INTELSAT´s broadband system studies

Over the past few years INTELSAT has carried out studies to assess the viability of a potential satellite system that would be able to provide broadband services starting in 2003-2004. The results of these studies indicate that there is a significant and growing demand for interactive multimedia services on a global basis and satellites can capture a considerable portion of the resulting traffic in spite of strong competition by terrestrial systems. Business and professional users will drive demand especially in the initial years. Early market entry appears to be a critical element of a strategy aimed at minimizing economic risks. Additional ways to mitigate economic risks include conducting further primary market research and evaluating an interim strategy that would leverage existing INTELSAT´s Ku-band resources to provide and market test broadband capabilities. Interactive multimedia services will be provided by broadband space segment and ground segment technologies. The selection of these broadband technologies is currently in progress and will be made on the basis of the results of numerous trade-off studies. A report on these trade-off studies is presented in conjunction with a description of the services which are targeted