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To: mts362 who wrote (10562)	3/7/2000 8:43:00 AM
From: Jeff Vayda	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 29987

LEO MSS woes may push LEO broadband out of the skies (Satellite International, 02-25-00) (Thanks to Phillips Telecon) Jeff Vayda The spectacular failure of LEO MSS projects to live up to expectations has also relegated broadband LEO's to second priority for funding, according to Merrill Lynch VP Tom Watts. But a GEO system, with its lower startup costs, and ability to be taken global step-by-step, is more appealing than the upfront global investment in a LEO system. Even though a LEO system is more cost-effective than GEO if operating at capacity, in small markets - GEO becomes the choice. Watts expects that once GEO systems have proven the market for broadband as they come online beginning in 2001/2002, money will become available for the riskier LEOs, but this causes significant delays. Among the LEO systems, SkyBridge, led by Alcatel, seems to be proceeding farther than Teledesic. [But see last Friday's story on Eagle River Investments folding ICO Global into the Teledesic project.] However, both Alcatel and SkyBridge's key U.S. backer Loral, are now working on the CyberStar GEO hybrid Ka/Ku-band venture. The U.S. internet/data-via-satellite business in the next few years will become croded with players like DirecTV, Echostar, Gilat-to-Home, iSky, Spaceway, CyberStar, Astrolink and NetSat 28. (Not available on the web)

To: mts362 who wrote (10562)	3/7/2000 10:02:00 AM
From: Bill Fischofer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 29987

Re: G* data I don't think that's correct. First, the 9.6kbs rate is not available now. According to most recent conference call, data service is expected to debut in the 4th quarter. Second, in response to questions about 19.2, BS indicated that it would be doable but was "at least a year away". His whole tone in response to the question suggested that data is a very low priority for G* and again this makes perfect sense given the economics. Nobody at G* is talking about anything higher than 19.2 so it is difficult to see what HDR speculation is based on. Also, "data" and "net" are not synomymous. To have an Internet connection you need an ISP. I am aware of no ISP that supports connection speeds as low as 9.6 kbs these days. Again, this suggests that G*'s data capabilities are not designed for the Internet but rather for remote sensing and similar low-bandwidth use.