1



                                                                  EXHIBIT 99.1


[LOGO]

IRIDIUM RECEIVES 60-DAY WAIVER FROM LENDERS (NASDAQ; IRID)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Iridium LLC announced today that it has received a 60-day
waiver from its lenders under its $800 million Senior Secured Credit Facility of
the financial covenants relating to customers and revenues. These minimum
subscriber and revenue covenants required Iridium to have cash revenues of at
least $4 million, cumulative accrued revenues of at least $30 million, at least
27,000 Iridium World Satellite Service customers and at least 52,000 total
customers. Under terms of the waiver, Iridium is required to meet these customer
levels and revenues by May 31, 1999.

Iridium believes that the slower than expected customer ramp-up and revenue
generation have been the result of problems with the initial availability of
customer equipment and the availability of fully-trained service providers and
sales personnel.

Iridium has notified its bank lenders that it is in the process of revising its
revenue and customers estimates in light of these initial delays and that it
intends to request a modification of the minimum revenue and customer level
covenants in the secured bank facility once this revision is complete.

Iridium LLC became the world's first global satellite phone and paging company
on November 1, 1998. The network of 66-low earth orbiting satellites, combined
with terrestrial cellular systems, enables subscribers to communicate virtually
anywhere in the world using one phone and pager, one phone number, and receiving
one monthly bill. Customers access participating local cellular networks when
available, and the Iridium satellite network when outside terrestrial cellular
coverage. Iridium World Communications, Ltd. (NASDAQ: IRID) is the public
investment vehicle of Iridium LLC.

                                      ###

    Iridium is a registered trademark and service mark of Iridium LLC (C) 1999



   2
[LOGO]

IRIDIUM CFO TO RESIGN
(NASDAQ: IRID)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Roy T. Grant, vice president and chief financial officer
for Iridium LLC (NASDAQ : IRID) has announced his plans to resign from his
post at Iridium for personal reasons effective April 16.

Mr. Grant was a key participant in the company's successful debt and equity
financings during its development stage.

Iridium has begun a search for Mr. Grant's successor, which it expects to
complete at the time of Mr. Grant's departure.

Iridium LLC became the world's first global satellite phone and paging company
on November 1, 1998. The network of 66 low-earth orbiting satellites, combined
with terrestrial cellular systems, enables customers to communicate virtually
anywhere in the world using one phone and pager, one phone number, and receiving
one monthly bill. Customers access participating local cellular networks when
available, and the Iridium satellite network when outside terrestrial cellular
coverage. Iridium World Communications, Ltd. (NASDAQ: IRID) is the public
investment vehicle of Iridium LLC.

                                      ###

    Iridium is a registered trademark and service mark of Iridium LLC (C) 1999



                                       2