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SES ASTRA and Partners To Develop Low-Cost Ka-band Return Channel for STBsOrbital Successful in NASA SORCE MissionNorthern Sky Research Study Indicates DVB-RCS and DOCSIS are Becoming Viable Standards for Broadband SatelliteGlobecomm Systems Awarded Contract for Satellite InfrastructureGlobecast Adds European ChannelsFCC Likely to Allow Satellite SPs to Extend Networks Through Terrestrial LinksMerger Talks Fade With Desires to Keep Eutelsat Under European Ownership
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SES ASTRA and Partners To Develop Low-Cost Ka-band Return Channel for STBsSES ASTRA with partners Canal Satellite, Canal+Technologies, NEWTEC, STMicroelectronics, and Thomson, will develop a low cost satellite-based response channel for direct-to-home set-top-boxes. The project, estimated at EUR 49 million, will be funded both by the consortium and by the European Space Agency, through a contract under its ARTES program, which supports the development of advanced-technologies related to both the satellite and media industries. The product, called SATMODE, will provide an always-on satellite return path, in Ka Band via ASTRA 1H, between a digital TV set-top-box in a user’s home and content providers. The interactivity enabled by the ASTRA return link will greatly enhance future applications such as video-on-demand, messaging, gaming and growing audience interaction in various types of shows. Commenting on this development, SES ASTRA President and CEO Ferdinand Kayser said “SATMODE will add a new dimension to satellite distribution for our media customers. The television industry is embracing all forms of interactivity and ASTRA’s ability to provide satellite-based interactivity on a large scale, and at a low cost, will further encourage the development of additional interactive services. We are happy to join forces with a key customer, CANAL SATELLITE, as well as recognized technology leaders, in the development of this unique product. When fully implemented, the SATMODE system will enable simultaneous and real time responses by millions of TV viewers to choices, questions or other types of interactive material presented on screen. Since SATMODE is fully integrated into the set-top box and connected to the satellite system, the use of telephone return channel or other terrestrial technologies will no longer be necessary on these set-top boxes.” Upon signature of the contract, ESA’s Director of Applications, Claudio Mastracci, commented: “ESA is committed to support developments that support the implementation of commercially viable satcom innovations. The user terminal in particular is one of the most critical factors for success in the consumer market. SATMODE is a prominent example of the special attention that ESA is devoting to user terminals and consumer-friendly applications.” Within the development team, SES-ASTRA will provide overall leadership and day-to-day project management and is the responsible vis-à-vis ESA for the execution of the work. Canal+ Technologies and NEWTEC will design, test and integrate a SATMODE test system prior to the end of 2003. NEWTEC will also manufacture the interactive antenna components. Technical field trials are expected in early 2004, while commercial roll out is planned in late 2004. Thomson will manufacture prototypes and consumer terminals of the fully modem-equipped interactive set-top boxes with chips built by STMicroelectronics. Orbital Successful in NASA SORCE MissionOrbital Sciences successfully launched the NASA Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) satellite into its targeted orbit aboard Orbital’s Pegasus rocket on Saturday, January 25. The 315 kilogram (693 pound) SORCE scientific satellite, which Orbital also designed and built, was delivered into its targeted orbit approximately 640 kilometers (400 miles) above the Earth, inclined at 40 degrees to the equator. David Thompson, Orbital's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The successful launch of the SORCE satellite underscores the reliability of the Pegasus launch system. We are exceptionally pleased to begin a very busy 2003 operational campaign for the Pegasus program with such a successful mission." Orbital designed and built the SORCE satellite for NASA under contract to the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. The SORCE program merges two previous scientific efforts: the Solar-Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment/Solar Atmospheric Variability Explorer (SOLSTICE/SAVE) mission and the Total Solar Irradiance Mission (TSIM). The SORCE satellite is based on the company's state-of-the- art LEOStar platform and carries four instruments on board. Northern Sky Research Study Indicates DVB-RCS and DOCSIS are Becoming Viable Standards for Broadband SatelliteDVB-RCS (DVB Return Channel via Satellite) and DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) are now rapidly becoming viable standards for broadband satellite equipment and service, according to Northern Sky Research. Both standards offer the promise of lower equipment costs, lower service delivery costs, interoperability, greater customer choice, and market scalability. DVB-RCS is a satellite-centric standard promoted by a critical mass of operators and equipment vendors. DOCSIS, on the other hand, is a terrestrial cable standard modified to accommodate the unique factors related to satellite links. Given its existing deployment in cable systems, DOCSIS potentially could provide greater volume-based cost efficiencies. "Many key markets crave a standards-based satellite platform, and both DVB-RCS and DOCSIS represent solid options for bi-directional IP satellite services," said Christopher Baugh, president of Northern Sky Research and author of the report. "The arguments in favor of standards are particularly compelling given recent market difficulties; choice, the promise of lower costs and scalability are all strong reasons for satellite companies to seriously consider these standards. Despite these arguments, however, a great deal of development work is required for both standards to become more competitive with proprietary platforms. High costs, true interoperability and performance are all critical issues that DVB-RCS and DOCSIS vendors must resolve in order to compete in key enterprise and consumer segments," stated Baugh. Globecomm Systems Awarded Contract for Satellite InfrastructureGlobecomm has been awarded a satellite equipment infrastructure contract valued at approximately $2 million from a customer in the Indian sub-continent. The contract is to provide an Intelsat F3 satellite earth station to be utilized for international telephony. The estimated completion date is July 2003. David Hershberg, CEO of Globecomm Systems said, "Demand for international telephony gateways continues to provide Globecomm with a steady stream of contracts in our core satellite infrastructure business. And, these types of contracts are enabling us to mitigate the severity of the current economic downturn." Globecast Adds European ChannelsGlobecast WorldTV, the third largest direct-to-home satellite television provider in the U.S., has expanded its programming lineup to 63 channels with a deal to carry three Eastern European channels, the company announced. Globecast, which runs its WorldTV Call Center in Miami, will be carrying BK TV from Serbia, Duna TV from Hungary, and TVP3 Polish Television USA. ''With the launch of our 63rd direct-to-home channel, GlobeCast showcases its unique ability to enable broadcasters across the globe to reach the American market,'' said Robert Behar, president and chief executive of GlobeCast America. FCC Likely to Allow Satellite SPs to Extend Networks Through Terrestrial LinksThe FCC is expected to announce this week that satellite operators may extend the reach of their networks with terrestrial links, a proposal that was originally floated over a year and a half ago. Lobbyists on both sides say the F.C.C. believes that the satellite companies cannot succeed financially unless they are allowed to use some of their allotted spectrum for land-based networks to extend their voice and data services into urban areas and indoor locations where satellite signals are obstructed. The inability of Iridium subscribers to use their phones indoors forced many to use the services of Iridium’s cellular competitors. Cellular wireless companies, including Verizon and Cingular, have bitterly opposed the satellite proposal, fearing added competition from satellite firms that did not have to pay for their spectrum allotments the way the terrestrial wireless firms did in expensive auctions. Merger Talks Fade With Desires to Keep Eutelsat Under European OwnershipChalk up another victory for the anti-American bandwagon bumping through old Europe. U.S.-based PanAmSat has withdrawn its bid for European sat operator Eutelsat. The Financial Times reported that PanAmSat’s CEO, Joe Wright, faxed a letter on Thursday to Giuliano Berretta at Eutelsat, informing him of their "regrettable". Mr. Wright described the recent Deutsche Telekom sale of roughly 11% of Eutelsat to a private equity firm as indicating "an absence of cohesion that would make a transaction difficult, if not impossible, to achieve." Making matters more difficult is the opposition by the French. A French government source told Reuters last month that France was looking for ways to block any attempt by U.S. satellite operators to take control of Eutelsat. Beleaguered France Telecom owns 23.1% of Eutelsat. |
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