14 May 2000

Satcoms

Astrium to Build Inmarsat Fourth Generation Satellites
Astrium, satellite manufacturing joint venture of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, Matra Marconi Space and Marconi Electronic Systems/BAe Systems, has been awarded a US$ 700 million contract to build three satellites for Inmarsat's fourth generation broadband satellite network, Inmarsat I-4.

Astrium will build three satellites. Two will be launched and will be used to provide services and the third will be held as a ground spare.

Inmarsat's I-4 satellites will be 100 times more powerful than Inmarsat's current global mobile 64 kb/s network. In addition, the new Broadband Global Area Network (B-GAN) will provide at least ten times the capacity for new users. These factors contribute to providing the potential to reduce raw service costs by around 75%.

The new Broadband Global Area Network will enable Inmarsat to deliver Internet and intranet content and solutions, video-on-demand, video conferencing, fax, e-mail, voice and LAN access at speeds up to 432 kb/s virtually anywhere in the world via notebook or palm top computers. The US$ 1.4 billion network - planned to be operational during 2004 - will also be compatible with third generation (3G) mobile systems.

Cancom Licenses Software from Liberate Technologies for Interactive TV
Cancom, a Canadian provider of satellite television services, has signed an agreement to license software from and partner with Liberate Technologies.

Liberate has named Cancom as its exclusive satellite partner in the Canadian market, and Cancom will use Liberate software for its subscribers of interactive television services for its first one million set-top boxes.

A key component of the agreement was Liberate's recent acquisition of the VirtualModem technologies from SourceSuite. The VirtualModem technologies expand the Liberate TV Platform to a broader range of digital satellite set-top boxes. The ability to deliver open interactive services on these set-tops was a deciding factor in the Cancom agreement and allowed Liberate to win the contract over competitor OpenTV.

Cancom, through its subsidiary Star Choice, will first complete initial deployment of the Liberate TV Platform to its current Motorola DSR400 satellite set-top box base of over 400,000. The company will then further their interactive offerings on the next generation Motorola-DSR500s, which are expected to be available by 2001 and will reach an additional 200,000 plus customers.

Concentric Partners with Tachyon for Two-Way Internet Services
Tachyon Inchas signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) with Concentric Network Corp, a leading provider of e-business solutions for growing companies. The letter calls for both companies to execute an agreement within 45 days wherein Concentric will partner with Tachyon to offer high-speed Internet access over Tachyon's satellite systems.

Tachyon is the first and only company to bring to market two-way, high-performance, satellite-delivered Internet service. The LOU follows a busy first and second quarter rollout for Tachyon's last mile satellite delivered local loop service. Nine U.S. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and one European ISP have become Tachyon partners since the San Diego-based company brought its Tachyon.net service to market in late January.

Tachyon has designed its system and service to extend to an end-user's location, the same kind of service guarantees and network monitoring that top-tier service provider such as Concentric offer on their own networks. These include 24/7 active monitoring, guaranteed first mile service level agreements and consistency with TCP/IP protocols at each end.

Edgix Selects SkyStream Products for Internet Content Delivery Over Backbones
SkyStream Networks, a provider of broadcast Internet equipment, has announced that Edgix has selected its networking platform, the SkyStream DBN-24 Source Media Routers, to broadcast popular Web sites over satellite and other Internet content to service providers around the world.

Edgix, an Internet content delivery services company will use the SkyStream DBN Source Media Routers (SMRs) at their transmission sites to offer revenue-generating datacasting services to service provider points of presence. As a result of implementing SkyStream's networking equipment, content delivery companies like Edgix will improve their architectures to deliver high-quality content and will be able to further maximise the return on media asset investments while minimising transmission costs.

SkyStream SMRs encapsulate and inject IP data into broadcast streams, such as satellite networks to provide a means to distribute content efficiently to many users or network points of presence simultaneously. Edgix uses the DBN-24 at their satellite uplink locations to insert large-scale Internet content into the satellite transmission, so that it can multicast popular and relevant content to its ISP customers. Edgix's edgeMedia content delivery service uses patent-pending software intelligence to alleviate Iternet congestion by delivering content to the edge of the Internet, one outer hop away from the end-user.

SkyStream's Source Media Routers include the company's patent-pending Null Packet Optimisation (NPO) technology, which allows broadcasters to inject Internet and other high speed IP data opportunistically into the null packets of an MPEG stream. Broadcasters can reclaim this bandwidth to set up new revenue-generating services such as high-quality video/audio streaming, web caching, high-speed Intranet file transfer and corporate data broadcasting.

SkyStream product information and availability SkyStream offers an end-to-end solution for content distribution for network operators such as ISPs who want to receive Internet content via satellite, digital television or cable networks.

Five ISPs Join Tachyon as Resale Partner
Tachyon Inc has signed five Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from around the world as resale partners. Tachyon is the first company to deliver high performance, two-way satellite Internet connections.

The five resale partners are Tachyon's first since rolling out service at the end of January. They are Knoware, with operations in The Netherlands; VariComm, which operates in Washington DC, and Baltimore; DiscoverNet, based in Wisconsin; Sensory Perceptions Internet Inc., based in Kansas; and CTSnet in San Diego, a provider for Southern California.

Tachyon's service, called Tachyon.net, uses the capacity of geostationary satellites. Tachyon.net connections are called TAPs (Tachyon Access Points). A TAP is a small satellite antenna, less than one square meter in area, with a radio for transmitting and receiving data packets and an indoor network server that acts as a satellite terminal and router.

Tachyon offers three tiers of service with data rates of 300 kb/s, 800 kb/s or 2 Mb/s and guarantees installation within 10 business days of an order. The lowest service level provides data rates superior to the standard telephone business connection and the top tier service level is faster than the business standard T1 access. To maximise performance, Tachyon's satellite links are continuously live, which means packets are transmitted as soon as they are received, without delays for re-establishing the connection. This eliminates the multiple acknowledgements that create congestion and slow performance.

Tachyon.net connects to the ISP's backbone and gives end users direct access to the Internet's highest-capacity channels. Large transceivers operated by Tachyon decode and transmit traffic directly to and from the ISP backbone links.

Frost & Sullivan Predict Little LEO Satellites Rapidly Gain Acceptance and Market Share
The Little Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellite industry is seeing rapid market penetration and acceptance. Unit orders are high despite its recent introduction and the struggle of other newly-introduced satellite services in the marketplace. Success in the Little LEO market is proving that high growth in non-traditional satellite markets is both possible and sustainable.

According to the new strategic research from Frost & Sullivan, "World Little LEO Service and Application Markets," this industry, which did not exist prior to November 1998, is expected to see US$ 299.8 million in revenues by 2005. The projected compound annual growth rate for this period is 165%. Acceptance of the Little LEO technology in new applications should ensure its growth over the long term.

The LEO satellite services segment in general is poised for substantial growth. Demand in developing economies with inadequate telecommunications infrastructure presents tremendous opportunities for service providers, particularly for messaging and email applications. In addition, Little LEOs are expected to gain a broader acceptance in niche markets, such as fleet management, stolen cars monitoring, and point-of-sale transactions, which had been served by highly expensive geostationary (GEO) satellite-based technology. Little LEOs can offer substantial cost savings to the end users in these segments.

World Little LEO Service and Application Markets: report: No. 5860-66, date: April 2000, price: US$ 3,450

Glentel Awarded Alliance Pipeline Communications System
Glentel Inc, a leader in integrated satellite solutions, has been selected to supply the communications system for the Alliance pipeline.

Glentel will engineer, install and maintain the communication system that will link field personnel from anywhere along the length of the pipeline with the control centres located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Calgary, Alberta. To ensure reliability in this vital communications link, the system will be satellite-based and interfaced with conventional 2-way radio to insure both in- and out-of-vehicle communication. The system is designed to insure the safety of the pipelines operations, Alliance staff, and nearby communities.

The project is the first time that Glentel's satellite dispatch service has been deployed by a major corporation as an alternative to building expensive terrestrial facilities. The Alliance project is the first large-scale deployment of Glentel's cross band repeater product that allows terrestrial radios to be integrated with satellite dispatch.

The Alliance pipeline is 3,700 km long, running from Chicago, Illinois to Fort St John, British Columbia, Canada. The pipeline will have an initial throughput of 37.5 million cubic meters of natural gas per day and will operate 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.

Globalstar USA Completes Pan European Roaming
Globalstar USA, a subsidiary of Vodafone AirTouch plc (VOD), has announced the completion of its international roaming service in Europe. With the addition of the Aussaguel, France gateway, Globalstar USA's customers can now roam in 17 additional countries around the world.

Globalstar USA customers already have in- and outbound roaming capabilities throughout North America, covering Canada, the continental United States, part of Alaska and outbound calls only in Mexico and Brazil. Globalstar USA recently announced the first roll-out of international roaming for US customers to other parts of Europe and southern Brazil.

LGIC Orders Ka Band Broadband ODUs from Norsat
Norsat International Inc has signed of a multiyear purchase agreement with LG Information & Communications Ltd (LGIC) for two-way Ka band outdoor units (ODUs).

For its first application - satellite interactive terminals for a high-speed broadband, interactive distance learning network - LGIC plans to purchase approximately 2000 Norsat ODUs. LGIC is implementing Korea Telecom's Koreasat broadband initiative. This is the world's first commercial order for two-way Ka-band end-user terminals, a significant milestone for high-speed broadband.

The ODU consists of a Norsat Ka band transceiver, including satellite signal receiver and transmitter, as well as the dish antenna, and has been engineered to international open standards specifications.

The Korea Telecom broadband initiative utilises Koreasat 3, a multi-use satellite launched last year with three Ka-band transponders. Koreasat 3 is configured to provide a range of multimedia services including interactive distance-learning, HDTV, multichannel DBS (Direct Broadcast Services) and DTH (Direct To Home) services to any country in Southeast Asia.

LG Information & Communications Ltd (LGIC) is an integrated information and communications company which provides advanced systems and components including transmission devices and terminals.

STMicroelectronics Licences Turbo Code Technology
STMicroelectronics has signed a license agreement with France Telecom that gives ST worldwide rights to exploit one of the most important patents in the field of broadband communications.

The subject of the patent is a technique known as Turbo Code Forward Error Correction that allows the information carrying capacity of a communications system to be substantially increased. This could dramatically affect the Digital Satellite TV market by significantly increasing the number of TV channels broadcast by existing satellites.

For the first application of Turbo Code technology, ST is targeting the US Digital Satellite Receiver market, where the use of Turbo Code would allow each satellite transponder to deliver from six to eight standard TV channels (or two HDTV channels), compared to four or five standard TV channels today, with additional bandwidth available for Internet download. With the leading US operators keen to increase their channel offerings, adoption of Turbo Code technology could create an initial demand for more than 10 million new set-top boxes (STBs) and spur its adoption as a worldwide standard. In the European Digital Satellite market, where the number of channels offered is not such a competitive feature, the same technology would allow the size of the satellite dish to be reduced by 30% and lead to lower system costs.

The more efficient use of available bandwidth means that existing satellites could not only broadcast more TV channels, but would also have sufficient bandwidth left over to handle both high speed Internet downloads and a Return Channel for use in Interactive Satellite TV. ST plans to introduce a low-cost two-way satellite modem chip based on Turbo Code technology in 2001.

A chip designed by France Telecom in co-operation with ST has already been produced at ST's plant in Crolles, France, and ST has produced working demonstrations based on the first samples. Customer samples will be available within the current quarter. ST is also integrating Turbo Code technology into its STV0x99 family of Digital Satellite front-end chips.

In addition to gaining access to all of France Telecom's accumulated Turbo Code know-how, ST is working with leading academic experts on future applications of the technology, including satellite modems for interactive satellite TV, Hard Disc Drives and UMTS wireless telephony.

Tandberg TV Supplies Digital Equipment for TVNZ Coverage of Sydney 2000 Olympics
Tandberg Television, a leading supplier of open solutions for digital broadcasting, today announced that it has been selected by TVNZ Satellite Services to provide the digital satellite compression, transmission and management solutions that will power TVNZ's innovative Sydney Olympic Games service for members of the Asia-Pacific Broadcast Union (ABU).

TVNZ will use Tandberg Television solutions to offer ABU members increased choice, flexibility and cost-efficiency via an 8 channel service delivering live coverage of events for the period of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics. After the Sydney Olympics, TVNZ Satellite Services will retain the system as an integral part of its global satellite video transmission network.

As part of the contract, which is valued at over one and a half million dollars, Tandberg Television is delivering solutions from its recently launched evolution 5000 broadcast range, including encoders, multiplexers and IRDs. The twenty E5000 encoders will enable TVNZ to continue to enhance its high quality MPEG2 4:2:2 satellite distribution network. In addition, Tandberg Television is providing its Reflex Statistical Multiplexing system to facilitate the efficient management of bandwidth across the Olympics service.

Owned and operated by a television-broadcast company, TVNZ Satellite Services is an Occasional Use satellite carriage provider. The network was originally established by TVNZ to offset the high cost of carriage of externally-sourced live news and sports coverage destined for its own domestic market. Today, TVNZ Satellite Services is a major global provider of Occasional carriage contribution services to third parties. It has concentrated its network on primary routes, adding additional uplink gateways and downlink capability as demand increases and market conditions permit.

The TVNZ end-to-end MPEG-2 multi-channel, itinerant satellite delivery network reaches across the Indian and Pacific Ocean's spanning territories from London to North America. Global transponders on NSS 703 at 57° E and Inelsat 701 at 180° E inter-connect at Perth where TVNZ owns and operates a fully digital earth station.

Vodafone Australia Completes Globalstar Service Rollout
Vodafone Australia, Globalstar's service provider partner in Australia, has completed its full commercial rollout of the Globalstar mobile satellite telephone system across the country, bringing 100% nationwide wireless service to a continent where 95% of the landmass has no terrestrial cellular telephone service. Globalstar is now the only wireless telephone service in Australia offering true national coverage.

With the inauguration earlier this month of two new gateways in Meekatharra and Mt. Isa, joining Vodafone's original gateway in Dubbo, all of Australia, including Tasmania, is now served by Globalstar service, which can also be used throughout the country's offshore territorial waters.

Installation of the two final gateways was completed several weeks ahead of schedule, bringing the number of operational, revenue-generating Globalstar gateways to 15 across five continents, with commercial service available in 38 countries. By the end of June, the company expects 22 gateways to be in operation, with commercial service in 50 countries.

Military Space

USAF Operational Space Services and Support Contract for Harris
Harris Corporation has been awarded a one year, US$ 26 million contract to provide operations, maintenance and support services to the US Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) and Global Positioning System (GPS) ground network. The contract contains options for six additional years that would increase the overall value to US$202 million.

The Operational Space Services and Support (OSSS) contract calls for Harris and its team mates to operate and perform organisational level maintenance at all ground stations assigned to the AFSCN and GPS. The ground stations are in such diverse locations as Thule, Greenland; Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory; New Boston, New Hampshire; and other geographically separated locations. The initial contract focuses on the remote locations, providing antenna operations and maintenance, GPS site software support, training, security, and management services. Beginning in the third year of the contract, satellite orbital analysis and technical assistance support at Schriever AFB, Colorado, will be added to the contract. Harris Technical Services Corporation (HTSC) will execute the contract on behalf of Harris Corporation.

HTSC, located in Alexandria, Virginia, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Harris Corporation and reports through its Government Communications Systems Division. HTSC provides engineering and technical support solutions for prime contractors, the Department of Defense, and other government agencies worldwide.

Science

Scientists Question Decision to Deorbit Compton
Evidence is growing that NASA never intended to let the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory in orbit after a gyro failure, even though it carried out an evaluation of alternative operational procedures. NASA cites public safety as the reason for deorbiting the spacecraft now but some scientists are now claiming the basis of this claim is flawed.

Earlier this year, with great public fanfare, NASA developed backup plans to control the spacecraft should its remaining gyroscopes fail. The online space news service, SpaceViews, has now seen documents which indicate that the decision to deorbit Compton was made a number of months before this. If this is the case, the show of looking for backup solutions was just done as a public relations exercise intended to deceive both the scientific community and the American tax paying public.

NASA's current stated plan is to bring Compton out of orbit on June 3 over the eastern Pacific. This will be initiated by a series of burns, beginning on May 31, which will lower the orbit increasing atmospheric drag. NASA's public position is that this course of action is based on considerations of public safety since the spacecraft would not be able to maintain attitude accurately enough for a controlled re-entry should a further gyro fail. Public safety is an issue during re-entry because of the size of the spacecraft - at 15,000 kg large pieces will survive re-entry and will crash to earth. NASA has calculated that the chance of human casualty in an uncontrolled re-entry is 1 in 1000.

Professor of Physics, Jim Ryan, has highlighted an apparently serious flaw in NASA's methodology for the re-entry. The sun is currently close to solar maximum in its eleven year cycle with its associated high level of solar activity. Solar flares, which are currently relatively common, can cause an extremely rapid a ten fold increase in upper atmosphere density. If such an increase in density (and therefore drag) occurs during Compton's controlled re-entry then this re-entry then becomes uncontrolled invalidating NASA's safety arguments.

Ryan and other scientists have questioned the need to deorbit Compton now. NASA has already developed backup plans to control the spacecraft if further gyros fail - it is even possible to control the spacecraft if both of the remaining gyros fail. To try to influence NASA, scientists are being encouraged to contact Congress requesting an independent review of NASA's decision.

Test System Fault Caused HESSI Damage
The HESSI Mishap Board has released its final report which says that the High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (HESSI) spacecraft was damaged March 21 during pre-flight vibration tests because of a malfunction in the vibration test system at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

The vibration tests simulate the stresses that the spacecraft experiences during the rollout, release and flight to orbit aboard the Pegasus launch vehicle.

The damage was caused when the test device, called a "shaker," delivered approximately 20 G's, ten times the appropriate level for the test, to the spacecraft. As a result, the spacecraft's structure was damaged and three of the four solar arrays were severely damaged. Satellites are routinely subjected to vibration testing as part of preparing them for flight.

A misalignment between two pieces of the test stand led to an abnormally high level of static friction. The computer used to control the test then tried to compensate and induced too large a shock into the satellite.

To prepare for the test, the satellite is mounted on a device called a slip table, which attaches atop a large slab of granite mounted to the floor. A thin layer of oil is continuously pumped between the slip table and the granite slab to allow the slip table to move freely when stimulated by the "shaker." A computer controls how hard the spacecraft is shaken, and accelerometers measure the response of the spacecraft to the shaking.

Engineers found that the shaker mechanism had shifted on its mounting base, due to a failed support bearing. The problem was not discovered until after the accident. The broken bearing shifted the position of the shaker mechanism causing the misalignment between the slip table and the granite mass, and this misalignment in turn created friction between the two pieces of hardware. The computer, sensing this friction, calculated an inappropriate drive signal and the resulting pulse was significantly higher that expected, damaging the satellite.

The HESSI satellite will be repaired and re-assembled at the University of California, Berkeley, which is serving as the prime contractor on the project and is home to the principal investigator. HESSI will be returned to JPL for continued spacecraft testing after re-assembly. Launch plans will be announced when available.

Manned Space

Boeing and Alenia Spazio Sign ISS Teaming Agreement
Boeing and Alenia Spazio have signed a teaming agreement to reinforce their ongoing commitment to the future of the International Space Station (ISS). This agreement establishes the framework for present and future ISS opportunities.

Under the teaming agreement, Boeing and Alenia Spazio will expand their efforts, ensuring an integrated approach for the long-term support of ISS. The agreement comprises a range of logistics support activities, effective utilisation and implementation of the Alenia Spazio-designed and -built Multi- Purpose Logistics Module, and supplies a framework for future space-related initiatives.

Alenia Spazio is prime contractor for most of the programs managed through the Italian Space Agency, and as such, participates with a primary role in a majority of the projects organised by the European Space Agency.

Boeing is NASA's prime contractor to design, develop, manufacture and assemble the Space Station. ISS is orbiting overhead -- visible from Earth in the night sky. The first two modules, Zarya and Unity, were launched and assembled in orbit in late 1998.

Technology

Fly Me To The Moon - Commercially
TransOrbital Inc's 2001 TrailBlazer Project be the first commercial spaceflight to the Moon; it will also return the first video from the Moon in thirty years. The video will be of very high quality and digitally enhanced, showing the lunar surface details as has never been seen before. The entire Project is intended to cost a small fraction of what it would cost NASA to complete a similar project.

TransOrbital Inc has developed a low-cost, video spacecraft project for lunar orbit. TransOrbital's commercially funded robotic spacecraft, 2001 TrailBlazer, will return HDTV video from lunar orbit for use as Internet content and other commercial products. The privately held company has already arranged for a launch aboard the Strela launch vehicle.

The 2001 TrailBlazer Project is a for-profit Space Venture and will produce high-quality video and other products such as:

• The first advertising opportunity in lunar orbit: video with lunar background showing corporate logos on a sub-spacecraft
• Earthrise 2001: A defining video image for the New Millennium Final de-orbit video, up to moment of impact
• An atlas of the entire lunar surface for students and planetary scientists
• High-resolution aerial photography of pre-targeted sites on the Moon
• Low-altitude, high-speed video, for Hollywood science-fiction movies footage
• The first deep space email service, from lunar orbit
• Interactive Lunar Flight CD-ROM game made from the photography

The photos from lunar orbit will be very high resolution, utilising a telescope with an HDTV camera, capable of seeing the tire tracks from the Apollo-era rovers.

Launch Vehicles

Assuresat Books Two Launches with Sea Launch
AssureSat has signed an agreement, through Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), for two launches on Sea Launch. AssureSat plans to launch two new specially designed, high-powered satellites in 2002, beginning the first in-orbit backup protection service for the geostationary fixed satellite service (FSS) communications satellite operators worldwide. Under a separate exclusive agreement, Sea Launch will purchase several AssureSat backup services.

Earlier this month, AssureSat announced the award of a satellite manufacturing contract to SS/L to build AssureSat's first two satellites as well as the receipt of a contract for backup protection services from Loral Skynet, one of the world's largest FSS satellite operators.

AssureSat and Sea Launch are teaming up to reduce risk through the launch sequence and beyond. AssureSat services will provide a strategic advantage for anchor customers, Sea Launch and Loral Skynet, and will give satellite operators an unprecedented level of protection for their business plans. AssureSat satellites will be able to provide backup protection to most geostationary satellite operators by moving quickly to appropriate orbital slots and assuming the communications tasks of satellites that fail in launch or malfunction on orbit, thereby ensuring service for the operator's customers.

Lunar RIP
Celestis Inc, the company that has launched the cremated ashes of its customers into orbit is taking orders for a lunar burial service.

The service, which could start as early as next year, will carry some 200 miniature containers containing samples of the dead peoples' ashes will crash into the moon. Celestis will use a commercial launch from the USA which will be followed by a four day flight to the moon after which the spacecraft will impact on the lunar surface.

Celestis' first confirmed passenger will be lunar geologist Mareta West who died in 1998.

The company is negotiating with two companies who intend to send commercially financed probes to the moon in either 2001 or 2002 to use spare lift capacity on their launchers. Launch services will be provided by Orbital Sciences.

The 200 miniature containers carried on board will each contain approximately 200 g of cremated ash which will be housed in a small metal container inscribed with the name of the deceased and an epitaph. The fee will be US$ 13,500.

Launches

DSP 20

Launched: 9 May 2000
Site: Kennedy Space Center
Launcher: Titan 4B/IUS
Orbit: GEO
International Number: 2000-024A
Name: USA 149 (DSP 20)
Owner: US Air Force
Contractor: TRW/Aerojet

Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite number 20 used to provide an early warning of strategic and tactical ballistic missile launches, space launches and nuclear detonations to the North American Defense Command and US Space Command centres within the Cheyenne Mountain.

The main feature of the satellite is a 550 kg infra red sensor built by Aerojet.

GPS IIR-04

Launched: 11 May 2000
Site: Cape Canaveral Air Station
Launcher: Delta II (7925)
Orbit: LEO
International Number: 2000-025A
Name: GPS IIR-04 or Navstar-47
Owner: US Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base
Contractor: Lockheed Martin Space Systems

Business

Globalstar First Quarter Results Give Analysts Concerns, Investors Don't Agree
Globalstar has announced operating results for the first quarter 2000, in which the company began billing for services in limited regions of the world.

Since service did not begin in any significant degree until March, the numbers reported for utilisation of service are low for this reporting period. Important markets such as Canada and Brazil were in full commercial service for only a few weeks of the quarter, and another, Australia, began service only on March 30. Moreover, full commercial service is soon to be initiated in other key markets such as China, Russia, and South Africa.

For the 13 week period ended March 31 2000, Globalstar recorded 550,000 minutes of billable service, and revenues for the quarter, including royalties, were US$ 609,000.

The company reported a net loss of US$ 216 million or US$ 3.53 per partnership interest that converts to US$ 0.98 per share of Globalstar Telecommunications Ltd.

Financial analysts, extremely wary after Iridium's failure expressed concern at the poor performance. Analysts had only anticipated a loss for the period of US$ 176 million. Stock market investors, on the other hand, appear reassured that problems are not worse and boosted Globalstar's share price some 6% to US$ 10.66 following the news.

Hughes/Gilat Patents Spat
Hughes Network Systems has filed a lawsuit against Gilat Satellite Networks and its Spacenet subsidiary for patent infringement. The lawsuit, which was filed on May 8 in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland alleges unlicensed use of Hughes Network Systems' patented adapter card and high-speed Internet access technology.

Hughes alleges infringement of patents relating to a satellite receiver adapter card for use in a personal computer and to technology for delivering data via a high-speed link, such as a satellite, to personal computers.

Hughes requests an injunction against further infringement as well as an accounting for damages owed to Hughes as a result of the infringement.

Gilat, as could be expected, intends to "vigorously defend itself against these claims".

Share prices in both companies fell on news of the suit.

Products and Services

DigitalC, a New Service Distributing Compressed, Digital Cable Programming Services
GE American Communications has launched DigitalC for the distribution of compressed, digital cable programming services. DigitalC is available immediately on the GE-1 satellite.

The DigitalC sevice features fully protected space segment, an end-to-end transmission solution through GE Americom's Digital Media Center in Maryland, a choice of the two most popular digital platforms for cable--Scientific Atlanta PowerVu and the Motorola/GI DigicipherII, and customised bandwidth in an MCPC (multiple channel per carrier) format.

The DigitalC turnkey solution includes digital encoding and compression, local transport, uplinking and protected space segment in GE Americom's Cable2 neighborhood, which consist of the entire C-band payloads of GE-1 at 103° W. and the recently launched GE-4 satellite at 101° W.

Flat DBS Antenna from SatCom Electronics
SatCom Electronics Inc has introduced the SatCom PASSPort Mini Plus, the world's first flat panel and portable antenna for satellite TV viewing.

The SatCom PASSPort Mini Plus antenna is a sleek and lightweight one-piece design that requires no assembly: just connect it to the appropriate receiver, aim and receive Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS)-TV viewing anytime, anywhere.

The SatCom PASSPort Mini Plus kit includes a flat panel Mini Plus antenna, plus all accessories needed for portable DBS-TV, including the Digital Satellite Seeker (a pocket-sized meter that assists with satellite antenna setup), carrying case, portable mount, compass, and connecting cables. The Mini Plus antenna is equipped with a built-in insert for optional mounting onto a standard camera tripod. Its small footprint (20 x 40 cm) and low weight (2.3 kg) make it easy to transport to any location, and its flat, unobtrusive design blends nicely with any setting.

The included Digital Satellite Seeker is a handy companion to the SatCom PASSPort Mini Plus antenna and any other satellite-antenna system. Small enough to fit into a child's hand, the Seeker finds the strongest satellite signal quickly and easily with a simple-to-read numerical LCD display (the maximum number displayed corresponds to the strongest signal); there are no adjustments required or complicated measurements to decipher.

The SatCom PASSPort Mini Plus kit (model MP-2000-PKG) carries a suggested retail price of $349.95 and is available now on SatCom Electronics' Web site (www.satcomweb.com) and in selected retail outlets soon. Versions of the SatCom PASSPort antenna for RVs and homes will be available this summer.

Java Based Set Top Box from ASE Technologies
ASE Technologies USA Inc, a leader in the design of consumer and commercial digital set-top boxes for cable, satellite, and wireless delivery systems, has announced the ASE-4500, a Java based set-top box, which will be available in the fourth quarter 2000.

This top-of-the-line interactive set-top box with Java capability provides the flexibility and reliability needed by leading-edge service operators. The core of the ASE-4500 is a Java Virtual Machine running on a high performance processor. The ASE-4500 is DVB compliant, available in either a QAM or QPSK version, and includes a wide range of feature sets, including Internet browser, email client, and provisions for a hard disk drive.

ASE Technologies Inc, is a subsidiary of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc, a Taiwanese based company and the world's second largest independent semiconductor/silicon wafer packaging and testing company.

QuantumCast, a New Breed of Broadband IP Data Solutions
Multicast ISP, has unveiled QuantumCast, a real-time satellite distribution system designed to improve the efficiency and quality of streaming media, that allows satellite, cable and wireless operators to cost-effectively deliver high-speed data, and Internet video and audio to users.

Multicast ISP, has created a cost-effective system that combines proprietary technology with state-of-the-art in broadband IP datacasting technology. This system allows Multicast ISP to bypass frequently congested terrestrial Internet and more efficiently deliver real-time Internet streaming content to Internet Service Providers (ISPs), cable modem-enabled systems, DSL providers, colleges/universities and corporations throughout North America, Mexico and Central America. Multicast ISP is a pioneer in providing real-time distribution of streaming broadband.

The company has entered into an agreement with Yahoo Inc. to provide Multicast ISP subscribers throughout North America with access to select multicast audio and video programming from Yahoo! Broadcast.

The company's subscription model is based on a conditional access system, which will enable "cable type business models" in the streaming media arena and provide a smooth transition for MSO's. Networks using Multicast ISP will be able to extend their audience and offer additional content and channels that cannot be accommodated on current cable systems.

Multicast ISP is currently forming strategic alliances and anticipates expanding its reach to include more than three million Internet users by late June 2000. The company also plans to distribute content internationally by year-end.

People

Michael Sears Appointed Boeing CFO
Michael Sears has been appointed as Boeing's Chief Financial Officer.

Sears was most recently the president of Boeing's billion military division and has also served in the commercial aircraft and space divisions. He replaces Debby Hopkins who recently took a similar job at Lucent Technologies Inc.

Walt Skowronski, Vice President of Finance and Treasurer, has been appointed as acting CFO. Skowronski will remain in his current post.

Boeing also announced that Harry C. Stonecipher, the company's President and Chief Operating Officer, will remain at Boeing at least until 2002, a year beyond Boeing's mandatory retirement date.

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