Energy News  
Amerhis: First Switchboard In Space Launched

big iron, big profits

Baikonour (SPX) Aug 06, 2004
Hispasat's Amazonas satellite was successfully launched from the Ba�konour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 00:32 (CEST) on 5 August. On board was the AmerHis 'switchboard in space' payload.

The launch of the AmerHis payload opens a new era in satellite communications. The programme demonstrates a dedication to commercial orientation and its introduction paves the way for the emergence of a new generation of satellite systems that will further enhance the claim that satellite communication is the most important application of space technology.

Direct benefit to the end user community

AmerHis will enable Hispasat to provide high performance interactive multimedia services on its four Ku band coverage zones: North America, South America, Brazil and Europe. The AmerHis payload will work like a switchboard in space managed by a Network Control Centre on the ground able to configure the payload, assign capacity and manage user traffic.

Four Gateways to provide the access system to the terrestrial network and user terminals have been developed. These are completely directed to the commercial exploitation of new services with the result that these services such as high-speed Internet access, MPEG-based services, video and radio on demand will be available at a much lower cost.

AmerHis coverage

Among the benefits to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will be the ability to manage their own low-cost gateways, in turn providing reliable Internet access to subscribers. Corporate services will also profit. Companies with multiple branch offices will be able to easily set up their own Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and share their allocated capacity between all branch offices.

The AmerHis payload also offers multiplexing and de-multiplexing of MPEG-2 transport streams that will extend the number of video services enormously. In addition AmerHis supports a wide variety of applications and tele-services from video broadcasting on demand to videoconferencing.

Digital Divide

Because of AmerHis, Hispasat is able to offer broadband interconnectivity to users anywhere within the four geographical areas covered by Amazonas, with highly efficient usage of the space segment (single hop).

It also allows Hispasat to differentiate its portfolio of services from those of its competitors and to position itself as one of the most advanced satellite operators on either side of the Atlantic.

According to Hispasat: "The implementation of AmerHis in America will give us an essential strategic value for its implementation and provide a definite boost to our internationalisation and opening of new markets."

The ambitious project is the product of a collaboration between Alcatel Espacio, Mier Communicaciones and Indra Espacio of Spain, of Spain, Alcatel Space of France, EMS Technology from Canada and Nera ASA from Norway.

It is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and supported by the Spanish Centre of the Industrial and Technological Development (CDTI). The international scope of the project represents symbolic cooperation between national agencies, operators and industry.

With coverage over all of Latin America, the United States and Canada as well as transatlantic capacity allowing coverage of Europe and northern Africa, not to mention the use of C and Ku bands, Amazonas is also an example of what can be done to bridge the digital divide.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express
Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Soyuz To Launch Radarsat-2
Evry, France (SPX) Jan 11, 2006
Starsem announced Monday the signing of a contract with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) for the launch of MDA's RADARSAT-2 Earth observation satellite by a Soyuz launch vehicle.







  • Scientists Able To Harness Plankton Power
  • Asymmetric Feature Shows Puzzling Face For Superconductivity
  • Fuel Cells Possible For Portable Power
  • Gemz Uses Solar Cell Nano Films To Power Laptops Under Indoor Lighting

  • Yucca Mountain Site Must Make Use Of Geological Safety Net
  • New Jersey Physicist Uncovers New Information About Plutonium
  • Complex Plant Design Goes Virtual To Save Time And Money
  • Volcanic Hazard At Yucca Mountain Greater Than Previously Thought





  • NASA Uses Remotely Piloted Airplane To Monitor Grapes



  • NASA To Award Contract For Aerospace Testing
  • Sonic Boom Modification May Lead To New Era
  • Hewitt Pledges Support For Aerospace Industry
  • National Consortium Picks Aviation Technology Test Site

  • NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter
  • Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission
  • Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program
  • Boeing-Led Team to Study Nuclear-Powered Space Systems

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement