An update to the alphastar "rebirth" that was discussed back in May on the old thread: (here's the original link for reference:
Message 13787447 )
Alphastar Launches the First Residential Two-Way Satellite Broadband Network On GE-5.
GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2000
Alphastar international announced today that the company launched the first two-way satellite broadband network for residential Internet users.
The network was launched last month on GE-5 satellite under the name www.TeleCrossing.net. TeleCrossing is deployed so far in seven markets in the northeast USA including New York City and is beginning to expand in other regions. GE-5 satellite footprint cover the continental USA and TeleCrossing is planning to deploy the service nationally in 200 markets within the year. Currently, TeleCrossing is targeting residential broadband users including single-family homes, MDUs, MTUs, and the hospitality industry. The pace of deployment will be accelerated dramatically in the future and expands to offer business broadband applications in addition to entering the global market. TeleCrossing is negotiating with re-sellers and installers to cover these markets. TeleCrossing offers high speed Internet "always on" connectivity. TeleCrossing's high-speed access is delivered in increments or fractions of 2 Mbps, symmetrical or asymmetrical downloading and uploading, dedicated or shared access with available speed up to 44 Mbps on demand.
TeleCrossing is Multicast enabled and supports the growing convergence of data, voice, and video communications. The service is price competitive with DSL, cable, and one-way satellite access. TeleCrossing is a hybrid broadband network integrating satellite with a matrix of fixed wireless local hubs. Later the network will expand to include mobile wireless. Integrating the first, the middle and last miles creates an "All Wireless" network capable of reaching everywhere and completely bypassing the congested terrestrial backbone. The "all wireless" network avoids the phone, and cable companies regulatory legacies and bureaucracies, meanwhile ensures speed, reliability, and security. TeleCrossing's hybrid architecture can reach and service urban, suburban, rural and remote areas that are economically or technologically inaccessible to Cable modem and/or DSL networks. As a result, TeleCrossing service will be available to the unserved and the underserved markets. TeleCrossing service will also be available to the currently dissatisfied broadband subscribers of Cable, DSL, and one-way satellite broadband.
The wirelesses Local Hubs are co-located at wireless towers and roof- tops. TeleCrossing network is quick to deploy in the field (it takes few hours to install a complete Wireless Local Hub). TeleCrossing equipment is simple and flexible to install at the subscriber's residence (the equipment can be self-installed). Also, TeleCrossing eliminates the need for satellite dishes at the subscriber residence (it uses radio type antenna).
TeleCrossing enjoys the first mover's advantage by deploying residential two-way satellite broadband high-speed network before the competitors. Currently Direct PC is only a one-way satellite broadband with phone return path. Several projects were announced to offer two-way residential broadened services via satellite. Unlike TeleCrossing all the announced projects propose Direct To Home (DTH) networks requiring two-way satellite dish at each subscriber's residence. Unlike the hybrid architecture, DTH networks are inflexible, immobile, and expensive to deploy and operate. These projects require tens of billions of dollars and take several years before launch. In some cases the service will not be available until the year 2004.
About AlphaStar International
AlphaStar is one of the original four Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite television-broadcasting companies, including DirectTv, Echostar, Primestar, and AlphaStar. The company now specializes in Internet and intarnet Broadband content origination, aggregation, multimedia data storage, streaming and digital media services then distribution in combinations of fiber and satellite live 24/7 or on demand. AlphaStar's teleport, located in Oxford, Connecticut is one of only about dozen facilities in the world. The teleport was upgraded in the last two years to become a unique platform for broadband applications combining satellite earth station, fiber hub, television, video, audio and post-production studios with control centers and conditional access. The teleport specializes in video and multimedia with extensive capacity and Scalability. (To view go to our teleport at www.telecrossing.net ) The teleport allows the Downlinking and Uplinking of satellite feeds using Ku, C bands and Vsat connections. Additionally, the teleport is connected by 24 fiber optic lines to the terrestrial backbone of the Internet allowing the landline delivery in combination with satellite of multi terabit and beyond. The FCC licensed the teleport in 1996. The teleport cannot be replicated without spending tens of millions of dollars and considerable time to obtain zoning permits and construction, creating an immediate barrier to entry. The teleport was built as a part of President Reagan's "Star Wars" according to military specifications including complete redundancy, climate controls, and the ability to withstand direct attack. It was intended originally to protect the US by tracking the former Soviet Union's satellites. As a result the teleport is geographically located to serve as a gateway to the world where it can downlink and uplink satellite feeds from most countries around the globe. |
