A satellite platform for multimedia exchange between Europe and Japan-the Gamma project

The Gamma project will realise a product of the European Union´s ACTS programme. Within Gamma duplex satellite links at megabit rates will be established with Japan. Additionally a 2 Mb/s satellite network, together with a range of terrestrial based networking facilities will be established to provide Europe-wide connectivity and ultimately links via CANTAT to Canada and the USA. A number of communication applications are resident within Gamma and it is anticipated that other “non Gamma” applications will request use of the network during the life of the project. The advent of the project will permit European and Japanese players to present their applications remotely as well as allowing interaction over a long distance. The project will complete the last link in the Global Broadband Integrated Network (GIBN) foreseen as part of the infrastructure building activity of the Group of Seven (G7) nations