From the IFN/GSTRF press release:
Quote 1: "Broadband Internet data and entertainment will be transmitted directly to aircraft via geostationary satellites, with the return link carried over the worldwide Globalstar satellite network. In addition, the Globalstar satellite network will serve as an independent two-way channel for Internet access, e-mail, downloading of data and other applications."
and
Quote 2: "With QUALCOMM-developed enhancements to its Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology, the Globalstar data link will initially operate at speeds in excess of 200 kbps. When user demand increases and ground terminal capacity can absorb the greater data load, this data rate can be increased to over 800 kbps -- faster than most DSL or cable modems."
It seems to me that the first quote states that downlink broad band data, such as streaming audio and/or video, would be carried by the GEO link, and the user (passenger)interactive uplink data would be carried by G*. This would seem to make engineering sense, and I assume each passenger's session would in some way be individually billed (time rate, or measured data rate). If N separately billed passengers are using the system, then total billings could be enough for profitable operation, comparable to N voice sessions. Using N=100, an aggregate billing of $47 per minute payable to G* would not be unreasonable, allowing billing to the individual user to be on the order of $1 per minute.
Quote 2 speaks of increasing the bandwidth of the G* channel between the aircraft and ground station. I would expect that capacity to be divided among many user sessions, where the average data rate would be much less than the peak capacity. Performance would be similar to that experienced when a local network shares a single ADSL internet link among multiple workstations. I think that an 800kbps channel shared between a large number of user sessions (let's say 100?) would give pretty satisfactory performance for voice or light duty internet sessions, and if each session yields revenue comparable to voice rates, there should be room for profit.
Just my opinion.
Reagan
PS: At work we have a LAN with 14 workstions connected via 100mbits/sec ethernet, sharing a single 384kbs/128kbs ADSL internet connection. This is an extremely satisfactory arrangement, and all the workers are very pleased because speed of operation is so much better than if each of them had a 56K V.90 modem and phone line. I think an aircraft with 800kbps G* would yield similar performance for a larger number of users. RLD |
