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Aviation History
1983
1983 - 0985.PDF
PARIS SPECIAL The Eutelsat connection About two-thirds of the world's J-\ international telecommunications are handled by Intelsat, via its collection of craft above the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. But surprisingly, links among European coun tries are nearly all landline or microwave- beam, and none are via Intelsat. This situation is about to change dramatically thanks to Eutelsat, an organ isation created by European telecom munications administrations (PTTs). Eutelsat will manage and operate a network of comsats, beginning with the first European Communications Satellite (ECS 1)—due to be launched in June on the next Ariane flight. It plans an operational network of two crai't, one of them an in-orbit, spare carry ing pi°-emptible traffic. Four main services will be offered by the ECS network. First, relay of telephone calls, data, and similar traffic, in time-division , multiple access (TDMA) mode. Secondly, relay of television programmes. Thirdly, •direct business communications among t companies, via small on-site ground stations. Leasing transponders to PTTs 'for domestic, or international use is the .fourth role. Eutelsat was set up along the lines of •Intelsat, and most of its members belong ^to both bodies. The crucial difference is that Eutelsat aims to provide a regional 'service, and Europe naturally wants to be at the helm of it. At first there was some 'criticism from Intelsat, concerned that it >might suffer economic harm, and wanting Eutelsat to seek international approval for its plans. , Eutelsat refuted the critisism, empha sising that Intelsat plays no part in today's *intra-European communications, and , Intelsat's lack of investment in business links. It adds that all of its members are •party to Intelsat, and points to five years EUTELSAT SHARES France United Kingdom Italy West Germany Netherlands ] Sweden J Belgium 1 Spam J Switzerland 1 Denmark J Greece 1 Portugal J Finland 1 Norway I Austria I Cyprus J Jugoslavia | Turkey J Ireland 1 Luxembourg Per cent 16 4 16 1 1 10 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 4 5 8 a 5 9 6 4 3 2 0 7 5 0 0 0 9 2 02 ECS I will relaly television programmes, tele phone calls, and data via three spotbeams and a Jiurobeam. It lacks satellite multiservice coverage, which is included from ECS 2 onward Eutelsat will soon be linking European countries via satellite. David Velupillai reports from Paris on its plans. Eutelsat's first craft is the European Communications Satellite (ECS) of successful co-ordination between the two organisations. How then, asks Eutelsat, can it do serious harm to the bigger Intelsat? Paris-based Eutelsat is a commercial organisation run on accepted business principles. It aims to be the vehicle for individual PTTs to make a profit, rather than to make one itself. Permanent staff is currently about 120, of which about two- thirds are directly involved in satellite work. Most of the remainder are represen tatives. The organisations' roots go back to June 1977, when Interim Eutelsat was formed. An inter-governmental treaty and operating agreement, approved in May last year, provided a firmer framework. Eutelsat's practical work has been unhampered since then, though it is likely to be early 1984 before full legal-status is achieved by the parliamentary approval of each member country.' Eutelsat has delegated to ESA the purchase of ECS, Ariane launches, and satellite operation. Five craft have been ordered from prime contractor British Aerospace Dynamics, which expects to complete assembly of each at nine-month intervals. These are the minimum needed to guarantee ten years of operation with a two-craft network. Atlantic spotbeam Eurobeam West spot beam East spotbeam LIGHT International, 28 May 1983
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