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Twelve Million Satellite Voice Terminals to be Installed by 2002
A report to be issued by Allied Business Intelligence, “Bandwidth On-demand Satellite Systems: 97,” studies the emerging market for satellite systems that will connect individuals upon demand without the user being required to lease time in advance. A number of satellite systems scheduled for launch during the next five years to provide narrowband and broadband services on demand to individuals and businesses are examined. The systems will be owned privately and many will provide services in areas with little existing telecommunication infrastructure. More than 337,000 multi-user voice terminals and more than 11 million single-user terminals are expected be installed through 2002 when subscriber revenue to the services is forecast to exceed $11 B.
Four major types of satellite systems are examined, including global voice systems providing narrowband service using satellites in mid-earth and low earth orbits (LEO); regional voice systems using geostationary satellites to provide service in an area such as Asia or North America; little LEO systems for brief messaging, remote positioning and monitoring worldwide; and broadband on demand, which will use Ka- and Ku-band satellites to provide high power very small aperture terminal (VSAT)-equivalent services on demand to individuals and businesses. Systems are being planned with projected costs ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of dollars and will compete for markets that have never been served by wireless or wireline. Each of the major systems is examined in the report; plans, partners and existing contracts are detailed; and systems not likely to be built are identified. In addition, demand for satellite voice communications on a country-by-country basis for the next five years is projected and terminal sales are forecast for each. For additional information, contact Allied Business Intelligence (516) 624-3113, fax (516) 624-3115.
New IEEE Electrical and Electronic Term Standard Dictionary is Available
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) has announced the availability of an updated IEEE standard dictionary of electrical and electronic terms. The new edition, which provides an accurate, dependable and comprehensive resource for the most current standardized terms and definitions, has undergone extensive revision and contains over 33,000 entries of standardized terms and definitions from all fields of electrical engineering, electronics and information technology. More than 10,000 entries are new or have been updated since the last edition. Also, the new edition incorporates the most widely used acronyms and abbreviations, and a detailed abstract of IEEE standards. Definitions of the alphabetically arranged terms are augmented with additional information, including technical categories, variations in meanings among different technical specialties, cross indexing to related works, explanatory notes and source identification. The publication’s product number is SH94459. For further information, contact IEEE Customer Service, 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331 (800) 678-4333.
First-quarter US Electronics Sales Rise Eight Percent to Nearly $107 B
The Electronic Industries Association reports that US factory sales of electronics equipment, components and related products were nearly $107 B during the first quarter of 1997, an eight percent increase over sales in the corresponding quarter of 1996. The category containing other related products enjoyed the strongest growth as its first-quarter 1997 sales were $16.3 B compared to $14.1 B in 1996, a 15 percent gain. The telecommunications sector was a close second with sales increasing to $15.1 B from $13.4 B, a 13 percent increase. The electromedical equipment, consumer electronics, and computers and peripherals sectors registered growths of nine, eight and seven percent, respectively. Also, for the first time in a number of quarterly reports, the defense communications sector registered a growth in sales with shipments totaling $7.2 B in the first quarter of 1997 compared to $6.8 B in the first quarter of 1996. Industrial electronics suffered the only reduction in shipments compared to last year with sales falling one percent from $8.3 B to $8.2 B.
Study Covers Wireless Antenna Market
A report to be published by Allied Business Intelligence, “Wireless Antenna Markets: Global Technologies & Strategies for Voice & Data Communications,” examines the major technologies that use ground-based and mobile antennas. Among the technologies covered are cellular telephony, personal communications systems (PCS), VSATs, direct-to-home and direct-broadcast satellite (DBS) systems, the Global Positioning System (GPS) and various satellite communications systems.
The section of the report dealing with cellular, PCS and paging focuses on the manner in which subscriber demand will affect the base station antenna market. Cellular networks alone are expected to add 35,000 base station antennas worldwide this year. PCS networks, which require three- to six-times more antennas to cover a given market, will quickly add their demands to this market as efforts are mounted to make the $10 B paid for licenses bear fruit. Data for these markets are presented geographically by antenna type, cost and vendor share. US production is also compared with competitive offshore figures.
Radio and television broadcast antenna data are presented by frequency, size, transmission characteristics and cost, and the potential impact of DBS on this market is analyzed. An explosion in the demand for GPS antennas is predicted as automobile GPS receivers proliferate. Sales of 10 million GPS receivers annually are forecast by 2000.
In addition, sales of 50,000 VSAT base station antennas are forecast this year. This market is expected to be particularly strong in areas with a weak telecommunications infrastructure. Currently, DBS is in use in an estimated four million homes, and its use is growing faster than VCRs did during their first few years on the market. A saturation level of 20 million households is possible, but results will be affected by the many choices and technologies now offered for program delivery. Satellite systems worldwide and their demand for ground-based antennas are also covered. Antenna supplier profiles provide contact information, product offerings, major competition, corporate history and ownership. An appendix includes glossaries, antenna and subscriber tables, and service providers. For additional information, contact Allied Business Intelligence (516) 624-3113, fax (516) 624-3115.
Boeing to Build Internet-in-the-sky
Teledesic Corp. and Boeing Co. have announced that Boeing will become an equity partner in Teledesic and serve as the prime contractor for Teledesic’s global, broadband Internet-in-the-sky. Boeing will lead an international effort to design, build and launch the Teledesic network, a task with an estimated value of $9 B. The network, which will consist of a constellation of several hundred LEO satellites, is intended to provide affordable, worldwide fiber-like access to telecommunications services such as broadband Internet access, video conferencing and interactive media.
The announcement follows the Federal Communications Commission’s approval of Teledesic’s license to build and operate the network. Service, expected to begin in 2002, will provide switched, broadband network connections through service partners in host countries worldwide. The network structure will emulate that of the Internet while providing quality, location-insensitive service. Using the network, companies will be able to connect branch offices throughout the world to their existing global networks.