1. Overview
(a) Mission and services
The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT) was originally established in 1964 on an ad hoc basis by 11 countries that formed a single body to establish a global commercial communications satellite system that would provide a wider range of telecommunication services to all countries on a non-discriminatory basis.In 1973, INTELSAT members adopted In 1973, the members of INTELSAT adopted a permanent agreement to replace the ad hoc arrangements and decided to pool their resources*** in a common effort to realize the many political, economic and operational benefits that the INTELSAT system could bring. The mission of INTELSAT then, which continues today, is to provide a wider range of telecommunication services to all regions of the world, without discrimination, in order to enhance world peace and understanding.
Intelsat was the first organization to provide a complete range of telecommunications services through satellite coverage and communication around the globe, and its global satellite systems provide telephone, television and data transmission services to hundreds of millions of people on five continents.
Today, INTELSAT owns and operates a global satellite system that provides two broad categories of services to users in more than 200 countries, territories and dependencies on five continents. These service categories are voice/data and imagery. Voice/data services include the public *** switched telephone network (intermediate data rates, Internet, time division multiple access, on-demand multiple access) and private network services (INTELSAT commercial services, VSAT commercial services and private point-to-point and multipoint network services). Imagery services include broadcasting, satellite newsgathering, special event services, live home broadcasting and telemedicine/distance learning.
In the event of a trans-oceanic submarine fiber-optic cable outage, INTELSAT resources are also used to restore cable services. These services include: single, multiple and secondary cable restoration and cable line restoration.
In addition, INTELSAT provides customized launch support services to external customers. Customer-designed launch support services include transfer orbit support services, command services, telemetry and beacon signal strength, trajectory and ranging services, voice and data communications between the customer's mission control center and the INTELSAT satellite control center, and flight dynamics support services.
All member states of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) may join as members. The INTELSAT system is available to all countries (member and non-member). Member States/owners invest in the system according to their relative use of the system and receive a return on their investment, and all users of INTELSAT services pay a user fee. The fees vary according to the type, volume and duration of the service. In this way, INTELSAT allocates its capacity to its users, who in turn provide INTELSAT services to end-users in their service areas. Some countries have chosen to authorize more than one organization to provide INTELSAT services within their countries.
In addition to enjoying the advantages of modern communications provided by the INTELSAT system, member States have associated rights and benefits, including the right to attend all INTELSAT meetings and conferences and to participate in the INTELSAT decision-making process; the right to receive INTELSAT documents; the opportunity to take advantage of INTELSAT's programmes of assistance and training and development; and to consult with INTELSAT international technical staff. The technical staff consults with ITU and its divisions (radiocommunication, telecommunication standardization and telecommunication development), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) and other member States, who can draw on this knowledge in solving technical, operational, financial, planning and service development problems, as well as in transferring technology through INTELSAT's research and development activities.
(b) Structure
The structure of INTELSAT is based on the principle of commercial action on a par with the principle of international cooperation. INTELSAT operates within a dual framework that applies to governmental and telecommunication entities respectively. This framework consists of two separate but interrelated sets of agreements: the INTELSAT Agreement, which is concluded between governments and sets out general principles; and the Operating Agreement, which is concluded between governments or their designated telecommunications entities and sets out more detailed technical, operational and financial guidelines.
Each member country participates in the governance of INTELSAT through the three decision-making organs of INTELSAT: the Assembly of States Parties, and the Council of the Meeting of Signatories. Most decisions of INTELSAT member states are made by consensus.
The Assembly of States Parties, which consists of representatives of all the Governments that have signed the INTELSAT Agreement, generally meets every two years to consider the general policy and long-term objectives of the Organization. The Conference of Signatories consists of representatives of all signatories to the Operating Agreement (member governments or their designated telecommunication entities) and meets annually to consider the financial, technical and operational aspects of the satellite communications system. The Council of INTELSAT is composed of representatives of the signatory States that have invested, individually or collectively, shares up to the minimum share criterion for membership in the Council, as determined annually by the Meeting of Signatory States. The Council meets every three months to decide on matters relating to the design, development, construction, establishment, operation and maintenance of the INTELSAT space segment and other operational matters. The Council is assisted by its Advisory Committee on Technical Matters, its Advisory Committee on Planning, its Committee on Budget and Finance and its Audit Committee.
The day-to-day management and operations of INTELSAT are the responsibility of INTELSAT management, which consists of more than 600 staff members from more than 90 countries, under the unified leadership of the Director-General and Chief Administrative Officer. The management of INTELSAT is accountable to the Council.
(c) Space Segment and Ground Segment
I Space Segment
Intelsat has a fleet of more than 20 technologically advanced, high-powered spacecraft in geostationary orbit, deployed in four service areas with overlapping coverage: the Atlantic region, the Indian Ocean region, the Asia-Pacific region and the Pacific region. INTELSAT spacecraft include: INTELSAT V/V-S; LNTELSAT VI; INTELSAT VII/VII-A and INTELSAT VIII. In addition, INTELSAT has an operational INTELSAT K full Ku-band satellite. two INTELSAT VIII satellites will be launched in 1998.
II Ground Segment
The ground station of a satellite communications system is an important link to the global communications services of INTELSAT. Earth stations are owned and operated by governmental or other entities and enterprises in various countries. INTELSAT establishes technical and operational standards for the earth stations, which must be followed by all INTELSAT users.
The different types of earth stations are as follows:
(a) Standards A, B, and C are used for all INTELSAT services: voice/data and imagery services, with antenna diameter dimensions of 15-19 meters, 10-13 meters, and 11-14 meters, respectively;
(b) Standards D1 and D2 for low-density telephony services of the Video Calling Satellite Service (VCS), using antenna diameters of 4.5-11 meters;
(c) Standards E1, E2, E3, F1, and F2 for INTELSAT commercial and intermediate data rate services, using antenna diameters of 3.5 -4.5 meters, 5.5-7 meters, 8-10 meters, 4.5-5 meters, and 7-8 meters, respectively. Due to operational constraints, Standard E1 and F1 earth stations will be used for intermediate data rate carriers only in a limited number of cases;
(d) Standard F3 is used for international voice and data communications, including INTELSAT commercial services and intermediate data rate services, with antenna diameter sizes of 9-10 meters;
(e) Standard G is used for international and domestic leased services, using a various antenna sizes;
(f) Standards H2, H3, and H4 are used for on-demand multiplexed access and very small earth station (VSES) commercial services, with antenna diameter dimensions of 1.8, 2.4, and 4.7 meters, respectively;
(g) Standards K2 and K3 are used for VSES commercial services, with antenna diameters of 1.2 meters and 1.8 meters, respectively;
(h) Standards A, B, D1, D2, F1, F2, F3, G, H2, H3 and H4 use the 6/4 GHz band. Standard C uses the 14/11 GHz frequency band, while standards E1, E2, E3, G, K2 and K3 use both the 14/12 GHz frequency band.
(d) Support for the development of telecommunications
Intelsat runs special programmes to provide experience and training in the operation and management of satellite communications systems. The beneficiaries of the programme are individuals, sponsoring signatory States and INTELSAT.
The INTELSAT Trustee Programme was established to give technical personnel nominated by signatory organizations the opportunity to gain experience at INTELSAT headquarters and a different perspective on INTELSAT system management. The Young Professionals Program helps professionals at the beginning of their careers to gain valuable experience in a multicultural business environment. The INTELSAT internship programme is designed to give undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to gain practical work experience in different parts of the Organization.
The INTELSAT Beneficiary Programs provide INTELSAT users with a full range of technical, operational and financial assistance, depending on the level of assistance required, which is provided free of charge to users. These programs include the INTELSAT Assistance and Development Program, the INTELSAT Signatory Training Program and the Digital Equipment Loan Program. Under the first two programmes, signatories and users receive technical and operational assistance and training related to their use of INTELSAT systems. Under the INTELSAT Digital Equipment Loan Program, subscribing States may borrow funds for the acquisition of digital equipment for use on INTELSAT systems.
In addition to the assistance programmes mentioned above, the Project Access Program (a programme established by INTELSAT in 1977) encourages the use of satellite technology for development projects by providing users who have established operational and financial plans for routine commercial services with free access to INTELSAT space segment capabilities for demonstrations of health, education or closely related social services. The Project Access Program is designed to assist areas where communications are limited or where new communications conditions can be developed.
(e) Facilities
Intelsat is headquartered in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, with regional service centers in Singapore, Mumbai, India, and London. In addition, INTELSAT maintains spacecraft program offices in California and East Winters, United States; Toulouse, France; and Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
Intelsat maintains six telemetry, tracking, command and monitoring stations around the world to monitor satellites in orbit, check their flight attitude and relay vital information about their operations on a continuous basis. The monitoring stations are located at Perth, Australia; Beijing; Reinstein, Germany; Fauzino, Italy; and Clarksburg and Pomeroy, United States. These stations provide advanced telemetry, tracking, command and monitoring network capabilities with streamlined operating procedures and reduced operating costs.
2. Activities
(a) Past activities
Policy
The future prospects of INTELSAT are a reflection of the combined efforts of its States Parties and sponsoring States***. These efforts are reflected in the deliberations and decisions of the Assembly of States Parties, the meetings of the Administering Powers and the Council, as well as in the implementation of those decisions by the INTELSAT administration. Over the years, INTELSAT member States have considered and acted on a variety of matters to ensure that INTELSAT's future prospects reflect new competitive realities and successful competitive strategies.
In order to adapt to the changing telecommunications environment, the decision-making organs of INTELSAT have discussed key issues related to the future and structure of the organization and have developed and implemented an effective strategic plan to guide the transformation process of the organization. INTELSAT has changed the basic design principles of its spacecraft, adopted new methods of financing its satellite acquisitions, changed its communications arrangements to accommodate the varying regulations of its responding States and eliminated the coordination requirement of article 14 (d) for those member States wishing to have a separate system for public ****exchange network services to be used for economic damages.In April 1997, the Assembly of States Parties to the Treaty on the important decisions on the future of INTELSAT. These decisions concerned the establishment of a commercial subsidiary to provide imagery and new services under favorable competitive conditions. Prior to the establishment of the commercial subsidiary, a number of outstanding issues were still being resolved. After the Extraordinary General Assembly of States Parties in March 1998, a final text will be ready for submission in accordance with the decisions of the final reform proposals.
II Contribution of systems, services and development
The past 30 years have seen major changes in the energy and satellite lifetime of INTELSAT's satellite systems, which have enabled INTELSAT to continue to provide new and broader service capabilities in response to market demand. New approaches to spacecraft design are being explored to meet the growing demand for space telecommunications services.
Today, INTELSAT's powerful multifunctional satellites, such as INTELSAT VII/VII-A and INTELSAT VIII/VIII-A, offer further coverage, improved redundancy and reliability, and better signaling performance. INTELSAT VII has a communications capacity of 18,000 simultaneous telephone lines (using digital line multipliers). INTTELSAT VII has a communication capacity of 18,000 channels (up to 90,000 channels with digital line doubling equipment) and three TV channels simultaneously, while VII-A enhanced satellite is capable of transmitting 22,500 telephone communications (up to 112,500 channels with digital line doubling equipment). INTTELSAT VII/VII-A satellites have a life span of 10-15 years, and can be reconfigured instantly according to the difference in the communication status and service requirements of each oceanic area and the change in orbit. The coverage capacity of the satellites can be reconfigured instantly on changing orbits. These satellites are also compatible with Very Small Earth Stations (VSES), providing further enhanced C-band and Ku-band capabilities.
INTELSAT VIII/VIII-A satellites are capable of simultaneously transmitting 22,500 two-way telephone communications and three television channels (up to 112,500 telephone communications with the use of digital line multiplier equipment). These satellites have a lifetime of 14-18 years, and capabilities include six-fold multiplexing of C-band frequencies, two-fold frequency multiplexing to extend C-band capacity, and maximum terrestrial C-band power not previously achieved by INTELSAT satellites.INTELSAT VIII features include interconnecting operation between two independently modulated Ku-bands; the ability to link point bundles to provide a wider range of satellite newsgathering services, including a circuit of Ku-band type portable satellite newsgathering stations for voice/data communications.
INTELSAT VIII-A, also known as Continental, will use orbital stations over the continent to provide additional communication channels and greater flexibility for regional and international applications.
Since 1965, when INTELSAT first began offering commercial communications satellite services, the services it provides have been continuously enhanced and upgraded to meet the competitive challenges posed by the marketplace. The redefinition of INTELSAT voice and data services has facilitated the introduction of new flexible services such as fine-path multiplexed access on demand (DAMA), low-cost time-division multiplexed access (TDD), a new very small earth station (VSES) service for the Internet and other data-networked applications, and an Internet product line. In addition, new picture services were offered, two sets of which offered discounts based on frequency usage (turn-by-turn and recurring services) and one set of services that took advantage of INTELSAT's pioneering role in digital compression technology (digital C-band satellite newsgathering).
In order to achieve its objectives, INTELSAT continued to streamline its procedures and strengthen its regional offices. in 1996, INTELSAT opened a customer service center, which is a point of contact dedicated to providing reservations for services and responding to customer inquiries. In the same year, INTELSAT opened offices in India (Mumbai). Europe (London) and Asia and the Pacific (Singapore), thus bringing it closer to its signatories and customers in key regions of the world. in 1997, in order to better serve the African region, INTELSAT and the Regional African Satellite Communications Organization (RASCOM) established a joint programme to promote telecommunications services in Africa.
One of the major achievements under the INTELSAT Beneficiary Program in 1996 was the establishment of a Regional Training and Internship Center in Lomé. The center, opened in joint collaboration with the African Regional Satellite Communications Organization (ARSO), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and ITU, will be used to provide hands-on training in satellite and other telecommunication equipment for engineers and technicians from Africa and other countries.
In October 1997, INTELSAT, through its Project Access Program, broadcast free of charge worldwide the Telefood (Television Symposium on Food), the first worldwide marathon television program organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to raise awareness and encourage global solidarity in the fight against hunger and to raise funds from Governments, businesses and individuals to launch a program of action for rural populations in developing regions. More than 70 broadcasters in more than 60 countries around the world are linked together, and INTELSAT's free communications service enables countries with severe food shortages to join in the production of the programme. 1996 saw the application of the Project Access Programme by a number of organizations, such as the World Bank for the University of the Air project in Africa, and by INTELSAT's Japanese signatory, the International Telecommunication and Telephone Company, for scientific experimentation activities.
(b) Current activities
Intelsat is continuing to focus its resources on marketing and customer service, the development of new spacecraft assets, telecommunication development in collaboration with other agencies and the process of structural change. INTELSAT's goal is to remain committed to its mission and fundamental principles of universal service and equal pricing worldwide, while achieving quality service and customer satisfaction in a changing global marketplace.
In response to increasing customer demand, INTELSAT awarded two contracts for new spacecraft - INTELSAT LX and K-TV. Two INTELSAT LX spacecraft are being acquired for the Indian Ocean region to replace INTELSAT VI satellites and to meet the increasing demand of INTELSAT customers in the Asia Pacific region. Organization (INTELSAT) customers in the Asia-Pacific region. The two new spacecraft will have 44 C-band transponders and 12 Ku-band transponders, an orbital operating life of 13-15 years and a capacity of 32,000 calls or 160,000 calls with digital line multiplier equipment, making them the highest-capacity INTELSAT satellites ever built. Two additional INTELSAT LX spacecraft with an Atlantic Ocean regional configuration and another hemispheric/regional transmission array for the Indian Ocean region are being acquired to ensure continuity of service to those regions. The first INTELSAT LX satellite is scheduled for launch in 2000 and will be positioned over the Indian Ocean region.
K-TV, a new, high-power imagery-capable INTELSAT satellite, will enhance INTELSAT's ability to provide state-of-the-art imagery propagation and distribution service applications, such as live home broadcasting and other VSAT imagery products.
The K-TV satellite, which became operational in early 1999, will have 30 Ku-band transponders, capable of simultaneously retransmitting 210 television programs simultaneously.
Currently, INTELSAT's service and development activities address potential commercial offerings in a number of key service areas, such as the Internet, Ku-band and Ka-band multimedia services, live home broadcasting, broadband services (such as air traffic management and time-division multiplexing), and rural telephony systems combining radio and VSAT technologies. INTELSAT is also working to enhance existing services to enable the signatories to expand their range of services or customer base, for example, by expanding the Internet services provided by INTELSAT through the use of terrestrial network technology and the use of live home broadcasting and video distribution systems, as well as by expanding INTELSAT's commercial services to include VSAT antenna reception.
(c) Future activities
In fulfilling its mission, INTELSAT will continue to play a role in bridging the telecommunications gap between the developed and developing worlds. Satellites will inevitably play an increasingly important and critical role in global communications and the development of global infrastructure. In the developing world, INTELSAT's most difficult task, which will continue into the next century, is the provision of ubiquitous and affordable voice and data services, as well as a reliable backbone communications network to communicate with the developed world.
Future INTELSAT service development and technology programmes will continue to take into account the rapidly changing technological and market developments in the following service or technology areas; centralized Internet services, video, personal communications services, Ka-band multimedia services, and voice and data services for the public*** switchboard communications network. New satellites under acquisition will expand the scope of the current system architecture, add new flexibility to the global network and provide new spacecraft options that will expand the services provided by INTELSAT for years to come, while ensuring the continuation of core commercial services.
3. International cooperation
The Director-General of INTELSAT submits an annual report on INTELSAT activities to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and to the other specialized agencies concerned, in accordance with article 21 (c) of the INTELSAT Agreement. INTELSAT also participates in and contributes to the meetings of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and supports the United Nations Programme on Space Applications.
International Telecommunication Union
Intelsat designs, develops, manufactures and operates the INTELSAT system in accordance with the provisions of article 13 of its Operating Agreement and the relevant regulations of ITU, taking due account of the relevant recommendations and procedures of the various sections of ITU relating to standardization of radiocommunications and telecommunications.
In addition, INTELSAT cooperates with ITU in activities of mutual interest to each other, particularly in the development of telecommunications. INTELSAT participates in various international and regional conferences and forums of ITU (the World Radiocommunication Conference, the World Telecommunication Policy Forum, the World Telecommunication Standardization Conference and the World and Regional Telecommunication Development Conferences, as well as various telecommunication conferences). INTELSAT actively contributes to relevant study groups in the ITU sectors of radiocommunication, telecommunication standardization and telecommunication development and participates in advisory bodies such as the Radio Advisory Group, the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group and the Telecommunication Development Advisory Council.
Intelsat has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of power arrangements for global mobile personal satellite communications, including regional systems. As its name implies, a global mobile personal satellite communications system includes any satellite system, fixed or mobile, broadband or narrowband, global or regional, geostationary or non-geostationary, existing or planned, that provides telecommunication services directly from a constellation of satellites to end-users. A satellite constellation may include one or more satellites, whether geostationary or non-geostationary, acting as a whole system. The Memorandum of Understanding on Global Mobile Personal Satellite Communications (MOU) arose out of the November 1996 ITU First World Telecommunication Policy Forum. Although non-binding, the MOU facilitates the free circulation of globally mobile personal satellite communications equipment among signatory countries. Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding include national administrations, members of ITU divisions, operators of globally mobile personal satellite communications (GMPCS) systems, GMPCS service providers and manufacturers of GMPCS terminal equipment.
European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)
In 1994, INTELSAT became an associate member of ETSI. INTELSAT participates in ETSI activities, in particular in the Satellite Earth Station Working Group.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Since 1998, INTELSAT has closely followed and participated in the activities of two subcommittees of ISO Joint Technical Committee 1. These two subcommittees are Subcommittee 6, which is responsible for services for the standardization of information technology (Layer 1-4 protocols), and Subcommittee 21, which is responsible for standards for open systems interconnection, data management and open distributed processing (Layer 5-7 protocols, services and system architecture). Shortly before that, Subcommittee 21 was dissolved and its work transferred to Subcommittees 32 (Data Management Services) and 33 (Distributed Applications Services).
Internet Engineering Task Force
Intelsat participates in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IET), whose parent organization is the Internet Society. The Internet Engineering Group (IEG) is responsible for the development of Internet protocols and facilitates the transfer of technology from the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF).
681. INTELSAT has formal and informal relationships with other international and regional organizations. These organizations include: the International Maritime Organization; the Arapahoe Satellite Communications Organization; the Arapahoe Telecommunications Union; the Asia-Pacific Telecommunications*** Community; the Caribbean Telecommunication Union; the Central African Customs and Economic Union; the Commonwealth Satellite Telecommunications Organization; the Economic*** Community of West African States; the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrators; the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (EUTELSAT); the Center for the Study of the Hispanic Communities of the United States of America (CSEC) and the Association of Telecommunication Companies (ATC); the Inter-American Commission on Telecommunications (CITEL); Intergovernmental Authority on Information Science (IGAS); International Mobile Satellite Organization (Inmarsat); Pacific Telecommunication Council (PTC); Pan-African Telecommunication Union (PATEL); International Organization of Space Communications (INTERSPUTNIK); regional associations in the field of communications; South Pacific Economic Cooperation (SPEC), etc.; Technical Commission for Telecommunications in Central America (CTEAC); African Union of Posts and Telecommunications (AUPAT);
4, products and services, technical information on its satellite systems, including annual reports in the three official languages of INTELSAT (English, French and Spanish). This information is also available on the INTELSAT home page.
The INTELSAT organs and advisory boards issue official documents in the official languages to all INTELSAT members.
5. Contact Points
Vice-President, Extemal Afflirs
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
3400 International Drive, N.W.
Washington, D.C., 2008-3098, United States of America
Telephone:+(1(202)944-7011
Facsimile :+(1)(202)944-7661 and(1)(202)944-7890
Telephone:+(1)(202)944-7011
Facsimile.