Operations