ViaSat (Nasdaq: VSAT) and Loral Skynet, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (NYSE: LOR), are teaming to give customers on-demand satellite broadband service. The companies are promising an alternative to expensive redundant fixed circuits for broadband network backup.
ViaSat and Loral have formed a joint venture, Immeon Networks LLC, to develop and market the satellite bandwidth-on-demand service. Immeon is targeted toward enterprises that have peer-to-peer connectivity needs for remote locations or that need redundant connections to restore service during wide area network outages.
Plans Geared to Fluctuating Needs
Through monthly service plans similar to cellular telephone service, Immeon subscribers have access to bandwidth for point-to-point and multicasting IP services based on their monthly usage and data rate requirements.
According to the companies, on-demand satellite networking can be a cost-effective alternative for companies that have fluctuating needs for broadband. Mark Dankberg, chairman and chief executive of ViaSat, said, "By combining ViaSat expertise in networking equipment and services with Loral Skynet's seamless network of world-class satellite assets, Immeon brings broadband access to a variety of market segments underserved by traditional service providers."
Satellite by Skynet, Ground Support by ViaSat
Immeon uses Loral Skynet's Telstar 4 satellite and ViaSat's StarWire satellite networking terminals to connect users to any location within the satellite's coverage area. The initial service area includes the United States plus portions of Canada and the Caribbean.
Loral Skynet is providing capacity, planning and support for the space segment to Immeon, while ViaSat provides service and equipment, network operations and maintenance, installation, integration services and field support. Ground service and support is provided from ViaSat's Atlanta, Georgia-based network operations center.
ABC News Among First Customers
ABC News, one of Immeon's first customers, is using Immeon to improve its voice and data communications for on-location satellite newsgathering. Haverty's Furniture, an Atlanta-based retailer with 105 showrooms in 14 states, will use the service to back up terrestrial frame relay and ISDN lines.
StorageTek, specializing in storage products for digitized data, is evaluating the Immeon system for implementing backup services for its terrestrial network from Puerto Rico to company headquarters in Louisville, Colorado. |
