Eutelsat and Everywhere! roll out satellite broadband
EchoStar-Hughes Derailment Offers Lessons for BCE-Shaw
ViaSat Selected by ARINC for SkyLink Broadband Satellite for Executive Aircraft
P&TLuxembourg and SATLYNX Sign Agreement for Two-Way Broadband Services
PAR Technology Subsidiary Awarded $32.3 Million Navy Contract
Indagon Intros Telematics Positioning Device
Shin Satellite Looking to Settle Slot Dispute
HDTV in 15% of US Homes by 2008
Nigel Gibson Named Vice President for New Skies
Eutelsat has announced that consumers can now sign up for its broadband satellite service, OPENSKY, following an agreement signed this month with ISP Everywhere! Broadband, which is preparing to roll out the service throughout the UK.
Everywhere! Broadband is the first company in the UK to market and sell Eutelsat's OPENSKY service to consumers. It is working with a number of partners who will support the delivery of the service to end-users. The partners involved in the agreement are MGt for subscriber management services, DTS (Digital Television Services) for nationwide installation services and Hauppauge for the supply of USB DVB-IP set-top boxes.
The roll-out of OPENSKY in the UK follows substantial demand for broadband from consumers and small businesses. Recent figures from Oftel say that more than 44 per cent of the UK population is unable to access broadband through terrestrial means. However, with the forthcoming availability of OPENSKY consumers throughout the UK will soon be able to access a satellite broadband service regardless of local infrastructure.
OPENSKY is an open standard service platform for both PC and Apple Macintosh users and offers access to a range of streamed video and audio content, high-speed internet and fast file delivery. Customers use dial-up access to receive broadband services via a satellite dish and through their modem. The new service offers internet speeds of up to 1 Megabit per second - exceeding the capabilities of ADSL and cable services. It also delivers a full range of entertainment services including television channels, videos, music and games.
Although there are many that think a Canadian satellite merger between Bell ExpressVu and Shaw/Star Choice Communications makes sound economic sense, regulatory hurdles would pose problems. The recent failure of the US merger between DISH and DirecTV could give the Canadian companies directions on how to proceed.
ViaSat has been awarded a contract by ARINC for initial development of the Airborne Integrated Satellite Communications Terminal for the SkyLink(SM) business jet communication system. SkyLink is a broadband in-flight communications service for use on larger business aircraft. It is designed to offer extremely fast data rates, providing performance similar to high-speed Internet connections and corporate networks found in modern offices. The broadband satellite terminal will include an integrated transceiver/router and a tracking antenna subsystem developed in partnership with Rantec Microwave Systems of Calabasas, CA.
ARINC previously announced that Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation has contracted to purchase SkyLink for installation on Gulfstream corporate jets, making Gulfstream the launch customer for the broadband satellite service.
"This development for ARINC will build on our CDMA satellite technology from our ArcLight Broadband VSAT," said Bill Sullivan, ViaSat managing director for Integrated Systems. "Receiving and processing data on these aircraft, which travel and maneuver at very high speeds, is a tough technical challenge, but we're tapping into our experience in both broadband satellite communications and tactical networking for aircraft to bring broadband to business jets."
P&TLuxembourg has signed an agreement with SATLYNX for the provision of two-way broadband services via satellite throughout Luxembourg and adjacent territories. This new service gives P&T the ability to offer always-on broadband Internet access via satellite dedicated to consumers and business customers, for whom satellite transmission is the most effective broadband solution.
In the first stage, P&TLuxembourg intends to provide broadband connectivity service primarily to consumers in Luxembourg. However, P&TLuxembourg will also be able to provide service to SOHO, SME customers and public entities in the entire Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and in adjacent territory.
The contract with SATLYNX enables P&T to provide interactive broadband satellite technology as a ubiquitous geographic broadband service. Individuals located in rural locations and companies working in geographically dispersed environments are increasingly relying on satellite communications services for broadband connectivity.
P&TLuxembourg expects the two-way broadband Internet Service to begin in the first quarter of 2003. Details regarding the commercial rollout are expected by year-end.
Marcel Gross, CEO, P&TLuxembourg, stated: "The agreement with SATLYNX will enable us to promote the European wide initiative to develop broadband connectivity. We can offer Luxembourg-based companies and international organizations the possibility to improve existing connectivity within their communication infrastructures. We are now in a position to offer private households, who will not have access to a terrestrial broadband connection within the near future, a real alternative. We are excited about the possibility of overcoming the 'digital divide' within our society."
Yves Elsen, President and CEO, SATLYNX said: "'This agreement shows that telecommunication companies consider broadband technology as an important business factor even in a difficult economic environment. Due to the lack of appropriate terrestrial connectivity, and in order to be able to offer a complete range of services with full regional coverage to professionals and consumers, these companies depend on satellite communications. In addition many teleworkers (home workers) and demanding consumers will choose a customized satellite connection that offers the most efficient and cost effective solution. I'm confident that our agreement with P&TLuxembourg will be a signal for other operators to include two-way satellite Broadband Service in their portfolio."
SATLYNX is a joint venture owned by SES GLOBAL and Gilat Satellite Networks based in Luxembourg. Its is expected that the Alcatel subsidiaries Alcatel Space and SkyBridge will join soon as a third shareholder. Customers being served by SATLYNX's network include La Poste, BT Openworld, Tiscali, Neo Sky and PSA Peugeot Citroen.
Additional information about SATLYNX can be found at www.satlynx.com
Press relations Vice President Telcos
Barbara Schuman Hervé Sorre
Tel: +352 26 700-1 Tel : +352 26 700-1
barbara.schuman@satlynx.com · herve.sorre@satlynx.comP&TLuxembourg, a public service company since 1992, is the main provider of postal and telecommunication services in Luxembourg. In the telecommunications area, P&T runs both fixed and mobile networks providing a full range of voice and data services including satellite uplinks. With its lean and easily manageable size, it serves private customers as well as business clients including international banks, insurance companies and European institutions.
Additional information about P&TLuxembourg can be found at www.ept.lu.
Press relations
Olivier Mores
Tel: +352 4765 44 95
contact@ept.lu
The U. S. Navy Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC) San Diego awarded a $32.3 million contract to Rome Research Corporation (RRC), a subsidiary of PAR Technology Corporation.
The 4-year contract calls for RRC to provide information operations and information technology support of the Naval Computer and Telecommunication Network Facilities in Guam. This is a record contract for any PAR Technology company and comes after a recently announced then-record contract to RRC for similar Navy I/T support services in Puerto Rico. When combined with the other contracts awarded this year, Rome Research has received over $100 million in new awards - which is a record for the Company. PAR's Government business now has an identified backlog of $125 million, the largest in Company history. "Under this contract, Rome Research will operate several additional communications related functions expanding our presence in Guam by 50%. This contract win solidifies our Pacific/West Coast presence in the military IT/communications support market. RRC has an outstanding reputation for converting military-run facilities to contractor operations. These facility conversions provide superior, seamless service to the Fleet and Military Commanders," commented Albert Lane, RRC President. "We provide an especially important service as the Department of Defense (DoD) continues its efforts to streamline its non-warfighting functions. Our recent string of large contract awards confirms that Rome Research's reputation is spreading and that DoD is continuing its focus on outsourcing - which is good news for the prospects of the company."
John W. Sammon, PAR Chairman and CEO commented, "We believe PAR was awarded this contract because of its high quality of standards and delivery capability. These basic PAR standards are critical in signing more and more high profile projects for the Department of Defense. We will continue to build on these qualities, which should enable us to become even more visible and to maintain our success in obtaining more outsourcing projects for the Armed Services. PAR continues to play a key role in this initiative and looks forward to once again working with our partners in the military."
Nokia Early Stage Technology Fund portfolio company Indagon Ltd., a developer and producer of high accuracy GPS-based positioning solutions today introduced the first mobile telematics device for fleet management utilizing assisted GPS in GSM, GPRS and TETRA networks at China s premier technology event PT/EXPO COMM CHINA 2002. Indagon's new MTT 110 positioning device is based on Fastrax iTrax02/8, a programmable 12-channel GPS receiver with the lowest power consumption on the market. Fastrax Ltd. is a developer of industry-leading GPS modules for optimal utilization of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Indagon MTT 110 will be commercially available by December 2002.
As Shin Satellite moves closer to the launch of its iPSTAR unit, it has yet to settle a dispute with AsiaSat over orbital slots for their new satellites.
New research from Strategy Analytics shows growing demand for High Definition Television (HDTV). The analysts predict that 29 million US households will own HD-capable TV displays by 2008, and that half of these displays will be connected to a high definition television service.
Eighty-four percent of these HDTV subscribers will be using either cable or satellite services. HDTV sales are being driven by demand for larger, high quality TV displays.
Most TV receivers retailing over $1500 are HD-capable. Strategy Analytics predicts that 4.8 million US homes will own an HD-capable display by the end of 2002, of which nearly one million will also have HDTV tuners for cable, satellite or terrestrial platforms.
By 2008, the number of HD-capable displays in US homes will have reached 33.4 million units. Of these displays, 27 percent will be connected to an HDTV service via cable, 14 percent via satellite, and 8 percent via digital terrestrial television. The report identifies the increasing support of cable and satellite operators and their content partners as a key factor in the take-up of HDTV services.
New Skies Satellites named Nigel Gibson vice president of sales in Europe.
Pace Micro has selected Heinrich E. Haase as Area Manager, Central Europe. Prior to TOP Business AG, Heinrich worked at Philips where he was vice president, sales for the German and Austrian markets for broadcast studios, digital playouts, broadband networks and digital set-top boxes.
December 4-6, 2002
San Diego, CA
ACT Conferences
http://www.actconferences.com/sif2002/
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