Satellite Broadcasting Services · Watch out for it! SATMAGAZINE.COM Back to Contents 4 February...
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Satellite Broadcasting Services
Transcript of Satellite Broadcasting Services · Watch out for it! SATMAGAZINE.COM Back to Contents 4 February...
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February 2005
Click on the title to godirectly to the story
3 / Note from the Editor
4 / Calendar of Events
5-8 / Featured Event: ISCe 2005
Solving the Teleport Equation
by Bruce Elbert
9-13 / Industry News
14-16 / Executives Moves
By Virgil Labrador
By Thomas van derHeyden
Vol. 2 No. 9, February 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
20 /
25 /
28 / Satellites can Win European HD Distribution By Bruce Elbert
17-19 / New Products and Services
Satellites and Wi–Fi
Satellite and Wi-Fi BandwidthIntergration:Cost Effective‘Last Mile’Solutions
32 / In Wi-Fi Veritas
By Chris ForresterWi-Fi and other wirelesstechnologies are expandingrapidly. Will satellitecompanies be able to takeadvantage of thisopportunity?
The critical bottleneck inthe development ofbroadband services is the‘last mile.’ Satellitewireless technologies likeWi-Fi provide viablesolutions.
Europe’s satcastersremain confident ofsuccess in 2005. Theysee the next few years asone where they have anexclusive opportunity topush HD television to anenthusiastic audience.
Veteran consultant BruceElbert gives thebottomline on Wi-Fi. By Bernardo Schneiderman
2005 began auspiciously forthe Latin American satellitemarket with the awarding oftwo major broadbandcontracts.
34 / Latin AmericanSatellite Market 2005: A Hot Spot for Vendors
36 / Market Intelligence:
“Middle EAST Satcoms”
38 / Stock Monitor /
Advertisers’ Index
REGULAR DEPARTMENTS
COVER STORY REGIONAL UPDATE FEATURES VIEWPOINT
presented by the GVF Forum
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Vol.2 No. 4 July-August 2004
Satnews Publishers is the leadingprovider of information on theworldwide satellite industry. Foremore information, go towww.satnews.com
Cover Design by: Simon Payne
Published monthly bySatnews Publishers800 Siesta Way,Sonoma, CA 95476 USAPhone (707) 939-9306Fax (707) 939-9235E-mail: [email protected]: www.satmagazine.com
Baden WoodfordContributing Writer, Africa
Jill Durfee([email protected])Advertising Sales
Joyce Schneider([email protected])Advertising Sales
Copyright © 2005Satnews PublishersAll rights reserved.
EDITORIALSilvano PaynePublisher
Virgil LabradorManaging Editorand Editor, North America
Chris ForresterEditor, Europe, Middle Eastand Africa
Bernardo SchneidermanEditor, Latin America
Peter GalaceEditor, Asia-Pacific
John Puetz, Bruce ElbertDan Freyer, Howard GreenfieldContributing Writers,The Americas
David Hartshorn, Martin JarroldContributing Writers, Europe
NOTES FROM THE EDITOR
The Evolving Business of TeleportsTwo editors of SatMagazine have been invited to chairsessions on the business of teleports at theforthcoming ISCe Conference and Expo in Long Beach,Calif. from May 31st to June 2, 2005. Yours truly will bechairing a session on “Evolving Teleport Solutions forEnterprise” and our contributing editor, Bruce Elbertwill be chairing the World Teleport Association (WTA)workshop on “Creating Value Through End-to-End
SATCOM Solutions.” Another contributing editor of SatMagazine, JohnPuetz will be chairing a session on “Next Generation Fixed and MobileGround Terminals.”
As a former teleport person myself, I am excited to chair this session. Theteleport business has undergone so many changes since I left the teleportbusiness for the publishing world seven years ago. We will have greatpanel composed of key industry leaders such as David Justin, Senior VP,Marketing and Product Development-Globecast; Brent Bruun, SVP andGeneral Manager-AMERICOM Enterprise Solutions and Keith Regan, VPof Global Engineering and Operations- Telenor Satellite Services.
The WTA workshop to be chaired by Bruce will examine the continuedevolution of the satellite communications business into an array oftightly-focused niches, to which competitors seek to provide high-value,end-to-end solutions.
It should be a great show, so do mark your calendars. Bruce, John andmyself are all residents of Southern California and we look forward towelcoming you in June.
Meanwhile, we have a great issue for you this month. We focus on thegrowing Wi-Fi market and how satellites can take advantage of thisunique opportunity.
As we went to press, the New York Post reported that XM Satellite andSirius are in preliminary merger talks. This report was immediately deniedby both XM and Sirius. Hmmm...there seems to be no end to the twistsand turns in this industry. Next month we focus on Satellite Radio anddiscuss this market in depth. Watch out for it!
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February 2005
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 1-4, Sao-Paolo, BrazilTelexpo 2005Cida Duarte Tel: (55-11) 3170-7000 / Fax: (55-11) 3170-7010E-E-mail: [email protected]: www.telexpo.com.br
March 15-17, Chelsea Village, London, UKNewCom Africa 2005Paul StahlTel: +44-(0)208-954-2081 / E-mail: [email protected]: www.aitecafrica.com
March 17, Bafta, London, UKThe 2nd European HDTV SummitChris ForresterTel: +44 20 89 488 561 / Fax: +44 20 89 406 009Mobile: +44 77 678 10606E-mail: [email protected]: www.tvconferences.com
March 22-25, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.Satellite 2005 Rick FelperinTel: +1-301-354-1691/ 2000 / Fax: +1 (301) 340-3169E-mail: [email protected]: www.satellite2005.com
March 25-27, Guangzhou, ChinaExpo Comm China South 2005Karen Owens-LeonTel: (301)493-5500 / Fax: (301)493-5705E-mail: [email protected]: www.expocomm.com/chinasouth
April 11-14, Istanbul, TurkeyCaspian Telecoms 2005Elena Peredel’skaiaTel: + 44 (0)20 7596 5205/ 5000 / Fax: + 44 (0)20 7596 5208Email: [email protected]: www.ite-exhibitions.com/www.caspianworld.com/
April 16-21, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.NAB 2005Tel:+1-202-595-2052 +1-888-740-4622E-mail: [email protected] / Web: www.nabshow.com
May 31-June 3, Almaty, KazakhstanKITEL 2005- 12th Kazakhstan and Central AsianInternational Telecoms & Computer TechnologiesElena Peredel’skaiaTel: + 44 (0)20 7596 5205/ 5000 / Fax: + 44 (0)20 7596 5208Email: [email protected]: www.ite-exhibitions.com/www.caspianworld.com/
June 14-17, SingaporeCommunicAsia 2005Victor WongTel: (65) 6233 8662 / Fax: (65) 6835 3029Email: [email protected]: www.communicasia.com
June 14-17, SingaporeBroadcast Asia 2005Jackson YeohTel: (65) 6233 8633 / Fax: (65) 6835 3029Email: [email protected]: www.broadcast-asia.com
June 23-25, Agricenter International Memphis, TNSatellite Expo 2005Lee Gilliland1-877-SAT-SHOWE-mail: [email protected]
February 1-3, Le Meridien Etoile, Paris, FranceSatCom Europe 2005Stefan NilssonTel: +44 (0)20 7827 5997 / Fax: +44 (0)20 7242 1508E-mail: [email protected]: www.terrapinn.com/2005/satcom
February 14-18, Johannesburg, South AfricaSatCom Africa 2005Richelle SherE-mail: [email protected]: +27 11 516 4052 / Fax: +27 11 707 9965Website: www.satcomafrica.com
May 31-June 2, Long Beach, CA, U.S.A.ISCe Conference and Expo Gina LermaTel: +1-310-410-9191 / Fax: 1-310-410-9396E-mail: [email protected] / Website:www.isce.com
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FEATURED EVENT
The satellite communications teleport is a location-specificfacility that offers uplinking, downlinking, applicationhosting, collocation, and interconnect services. As the
title to this article indicates, this is an equation that seeks aprofitable solution for the teleport operator. Converting capitalexpense and operating expense into a profitable bottom line hasnever been an easy task and the successful teleports get therethrough lots of hard work. Like many local businesses, it’s amatter of being in the right place at the right time with the rightanswers.
With the increasing complexity of needs and ways ofmeeting them, the teleport operator must grasp the end-to-endobjectives of the customer, and move rapidly from concept tothrough proposal to working system. The obvious way toachieve this process is to have the right tools “on the shelf” andpeople on board who know how to configure and run theinfrastructure. Any teleport operator who achieves a positivecash flow will tell you that this is not a “cake walk” but more like“living on a battleground”.
Our workshop at ISCe, organized by theWorld Teleport Association, will give you ahead start in solving this modern “Riddle ofthe Sphinx” through a set of cutting-edgepanels under the general panoply of CreatingValue Through End-to-End Satcom Solutions.It is my pleasure to chair the workshop and
share the podium with some of the most creative people address-ing these challenges.
Specifically, the WTA workshop will examine the continuedevolution of the satellite communications business into an arrayof tightly-focused niches, to which competitors seek to providehigh-value, end-to-end solutions. In this market, the teleport hasbecome the linchpin of the transaction, because it is at teleportsthat the value is added to the basic, bent-pipe satellite circuit.The past year has offered a strong endorsement of this view,with the world’s largest satellite carriers investing in teleportassets in order to maintain their competitive position.
The existing and emerging niches in the satcom business,for which teleports have become essential to value delivery,include:
• Hybrid enterprise and government networks for oil &gas exploration and production, mining, aid and disasterrelief efforts, and other applications.
• Narrowcast DTH service for ethnic and other narrowTV markets.
• Distribution of high-value data and video feeds toclosed distribution networks for financial services,
Solving the Teleport Equation WithEnd-to-end Application Products
by Bruce Elbert,President, ApplicationTechnology Strategy, Inc.
hotels, retail stores and malls, bars and restaurants, andother specialty markets.
• Digital content development, management and distribution through multiple private and public networks
• Origination and distribution of independent TV channels to cable MSOs outside the traditional programboutique.
• Distance education and training networks forenterprises and government.
• Internet and VoIP backbone services to ISPs,enterprises and government.
• Mobile telephony backhaul in regions underservedby fiber.
The third bullet, dealing with closed distribution networksinvolving multimedia for retail-oriented enterprises, offers one ofthe most promising, if still nascent, opportunities for teleports. Ihave recently been working closely with a three-way partnershipof teleport operator, satellite service provider and distribution/display technology provider, in addressing this segment of themarket. The respective companies are: GlobeCast North America,JSAT International Inc., and Sony. The combined technical andmanagement resources mesh well in working out end-to-endsolutions on a custom basis for particular companies. Anyoneworking this field knows that each customer prospect has veryunique needs – and these needs may not be quantified unless aworking system is put together for them. Like any projectinvolving high-quality media, the customer is as much a part asany other partner. From the teleport side of the equation, activelistening and innovative problem solving are essential skills thatempower the team to maintain the right degree of awe in thecustomer’s mind.
The workshop at ISCe will take place on Tuesday, May 31stand will provide a forum to explore such partnerships andcustomer initiatives. Come and listen, and shareyour ideas and challenges.
Bruce Elbert has over 30 years of experience insatellite communications and is the President ofApplication Technology Strategy, Inc., which assistssatellite operators, network providers and users inthe public and private sectors. He is an author andeducator in these fields, having produced seven titlesand conducted technical and business training around the world.During 25 years with Hughes Electronics, he directed majortechnical projects and led business activities in the U.S. andoverseas. He is the author of The Satellite Communication Applica-tions Handbook, second edition (Artech House, 2004). Web site:www.applicationstrategy.com Email: [email protected]
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February 2005
FEATURED EVENT
Once again, ISCe will offer several special panel discus-sions and workshops designed to give you a deeperunderstanding of the rapidly changing satellite
industry and tools to better equip you. On Tuesday, May 31st,the first day of ISCe 2005, there will be numerous educationalworkshops and presentations on important private andgovernment business and technology, as well as severalnetworking and special events that you won’t want to miss.
Networking and Special Events
ISCe Welcome LunchSponsored by
the California Space Authority(www.californiaspaceauthority.org),the ISCe Welcome Luncheon willkick-off the networking eventsduring the three days in LongBeach. Keynote Speaker will beThe Honorable Ken Calvert
(R-CA), Senior Member of the House Science Committee.Opening comments will be made by The Honorable AndreaSeastrand, Executive Director of the California Space Authority(CSA) and former U.S. Congresswoman (R-CA).
Product Demonstration ProgramMaking its first appearance at ISCe is the Product
Demonstration Program, which features select companies’ newand innovative products and services that will have a tremen-dous impact on the satellite industry. These companies willmake an exclusive presentation to key decision-makers, press,and analysts on Tuesday, May 31st. For the remainder of theConference, they will present their products and services in apremier exhibit area located right outside the ISCe conferencesessions, separate from the main exhibit floor.
For consideration for participation in the Product Demon-stration Program, or for more information about ISCe 2005,please contact Gina Lerma at (310) 410-9191 [email protected], or visit www.isce.com. Deadline is March16, 2005 to apply for the Product Demonstration Program.
Day One to Highlight Exciting Programsand Special Events at ISCe!
Sunset Harbor Cruise Welcome ReceptionThe Satellite Industry Association (www.sia.org) will host
another inaugural event for ISCe - the HarborCruise Welcome Reception, which will provideattendees and presenters an opportunity tomeet and network in a relaxing sunset cruisethrough the beautiful Long Beach Marina and
Harbor. Join your friends and colleagues for a fun-filledevening of music, hors d’oeuvres, drinks and games!
Kicking off the ISCe conference on Tuesday is a numberof panel discussions and workshops full of in-depth informa-tion and discussions on a variety of topics:
Workshops
Corporate Growth & Exit StrategyThis workshop will help you be on top of running your
business. Designed for decision makers in the aerospace,space & defense sectors, this session will investigate variousstages in a corporate life cycle, strategic alliances, mergers andacquisitions, the injection of capital - and what to do if you arefaced with needing an exit strategy such as selling yourcompany.
Business StrategiesBusiness Aspects of VSAT-oriented Businesses:
If you want to gain a deeper knowledge of business-related aspects of VSAT-orientedbusinesses, you will want to attend thissession presented by David Hartshorn,Secretary General of the Global VSAT
Forum (www.gvf.org). You will explore regulatory framework,types of VSAT-based business, and critical success factors,customer management, and where VSAT fits in variouscommunications industries.
Topics include specific needs and requirements forindividual countries, supply chain, organizing your business,maintaining it, and growing it as the communications industrytechnologies rapidly evolve and converge, opening up new
Hon. KenCalvert
Hon. AndreaSeastrand
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FEATURED EVENT
opportunities for you and making your business successful.Additionally, we will look at the structure of the communica-tions industry and where VSAT fits in various communica-tions industries including Broadcast, Internet/IP includingNarrow band (dial-up, VHF, Radio), and Broadband, DSL vs.OC3, Cable, VSAT scalability/flexibility, Fixed line telephony,Cellular, Sat phone, and Hybrid (e.g., RBGAN).
Teleports: Creating Value ThroughEnd-to-end SATCOM Solutions
If you’re already in the teleport industryor if you’re looking to develop partnershipsand new customer initiatives, you won’t wantto miss this session, hosted by Bruce Elbert,Regional Chairman of the World TeleportAssociation (www.worldteleport.org). Youwill hear major teleport operators and users
discuss new business opportunities and the critical issuesfacing them today, including:
• Hybrid enterprise and government networks for oil &gas exploration and production, mining, aid anddisaster relief efforts, and other applications.
• Narrowcast DTH service for ethnic and other narrowTV markets.
• Distribution of high-value data and video feeds toclosed distribution networks for financial services,hotels, retail stores and malls, bars and restaurants,and other specialty markets.
• Digital content development, management anddistribution through multiple private and publicnetworks
• Origination and distribution of independent TVchannels to cable MSOs outside the traditionalprogram boutique.
• Distance education and training networks forenterprises and government.
• Internet and VoIP backbone services to ISPs, enterprises and government.
• Mobile telephony backhaul in regions underservedby fiber.
Satellite for BeginnersWhether you’re new to the
satellite industry, or you want tobrush up on your knowledge, you willwant to attend this highly successfulSBCA/SIA (www.sbca.com) trainingseminar for professionals. Offering acomprehensive overview of the
satellite marketplace, this session has a unique focus on theconsumer satellite services industry
.
Private Industry Focused Panels
Broadband Advancements: What’s On the Horizon?
Learn about new developments and challenges inbroadband via satellite, presented by Max Engle, SatelliteIndustry Analyst, Frost & Sullivan. This seminar will alsoaddress enhancements in wireless systems, competitive issueswith satellite and terrestrial systems, and hybrid networksolutions for the “last mile” problem.
Satellite Investments: A Paradigm Shift!This unique panel of key financial and industry players
will discuss the recent acquisitions of several satellite opera-tors by private investment companies and the effect on thesatellite industry. Does this new paradigm affect the satellitemanufacturers’ business strategies and increase their risks?Don’t miss this informative panel of financial and investmentleaders discuss the latest developments and their progressreports!
NASA and Space-Focused Panels
Next Generation Space Communications (SC)Technologies: NASA’s Space CommunicationsProject
The primary focus of the SC projects is the developmentof end-to-end information delivery solutions to meet NASAEnterprise needs for enhancing the communication infrastruc-ture, and to enable next generation communication architec-tures beyond 2010. Come hear NASA leaders provide anupdate on the next-generation communication architectureproject. Come hear leaders from NASA and industry willprovide an in-depth look at the next-generation space commu-nications project!
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February 2005
NASA Space Exploration Vision: Statusand Opportunities
Hosted by NASA, the NASA Far West RTTC andthe California Space Authority, this exciting session will
FEATURED EVENT
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Sponsorships and ExhibitingOptions at ISCe 2005Promote your product or services to a senior-level audienceof key decision-makers from the commercial, government andmilitary sectors by securing one of the available sponsorshippackages or exhibiting options at ISCe. For additionalinformation, please contact Gina Lerma at (310) 410-9191 [email protected] or go to www.isce.com
feature potential opportuni-ties for U.S. companies andinternational space stake-holders inherent in NASA’sVision for Space Explora-tion. Speakers includeRADM Craig E. SteidleUSN (Ret.), NASA Associ-ate Administrator forExploration Systems, whowill discuss a variety ofmissions including thereturn to flight of the SpaceShuttle, completion of theISS, return to the moon by2020, space communica-tions, and exploration ofMars and beyond.
Key NASA Tech-nology Opportunities:Autonomy and IT,Space Communica-tions
Ken Dozier, ExecutiveDirector – NASA Far WestRegional TechnologyTransfer Center will lead apanel of program managersand NASA technologypartnership professionalswho will explore keytechnology opportunities inthe areas of autonomy andinformation technology, aswell as space communica-tions. The panel will featureJPL and NASA Amestechnology needs inputsand an overview of howNASA develops andmanages its technologypartnerships.
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February 2005
INDUSTRY NEWSCablevision Sells Rainbow 1 Satelliteto EchoStar for $200 Million
position, as well as FCC licenses to construct, launch andoperate DBS services over 11 frequency channels at the 61.5degree W.L. orbital location. The satellite includes 13 frequen-cies, up to 12 of which can be operated in “spot beam” mode.
In addition, EchoStar will acquire the contents of Rainbow DBS’sground facility in Black Hawk, S.D. and related assets. Thetransaction is subject to review by the Federal CommunicationsCommission and other regulatory agencies.
In a statement, Cablevision said it will continue to explorestrategic alternatives, including monetization, for its remainingRainbow DBS related assets, including programming, equipmentand spectrum. It added Voom will continue to provide service toits current customers during a transition period.
EchoStar III satellite, also located at 61.5 degrees West Longi-tude, broadcasts Dish Network TV programming to hundreds of
BETHPAGE, N.Y., Jan. 21,2005— Eager to unload anunprofitable venture,Cablevision Systems Corp.announced on Thursday ithas entered into a defini-tive agreement for itssubsidiary Rainbow DBSCo. LLC to sell its directbroadcast satellite and
certain other related assets to a subsidiary of EchoStar Commu-nications Corp. for $200 million in cash.
Under the terms of the agreement, EchoStar will acquire theRainbow 1 satellite, located at the 61.5 degree W.L. orbital thousands of consumers today using DBS spectrum controlled by
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INDUSTRY NEWS
by EchoStar at that location. EchoStar said it is assessing howthe Rainbow satellite’s flexibility can best be utilized to enhanceDish Network’s existing service.
Cablevision’s Rainbow Media Holdings LLC started the high-definition satellite venture marketed under the brand name Voomin 2003. But the operation struggled to turn a profit and hasdragged Cablevision’s finances.
In November last year, Rainbow DBS ordered five geostationarytelecommunications satellites from Lockheed Martin to providedirect broadcast services across the continental United States(CONUS). Cablevision then revealed it was spending about $740million saying the deal underscores Rainbow DBS’ determinationto push ahead with the Voom service in spite of continuingdoubts on its costs and future viability.
Explaining the orders, Tom Dolan, CEO of Rainbow Media, saidthe plan was to boost VOOM satellite service and expand inMarch next year from its current 39 to more than 70 high-definition channels covering the full continental U.S.
Despite that announcement, however, investors doubted howthe company could raise the money. In August, Cablevisionreported a 25% increase in revenue but still posted a second-quarter net loss of $187.1 million as strong cable TV operationsfailed to offset investment losses and contain costs related tothe launch of a satellite broadcast service Voom.
Meanwhile, reports say Cablevision Systems chairman CharlesDolan and his family may buy the Rainbow DBS satellite-television unit after the board decided to sell or close thebusiness. In a memo sent to employees late Thursday, Dolansaid the Rainbow staff would be retained if he buys the unit,which operates the Voom satellite-TV service.
Charles Dolan and his family opposed the sale of the businessand has argued that Cablevision should continue funding Voom,according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Intelsat’s Satellite Loss IsolatesPacific, Antarctic Areas
Washington, D.C. , January 18, — The loss of Intelsat’s IS-804 satellite has left the Pacific Island nations of Cook Islands,Western Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Niue, Vanuatu,Tokelau, Tuvalu, Tonga and the US territory of American Samoawithout communications links to other states, according to wirereports.
Other countries, including New Caledonia, Tahiti, Papua NewGuinea, Fiji, East Timor, Vietnam, Korea and Saipan were alsoaffected but could plug into backup systems. New Zealandterritories of Scott Base in Antarctica and Chatham Islands, 500kilometers to the east, also lost all phone links, according toReuters.
A wire report said many remote areas in the South Pacificremained without telephone communications to the outsideworld three days after the loss of IS-804. But quoting an officialof Telecom New Zealand, AFP reported that communicationswere restored to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, Western Samoaand the Solomon Islands through alternative satellite options.Telecom New Zealand rents capacity on the lost satellite.
Intelsat announced on Sunday IS-804 satellite experienced asudden and unexpected electrical power system anomaly on Jan.14 at 5:32 p.m. causing the total loss of the spacecraft.
The satellite, launched in 1997, provides telecommunications andmedia delivery services to customers in the South Pacific.
Launched atop a European Ariane 4 rocket on December 1997, IS-804 originally served the Indian Ocean region before beingreplaced by the newer IS-906 two years ago. In August 2002,Intelsat applied to relocate the satellite from 295.85 WL to 184WL to provide telecommunications and media delivery servicesto customers in the South Pacific.
Only two months ago, Intelsat’s Americas-7 satellite alsoexperienced a sudden and unexpected electrical distributionanomaly, causing a temporary loss of service.
Arianespace to Launch UK’s Skynet5A and 5B Military Satcoms
EVRY, France, Jan.5 — EADS AstriumLtd. has chosenArianespace tolaunch the BritishMinistry ofDefense’s nextgeneration securemilitary telecommu-nications satellites,Skynet 5A andSkynet 5B.
Skynet 5 is the program to updatethe UK’s military satellite communi-cations capability for the BritishMinistry of Defence
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Colin Paynter, managing firector of EADS Astrium and Jean-YvesLe Gall, CEO of Arianespace announced on January 4 the twolaunch contracts for the two satellites, which will be boosted intogeostationary transfer orbit by Ariane 5 launchers from theGuiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, FrenchGuiana. Launches are scheduled for the second half of 2006 andthe second half of 2007.
The contract, signed at the end of December 2004,also includes an option for an additional launch,according to EADS Astrium. Europe’s Arianelauncher has already orbited the Skynet 4B, 4C, 4Eand 4F satellites for the British Ministry of Defense.
The Skynet 5 satellites, built by EADS Astrium, willweigh approximately 4,700 kilograms at launch.
After the launch of Skynet 5A and 5B, EADSAstrium will deliver the satellites in orbit to thecommercial organization Paradigm Secure Communi-cations. Paradigm is contracted to provide securecommunications services for the British armedforces, NATO and a number of other countries.
Selection of Arianespace followed an extensive andrigorous evaluation of proposals from all the majorlaunch service providers, EADS Astrium said in astatement
Satellite Industry Pitches inTsunami Relief Efforts
Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 18 — Support is pouring infrom various quarters of the satellite industry forthe relief efforts of the Tsunami disaster in SouthAsia which has claimed over 150,000 lives. Varioussatellite companies have been donating servicesand equipment to areas struck by the disaster aswell as participated in relief efforts.
The devasting tsunami last December 26, 2004 hasalso highlighted the need for an early warningsystem that could have prevented the disaster.Satellite technology can play an important part indisaster-prevention. If an early-warning systemwas in place before the tsunami struck, thousandsof lives may have been saved.
The U.S. government announced plans to imple-ment a $37.5 million Tsunami alert system through a
system of bouys worldwide relayed by satellites. The systemwould be able to alert government agencies within minutes andeven seconds of a Tsunami formation. The system will augmentwarning systems currently in place and will be fully operationalby mid-2007.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
One of the top priorities inthe tsunami-stricken areaswas to restore communica-tions facilities. The IndianMinister for Communica-tions and IT, DayanidhiMaran, has directed tele-communication providerBSNL to install Inmarsatsatellite phone links on a toppriority basis in the Indianislands of Andaman andNicobar. Transpondercapacity on Insat 3E wasalso reserved to facilitatecommunication links.
Telecoms Sans Frontières(TSF), an Inmarsat-spon-sored humanitarian aidorganization, had satelliteconnections set up in SriLanka, northern Sumatra andthe islands of the Andamansea hard-hit by the disaster.The World CommunicationCenter provided free Iridium
satellite phones to relief organizations providing aid to thelocations devastated by the disaster.
Satellite imaging companies such as Space Imaging Inc., DigitalGlobe and MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) havemade available their satellite images to help direct relief effortsand assess damage. Remote sensing satellites such as IRS-1Cand 1D, Oceansat-1 and Resourcesat are being used to assessdamage.
Satellite service providers like Telenor Satellite Services havepitched in the relief efforts. Telenor teamed with Global ReliefTechnologies LLC (GRT) of Portsmouth, NH, and the Interna-tional Medical Corps (IMC) to provide an integrated supportsystem for immediate collection and dissemination of in-the-fielddata and information.
Global Relief Technologies’ provides an end-to-end solutioncombining handheld PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) surveyapplications for field workers, GIS mapping imagery and nearreal-time GPS tracking with a web-based information managementcenter, or VNOC (Virtual Network Operations Center) for datahosting, analysis and reporting. The data are transmitted to andfrom the PDA via mobile satellite terminals using Telenorservices.
IMC, a global humanitarian relief agency headquartered in LosAngeles, has deployed a team of health care workers to Aceh,Indonesia. The team is equipped with mobile satellite terminalsfrom Telenor and PDA’s with the necessary communicationssoftware package from GRT in order to quickly coordinate reliefand recovery operations.
Houston-based service provider CapRock Communications set-up a teleport in Jakarta, Indonesia, making telemedicine andcommunications possible for doctors, nurses and many otherimportant medical personnel working around the clock in thatregion.
Satellite companies also provided support to the all-star telethonand concert dubbed “Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope” held bythe US broadcasting company NBC last Jan. 15. PanAmSatdonated transponder capacity to the broadcast and XM SatelliteRadio broadcasted the commercial-free event in to its nationalsatellite radio network. Telecommunications company, SBC,underwrote the event and provided some infrastructure supportincluding live video feeds.
Satellite phone operator Iridium donated $500,000 worth ofequipment and airtime to the International Federation of RedCross and Red Crescent Societies.
In a letter distributed to the media, satellite communicationspioneer, Arthur C. Clarke, who lives in Colombo, Sri Lanka, one ofthe countries hardest hit by the Tsunami, mentioned that he wasalright and appealed for support to the tsunami-stricken areas.Clarke, an avid diver, has a diving station in the coastal town of Hikkaduwa and a holiday bungalow in Kahawa - both destroyed by the tsunami. Most of the diving equipment and boats were destroyed andsome of his diving staff are unaccounted for as a result of thedisaster.
satellite image before (above)and after (below)
Satellite images of the oneof the hardest hit cities ofBanda Aceh, Indonesiabefore and after the tsunamidisaster last December 26,2004. Images such as theseare used to assess damageand plan relief operations.(photos courtesy of Digital Globe).
Boeing Awards GPS III SystemStudy Contract to Alcatel
PARIS, January 21— BoeingIntegrated Defense Systems hasawarded a study contract toAlcatel in the frame of the USAir Force’s GPS III SystemPreliminary Definition phase.
Alcatel said the contract firmsup last year’s discussionsbetween Boeing and AlcatelSpace to develop cooperation in
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February 2005
INDUSTRY NEWS
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The contract is thefirst ever agreement between the European Union and the UnitedStates industry leaders in Satellite Navigation after a EU-US highlevel accord signed in June 2004.
Under the contract, Alcatel Space will define the architecture ofthe GPS III global integrity as well as on the compatibility andinteroperability with the Galileo European system. As a leader insatellite navigation systems, such as the European Prime of theEGNOS system and the Galileo integrity solution and architec-ture, Alcatel Space said it sees this contract as the first concretestep toward a sound and positive cooperation between Europeand the US.
Boeing and Alcatel Space support the EU-US high-level agree-ment on GNSS, which has been executed by the parties last June26, 2004, the companies said in a statement. This contractconfirms the long-standing relation of trust between Boeing andAlcatel Space, they added.
Boeing also reiterated its supports to the Eurely consortium,which has been formed by Alcatel, Finmeccanica, Hispasat andAena.
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ESA and Russia Forge Deal onUse of Launchers
MOSCOW, Jan 20 — European Space Agency (ESA) andRussia signed on Wednesday an agreement for long-termcooperation and partnership in the development, implementationand use of launchers.
The agreement, signed by ESA Director General, Jean-JacquesDordain and the Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency,Anatoly Perminov, The GPS network supports U.S. militaryoperations conducted from aircraft, ships, land vehicles and byground personnel. Additional use includes mapping, aerialrefueling and rendezvous, geodetic surveys, and search andrescue operations.
GPS provides military and civilian users three-dimensionalposition location data in longitude, latitude and elevation as wellas precise time and velocity. The GPS constellation is operatedas a 24-satellite system consisting of six planes with a minimumof four satellites per plane.
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February 2005
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Comm. Martin Seen asLeading Contender toSucceed FCC ChairmanPowell
Washington DC, Jan.24 — CommissionerKevin J. Martin iswidely believed to topa short list of candi-dates to succeedFederal Communica-tions Commissionchairman Michael K.Powell, reports say.
Before his appoint-ment to the FCC, Kevin J. Martin workedfor the Bush-Cheney transition team. AtFCC, Commissioner Martin is known tosometimes clash with Powell, votingagainst his plan to ease local telephonenetwork sharing rules.
Others in the short list include PresidentBush allies Pat Wood and Rebecca A.Klein, according to an LA Times report.
On Friday, Powell announced his resigna-tion as FCC chairman effective on March,after serving FCC for eight year. In hisletter to the President, Powell said it wastime for him to pursue other opportuni-ties. During his tenure, Powell said FCCworked to get the law right in order tostimulate innovative technology that putsmore power in the hands of the Americanpeople, giving them greater choices thatenrich their lives.
“The seeds of our policies are taking firmroot in the marketplace and are starting toblossom. The use of cell phones, digitaltelevisions, personal video recorders, anddigital music players, is exploding. Thesedevices are increasingly connectedanytime, anywhere by a wide variety ofbroadband networks enabling a host ofcompetitive services and new applica-
tions. Our children will inherit this excitingfuture,” he said.
Dave McGlade NamedIntelsat CEO
Washington, D.C., Jan. 4— Zeus Holdings Limitedhas named DaveMcGlade, the CEO ofcellular operator O2 UK, asubsidiary of mmO2 plc,as the new CEO of
Intelsat, Ltd. The announcement comestwo weeks after the U.S. Federal Commu-nications Commission approved theproposed purchase of the satellitecompany for $5 billion by Zeus HoldingsLtd., a four-member private equityconsortium.
McGlade will join Intelsat upon termina-tion of his current commitments at mmO2plc on 31st March 2005, at which point,Conny Kullman, Intelsat’s current CEO,will become chairman of the board ofdirectors, Intelsat said in a statement.
McGlade has extensive senior executiveexperience in the telecommunicationsindustry, and has for the last four yearsled the turnaround of O2 UK, mmO2 plc’sUK cellular operation. During these fouryears, and in a highly competitiveenvironment, McGlade has grown O2UK’s customer base to over 14 millionwith service revenues and operatingprofits of 1.8 billion pounds and 341million pounds respectively in the sixmonths to 30 September 2004.
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Andrew Names NewSatCom GroupPresident
ORLAND PARK, Ill., Jan. 14— AndrewCorp., a communications equipment andsystems supplier, has named Jude Panetta
Resigned FCCChairmanMichael K.Powell
group president of Satellite Communica-tions.
Panetta, formerly vice president andgeneral manager, RF power amplifiers, forAndrew’s Base Station SubsystemsGroup, replaces Paul Cox, who hasresigned to become president of SmithsInterconnect, a business within thespecialty engineering division of UK-based Smiths Group.
In his new role with satellite communica-tions, Panetta will oversee a productgroup that had fiscal 2004 sales of $209million and has an addressable marketexceeding $1 billion. Its products includeconsumer DBS (direct broadcast satellite),professional VSAT (very small apertureterminal), earth station satellite, andsystems for various government andmilitary applications. Panetta joinedAndrew in June 2002 from CeliantCorporation, where he was vice presidentof engineering and operations.
Northrop GrummanElects Wesley G. BushChief Financial Officer
LOS ANGELES, Jan.18 — NorthropGrumman Corp.announced its boardof directors haselected Wesley G.Bush corporate vicepresident and chieffinancial officer,succeeding Charles H.
Noski, who has elected to leave thecompany to pursue other personal andprofessional interests. Bush is currentlycorporate vice president and president ofthe company’s Space Technology sector.
Northrop said both changes will becomeeffective upon the filing of the company’s2004 Form 10-K, which is expected to take
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Executives Moves
place on or before March 15, 2005. Noskiwill continue to serve on the company’sboard of directors until his term expires inMay 2005. The company is evaluatingcandidates to fill Bush’s current position.
Bush, 43, has served as corporate vicepresident and president of the company’sSpace Technology sector since thecompany’s December 2002 acquisition ofTRW Inc. He previously served aspresident and chief executive officer ofTRW’s UK-based global AeronauticalSystems business, and also served asvice president of TRW Ventures, anorganization focused on leveragingTRW’s advanced technologies to createnew business opportunities in commercialmarkets.
Tandberg TelevisionNames New CFO
OSLO, Norway, Jan. 13 — TandbergTelevision said Fraser Park has taken upthe position of Chief Financial Officer(CFO) of the company.
A member of the Institute of CharteredAccountants and a former strategyconsultant at McKinsey & Co, Inc.,Fraser Park has spent over fifteen years insenior financial management positions intechnology and manufacturing organiza-tions and for NASDAQ and LSE listedcompanies. Fraser, aged 41, brings astrong track record in multinationalfinancial strategy and will contributesignificant skills to the senior TandbergTelevision team.
“Fraser has a strong track record ofresults and I am delighted to welcome himto Tandberg Television,” said EricCooney, president and CEO of TandbergTelevision.
Commenting on the departure of TimO’Connor, Eric Cooney said as CFO sinceJanuary 2002, Tim O’Connor has seen theorganization through a period of aggres-sive restructuring and subsequent returnto profitable growth. “I would like tothank Tim for his positive contributionsand wish him the best in his next careerstep,” he said.
Robert J. Gillette NamedPresident and CEO ofHoneywell Aerospace
MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J., Jan. 11 —Honeywell hasnamed Robert J.Gillette as presidentand CEO of thecompany’s $9.8 billionaerospace businesswhile Adriane M.Brown has beennamed president andCEO of its $4.3 billiontransportation
systems business. Both positions reportto Chairman and CEO Dave Cote.
Gillette succeeds Robert D. Johnson, whoplans to retire in January 2006. Johnsonwill remain with the company for one yearas a non-executive chairman of Aerospaceto facilitate an orderly transition. Brown,most recently vice president and generalmanager of Honeywell Aerospace EngineSystems & Accessories, succeedsGillette, who had held the position ofpresident and CEO of Honeywell’sTransportation Systems business since2001.
Honeywell chairman and CEO Dave Cotesaid praised Rob and Adriane for beingexceptional leaders with track records ofsuccess, global experience, and strongbusiness instincts to drive growth.
Gillette has been with Honeywell since1996 and named president and CEO ofHoneywell Transportation Systems inJuly 2001. Under Gillette’s leadership,Transportation Systems has achievedcompounded annual sales and incomegrowth rates of 8% and 22%, respectively.In his new position, Gillette will be basedin Phoenix, AZ.
Loral Skynet AppointsKevin Bailey as SalesDirector
BEDMINISTER, NJ,Jan. 24 — Loral Skynetannounced the appoint-ment of Kevin Bailey asSaels Director, in chargeof the family ofSkyReach global IPnetworking solutions.
Kevin was most recently Senior AccountManager, New Systems Sales at Verdisysand Spacenet. Inc.
Robert V. LaPentaRetires as L-3CommunicationsPresident;Michael T. StrianeseNamed CFO
NEW YORK, Jan. 3 — Robert V. LaPentahas decided to retire as L-3’s presidentand chief financial officer effective April 1,2005. LaPenta will also be leaving L-3’sBoard of Directors.
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Executives Moves
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Upon his departure, Frank C. Lanza, L-3’schairman and chief executive officer, willassume the responsibilities of presidentof the company during an interim period,
of L-3’s senior management team who hasalso been integral to L-3’s success andgrowth. “Since joining the company at itsformation, he has worked with each of ouroperating divisions, helping them to
achieve their financial goals, and has alsobeen an invaluable member of our mergersand acquisitions team,” Lanza said.
and Michael T. Strianesewill succeed LaPenta aschief financial officer.LaPenta is co-founderof L-3 and was instru-mental in L-3’s growthfrom a spin-off fromLockheed Martin with$650 million in annual-ized revenues in 1997 toan S&P 500 company.
It now has an estimated$6.8 billion in revenuesin 2004 and a marketcapitalization ofapproximately $9 billion,according to Lanza.“Bob leaves L-3 wellpositioned, with aworld-class financialorganization and astrong balance sheetthat will support L-3’sfuture growth,” headded.
With 25 years ofexperience in finance,including 15 years inthe defense industry,Strianese, 48, joined L-3at its inception in 1997.He began as vicepresident - finance andcontroller, and waspromoted to senior vicepresident - finance inMarch, 2001.
Strianese has been alongtime protege ofLaPenta, having workedwith him for nearly 15years. For nearly eightyears, he has been awell respected member
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February 2005
New ProductsWi-Fi IP VPhone - A New IP Via Satellite Solution
The Viper NetworksWi-Fi vPhone is anext generationintelligent IP Commu-nications devicewhich combines VoIPcommunicationstogether with Wi-Fi.This WI-FI phoneprovides a goodvalue added solutionfor satellite servicesproviders andsatellite carriers in themarket place that islooking to provide to
their clients access to the PSTN.
TBC- Telematics Business Consultants jointly with Viper Networksis launching this quarter a new VOIP WI-FI solution for satelliteservices provider and satellite carriers. This WI-FI VOIP wouldgive more options for clients that need to call the PSTN from IP viaSatellite terminals anywhere in the world for any fix or cell phoneworldwide with a pre-paid rate starting with US$ 0.015 cents perminute. The WI-FI phone picture is similar to a cell phone and hascapacity to be activated in 5 minutes in a WI-FI satellite or non-satellite environment.
Minimum System Requirements:The services is available worldwide and if you need any furtherinformation contact TBC-Telematics Business consultants at [email protected] or phone + 1-949-552-6871
Globalstar Offers Affordable TurnkeyService to Track and MonitorAssets Via Satellite
MILPITAS, Calif., Jan. 19 — Globalstar launched on TuesdayGlobalstar Quick Locate Service, which enables businesses andindividuals to reliably and affordably track assets that are remotelylocated or in areas that are not covered by traditional wirelessservices.
With monthly service fees as low as $34.95, Globalstar QuickLocate provides an option for companies and individuals seeking
a reliable and cost-effective asset tracking solution. Globalstarsaid the service saves companies additional funds and stream-lines implementation by including an easy-to-use, no-cost Webtool that enables customers to quickly view the locationcoordinates of the asset being tracked.
Potential applications for Globalstar Quick Locate includetracking trucks, containers, machinery and workers in theforestry, oil and gas, maritime, transportation and miningindustries. Individuals or government agencies can also useGlobalstar Quick Locate Service to track the position of anypotentially mobile asset such as vehicles, marine vessels, orother property.
Globalstar Quick Locate Service, the company said, is derivedfrom a process where each telemetry unit transmits eachmessage multiple times, minimizing the chance of messagefailure within the coverage area.
Companies can choose between one of two Globalstar-approved telemetry units: the Guardian Sentinel, developed byGuardian Mobility Corporation, and the AXONN AXTracker,developed by AXONN, LLC. These products have beendesigned to automatically transmit a 9-byte message thatincludes GPS coordinates six times daily through the Globalstarsatellite network.
Telenor-Sea Tel Forge BusinessPact For Broadband MaritimeCommunications
OSLO,Norway,Jan. 19 —TelenorSatellite
Services, a subsidiary of Telenor of Norway have signed an agreemeent with SeaTel, a Cobham plc company, for the provision of broadband maritime communications using a combined package of Sea Tel WaveCall equipment and Telenor’s Sealinkbroadband communications services.
Under the terms of the agreement, Telenor will provide itsmaritime VSAT broadband service via the company’s ownnetwork of global teleport facilities. In addition, Telenor willoffer around-the-clock customer support to SeaTel’s WaveCallcustomers.
The partnership includes bundling Sea Tel’s hardware, includ-ing the WaveCall 4003 antenna, with Sealink’s maritime very
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February 2005
NEW PRODUCTS
small aperture terminal (VSAT) services, delivering broadbandcommunications at speeds up to 2 Megabits per second.The bundled Telenor-Sea Tel maritime broadband solutionenables users immediate and “always on” Internet connectivity,economical VoIP calling, and continuous access to LANs/WANs.
“This partnership of equipment manufacturer with serviceprovider now offers the yachting community a new and easy touse ‘one-stop-shop’ for maritime broadband communications inEurope and the Americas,” said Pal Jensen, vice president ofTelenor Satellite Services.
Telstra Launches Service ProviderSolutions in the US Market
NEW YORK, NY, Jan. 19 — Telstra Incorporated, aprovider of advanced communications services to multinationalcorporations, introduced its new customizable datacommunications services to carriers, service providers (SPs),resellers and system integrators (SIs) in the US market.
“Telstra’s unique offering provides customizable global datasolutions for service providers in the US,” said ArthurWeissman, director, Channel Development of Telstra Incorpo-rated. He said the key benefit for service providers is the abilityto use Telstra’s network on a ‘pay as you grow’ basis, minimizingcapital risk and operational costs by eliminating the need to buildtheir own network.
He said another value of the Telstra Service Provider offering isthat many of the services are provided by REACH, the top IPbackbone operator in Asia.
According to Telstra, service providers can begin sellingservices and realizing revenues and profits immediately on theirglobal data services. Telstra will provide customized service levelagreements (SLAs) for these services and global technicalsupport, 24x7, with in-country support at major destinations inthe Asia Pacific region.
Sirius Satellite Licenses DigitalFountain Meta-Content Technology
FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 18 — Digital Fountain, a supplier ofpatented communications technology said SiriusSatellite Radio has signed a licensing agreement to use Meta-Content technology in upcoming products from Sirius. Overtime, the companies said they expect that Digital Fountain
technology to be incorporated into allSirius Satellite radio receivers.
Sirius has licensed Digital Fountain’slatest generation of technology knownas Raptor. Digital Fountain claimsRaptor is the most advanced ForwardError Correction (FEC) technologyavailable today from any source.
“We evaluated a number of other alternatives and believe theefficiency and reliability of Digital Fountain Raptor best meetsour needs,” said Terry Smith, CTO of Sirius.
According to Digital Fountain, meta-content technology,including Raptor, is useful for data and file broadcasting applica-tions because it allows for efficient data reception even whendevices receive data at random and intermittent intervals, as isoften the case with automotive receivers. For example, whenusing meta-content technology to receive a broadcast of a file,devices need only collect any set of packets approximately equalin length to the original data package to instantly and perfectlyrecreate the original data. Because there is no need to worryabout which packets any particular receiver collects, the data isreceived quickly and reassembled accurately, even amidstintermittent reception schedules and frequent broadcast inter-ruptions.
Raptor is a patented set of coding technologies created byMichael Luby and Amin Shokrollahi, two of Digital Fountain’sscientists.
The technology incorporates several unique properties thatdistinguish it from conventional FEC technologies. The companysays Raptor codes are “rateless” meaning there is no limit on theamount of unique encoded data that can be generated. Second,the codes have the property that encoding and decodingcalculation requirements are linear with respect to the size of thesource data. This contrasts to conventional coding technologieswhere calculation requirements increase at an accelerating ratewith larger size. Moreover, Raptor is extraordinarily efficient,allowing it to operate in software, even on low-power embeddedprocessors.
XACT Communication & KuryakynUSA Release Satellite Radio ReceiverMount for Motorcycles
NEW YORK, Jan. 17 — XACT Communication has released asatellite radio receiver mount, made specifically for recreational
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NEW PRODUCTS
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vehicles. Designed and distributed by Kuryakyn USA, thecustom fitted bracket mount will allow motorcycle, scooter andquad enthusiasts to listen to commercial-free Sirius SatelliteRadio via an XACT Stream|jockey Plug + Play Satellite RadioReceiver, anywhere in the US.
The custom made bracket will fit most motorcycles on the market(including Harley-Davidson, Honda, BMW, Yamaha, Buell,Suzuki, Kawasaki and many more) and allows for several mount-ing options to provide the cleanest look and fit. Available inchrome and black, the mount bracket is not only aestheticallyappealing, but functional and durable as Kuryakyn USA de-signed the bracket to hold up to vigorous road miles andinclement weather.
Motorcyclists will have the ability to listen to Sirius with theirXACT Stream|jockey either with FM modulation through theirexisting stereo or through direct helmet-headset plug-in.Kuryakyn USA also provides pre-amped speakers for additionaloptions for music listening on a recreational vehicle. With theXACT Stream|jockey satellite radio receiver, listening is not
exclusively confined to the vehicle. The receiver can be easily“plugged” into the motorcycle mount, a home stereo system orone of XACT’s wide assortment of satellite radio accessoriesincluding boom boxes and the Portable Pod.
RaySat Introduces Satellite Antennafor In-Motion High Speed InternetAccess and Digital TV Reception
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10 — RaySat, Inc., a developer of mobilevideo receiving systems, has introduced what it claims as theworld’s first vehicle-based satellite antenna providing in-motion,high-speed Internet access to motorists, including emergencypersonnel, riding in cars, trucks, or motor homes.
The new SpeedRay 3000 is based on an enclosed low-profile,roof-mounted antenna, which turns any vehicle into a rolling“hot spot,” enabling Internet access to laptops, PDAs, or otherdevices equipped with Wi-Fi wireless networking technology.
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Vol.2 No. 4 July-August 2004
COVER STORYSatellites and Wi-Fiby Virgil Labrador
The “ hot” thing these days are“hotspots”— Wi-Fi technology
providing internet access without wires tohomes and public places such as cafes,airports, hotels and even remote areas.For an industry plagued by overcapacityand sluggish demand, the bandwidth-hungry wireless revolution presents aunique opportunity to create new revenuestreams for satellite service providers.
Wi-Fi or wireless fidelity is really one ofmany emerging wireless technologieswhich include Wi-Max, Zigbee, Mobile-Fiand Ultrawideband. Wi-Fi operates onthe unregulated radio spectrum usingIEEE series of standards, 802.11. Basically,a Wi-Fi hotspot provides a wirelessnetwork access point to laptops, PDAsand cellphones within a limited coveragearea of about 300 feetradius indoors (or 2,000feet outdoors). Throughmultiple hotspots, largercoverages can be providedin areas such as airports,hotels and conventioncenters.
Satellites can come in byproviding two-way accessto various locations usingVSAT technology (seeSatellite Wi-Fi BroadbandAccess Model graphic).However, hotspots do nothave to use satellitesexclusively to gain accessto the internet--it can useDSL, cable modems andother terrestrialconnections.
According to Northern SkyResearch’s President Christopher Baugh, Source: Satellite Wi-Fi Convergence report (2003) Northern Sky Research
satellites has the advantage in areasunderserved by cable and DSL such as inrural areas and in cruise ships and other maritime use, offshore oil and gas platforms, trains and other transportation use such as intrucking and RVs, in-flight internet access ,disaster operations and the like. Wi-Fi alsohas the advantage over other wireless systemsin smaller coverage areas.
“The reason for the success of Wi-Fi isthat it’s simple—it’s plug and play--and it’slow-cost,” said Baugh. But he adds thatWi-Fi is only a component of VSATtechnology and a relatively small segmentthereof. “ In general, it’s still a niceopportunity—we see the satellite wirelesstechnologies driving modest broadbanddemand, which we project to grow at an
annual rate of between 7-10 percent,” headded.
There is an estimated 50,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots in the United States today.The number of hotspots is projected togrow at a compounded rate of 42 percentin the next few years, according toIDC. According to research firm In-Stat/MDR, over 54 million laptops, PDAs ndother devices equipped with Wi-Fi weresold in 2004 alone. Northern SkyResearch projects the satellite wirelessmarket (including other technologiessuch as Wi-Max) to reach $7 Billion inservice revenues by 2007.
It is no wonder then, that the industry ispining its hopes on Wi-Fi and other
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COVER STORY
broadband wireless technologies to drive growth in the next fewyears. Surveys conducted by Northern Sky Research andTelecom Asia have consistently showed that over two-thirds or67% percent of those surveyed agree that satellite Wi-Fi serviceswill be a vital component of growth in the next 3-5 years.
One of the largest satellite operators in North America, SESAmericom, is keenly looking into Wi-Fi and other wirelesstechnologies. With its recent purchase of service providerVerestar’s assets, SES Americom is a major player in the teleportand ground segment part of the business as well. SES Americomis a member of the Wi-Max Forum, an industry group.
“We view Wi-Fi, Wi-Max and other emerging technologies as ahybrid network solution for satellite services and a viableenhancement of satellite in certain applications. Wi-Fi, Wi-Maxand other wireless technologies are going to be a key part ofnext-generation delivery systems, although there are still someissues to resolve such as standards and compatibility” saidSteve Corda, SES AMERICOM’s Vice President of Product &Service Development.
Wi-Fi vs. Wimax
With Wi-Fi’s limited coverage, Wi-Max ( 802.16 standard) whichhas a reach of over 30 miles is perceived as the next generationin wireless technology. However, Wi-Max came in later than Wi-Fi and is still in a developmental stage. While, most laptopcomputers to be released in 2005 will have Wi-Fi cards built -in,Wi-Max cards won’t be available until mid-2006.
Phil Solis, senior analyst at ABI Research said: it will be severalyears before Wi-Max gains any real traction in the 802.16emarket. (802.16e is the mobile version of Wi-Max that will allowfor portability and mobility.) “We’re not looking at Wi-Max evenstarting to compete against Wi-Fi until 2007, when it will turn upin a few laptops. By then, Wi-Fi penetration in laptops will bealmost universal.”
ABI Research’s findings include that Wi-Max may coexist withWi-Fi, providing backhaul to Wi-Fi access points, and as asupplement to costly cable and DSL deployment in areas wherethey are not present. Underdeveloped countries and large ruralregions stand to profit from Wi-Max’s lower infrastructure cost,according to ABI.
What’s Out There
A sampling of what’s available in satellite Wi-Fi services includethe following:
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IP Access’ Mobile Satellite Vehicle
HNS’ DIRECWAY Wi-Fi Access. HughesNetwork Systems (HNS) which operatesthe largest VSAT network in the US,launched in April 2004 its DIRECWAY Wi-Fi Access service. It markets acomprehensive Hot Spot solution for theenterprise market, including restaurants,coffee shops, gas stations, conveniencestores, hotels, auto dealerships, truckstops, RV parks, and marinas. HNS isdrawing on the success of its DIRECWAYbrand, which achieved a subscriber baseof 220,000 residential and small businesscustomers at the end of 2004.
The continent-wide reach of DIRECWAYWi-Fi Access enables users to obtainseamless and reliable Hot Spot service toany or all franchisee, or company-ownedlocations in the continental US.. HNS alsoprovides a managed solution, includingall equipment, installation, and back-endsupport services, including customerbilling and network management.
Connexion By Boeing. Boeing ismarketing an in-flight broadband internetaccess service which uses Wi-Fitechnology. The service which launchedlast May 2004 on selected Lufthansaflights, has signed major airlines such asSingapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways,Japan Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines andChina Airlines. The services provideshigh-speed internet, access to corporateintranets and soon video services whileon flights via satellites and Wi-Fi. Theservice cost between $9.95- $29.95per flight, depending on the length of theflight.
Boeing’s use of Wi-Fi technology gives ita decided advantage over its competitorssuch as Seattle, Wa-based TenzingCommunications, whose service usesEthernet LAN connections. ConnexionBy Boeing can be accessed by bothEthernet LAN connection or wirelesslythrough Wi-Fi.
COVER STORY
Loral’s SkyReach. Satellite operatorLoral Skynet teamed up with hardwaresupplier iDirect Technologies toprovide internet connections via Wi-Fiand Loral’s satellite network. Theservice which was demonstrated lastmonth at PTC in Hawaii, aims to deliverfixed-network backhaul over Loral’sSkyReach IP service or Digital LinkSCPC service to locations where basestations are located.
“The iDirect remote satellite router’sability to deliver speeds up to 18 Mbps,combined with iDirect’s support for realtime applications like voice and videoallow us to deliver broadbandconnectivity that matches the quality andperformance of digital terrestrial circuits.Wi-Fi will extend this service resulting in auser experience comparable to traditionallandline service, supporting any end userapplication at a very competitive rate,”said John Kealey, president and CEO ofiDirect Technologies.
IP Access Mobile Wi-Fi Solution. SanJuan Capistrano, Calif.-based serviceprovider, IP Access International came upwith a creative mobile satellite solutionutilizing VSAT and Wi-Fi technology. Itoutfitted a H2 HUMVEE vehicle with a
portable satellite dish and VSAT and Wi-Fi capability for instant internet accesseven in remote locations. The H2 can be
Raysat’s Roof-mounted Speed Ray 3000
deployed anywhere and is ideal forsatellite news gathering, homelandsecurity, disaster recovery and emergencyoperations.
RaySat Speed Ray 3000. Vienna, Va-basedRaysat Inc. launched last month it’sSpeedRay 3000 based on an enclosed,roof-mounted antenna and Wi-Fitechnology which turns any vehicle into arolling hot spot.
The innovative system provides Internetdownload speeds up to 2 mbps and uploadspeeds up to 128 kbps, shared amongusers in the vehicle. In addition, usingtechnology also developed by RaySat, theSpeedRay 3000 provides moving vehiclesRaySat 2-Way Internet with strongreception of digital satellite TV and musicchannels.
To provide continuous signal feeds, theSpeedRay 3000 uses a phased-arrayantenna that rotates inside its housing. Itspanels constantly move up and down andback and forth, to track and maintain thesatellite signal regardless of the vehicle’sposition relative to the satellite with whichit is in communication. The Raysat 2-WayInternet system is scheduled foravailability in the third quarter of 2005 andwill retail for $3,495.00. It’s cost may notbe currently affordable for the ordinary motorist, but like any other new technology, it shouldcome down in the long run.
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COVER STORY
Satellites, Stratellites. An enterprisingcompany, Sanswire Network, which hasbeen providing Wi-Fi access since 1996, isplanning to put up a fleet of airshipscalled “stratellites” 65,000 feet (or about
13 miles) in the stratosphere. The airshipswill act like satellites and provide two-wayinternet access to hotspots on the groundusing Wi-Fi technology. At 13 milesabove the earth the stratellites will be ableto cover over 300,000 miles on theground. Sanswire plans to put up one ofthese stratellites in each majormetropolitan area of the U.S.
The satellites will be solar-powered toenable it to move with the earth’s rotation,so that it appears to be in the same placefrom a vantage point on the ground, muchlike a geosynchronous satellite.One advantage stratellites will have overconventional satellites is that being muchlower in altitude, it does not have thelatency or delay that are inherent in geosatellites. They are also projected to costat a fraction of geo satellites and arereusable.
There are many other Wi-Fi initiatives inthe satellite sector. Notably in Europe,satellite operators such as Eutelsat andservice providers like Globecast are alsogetting into the Wi-Fi market.
Will Wi-Fi Drive Satellite Demand?
As we can see, there’s a lot of activity inthe satellites and Wi-Fi arena and more in
Artist’s rendering of a “Stratellite”
Wi-Fi Standards
Wi-Fi networks operate in the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands.802.11 refers to a family of specifications for Wireless LAN (LocalArea Network) developed by the IEEE (Institute of Electical andElectronic Engineers). The standards were adopted in 1997 and thereare several specifications in the 802.11 family:
• 802.11 --applies to wireless LANs and provides 1 or 2 Mbps transmission in the 2.4 GHz band using either Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) or Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)
• 802.11a --an extension to 802.11 that applies to wirelss LANs and provides up to 54 Mbps in the 5 GHz band. 802.11a uses an orthogonal frequency division multiplex encoding scheme rather than FHSS or DSSS
•802.11b --an extension to 802.11 that applies to wireless LANs andprovides 11 Mbps transmission( with a fallback to 5.5., 2 and 1 Mbps) inthe 2.4 GHz band. 802.11b uses only DSSS. 802.111b was a 199ratification to the original 802.11 standard, allowing wireless functionalitycomparable to Ethernet.
•802.11g --applies to wireless LANs and provides 20+ Mbps i nthe 2.4GHz band.
Source: Satellite Wi-Fi Convergence report (2003) Northern Sky Research
the offing with other wirelesstechnologies like Wi-Max. But what isnoticeably lacking is a an uptake byenterprise users.
Northern Sky Research in its 2003 reporton the Satellite Wi-Fi Convergencecategorized satellite wireless services intothree components: the enterprise market;VSAT-base wireless networks andservices such as the aforementionedConnexion by Boeing. Northern SkyResearch’s Baugh told SatMagazine thattheyhad to adjust their original projectionsof number of satellite-supported wirelesshotspots from 90,000 to 50,000 in 2009.
The main reason for this adjustment isthe elimination of the enterprise as apossible market, since companies canpretty much install their own Wi-Finetworks without any outside help,according to Baugh.
This leaves the VSAT-based wirelessmarket and wireless services. “Therereally isn’t a single application or a singledeployment that will create a huge surgein transponder leases, that’s just not inthe cards right now, “ said Baugh.
Baugh reiterated that his view thatsatellite and wireless convergence as partof a modest growth satellite broadband
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Vol.2 No. 4 February 2005
COVER STORY
VirgilLabrador isManagingEditor ofSatnewsPublishers.BeforejoiningSatnews Publishers he was themarketing director for theAsia Broadcast Centre—a full-service satellite transmissionfacility in Singapore. He holdsa master’s degree inCommunications Managementfrom the Annenberg School forCommunication of theUniversity of SouthernCalifornia. He can be reachedat [email protected]
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demand. Baugh finds it surprising thatWi-Fi has only registered minor growthdespite the ubiquity of Wi-Fi everywhere“I think this is reflective of the limits ofsatellite technology --which is still alimiting hurdle,” said Baugh.
Conclusion
So where will the growth in thebroadband market come from?
Baugh says that there is much hopein consumer services such as theplanned WildBlue broadband servicein North America. However, he saidthat 2004 was not a very good yearfor consumer broadband. WildBluepostponed its launch in NorthAmerica and the highly-toutedbroadband satellite IPSTAR in Asiahas still not launched.
“Once WildBlue, DOCSIS (the two-way standard) and IPSTAR are ableto succeed, and actually growsubscribers-- to some extent, you’llsee that model replicated in othermarkets and this will drivebroadband growth,” said Baugh.-
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Cost-Effective “Last Mile” Solutionsby Thomas van der Heyden
Satellite and Wi-Fi Bandwidth Integration:
Broadband is the mega trend in the telecom/internet/videoindustry today and will be for years to come. Broadbandservices will eventually become common and ubiquitous,
reaching most offices and homes just like telephone and fax dotoday. In Asia- Pacific alone, the forecast is for 120 million usersand US$150 billion in revenue by the year 2010, with the criticalbottleneck being the ‘Last Mile’.
Of the three principal ‘last mile’ technologies in use today,each has its business and technical advantages and disadvan-tages. Mainstream: ADSL / Cable - has a huge infrastructure inplace and was first in line. Fiber serves only high demandbusiness users in the dense urban areas and is not a mass marketapproach to broadband. The third approach, and topic of thisarticle, is the combination of Fixed Wireless (Broadband WirelessAccess or BWA) and Satellite offering fast and flexible networkimplementation by incumbents or new competitive operators,addressing mass markets without the requirement for cablingentire cities, at cost savings which would be hard to ignore.
Over the last tenyears we have seenthe fast pace evolutionof standards and theiraccompanyingtechnology - toward aWireless World.Personal Area Net-works (PANs) madepossible byBlueTooth, wirelessLocal Area Networks(LANs) as many of ushave run into at thelocal coffee shop(“Hot Spots”) alongwith the Wi-Fi (802.11)capability built intojust about everylaptop sold today as astandard feature.
Now, this same evolution in wireless ‘enabling technolo-gies’ has advanced to the point where an acceptable answer,from both a technological and business perspective, to a serviceprovider’s single largest business challenge - the “Last Mile”, isavailable, proven and cost effective.
This new implementation of technology, referred to as Wi-MAN (Wireless Metropolitan Area Network) and Wi-Max(Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) which is anextended frequency version of Wi-MAN, both falling under theIEEE 802.16 banner, when implemented with a satellite basedinfrastructure, is a proven solution to the affordable ‘first mile /last mile’ issue.
Until today we have had to live with the trade-off of therelative high cost per subscriber of a dedicated satellite link, tothe relatively low cost per subscriber cable and wireline offered,even considering that this option required the ‘passing’ of everybusiness and home on the street, to be able to offer its services.As competition for subscribers has grown over the last ten
years, it was not uncommon to see multiplecable companies wiring the same areas of acity on top of that which the telephonecompanies had already wired. At the sametime other areas of the city, where thedemand for services was not as great, noservices were provided. In addition, we nowfind cable companies re-cabling the world, orat least the more affluent parts of it, toimprove their infrastructure and serviceoffering (bandwidth and duplex offerings),adding to the number of wires hanging onwhat was once referred to as a ‘telephone’pole.
Today, where mobile phones and celltowers every several kilometers provided thewireless revolution of mobile telephony, thesatellite/Wi-Max team will provide the samerevolution in a similar network architecture,but rather than addressing the lower datarate telephony ‘last mile’ requirements that
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cellular services provide, this newsolution will provide wireless ‘wideband services’ bringing with it internet,telephony, subscription television,video-on-demand, and a myriad of otherapplications. Wi-Max towers are beingbuilt which can cover large areas withusers receiving excellent broadbandservice as far as 1 – 20 miles from a Wi-Max tower, which in turn is intercon-nected to the service provider via newand improved VSAT terminals sportingDVB-S2 technology.
Satellite technology over the lastfive years has improved to a point wherefurther evolutions will cost more thanthe possible improvement obtainable formany years to come. Cost savingsthrough a cocktail of technologies;Multi-Spot Beam spacecraft, DigitalVideo Broadcast (DBV-S2), which is byno means limited to video implementa-tions, and DVM-RCS interactive return satcom channels, aresignificant. DVB-S2 when evaluated alone without the otherimprovements in the satcom world, when implemented forbroadband satellite services and compared with DVB-S, giventhe same C/N and symbol rate, the bit rate capacity gain is 25% -35% bringing us to within 0.7 dB to 1 dB from the Shannon Limit.It will be a while before the industry will be able to take anotherstep as significant in improving efficiency as DBV-S2 has taken.
From a business perspective DVB-S2 will not replace DVB-S products already in the operation, including the millions ofDirect Broadcast Satellite (DBS) Integrated Receiver Decoders(IRDs), but for the new services such as High Definition Televi-sion (HDTV), IP Services and Wi-Max backbone networks, it isjust what the doctor ordered.
Thirty years ago specifications drove industry’s implemen-tation of technology. Fifteen years ago industry started movingfaster than the international bodies which were establishingspecifications could keep up and the world saw a multitude ofspecifications and implementations, most of which yieldedproducts which could not work with each other without somespecial jig or interface box in the middle.
Today we are experiencing the best of both worlds;specifications documenting the requirements of consumers arebeing established by international bodies such as the ITU, EBU,IEEE and others with support from industry and at the same time
we find industry and user groupsuniting to establish forums whichare defining implementation and asuite of conformance tests toensure interoperability of productsmanufactured by a multitude ofcompanies. DVB-S2 and 802.16based equipment are the productsof this dual approach and as such,interoperability is high and theattending cost of implementationand maintenance is low. Wi-Maxreceivers will soon be sold in theUS$50 to $100 price range. Thesame as a DSL modem today. Thismeans that in addition to thepopulation not presently served bya broadband service provider,millions of existing users couldeventually move from their currentInternet service providers and join aWi-Max network for a more stable,and cost effective service offering.
APPLICATIONS
Residential and SOHO High Speed Broadband Access.Today this market segment relies on DSL/ADSL provided by thetelephone company or wideband cable television operators.Quality of service depends on several variables to include thenumber of users at any given time and the distance from arepeater. Often, service is not affordable, nor predictable,particularly when the number of users in an area does notsupport competitive service providers. The alternative is oftendial-up modem service, which considering the ever increasingbandwidth requirements of internet, will soon not even be aviable poor second option.
Cellular Backhaul. Often cellular backhaul is accom-plished by leasing services from a wireline carrier or building upa private microwave network. In the first case the cellularoperator is not in control of his entire network making serviceguarantees difficult and as well as being held hostage to thewire-line operator making cellular service more expensive than itneed be, particularly in developing countries. In the secondcase, building and maintaining a private microwave network notonly adds to the cost of service, but also limits the pace at whichnetwork expansion can take place for both technical and busi-ness reasons.
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Wi-Fi Hot Spot Backhaul. Wi-Fi ‘hot spots’ are growingworld wide. As they grow a natural snow balling effect will occurand the present use of DSL/ADSL will not be able to keep upwith the demand.
Disaster Recovery and Emergency Services. Using aVSAT terminal coupled with a Wi-Max transmission tower, allforms of communications can be installed and available in amatter of an hour or two, providing services over areas as largeas a circle 40 miles across. The recent disaster brought on by theTsunami in Southeast Asia, and UN refugee camps are just twoexamples where this marriage of technologies could deliver amuch needed service. The single largest problem the UN andAsian countries had in addressing the catastrophe the Tsunamicreated was coordination caused by the lack of effectivecommunications.
Energy, Forestry, Mining, and Remote Services. Theability to provide fast, effective and secure communications tothe energy sector, which often operates in the middle of no-where, can now be an “off-the-shelf” product delivered withinhours of when the operational requirement is defined. Serviceproviders supporting these industries now have the tools todeliver ‘any communications’ the customer needs in a matter ofhours, without any practical limitation to the types and amountof services required.
CURRENT STATUS
In January 2004 Intel announced a major push into Wi-Maxtechnology that helped the standard emerge into the spotlight.They along with many others had been looking at ways to coverentire towns and cities – wirelessly. It was agreed that while anentire city could be covered with Wi-Fi hot spots, such apatchwork would be difficult to administer and would operateover too narrow a frequency range to deliver the amounts of datarequired. Intel came to the conclusion that Wi-Fi needed toevolve into more of a ‘carrier’ technology, deployed by a serviceprovider, and needed to exploit a lot more spectrum options. Wi-Max, which operates at greater distances and over a greaterrange of frequencies, turned out to be ideal. The companybegan designing communications processors based on the Wi-Max standard and delivered the first sample chips to manufactur-ers in September 2004.
At the same time satellite modem manufacturers have takenon the DVB-S2 standard and both the new standard and a back-ward compatible versions are available on the market today.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
As you read this article, entire books were being written onthese standards and their applications, and no author couldhope to begin to do justice to this subject matter in a short articlesuch as this, nor was it my goal. My hope is that I have whetyour appetite just enough to have you sit down at your terminaland log on to a few web sites which provide encyclopaedicamounts of information on these topics, and which have done sofor both the layman and the technologist. They include:
The Digital Video Broadcast official website:http://www.dvb.org/
The European Broadcast Union (EBU) Technical Review: http://www.ebu.ch/trev_index-dab.html
The IEEE Portfolio of Standards:http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/portfolio.html
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU)Home page:http://www.itu.int/home/
The Wi-Max Forum:http://www.wimaxforum.org/home
The author, Thomas van der Heyden, isthe Managing Director of Asian-PacificConsulting, Singapore, a consulting group providingBusiness Development and Investment Consulting inSatellite Communications, Information Management andNetwork Engineering arenas to Asian telephone companies(wireline and mobile), internet service providers, televisionbroadcasting entities and multinational investors. Tom,one of our industry’s pioneers, started out in the Ad-vanced Satcom Projects Group of the US military 1972.Having completed his engineering and business lawdegrees, he has spent most of his career developing andimplementing satcom systems in developing countriesworldwide. His accomplishments, in addition to severalpatents, include building China’s first voice and datanetworks, building Indonesia’s wideband TDMA systems,writing the first FCC filing for DAB/DARS, the develop-ment of the Indonesian DBS program, and a fluency in sixlanguages. Tom can be reached [email protected]
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Satellite can win European HD Distribution-But is wireless the rival?by Chris Forrester
While Rainbow Programming’sVOOM satellite high-defservice goes through its subscriber
nightmares, Europe’s satcasters remain confidentof success in 2005. They see the next few years asone where they have an exclusive opportunity topush HD television to an enthusiastic audience.The problem for almost all of Europe’s terrestrialnetwork broadcasters is one of limited bandwidth.The UK’s dilemma is typical, and summed up by ahigh-ranking official from Britain’s Office ofCommunications Regulation (OFCOM), the UK’sversion of the FCC. Andrew Sterling, OFCOM’sstrategy development manager, speaking at arecent Sony-organised HDTV event in Londonsaid satellite (and cable) could move much fasterthan digital terres-trial television(DTT) and hepraised BSkyB’ssatellite initiative forthe UK, but “untilthe analogue todigital switch-overhas happened,there’s too littlespace to offer HDservices. There canbe no HDTV.”
That Europe is split into the 720 progressive or 1080interlaced camps is clear. The terrestrial networks want 720p for itsoperating efficiencies. 1080i, which most recognise delivers betterimages in most cases, is too high a bit-rate for terrestrial networks.
That’s bad enough. But the proposed date for the UK’sanalogue switch-off is December 31st 2012. And even then there’sno guarantee that HD might happen. Sterling warns thatOFCOM’s duty is to get the very price it can for freed up spec-trum, and while broadcasters might be one interested party,there’s no doubting there will be the usual clutch of cellular
European HDTV availability HD1 on Cable France Noos Numéricable Germany ish Kabel Baden Wurtenberg Monaco Monaco Cable Netherlands Stichting CAI Krimpen Openbare Nutsbedrijven Schiedam Stichting Regionale CAIW HD1 on Satellite SES Astra Sirius Hellas Other European Pay-TV HD services Premiere November 1 2005 TPS Star Autumn 2005 Canal Plus Autumn 2005 BSkyB Winter 2005-6 Discovery HD “Promised” Data: Inside Satellite
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operators also enviously eyeing upcapacity for as yet undreamed of services.After all, if a week is a long time inpolitics, then 7 or 8 years is a multitude oflifetimes in the growth of mobile tele-phony services, WiFi, WiderFi. 3G, 4G,DVB-H and other potential wireless-basedusers of the old analogue frequencies. “
The situation is the same through-out Europe, except for some of theBenelux countries where cable usage iswidespread and some parts ofScandinavia, where one way or another amix of cable and satellite gives almostuniversal multichannel coverage. Butterrestrial faces another set of challenges,that of cross-border interference. Imaginethe relative sizes: The USA (includingAlaska) is some 9.3m sq km in size.Europe, including the British Isles, isgenerally stated to be some 10.3m sq kmin area. The USA has one regulator (theFCC) to handle frequency allocations.Europe has dozens. Europe has somecountries, Belgium, the Netherlands,Luxembourg, Denmark, for example, thatcombined (116.8m sq km) would fit intothe corner of Texas (694m sq km)!
Each of these nations has to agreeand then coordinate new digital frequen-cies with one another. This is already atough problem for the UK, where hun-dreds of thousands of affluenthomeowners in the South-East corner ofEngland cannot receive the BBC’s newdigital channels terrestrially because ofthe risk of cross-border interference.Satellite is VERY popular in these regions.There are assorted upcoming frequencyconferences coming up to address thesesignificant problems, but little or no signjust yet that early solutions are in sight.“Our duty is to get the best value for theUK’s limited spectrum. We will be taking amarket-driven approach,” said Sterling.He said an upcoming Radio RegulationConference (in 2006) would be an oppor-tunity for further dialogue on the matter.Sterling added: “HDTV is one very
significant technology that could makeuse of [some of] that capacity.”
Europe’s major public broadcastersare trapped by this very sort of regula-tion, and barely able to plan for an HDfuture. Typical is France, where there isreal confusion over how it will implementDigital Terrestrial TV. French PrimeMinister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has nowformally announced the choice of MPEG-4as the compulsory standard for allsubscription and HD channels on digitalterrestrial television in the country. Thechoice of MPEG-4 was proposed by theministers of Economic Affairs (HervéGaymard), Communication (RenaudDonnedieu de Vabres) and Industry(Patrick Devedjian) and came as a majorsurprise, especially as the nation’sbroadcasting regulator (CSA) hadrecommended using MPEG-2, which willbe employed for all free-to-air DTTtransmissions. Now consumers who wantboth free-to-air networks and pay-TV willhave to buy – as yet unavailable - dualstandard receivers, and it could be arguedthe choice is an act of protectionism bythe French consumer electronics industry
as no other country is likely toadopt a similar dual standard.
The French governmentargues the choice for MPEG-4 willfree spectrum capacity for localservices, HD transmissions anddata services, as well as futurebroadcasts to mobiles andhandheld decices. In reality thechoice for dual standards willmake the upgrade to pay servicesmore difficult for early purchasers
of MPEG-2-only receivers. The free-to-airDTT services will launch in March thisyear.
Meanwhile, French digital TVplatform TPS has informed the CSAregulator that it will start its pay TVservices on DTT in May this year, andthey will be in the MPEG-4 format. Theannouncement refers to TPS Star, itspremium channel which makes TPS Starthe world’s first channel to be broadcastdigitally in MPEG-4. TPS has said that it iscalling on French manufacturers likeThomson, Sagem and ST Microelectron-ics to make set-top boxes that will bebackward-compatible with MPEG-2. TPSsays the MPEG-4 broadcasts will be instandard definition initially although themarket expects HDTV transmissions tocommence this autumn.
The prospects are that, as in the restof Europe, satellite will take up the slack.France’s Number 2 DTH platform TPS,available only on Eutelsat, claimed arecord number of new subscriptions inDecember. TPS reported 66,588 new subs,double the number it won in December2003 and taking the total at the end of
“If a picture is worth a 1000 words, thenit’s worth displaying at 1080 lines!”Dr Joe Flaherty, CBS’ SVP of technology
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FEATURE
December to 1.35m. When cable sales andoverseas subscriptions in other Frenchterritories are added the total comes toalmost 1.7m. TPS state their “success”during 2004 was down to exclusivecontent on its TPS Star channel, as wellas having packages available for viewersat rates as low as €11 a month. It is TPSStar that will be converted first to HDTV.As yet there’s no indication as to whenTF1 (which shares common owners withTPS) will go HD.
Meanwhile, rival premium serviceCanal Plus/Canal Satellite disclosed itgained 100,000 new subscribers last year.CEO Bertrand Meheut has again declaredhis desire for a merger with TPS. He calledthe existence of two pay TV platforms inFrance economically untenable, Meheutadded: “Takeover or merger, we are opento all possible solutions.” “For now, weare alone at the table, but I think that TPSwill come around to my point of view,”Meheut told a French newspaper. CanalPlus will also be the backbone of theCanal Satellite DTH/DBS service in HD.
Much the same situation exists inGermany, where Premiere is making all theHD running. Premiere is an all-digitalDTH/DBS service now with some 3msubscribers, and launching its first 3channels in MPEG4 HDTV on November1. As yet, there’s simply no word fromwhat the German networks (public orcommercial) will do about HD, althoughthere are suggestions that Pro 7/Sat 1 willstart to offer at least some HD services –but only on satellite or cable – thiscoming winter.
It is the same in Britain whereRupert Murdoch controlled BSkyB is nowexpected to start HD transmissions thisautumn. The BBC has made its positionabundantly clear. Andy Quested, theBBC’s HD project leader says the BBC istotally committed to producing all of itsoutput in HD by 2010. “This meanseverything, from prime-time to the
7 or 8 years is a multitude of lifetimes in thegrowth of mobile telephony services, WiFi,WiderFi. 3G, 4G, DVB-H and other wireless-based uses…
weather forecast.However, we haveno plans for HDtransmission in theshort to mediumterm.” Neverthe-less, he said someof the UK’s specialevents were alreadybeing captured inHD, usually foroverseas sale, andthat there couldwell be an argumentfor making one-offtransmissions ofevents like the upcoming Winter Olym-pics (in Turin in early 2006), and majorsoccer events. “It would be silly not tocover these.”
Quested explained the need to getinto HD production was governed by theeconomics of the marketplace. While theBBC spent some £74m ($140m) in acquir-ing content from overseas sources, itearned £110m ($210m) from overseassales, and almost all of that output wassupplied in HD form. Quested’s view, as aline manager, is that programming needsto be mastered in the very best formpossible for eventual sale or transmission.It also seems that there’s a growingrecognition that the rush towards 720p, atleast for Europe’s major networks, issomething of a red herring. With nobandwidth available until 2013 – and laterin many European countries – thensatellite (and in time cable, and perhapsADSL-based service) is the only immedi-ate route available for HD transmission.
Dr Joe Flaherty, CBS’ SVP oftechnology, and long an advocate for thevery best in transmission, makes animpressive plea for Europe to adopt the1080-line system. He says: “If a picture isworth a 1000 words, then it’s worthdisplaying at 1080 lines!” His warningwas based on the argument that upcom-ing products like Blu-Ray “would givebroadcast TV more than enough competi-tion”. Indeed, Flaherty wondered whybroadcasters were even botheringcontemplating a 720 line system. “Choosea lesser quality and you risk not sellingyour content.” He argued thatupconversion would no longer be anoption for some broadcasters. Andbesides, he said “Broadcasters need to beaware that rival (non-broadcast) HDcontent is just a click away. DVB supports1080i. Why not implement it?”
Can mobile-type wireless step intothis broadcasting niche? The experts all
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David Mercer from Strategy Analytics is bullish on flat-screens being apopular buy across Europe, suggesting that by 2008 Europe would beselling about 17m flat-screen units a year, with large screens (36" andover) selling at an impressive 8.2m units a year. He also said that “atleast 20 million” European homes would have the ability to enjoy HDcontent by 2008, but his suggestion was that only some 3m wouldactually receive HD signals. His argument was that an increasingnumber of users would be viewing HD content from DVDs of one varietyor another, as well as by using consumer-level HD camcorders.
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London-based Chris Forrester, a well-known broadcastingjournalist is the Editor for Europe, Middle East and Africa forSATMAGAZINE. He reports on all aspects of the industry withspecial emphasis on content, the business of television andemerging technologies. He has a unique knowledge of the MiddleEast broadcasting scene, having interviewed at length theoperational heads of each of the main channels and pay-TVplatforms. He can be reached at [email protected]
seem to agree that the prospects ofwidespread bandwidth-rich content inHDTV is a Hollywood sci-fi movie or twoaway just yet. But improve MPEG4 by40%-50% in terms of bit-rate efficienciesand maybe it is best to say we would bewise not to rule anything out. Willsatellite have carved out a head-start bythen? We can only hope so.
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February 2005
VIEWPOINT
Wi-Fi seems to be the true form ofbroadband data to the PC.Although some pundits seem
to think that WiFi is a complete solution;however, it’s just a short-range accessscheme. I’m using WiFi right now to getfrom my laptop to an access pointupstairs. But, from there, it’s a cablemodem doing the job to reach the broaderInternet. With satellite communications,Wi-Fi access can be combined withtransmission for a complete solutionwhere needed.
Revenue opportunities may existthrough combining VSATs and Wi-Fi, butprofit opportunities are less obvious. Asour readers well know, more money ismade if you already have customers.What good potential customers for thesesolutions want to do is adopt a technol-ogy or process that: (1) makes our peoplemore efficient, (2) reduce barriers to theircustomers in using their services, (3)make it easier to collect money, and (4)reduce the time needed for all of theabove.
The first modern wave of this wasdue to today’s most popular telecommu-nications media – cell phones and theInternet. Taking to the cellphone was liketaking to ice cream the first time. I’ll neverforget how our first infant child immedi-ately took a liking to that product fromBaskins Robins. So it is with cellphonesand the mobility it gives all of us.Cellphones didn’t become truly pervasiveuntil a number of conveniences wereaddressed: small pocket size, coverage inall cities, ease of roaming both domesti-
In Wi-Fi Veritas – Or, Is there a Role forSatellite in Wireless Broadband?Bruce Elbert, President, Application Technology Strategy, Inc.
Amgen’s pharmaceuticals. The men andwomen in my classes, with whom Icommunicate daily without seeing them,regard wireless data as the essentialcommunication medium of the times.However, getting to broadband wirelessdata from the far reaches of cities, statesand countries continues to be a majorchallenge. Recently, I spoke to a technicalmanager at a leading maker of computerprinters. He was overseeing the deploy-ment of the company’s first integratedproduct development database. However,he found that it makes no sense to createsophisticated databases of productdesign information unless every contribu-tor on his staff as well as of their partnerscannot properly access the data fromwherever they happen to be. Places hementioned include small hotels in interiorcities of China.
Such gaps in broadband coverageare filled effectively by satellite technolo-gies, notably broadband VSATs and thenewest mobile data terminals fromInmarsat and Thuraya. Since the typicalprofessional doesn’t carry a VSAT in hisor her luggage, we still have a “last mile”issue for broadband data. Nearly alllaptops are now equipped with Wi-Fitechnology with the ability to self-acquirean access point at home, at Starbucks, atHyatt Hotels, in United Red Carpet Clubs,and potentially anywhere someone caresto meet a service need. All the localestablishment need do is arrange for theVSAT with a satellite service provider andconnect an inexpensive wireless accesspoint from Linksys. But, getting this doneis limited more by the economic justifica-
cally and internationally, and cheappricing. The Internet has gone through asimilar maturing process, thanks to greatcompanies like Cisco, Microsoft, IBM andHP. Cellphones and the Internet trulydeliver the four benefits I covered in theprevious paragraph.
Wireless data has recently reached asimilar level of acceptance. As an adjunctprofessor at University of Wisconsin –Madison, I teach a graduate engineeringcourse through the medium of theInternet. My students are workingengineers around the US in literally everyendeavor of technology, from HarleyDavidson motorcycles to John Deeretractors, and from Kellogg’s cereals to
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VIEWPOINT
Bruce Elbert has over 30 years of experience in satellite communi-cations and is the President of Application Technology Strategy,Inc., which assists satellite operators, network providers andusers in the public and private sectors. He is an author andeducator in these fields, having produced seven titles andconducted technical and business training around the world.During 25 years with Hughes Electronics, he directed major technical projects andled business activities in the U.S. and overseas. He is the author of The SatelliteCommunication Applications Handbook, second edition (Artech House, 2004).Web site: www.applicationstrategy.com / Email: [email protected]
tion for the VSAT and the satellitebandwidth, as well as the challenge ofdealing with the regulatory obstacles inmany of the 180 countries that callthemselves ITU members.
The latter point was covered in theGVF Asia-Pacific Satcom Forum, held inconjunction with the PTC 2005 confer-ence last month. Noble efforts to providebetter education and vital information(including warnings of impendingtyphoons and tsunamis) are restrained bysimple economics – places most in needof this do not even have commercialpower. In places like this, high frequencysingle sideband radios are far from beingobsolete. These areas still need our helpto allow them to grab their own boot-straps to create economies that can thenpay for broadband.
For the broader market, what Iforesee is not so much a strategic linkagebetween Wi-Fi and satellite broadband,but rather the natural synergy that comesabout from two technologies that comple-ment each other. Consider that Wi-Fi is atrade name for wireless local area network(W-LAN) employing the IEEE series ofstandards, 802.11. Prior to Wi-Fi, LANswere all wired, and the predominant formwas, again, an IEEE series of standards:802.3, known as Ethernet. The synergybetween broadband satellite communica-tions and Ethernet is exceedingly strong,and in fact, the rapid growth of VSATsover the last five years owes much of thecredit to adoption of Ethernet across theboard.
If we look at cellular as the wirelesscounter to the PSTN, then Wi-Fi is thecounter to wired LANs. Now that it hasreached critical mass in corporations,governments and the laptop personalcomputer, Wi-Fi will, like the truth,dominate the well-meaning. How satellitecommunications leverages a relationshipwith Wi-Fi is more a case of acceptancethan strategy. Put Wi-Fi out there withyour VSAT network and let the userscheer. SM
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REGIONAL UPDATE
The Latin American Satellite Marketstarted 2005 with the awarding oftwo main projects in Brazil and
Chile where both governments intends toimplement Internet access using satellitetechnology .
Latin America during 2005 will be agood region for satellite carriers andequipment vendors. Beside these twoprojects, there are other planned projectsto be implemented during 2005 that will bring more than 5,000 internet sites. Thecountries of Brazil, Argentina, Peru,Colombia and Venezuela are leading themarket during the new year with apotential for more than 10,000 sites to beimplemented during 2005.
BRAZIL
In Brazil the main project wasawarded last week of December 2004 toVicom (vicom was acquired by ComsatInternational in 2004). The project in Brazilis required to use DVB-RCS technologyas part of the government requirement toadapt an open platform. The project hastwo main logistics to be implemented:
The Latin America Satellite Market 2005:A Hot Spot for Vendors
replacementof 3,200 siteswith DVB-RCSin a time frameof 150 days afterthe contract issigned. Duringthis transition theyare required toimplement 1,200 newsites.
The new hub stationwill be located inCampinas, Sao PauloState (The currentsatellite is Anik F1 locatedin the Pacific) that arelocated in Belo Horizonte,Minas Gerais State. Thesatellite will be changedto a domestic Braziliansatellite located in themiddle of Brazil (Amazonia-Hispamar or Estrela do Sul-Loral Skynet do Brasil). Theintention of the government isto use a Brazilian domestic satellite thatprovidess a better coverage area than anyother foreign satellite in the region. Thegovernment intention in requiring the useof the DVB-RCS is to permit an openplatform for future expansion of theproject. The project is part of the Braziliangovernment program called “ElectronicGovernment Program - Customer Servicesto the Citizens” known by its Portugueseinitials as GSAC. The tender required thatthe 1,200 sites be implemented duringnine months after the signing of the
contract.The
governmentused the Bid
Auction Processfor this project and the
lower bid was equivalentof US$ 40 Millions. The
GSAC is offering to allcitizens a package of technol-
ogy that include emails ac-counts (120,000) 300 Gbytes for
web hosting of the communitiesbeside other eight services that
promote the use of the Internet forcooperation in their communities in
Knowledge Network. 22,000 comput-ers will be connected in the GSACInternet Network. The number of peoplein this project will reach 5 million
CHILE
The main focus of the project inChile is to provide Internet for 667 RuralSchools serving 108,00 schoolchildren.The program was financed by theTelecommunication Development Fund
by Bernardo Schneiderman
SATMAGAZINE.COM
35Back to Contents
February 2005
REGIONAL UPDATE
(FDT). Subtel orthe Telecomsecretary of theChilean Govern-ment was theinstitutionresponsible for thetender. The lowestbidder requestingthe governmentfund was the onesselected by Subtel and was announcedduring the last week of December. Theproject will allocate US$ 6 million during24 months for the service providerimplement the Internet solution in theschools in 12 Regions in Chile.
Subtel informed that seven compa-nies were selected to provide the servicesstating during the first semester of 2005are: Blue Two Chile S.A, Telefonía yComunicaciones S.A., Informática yTecnologías Avanzadas de Canarias(Chile) S.A (ITACA SA), Rural Telecom-munication Chile S.A, Chile Wireless S.A.,Electronet S.A and BellsouthComunicaciones S.A.
Subtel requested for this projectsthat all school in the rural communitiesneed to open the access for the commu-nity outside of the school hours. Thetechnology was not specified but theVSAT solution will be use by the majorityof the companies because is the only wayto provide services in the rural regions.
Beside this two projects that wasawarded at the last week of 2004 and willbe implemented during 2005, include thefollowing:
Brazil – PC Connected is anothergovernment project that is planning toprovide access to 7 million computers inisolated and rural areas.
Colombia – Compartel Project that isplanning to implement more than 5,000sites in rural communities
Peru – Internet for Schools isanother project in development
Argentina– Internet forSchools was onhold because ofthe FinancialSituation but willbe activatedduring 2005.
Venezuela– Is expanding
the Community TelecenterProgram with more Internet forSchools during 2005.
In conclusion 2005 LatinAmerica will be hot spot forsatellite service providerslooking to provide low costterminals for Education andLow Income Communities. SM
BernardoSchneiderman has over 20years of experience in Satellitecommunications and is thePresident of TelematicsBusiness consultants based inIrvine, CA. He has beenworking in Business Develop-ment, Sales and Marketing forSatellite Carriers, VSATEquipment Manufacturer andConsulting Companies in theUSA, Latin America, Braziland Africa developing businessfor the Telecom, Broadcastand the Enterprise MarketSegment. He was the editor ofthe Publication BrazilTelematics Newsletter during1995-2003. He has a MBAfrom University of SanFrancisco with Major inTelecom and InternationalMarketing and BSEE fromUFRJ in Brazil. He can bereached at [email protected]
SATMAGAZINE.COM
36Back to Contents
February 2005
CABSAT 2005, to be held 8-10March at the Dubai World TradeCentre (DWTC), will be the central
‘hub’ of major business deals in theMiddle East cable, satellite, broadcast andcommunications sectors this spring. Forno lesser reason, GVF has entered into alandmark partnership with the DWTCexhibition event, designed to bringvaluable insights into cutting-edgebroadcasting and telecommunicationsapplications, together with analysis of thelatest regulation and policy trends,appraisal of state-of-the-art technologies,and examination of successful businessmodels, to the attention of the widestpossible regional audience.
The GVF Middle East SatelliteSummit – ‘Satellite Communications inthe Middle East: TV, Broadband andEverything in Between’ – has beenorganised in coordination with theregion’s broadcasting and telecommuni-cations sectors, and takes place on 9March 2005. Ten per cent of GVF memberorganisations are located in the region,and helping to spearhead this latest GVFMiddle East initiative is its new Corre-spondent in the region, MohamedYoussif, Managing Director of theLebanon-based MESAT Consultancy.Asked recently what can be done bygovernments and regulators in the regionto allow the VSAT industry to flourish,Mr. Youssif said “One thing that could bedone immediately is to allow open accesswithout fees to the consumer, [for]Internet via satellite… There is a hugedemand for such service. Even though
Satcoms in the Middle East is TV,Broadband and Everything in Between!by Martin JarroldChief, International Programme Development, GVF
many countries allow the establishment ofan Internet satellite hub, they do notallow the operator to sell the servicelocally… We have many examples of suchset-ups in the region. This is a contradic-tion that must be corrected. If they haveto, they could charge a minimal blanketlicense fee that the service provider can
include in the monthly service fees.” Andhe added “…one of the major elements oflocal economy growth is the ease ofcommunication and access to informationeffectively.”
Against the backdrop of broadcastsatellite having silenced the sceptics,
MARKET INTELLIGENCE
SATMAGAZINE.COM
37Back to Contents
February 2005
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MARKET INTELLIGENCE
Summit Program Details… at a glance
OPENING GENERAL SESSIONConvergence vs. Competition: Redefining the Middle East MarketBroadcasting via satellite silenced the sceptics, despite an entrenched cable industry’s best
effort. Now, as residential, SME, SOHO and large-enterprise users clamour for cost-effectiveaccess to interactive services – and as DSL, cable modem and other delivery systems are rolledout – do satellite-based broadband solutions stand a chance? Join this no-holds-barredroundtable discussion to hear whether satellite players will be a complement to terrestrial serviceproviders… or head-on competitors.
RESIDENTIAL SESSIONHome Front: The Battle for the Living RoomThe Middle East is home to some of the most dynamic satellite TV markets in the world.
Building upon this trend, unprecedented demand for IP-based services is driving millions ofpotential end users toward broadband solutions. And billions of pounds have been invested toroll out next-generation services. Attend this session to learn what the residential broadbandplayers have to offer in the Middle East.
The Convergence of Satellite TV & Broadband in the Middle EastEven as private-sector interests vie for position in the region’s high-stakes satellite TV and
broadband race, governments are drafting as-yet-unseen policies that will dictate the new rules ofplay. This keynote luncheon presentation will examine the shape of things to come (and not tocome).
ENTERPRISE SESSIONThe New IT Portfolio: Satellite-Based Video, Voice and DataIT managers are as technology agnostic as they come. Whether it’s satellite, DSL, ADSL,
frame relay or whatever, they just don’t care - so long as it’s high-value, high-quality communica-tions. The satellite broadcasting and telecom industry is responding to this demand with diversi-fied portfolios that offer end-to-end solutions and draw upon the relative strengths of a multitudeof technologies. Here’s how.
SME/SOHO/RESIDENTIAL SESSIONDVB, IP and the “New” Bottom LineTimes are changing …fast. IP– and DVB-based platforms are increasingly being provided to
SME, SOHO and residential end users of every type… and the math is changing. But at somelevel, profit is still profit and the fundamentals still apply. Attend this roundtable to hear how IPand DVB considerations have forced a rethink of service offerings and revenue potential.
CLOSING GENERAL SESSIONRe-Evaluating the “Value Chain”The dot-com apocalypse is history, but its effects are still very much in evidence. The
surviving companies not only continue to get leaner and meaner, but they are repositioningthemselves both up and down the value chain. From content providers to system integrators toretailers to installers, all of the traditional roles are up for grabs. This closing roundtable willexplore who is moving to do what, with whom, and what the implications will be.
For more information ontact: Martin Jarrold at GVF, [email protected]
despite the entrenchment ofcable, the opening sessionof the Summit will examinein more detail whethersatellite-based solutions“stand a chance” againstthe roll-out of DSL andcable modem deliverysystems for broadband-type services. Latersessions will explore theMiddle East residentialbroadband market, and alsoidentify the means bywhich the satellite sector issuccessfully responding tothe technology-agnosticpriorities of the IT sectorwhich is focused only onhigh-value, high-qualitycommunications. IP andDVB continue to force adynamic rethink of satelliteservice offerings and of therevenue potential they maybring, and it is in thiscontext that contentproviders, to systemintegrators, to installers areall re-examining theirtraditional roles… all is upfor grabs, driven by theimperatives of the balancesheet.SM
Martin Jarrold is theDirector, InternationalPrograms of the GlobalVSAT Forum. He can bereached [email protected] more informationon the GVF go towww.gvf.org
SATMAGAZINE.COM
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February 2005
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ADVERTISERS'INDEX
Company Name Symbol Stock Price
(Jan. 27) 52-wk Range
APT SATELLITE ATS 1.33 1.25 - 3.01 ANDREW CORP ANDW 13.00 9.30 - 21.67 ASIA SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS (ASIASAT) SAT 18.53 15.20 - 21.20
BALL CP BLL 42.33 29.375 - 45.20 BOEING CO BA 50.97 38.04 - 55.48 BRITISH SKY ADS BSY 42.42 33.22 - 59.24 CALAMP CORP CAMP 7.76 5.12 - 17.20 C-COM SATELLITE SYSTEMS CMI.V 0.40 0.32 - 0.60 COM DEV INTL LTD CDV.TO 3.05 2.15 - 3.80 COMTECH TELECOM CORP CMTL 33.29 14.93 - 38.44 THE DIRECTTV GROUP DTV 15.23 14.70 - 18.81 ECHOSTAR COMMUNICATIONS DISH 30.07 26.95 - 40.10 FREQUENCY ELECTRONICS FEI 14.30 10.22 - 17.13 GILAT SATELLITE NETWORKS GILTF 6.28 3.95 - 9.86 GLOBECOMM SYS INC GCOM 6.67 4.67 - 7.58 HARRIS CORP HRS 63.99 42.37 - 69.15 HONEYWELL INTL INC HON 36.03 31.23 - 38.46 INTEGRAL SYSTEMS ISYS 18.62 15.35 - 21.83 KVH INDS INC KVHI 10.33 6.61 - 21.25 L-3 COMM HLDGS INC LLL 70.86 52.40 - 77.26 LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP. LMT 56.40 43.10 - 61.77 NEWS CORP NWS 17.65 15.305 - 19.87
NORSAT INTL INC NSATF.OB 0.495 0.46 - 0.83
NTL INC NTLI 66.22 46.65 - 73.79 ORBITAL SCIENCES ORB 10.20 9.67 - 14.19
PEGASUS COMMUNICATIONS PGTV 12.01 5.185 - 25.50
QUALCOMM INC QCOM 36.14 27.8055 - 44.99
RADYNE COMSTREAM RADN 9.09 6.26 - 13.426 SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA SFA 30.14 24.61 - 36.50
For real-time, up-to-the minute stock quotes of satellite companies goto: www.satnews.com/free/finance.html
AAE SYSTEMS 11www.aaesys.com
COMTECH 13www.comtechefdata.com
GLOBAL LINKPRODUCTIONS 21www.globalinktv.com
GLOBECAST 33www.globecast.com
ISCe 2005 8www.isce.com
L-3 NARDA 33SATELLITENETWORKSwww.lnr.com
LORAL SKYNET 9www.loralskynet.com
MCL 16www.mcl.com
PANAMSAT 24www.panamsat.com
SES GLOBAL 19www.ses-global.com
