6 February 2000

Satcoms

BT Opens Los Angeles Teleport
BT Broadcast Services has announced that it will open a second teleport in the United States to accommodate the increased demand for broadcast services and the growth in business in both the Pacific Rim and Latin American regions.

BT's new state-of-the-art broadcasting facility will be located in Marina del Rey, California, and provide one-stop shopping for a complete range of broadcast transmission solutions throughout the US, including satellite, fibre and microwave transmissions, and connectivity to BT's Global Digital Network. The new teleport is slated to open in Autumn 2000, and will be situated near the world's largest entertainment industry and close to news organisations and international businesses located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

BT's LA Teleport will include a 24-hour booking centre and round-the-clock Master Control Room for monitoring of feeds. Similar to the Washington DC teleport, the new facility will provide permanent uplink and downlink capabilities for distribution of regional and domestic channels, as well as analogue and digital options on a wide range of domestic satellites.

Eutelsat Gains FCC Licence
The US Federal Communications Commission has granted the first licences for accessing Eutelsat II F2 satellite capacity from within the USA for services that will include IP broadband and video contributions. BT North America Inc and Group W Network Services (CBS Broadcasting Inc) are the first two companies authorised to uplink to Eutelsat.

FCC approval means that Eutelsat is now open for business to US-based customers who have requirements for transatlantic connections and who are seeking access directly into the European market for corporate and consumer communications. Opportunities also exist for delivering content from Europe into the US market.

In 1999 Eutelsat positioned its first satellite over the Atlantic, at its 12.5 degrees West orbital slot which provides visibility of western Europe and the eastern seaboard of North America. It also launched construction of a new Ku-band satellite, called Atlantic Bird 1, which is due to go into orbit next year. Atlantic Bird 1's 20 Ku-band transponders will give North and South American content providers access to Europe and beyond as far as the Middle East, opening up important opportunities for satellite television and data broadcasting for the corporate sector and for the consumer market. Via a recent agreement with Loral Skynet, EUTELSAT is also using four transponders on the Telstar 12 satellite at 15 degrees West for transatlantic services.

Datron Demonstrates Internet Access in a Moving Vehicle
Datron Systems Inc has announced it has successfully established a high speed Internet connection to a moving vehicle using one of its production model DBS-4500 In-Motion satellite television antenna systems.

Through a satellite link to a van driving at highway speeds, this connection provides full Internet capability to download large files, access Web sites, send and receive e-mail and perform other tasks normally accomplished through a home or office terminal.

The techniques used are applicable to all of Datron's mobile satellite systems, which serve business and commercial aircraft, boats, recreational vehicles, buses, vans and sports utility vehicles.

Following the announcement Datron's share price nearly doubled in value during frantic trading on Nasdaq. Some 4 million shares changed hands during the first 2 hours of trading compared to a normal trading volume of 20,000 shares.

Globalstar Opens for Business in Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal
Globalstar has initiated full commercial service in Belgium, France, Portugal and Spain through its partner service provider TE.SA.M. (Télécommunications par Satellites Mobiles), a joint venture between France Telecom and Alcatel.

This brings the total number of locations where Globalstar service is available to 15 countries across Europe, Asia, North America and South America. TE.SA.M. has indicated that it plans to introduce service in a further nine countries covered by its European gateway in the weeks ahead.

Globalstar phones have already been extensively used in France for many applications including Y2K contingency communications and emergency communications after damaging wind storms last December. The phones have also been used on a test basis by service staff of Electricité de France (EDF), a major French utility, in remote mountainous areas where cellular service was unavailable.

TE.SA.M. is introducing two types of Globalstar service:
Dual-mode Service, allowing customers to use normal cellular service from an approved GSM operator as well as Globalstar satellite service whenever the user travels outside of cellular range. Both services are accessible from a single phone, with a single number and a single monthly invoice.

Single-mode Service, providing Globalstar-only service for customers who do not require cellular service or who prefer using cellular from a separate phone. Single-mode service will be available through distributors specialising in satellite services.

Other countries where TE.SA.M will soon introduce Globalstar services include Andorra, the Czech Republic, Gibraltar, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, Poland and Tunisia. TE.SA.M. will also be introducing service in many parts of South America, the Middle East and Asia through a series of other gateways across these regions.

GSA-FTS Expands Hughes Global Services Contract
The US Government's General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service (GSA-FTS) has awarded a second contract to Hughes Global Services Inc (HGS) to provide a wide variety of satellite services that can be used by the Department of Defense (DOD) and all federal agencies.

The new Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Government-wide Agency Contract (GWAC) has a US$ 490 million ceiling over six years if all options are exercised, and is five times larger than the original contract which was awarded one year ago.

The contract follows a year-long pilot program which provided "one stop shopping" for government agencies requiring satellite communications.

To date, more than 40 federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the International Broadcasting Bureau, the Agency for International Development, as well as the Armed Forces and the Department of Defense, have ordered services under the program.

Current satellite product and service offerings under the contract include domestic and international mobile satellite communications; fixed satellite services, including long-term and occasional-use bandwidth from multiple providers, terminals and videoteleconferencing at C- and Ku-band frequencies; and the DirecPC(R) data delivery capability. In addition, HGS is including its DemandNet(TM) and SkyMedia(TM) products in the contract.

DemandNet combines commercial very small aperture terminal (VSAT) technology with a global satellite constellation to provide affordable bandwidth services on-demand.

SkyMedia provides cost-effective video delivery, digital data broadcast and high-data-rate Internet access for distance learning and data sharing.

In the future, HGS will include Spaceway(TM) terminals and services and other emerging communication services.

More than 100 orders for satellite communications through the GSA-FTS satellite services IDIQ program have been placed. All civil or military federal agencies, as well as other authorised users such as NATO, the World Health Organisation, the Red Cross and Native American tribal governments, have access to the HGS satellite services contract. DOD users have accounted for approximately one-fourth of orders to date. An expanding area is the use of the contract for government distance learning, where individuals within one agency have access to video conferencing and classroom instruction.

ICO and Hughes Renegotiate Satellite Deal
ICO Global Communications has renegotiated a deal to buy 12 satellites from Hughes Electronics.

ICO is also reported to be near to ordering another four satellites. The renegotiated deal is still preliminary, with no formal agreement yet having been signed. The value of the agreement is believed to be up to US$ 3 billion.

The industry rumour is that the satellites will be modified to cater more for data based services, such as the Internet, rather than the originally intended telephony.

This eleventh hour change of direction for ICO could well be the influence of new investor Craig McGraW who is reported to see ICO in the role of pre-Teledesic. Such a design change could also be the reason why the launch of ICO's first satellite, which was scheduled to be orbited by Sea Launch a the end of January has been put on hold for a few months without explanation.

Inmarsat Enters VSAT Business
Inmarsat has made a `knowledge acquisition' of part of the business of EAE Limited, a subsidiary of the EAE Group. The Aberdeen based business will now trade as Invsat Ltd, a subsidiary of Inmarsat Holdings Ltd. The part of the business acquired from EAE Limited provides integrated telecommunications systems and services including satellite systems, radio systems and very small aperture terminal satellite (VSAT) solutions to the oil and gas, maritime, government and emergency services markets. The business employs approximately 80 staff.

The acquisition is a significant milestone in Inmarsat's strategy to grow both organically and through acquisition. It is the company's first venture outside mobile satellite communications, its traditional area of operations, into the complementary world of VSAT technology.

Bob Buskie, EAE Limited Managing Director, will become Managing Director of Invsat Ltd and report to Robert Johnson, General Manager Maritime at Inmarsat Ltd in London.

Telesat Awarded Control Contract for XM Radio Broadcast Satellites
Telesat Canada has been awarded a 15-year contract with XM Satellite Radio Inc to manage the satellite-based infrastructure of XM's radio service scheduled for launch in the first half of 2001.

Telesat will use its satellite control centre in Ottawa to monitor and control the satellites and will also build primary and back-up satellite control centres in Washington, DC and Calgary, Alberta.

PanAmSat Receives Service Licence for Peru
PanAmSat has received a licence permitting the supply of Internet and telecommnications services directly to client from the Peruvian Ministerio de Transporte y Comunicaciones (MTC).

The new licence is a "concession for the provision of public long distance, national and international services" and allows PanAmSat to provide data, Internet and telephony services to clients in Peru. In the past, PanAmSat has been obliged to offer services through Telefónica del Perú.

Telesat Serves Satellite Customers in the USA
Telesat has launched a US service and sales division that will offer domestic and international satellite transmission services to broadcasters, cable companies, telecommunications resellers and other business customers across America.

In conjunction with InSight Telecommunications Corporation, a leading team of broadband content delivery professionals, Telesat has created a new division known as Telesat Communications Services.

Telesat Communications Services begins service to US customers via its two main broadcast satellites, Anik E2 and Anik E1 (which will be re-pointed to serve the continental US). Telesat also plans to serve US customers from Anik F1 after it goes into service this autumn.

Headquartered in Boston, the new division also has offices in Atlanta and Los Angeles, and plans to open additional locations across the USA. Telesat Communications Services offers round-the-clock customer service, network monitoring, technical support and delivery of news, sports and entertainment events for the television and Internet industries.

In December, Telesat gained full access to the US fixed satellite telecommunications market via its Anik E1 and E2 satellites when they became the first non-US satellites to be placed on the Federal Communications Commission's Permitted Space Station list - a designation that paves the way for US customers to use Telesat satellites for services liberalised under a World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement.

TRW Wins Key Astrolink Gateway Contract
TRW has received a multimillion-dollar contract from Astrolink International LLC to develop a key ground-to-satellite interface for the Astrolink global broadband telecommunications system.

Astrolink satellites will provide bandwidth-on-demand Internet, multimedia and data network services to businesses and consumers beginning in 2003.

Under the contract, TRW will develop the space applications interface (SAI) system, consisting of software and hardware, which will provide the ground interface between the Astrolink network control centers (NCCs) and orbiting satellite payloads. TRW will also develop a payload emulator system, which allows testing of the ground-to-satellite interface before any satellites are launched.

TRW is also developing the digital processed payload for the satellites.

Operationally, the SAI system will function as an integral component of each of the Astrolink ground system's four regional NCCs, which are being built by Telespazio SpA. The SAI system provides the interface for controlling and managing the Astrolink satellite payloads.

The Astrolink payload emulator will provide ground system developers with a means of verifying ground-to-payload interfaces before conducting on-orbit tests. Both the SAI and the emulator will play a key role in integrating and validating the entire Astrolink ground segment.

Earth Observation

Surrey to Build RapidEye Minisatellite Constellation
RapidEye AG of Munich has announced an agreement with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd to become the prime contractor and spacecraft platform supplier for the US$ 100 million RapidEye constellation of four advanced Earth Observation minisatellites.

The RapidEye Earth Observation system, to be launched in 2002, will provide 6.5m resolution wide-swath multispectral imaging with a daily revisit and is targeted primarily at agricultural applications. The 380 kg RapidEye minisatellites will use the SSTL minisatellite platform.

SSTL plans an equity investment in RapidEye.

RapidEye Inc is a new satellite-based GEO-information service company and concentrates on customers in the agricultural and cartographic segments.

Military Space

L-3 Communications Receives Contract for an Advanced Satellite Communication System
L-3 Communications has announced that it has won a competitive award to develop an Advanced Extremely High Frequency Communications Security (COMSEC) and Transmission Security (TRANSEC) System, known as ACTS, for a new military satellite communication network by the Maryland Procurement Office. The initial contract value is US$ 28.7 million.

This award provides for the development of state-of-the-art space, ground and embeddable cryptographic equipment that supplies both COMSEC and TRANSEC for the new AEHF satellite system. The new system will replace the existing MILSTAR system that provides survivable, world-wide secure communications connectivity via satellite, and increased communication capacity and additional cryptographic algorithm capability over the predecessor system. This
system will also offer programming flexibility to adapt to future requirements.

L-3 Communication Systems-East will serve as the prime contractor for this program. L-3's Conic division will develop the Special Test Equipment for acceptance and depot testing of the ACTS equipment. Additional team members are Hughes Space and Communications Company of El Segundo, California and Mykotronx Inc of Torrance, California.

Science

Boeing Teams With SpaceDev for Deep Space Missions
SpaceDev Inc and Boeing Space and Communications Group have announced that they have teamed together to investigate a variety of small, low-cost, commercial, deep-space mission to the Moon, Mars and near-Earth asteroids, involving micro-spacecraft of 250 kg mass.

SpaceDev has been refining the design of its commercial Near Earth Asteroid Prospector (NEAP) mission since 1997 and started offering commercial, fixed-price Mars probe-carrier and Moon orbiter missions with real-time streaming video last year. In November 1999 the company competitively won a contract from University of California, Berkeley to design, build, integrate, test and operate the CHIPSat astronomy micro-spacecraft, NASA's first University-Class Explorer (UNEX) mission to proceed into the implementation phase.

ESA's XMM X-Ray Observatory Takes First Pictures
The European Space Agency's X-ray space observatory has taken its very first pictures giving new views on the Universe. The commissioning images confirm that the XMM spacecraft, its X-ray telescopes and science instruments are functioning perfectly.

After a successful launch from Kourou on Ariane 504 on 10 December 1999, XMM was brought to its final operational orbit in the following week. The telescope doors on the X-ray Mirror Modules and on the Optical Monitor telescope were opened on 17/18 December. The Radiation Monitor was activated on 19 December and the spacecraft was put into a quiet mode over the Christmas and New Year period.

The mission's scientific data is being received, processed and dispatched to astronomers by the XMM Science Operations Centre in Villafranca. Operations with the spacecraft restarted there on 4 January when, as part of the commissioning phase, all the science payloads were switched on one after the other for initial verifications. By the week of 17 January functional tests had begun on the Optical Monitor, the EPIC pn, the two EPIC MOS and the two RGS instruments. The internal doors of the EPIC cameras were opened whilst keeping the camera filter wheels closed.

After a series of engineering exposures, all three EPIC cameras were used in turn, between 19-24 January, to take several views of two different extragalactic regions of the Universe. These views, featuring a variety of extended and X-ray point sources, were chosen to demonstrate the full functioning of the observatory. The Optical Monitor also simultaneously viewed the same regions. One RGS spectrometer obtained its first spectra on 25 January; the other will be commissioned at the start of February.

First analyses confirm that the spacecraft is extremely stable, the XMM telescopes are focusing perfectly, and the EPIC cameras, Optical Monitor and RGS spectrometers are working exactly as expected. The Science Operations Centre infrastructure, processing and archiving the science data telemetry from the spacecraft, is also performing well.

The Calibration and Performance Verification phase for XMM's science instruments is to begin on 3 March, with routine science operations starting in June.

Mars Polar Lander Status
Mission managers for Mars Polar Lander report that radio scientists at Stanford University have not yet detected a signal from the spacecraft in data they collected last week. Stanford will continue to analyse the data and it is still possible that more detailed analysis might reveal a signal.

Additional radio telescopes around the world have offered their assistance in helping to confirm if the signal picked up by Stanford is from Polar Lander. The project has accepted offers of help from an array of fourteen 25 m antennas at Westerbork in The Netherlands as well as the 76 m antenna at Jodrell Bank, near Manchester, England and an array located near Bologna, Italy.

New commands were sent to the lander from NASA's Deep Space Network around the clock on Tuesday and Wednesday These commands told the spacecraft, if it is functioning, to reset its clock and send a signal to Earth. On Friday, windows were open for the antennas in The Netherlands, England and Stanford to begin listening. It will take each of the stations some time to review their data.

NEAR Prepares for Valentines Day Rendezvous With Eros Asteroid
The NEAR spacecraft has successfully performed a braking manoeuvre which has adjusted its approach speed and trajectory towards the asteroid.

In the manoeuvre, NEAR's medium-sized thrusters fired for 90 seconds, reducing the probe's closing speed from 69 km/hr to 29 km/hr.

The burn was originally scheduled for February 2nd but this was cancelled when NEAR went into "safe mode". Operators worked through the night to resent the spacecraft and programme two burns to replace the original one. The second part of the trajectory correction will take place on February 8th.

NEAR is on schedule to perform a fly by of Eros on February 13th to map the asteroid for minerals before entering orbit on February 14th.

Manned Space

ISS Service Module
Recriminations fly as the USA accuses the Russians of defaulting on commitments to launch the Zvezda service module by July. NASA is planning to launch its own service module in place of Zvezda. Meanwhile, the Russians are saying that Zvezda will now launch in June.

NASA is facing strong criticism from Republican politicians that it has lost control of the US$ 60 billion International Space Station project. ISS faces further delays and yet another spiral of costs. NASA, on its part, is getting increasingly critical of the Russian's performance and lack of commitment.

Russia, on the other hand, gives every appearance of being more interested in its own ageing space station, Mir, than in the ISS. Launchers and facilities originally earmarked for the ISS are now, reportedly, being diverted to help service a plan to re-establish a manned presence on Mir for commercial ventures. NASA hoped that the Russian's would abandon Mir, freeing up Russia's now limited resources for use on the ISS, but Russia has proved extremely reluctant to give up the independence offered by Mir.

It is ironic that the 14 year old Mir space station, with its failing, out of date equipment, cramped conditions and quarters which looks more like a submarine than a spacecraft is finally attracting commercial investment. The ultra high tech ISS, on the other hand, has difficulty attracting any commercial interest whatsoever.

In response to Russia's attempt to continue operating Mir, NASA has suspended negotiations to buy a further US$ 100 million of hardware and services from the Russian Space Agency.

Zvezda has been delayed by about two years and is suffering further delays because the launch vehicle which will lift it to orbit is currently grounded following manufacturing problems which caused two consecutive launch failures. Delays are not, however, the sole preserve of the Russians. The US built main laboratory module is running about 18 months late. Looking back even further into history, when work started on the station nearly two decades ago (and long before the Russians were ever involved) it was intended that the space station would be operational in the early nineties.

NASA has a contingency plan for an additional shuttle mission, using Atlantis, in April to increase the altitude of the fledgling ISS which currently consists of the mated Unity and Zarya modules. This will keep the station in orbit until at least the end of the year.

NASA is also preparing to launch an "Interim Control Module" in December if Russia does not launch Zvezda as it has agreed. The US$ 210 million Interim Control Module (hardware plus launch cost) will not provide the living quarters that Zvezda would, but would provide life support to the ISS to make it habitable. If Zvezda is launched this summer, the launch of the ICM would be delayed until possibly February 2001. Furthermore, NASA also intends to launch a separate US$ 100 million propulsion module that can boost the station into a higher orbit.

Mir Reawakens
Following six months of hibernation, Russia's Mir space station has been reawakened by controllers at the Mission Control Centre near Moscow.

Ground controllers have powered up Mir's control computer and gyros. Thrusters have been fired to stop the station spinning and the solar arrays have been oriented towards the sun. A Progress supply ship which was docked with the station was commanded to fire its booster, pushing the station into a higher, more stable orbit.

Crew are expected to return to Mir following the March 1st launch of Soyuz TM-30 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. They will board Mir some 50 hours after launch and will stay for at least 45 days. The cosmonauts on this return mission will be:

Sergey Zalyotin, mission commander, 38 years old, Russian Air Force pilot
Aleksandr Kaleri, flight engineer, 43 years old

One of the main tasks during the mission will be to locate and fix an air leak through which about one percent of Mir's air is seeping each week. The recently launched Progress supply ship carried a supply of air to boost the internal air pressure and to act as a reserve for a few months until the leek is sealed.

Other tasks will include maintenance, repairs, evaluating the condition of the hull, operating scientific experiments and photographing the Earth's surface. Several space walks may also be scheduled to assemble test equipment and to perform exterior maintenance.

Launch Vehicles

Aerojet Engine for Japanese Orbiter
Aerojet has successfully completed verification testing of its HOPE-X Orbital Manoeuvring Engine (OME), qualifying it for operation as the main propulsion for the Japanese National Space Development Agency's HOPE-X vehicle.

The HOPE-X vehicle is a prototype unmanned shuttle to be launched by Japan's HIIA launch vehicle. Aerojet is developing the HOPE-X OME for Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Company, the shuttle's propulsion system contractor.

The reusable HOPE-X OME is a 4,000-pound-force thrust class engine that is pressure-fed, regeneratively cooled and operated with storable propellants. It is much like the space shuttle Orbital Manoeuvring System, also designed and built by Aerojet.

The test engine will be refurbished and delivered to the customer as a flight spare in addition to the two new flight engines which are now ready for acceptance testing and delivery later this year.

Ariane to Launch iSKY
The first two iSKY satellites will be launched by Arianespace in the third quarter of 2001 and in mid 2002. iSKY-1 will be launched on either an Ariane 4 or Ariane 5 launch vehicle.

Arianespace Finance will also provide iSKY more than US$ 100 million of construction period and long-term financing.

Eutelsat W4 to Launch on Atlas 3
International Launch Services (ILS) has signed a contract with Eutelsat to launch the Eutelsat W4 communications satellite on the first Atlas 3 rocket.

The launch is scheduled in late March/early April from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, USA.

Eutelsat W4 is a geostationary satellite which will be located at 36° W. It has 31 Ku-band transponders which will provide capacity for consumer digital broadcasting services in Russia and for pay-TV, telecommunications and
IP (Internet protocol)-based services in sub-Saharan Africa. W4 is manufactured by Alcatel Space.

PanAmSat Opts for Sea Launch
PanAmSat selects Sea Launch for deployment of Galaxy IIIC satellite in 2001. The agreement with Sea Launch provides PanAmSat with an option for four additional launches.

The agreement calls for the launch of Galaxy IIIC during the second quarter of 2001 and provides PanAmSat with the option for four additional Sea Launch missions through 2003.

Sea Launch employs a modified Zenit rocket and lifts off from a floating launch platform that is positioned along the equator in the Pacific Ocean. PanAmSat's first Sea Launch mission will deploy the PAS-9 satellite during the second quarter of 2000. PAS-9, an HS 601 HP spacecraft built by Hughes Space and Communications, will provide video and telecommunications services throughout the Atlantic Ocean Region from its orbital location of 58° W. The satellite contains 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders.

Galaxy IIIC, an HS 702 model spacecraft also built by Hughes Space and Communications, contains 24 C-band and 52 Ku-band transponders, and will provide video, Internet and telecommunications services throughout the United States and Latin America from its orbital location of 95° W.

Launches

Progress M1-1

Launched: 1 February 2000
Site: Baikonour Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launcher: SL-04
Orbit: LEO, inclination 51.64°, perigee 192.8 km, apogee 238.8 km
International Number: 2000-005A
Name: Progress M1-1

Progress M1-1 is a cargo ship intended to resupply the Mir space station prior to the return of cosmonauts to Mir at the end of March. Docking with Mir occurred on February 3.

Kosmos 2369

Launched: 3 February 2000
Site: Baikonour Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launcher: Zenit 2
Orbit: LEO, inclination 71.0°, perigee 830 km, apogee 840 km
International Number: 2000-006A
Name: Kosmos 2369

Kosmos 2369 is a military satellite reported to be used for ELINT.

Hispasat 1C

Launched: 4 February 2000
Site: Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, USA
Launcher: Atlas IIAS
Orbit: Geostationary 30° W
International Number: 2000-007A
Name: Hispasat 1C
Owner: Hispasat
Contractor: Alcatel Space

Business

Andrew and Channel Master Alliance
Andrew Corporation and Channel Master LLC have announced an alliance, enabling each company to offer a broader range of earth station antenna products.

Channel Master specialises in the design and production of an extensive assortment of antennas and accessories with antenna sizes ranging from 0.35 m to 3.0 m. Andrew has a full line of fixed and motorised earth station antennas ranging from 1.2 m to 9.3 m. This alliance will enable both companies to immediately extend their product lines and better provide for the diverse requirements of all customers.

Globalstar Closes Stock Offering
Globalstar Telecommunications Limited has announced that it has closed the offering of 8,050,000 shares of Globalstar common stock which included the full exercise of the over-allotment option of 1,050,000 shares.

The purchase price was US$ 35.00, yielding net proceeds of approximately US$ 268.5 million.

Globalstar management believes it already has the resources necessary to complete the deployment of its global mobile telephone system. Accordingly, the company will use the proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes which may include accelerating the roll-out of service beyond planned efforts through increased support of service provider marketing activities and the funding of promotional discounts; the development of new service features; or potential repayment of debt.

Sirius Gets DaimlerChrysler Investment
DaimlerChrysler and Sirius Satellite Radio have announced an agreement to bring satellite radio to DaimlerChrysler customers in the US beginning next year. DaimlerChrysler Corporation will purchase US$ 100 million of Sirius common stock and exclusively factory-install Sirius receivers in DaimlerChrysler cars and light trucks.

The arrangement includes all DaimlerChrysler brands sold in the United States, including Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Dodge Truck, as well as Freightliner and Sterling heavy trucks.

DaimlerChrysler and Sirius will also work together to develop telematics functions using the Sirius national digital broadcasting system. These applications may include a range of wireless security, convenience and navigation services for DaimlerChrysler vehicle owners.

Terayon Acquires ComBox
Terayon acquires ComBox for European cable data access and broadband satellite systems.

Terayon, a leading supplier of broadband network systems, plans to acquire Combox, a manufacturer of broadband data systems and satellite communications based on international standards. The addition of ComBox' cable data systems based on the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) standard further expands Terayon's broadband portfolio to include systems based on all the major emerging international standards.

ComBox' innovative cable data access systems conform to the growing EuroModem international specification, based on the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) standard. ComBox' cable data system includes both headend transmission and customer premise equipment, as well as a cost-efficient internal PC cable modem card. ComBox' advanced and highly integrated data-over-satellite system is an end-to-end solution, enabling satellite operators to offer high-speed Internet access, data distribution, and IP multicasting to residential, SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) and corporate users.

Under terms of the agreement, 775,000 shares of Terayon common stock will be exchanged for all outstanding securities of ComBox. The acquisition will be accounted for as a purchase and is expected to close in the second quarter of Terayon's fiscal year 2000. This acquisition has been approved by Terayon's board of directors and is subject to various closing conditions.

Products and Services

ACT Networks Introduces SkyPerformer
ACT Networks introduces SkyPerformer VSAT integrated access solution for transmitting packetised voice, fax and data traffic over VSAT and hybrid terrestrial/satellite networks.

SkyPerformer operates over public and private VSAT networks and is suitable for multi-site enterprise networking or for extending carrier service offerings to areas where outside plant infrastructure is poor or non-existent.

ACT's Multiple Addresses Per Carrier technology (MAPC) uses a single satellite frequency to broadcast to multiple remote locations. The receiving earth stations can either accept or refuse information based on pre-configured addressing policies. SkyPerformer can also combine IP or Frame Relay switching and filtering over a single satellite frequency to substantially reduce hardware capital costs and recurring charges for space segments.

By supporting a variety of satellite network topologies, including single or distributed star, partially or fully meshed and point-to-point, SkyPerformer can be deployed with satellite modems from any major equipment manufacturer. SkyPerformer eliminates the requirement for expensive hubs or demand assigned multiple access (DAMA) controllers and provides toll-quality 8Kbps voice compression with dynamic fallback to 6Kbps in congestion situations.

Monaco-based VSAT operator and system integrator SONEMA recently built a SkyPerformer network for military troops stationed in Kosovo. The integrated voice and data service supports a combination of prepaid long-distance calling cards and toll-free 800 numbers over both satellite and terrestrial network segments.

Chello Broadband Expands into Australiasia
Chello Broadband, Europe's leading provider of broadband internet services to residential subscribers, has announced its expansion into Australia and New Zealand.

In preparation for broadband service in Australia, a full-scale commercial trial of broadband internet access has been introduced by Austar United Communications, with the full Chello service following in the first half of this year. Chello is also launching its service in New Zealand, in association with Saturn Communications Ltd. Delivery in Australia will be via satellite, whilst in New Zealand cable will be used.

In both countries, subscribers will have access to a range of top-quality multimedia channels including news, entertainment, communications, and interactive games through their PCs. Customers can access email and
e-commerce solutions via a broadband subscriber portal. Both the Australian and New Zealand subscriber portals will contain local content.

Seven Seas Introduces Mobile Satellite ISDN Service
Seven Seas Communications is one of the first suppliers to offer Inmarsat's Mini-Phone ISDN service which utilises Inmarsat's spot beam satellites to provide global coverage for voice, fax and high-speed data communications.

E-mail, web access, video conferencing, image transfer and multimedia along with voice and fax capabilities are delivered through a laptop-sized satellite telephone weighing only 4 kb and equipped with a foldout antenna that fits into an ordinary briefcase. Satellite phones are manufactured by Nera are available immediately and more configurations will be available soon.

"We expect companies and individuals involved in natural resources, media and corporate travel to be very excited about the availability of portable high-speed data," said Jacks Sterenfeld, director of new markets for Seven Seas. Those industries have historically had the need to move large amounts of data from remote locations without the benefit of a strong local landline infrastructure in many cases.

Seven Seas Communications is a leading provider of satellite services to the natural resources, media, fishing and
yachting industries throughout the world.

SierraCom Introduces an INSAT C-Band VSAT Transceiver
SierraCom has launched a C-Band VSAT transceiver designed to meet the needs of the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT).

"The INSAT C-Band transceiver was developed to address the rapidly growing needs of the satellite communications market in India," said Bob Ranslow, Vice President of Satellite Marketing. "1999 marked the second consecutive year of triple digit growth for SierraCom's VSAT product line," continued Ranslow.

SierraCom's INSAT transceiver operates in the 6.725 to 7.025 GHz range, as opposed to the traditional VSAT C-Band range of 5.85 to 6.425 GHz.

SierraCom's VSAT product line includes both indoor and outdoor units for C-Band and Ku-Band frequencies, with C-Band units available up to 60 watts, and Ku-Band units available up to 40 watts. SierraCom also offers an optional kit for 1:1 redundancy. SierraCom VSAT units are CE approved and meet several satellite ground terminal standards including Orion, Eutelsat, Intelsat, ETSI and BZT.

Teleglobe's Digital Transatlantic Broadcast Service
Teleglobe has partnered with Eutelsat to deliver North American news, sports and entertainment content to 18 countries throughout Europe and North Africa.

Teleglobe's new Ku-band Occasional Use platform expands the company's portfolio of worldwide fibre and satellite broadcast services, making broadcast content from North America available to 18 countries throughout Europe and North Africa.

News, sports and entertainment feeds will be carried over Teleglobe's ATM network from Los Angeles, New York, Washington and Toronto to be delivered to European destinations over Eutelsat II-F2 from Teleglobe's Des Laurentides 11 m dedicated earth station. The service may also be offered from Europe to North America on the reverse link.

Because the service transmits over Ku-band, rooftop dishes as small as 1.5 m in diameter can receive transmissions. The video signal will be formatted in the MPEG-2 4:2:2 standard, streaming over an 8 Mbps digital channel.

European cities covered by the service include Amsterdam, Berlin, Bratislava, Brussels, Dublin, Geneva, Lisbon, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Prague, Rome, Vienna and Warsaw. North African cities include Algiers, Rabat and Tunis.

Service is scheduled to commence mid-February 2000.

Three New Satellite-IP Services from InterPacket
InterPacket has announced three new value-added products and services: Voice Over IP (VoIP), BIZkit and Colocation.

The new portfolio of applications will include:

Voice Over IP (VoIP): Enables ISPs to sell carrier-grade international long-distance service over their existing InterPacket connection. InterPacket offers two types of VoIP solutions: Voice Business enables ISPs to provide service to corporations u sing the customer s existing PBX and dedicated IP connection; and Voice Dial enables carriers to offer consumers service using prepaid calling cards and dial-up access via local or toll-free numbers.

BIZkit: Enables ISPs to provide their corporate customers with a high-speed downlink directly from U.S. and European Internet backbones, augmenting capacity for high-bandwidth Web applications and streaming media. End-user companies continue to get their upstream bandwidth through the ISP s InterPacket connection. The kit includes all end-user electronics, including a compact satellite antenna. The ISP can offer technical support back up from InterPacket.

Colocation: Provides ISPs with a dedicated server connected directly to the US Internet backbone, which they can use both to improve access to their own content and to offer Web hosting services to their customers. InterPacket offers standardised servers that it builds, configures and connects via multiple redundant OC-3s to the Internet backbone. ISPs own the servers and pay only for the bandwidth they consume.

InterPacket has completed separate agreements with leading Internet backbone suppliers Exodus Communications Inc and AboveNet Communications Inc. Under these agreements, both suppliers will provide the InterPacket network with backbone connectivity and facilities for its core routers and switches. In addition, the companies will partner in offering co-location to InterPacket s customer base.

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New Executive Sales Director for Loral Skynet
Loral Skynet has announced the appointment of Timothy Shea as executive director, sales for the Asia/Pacific region.

In this position, Mr. Shea will be responsible for managing the sale of Loral Skynet and Loral Global Alliance satellite services to customers in the Asia/Pacific region. Based in Loral's new Singapore office, Mr. Shea will report to Paul Attner, vice president, sales for the Americas and Asia/Pacific.

The Loral Skynet Singapore office will be staffed with sales, engineering and administrative personnel. It is located at 101 Thompson Road #31 02/03, United Square, Singapore 307571. Telephone: 011-65-250-8484 and fax: 011-65-250-8481.

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