Jacques van Oene
March 25th 05, 06:06 PM
Telesat pioneers next-generation EMS technology on Anik F2 satellite
EMS-designed "switch in the sky" paves the way for future broadband
services.
OTTAWA, ON, March 24, 2005 - Telesat, one of the world's leading satellite
operators, today announced that it has completed in-orbit testing of a
next-generation digital broadband on-board signal processor on Anik F2, the
largest commercial communications satellite ever launched. The successful
tests of this "broadband switch in the sky" will now enable Telesat to
undertake follow-on applications development work.
The experimental "SpaceMux" on-board processor (OBP), designed and supplied
by the Space & Technology/Montreal division of EMS Technologies, Inc.
(NASDAQ: ELMG), makes it possible to provide direct user-to-user broadband
connectivity for "spot-beam" systems such as the one deployed at Ka-band on
Telesat's Anik F2 satellite.
"Anik F2's 'broadband switch in the sky' is a major technological
achievement," said Larry Boisvert, Telesat's President and CEO. "Telesat's
partnership with EMS Technologies will help us develop the advanced
broadband services of the future."
Spot beam systems are the way of the future for low-cost broadband two-way
communications via satellite. The SpaceMux OBP has been designed to permit
direct user-to-user communications links for such spot beam systems. Rather
than communicating through gateways on the ground, users that have a need to
communicate directly with other satellite users can do so through the
satellite OBP. The system will now undergo further testing involving a
variety of applications using two Anik F2 Ka-band beams, one in the
Toronto-Ottawa area and the other in the Vancouver area.
The SpaceMux technology demonstration payload of the Anik F2 satellite was
developed as part of a public-private partnership involving the Canadian
Space Agency (CSA) and the Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC). "The
aim of the partnership is to foster the development and testing of new
technologies addressing the Government of Canada's commitment to delivering
cost-effective, two-way broadband, Internet, tele-health, tele-learning and
e-government services to commercial clients and Canadians wherever they
live," said Gilles Leclerc, Director General, Space Technologies of the
Canadian Space Agency.
"CRC is proud to have been able to provide expert advice and technical
guidance to our partners on this project," said Veena Rawat,
Acting-President of the Communications Research Centre Canada. "The
successful completion of in-orbit testing for this new broadband technology
is an important step forward in the development, testing and experimentation
of new broadband applications between remote locations."
Manufactured by Boeing Satellite Systems, Telesat's Anik F2 was launched on
Arianespace's Ariane 5G rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French
Guiana, on July 17, 2004. Anik F2 makes history as the first satellite to
fully commercialize the Ka-frequency band - a breakthrough satellite
communications technology for delivering cost-effective, two-way broadband
services.
Telesat's Anik F2 payload consists of 38 Ka-band transponders, 32 Ku-band
transponders and 24 C-band transponders. The satellite, operating in
geostationary orbit from the orbital position at 111.1 degrees West
Longitude, will provide service for at least 15 years.
About Telesat
Telesat is a pioneer and world leader in satellite operations and systems
management. The company made history in 1972 with the launch of the first
domestic commercial communications satellite in geostationary orbit. Today,
Telesat competes with other top international satellite fleets in providing
telecommunications and broadcasting services throughout the Americas, and is
a leading consultant, operator and partner in satellite ventures around the
globe. Telesat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCE Inc., a leading
communications company with shares listed in the United States, Canada and
Europe.
About EMS Technologies, Inc. (www.ems-t.com)
EMS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELMG) is a leading innovator in the design
and manufacture of wireless, satellite and defense solutions, and focuses
its unique range of advanced technologies on the needs of broadband and
mobile information users. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, has
almost 1,700 workers worldwide, and operates manufacturing facilities in
Atlanta, Montreal, Ottawa and Brazil.
About the Canadian Space Agency
Established in 1989, and with its headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec, the
Canadian Space Agency is responsible for coordinating all civil,
space-related policies and programs related to science and technology
research, industrial development, and international cooperation on behalf of
the Government of Canada. The Canadian Space Agency directs its resources
and activities through four key thrusts: Earth Observation, Space Science
and Exploration, Satellite Communications, and Space Awareness and Learning.
With the overall responsibility for advancing Canada's space policy and
programs, the Canadian Space Agency leverages international cooperation to
champion world-class scientific research and industrial development for the
benefit of humanity.
About the Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC)
CRC, an agency of Industry Canada, is the Canadian government's primary
laboratory for research and development (R&D) in advanced
telecommunications. R&D is used for public policy purposes and to strengthen
the Canadian economy through technology and knowledge transfer. Under its
four research branches (Terrestrial Wireless, Satellite Communications and
Radio Propagation Research, Broadband Network Technologies and Broadcast
Technology), CRC specializes in taking an interdisciplinary approach to
longer-term R&D in wireless systems, radio fundamentals, communication
networks, photonics and interactive multimedia. More information about CRC
is available at: www.crc.ca.
For more information:
Marilynn Wright
Telesat
(613) 748-0123
Karen Passmore (media only)
Argyle Rowland Communications
(416) 968-7311
Anne Wainscott-Sargent
Public Relations
EMS Technologies, Inc.
(404) 435-5784
Graeme Maag
Public Affairs
Space & Technology Group/Montreal
(514) 425-3079
David Gotlieb
Publication & Media Relations Officer
Communications Research Centre Canada
(613) 990-4575
Julie Simard
Communications Advisor
Media Relations and Information Services
(450) 926-4370
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
EMS-designed "switch in the sky" paves the way for future broadband
services.
OTTAWA, ON, March 24, 2005 - Telesat, one of the world's leading satellite
operators, today announced that it has completed in-orbit testing of a
next-generation digital broadband on-board signal processor on Anik F2, the
largest commercial communications satellite ever launched. The successful
tests of this "broadband switch in the sky" will now enable Telesat to
undertake follow-on applications development work.
The experimental "SpaceMux" on-board processor (OBP), designed and supplied
by the Space & Technology/Montreal division of EMS Technologies, Inc.
(NASDAQ: ELMG), makes it possible to provide direct user-to-user broadband
connectivity for "spot-beam" systems such as the one deployed at Ka-band on
Telesat's Anik F2 satellite.
"Anik F2's 'broadband switch in the sky' is a major technological
achievement," said Larry Boisvert, Telesat's President and CEO. "Telesat's
partnership with EMS Technologies will help us develop the advanced
broadband services of the future."
Spot beam systems are the way of the future for low-cost broadband two-way
communications via satellite. The SpaceMux OBP has been designed to permit
direct user-to-user communications links for such spot beam systems. Rather
than communicating through gateways on the ground, users that have a need to
communicate directly with other satellite users can do so through the
satellite OBP. The system will now undergo further testing involving a
variety of applications using two Anik F2 Ka-band beams, one in the
Toronto-Ottawa area and the other in the Vancouver area.
The SpaceMux technology demonstration payload of the Anik F2 satellite was
developed as part of a public-private partnership involving the Canadian
Space Agency (CSA) and the Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC). "The
aim of the partnership is to foster the development and testing of new
technologies addressing the Government of Canada's commitment to delivering
cost-effective, two-way broadband, Internet, tele-health, tele-learning and
e-government services to commercial clients and Canadians wherever they
live," said Gilles Leclerc, Director General, Space Technologies of the
Canadian Space Agency.
"CRC is proud to have been able to provide expert advice and technical
guidance to our partners on this project," said Veena Rawat,
Acting-President of the Communications Research Centre Canada. "The
successful completion of in-orbit testing for this new broadband technology
is an important step forward in the development, testing and experimentation
of new broadband applications between remote locations."
Manufactured by Boeing Satellite Systems, Telesat's Anik F2 was launched on
Arianespace's Ariane 5G rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French
Guiana, on July 17, 2004. Anik F2 makes history as the first satellite to
fully commercialize the Ka-frequency band - a breakthrough satellite
communications technology for delivering cost-effective, two-way broadband
services.
Telesat's Anik F2 payload consists of 38 Ka-band transponders, 32 Ku-band
transponders and 24 C-band transponders. The satellite, operating in
geostationary orbit from the orbital position at 111.1 degrees West
Longitude, will provide service for at least 15 years.
About Telesat
Telesat is a pioneer and world leader in satellite operations and systems
management. The company made history in 1972 with the launch of the first
domestic commercial communications satellite in geostationary orbit. Today,
Telesat competes with other top international satellite fleets in providing
telecommunications and broadcasting services throughout the Americas, and is
a leading consultant, operator and partner in satellite ventures around the
globe. Telesat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCE Inc., a leading
communications company with shares listed in the United States, Canada and
Europe.
About EMS Technologies, Inc. (www.ems-t.com)
EMS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELMG) is a leading innovator in the design
and manufacture of wireless, satellite and defense solutions, and focuses
its unique range of advanced technologies on the needs of broadband and
mobile information users. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, has
almost 1,700 workers worldwide, and operates manufacturing facilities in
Atlanta, Montreal, Ottawa and Brazil.
About the Canadian Space Agency
Established in 1989, and with its headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec, the
Canadian Space Agency is responsible for coordinating all civil,
space-related policies and programs related to science and technology
research, industrial development, and international cooperation on behalf of
the Government of Canada. The Canadian Space Agency directs its resources
and activities through four key thrusts: Earth Observation, Space Science
and Exploration, Satellite Communications, and Space Awareness and Learning.
With the overall responsibility for advancing Canada's space policy and
programs, the Canadian Space Agency leverages international cooperation to
champion world-class scientific research and industrial development for the
benefit of humanity.
About the Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC)
CRC, an agency of Industry Canada, is the Canadian government's primary
laboratory for research and development (R&D) in advanced
telecommunications. R&D is used for public policy purposes and to strengthen
the Canadian economy through technology and knowledge transfer. Under its
four research branches (Terrestrial Wireless, Satellite Communications and
Radio Propagation Research, Broadband Network Technologies and Broadcast
Technology), CRC specializes in taking an interdisciplinary approach to
longer-term R&D in wireless systems, radio fundamentals, communication
networks, photonics and interactive multimedia. More information about CRC
is available at: www.crc.ca.
For more information:
Marilynn Wright
Telesat
(613) 748-0123
Karen Passmore (media only)
Argyle Rowland Communications
(416) 968-7311
Anne Wainscott-Sargent
Public Relations
EMS Technologies, Inc.
(404) 435-5784
Graeme Maag
Public Affairs
Space & Technology Group/Montreal
(514) 425-3079
David Gotlieb
Publication & Media Relations Officer
Communications Research Centre Canada
(613) 990-4575
Julie Simard
Communications Advisor
Media Relations and Information Services
(450) 926-4370
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info