ACES: Satellite and mobile comms leaders join forces to produce satellite air interface standard
Story Filed: Thursday, January 21, 1999 07:05 PM EST
JAN 21, 1999, M2 Communications - London -- Satellite operators Asia Cellular Satellite (ACeS) and Euro-African Satellite
Telecommunications (EAST) have joined forces with industry leaders Ericsson Mobile Communications, Lockheed Martin and
Matra Marconi Space to create a satellite air interface standard named GMSS (Geostationary Mobile Satellite Standard). The
GMSS will be developed from GSM, the world-wide cellular standard.
This groundbreaking initiative by satellite system operators, satellite manufacturers, terminal vendors and system manufacturers
will enable mobile phone users to communicate in all parts of the world where the standard is operating. GMSS will be made
available to all parties interested in implementing the standard.
Consumers will benefit by being able to use mobile phones that are compatible with several satellite systems in any country where
the GMSS is offered. Phone manufacturers will benefit by supplying products in larger volumes to many markets, which will
enable economies of scale. GMSS will ensure a more rapid market penetration and allow service providers to attract new
subscribers while increasing and developing their service.
Note to Editors:
Satellite mobile communications using mobile phones comparable to the size of today's cellular phones is the starting point of a new
era within wireless communications. A number of satellite systems are on the verge of being launched, using different standards.
The systems are either global or regional. This initiative links the regional systems together to effectively form a world-wide
system.
Regional systems already in production or planned will cover Europe, Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, South-East Asia and the
Far East. Services using this standard will start in 1999 in South East Asia. Other systems extending the standard are planned to
enter service in 2001.
The implementation of satellite mobile communications systems will also facilitate wireless communications in remote areas of the
world where land based mobile networks have not been deployed. The GMSS will make it possible to use one phone in multiple
regional satellite systems - a great benefit to the mobile phone user.
PT Asia Cellular Satellite (ACeS) is developing the first Geo stationary satellite-based, handheld digital mobile telecommunications
system designed exclusively for the Asia Pacific region, in the first phase of operations. Scheduled to commence commercial
service in late 1999, ACeS will offer dual-mode (Satellite mode along with GSM / AMPS) voice and data services and global
roaming capability to business users at a competitive cost. ACeS is co-owned by Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications,
PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (NASDAQ: PSNRY) of Jakarta, the Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company and Jasmine
International Overseas Company Limited of Thailand. ACeS has National Service Providers in 9 countries with additional
countries signing up. ACeS's strong group of technology partners includes Lockheed Martin (satellite and subsystems technology)
and Ericsson (mobile handsets). For more information on ACeS, please visit www.acesy.com.
Euro-African Satellite Telecommunications (E.A.S.T.) Limited is the satellite operations company putting in place the EAST
system, scheduled for roll-out in 2002. E.A.S.T. are procuring the turnkey system from an industrial consortium led by Matra
Marconi Space, who will be supplying the highly advanced and extremely high capacity geo-synchronous satellite which the
system utilises. Offering a wide range of communications services to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia,
E.A.S.T.'s system will provide: mobile services to handheld terminals as an extension to terrestrial GSM cellular operators; fixed
services for infrastructure development and extension; support of high data rates for Internet access and business applications.
E.A.S.T.'s vision is to use the advanced technologies available today as enabling tools, giving national and regional operators the
means to provide affordable telecommunications infrastructure with unparalleled flexibility and quality of service.
Ericsson
Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom
technologies with the freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies
communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over.
Please visit Ericsson's Press Room at:
www.ericsson.se/pressroom
Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a highly diversified enterprise principally engaged in the research,
design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's
primary businesses span space, telecommunications, electronics, information and services, aeronautics, energy and systems
integration. Employing approximately 170,000 people worldwide, Lockheed Martin had 1997 sales surpassing $28 billion.
MATRA MARCONI SPACE, the joint venture company formed by LAGARDERE (France) and GEC (UK), is Europe's leading
satellite manufacturer. It employs 5,000 people, of whom 2,300 are in France and 2,700 in the UK. With a turnover in 1997 of
US$1.5 billion, its activities cover science and Earth observation, military observation and communications, telecommunications and
ground infrastructure, launchers, manned flight and orbital infrastructure.
GMPCS: Quotes
ACeS: "ACeS welcomes and supports the move towards Adi Adiwoso, evolving an open Air Interface Standard for providing
CEO and President of GMPCS Services to enhance mobility and ACeS connectivity, for the long-term benefit of the consumer."
EAST: "The emergence of an open Air Interface Standard Jean Maury already supported by operators with coverage from
Managing Director of Western Europe to the Far East, and in addition EAST directly derived from terrestrial GSM, potentially
secures extended seamless mobility for subscribers and all the benefits of GSM services as they evolve."
Ericsson: "Ericsson intends to bring mobile services to every Staffan Reinefjord corner of the world and GMPCS is a vehicle to
Director, accomplish that goal. The GMSS air interface, since it Satellite Phones is based on the GSM technology, will significantly
Ericsson Mobile facilitate the development and evolution of system Communications. components and terminals by re using a
widely employed and proven technology."
Lockheed "Competition thrives and end-users benefit when Stanton D Sloane Martin industry leaders join forces to encourage the
Vice President and Global interoperability via the adoption of uniform standards, General Manager, Telecommu such as GMSS."
Network Systems nications Development, Lockheed Martin
Matra "The agreement of space industry leaders and of Jean-Michel Aubertin, Marconi satellite system operators on a common
geomobile Marketing and Sales Space standard will be extremely favourable to the Director, Matra Marconi development of
mobile communication by satellite for Space the greatest benefit of customers the world over."
Copyright 1994-99 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
CONTACT: Ashutosh Garg, Sr. Vice
President, ACeS
Tel: +62 21 899 08 123
Ms Rhea McGraw, Press Officer, ACeS
Tel: +62 21 899 08 123
Jean Maury, Managing Director, EAST
Tel: +33 1 55 68 10 26
Jean-Pierre Boutes, Chief Engineer, EAST
Tel: +33 1 55 68 10 25
Benny Norling, Manager, Product Management, Ericsson
Mobile Communications
Tel: +46 8 404 28 63
Peter Bodor, Press Officer, Ericsson Mobile
Communications
Tel: +46 8 404 24 23
Darian Germain, Press Officer, Lockheed Martin Global
Telecommunications
Tel: +1 703 390 3070
Marc Tondriaux, Director, Matra Marconi Space
Tel: +33 5 62 19 67 70
Remi ROLAND, Press Officer, Matra Marconi Space
Tel: +33 1 34 88 35 78
*M2 COMMUNICATIONS DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR
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