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MORE ONLINE |
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Look! It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's CYBERSTAR!* by Thomas More Copyright © 1998 by Thomas More. All rights reserved. |
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A new technology is looming on the horizon (literally!) that will make your new 56K modem seem like a horse and carriage. Even Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN), cable modems and the newest high-speed Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL) will seem as slow as propeller-driven airplanes in the jet age. This way-faster way to access the World Wide Web is directly from satellites. This ultra-high-speed connection will provide high-resolution, full-motion video and stereo sound in real-time, as well as downloading data faster than a speeding bullet! What is CyberStar? CyberStar is a system of orbiting communications satellites which will provide several fast and effective data communications services, including high-speed Internet browsing and streaming wide-band data for both business and consumer markets. CyberStar is a wholly owned subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications, Ltd., a high-technology company involved in satellite manufacturing and satellite-based services. The company encompasses Space Systems Loral, a major satellite manufacturer; Globalstar, a new mobile telephone system using satellites; and Loral Skynet, a worldwide satellite management and operations company. CyberStar is the newest start-up in the Loral data and communications conglomerate. When is this system scheduled to launch? While other data and communications companies are just planning how to finance, design and launch multi-million-dollar satellites for this newest communications technology, CyberStar will begin offering this service to business users in a hybrid network of existing satellite transponders and land-based networks in the spring of 1998, and the consumer service will follow in the fall of 1998. That's this year, folks! Initial capabilities include downlinking broadcast data (multicasting), video and audio streaming, and high-speed Internet access. The initial services, offered in the U.S., will utilize Loral Skynet's Telstar 5 satellite in conjunction with land-based networks. In the second phase of its development, CyberStar will expand beyond the U.S., using additional leased Ku-band transponders on existing satellites within the Loral Skynet Global Alliance (Orion, SatMex, and others), and Europe*Star, a dedicated three-satellite array of geostationary Ka-band satellites to be jointly developed by Loral and Alcatel, and scheduled for launch in 1999. In the third phase, CyberStar is designed to take telecommunications far into the next century. CyberStar's partnership with Alcatel Alsthom of France will provide the ideal system for high-speed interactive communications in a constellation of 64 low-earth-orbit satellites. This strategic alliance was announced in June of last year, but even industry pundits did not expect the service to be initiated before the beginning of the next century. Apparently those pundits were not familiar with how quickly Bernard Schwartz., CEO of Loral, can move satellite systems from concept to operational hardware. Mr. Schwartz' name is not exactly a household word yet, but I predict it soon will be. When it comes to increasing the value of his company, he makes Bill Gates look like a freshman. The timeline so far is as follows: May 19, 1997 Loral receives FCC authorization for CyberStar. Loral Teams With French Company to Develop Worldwide Multimedia Satellite Services Loral Space & Communications Ltd. and Alcatel Alsthom of France formed a strategic partnership to jointly develop, deploy and operate global multimedia satellite networks that will bring high-speed digital communications to both the business and consumer markets. The agreement includes cross investments in Loral's GEO satellite-based CyberStar project and Alcatel's LEO-based SkyBridge project. Each company will participate in the development of the two projects, initially committing to invest $30 million in the other's respective project. Each project will be managed separately, but the two companies have agreed to facilitate a coordinated approach to the two networks, including integrated marketing. CyberStar will be introduced in the USA using existing satellites in early 1998 and subsequently worldwide through dedicated GEO satellites beginning in 1999 and a constellation of LEO satellites starting in 2001. Geostationary systems are best suited for the delivery of broadcast data and a large variety of primarily one-way communications services. Low-earth-orbit systems, due to their inherent very low transmission time, are more efficient for the delivery of highly interactive services. LEO constellations provide global interactive coverage while GEO systems satisfy regional broadcast applications. By combining the strengths of the two systems, applications that require real-time interaction and high-bandwidth capability will now be possible. Businesses, for example, will benefit through expedited communications and improved efficiencies. Interactive services like desktop video-conferencing, community forums, etc., will be possible. Customers will also have high-speed access to the Internet, databases, audio, video, email, and new multimedia information services. Loral and Alcatel see significant synergy in their respective offerings for high-bandwidth services via satellite. As these systems come to market, the complementary services provided by each will form the backbone of a powerful global communications network. The CyberStar system will initially offer a satellite-based, open-protocol, digital telecommunications system that will provide a variety of low-cost, high-speed data and telecommunications services in the USA, using leased Ku-band satellite transponders combined with ground-based networks beginning in mid-1998. In the second phase, CyberStar services will be delivered worldwide through additional existing satellites plus the three-satellite Europe*Star system, which will be jointly developed by Loral and Alcatel. Ideally located between Europe and Asia, this will be the first European Ka-band satellite system able to directly connect Europe and Asia in a single hop, providing telecommunications, data interchange, high-speed Internet access, television and other services from Western Europe to Southeast Asia, including Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South Africa and India. Alcatel Espace of Toulouse, France, will serve as the prime contractor of the Europe*Star system. Space Systems/Loral will build the bus and test and integrate the satellites at its Palo Alto, California facility. Alcatel Espace will provide the payload. Overall project costs for the first satellite are estimated at approximately $300 million. It is expected to be launched in late 1999. The third phase, using the $3.5 billion SkyBridge system of 64 LEO satellites, will provide bandwidth on demand at very competitive prices for residential and business customers, ranging from high-speed Internet access to highly interactive services including worldwide business networking and video-conferencing. SkyBridge is scheduled to enter service in 2001 with a half constellation of 32 satellites, doubling capacity with an additional 32 as demand requires. SkyBridge will operate in the Ku-band, while fully protecting other users of that band such as higher-orbiting geostationary satellite systems and ground-based transponders. The services of SkyBridge will be delivered worldwide to final users through local and regional service providers. Loral and Alcatel have a long history of fruitful cooperation in the commercial satellite industry, including the development and deployment of Globalstar, an international partnership that will provide a new generation of satellite-based mobile telephone services worldwide starting in early 1999. The Future is Now Even in its initial stage later this year, CyberStar will offer a more effective and efficient multimedia communications solution than any of those currently available. The service will offer lower costs, faster access, and a greater wealth of multimedia content. This not only decreases the cost by improving efficiency, but it gives business users the power to implement interactive communications such as interactive marketing and training programs that previously were impractical, unworkable, or cost-prohibitive. CyberStar will use open network protocols, so companies will get the benefits of flexibility, efficiency, and continuous technological development. Direct From Satellite to Your PC The following information was released at COMDEX, Las Vegas, on November 17, 1997: "CyberStar, a satellite-based, open-protocol, digital telecommunications services system, and Adaptec, a computer network products company, announced today an agreement to develop, promote and market low-cost PC-to-satellite-based communications products and services to business and consumers. "CyberStar, a Loral company based in Palo Alto, Calif., will use Adaptec's satellite-to-PC receiver adapter card to offer business and consumers low-cost, high-speed data and telecommunications services on demand via a satellite network that is compatible with existing PCs and network protocol. CyberStar will initiate service in mid-1998. "Adaptec, based in Milpitas, Calif., is manufacturing a satellite-to-PC receiver adapter card (Satellite Express ABA-1040) that will deliver high-speed, direct connections between PCs and small satellite dish antennas. " 'The Adaptec-CyberStar teaming agreement is an important initial step in our plans to offer businesses and private networks such services as data broadcasting, broadband interconnection, intranet multicasting, real-time streaming, and other data services,' said Emil Regard, CyberStar's vice president of marketing and business development. 'It also advances CyberStar's plans to offer small office and consumers affordable high-speed Internet access, and personally tailored digital information.' "Adaptec's ABA-1040 is a PCI-to-satellite adapter for connecting a user's PC to receive data, audio, video and other multimedia content including Web sites and Internet content. It delivers up to 30 Mbits/second of data from satellite services directly into PC-based systems. The teaming agreement involves the pairing of CyberStar's smart card and encryption software with Adaptec's ABA-1040 receiver adapter to give end users seamless access to high-speed digital data streams via satellite. "Loral Space & Communications Ltd., headquartered in New York, is a high-technology company involved in satellite manufacturing and global satellite-based services. ItsLoral Skynet subsidiary, is a leading U.S. satellite communications service provider and the owner/operator of the Telstar satellite network. In addition to Loral Skynet, Loral owns Space Systems/Loral, a leading manufacturer of commercial communications and weather satellites. Loral also manages and holds a 39-percent equity interest in Globalstar, a global, satellite-based mobile telephone system scheduled for service initiation in the first quarter of 1999. Loral Skynet also manages Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (SatMex). SatMex currently operates three satellites, Solidaridad 1, Solidaridad 2 and Morelos II. Morelos III, scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter of 1998, will replace Morelos II. Loral Skynet's vigorous growth plan includes future launches of Telstar 6 and 7, which are expected to be in service in 1998 and 1999, respectively, and Telstars 8 and 9, to be in service shortly thereafter. Also, Loral entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Orion Network Systems, Inc., a corporate data networking and satellite services company, in a transaction expected to close in the first quarter of 1998. For more information, visit Loral's Web site. "Alcatel, the telecommunications part of the Alcatel Alsthom Group (US $31.17 billion revenue in 1996), is a worldwide company, currently working with partners in over 125 countries on projects which span the full spectrum of communications systems. Alcatel manufactures advanced switches, transmission systems, broadband products, access products, radio mobile communications systems, business systems, systems and products for space and defense, and components. In 1996, these activities registered total sales of U.S. $13.65 billion. Alcatel leads the SkyBridge program. SkyBridge will be an ideal platform for the provision of real-time, highly interactive services, such as high-speed Internet access, telecommuting, video conferencing and interactive entertainment services. In 1997, the telecom sector of Alcatel Alsthom had total sales of more than 83 billion French francs. Visit Alcatel on the World Wide Web at http://www.alcatel.com. "Adaptec, Incorporated provides a broad spectrum of electronics hardware for the computer and telecommunications industry. Its high performance input/output, connectivity and network products are incorporated into the systems and products of major computer and peripheral manufacturers. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., Adaptec (NASDAQ: ADPT) employs 3500 people worldwide in design, manufacturing, sales, service and distribution. Adaptec's Web page address is http://www.adaptec.com." * The following trademarks are registered by their respective owners, as follows: 1. CyberStar™ is a registered trademark of CyberStar LP. |
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During the week, Thomas More writes rather technical stuff about business software, but on weekends he likes to loosen up a bit and write about WWWiz stuff. |
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