Hughes and TerreStar Sign Contract for 4G Satellite Base Station Subsystem
GERMANTOWN, MD, April 20, 2007 - Satnews Daily - Hughes Network Systems, LLC has signed a contract with TerreStar Networks, Inc. under which Hughes will design, develop and manufacture a turnkey satellite base station subsystem (S-BSS) and satellite air interface protocol. The contract includes installation at TerreStar's two satellite gateway facilities along with related services.
TerreStar, a subsidiary of Motient Corporation, plans to build, own and operate North America's first 4G integrated mobile satellite and terrestrial communications network that will provide universal access and tailored applications throughout North America over conventional wireless devices. TerreStar expects to be the first to offer customer-designed products and applications over a fully optimized 4G IP network.
The S-BSS will interface with the integrated satellite ground based beam forming (GBBF) subsystem, which is also being developed by Hughes under a separate contract, and will be a key component of the satellite network portion of TerreStar's integrated satellite and terrestrial network.
The S-BSS design is based on an advanced computing architecture that will support third-generation mobile satellite networks and interoperate with IP multimedia mobile systems. The satellite air interface protocol is based on the Global Mobile Radio (GMR-1) standard published by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), including enhancements to support high-speed data rates, efficient operation over satellite and other features.
Robert Brumley, president and CEO of TerreStar said Hughes is uniquely qualified to meet their requirements for the highest level of satellite performance and multi-technology integration, combining satellite technology with TerreStar’s Ancillary Terrestrial Component network (ATC).
”We are confident that the feature set, capacity, and efficiency of the system Hughes is developing will serve our customers well. Our selection of Hughes as the developer of the final piece of our satellite network completes a highly qualified team of world-class companies joining TerreStar to deliver a leading-edge integrated mobile satellite and terrestrial communications network.”
"We are excited to have been selected by TerreStar as the supplier of its unique base station subsystem," said Pradman Kaul, chairman and CEO of Hughes. "The S-BSS builds on the advanced GBBF subsystem that Hughes is completing for TerreStar, and will result in a powerful and flexible system that can provide combined terrestrial and satellite services compatible with ATC features throughout North America."
Hughes Network Systems provides broadband satellite networks and services for large enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers. HughesNet encompasses all broadband solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging satellite and terrestrial technologies. Hughes has shipped more than 1.2 million systems to customers in over 100 countries. Its broadband satellite products are based on the IPoS (IP over Satellite) global standard, approved by the TIA, ETSI, and ITU standards organizations.
Motient is the controlling shareholder of TerreStar Networks, Inc. and TerreStar Global Ltd., and a shareholder of SkyTerra Communications and Mobile Satellite Ventures LP.
