Emergency Response and Wireless Location Systems
by Manlio Allegra
Topics: Main | 2004 | 2003 |2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997
Satellite News 1999 NTT ComWare Licenses Fantastic's Media Software for Satellite Service 28-Oct-99 Liberty Media Invests $425 Million in Astrolink Satellite Venture 28-Oct-99 SkyCache Expands its Satellite Coverage 20-Sep-99 SkyBridge Expects Broadband Satellite Launch in 2002 17-Sep-99 Raytheon Demonstrates Two-Way, Ka-Band Satellite Connectivity 17-Aug-99 Astrolink Broadband Satellite Venture Closes Financing 23-Jul-99 Teledesic Signs Launch Contract for Broadband Satellite Network 09-Jul-99 SkyCache Secures $20 Million in Second Round Financing 29-Jun-99 Teleglobe and Intelsat Launch 16QAM Internet Satellite Transport 24-Jun-99 SkyBridge Gains Telstra's Support for Broadband Satellite Services 23-Jun-99 Intel takes Stake in SkyStream for IP/MPEG Satellite Delivery 12-Jun-99 Loral Orion Offers Worldwide DVB-based Internet Service 11-Jun-99 COMSAT to Offer LMDS Access in Lima, Peru 27-May-99 AOL Signs with DirecTV, Hughes, Philips and Network Computer 12-May-99 Ericsson to Supply Ground Network for Astrolink 10-May-99 Astrolink Raises Funding for Broadband Satellite Network 6-May-99 DirecPC Joins Broadcast.com Multicast Program 6-May-99 INTELSAT Provides Internet 2 Link to Israel 6-May-99 INTELSAT Demonstrates VoIP via Satellite 6-May-99 Hughes to Invest $1.4 Billion in Broadband Satellite System 17-Mar-99 Nortel Networks Introduces Broadband Satellite Portfolio 03-Feb-99 Matra Marconi Space and Nortel Collaborate on Broadband Satellites 03-Feb-99 Hongkong Telecom Leases 45 Mbps Satellite Internet Link 05-Jan-99 NTT COMWARE LICENSES FANTASTIC'S MEDIA SOFTWARE FOR SATELLITE SERVICE
NTT CommunicationWare (NTT ComWare) will use Fantastic's Channel Management Centre software for multimedia and data broadcasting over its MegaWave Pro satellite service. NTTComWare's satellite platform will use IP and Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) standards to broadcast digital content to PCs, televisions and 3G mobile devices. Customers will be able to book, track and subscribe to sets of broadband multimedia services on a per-transaction basis. Fantastic's software also enables broadcasters to aggregate multimedia content for point-to-multipoint distribution over cable, DSL and digital terrestrial networks. http://www.fantastic.com
The Fantastic Corporation, October 28, 1999LIBERTY MEDIA INVESTS $425 MILLION IN ASTROLINK BROADBAND SATELLITE VENTURE
Liberty Media will acquire a 31.6% equity stake in the Astrolink broadband satellite venture for $425 million. In May, Astrolink raised $900 million in equity financing to launch up to nine, geostationary Ka-band (20-30 GHz) satellites for providing high bandwidth services in Europe, the Middle East and North and South America. The new investment distributes Astrolink's ownership structure among four partners: Liberty Media 31.6%; Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications 31.2%; Telespazio (Telecom Italia) 18.6% and TRW 18.6%. Liberty Media, a division of AT&T, produces, acquires and distributes entertainment and informational programming services http://www.libertymedia.com/press_releases/index.html
Liberty Media, October 25, 1999
Astrolink's first geostationary, Ka-band satellite is scheduled for launch in 2002. The Astrolink satellites are being designed with 6.5 Gbps capacity and the ability to support downlink speeds of up to 110 Mbps and uplink speeds of 20 Mbps per channel. The architecture will be based on ATM for supporting IP as well as synchronous voice and isochronous video services. Astrolink plans to offer a premium ATM service for business customers, featuring CBR, rt-VBR, nrt-VBR, UBR and ABR services. Astrolink will build four regional control centers to validate users, monitor the system and provide set-up and tear-down functions. It will also build two satellite centers, three telemetry station and 30 to 50 Gateway Earth Stations providing interexchange, protocol conversion and uplink to the satellites at 143 Mbps per channel. http://www.astrolink.com/SKYCACHE EXPANDS ITS SATELLITE COVERAGE
SkyCache has contracted for a full transponder on GE-1E, a Ku-band satellite owned by GE American Communications with a footprint that covers the Nordic countries, Western Russia, the Middle East and North Africa. The SkyCache satellite service can be used by ISPs for updating Web content caches, Usenet news feeds, digital audio/video distribution, FTP mirroring and web site replication. SkyCache began services in Europe last year with a smaller capacity contract on GE-1E and in the US earlier this year with service on GE-3. It currently serves over 150 North American and European customers. Further expansion to satellites over Asia and Latin American are planned. http://www.skycache.com/
SkyCache, September 20, 1999SKYBRIDGE EXPECTS BROADBAND SATELLITE LAUNCH BEGINNING IN 2002
SkyBridge LP, the broadband satellite venture led by Alcatel and supported by Loral Space & Communication, EMS Technologies, COM DEV of Canada, Thompson, Mitsubishi Electric, Sharp Toshiba and others, said it remains on target to begin offering services worldwide in 2002. SkyBridge will use a constellation of 80 satellites operating in the Ku-band (10-18 GHz), orbiting at an altitude of 913 miles (1,469 km). The satellites will provide "bent pipe" connections, meaning no onboard processing or switching will occur. The company said the low-earth-orbit would allow for short signal propagation time of 30 milliseconds, which would be sufficient for interactive services. Over 200 gateway stations worldwide will relay traffic from the satellites to terrestrial fiber networks. Localized traffic processing will occur within the gateway to guarantees the network evolves with IP and ATM technology. SkyBridge will use Ku-band frequency (10 to 18
GHz) reduces technology risk, the price of system components, and the potential for signal fade and rain attenuation. Each end-user can access n x 20 Mbps (downstream) and n x 2 Mbps (upstream). SkyBridge believes it can provide the best, low cost broadband network access in locations worldwide not served by DSL or cable modem. http://www.skybridge.com
SkyBridge, September 16, 1999RAYTHEON DEMONSTRATES TWO-WAY, KA-BAND SATELLITE CONNECTIVITY
Raytheon's commercial SatCom terminal business unit demonstrated multimedia connectivity using a one-meter dish and a two-way Ka-Band satellite link. The tests used NASA's Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS), the only non-military Ka-Band satellite currently deployed over the Western Hemisphere. A DS-1 ATM link across the ACTS satellite was used to simultaneously support LAN to WAN connectivity at greater than 700 Kbps, video conferencing at 512 Kbps, ISDN at 192 Kbps and dual 64 Kbps telephony. Next-generation, two-way satellite communications networks are expected to use Ka-Band satellites. Raytheon and its network of partners are developing low-cost broadband satellite customer premise equipment. http://www.raytheon.com/
Raytheon, August 17, 1999ASTROLINK BROADBAND SATELLITE VENTURE CLOSES FINANCING
Astrolink, the broadband satellite venture backed by Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, Telespazio (a company of Telecom Italia) and TRW, closed its $900 million round in equity financing and finalized contracts to build its first four geostationary, Ka-band telecommunications satellites. The Astrolink constellation will use the Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite bus format. The satellites' packet-switched payloads will be manufactured by TRW Space & Electronics Group. Astrolink recently received approvals
from the European Union and the US State Department for matters relating to the competitive impact of Astrolink in the European market and technology transfer between companies of the US and those of Europe. Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications Group is invested $400 million cash in the venture; Telespazio (a unit of Telecom Italia) invested $250 million cash and TRW invested $250 million cash.
The Astrolink satellites are being designed with 6.5 Gbps capacity and the ability to support downlink speeds of up to 110 Mbps and uplink speeds of 20 Mbps per channel. The architecture will be based on ATM for supporting IP as well as synchronous voice and
isochronous video services. Astrolink plans to offer a premium ATM service for business customers, featuring CBR, rt-VBR, nrt-VBR, UBR and ABR services. Astrolink will build four regional control centers to validate users, monitor the system and provide set-up and tear-down functions. It will also build two satellite centers, three telemetry stations and 30 to 50 Gateway Earth Stations providing interexchange, protocol conversion and uplink
to the satellites at 143 Mbps per channel. The capital costs of the entire satellite network and terrestrial support system are estimated at $3.6 billion. Astrolink will seek strategic service provider partners, raise additional financing and possibly seek an IPO prior to launch. The company is based in Bethesda, Maryland.
http://www.astrolink.com/
Astrolink, July 23, 1999TELEDESIC SIGNS LAUNCH CONTRACT WITH LOCKHEED MARTIN,
COMPLETES DEAL WITH MOTOROLA
Teledesic LLC, the broadband satellite venture backed by Bill Gates, Craig McCaw, Boeing and others, completed a major launch contract with Lockheed Martin and signed a system agreement with Motorola to build its satellite communications network. Teledesic
plans to launch a constellation of 288 low-Earth-orbit satellites (plus spares) that will provide up to 64 Mbps on the downlink and up to 2 Mbps on the uplink for small dishes. The satellites would operate in the Ka-band. Lockheed Martin will use two heavy-lift launch vehicles, the Proton M and the Atlas V, to launch a significant portion of Teledesic's satellite constellation. The contract calls for three Proton launches and three Atlas launches. Each launch vehicle will carry multiple Teledesic satellites per mission. Financial terms were not disclosed. Separately, Teledesic completed a system agreement with Motorola, its prime contractor, after more than a year of close design collaboration. A technical review of the design in underway. Teledesic will release details of the system design once the review is completed. http://www.teledesic.com/newsroom/7-9-99.htm
Teledesic, July 9, 1999SKYCACHE SECURES $20 MILLION IN SECOND ROUND FINANCING
SkyCache, a start-up providing a satellite-based Internet overlay service, closed a $20 million second round of financing from four venture investors: Carlyle Venture Partners, Intel, Institutional Venture Partners (IVP) and New Enterprise Associates (NEA). The new funding will allow SkyCache to expand its services in Asia and Latin America. The SkyCache service can be used for updating Web content caches, Usenet news feeds, digital audio/video distribution, FTP mirroring and web site replication. Customers
include AGIS, Erols Internet, ExecPC, and SuperLink. SkyCache is delivered via GE Americom's Ku-band GE-3 satellite in North America and GE-1E (Sirius II) over Europe.
http://www.skycache.com
SkyCache, June 29, 1999TELEGLOBE AND INTELSAT LAUNCH 16QAM INTERNET SATELLITE TRANSPORT
Teleglobe, in partnership with INTELSAT, has begun offering international Internet access using 16QAM (16-phase Quadrature Amplitude Modulation). 16QAM transmission is approximately 33 to 50% more bandwidth-efficient than current satellite modulation
techniques, particularly for 34 and 45 Mbps connections. Telstra is using existing transoceanic cable capacity for the inbound Internet link to the US and a 90 Mbps simplex satellite link with 16QAM for the return link to Australia. Korea Telecom is using
existing cable capacity for the inbound link to the US and a 45 Mbps simplex satellite link for the return link to Korea. http://www.teleglobe.ca
TeleGlobe, June 24, 1999SKYBRIDGE GAINS TELSTRA'S SUPPORT FOR BROADBAND SATELLITE SERVICES
Telstra gained first option to become an equity partner in SkyBridge, the proposed broadband satellite system backed by Alcatel and its partners. The agreement provides Telstra with the option of being SkyBridge's regional service provider for Austral-asia and the South-East Asia region. Financial terms were not disclosed. SkyBridge proposes to launch a constellation of 80 low-earth orbiting (LEO) satellites orbiting at 1,469 km. The satellites would offer global broadband services capable of downstream speeds of up to 20 Mbps per residential subscriber, with up to 2 Mbps on the return link. The SkyBridge system will operate in the Ku-band (10 to 18 GHz) and employ a frequency re-use technique to protect existing geostationary and terrestrial broadcasting. The satellites will not use on-board switching or satellite-to-satellite communication links, instead concentrating network "intelligence" within ground gateway ATM-based switches. The project is led Alcatel; additional investors include Loral Space & Communication, Toshiba, Mitsubishi Electric, Sharp, SPAR Aerospace of Canada, Aerospatiale and Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales - France. Alcatel expects its first SkyBridge services be introduced by the end of 2001. http://www.skybridgesatellite.com
SkyBridge, June 23, 1999INTEL TAKES STAKE IN SKYSTREAM FOR IP/MPEG SATELLITE DELIVERY
Intel has taken an undisclosed equity position in SkyStream Corporation, a start-up that provides satellite-based Internet content distribution using MPEG transmission streams. SkyStream's Null Packet Optimization technique allows broadcasters to insert IP packets into otherwise unusable space created by an incoming video bitstream. The company is based in Mountain View, California. http://www.skystream.com/
SkyStream, June 21, 1999LORAL ORION OFFERS WORLDWIDE DVB-BASED INTERNET SERVICE
Loral Orion expanded its Digital Video Broadcast (DVB)-based data transport service to and from virtually any place in the world. The company is assembling a global network of dedicated satellite and fiber capacity to deliver its DVB broadband services. The system encapsulates IP packets in MPEG DVB transport. Loral Orin uses its own technology for merging hundreds of separately encrypted real-time or scheduled data services into a single data stream, allowing it achieve very high aggregate throughput per transponder -- many times more than other DVB systems. The streams can total up to 58 Mbps on each 54 megahertz transponder, as compared to 30 Mbps or less achieved by others in the satellite industry. Currently, 120 ISPs customers in Europe and Asia are subscribing to the service. The company is expanding into Latin America using the Loral Global Alliance SatMex 5 satellite and by the Q4 using the Orion 2 satellite. http://www.loralorion.com/
Loral Orion, June 10, 1999COMSAT PERU TO OFFER LMDS ACCESS IN LIMA
COMSAT Peru has inaugurated a local multi-point distribution system (LMDS) in Lima, Peru supporting voice, data, video, and Internet connectivity to its central satellite station. Customers will use a small rooftop microwave antenna to bypass the wireline network. The ATM-based wireless service is believed to be the first of its kind operating in Latin America. Lucent Technologies was named as the equipment supplier. http://www.comsat.com
COMSAT, May 26, 1999AOL SIGNS WITH DIRECTV, HUGHES, PHILIPS AND NETWORK COMPUTER
AOL will develop a service that combines digital satellite television programming from DIRECTV, which provides digital satellite TV to 7 million subscribers across the US. Hughes Network Systems (HNS) will design and build the dual purpose AOL TV/DIRECTV set-top receiver. Philips Electronics will produce an advanced set-top box enabled for AOL TV. Network Computer Inc. (NCI) will provide the software platform. The set-top boxes will include 56k modems and be enabled for DSL. http://www-db.aol.com/corp/news/press/view?release=639
AOL, May 11, 1999
ERICSSON TO SUPPLY GROUND NETWORK FOR ASTROLINK
Ericsson will supply major portions of the ground infrastructure network for the planned Astrolink global satellite system announced last week. Under a contract with Telespazio SpA, Ericsson will provide the Master Network Control Center (MNCC), Regional Network
Control Centers (RNCCs) and gateway switching equipment. Astrolink's first commercial services are targeted for 2003. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.ericsson.com/
Ericsson, May 7, 1999ASTROLINK RAISES $900 MILLION FOR BROADBAND SATELLITE NETWORK
Astrolink raised an initial $900 million in equity financing to launch up to nine, geostationary Ka-band (20-30 Ghz) satellites to provide broadband data communications services to customers in Europe and North and South America. Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications Group is investing $400 million cash in the venture, Telespazio (a unit of Telecom Italia) is investing $250 million cash and TRW is investing $250 million cash. The first Astrolink satellite is scheduled for launch in 2002, followed by the launch of three additional satellites at six-month intervals.The Astrolink satellites are being designed with 6.5 Gbps capacity and the ability to support downlink speeds of up to 110 Mbps and uplink speeds of 20 Mbps per channel. The architecture will be based on ATM for supporting IP as well as synchronous voice and isochronous video services. Astrolink plans to offer a premium ATM
service for business customers, featuring CBR, rt-VBR, nrt-VBR, UBR and ABR services. Astrolink will build four regional control centers to validate users, monitor the system and provide set-up and tear-down functions. It will also build two satellite centers, three telemetry station and 30 to 50 Gateway Earth Stations providing interexchange, protocol conversion and uplink to the satellites at 143 Mbps per channel. The capital costs of the entire satellite network and terrestrial support system are estimated at $3.6 billion. Astrolink will seek strategic service provider partners, raise additional financing and possibly seek an IPO prior to launch. The company is based in Bethesda, Maryland. http://www.astrolink.com/
Astrolink, May 6, 1999
DIRECPC JOINS BROADCAST.COM MULTICAST PROGRAM
Hughes Network Systems' DirecPC satellite-based Internet service will begin narrowcasting "near TV-quality" Web content from broadcast.com. DirecPC will uplink selected content from featured events at broadcast.com at speeds as high as 1.2 Mbps. Subscribers will be able to view this "multicast" content as it is streaming
down from the DirecPC satellite. The DirecPC supports downstream access at up to 400 Kbps. Content will be available beginning in mid-May. http://www.broadcast.com/about/press/direcpc.stm
Broadcast.com, May 6, 1999
INTELSAT PROVIDES INTERNET 2 LINK TO ISRAEL
INTELSAT will provide the first satellite link to the Internet2 backbone by connecting Israel's Inter Universities Computation Center (IUCC) with academic institutions in the US. The duplex service will be carried over the INTELSAT 801 satellite and will initially operate at 45 Mbps using two 36 MHz transponders. It will be upgraded to a duplex 155 Mbps service using two 72 MHz transponders. The INTELSAT connection is expected to go live on June 1 in partnership with Israsat, a subsidiary of Gilat Communications. http://www.intelsat.int/news/press/99-15e.htm
INTELSAT, May 6, 1999
INTELSAT DEMONSTRATES VOIP VIA SATELLITE
INTELSAT demonstrated voice over IP via satellite in conjunction with a meeting of ETSI's Project TIPHON being held in Thailand. The satellite Internet connection was relayed through an earth station operated by Communications Authority of Thailand. http://www.intelsat.int/
INTELSAT, May 6, 1999HUGHES TO INVEST $1.4 BILLION IN BROADBAND SATELLITE SYSTEM
Hughes Electronics Corporation will invest $1.4 billion to launch a Ka-band satellite network providing broadband multimedia communications services in North America by 2002. The Spacewaybroadband network initially will consist of two geosynchronous orbit satellites built by Hughes Space and Communications, plus an in-orbit spare. Once the geosynchronous orbit Spaceway system is operating, the next phase will be a complementary nongeosynchronous system in lower earth orbits that would expand the capability for two way services. The Spaceway applications will be marketed under variations of the "Direc" name already used by Hughes. The company will seek partners to build similar systems for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America and Asia. http://www.hns.com/news/pressrel/corporat/p031799.htm
Hughes, March 17, 1999NORTEL NETWORKS INTRODUCES BROADBAND SATELLITE PORTFOLIO
Nortel Networks announced a broadband satellite portfolio that enables regional operators to provide Internet, corporate data and multimedia networking services via satellite. The system, which uses Ku-band Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) standards to provide download speeds of 38 Mbps, includes ground network hubs and a range of access units Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) will deploy the Nortel equipment in a regional broadband satellite network featuring a Ka-band satellite return channel system. http://www.nortelnetworks.com
Nortel, February 3, 1998MATRA MARCONI SPACE AND NORTEL COLLABORATE ON BROADBAND SATELLITES
Nortel Networks and Matra Marconi Space have joined forces in a non-exclusive arrangement to offer advanced satellite network solutions. The companies already have several joint development projects already underway, including the network architecture for the Network Control Center of the European Space Agency (ESA). http://www.nortelnetworks.com
Nortel, February 3, 1999HONGKONG TELECOM LEASES 45 MBPS SATELLITE LINK
Hongkong Telecom will lease a 45 Mbps satellite link from INTELSAT for an Internet trunk from the US to Hong Kong. The service will use a cable return link. http://www.hkt.com/ABOUT/press/pressrel99/990105.html
Hongkong Telecom, January 5, 1999
