Readware comments, including thoughts on the Sat Conference.... Just posted Beefy...
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Subject: CE UNTERBERG SATELLITE CONFERENCE
Date: Thu, Mar 5, 1998 16:56 EST
From: Readware
Message-id: <19980305215600.QAA14977@ladder02.news.aol.com>
There is nothing exceptionally new to report from this conference.
(1) Bernard Schwartz gave the address during lunchtime and reiterated robust projections for satellite technologies, all of which readers of these posts are aware. He definitively stated that Loral has no interest whatsoever in Comsat. He could not have been more clear on that point. He additionally commented on possible LOR expansion opportunities in the teeth of the Asia situation, though he did not elaborate. In my judgment, as I have expressed in
the past, Loral is to acquire the ABCN system for the cost of the L-Star satellites. This is a surmise on my part.
(2) Dr. Maehl of Cyberstar announced 4 phases-outs for Cyberstar: They are C1, C2, C3, C4. C4 is the most interesting wherein KaBand and multiterritory beaming will permit frequency re-use, driving down the cost per byte 10-fold from current costs. Dr. Maehl gave a paper on frequency re-use last year, I believe it was, and it is now getting implementation definition. The announcement from Dr. Maehl aboput cost/byte efficientcies through frequency
reuse is a large positive for Loral shareholders. Skybbridge will also use frequency re-use.
(3) Globalstar's chief financial officer, Nicholas Moren, reiterated the mechanics of the G* system and announced all the testing for the first 4 satellites are going favorably. He was on the same daias with Iridium World's exceutive vice-president Leo Mondale. Both elaborated their systems in depth to the attendees' questions and it provided for a good contrast and complement towards understanding LEO differences.
(4) While this is the Loral board, it was nice to see that ViaSat's DAMA got good coverage, and that individuals are beginning to understand the proprietary excellence of its DAMA. I bring up ViaSat because I have discussed its DAMA technology before on this board. Its commercial implemetation possibilities (earnings) I am not prepared to quantify-- I just believe that its DAMA is a great technology.
(5) The first Wall Street conference on satellites I attended three years ago had 25 people. According to the host company, CE Unterbeg, this conference had 350 people.
Other comapnies today were Hughes, CD Radio, Orbital Sciences, Gilat, Globecom, and Global Village Communications. There were comments on rural telephony VSAT, but I am sure that other posts on Motley AOL can provide discussion on the above mentioned companies.
There were no papers/brochures this time from any of the Loral companies. The CE Unterberg company issued a well-done monograph on the satellite companies attending today's conference. I am not sure how one gets the monograph. I was favorably impressed with the work and accuracy of it, for whatever my impression on Wall Street research is worth.
Subject: Re: CE UNTERBERG SATELLITE CONFERENCE
Date: Thu, Mar 5, 1998 17:25 EST
From: Readware
Message-id: <19980305222601.RAA19951@ladder02.news.aol.com>
I forgot to state that ViaSat was also at this conference.
Subject: Re: subscribers
Date: Thu, Mar 5, 1998 22:16 EST
From: Readware
Message-id: <19980306031600.WAA16215@ladder03.news.aol.com>
Toothog: you quote a San Francisco Chronicle article wherein the President of G* speaks of G* becoming a $20 billion enterprise, and the very next day ask if G* gave detailed subscription projections at a satellite conference with some 15 companies presenting.
Maybe there is too much day-to-day, day-by-day, missing "forest for trees" approach to this company?
Subject: Globalstar GEOs
Date: Fri, Mar 6, 1998 00:18 EST
From: Readware
Message-id: <19980306051801.AAA02191@ladder02.news.aol.com>
To satisfy fixed site demand it appears that G* shareholders should expect some announcement from G* this year regarding intentions to launch possibly 3 or 4 GEOs. Their FCC filings indicate intentions towards this end, with usage of the same ground gateway system as their LEO constellation is to use. The GEOs would complement the LEO architecture.
Subject: Re: Globalstar GEOs
Date: Fri, Mar 6, 1998 10:58 EST
From: Readware
Message-id: <19980306155801.KAA20729@ladder02.news.aol.com>
The sources for demand indicating a GEO constellation are the municiplaities in China and India currently without phone service, but seeking it through satcom telephony. Apparently, the demand for mobile is so strong that the LEOs are going to be used up for mobile, and the GEOs are necessary to provide fixed-site.
It is reading the FCC application and the frequencies applied for by G* that indicate to the reader a decision apparently by G* to seek expansion by way of GEOs.
Subject: Re: Globalstar GEOs
Date: Fri, Mar 6, 1998 13:12 EST
From: Readware
Message-id: <19980306181200.NAA06374@ladder02.news.aol.com>
The handset will probably employ the latency offset developed by Lockheed Martin to virtually eliminate the "echo" to which you refer. The first of the GEOs will not be in orbit till late 1999, and it is in late 1999 that Lockheed had stated (in 1996) that it believed this handset technology would be commercially available (i.e., affordable). I am assuming that G* will be employing this technology, since Lockheed will be
marketing it. I do not know for sure-- but since the technology exists, it would be reasonable to assume it would be used. |
