An organization established in 1964 to operate a worldwide system of communications satellites. In 2001, it became a private company after 37 years as an intergovernmental organization. Its headquarters are in Washington, DC. Intelsat satellites are stationed in geostationary orbit over the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. ITSO currently has 149 member countries; its role today continues to be as important as it was when it was first founded.