NEW YORK-Astrolink L.L.C., a strategic venture initiated by Lockheed Martin Corp., announced it received $900 million in equity from founding partners Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, Telespazio and TRW Inc. to develop and build a wireless broadband services system.
Astrolink will focus on services such as carrying traffic for Internet, intranet, multimedia and corporate data networks. Small satellite dishes installed at businesses and homes will allow connection to high-speed networks, and the service will be complementary and compatible with other broadband services such as fiber optics.
The first Astrolink geostationary Ka-band satellite is scheduled to launch in 2002, followed by the launch of three additional satellites at six-month intervals. The first satellite will provide service to customers in Europe and North and South America, said Astrolink.
Lockheed Martin will provide the company’s spacecraft, systems integration and launch services, with Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications acting as one of Astrolink’s service providers. Telespazio will supply the worldwide ground systems and will manage and operate the overall satellite and network control systems during the operational phase. TRW will build the digital, packet-switched communications payloads for the satellites.
