***Satellite Air Interface Standard Proposed
(February 16)
Satellite operators Asia Cellular Satellite (ACeS) and Euro-
African Satellite Telecommunications (EAST) have joined forces
with equipment manufacturers Ericsson Mobile Communications,
Lockheed Martin and Matra Marconi Space to create a satellite air
interface standard, GMSS (Geostationary Mobile Satellite
Standard), developed from existing GSM standards. Inputs from
satellite system operators, satellite manufacturers,
infrastructure and system manufacturers and terminal vendors,
will enable mobile phone users to communicate from anywhere in
the world where the standard is operating.
GMSS will be made available to all parties interested in
implementing the standard. Consumers will benefit by being able
to use mobile phones that are compatible with several satellite
systems in any country where GMSS is offered, while phone
manufacturers may benefit by supplying products in larger volumes
to many markets, establishing economies of scale.
For the satellite service operators GMSS will ensure a rapid
market penetration and allow them to attract subscribers while
increasing and developing their services. Most particularly
however a common air interface will enable operators using
geostationary satellites to compete with the upcoming Low Earth
Orbit and Medium Earth Orbit networks, such as Iridium, currently
edging their way into the market, and - like these systems - to
develop handsets of equivalent size to today's digital cellular
handsets, rather than something the size of a briefcase.
Wave Issue 9038 4/8/99 Article 8-02