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Technology Stocks : CellularVision (CVUS): 2-way LMDS wireless cable. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: CAP who wrote (1365)	3/1/1998 11:58:00 AM
From: James Fink	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2063

Bernard, The following article suggests that Teledesic is on schedule and is not pie in the sky: "INTERNET IN THE SKY" GETS A TEST FLIGHT -- SORT OF Teledesic is gearing up for the planned launch of its satellite network in 2002. By Dan Mitchell February 27, 1998 It will still be a few years -- and a few billion more dollars -- before Bill Gates and Craig McCaw realize their dream of launching an "Internet in the sky," but things are looking up: their company Teledesic successfully launched a test satellite on Thursday. But the test vehicle -- called a T-1 -- is nothing like the 288 satellites that will make up the Teledesic system. "We're still in the development stage of our production satellites," said Roger Nyhus. The company is using the satellite to test atmospheric effects, power and transmission systems, "rain fade" adaptability and GPS synchronization. Teledesic plans begin launching in 2001, and to have the system in orbit by 2002. It is designed to bring the speed of broadband fiber networks to areas of the world where there is no fiber. Its low orbit is meant to eliminate the signal delay of high-orbit satellites. The T-1 is transmitting data at about 2,000 bits per second. The actual system will send data at speeds of 10 billion bits per second, according to Teledesic. The company projects a total cost of $9 billion. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates owns a third of the company, cellular-phone mogul and Teledesic Chairman Craig McCaw owns another third, and the remainder is held by several investors including Boeing, which is heading the group that will manufacture and launch the satellites. Boeing last April put up $100 million for a 10 percent equity stake in Teledesic.