TerreStar Canada begins six-month testing process before commercial launch

TerreStar Networks Canada Inc. took a big step forward last week as the company prepares for commercial services launch next year. Steve Nichols, executive VP of operations, tells Tech Media Reports that placing TerreStar-1 in its assigned orbital location marks a significant milestone that allows the satellite provider to begin six months of testing. “There’s a whole series of engineering tests that will be done to make sure that the core ground network and all of our calibration stations, which are distributed around North America, are all on line and everything is working smoothly,” he says. TerreStar has two gateway earth stations and 20 calibration earth stations, Nichols adds. The company will operate as a carriers’ carrier, offering wholesale capacity to providers for voice, video and data services. Perhaps more importantly is TerreStar’s goal to become a provider of an integrated suit of services for residential, government and enterprise clients. “We’re in essence a wholesaler, and the applications that we have are extending existing service providers’ subscriber service,” Nichols explains. This will mean a close integration of TerreStar’s satellite service with that of terrestrial providers, an opportunity Nichols notes is ideal for a Greenfield operator such as TerreStar. “It allows us to look at different verticals, different customer niche markets ... how consumers are currently using their wireless devices and think about how do we best position ourselves to fully capitalize on what TerreStar can provide,” he says. The company’s TerreStar-1 satellite gives it the ability to evolve just as wireless is moving to an all-IP network. “We’re moving towards a 4G, all-IP LTE environment and so there are features that we will be able to provide as the wireless infrastructure continues to be updated,” Nichols tells TMR. “So we’re looking down the road and making sure that we’re positioned to supplement where carriers are going to be going.” But is there enough demand for another satellite provider in Canada? Nichols believes there is. He points to demands for content and new applications as evidence there is sufficient room for another competitor. “We really think that the market today and the services that we are going to evolve into being able to provide are going to create new markets and new ways that folks are going to be using ,” he says. “There’s going to be a growth in subscriber use that we’re going to be in a position to meet.” Also driving demand, he adds, are those people and organizations looking for an integrated satellite and wireless service. “Its not just a question of what’s the demand that’s in the marketplace today, but that kind of insatiable demand for content and for new ways to use wireless.” And with satellite, he notes, the company can extend beyond the existing terrestrial infrastructure to offer much broader wireless coverage. TerreStar also touts its ability to offer an integrated service across both Canada and the US. The company has licences from both the Federal Communications Commission in the US and Industry Canada. “ allow us to interoperate and be able to certify the equipment that is using the same frequencies. It gives all sorts of opportunities to be able to work off a platform that encourages partnerships between Canada and the US,” Nichols says. “I think that’s a really important vehicle because we need those kinds of tools. This is a great example of technology that can be a tool that gives us practical ways to work together better.”

TerreStar Canada begins six-month testing process before commercial launch

News | 07/20/2009 6:21 pm EDT

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