UPDATE 1-EXCLUSIVE-Inmarsat in U.S. mobile phone licence talks

(Adds further CEO comment, detail, background, shares)

By John Bowker

LONDON, March 7 (Reuters) - British satellite operator Inmarsat (ISA.L) is in talks with three mobile phone operators about running a new national mobile licence in the United States, its chairman and chief executive said on Friday.

Andy Sukawaty told Reuters he had held discussions with Verizon Wireless (VZ.N), AT&T (T.N) and T-Mobile (DTEGn.DE) about developing the new licence, which he expects to net the firm around $115 million a year in revenue.

He said the talks were at an early stage, and that an agreement was not due imminently.

The new licence would be able to run on both terrestrial and satellite networks. Inmarsat has already signed up satellite competitor MSV to help push through the deal.

"We are talking to potential strategic partners to launch a hybrid of terrestrial and satellite mobile services," he told Reuters in an interview.

"We would be the (satellite) supplier to the new licence, and would be paid leasing of $115 million a year."