. 24/7 Space News .
First Internet Ready Satellite Launched

e-BIRD, a Boeing 376HP model satellite, was built by Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS) in El Segundo, Calif.
Paris - Sep 29, 2003
Eutelsat announces the successful launch of e-BIRD, the first satellite in the world specially designed for two-way broadband communications. Built by Boeing Satellite Systems, e-BIRD was launched by an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana during the night of September 27 to 28 at 23.14 GMT (01.14 Paris time).

After a series of in-orbit tests, the satellite will enter service in November at 33 degrees East in order to provide coverage of Europe and Turkey.

The launch of e-BIRD's satellite boosts Eutelsat's commitment to developing resources and technology in Europe that enable satellites to be a key player in bridging the digital divide by serving regions not served by ADSL and other terrestrial broadband technologies.

With a configuration of multiple spotbeams, each providing high-power regional coverage, e-BIRD can contribute to national and pan-European broadband programmes such as the European Union's e-Europe initiative that aims for all schools, universities and businesses to have access to the Internet by 2005.

It is estimated that a quarter of the population and between 10 to 40 per cent of Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union and candidate countries do not have access to broadband today.

Commenting on the successful launch Eutelsat's CEO Giuliano Berretta said: "We believe that e-BIRD's unique design breaks new ground in satellite broadband and that this new resource dedicated to Internet applications will truly benefit service providers in Europe by enabling them to expand their broadband offer to users who are not be served by terrestrial broadband solutions.

"This new satellite sits beside the roll-out of multimedia platforms which we and our partners have deployed in order to share costs of on-ground central equipment, and efforts to drive down costs of 2-way user terminals as the third pillar in our broadband strategy."

The particular bandwidth efficiency of e-BIRD has been achieved through a mix of transponders that accommodate the asymmetric nature of Internet traffic between requests and content delivery.

This configuration has been coupled with high gain beams so that users can have broadband connectivity for high-speed Internet access and Virtual Private Networks via sub one metre antennas.

Transmissions to service providers will be routed through the four 108 Mhz bandwidth transponders and the return path will be routed through the sixteen 36 Mhz bandwidth transponders. Hub stations connected to the Internet backbone will receive the signals from users and send content back in high-power.

Through e-BIRD's proximity to Eutelsat's EUROBIRD 1 satellite at 28.5 degrees East, that broadcasts to nearly 7 million homes in the UK, it will also be possible to bundle digital television and radio channels with one-way broadband services through a double-feed receive antenna.

Related Links
Eutelsat
Boeing Satellite Systems
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express

Launch Set For e-BIRD Communications Satellite
St. Louis - Sep 25, 2003
E-BIRD, the first satellite built by Boeing for Eutelsat, S.A. of France, is set to launch on Saturday, September 27. The Boeing 376HP model satellite was built by Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS) in El Segundo, Calif.



Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only














The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights 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 Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.