ICO Selects Alcatel-Lucent and Hughes for Alpha Trial
RESTON, VA, May 3, 2007 - Satnews Daily - ICO Global Communications (Holdings), Ltd said that Alcatel-Lucent and Hughes Network Systems will develop key architecture and technology to be used in ICO’s alpha trial of Mobile Interactive Media (MIM) services set for spring of 2008.
ICO MIM is a converged mobile media service that addresses a wide variety of consumer entertainment and communication needs, all based upon ICO’s next-generation geostationary satellite, ICO-G1, and the deployment of an Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC).
ICO MIM will provide multiple channels of mobile video to large-screen user devices. Alcatel-Lucent has been chosen to supply the system architecture and design based on the mobile multimedia DVB-SH open standard. Alcatel-Lucent and ICO are in final negotiations for Alcatel-Lucent to be the end-to-end network integrator for both the satellite and terrestrial networks and to provide corresponding installation and network integration services.
ICO MIM also will provide full-duplex, IP data communication services between customer devices and ICO satellite base station equipment using Hughes’ proven ETSI standard GMR air interface technology, with a focus on Internet access, VoIP, and other data applications. In addition, Hughes will develop an integrated satellite terminal and antenna system to incorporate GMR and DVB-SH technologies, as well as a GPS receiver.
ICO (“ICO”) (NASDAQ:ICOG) is a next-generation satellite communications company that is developing an advanced hybrid system, combining both satellite and terrestrial communications capabilities, in order to offer wireless voice, data, video, and Internet services on mobile and portable devices.
ICO CEO Tim Bryan noted that ICO MIM lies at the intersection of three highly prized consumer services: interactive location-based services using GPS with GMR for navigation plus live traffic, weather and social networks; emergency calling and messaging for times and places when the traditional terrestrial networks are unavailable and mobile video on larger screens and with better quality than currently available.
“We plan an alpha trial on ICO MIM for the spring of 2008, including the deployment of a terrestrial network in two cities, to demonstrate the attractiveness of ICO’s assets being deployed for these services,” Bryan said.
“We are pleased to see that our joint developments with chipset and terminal partners on the DVB-SH technology can be deployed in the U.S. market,” stated Olivier Coste, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Mobile Broadcast activities. “We consider hybrid satellite/terrestrial networks very powerful solutions to provide mobile broadcast services to consumers. Moreover, by leveraging the large ecosystem of the DVB-H open standard family, we believe that DVB-SH will enable a broadband range of mass market multimedia applications.”
Matthew Mohebbi, vice president and general manager of the Mobile Satellite business unit at Hughes, said GMR is a proven, high-performance open air interface, optimized to operate over satellite. “We are proud to have been selected to deliver GMR base stations for the ICO alpha trial, as well as terminals that combine DVB-SH and GMR technologies that can offer consumers mobile integrated communications and entertainment.”
Hughes provides broadband satellite networks and services for enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers. HughesNet encompasses all broadband solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging satellite and terrestrial technologies.
Alcatel-Lucent provides (Euronext Paris:ALU) (NYSE:ALU) solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications, and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move.
