TS News - AT&T Shelves ka-band Plans

• from: owner-ts-news@tele-satellite.com
• Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 22:12:05 +0900

TELE-satellit News, 4 May 1997

AT&T Shelves ka-band Plans
  NEW YORK, New York, USA, 97/05/04 (SatND) -- AT&T has withdrawn its
application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for
license to construct and launch geostationary Ka-band satellites for its
AT&T VoiceSpan Satellite System. The new class of satellites would have
allowed AT&T the usual, trendy blend of communications services such as
video, data transmission and high-speed Internet services.

  The move comes as no real surprise inasmuch as it was always clear that
not every single one of the proposed Ka-band system can be realised. AT&T
said it was based on an "aggressive plan to concentrate on businesses
central to its core communications services, including such growth areas as
wireless, online and local service. While Ka-band satellite technology
offers new possibilities, it would be a capital-intensive initiative that
doesn't align with AT&T's strategy." AT&T spokesman Gary Morgenstern
pointed out that the company was not withdrawing from the satellite
business completely even though AT&T sold its Skynet Satellite Services
unit to Loral Space & Commmunications Ltd. for US$478 million in March. As
a consequence, AT&T no longer directly owns any communications satellites.

  By: Peter Klanowski
  Source: Sat-ND

(c)TELE-satellit 1997. All rights reserved.

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