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TS News - Worldspace Signs Satellite Control Deal With Alcatel

TELE-satellit News, 5 July 1996

Worldspace Signs Satellite Control Deal With Alcatel
  WASHINGTON, DC, USA, 96/07/05 (TS) -- Worldspace, a US based organization
planning to bring direct, digital, broadcast audio by satellite to
developing nations around the world, has signed a $60 million deal with
Alcatel Espace for the in-orbit operation of its new satellite network.

  The deal with Alcatel Espace will result in construction of a large
spacecraft control center in Toulouse, France. Staffed with up to 45 people,
the center will be responsible for overseeing round-the-clock operations of
WorldSpace's WorldStar satellites.

  Noah Samara, WorldSpace Chairman and Chief Executive said. "We remain on
schedule for the 1998 startup of broadcasting that will reach billions of
people in regions grossly underserved by existing shortwave, AM and FM
coverage."

  The company plans to launch three satellites to provide its service, with
launches scheduled to begin in 1998.

  The first satellite in orbit will be AfriStar 1, which will be located at
21 degrees East. This satellite will be used to target listeners in Africa,
the Middle East and Persian Gulf, as well as parts of the Near East and
Europe. Next to launch will be AsiaStar 1, the company's pan-Asian
satellite, that will be located in orbit at 105 degrees East and is
scheduled to enter space in late 1998. Finally, plans call for the launch of
CaribStar 1 in mid 1999. This satellite will cover the Caribbean, South
America, Latin America, and parts of the southern United States.

  All three satellites will be built by the French/U.K. joint venture
company, Matra-Marconi Space. Europe's Ariane rocket will carry the three
craft into orbit.

  The satellite footprints include three spot beams that give slightly
overlapping, nearly-circular coverage zones. The satellites will handle up
to 288 different channels each from national and international broadcasters.
Each of the channels can carry monaural voice and music having AM broadcast
quality. They can be combined to deliver FM monaural with two channels, FM
stereo with four, near CD quality with six and stereo CD quality with eight.

  WorldSpace recently awarded contracts to SGS Thomson and ITT Intermetall
for the first two million "Starman" micro integrated circuits to equip these
new-generation receivers. Consumer electronics manufacturers from around the
world will be able to produce products with Starman chip sets and market
them through existing consumer distribution networks.

(c)TELE-satellit 1996. All rights reserved.
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