Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Clown-Free Zone... sorry, no clowns allowed -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ilaine who wrote (58237)	1/16/2001 3:05:16 PM
From: GraceZ	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 436258

How fast is a data connection on a sat phone like Iridium or Globalstar? I remember doing some research a while back for a client that was following the Whitbread sailboat race to photograph it. She wanted to update a website from everywhere the race went and the data times on sat phones were ridiculously slow back then.

To: Ilaine who wrote (58237)	1/16/2001 5:22:49 PM
From: Starowl	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 436258

Actually, I believe it is indeed the military that wants the Iridium system to continue operating, as NSA is more interested in foreign communications than US Govt communications (at least let's hope so). The DOD already had a fairly significant investment in the program. The focal point will be DISA. In a very short time--perhaps as early as February--the Iridium handsets that the "Pentagon" will be getting in the deal will incorporate Type I (government) encryption. The gateway in Hawaii that will be carrying the DOD traffic, actually seems a bit risky to me, as all traffic will cascade down to a single location, giving any snoopers parked in the Pacific nearby a good opportunity to suck up lots of traffic to look at, although one would hope that any encrypted communications would be protected. Just some thoughts. Starowl