A satellite handling mobile phone calls in London has been backed by the London Development Agency (LDA). The technology will reduce the need for unpopular masts and could also be used to track motorists, the LDA said. The agency voted to provide £12m in grants to London-based communications firm Inmarsat to develop the project. The firm has now secured the necessary government support to place a bid with the European Space Agency to launch the satellite in French Guiana in 2011.