UDcast to Provide Alcatel Space With Multicast Technology for Integration in SkyBridge Broadband Services.

Business/Technology Editors

SOPHIA-ANTIPOLIS, France & BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 2001

UDcast announced today that it is expanding its international development through an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agreement with Alcatel Space, in which its IP systems will be integrated with Alcatel's core satellite technology. The UDcast platform will be utilized in an initial service offering by SkyBridge, providing IP multicast services to carriers and corporate clients around the world.

UDcast's proprietary technology, based on the Unidirectional Link Routing (UDLR) standard, allows for the full integration of unidirectional links for digital satellite services (DVB-S), terrestrial digital broadcast (DVB-T), and digital radio (DAB). UDcast has developed a leadership position in the integration of unidirectional links in the Internet, enabling efficient multicast routing, reliable data transfer, increased security and network management.

"It is a great honor for a young, entrepreneurial company like ours to be chosen as a key supplier of technology by one of the world leaders in the satellite and telecommunications industry," said Didier Tymen, President of UDcast.

Alcatel Space will integrate UDcast's technology into solutions it provides to a wide range of satellite operators around the world. SkyBridge will take advantage of this unique technology in the development of its content distribution services initially utilizing geostationary satellites, then subsequently its constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

"SkyBridge is extremely pleased to be working with UDcast and Alcatel Space in the deployment of innovative technologies that take full advantage of satellite's unique ability to provide multicast IP services to the rapidly growing global multimedia marketplace," stated Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO of SkyBridge LP.

UDcast and Alcatel Space are active participants in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IEFT), which specifies Internet protocols, and is currently helping define the standardization and the evolution of the UDLR protocol. UDcast has developed unique hardware and software solutions to allow for the efficient transport of IP via satellite, utilizing unidirectional links to deploy highly scalable, 2-way services to large numbers of interactive users.

SkyBridge will provide telecommunications operators and service providers with broadband access and content distribution services, enabling them to offer high-speed, highly interactive multimedia services to business and residential customers. These services will be offered initially via geostationary satellites, then subsequently via a constellation of 80 LEO satellites.

Editor's Notes

About UDcast

UDcast provides Internet access and applications providers, content broadcasters and hardware manufacturers with off the shelf software products for total and transparent integration into the Internet of UniDirectional broadcast links such as DVB-S (satellite), DVB-T (terrestrial) et DAB (radio). UDcast was co-founded by its present Managing Director, Didier Tymen, and four INRIA researchers who are experts in high-speed data transmission. Today, the company employs 16 people at its site in Sophia-Antipolis, and has offices in Paris and Sydney. Web Site: www.udcast.com.

About Alcatel Space

Alcatel Space, Europe's leading satellite exporter, ranks among the world's leading space systems prime contractors. Leveraging its dual expertise in civil and military applications, Alcatel Space develops satellite technology solutions for telecommunications, navigation, optical and radar observation, meteorology, and scientific applications. With partners around the world, subsidiaries throughout Europe and a strong commitment to R&D, Alcatel Space plays an important role as prime contractor, operator, investor, or service provider in most of today's leading space programs. The company is also Europe's Number One prime contractor for Earth observation, meteorology and navigation ground segments, as well as space systems operations. A jointly-owned subsidiary of Alcatel (51%) and Thales (49%), Alcatel Space generated 2000 revenues of 1.4 billion euros and has 6,000 employees. For more information, please visit our Web site at http://www.alcatel.com/space

About SkyBridge LP

SkyBridge LP, a Delaware Limited Partnership headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is a company led by Alcatel. Alongside Alcatel, its industrial partners and shareholders include: Boeing, L-3 Communications, Loral Space & Communication, Litton, QUALCOMM Incorporated and EMS Technologies of the United States; COM DEV of Canada; Mitsubishi Electric, Sharp and Toshiba of Japan; THOMSON multimedia, CNES and SNECMA of France; SRIW of Belgium; Starsem of France and CIS.

The SkyBridge mission is to use satellite technology to enable service providers to deliver the best broadband service to the end-user.

For further information, come and visit us on www.skybridgesatellite.com