23 September 2001

Satcoms

@Contact Brings Internet to Rural Alaska with InterSky
The Alaskan town of Hoonah has chosen satellite company @Contact LLC to connect village schools, businesses and residences to the World Wide Web.

Hoonah is the largest Tlingit village in Alaska with 860 residents. It is located in Southeast Alaska on Chichagof Island.

The project is part of @Contact's Alaska Project to implement the best current products available to bring high-speed Internet access to Alaskan villages lacking terrestrial connectivity. @Contact is using the SpaceLink service offered by SpaceCom Systems to provide Hoonah.net with the high-speed satellite connection. The connection offers speeds of up to 1.5 Mb/s (download) and 384 kb/s (return). Hoonah.net is a non-profit, community-run organisation administrating the only local full Internet Service Provider. Subscribers total about 100 dial-up and 40 high-speed wireless users. Hoonah.net, which has upgraded with a new mail server, web software and power protection, also supports two schools.

The SpaceLink service deploys a complete InterSky Two-Way broadband communications via satellite system. The system is developed and manufactured by Shiron Satellite Communications (1996) Ltd. of Israel.

Astrolink Signs Operations and Maintenance Agreement with Telespazio
Astrolink International LLC has entered into a network Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contract with Telespazio North America Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Telespazio SpA of Italy, and part of the Telecom Italia group. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Astrolink Italia Srl, Astrolink has also entered into a contract with Telespazio, SpA for network O&M services to be provided in Italy.

The services delivered under these contracts will be critical to Astrolink's successful satellite launch and service initiation beginning as scheduled in early 2003.

Initially, Telespazio will define with Astrolink the plans, processes and procedures to manage Astrolink's global satellite network.

By the first satellite launch in Q1 of 2003, Telespazio will begin real-time operations and maintenance support for Astrolink's network operations centre, the satellite operations centres, and associated satellite earth stations, some of which will be located at Telespazio Fucino Space Centre, the largest earth station complex in the world for commercial applications.

Astrolink is owned by Liberty Media, Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, Telespazio, and TRW. Based in Bethesda, Maryland, Astrolink will build and operate a global telecommunications network that leverages state-of-the-art satellite technology.

Astrolink will focus on the high-growth area of broadband data services, carrying traffic for Internet, intranet, multimedia, and corporate data networks. Small satellite dishes will be installed at businesses to connect them to high-speed networks. The service will be complementary and compatible with other broadband services like fibre optic transmission and fixed wireless technologies.

Boeing Delivers Next Generation ASICs for Spaceway Payloads
Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS) has completed design of nine unique types of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for the Spaceway broadband satellite system.

IBM will use BSS designs to build multimillion-gate ASICs that consume half as much power per function while delivering four times the processing capability of current-generation chips.

Spaceway is a next-generation broadband satellite system from Hughes Network Systems (HNS), a unit of Hughes Electronics, that is scheduled for North American service in 2003. This high-speed broadband communications platform will employ satellites with innovative on-board digital processors, packet switching and active phased-array antenna technology. Boeing is building three Spaceway satellites - two for the North America segment plus a spare.

The ASICs will execute key functions of the spacecraft's Digital Signal Processor (DSP), the heart of the revolutionary Spaceway payload. These functions include signal demodulation/modulation, fast packet switching, antenna control and other payload support functions. BSS performed the logic design, floor planning and timing for these extremely complex ASICs. IBM has translated those designs into a transistor-level netlist (schematic) and has already begun fabrication.

The Spaceway ASICs range in size from 136,000 to more than eight million gates (circuits) each and will be fabricated using IBM's 0.16-micron SA 27 copper ASIC technology.

Spaceway builds on the digital signal-processing heritage developed at BSS over the past decade. The Spaceway DSP incorporates technology similar to that used on the third-generation Boeing-built DSP, part of a narrowband satellite system that is now on orbit. By comparison, the next-generation ASICs in the Spaceway DSP will consume half as much power per function while delivering four times the processing capacity.

A critical part of the DSP is an autonomous 10 Gb/s fast packet switch, which can be likened to an Internet router in space. Spaceway users will enjoy super-fast download speeds of up to 30 Mb/s, and uplink rates ranging from 512 kb/s for individual users, to tens of Mb/s, which would be provided to a business or major hub. Along with super high-speed access, Spaceway will provide full-mesh connectivity, allowing users to communicate on a single-hop, peer-to-peer basis, thereby reducing latency and enhancing collaborative interaction among work groups. This capability is enabled by the fast packet switch, which will individually route each packet of each user's transmission to the correct downlink beam to reach its intended destination.

In addition to directing the traffic moving through the fast packet switch, the DSP also dynamically controls the beam-forming function performed by the downlink antenna. This antenna technology will enable the system to deliver at least 50% more capacity per satellite than any other competing broadband satellite system under development today.

Integral to the DSP are two powerful computers that are based on the IBM PowerPC 750 microprocessor. Operating in parallel, these computers are together capable of 1.4 billion instructions per second. The previous most-powerful space-borne computer was capable of about 30 or 40 million instructions per second.

The computers will also enable Spaceway to provide bandwidth-on-demand; the ability to flexibly transmit video, voice, audio and multimedia wherever it is needed to meet customer demand.

HNS Europe and UnitedScreens Offer Point-of-Purchase Digital Content Across Germany
Hughes Network Systems Europe (HNSE) and UnitedScreens GmbH are to expand their initial network for satellite delivered content to an additional 600 sites. HNSE and UnitedScreens are teaming to deliver multi-media advertising and information services, initially targeted for convenience stores in petrol stations, followed by other point-of-purchase (POP) locations throughout Germany.

This expanded relationship between HNSE and UnitedScreens supports the next phase of the project, building out to 1000 locations from the original 400. HNSE is supplying an integrated, end-to-end network solution, including all satellite-based equipment and related engineering, installation, and maintenance support, utilising its DirecWay broadband services centre in Griesheim, Germany.

UnitedScreens is providing up-to-the minute, tailored information, entertainment and advertising via POPScreens, its novel plasma screen TV units. This new digital medium gives retailers the ability to reach out to customers with targeted advertising campaigns while they are waiting in line to make purchases.

Installation of the 1000 sites is planned for completion in the first half of 2002.

Launched in September 1999, UnitedScreens offers an audiovisual advertising medium for the "point of purchase". The media company's large-format screens provide information, entertainment and advertising, all of which help customers pass the time while standing in line. A round-the-clock ticker service displays news, traffic updates, weather reports and advertisements. UnitedScreens markets, installs and maintains the whole package. Satellite technology is used to ensure flexible audiovisual control.

Intelsat's IP Multicast Video Streaming Field Trial
Intelsat has successfully completed an IP multicast video streaming field trial, enabling many clients to be connected by a single stream and achieving significant efficiencies in satellite and terrestrial bandwidth. The trial was conducted over Intelsat's satellite system between the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) and Verestar, a global communications solutions provider.

The field trial took place 15 May to 14 June on the Intelsat 802 satellite at 174° E. Verestar's Brewster, Washington teleport in the US served as the hub, with an outbound 4 Mb/s IDR carrier, and CAT acted as one of the receiving ends, using a 128 kb/s IDR return satellite channel from Thailand. Two different streaming systems - Cachestream and Infolibria - were tested over a common IP multicast distribution platform.

The multicast network was extended into CAT's terrestrial network travelling over six hops and including five routers and five separate LANs, all running protocol independent multicast - sparse mode (PIM-SM). This enabled many clients to be connected by a single stream, which achieved significant efficiencies in satellite and terrestrial bandwidth.

The main objectives of the trial were achieved, including: field verification of equipment and system functionality; operational experience for system integration with terrestrial facilities; assessment of system stability and overall quality necessary for future commercial deployment.

Some of the technical elements addressed in the trial were: video on demand, multicast to unicast conversion, digital rights management, low and high bit rate encoding streams, long term stability of continuous video streaming, router multicasting capabilities and real-time encoding.

ITI, India Buys More from Radyne Comstream
Radyne ComStream has received a US$ 1.4 million Award from ITI Ltd, of India. This contract award increases the cumulative value of Radyne ComStream business in India to over $12M. ITI (India Telephone Industries) is a leading telecom company in India.

The selection of Radyne ComStream by ITI, and subsequent contract award for the supply of earth station components including converters and satellite modems, was contingent upon meeting stringent environmental and performance characteristics outlined by ITI's customer for this project. This contract represents the first phase of a massive modernisation program for the Indian Police Communications Network that will provide interconnectivity between all outlying states and major towns throughout India. ITI is the leading supplier of equipment to the Department of Telecommunications of the Government of India and the countries largest telecom equipment company.

More Astra Capacity for brightBlue
Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) has reached agreement with Energis Interactive for an additional 3.5 Mb/s of capacity on the Astra Satellite System at 28.2° E. By increasing overall Astra capacity to 9.5 Mb/s, Energis can meet growing customer demand for inclusion in the brightBlue interactive t-commerce portal.

brightBlue, which launches this Autumn, will be a dynamic interactive TV service, enabling real-time interaction between providers and their consumers. brightBlue will, using the Astra Satellite System, be accessible to the growing number of digital satellite homes in the UK. At the end of June 2001, Sky recorded 5.3 million digital DTH subscribers.

Astra has provided satellite capacity at 28.2° E to brightBlue over the last six months while the service has been developed.

brightBlue, which will feature a range of games, shopping, banking, travel, betting and recruitment services, will, along with all the other digital services on Astra, be easily received right across Britain. All viewers require is a Sky digibox receiver connected to a satellite dish aligned to ASTRA at 28.2° E.

PanAmSat Selects Kingston inmedia to Revolutionise African Communications
Kingston inmedia has been chosen by PanAmSat Corporation to provide C band access from the UK to PAS-1R, the largest and most powerful commercial geostationary satellite covering Africa and Europe.

Under the agreement, both parties will be able to market and sell packaged satellite services that utilise Kingston inmedia's UK-based satellite teleport and the PAS-1R capacity to deliver communications throughout the developing world.

PanAmSat joins other Kingston inmedia customers including WorldCom, Teleglobe and ACC in delivering connectivity to areas of the world poorly served by fibre or terrestrial circuits across regions such as Africa. These telephony and internet providers are supported by Kingston inmedia's 'K highway' service, a flexible voice and IP link via satellite.

SES Concludes Capacity Contract With Kingston inmedia
Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) has signed a long-term satellite capacity agreement with Kingston Communications, on behalf of Kingston inmedia, for Transponder 33 on the Astra 2B satellite at 28.2º E. This agreement secures long term continuity of service for a range of independent digital TV and radio channels.

Kingston inmedia already offers a comprehensive range of services to broadcasters such as uplink and multiplex capabilities to the Astra Satellite System, contribution and distribution networks, mobile broadcast, DTH and television facilities which are all fully integrated. This agreement will allow Kingston inmedia to offer a premium satellite distribution service with a complete end to end solution, including digital playout, all from one site.

ViaSat Supplies LinkStar Terminals for Eutelsat Broadband Network
Eutelsat is to deploy LinkStar terminals from the Comsat Laboratories Division of ViaSat in its broadband multimedia network over Ku band FSS satellites. LinkStar is a scalable, high-performance Internet Protocol (IP) terminal that provides broadband satellite forward and return channels.

Eutelsat is developing a broadband infrastructure to enhance its current multimedia services, targeting enterprise users. LinkStar will allow Eutelsat to provide bandwidth-intensive applications, such as digital media streaming, video, multicasting over IP and high speed file transfer. Moreover, an efficient broadband IP satellite network will be offered for Internet access, video conferencing, distance education and VPN's (Virtual Private Networks). The LinkStar terminal receives a broadband digital video broadcasting (DVB) outbound channel up to 60 Mb/s and provides a broadband satellite return channel with speeds up to 1.1 Mb/s.

Eutelsat will initially create a network with LinkStar integrating the system within its Multimedia Platform near Paris to enhance its Open-Sky service by making it satellite-based (both forward and return paths by satellite). The network will expand by integrating additional LinkStar IP streams from other Multimedia Platforms operated by Eutelsat. The deployment of LinkStar is an extension of Eutelsat's on-going use of Comsat Laboratories' Linkway family of satellite networking products to offer mesh broadband communications. Initial LinkStar deployment has already begun.

XM Satellite Radio Reschedules Launch
XM Satellite Radio has received the authority necessary to commence commercial operations from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and has rescheduled launch of the first US digital satellite radio service for Tuesday, September 25.

XM had originally scheduled its launch for September 12, but postponed it following the tragic events of last Tuesday in Washington, where the company is based, and in New York. Those events also led to federal shutdown and interruption in the FCC's repeater network authorisation process.

The FCC's action gives XM the Special Temporary Authority it requested to operate its terrestrial repeaters on a nationwide, non-interference basis until March 18, 2002. By then, the FCC should have completed its rules for permanent operation of repeaters.

XM will transform radio, an industry that has seen little technological change since FM, almost 40 years ago. XM delivers 100 channels of digital- quality, coast-to-coast sound, including 71 music channels, more than 30 of them commercial-free, and 29 news, sports, talk, children's and comedy channels. XM's lineup also includes a number of premier news and information channels covering the latest national, world and financial developments including CNBC, CNN Headline News, CNNfn, Fox News, USA Today, Bloomberg, BBC and C-SPAN.

XM radios can now be purchased at consumer electronics retailers throughout San Diego and Dallas/Fort Worth. XM will activate customers' radios in these markets prior to September 25. The service is available for US$ 9.99 a month.

XM will expand its launch throughout the Southwest USA in mid-October and across the country in November. Leading manufacturers will offer 24 models of XM radios, a broad array including universal models that will easily enable any existing car stereo system to receive XM service, and new AM/FM/XM systems offering many other features. Sony, Alpine and Pioneer XM radios are being distributed through major electronics retailers including Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears, Tweeter, participating RadioShack Dealers and Franchisees, and Crutchfield. Delphi-Delco systems will roll out initially in Cadillac DeVilles and Sevilles beginning in November, expanding to more than 20 GM models next year.

Military Space

Spectrum Signal Processing Develops Software Defined Radio Technology for Military Satcoms
Spectrum Signal Processing Inc, a leading provider of high-density solutions for wireless signal and Voice over Packet processing, is to receive Cdn$ 500,000 in funding from the Defence Industrial Research Program (DIRP) to create additional capability for its flexComm software defined radio (SDR) product line.

The DIRP, an initiative of Defence R&D Canada (DRDC), is designed to support industry research and development innovation in defence-related technology areas.

Spectrum's SDR solution offers the unique combination of very high processing power and configuration flexibility. New software and hardware will be developed to expand Spectrum's SDR offering by adding ultra-wideband capability. The Communications Research Centre (CRC) and Defence Research Establishment Ottawa (DREO) will use Spectrum's new SDR ultra-wideband subsystem as a modem processing system in a software reconfigurable military satellite communications terminal application. The subsystem will perform very high-speed ultra-wideband analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue conversion, process data rates up to 8 Mb/s, and handle complex waveforms, or signals, involving high levels of anti-jamming protection and sophisticated error correction. DREO and CRC will perform the integration and testing of these waveforms with Spectrum's SDR ultra-wideband system, as well as with other third party equipment.

Spectrum's SDR-3000 will be the highest performance software defined radio digital transceiver available. It addresses the requirements of military wireless infrastructure applications and programs, including tactical communications systems, Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS), and Airborne Communication Nodes (ACN). The flexComm SDR-3000 can support 300 to 1000 channels per system compared to tens of channels in existing products available on the market today.

Science

Deep Space 1 Survives Comet Fly-By
NASA's Deep Space 1 technology satellite, having long completed its primary mission, managed to fly within 2200 km of the nucleus of comet Borrelly late on Saturday. Amazingly, the probe not only survived the encounter, it managed to use all four of its on-board instruments to collect science data and pictures and is now sending this information back to Earth.

At the time of the flyby Deep Space 1 had completed three times its intended lifetime in space, having completed its primary mission to test ion propulsion and 11 other high-risk, advanced technologies in September 1999. NASA extended the mission, taking advantage of the ion propulsion and other systems to target a chancy but exciting encounter with Borrelly.

The robotic explorer was programmed to investigate the comet's environment as it flew through the cloud of gas and dust, known as the coma, surrounding the comet's nucleus. Since Deep Space 1 was not built to go to a comet, it does not carry a protective shield.

Scientists hope to use the probe's measurements to find out the nature of Borrelly's surface and to measure and identify the gases coming from the comet. The spacecraft also measured the interaction of solar wind with the comet, a process that leads to formation of the comet's tail.

Mission managers confirmed that the spacecraft was able to use all four of its instruments at Borrelly. Data will be returned over the next few days as the spacecraft sends to Earth black-and-white pictures, infrared spectrometer measurements, ion and electron data, and measurements of the magnetic field and plasma waves around the comet. Pictures of the comet will be released after they are all sent to Earth in the next few days.

Several hours before the encounter, the ion and electron monitors began observing the comet's environment. The action increased about an hour and a half before the closest approach, when for two minutes the infrared spectrometer collected data that will help scientists understand the overall composition of the surface of the comet's nucleus. Deep Space 1 began taking its black-and-white images of the comet 32 minutes before the spacecraft's closest pass to the comet, and the best picture of comet Borrelly was taken just a few minutes before closest approach, as the team had planned. Two minutes before the spacecraft whizzed by the comet, its camera was turned away so that the ion and electron monitors could make a careful examination of the comet's inner coma.

Scientists on Deep Space 1 hope to find out the nature of the comet's surface, measure and identify the gases coming from the comet, and measure the interaction of solar wind with the comet.

Borrelly makes a good target for study now, as it is just 200 million km from the Sun - the closest it will get for another seven years. The Sun's heat makes the gases escaping from the nucleus flow faster and more thickly, so they will be easier to study. During the encounter the icy nucleus and the spacecraft flashed past each other at 16.5 km/s.

As it approached the centre of the coma, the spacecraft faced its greatest challenge: to obtain pictures and infrared measurements of the nucleus. Deep Space 1 couldn't tell exactly where the nucleus was or what it would look like. The craft had to locate the nucleus on its own and then try to point the camera towards it as it streaked by.

In late 1999, Deep Space 1 lost its star tracker, which helps determine the spacecraft's orientation. Faced with what could have been a mission-terminating failure, the controllers performed a spectacular ultra-long-distance rescue. They reconfigured the spacecraft to use the photographic camera to orient itself by the stars around it. The camera cannot align the spacecraft and snap photos of Borrelly at the same time. Instead, Deep Space 1 had to rely on its fibre-optic gyroscopes to help maintain its orientation. But the gyros are not accurate enough by themselves, so engineers designed complex new software to help the camera stay pointed at the comet's nucleus during the critical few minutes when the probe was close enough to try to get a view of it.

Deep Space 1 was launched in October 1998 as part of NASA's New Millennium Program, which is managed by JPL for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington.

Technology

Corning's HPFS Fused Silica Glass Tested on ISS
Corning Inc's HPFS fused silica glass material is being studied by NASA as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE).

The project aims to investigate the stability and durability of a variety of materials that are planned for future space applications. Corning has a long history of providing HPFS fused silica glass material to NASA. The company has provided the window glass for every manned space launch of NASA, as well as all of the glass for the space station.

The experiment will determine the long-term effects a space environment has on various materials, one of which is Corning's HPFS fused silica glass material. The HPFS and samples of other materials were delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) by the space shuttle Discovery.

The MISSE experiments are the first externally mounted experiments conducted on the ISS. Corning's HPFS material and the other samples are contained in four Passive Experiment Containers (PECs), suitcase-like containers used for transporting experiments via the space shuttle to and from an orbiting spacecraft.

The Discovery's crew clamped two of the PECs to the exterior of the International Space Station on August 16, 2001. The cases were then opened to expose the samples to the space environment. The fused silica will remain exposed for approximately 18 months. The samples will then will be retrieved and analysed.

Launch Services

Taurus Launch Fails
The September 21 launch of the Orbview-4 and Quicktoms satellites on a Taurus 2110 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California failed to place the satellites in orbit after an apparent malfunction of the rocket's second stage.

Orbview 4 was a high resolution imaging satellite built by Orbital Sciences Corporation for Orbital Imaging Corporation (Orbimage). Quicktoms, a NASA science satellite was also built by Orbital Sciences. Quicktoms was to have monitored atmospheric ozone levels. Both satellites are believed to have separated from the launcher and to have re-entered the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean.

Problems began just after the first and second stages of the launcher separated. The second stage appeared to fly sideways for about ten seconds before the on-board guidance system corrected the attitude of the launcher. Unfortunately, it seems as if the correction was not able to give the upper stage, with the attached satellites, sufficient velocity to achieve a stable orbit.

Business

EMS Technologies Acquires Control of NetSat28
EMS Technologies has completed arrangements to acquire control of Ka band licensee NetSat28 Company LLC, based in Annapolis, Maryland. Terms of the arrangements were not disclosed.

EMS' acquisition follows the FCC's decision on May 25 to reinstate NetSat28's Ka band license after a successful appeal process, and its decision on July 26 to approve EMS' application for change of control. Both actions clear the way for EMS to pursue the opportunity to implement a Ka band broadband satellite system using the 95° W orbital slot.

The NetSat28 system is expected to provide Internet access up to 20 times faster than a T-1 line, or approximately 40 Mb/s for incoming data to the user, and up to 2 Mb/s for outgoing data.

ESA to Fund Early-Stage Satcom Businesses
The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched a new initiative designed to help small companies enter the field of satellite communication by providing early-stage investment and support.

The new scheme, which is run by ESA's Telecommunications Department, is aimed at SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and start-ups in the Information Technology (IT) or telecommunications field with promising new satcom business concepts. This might involve the creative use of existing satellite technologies to provide new services for the Internet, multimedia, navigation or mobile applications, for example; or new systems and technologies with the potential to facilitate or improve existing services.

Companies selected for the scheme will be offered a support framework in which to develop and refine their new concepts to a sufficient level of technical and commercial viability so for commercial funding to be sought. A typical package may include:

• financial support of up to 300 000 Euro,
• access to ESA's experience and expertise in satellite communications, and
• an opportunity to forge links with the industry.

Recognising the resource issues faced by small companies, ESA has created a fast-track application process allowing applicants to submit tentative proposals for initial feedback, before producing a full proposal.

Any company from a country participating in this area of ESA's telecommunications programme is eligible to apply. Currently this includes Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Others may join at a later stage.

Integral Systems Announces Stock Buyback
Integral Systems Inc has announced that it intends to repurchase Integral stock in accordance with SEC Release # 44791 (September 14, 2001), an emergency order which relaxes the restrictions on corporate stock buybacks.

Founded in 1982, Integral Systems is a leading provider of satellite ground systems and has supported over 120 different satellite missions for communications, science, meteorological and earth resource applications. Integral Systems' EPOCH 2000 software product, the world's first commercial-off-the-shelf satellite command and control software package is used by companies throughout the world.

Stanford Microdevices Changes Name to Sirenza Microdevices
Stanford Microdevices, a designer and supplier of high-performance radio-frequency (RF) components for communications equipment manufacturers, has announced that it is changing its name to Sirenza Microdevices.

The company is co-ordinating the change through all appropriate regulatory agencies, and the transition to the new name is expected to be complete by January 31, 2002. The company's stock trading symbol will continue to be SMDI. The new company website will be www.sirenza.com.

Stanford Microdevices Inc, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with design centres throughout the US and Canada, is a leading supplier of high-performance RF components for the wireless and wireline telecommunications markets. SMDI's component products include power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, high-linearity gain blocks, high-performance transistors, modulators, switches, mixers, upconverters and downconverters, and high-performance multicomponent modules (MCMs) for transmit and receive applications.

ViaSat Files US$ 75 Million Shelf Registration
ViaSat Inc has filed a universal shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the future sale of up to US$ 75 million of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, and warrants. Following the effective date of the shelf registration, the securities may be offered from time to time, separately or together, directly by the company or through underwriters at amounts, prices, interest rates and other terms to be determined at the time of the offering.

ViaSat currently intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under the shelf registration statement for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, capital expenditures, working capital and the repayment or refinancing of its debt.

The registration statement has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted before the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of ViaSat. The offering of ViaSat securities will be made only by means of a prospectus.

ViaSat produces advanced digital satellite telecommunications and wireless signal processing equipment for commercial and government markets. ViaSat has a full line of VSAT products for data and voice applications. ViaSat is a market leader in Ka band satellite systems, from user terminals to large gateways for both geosynchronous and low earth orbit systems. Other products include network security devices, tactical data radios, and communication simulators.

Products and Services

EMS Technologies First With High-Speed Data Access For Business Aircraft
EMS Technologies Inc has announced the availability of its Aeronautical Data Terminal (ADT-1000), the first terminal to support high-speed data access, including e-mail, Internet and voice and fax services, from the air.

EMS' ADT-1000 is a dual channel, high-speed data solution capable of bi- directional 128 kb/s (ISDN) throughput over the Inmarsat Global Area Network. The ADT-1000 will allow users to access e-mail and the Internet from suitably equipped aircraft anywhere in the world, over 50 times faster than previously available with existing satcom systems. It will be deployed in aircraft starting November 2001.

The ADT-1000 is compatible with all ARINC-741 Aero-H/H+ antennas, and is well matched with the EMS Technologies' AMT-50. This combination of data terminal and antenna will provide users with enhanced data communications capabilities for Internet, e-mail, video conferencing and e-commerce applications. It is designed to operate either in conjunction with existing satcom installations or as a stand-alone system.

The ADT-1000 uses existing industry-standard networking protocols, such as Ethernet, ISDN, and serial communications, and is easily interfaced and integrated into the aircraft, providing a fast, global Internet and corporate intranet link.

Spotbytes Internet Backbone Service Uses Radyne Comstream's IPSat Terminal
PanAmSat Corporation , using Radyne ComStream's IPSat Internet Terminals, has launched its new Spotbytes two-way service, offering flexible, cost-effective Internet access over the company's global satellite network.

The new service offers PanAmSat customers a total connectivity solution, including a digital video broadcast (DVB) outbound satellite link, a single-channel-per-carrier (SCPC) return satellite link, a teleport uplink and a direct connection to a Tier One backbone provider.

Nigeria's Cosmos Technologies is the first Internet service provider (ISP) to take advantage of the two-way Spotbytes platform. The high-speed, two-way service was created by providing an asymmetric satellite link to the US Internet backbone employing the company's PAS-1R Atlantic Ocean Region spacecraft and Atlanta teleport as well as Radyne ComStream's IPSat Internet Satellite Terminal. With the two-way service in place, Cosmos plans to expand to nearly 25 points of presence (POPs) and reach more than 30,000 subscribers throughout Nigeria.

Radyne ComStream's unique IPSat products provide broadband 2 way TCP/IP communication over satellite. A compact single indoor box provides users with up to 72 Mb/s of DVB compliant downstream data and up to 2 Mb/s of return data. IPSat also includes built-in MPEG Audio and Video decoding.

SPOTbytes delivers Internet traffic in a DVB transport stream, offering low start-up and recurring costs, flexible and scalable bandwidth, as well as support for multiple points of presence (POPs). The service includes satellite capacity, teleport uplink services and Internet port access to multiple Tier One Internet backbone providers.

SPOTbytes highlights include:

• Scalable bandwidth ranging from rates as small as 64 kb/s up to 48 Mb/s.
• Support for multiple POPs, segmenting total bandwidth allocation between receive sites, each with the capability for dynamic allocation depending on bandwidth requirements.
• Low cost, easy-to-integrate equipment
• Twenty-four hour Technical Support Call Center
• Fully redundant infrastructure

The IPSat, is a low cost Satellite Internet infrastructure solution that is easily upgradeable in the future to the IPSat Plus, a dynamic-bandwidth-allocation TDMA solution.

People

TRW Names VP, Strategy
TRW Inc has named Daniel B Goodman as Vice President, Strategy. As the company's senior strategic planning officer, reporting to David M Cote, chairman, president and chief executive officer, he will play a lead role in evaluating and creating TRW's primary strategic initiatives.

Mr Goodman will support TRW's businesses in evaluating options and creating strategic plans that build on the company's technology strengths to produce competitive advantage, growth, and high performance.

Most recently, he was manager of strategic planning & business development for Continental Datagraphics, a Boeing subsidiary, where he helped move the company into new-economy products and services.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Mr Goodman received his master's degree in science, technology and public policy from George Washington University.

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