Hughes readies satellite technology to provide unlimited possibilities.

When the last of nine Hughes Communications Inc.-built Spaceway satellites takes its place in geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the earth, sometime just before the turn of the century, the Information Super Skyway will deliver true "globe-all" satellite-based services to all significantly populated areas of the world.

The implications and applications of this revolutionary new Spaceway system, which is awaiting final Federal Communications Commission approval, are virtually limitless.

For many parts of the world, just its most basic telephone services will move technologically underdeveloped countries decades forward with the first link up. But those of us in Los Angeles, who daily navigate the terrestrial information highway via telephone, cellular phone, modem, computers and fax, just as we negotiate our route to and from the office, are ready to move toward the 21st century.

Using high frequency transmitters and receivers, Spaceway will bring personal teleconferencing directly to businesses and into the home through small antennast. With Spaceway, whether it's across town or across the globe, video conferencing will be available to anyone. Spaceway will provide virtually all businesses and consumers in the U.S. with access to two-way high data rate communications.

Spaceway will use technology originally developed for military communications to provide near universal access to high-speed digital communication services.

The significant benefit of Spaceway is that it will be the first system to provide "band-width-on-demand" (the ability to transmit or receive video, audio, image and data signals at any time) communications service for the U.S. and worldwide markets.

Spaceway communications will be transmitted via antennas as small as 26 inches in diameter, and costing as little as $1,000. These so-called ultra small aperture terminals (USATs) will be easy to install and widely available through commercial and consumer electronics retailers.

Once a USAT is installed, the subscriber will pay only for the bandwidth actually used, with no recurring monthly access fees. In fact, many users will find Spaceway less expensive than terrestrial alternatives, especially in meeting the needs for occasional and/or brief communications. Because satellites do not differentiate distance, customers would be charged on the basis of time and bandwidth used, unlike telephone toll calls, which are based on distance.

Transmission speeds of up to 1.5 megabits per second -- or 150 times faster than conventional telephone lines -- mean spreadsheets that could take 30 minutes to transmit via telephone will take just 12 seconds over Spaceway.

And for critical medical information, such as X-rays that are transmitted from rural areas for diagnosis by specialists based in major cities, the existing transmission rate of 46 minutes is cut to just 18 seconds.

Until now telecommuting has not been a practical reality for most of us, given that data is an integral part of everyone's job and access to that data has not been readily available.

Spaceway's high data rate of transmission allows workers to use their home personal computers to access the file servers at their local office area network.

The benefits to the employee and employer are enormous. The employee reduces the time and stress related to commuting, resulting in enhanced productivity. The employer reduces costs in obvious ways, such as reduction of office space or work stations. These savings are only compounded by the cost-effectiveness of the Spaceway system's band-width-on-demand service. And through two-way videotelephony, employees could, if necessary, be in constant video and audio contact with their office headquarters.

Through its global two-way communications capabilities, Spaceway provides more than just high speed data transmissions, especially for professionals needing to access computer aided design technology. Let's say an architect in Los Angeles is working with a colleague in Japan on a project. The two can work simultaneously on the project -- instantaneously exchanging information or ideas.

The same applies in the instance of designing a new automobile. The redesign of the engine or body style can receive attention and feedback from multiple groups simultaneously. Even detailed spreadsheets can be sent to a colleague in less than two seconds and be worked on or reviewed simultaneously -- affecting the bottom line literally and figuratively.

The unique strengths of satellite communications complement other delivery systems. Satellite signals are ubiquitous, provide universal coverage, are virtually immune to natural disasters and provide low-cost, interactive communication.

Spaceway will be integrated into the global terrestrial infrastructure, thus enabling communication between Spaceway subscribers and anyone served by land lines currently in use. For people in Los Angeles, the U.S. and other developed regions, such as Europe and Japan, Spaceway will be complementary to existing terrestrial networks.

In other parts of the world, such as Africa and parts of Asia, it will be enabling. Spaceway will accelerate their entry into the modern communications world, compared to the decades and tens of billions of dollars it will take to lay fiber optic networks, at a total estimated cost of $3.2 billion for the Spaceway global system that is expected to be operational by the year 2000.

The Spaceway global network will consist of four interconnected regional satellite systems. Initially, two satellites will serve each of the four regions, designated as North America, Central and South America, Europe and Africa and the Asia-Pacific. A ninth satellite will handle what is anticipated to be heavy traffic between the Asia-Pacific region and the United States.

To quote GM Hughes Electronics Chairman Mike Armstrong, "No information superhighway will be worthy of the name unless it is universal in access and global in reach."

At Hughes Communications, a unit of GMHE, we refer to it as the "Information Super Skyway." We believe that when Spaceway is complete in the year 2000 we will have achieved "globe-all" reach through the use of our nine satellites that will serve the entire world.

All nine satellites will be designed and built in El Segundo, and could likely result in hundreds of jobs.

Kevin N. McGrath is president and chief executive officer of Hughes Communications Inc., a unit of GM Hughes Electronics Corp.