5 March 2000

Satcoms

EBU's New Scrambling System
The European Broadcasting Union has developed a simple scrambling system that can work with all makes of equipment used to transmit and receive digital television pictures by satellite.

Until now, EBU members and other broadcasters wishing to receive scrambled signals sent over the EBU's Eurovision network have had to buy equipment from Tandberg TV (formerly NDS). In future, they will be able to use equipment made by the manufacturer of their choice.

Specifications of the Basic Interoperable Scrambling System (BISS) have been finalised in close collaboration with manufacturers. EBU Geneva will test the "first-level mode" of this system from 26 March to 7 April 2000, and the specifications are expected to be adopted by the International Telecommunications Union in September.

Four manufacturers - Thomson TBS, Tandberg TV, Tadiran Scopus and Scientific Atlanta - will be testing the system using their own equipment later this month. Tiernan, Digital Vision, Barco, Divicom, Newtec and Alcatel have also been involved in developing the system.

The new system is based on the DVB common scrambling algorithm that is available through the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

Globalstar USA Launches North American Service
Globalstar USA has announced the full commercial availability of its mobile satellite service in the United States. Globalstar USA is a subsidiary of Vodafone Airtouch Plc.

Globalstar service is now available throughout the North American continent, including Canada and Mexico.

Globalstar Canada Satellite Co, the provider of Globalstar service in Canada, also commenced commercial service this week. Globalstar de Mexico, Globalstar's service provider in Mexico, already offers commercial service.

Globalstar USA also announced its international roaming prices at a base price of US$ 1.79 per minute plus international charges. This pricing applies to Globalstar USA customers who travel outside the United States. Currently, roaming is available throughout Canada and Mexico. Outside of North America, roaming will begin on a region-by-region basis starting in March, with Brazil and continental Europe.

Globalstar USA offers three distinct domestic pricing plans based on a monthly service charge and fees for satellite connection and use. The Beyond Basic plan is US$ 29.99 per month plus US$ 1.69 per minute for satellite airtime. The Beyond 100 plan is US$ 169.99 per month and includes 100 minutes of satellite airtime; additional minutes are US$ 1.49. The Beyond 250 plan is US$ 369.99 and includes 250 minutes of satellite airtime; additional minutes are US$ 1.39.

These prices, which will be offered by Globalstar USA's agents, do not include international long distance charges. Globalstar USA's resellers will set prices according to individual market conditions.

Intelsat Voices Concern About Legislation - and Buys Another Satellite
Intelsat's Board has responded to pending US legislation by taking steps to convene an emergency meeting of the 143 Intelsat member nations, and the convening of an arbitration tribunal, for the purpose of examining the legislation and determining whether such legislation violates US obligations vis-à-vis the Intelsat Agreements.

If a violation is found to exist, and if no action is taken by the US Government to remedy the violation, the United States may face expulsion from Intelsat. Furthermore, the Board instructed Intelsat Management to step up research of alternative jurisdictions outside of the United States for the privatised company.

Intelsat's Board has also decided to purchase an additional NI-Alpha spacecraft from Matra Marconi Space. The original contract awarded to Matra Marconi Space in January, contained an option for the purchase of a second spacecraft. This spacecraft, NI-Alpha-2, will be assigned to the 1º W slot serving the Americas, Europe, and Africa, and brings Intelsat's total spacecraft on order to nine.

Internet Access Using Globalstar
Qualcomm has announced that it is investigating Internet access and the packet data capability of the Globalstar Satellite Communications System.

After successfully completing numerous development tests of packet data for Globalstar, Qualcomm has announced that the service will be ready for commercial field trials late this summer, and, followed by a phased integration, will be available to all Globalstar Service Providers.

The service will allow users in virtually any populated area in the world to communicate with their corporate data networks and access the Internet, or to send and receive e-mail messages. Internet access may be accomplished by connecting a Qualcomm GSP-1600 mobile phone to a laptop computer to access e-mail and transmit information from virtually any location at data rates of up to 9600 b/s.

Radyne Comstream Wins US$ 8.6 Million Internet Over Satellite Order
Radyne ComStream has announced that an initial contract worth in excess of US$ 8.6 million dollars has been awarded by a major Internet-over-Satellite Internet service provider (ISP). This single order for satellite Internet infrastructure equipment represents more than 15% of Radyne ComStream's 1999 revenue in one contract.

The equipment will be used to continue the wireless Internet service provider's national and international build-out of its satellite based, wireless Internet service provider network.

Radyne ComStream is already manufacturing the first 600 units of a total of 1,000 DT 8000 Digital Earth Stations as part of the original terms of the contract. A Network Management System, and additional elements within the order, including a suite of custom-engineered solutions for the client, could potentially increase the value of the contract to an even higher amount.

Radyne ComStream designs, manufactures, and markets satellite Internet-infrastructure equipment as well as satellite broadband modems, multicasting receivers, converters and ancillary products for digital TV, data and telephone services.

Sinopec Extends NeTrue Vipersat VSAT Contract
Vipersat Networks, a division of NeTrue Communications, and the China Petrochemical Corp. (Sinopec) have announced an agreement to begin development of Phase III of Sinopec's Corporate VSAT network.

In February 1999, NeTrue Vipersat Networks Division was awarded the original contract to build a satellite network to support video, data and voice communications for Sinopec. The entire project, to ultimately link Sinopec's corporate headquarters and 64 major operating locations within China, is valued at approximately US$ 5 million. The project is to be completed in several phases. With the successful installation of Phases I and II the two companies are ready to rapidly move into the next phase of the project.

NeTrue's Vipersat Networks Division has been a leading developer of VSAT communications solutions for nearly 20 years. Vipersat produces and markets a line of VSAT communications products. These products, which are built and optimized for IP (Internet Protocol) allow the company to quickly develop customisable voice, data, video, and multimedia solutions for its clients. NeTrue Communications acquired the Vipersat Networks Division in May 1999.

Synthesiser Patent for Comtech
Comtech Communications Corporation unit has been issued a US Patent for a "hybrid analogue-digital phase lock loop multi-frequency synthesiser. The invention, used in Comtech satellite communications products such as frequency converters and transceivers, combines the near-theoretical noise floor performance of analogue phase lock loops with the reliability, insensitivity to temperature variations, and lower acquisition times of digital phase lock loops.

The digital portion of the newly patented loop eliminates the need for manual alignment of the synthesiser by a technician, thereby increasing cost-effectiveness. The analogue portion provides typical C-Band synthesiser performance 20 dB better than international Intelsat IESS-308 and 309 Satellite Earth Station specifications. The inherent insensitivity of the digital loop to temperature variations, along with the long useful life of digital components, increases reliability in the field. This reduces maintenance, down time and costs.

Telesat's Monopoly Ends
OnSat.net Canada Inc has announced that Industry Canada it has been granted approval to use the US satellite Telstar 5 to provide communication services in Canada, making OnSat the first communications company in Canada to enter this newly deregulated market.

Prior to 1 March 2000, Telesat Canada had held a federally granted monopoly on all Fixed Satellite Services within Canada. In 1999, the government of Canada agreed to open this market to competition.

OnSat is a Canadian company offering Internet via satellite communications. OnSat holds the exclusive rights to deploy internet connectivity solutions in Canada using the hub facilities of OnSat Network Communications Inc in Salt Lake City, USA.

Earth Observation

Integral Wins NOAA Operations Centre Contract
Integral Systems Inc has won a program definition contract from Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space to design satellite operations centres for the next generation of polar-orbiting weather satellites to be operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Integrated Program Office.

As a member of Lockheed Martin's National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) team, Integral Systems is responsible for systems engineering of the satellite operations centres, which consist of primary and backup facilities used for mission planning, monitoring and control of the NPOESS satellites. Integral will also design the NPOESS Preparatory Project satellite control centre, which will serve as a risk reduction demonstration for the NPOESS program.

Integral Systems has supported US weather satellite programs and their control centers since 1982. The company serves as prime contractor for the satellite control centres currently in use by NOAA's Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite program and the US Department of Defense's Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. Integral also is developing the satellite control centre for the next generation of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites as a subcontractor to Hughes Space and Communications Inc.

The program definition phase of the NOAA project culminates in March 2002 with the US government's selection of a single contractor for the NPOESS Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development phase.

Science

Compton May Be Saved Temporarily
NASA engineers have identified a means to keep the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory in a safe orbit even if it suffers further gyro failures.

The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory was always intended to be safely de-orbited in a controlled manner at the end of its life, but it has always been assumed that two of the satellites gyros are required to orient the satellite correctly for it to enter the atmosphere in a predictable way.

Engineers now believe that it is possible to use the satellite's thrusters to spin the satellite allowing other on board instruments to sense the orientation. This would allow the orientation to be modified prior to re-entry as required enabling the satellite to remain in orbit until a further gyro fails.

Manned Space

NASA Prices Commercial Access to Space Station
As a first step towards the commercialisation of some aspects of the International Space Station, NASA has published prices for commercial projects on the station.

NASA's standard package has a price tag of US$ 20.8 million, but this does not include a whole string of additional expenses such as physically getting any experiments or equipment into orbit.

The charge for a one way trip to the space station will be US$ 22,000 per kg in the shuttle's pressurised area or US$ 26,500 in the unpressurised cargo bay.

Additional astronaut time costs US$ 15,000 an hour for work inside the pressurised areas of the space station, extra power costs US$ 2,000 a kilowatt-hour, and extra communication time US$ 100 a minute. No fees are available for spacewalks.

Technology

CPU Tech to Design Next Generation Space Processor
CPU Tech is under contract to the Air Force Research Laboratory to do what no one else has yet been able to do: develop a practical method for adapting commercial processor designs for use in radiation environments.

Over the next twelve months, CPU Tech will develop RadFire, a high-assurance, rad-hard equivalent of Motorola's ColdFire processor.

Processors used in space systems such as satellites, payloads and launch vehicles must be radiation-hardened, very reliable and available for the long term. If they could also be compatible with commercial grade processors, space system developers could save a great deal of time and money. They could use commercially available standard software tools such as programming language compilers, run-time operating systems and the like, rather than custom software.

One of the major problems with commercial processors, however, is that they quickly become obsolete, and therefore unavailable, as new technology is developed. So a practical solution has to include the ability for virtually any foundry to manufacture the processor even in the future when the manufacturing processes may have changed. It also has to include a plan to ensure the availability of the intellectual property far into the future.

CPU Tech's RadFire will be a high-assurance processor, optimised for use in radiation environments, that will be the exact functional equivalent of the ColdFire. It will not become obsolete because its design will be "foundry process independent." This means that the design netlist can be moved between foundries without any design changes required. Life-cycle support will be guaranteed.

Launch Vehicles

Boeing Studies Air Launched Rocket
A new air-launch system under development by The Boeing Company and Thiokol Propulsion could increase US military tactical responsiveness and expand Boeing civil and commercial launch capabilities.

Designed as a possible launch system for the US Air Force's proposed Space Maneuver Vehicle (SMV), AirLaunch would lift approximately 3,000 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO), with launch-on-demand features at competitive prices. SMV is a small, un-piloted reusable spacecraft designed to support a variety of military space missions ranging from satellite deployment to terrestrial and on-orbit support.

The AirLaunch system is being developed primarily as a near-term, low-cost, launch-on-demand system for the military, but Boeing also sees commercial opportunities for the deployment and replenishment of LEO communications satellites, hypersonic research, remote sensing and technology development.

AirLaunch also will complement the Boeing launch vehicle family, which includes the Delta family of expendable launch vehicles, Sea Launch, and NASA's Space Shuttle, as well as programs that will develop from the joint NASA/Boeing X-37 program.

The AirLaunch system consists of two basic configurations. The first would support the military and would be capable of placing an SMV into LEO. The second configuration would be available for civil, commercial and military applications using a Conventional Payload Module.

As a strategic corporate partner with Boeing, Thiokol Propulsion would provide the AirLaunch solid rocket motors in a multi-stage configuration. Currently, Thiokol has existing solid rocket motors suitable for the first two stages and is working on a design that is well matched for the AirLaunch third stage.

A modified Boeing 747-400F will carry the AirLaunch vehicle to a predetermined launch altitude. During the launch sequence the vehicle's wing and tail assembly will provide the necessary lift and lateral stability until 747/launch vehicle separation is achieved. After ignition, the launch vehicle wing and tail assembly will be jettisoned.

Range Safety Halts Taurus Launch
The USAF has postponed the launch of a Taurus rocket carrying the Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI) satellite because of fears that the third stage would fall on an inhabited island in Tahiti.

The launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base was originally planned for 28 February but could be delayed for several weeks. No new launch date has been announced as negotiations to temporarily relocate the island's inhabitants progress.

When the launch was planned the island was thought to be uninhabited, however the Tahitian government has recently informed the US that this is not so. If the residents will not leave the island for the launch, the launch trajectory will have to be changed imposing a delay of a month or more as the Taurus launcher would have to be dismantled to reprogram its flight computers.

The Taurus launcher will carry the Department of Energy's Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI) satellite which will collect images of the Earth in 15 bands ranging from visible to far infrared light at a precision previously only achieved in the laboratory, testing technologies that could be used on future imaging satellites.

MTI also carries a secondary experiment, the High-energy X-ray Spectrometer (HXRS) which is a joint US-Czech project. HXRS will study a rare type of solar flare that is thought to trigger high-energy particle storms that can endanger spacecraft and astronauts.

US Army Develops Safer Rocket Fuel
The US Army has announced that it has developed of a safer rocket fuel.

The CINCH (Competitive Impulse, Non-Carcinogenic Hypergol) fuel has been demonstrated for use in launchers that currently use Aerozine-50, a carcinogenic hypergolic fuel.

The new fuel reacts on contact with nitrogen tetroxide or inhibited red fuming nitric acid and is designed to work in low temperatures. Theoretical calculations show that CINCH will work better than RP-1 when with hydrogen peroxide or liquid oxygen. Preliminary evaluation of the fuel was conducted at Marshall Space Flight Center with further demonstration projects at Marshall and Edward Air Force Base planned.

3M has a pilot plant producing CINCH for commercial applications.

The development of CINCH was funded by the Army Acquisition Pollution Prevention Support Office.

Business

Anaren Microwave To Make Public Offering
Anaren Microwave Inc has filed a Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed public offering of 1,840,000 shares of Common Stock.

Of the shares being offered, 1,323,000 shares (plus up to an additional 240,000 shares to cover over-allotments, if any) will be sold by the Company, and 277,000 shares will be sold by certain selling shareholders. The shares will be offered through an underwriting group led by Banc of America Securities LLC, CIBC World Markets Corp., Needham & Company, Inc. and Pacific Growth Equities, Inc. The offering is expected to close in April of this year.

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sale of its shares primarily for general corporate purposes and potential acquisitions. The Company will not receive any of the net proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling shareholders.

Anaren designs, develops, manufactures and sells highly integrated microwave components, assemblies and subsystems for the wireless communications, satellite communications and defence electronics markets.

Craig McCaw Drops Iridium
Eagle River Investments LLC, Craig McCaw's investment management firm, has announced that it will no longer invest in Iridium, the bankrupt narrowband global voice and paging satellite service.

Eagle River instead will focus its satellite communications investments on data-centric companies, such as ICO Global Communications and Teledesic LLC.

London-based ICO (also currently bankrupt) is building a global, mobile Internet Protocol-based voice and data service. Teledesic will deliver broadband data and value-added services at significantly higher data rates over a global network also optimised for IP.

Recently Eagle River, along with Motorola has been providing interim financing for Iridium. This will expire on March 6, though it is not yet clear what will happen to the Iridium system of satellites or the ground network after this date.

Iridium, for its part is looking for another buyer to replace Eagle River.

Echostar Splits Stock
EchoStar Communications Corporation's Board of Directors has approved a 2-for-1 split of its common stock.

Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2000, will be entitled to one additional share of common stock for each share they own on that date. New shares will be mailed or delivered on or about the payable date, March 22, 2000, by the Company's transfer agent, American Securities Transfer & Trust.

The ex-dividend date, the date on which the change in the stock price will be reflected on the NASDAQ market, will be on or about March 23, 2000.

The stock split will increase the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding from approximately 113.9 million shares to approximately 227.9 million shares and Class B common stock outstanding from approximately 119.2 million shares to approximately 238.4 million shares.

Gilat Completes US$ 350 Million Offering
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd has announced the completion of a private offering of US$ 350,000,000 convertible subordinated notes due 2005.

The notes are convertible to Ordinary Shares of Gilat at a conversion price of US$ 186.18 per share. Each note will bear annual interest of 4.25% payable semi-annually. The notes are callable at any time after 3 years. The Company has granted the initial purchaser an over-allotment option of 20%.

Hughes Takes Stake in SkyPerfecTV
Hughes Electronics Corporation has announced that DirecTV Japan will add its 400,000-subscriber base to the more than 1.7 million subscribers of SkyPerfecTV. As a result of the subscriber migration, DirecTV Japan's operation will be discontinued. As part of the transaction, Hughes and other shareholders of DirecTV Japan will take an equity stake in SkyPerfecTV, which has announced that it expects to have an initial public offering (IPO) later this year.

Both DirecTV Japan and SkyPerfecTV offer direct-to-home satellite service that consists of video and audio channels beamed directly from a satellite to small dish antennas. SkyPerfecTV provides over 180 channels while DirecTV Japan provides over 150 channels. DirecTV Japan will supply its subscribers with SkyPerfecTV receiving equipment at no cost to them.

Japan Digital Broadcasting Services Inc, operator of the SkyPerfecTV satellite service, in December announced that it would list its shares during the fiscal year starting April 1. The shares will be listed on Mothers, a section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange for high-growth and emerging stocks. As a result of the transaction, Hughes will own a 6.8 % interest in the new company prior to the IPO, with the DirecTV Japan shareholders owning a total 10.2 % interest in the new company.

In addition to Hughes, DirecTV Japan shareholders include Sotsu; Matsushita Electric; Tokuma Shoten; Mitsubishi Corporation; Mitsubishi Electric; Space Communications Corporation; Dai Nippon Printing; IBM Japan and Orix Corporation.

SkyPerfecTV was established when PerfecTV, Japan's first digital satellite broadcaster, and Japan Sky Broadcasting (JSkyB) merged on May 1, 1998. Shareholders of SkyPerfecTV include: Itochu, Sony Corp, Fuji Television Network, News Corporation, Softbank, Japan Satellite Systems, Mitsui, Sumitomo and Nissho Iwai.

New Norsat Broadband Business Unit
Norsat International Inc, a provider of satellite ground station components and systems, will integrate the multimedia information transport systems and components to be acquired from SpectraWorks and the satellite broadband access products under development for ASTRA-NET and KoreaSAT, into a new business unit offering satellite I/P network solutions.

Gordon M. Deans, previously Vice President - Satellite Solutions, has been appointed to head the new unit, to be called Norsat Broadband Networks.

The Company also announced the following appointments to Norsat Broadband Networks: Peter Devanney, Director of Business Development; Irine Karassiouk, Senior Business Development Manager.

Earlier in the week, Norsat announced the signing of an agreement to acquire privately-held SpectraWorks Inc, a leading developer of systems and software for the broadcasting of multimedia broadband content across satellite, terrestrial wireless and digital cable networks.

SpectraWorks' core multimedia information system consists of integrated proprietary hardware and software technologies, including a high-speed content stream generator and complete network management system. The system is based on an open standards Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) Data Hub platform and is scaleable to meet a range of Internet Protocol (IP) network applications. The system also features a proprietary, advanced subscriber management system which allows broadcasters to offer pricing structures based on bandwidth usage measured in units as small as a single byte. This feature, as well as others, may also be offered separately as a standalone system to operators of satellite and other wireless and terrestrial systems.

Norsat International Inc designs, engineers and distributes premium products for use in the satellite wireless communications industry. It has four principal operating units. Norsat Satellite Products is a leading supplier of satellite signal receivers, transmitters, and other ground station equipment. Norsat Broadband Networks supplies systems to the satellite broadband I/P market. Norsat Narrowband Networks specialises in voice and data products and services for the Globalstar satellite constellation. Norsat America Inc operates a network of 14 branch offices across the US and is a distributor of DirecTV satellite service to the direct-to-home (DTH) market and a DirecTV Master System Operator (MSO) for the multiple dwelling unit (MDU) market. Norsat America also distributes DirecPC.

NTT Takes JSAT Stake
Japan Satellite Systems Inc (JSAT) and NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) have reached a formal agreement on NTT Com's investment in JSAT and the transfer of NTT Com satellite assets to JSAT.

The announcement follows a basic agreement, which both firms reached 6 July 1999, to jointly explore new business horizons. JSAT operates the JCSat satellites

NTT Com will invest 31.45 billion yen in JSAT. JSAT will issue 62,900 new shares (approximately 18.6%), with a 50,000 yen face value, to NTT Com. Also, NTT Com will transfer its assets, which include satellites (NTT Com's property in N-STAR a and b satellites) and other equipment worth approximately 31.5 billion yen to JSAT. The investment and transfer of assets is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2000.

Products and Services

Hughes Launches edgeUcast Distance Learning Service
Hughes Network Systems (HNS), a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation, has announced a partnership with PBS The Business and Technology Network, a division of National Technological University Corporation (NTUC), to provide broadband delivery of business and computer skills courses selected especially for small and home offices.

Prototype programming for Hughes' new edgeUcast service was demonstrated this week in Washington DC at the TeleCon East 2000 Conference and Exhibition. Launch of the service is planned for this summer.

Unique modules designed for the business user will be compiled for edgeUcast from the portfolio of business and technology courses already offered through PBS The Business and Technology Network. Small- and medium-sized business, SOHO, telecommuter, and independent business users can subscribe to modules on the most up-to-date and effective business practices and strategies. The modules include a basic business skills module, a high-performance module, a computer skills module, and an eCommerce module.

edgeUcast takes advantage of the unique features of the satellite-based DirecPC service to offer significant benefits to its subscribers. The high-speed Internet access ensures that users will not suffer the frustrations associated with downloading large files via ordinary modems.

New PLLs for Commercial Space Applications
Peregrine Semiconductor Corp has introduced the first products in two new families of high-performance phase-locked loop (PLL) devices that provide precise frequency synthesis capabilities for commercial satellite communications.

The PE9600 and PE9700 PLL family devices feature greater than 10 dB in phase noise improvement and one-tenth the power consumption of competitive devices, making them ideal replacements in existing designs and the clear first choice in new designs. Peregrine also announced that the PLL circuit core used in the new devices is available as a building block for customer-defined devices.

The PE9600 devices operate at up to 2.2 GHz and are combined with an external prescaler to generate the LO (local oscillator) signals required by satellite communications transceivers. The prescaler typically divides the required LO signal frequency down to 1.4 GHz, placing it within the operating frequency of the PE9600 low-phase-noise PLL. The PE9700 devices operate at up to 3.0 GHz, and are intended for newer designs, eliminating the external prescalar function and reducing the parts count and cost of a frequency synthesiser board.

The PE9600/PE9700 chips are fabricated in Peregrine's patented UTSi(R) (Ultra-Thin Silicon) CMOS process technology, which utilises a synthetic sapphire substrate that is a pure insulator, rather than semiconductor. As a result, they provide excellent RF performance, and easily surpass the rad-hard (radiation-hardened) requirements for reliable operation in commercial satellites. The PLLs are immune to single-event latch-up (SEL), have single-event upset (SEU) of less than 10(-9) errors per bit/day, and offer total-dose radiation tolerance of 100 krad.

Initially, each of the new product families contains two ICs. The PE9601 and PE9602 operate at 2.2 GHz, and the PE9701 and PE9702 operate at 3.0 GHz. All of the devices feature a 10/11 dual-modulus prescaler, counters and a phase comparator. The counters are programmable through either a serial or parallel interface, and can also be directly hard-wired. Two of the PLLs, the PE9601 and PE9701, have an on-chip charge pump, while the PE9602 and PE9702 have an up/down output to drive an external charge pump.

The PE9600/PE9700 PLLs are offered in a 44-pin CQFJ (ceramic quad-flat-pack, J-lead) package at a price of US$ 2500 each in quantities of 100 for fully flight-screened devices. Sample quantities are available now, with volume production planned for early in the third quarter.

People

ACT Networks Makes New Appointments
VSAT and netowking equipment supplier ACT Networks Inc has announced the appointment of Ramin Sadr as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to expand the Company's advanced networking product portfolio.

The company also announced it has appointed David Weisman as vice president, marketing, with overall responsibility for developing and implementing ACT's global product and marketing strategies.

ACT Networks develops, manufactures, and markets multiservice access products, which support a broad range of integrated voice and data networking applications. Service providers and enterprise customers use the company's products to build multiservice networks that are bandwidth efficient, cost effective and easy to manage.

IDT Appoints President for Brix Communications Subsidiary
IDT Corporation has appointed Charles Garner as President of its Brix Communications subsidiary.

Brix provides diversified telecommunications, Internet services, and satellite TV to tenants of residential multifamily properties, utilising advanced communications technologies. IDT, Brix's parent company, is a leading multinational carrier, phone company, and Internet Service Provider.

New CFO at ARCOMS
Dean Kernus has joined Advanced Remote Communication Solutions (ARCOMS) as chief financial officer.

ARCOMS is a global technology company delivering innovative and proprietary solutions to customers in specific markets for their remote information needs through its various business entities: Boatracs, Enerdyne Technologies Inc, and Innovative Communications Technologies Inc (ICTI). ARCOMS' products and services include customised software applications; cost-effective satellite communications solutions; near real-time vessel tracking; bandwidth-efficient, multimedia satellite networks; e-mail technology; state-of-the-art, real-time video compression products; multiplexing equipment; and video monitoring services.

Pace Announces US Appointments
Pace Micro Technology plc, the world's largest dedicated developer of digital set-top box technology, has announced two key executive appointments to its North and South American offices in the United States.

Neil Jones has joined Pace as Vice President - New Business Development, and Graham Williams has been appointed to Vice President Engineering. Both report to Pace Americas President Neil Gaydon and will be based in Boca Raton, Florida.

As Vice President - New Business Development, Neil Jones is responsible for obtaining new business in the cable, satellite, wireless, and telephony markets. Graham Williams is responsible for the overall technical operations for the North and South American markets.

Radyne Comstream Adds to Board of Directors
Radyne ComStream has announced that Dr. Jerry Waylan has joined the company's board of directors.

Radyne ComStream designs, manufactures, and markets satellite Internet-infrastructure equipment as well as satellite broadband modems, multicasting receivers, converters and ancillary products for digital TV, data and telephone services.

Spacehab Elects New Director
Spacehab's Board of Directors has elected David A. Rossi, the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer, to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors created by the death of Chester M. "Chet" Lee.

The Board also has approved the appointment of Julia A. Pulzone as Spacehab's Senior Vice President, Finance, and Chief Financial Officer, to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Mark A. Kissman in February.

Spacehab, with its Johnson Engineering and Astrotech units, is the world's leading provider of commercial payload processing services for manned and unmanned payloads. Spacehab is the first company to commercially develop, own and operate habitable modules that provide laboratory facilities and logistics resupply aboard NASA's Space Shuttles. The Company also supports NASA astronaut training at Johnson Space Center, Houston

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