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To: Valueman who wrote (3823)	6/18/1998 5:02:00 PM
From: Valueman	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 10852

JMD: Here is your chance to try out that new "RealAudio/Video" player--Intelsat launches at 6:48PM Eastern tonight, broadcast begins at 6:25 at: intelsat.com For those of you following emerging market telephony development, here is more about Intelsat's WLL/Sat program: INTELSAT Awards Development Contract For Wireless Local Loop/ VSAT Integration: Advances Focus On Rural Communications -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Washington, D.C., 16 June 1998 -- INTELSAT today announced the award of a contract to STM Wireless, Inc. of California to develop an integrated Wireless Local Loop (WLL)/VSAT prototype. This product will play a key role in INTELSAT's strategy to support the development of satellite-based remote telephony services worldwide. Fabrice Langreney, INTELSAT's Project Manager of Wireless Local Loop Technology, stated, "As the majority of the three billion people who have yet to use a telephone reside in rural and remote areas, satellites and wireless local loop provide the ideal medium to rapidly and cost-effectively link these areas to the rest of the world. And INTELSAT, with its true global connectivity, is uniquely positioned to make this happen economically." The integrated WLL/VSAT prototype features a VSAT DAMA (demand assigned multiple access) architecture and a WLL DECT (Digital European Cordless Technology) network. This prototype will complement existing VSAT product lines, and will provide a very attractive migration path toward serving low and medium population densities. By merging and integrating WLL and VSAT technologies, the new prototype should prove 40% less expensive, in terms of cost per line, compared to the non-integrated, off-the-shelf versions currently available today. This equipment will be available through STM by mid-1999. INTELSAT intends to further promote this integrated concept and invite all VSAT and WLL manufacturers to embark upon a similar program -- to bring "cost-effective" solutions to rural telephony operators. During the beginning of 1998, INTELSAT and Telef¢nica del Per£ began demonstrating the technical feasibility of backhauling WLL traffic to the public switched network over satellite through the INTELSAT DAMA service. INTELSAT plans to conduct further trials this autumn in Africa to gain additional expertise on rural telephony operations and to further promote the benefits of using INTELSAT satellites to provide services to thin-route markets. The information gathered from these trials will enhance INTELSAT's work as it moves forward with the WLL/VSAT integrated product in other targeted markets such as the Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Tom Eaton, INTELSAT Director of Sales and Marketing, commented, "As part of its core mission to provide universal service, INTELSAT is committed to assisting its customers in implementing economical solutions for remote and rural communications. We believe that this combination of WLL and VSAT will enable the INTELSAT system, with its constellation of geostationary satellites, to continue to provide extremely cost-effective basic telephony service to remote areas." Upon the availability of the prototype, INTELSAT will deploy this equipment in field trials in different countries and demonstrate the capabilities and cost-effectiveness of this approach. INTELSAT will use the knowledge gained from these trials to further assist its customers in detailed network design and implementation for these rural applications. In addition, INTELSAT will share this experience through its Advantage Program -- a unique community outreach initiative targeted to assist developing countries through technical consultancy, workshops and training programs. INTELSAT owns and operates a global communications satellite system. With 1997 revenues of more than US$ 960 million, the INTELSAT system provides voice/data and video services to over 200 countries and territories via satellite.