WILDBLUE SELECTS VIASAT TO BUILD SMTS.WildBlue Communications Inc. (http://www.wildblue.com), a developer of next generation Ka-band spot beam A spot beam, in telecommunications parlance, is a satellite signal that is specially concentrated in power (i.e. send by a high-gain antenna) so that it will cover only a limited geographic area on earth. satellite broadband system for high-speed Internet See broadband. service, has selected ViaSat Inc., (Nasdaq: VSAT (Very Small Aperture satellite Terminal) A small earth station for satellite transmission that handles up to 56 Kbits/sec of digital transmission. VSATs that handle the T1 data rate (up to 1.544 Mbits/sec) are called "TSATs. ) to build the company's satellite modem termination systems (SMTS SMTS Space and Missile Tracking SystemSMTS Senior Member of Technical Staff SMTS Saskatchewan Mathematics Teachers' Society (Canada) SMTS So Much to Say (Dave Matthews Band song) ). This contract is valued at approximately $17 million and covers development and production of satellite modem termination systems to support all six gateway earth stations for WildBlue's launch of service. WildBlue's satellite modem termination systems (SMTS) will serve the same purpose as a cable modem termination system A cable modem termination system or CMTS is equipment typically found in a cable company's headend, or at cable company hubsite and is used to provide high speed data services, such as cable internet or Voice over IP, to cable subscribers. (CMTS (Cable Modem Termination System) A computerized device that enables cable modems to send and receive packets over the Internet. It inserts IP packets from the Internet into MPEG frames and transmits them to the cable modems via an RF signal. ) or DSLAM (DSL Access Multiplexor) A central office (CO) device for ADSL service that intermixes voice traffic and DSL traffic onto a customer's DSL line. It also separates incoming phone and data signals and directs them onto the appropriate carrier's network. See DSL. (DSL DSL in full Digital Subscriber Line Broadband digital communications connection that operates over standard copper telephone wires. It requires a DSL modem, which splits transmissions into two frequency bands: the lower frequencies for voice (ordinary Access Multiplexer or modem termination system). Located at each WildBlue gateway location, the SMTS will provide the interface between the terrestrial Internet backbone and the WildBlue subscribers. The SMTS will manage the traffic for each subscriber satellite terminal, including allocating bandwidth to each subscriber, directing traffic flow based on multiple classes of service, as well as managing the power and modulation formats to optimize transmission of data over the satellite link. The agreement with ViaSat allows WildBlue to leverage the significant capabilities of existing DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) A cable modem standard from the CableLabs research consortium (www.cablelabs.com), which provides equipment certification for interoperability. CMTS products and achieve effective link and network performance over the Ka-band satellite link. Combined with WildBlue's previous selection of ViaSat as the initial modem provider, integration of the modems and the gateway equipment should be seamless. "WildBlue's mission is to provide affordable broadband Internet access Broadband Internet access, often shortened to just "broadband", is high speed Internet access—typically contrasted with dial-up access over modem. Dial-up modems are generally only capable of a maximum bitrate of 56 kbit/s (kilobits per second) and require the full use of a virtually anywhere," said WildBlue vice president David Bukovinsky. "To meet these objectives, we are basing our architecture on established standards from the cable and DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) A one-way TV broadcast service from a communications satellite to a small round or oval dish antenna no larger than 20" in diameter. industries, utilizing off the shelf components wherever feasible. We are especially pleased to further our strong relationship with ViaSat, a recognized industry leader in the emerging broadband satellite market. We are confident that working with ViaSat on both the satellite modem and the gateway technologies will result in a low cost, world-class end-to-end solution." "ViaSat is excited to expand our role with WildBlue, a leader in the development of next generation satellite broadband," said Steve Cable, ViaSat's vice president for Broadband Systems. "With a consolidated effort for both the SM and the SMTS, we can apply our satellite network experience to optimize system performance and support timely availability of the key ground segments for WildBlue's service launch. Building upon a well understood technology base to provide both ends of the WildBlue satellite connection helps fulfill ViaSat's commitment to be a leader in the ground segment and user terminal technology in the growing satellite broadband industry." WildBlue plans to roll out affordable two-way broadband services via satellite direct to homes and small offices throughout the contiguous United States in mid 2002 and subsequently expand service to Canada and Latin America. WildBlue expects to be the first to launch the next generation Ka-band spot beam satellite technology that is designed to lower the cost of providing high speed Internet access via satellite. This service is expected to be especially appealing to the millions of homes that will not have access to DSL or cable modem service. WildBlue's strategic investors include EchoStar (http://www.echostar.com), Liberty Satellite & Technology, Inc., a consolidated subsidiary of Liberty Media Group (http://www.libertymedia.com), Gemstar - TV Guide (http://www.tvguide.com), Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (http://www.kpcb.com), Space Systems/Loral (http://www.ssloral.com), Arianespace (http://www.arianespace.com), TRW TRW The Real World (TV reality show) TRW The Right Way TRW Tactical Reconnaissance Wing TRW The Retriever Weekly (University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD) TRW Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc (http://www.trw.com) and TeleSat Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of Bell Canada Enterprises (http://www.telesat.ca). ViaSat is at the forefront of the broadband Ka-band satellite ground systems market, including providing enterprise terminals and gateway systems for next generation, processed payload Ka-band networks. As a supplier of technology for broadband IP networking over satellite, ViaSat VSAT networks are operating on every continent except Antarctica. About ViaSat ViaSat produces advanced digital satellite telecommunications and wireless signal processing equipment for commercial and government markets. ViaSat has a full line of VSAT products for data and voice applications. ViaSat is a provider of Ka-band satellite systems, from user terminals to large gateways for both geosynchronous and low earth orbit (communications) low earth orbit - (LEO) The kind of orbit used by communications satellites that will offer high bandwidth for video on demand, television, and Internet communications. systems. Other products include information security devices, tactical communication radios, and communication simulators. ViaSat is located in Carlsbad, CA, and Norcross, GA, with additional field offices in Boston, the United Kingdom, Australia, Chile, China and India. For more information, see http://www.viasat.com. About WildBlue WildBlue provides affordable broadband services via satellite direct to homes and small offices throughout the contiguous U.S. The company plans to subsequently expand service to Canada and Latin America. WildBlue was founded to accelerate consumer broadband access to the Internet. WildBlue's solution intends to deliver on consumer desires for a fast, affordable, simple, reliable, always-on and two-way technology for wireless Internet access. WildBlue Communications Inc. can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.wildblue.com. For more information, call 720/554-7434 or 678/924-2462. |
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