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Cisco Intelsat router
(U.S. Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) BC-Cisco-Intelsat-router
To: TECHNOLOGY EDITORS
Contact: Nancy Nolting of Intelsat General Corp., +1-301-571-1239; or
Jennifer Greeson of Cisco, +1-202-354-2968, jegreeso@cisco.com
IRIS Technology Could Enhance Military Communications
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Nov. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A space-tolerant
router designed by Cisco, the leading supplier of networking equipment and
network management for the Internet, flew into orbit today aboard a satellite
of Intelsat, Ltd., the world's leading provider of fixed satellite services.
The payload, on the Intelsat 14 satellite, is a demonstration of Internet
Routing in Space (IRIS) for the U.S. military, which is expected to open up a
number of commercial and military opportunities to improve communications
connectivity around the globe.
The Department of Defense Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration
(JCTD) of IRIS will be managed by Cisco and Intelsat General Corp., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Intelsat. The Cisco IRIS payload will convert to
commercial use following the three-month technology demonstration, set to
begin in January 2010. The IRIS team expects to show that the payload will
directly route an incoming signal on one of the satellite's C- or Ku-band
transponders to a number of ground receivers in either band while avoiding the
time delay and cost of double-hopping the traffic through multiple teleports.
"We expect IRIS to connect the Internet with satellites in space for the
warfighters who need seamless communication between ground-based networks and
satellites used for communications," said Kay Sears, president of Intelsat
General. "Once the capabilities of IRIS are demonstrated, there could be a
great deal of interest in this technology from a wide range of end users, both
inside and outside of government."
Cisco used the commercial Cisco IOS(R) Software for the on-board router,
which is not unlike the routers used in Earth-based computer networks;
however, it required radiation shielding for the harsh environment of space.
"Just as satellites transformed the global reach of communications and led
to significant innovation, so too will the delivery of global IP-based
communications services via satellite drive major cost efficiencies and
flexibility to entities around the globe," said Steven Boutelle, vice
president, Cisco Global Government Solutions Group. "IRIS has the potential to
transform how government agencies and commercial organizations are able to buy
and use IP-based network services to accomplish their missions."
The JCTD grant for the project from the DoD to Intelsat General is the
first such funding ever awarded to a commercial satellite operator.
IRIS offers several distinct advantages over conventional satellite
technology. IRIS can route data to multiple ground receivers in a single step,
increasing transponder utilization. Because the payload regenerates the
signal, its power is increased slightly, allowing a reduction in the size of
sending and receiving terminals, particularly important for mobile
applications.
Finally, the software on the Cisco router and onboard modem can be
upgraded from the ground, which increases the flexibility of the system and
the return on investment for the operator.
With IRIS, users will be able to experience a true mobile network, one
that enables them to connect and communicate how, when and where they want,
and that continuously adapts to their needs without reliance on a predefined,
fixed infrastructure. Cisco intends to partner with satellite manufacturers,
system integrators and end users to deliver services globally to points
currently prohibitive to traditional ground-based networks.
The IRIS payload will support network services for voice, video and data
communications, enabling government agencies, military units or allied forces
to communicate with one another using Internet Protocol and existing ground
equipment.
"IRIS is another example of how hosted payloads allow rapid demonstrations
and introductions of powerful new space technologies," said Don Brown, vice
president of Hosted Payloads at Intelsat General. "This project took less than
three years from JCTD start to launch, showing that the government can
evaluate a pivotal new technology in space within a very short period."
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) will have overall
responsibility for coordinating the demonstration of the IRIS technology among
the government user community and for developing means of using the IRIS
capability once the satellite is in space.
About Intelsat General Corp.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Intelsat General Corporation provides
leading-edge communications solutions to commercial, government, and military
customers through fixed and mobile satellite systems and associated
terrestrial communications services. Intelsat General incorporates flexible
and robust ground and space infrastructure and technical expertise to deliver
reliable, quickly deployable and secure network solutions anywhere around the
globe. Intelsat General is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Intelsat,
Ltd. http://www.intelsatgeneral.com.
Intelsat Safe Harbor Statement: Some of the statements in this news
release constitute "forward-looking statements" that do not directly or
exclusively relate to historical facts. The forward-looking statements made in
this release reflect Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions
and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, including known and
unknown risks. Detailed information about some of the known risks is included
in Intelsat's annual report on Form 10-K for the year that ended 31 December
2008 and Intelsat's other periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. Because actual results could differ materially from
Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the
future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements contained in this
news release with caution. Intelsat does not undertake any obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
About Cisco
Cisco, (Nasdaq: CSCO), is the worldwide leader in networking that
transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about
Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to
http://news.room.cicso.com.
Cisco, the Cisco logo, Cisco Systems, and Cisco IOS are registered
trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the
United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in
this document or Website are the property of their respective owners. The use
of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco
and any other company.
SOURCE Intelsat General Corp.
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(c) 2009 U.S. Newswire Corp.
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