The WRC-2000 result, following four weeks of intense negotiations, represents a major success for SkyBridge in clarifying the regulatory environment for the use of the Ku-band spectrum (10-18 GHz) to provide satellite-based access to broadband services worldwide.

"This united action by the global community gives a clear green light to the implementation of SkyBridge and other non-geostationary broadband satellite systems.

"It demonstrates the strong support for solutions delivering local access to high-speed, high bit-rate communications," said Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO of SkyBridge LP.

More than 140 countries attending the WRC-2000 adopted the technical and regulatory parameters which will allow non-geostationary (NGSO) satellite systems, such as SkyBridge, to operate compatibly with geostationary (GSO) satellites and terrestrial systems in the Ku-band spectrum. The Conference also adopted power limits on GSO systems to protect NGSO systems.

The previous WRC, held in 1997, granted access to these frequency bands to SkyBridge-type systems, on condition that technical studies be conducted to develop appropriate technical parameters and rules in order to protect existing geostationary satellite and terrestrial communications networks from interference.

The WRC-2000 approved the results of those studies and decided to insert the new provisions in the ITU Radio Regulations.

According to Mark MacGann, Vice President, Strategic Affairs of SkyBridge, "We have been working closely with many countries and operators over the past three years to demonstrate that it is possible to deploy new advanced communications systems in the Ku-band without causing interference to existing users.

"We are delighted with the decision of the Conference which creates a clear and stable regulatory environment for SkyBridge and which confirms SkyBridge's access to the Ku-band to provide high-capacity broadband services on a global basis," said MacGann.

"We now look forward to the adoption of rules and action on the pending SkyBridge license application in the U.S. The action of the WRC-2000 is the final international decision enabling competitive and innovative satellite solutions in the Ku band," said Ms. Sourisse.

The WRC is a meeting of nations, conducted under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to consider frequency allocations and regulations governing wireless communications services. The decisions of WRC-2000 are effective immediately.

The 1997 World Radiocommunication Conference granted access to the Ku band (10 - 18 GHz) to non-geostationary satellite systems such as SkyBridge and defined, on a provisional basis, the technical parameters (power limits) that such systems would have to comply with to give adequate protection to geostationary systems and terrestrial services. Technical working groups were set-up by the ITU to further evaluate the matter in preparation of WRC-2000.

The Conference Preparatory Meeting (November 15 to 26, 1999) followed intensive technical analysis under the auspices of the ITU, in order to demonstrate that new satellite systems such as SkyBridge could be accommodated in the Ku band without causing harmful interference to existing users.

Technical and regulatory negotiations in Geneva at the CPM resulted in a general consensus with the acknowledgement that a solution had been found to adequately protect existing users, while allowing for the deployment of new systems which provide broadband capacity. This solution was presented to WRC-2000.

SkyBridge LP has received a license in France to deploy its 80 low earth orbiting satellite constellation with associated ground segment and provide broadband access to the Internet and other multimedia services.

SkyBridge LP is backed by Alcatel. Alongside Alcatel, its industrial partners and shareholders are: Boeing, Loral Space & Communication, Litton and EMS Technologies of the United States; COM DEV of Canada; Mitsubishi Electric, Sharp and Toshiba of Japan; THOMSON multimedia, CNES and SNECMA of France; SRIW of Belgium; Starsem of France and CIS.

Telstra has signed an agreement in principle to become equity partner and service provider in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

The Lebanese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications has also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding relative to an investment in SkyBridge and service provision in the Middle East and North Africa.

SkyBridge services will be delivered locally through national and regional telecommunications operators and other service providers.

SkyBridge

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Keck On The Desk
Santa Cruz - June 5, 2000 -
A remote observing facility nearing completion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, will enable astronomers to operate the powerful Keck Telescopes atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii without leaving the mainland.