From: rdickel@cs.strath.ac.uk (Robert A Dickel IE91)
Newsgroups: rec.video.satellite
Subject: Satnews 098/1
Date: 8 Jan 93 17:54:43 GMT
Organization: Comp. Sci. Dept., Strathclyde Univ., Glasgow, Scotland.
Originator: rdickel@lister-07.cs.strath.ac.uk

You are seeing the new commercial version of Satnews that will be made
available to our printed subscribers.

Please take a look.

Darren Ingram
Satnews





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                    incorporating TV Briefly

:----------------------Electronic Edition-----------------------:
:                                                               :
: Issue: 098 :-------:Published Biweekly:------: Date: 04/01/93 :
:                                                               :
:--------------(C) Copyright 1991,92 Darren Ingram--------------:
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: SATNEWS is published biweekly by Darren   : HOW TO CONTACT US :
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:                 : Dr. Helmut Vahlbruch    : special Internet/ :
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:                 : And others              : that saves money! :
:---------------------------------------------------------------: 

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION:

NEW EXTENDED SATNEWS
AUSTRALIAN SATELLITE EXPLODES AFTER CHINESE LAUNCH
EC HDTV FUNDING BLOCKED AGAIN BY DISPUTE
HIGH NOON FOR EUROPEAN ENCRYPTION STANDARDS
SOGECABLE COMMENCES ASTRA 1B TRIALS
US GOVERNMENT CONSIDER SALE OF SPY SATELLITE
EUROPEAN TV NEWS NETWORK LAUNCHED
FERRANTI TO WORK ON DEFENCE SATCOMMS PROJECT
ROMANIA SIGNS SPACE EXPLORATION AGREEMENT
HKT SIGNS CONTRACT FOR CDTV SERVICE PROVISION
RELIGIOUS NETWORK PULLS OUT OF GAMES CHANNEL
JAPANESE DBS SATELLITE LAUNCH CONTRACT SIGNED
TELCO TO BATTLE IN US CABLE MARKET
UK TROOPS BENEFIT FROM SATPHONE HOME
NEW CONTRACTS FOR MAXAT AND ACQUISITIONS
ASIA-PACIFIC REGION MUST IMPROVE SATCOMMS USE
HUGHES TO PROVIDE LARGE SHARED HUB
COMSTREAM LAUNCH NEW SCPC RECEIVER
BSKYB RIVAL NETWORK MAY BECOME INDEPENDENT
CNN BUYS STAKE IN GERMAN NEWS NETWORK
INTELSAT VIII SATELLITES TO BE LAUNCHED BY ARIANESPACE
NEW HOME SHOPPING CHANNEL FOR EUROPE
SATELLITE TV BLAMED FOR INDIAN RIOTS
USAF OPTS FOR BRIGHT EYES SATELLITE
SPAT ON IRISH CABLE SYSTEM OVER BSKYB
SATELLITE ROTATED FOR SOMALIAN SNG BROADCASTERS
VSAT SUPPLIERS MUST COOPERATE SAYS BT
GALILEO ANTENNAS STILL JAMMED SAYS NASA
CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON CHINESE SAT CONTROL STATION
CONFLICT ON UK SATELLITE MARKET SHARE
AD-HDTV TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATED AROUND WORLD
REPORT IT, BUY IT BACK, GET SHOT
PANAMSAT RECEIVES FUNDING BOOST FOR EXPANSION
US AND RUSSIA CREATE JOINT SPACE VENTURE
RETURN PLANNED FOR POWER STATION MUSIC CHANNEL?
TRW TO DELIVER SECOND MILSTAR SATELLITE
DOMESTIC SATELLITE CONTRACT FOR ARGENTINA
UK TELEVISION WATCHDOG ACTS ON ADVERTISEMENTS
POLISH RADIO LEASE SUBCARRIER FOR EURO BROADCASTS
EUROPESAT AGREEMENT
FEATURE: CABLE VIEWING HABITS IN THE UK
NEWS IN BRIEF
EUROPEAN SIGHTINGS
NORTH AMERICAN SIGHTINGS
SATNEWS DIARY


NEW EXTENDED SATNEWS
As you may have noticed from this issue, Satnews has been extended
considerably and will be growing even bigger in the future. 
Darren Ingram Media Services, the news and media consultancy
company that produces Satnews, is introducing a new printed version
of Satnews, available only on subscription. This move follows a
number of inquiries from companies seeking printed versions of
Satnews.

Considerable resources are already provided for the production of
the electronic version of Satnews, and such an edition will
continue to be produced.  The printed version will be
professionally laid out with tables, diagrams and pictures.
Advertising will be accepted occasionally, although the impetus
will be on the advertiser contacting Satnews.   
News gathering and analysis will be expanded, with greater
references and details. The basic premises of Satnews, namely
providing accurate, timely and informative comment will continue. 

This issue of Satnews highlights the type of information the
printed subscriber will receive.  A subset of this will be produced
electronically and distributed.  Subscribers to the printed version
may also receive an electronically-delivered copy of Satnews free
of charge to an Internet- compatible system for their personal use.
Facsimile transmission at a premium rate is also being considered.

With the introduction of the printed version of Satnews, additional
show coverage, features and news will be provided as the venture
expands, which will benefit all Satnews readers. Although the
printed version will be aimed primarily at the corporate
subscriber, a special "non-commercial" subscription fee with
considerable savings is available upon request.  
Support for Satnews among the international satellite community has
been encouraging. With Satnews rapidly approaching its one
hundredth issue, it is about to enter a new dimension.  

Commercial subscription fees are 200 for 24 fortnightly issues,
plus any special mini-reports that may appear under the Satnews
branding.  US/North American subscriptions are 250 with
rest-of-the-world subscriptions subject to a maximum fee of 300.
Subscribers will also enjoy discounts on special multiclient
reports published. Non-commercial subscribers will enjoy a
significant discount on these prices.  

Payment must currently be made to "DIMS" in Sterling by either
cheque or bank-to-bank transfer. Either e-mail, phone or fax with
any subscription inquiries.   There are plans to introduce credit
card facilities which may simplify matters, although these will be
introduced subject to demand. 

Remember, Satnews is expanding. This issue is over four times its
usual size... and there is more to come.

Darren Ingram, publisher, Satnews

AUSTRALIAN SATELLITE EXPLODES AFTER CHINESE LAUNCH
Optus B2, an Australian telecommunications satellite worth US$138
million launched by a Chinese rocket, probably exploded less than
a minute after being launched on 21 December 1992.

The satellite was being launched for Sydney, Australia-based Optus
Communications to replace an aging satellite currently in orbit
relaying telephone and data traffic.  A new pay television service
was also to be launched on the satellite by the company.

Engineers at Hughes Space and Communications Co., the company which
built the satellite, examined a video recording of the launch at
the Xichang Space Centre in the Sichuan Province, and noted a
fireball around 48 seconds after the rocket's liftoff.  Hughes
spokesman Don O'Neal said that engineers saw a flash indicative of
an explosion, but presently the company cannot determine whether
the explosion was on the satellite or the launch vehicle.  O'Neal
said that the fireball occurred at around 6000 feet.  Emery Wilson,
another Hughes spokesman said that a specially-compiled team of
experts would attempt to determine the cause of the explosion. 
A Chinese Long March 2E rocket was supposed to launch the satellite
into a geostationary orbit, and the explosion marked the end of a
disastrous year for Chinese space officials who are attempting to
make an inroad into the lucrative satellite launching business.
Ground controllers gave up attempting to contact the satellite on
22 December.

The launch had previously been delayed by 24 hours so that the US,
Australian and Chinese launch teams could have additional 'launch
rehearsals' to ensure that, according to a statement issued by
Hughes on 18 December, "the final countdown will go smoothly."

It has transpired that part of the rocket continued on its preset
trajectory after the fireball was noticed.  Space observers
searching the skies subsequently noted debris that is said to have
came from the satellite. Parts of the rocket's nose cone (where the
satellite was located) were also noted.  Images from space radar
show that parts of the satellite and rocket are in a low elliptical
orbit.

An investigation into the cause of the explosion has been
initiated. Chinese space officials are currently claiming that
their part of the launch was successful, leading observers to note
that the Chinese space officials may believe that the Hughes
satellite was responsible for the explosion.   Reports in the
Chinese press four days after the abortive launch said that the
Chinese Ministry of Aerospace awarded ten scientists US$17,500 for
their achievements. No mention was made about the explosion. 
A statement subsequently issued by the China Great Wall Industrial
Corp. said that China had played its part perfectly in launching
the satellite. David Schlesinger, a Reuters correspondent based in
Beijing, China, said that the Communist Party newspaper People's
Daily carried a statement saying: "The data we have got have fully
proved that the whole process of the operation of the carrier
rocket was normal. As to the reason why there have been no signals
received from the satellite, we believe that the Hughes company of
the United States will soon find it out and make it public."  The
statement was attributed to Chen Shouchun, vice-president of the
launch company.

At the time of the launch, the state-owned Xinhua news agency
carried a statement from Tang Jinan, president of the Great Wall
Industrial Corp., saying: "The two successful launches of
Australian satellites tell the world that the Long March 2E has
entered the commercial launching business."

Ian Boatman, CEO of Optus, said that disruption to users would be
minimised by reallocating capacity on satellites. The company,
owned by BellSouth, Cable and Wireless and an Australian transport
company, may be forced to delay plans to introduce a pay television
service. On 31 January 1992, Optus signed an agreement with the
Australian government to take over its loss-making Aussat satellite
business. The Australian government said in October 1991 that pay
television services would be allowed to charge for services from
October 1992, but advertising would be banned for the first five
years (Satnews 053) and this move led to accusations of it being a
sweetener for the Aussat sale.

Under the terms of Optus' contract with Hughes, a replacement
satellite could be ready for launch within 18 months. No firm
schedule date has yet been made. Optus had opted to insure the
satellite prior to launch. 

Reuters carried a wire service report on 22 December quoting an
unnamed spokesman for China's Ministry of Aerospace Industry,
suggesting that "the problem lay in the satellite and not in
China's launch technique." The spokesman was quoted as saying:
"From the point of view of the launch, you would have to say it was
successful. We have no way of telling where the problem lies in the
satellite itself."

In March 1992 a Chinese rocket failed to lift off with another
Optus satellite, although it was successfully launched in August
(Satnews 089). The initial launch attempt resulted with a puff of
red smoke, watched by millions of viewers live in China and around
the world.  Chinese people were made to feel that China's move into
the satellite launching market would be a source of great pride and
prosperity for the country. 

Originally in May 1991 the US President George Bush rejected a
request from the Chinese government for satellite components as it
believed it they would be used within military applications
(Satnews 031) but it granted export licence orders for the Aussat
(Optus) satellite. In January 1992 a  Long Reach rocket failed to
launch a satellite for an unnamed client according to the Xinhua
news agency, as the craft was sent into the wrong orbit (Satnews
064).

But everything is not gloomy.  In October, research satellites for
Sweden and China were successfully launched (Satnews 093)

Intelsat has recently signed, amidst some controversy, a contract
with Great Wall to launch future Intelsat satellites (Satnews 091) 
* On 16 December 1992 Optus B1 entered operational service after
being launched in August.

EC HDTV FUNDING BLOCKED AGAIN BY DISPUTE
The United Kingdom has once again blocked plans for EC funding for
a high definition television strategy, ensuring that further
meetings will have to be held in the coming months.

Delegates at a meeting in December were unable to resolve
differences between the UK and the other 11 EC member states.  The
introduction of an EC subsidy for HDTV has been marred with
difficulties and numerous arguments and counter-claims from pro and
anti-HDTV subsidy lobbyists. 

The row revolves around a five-year action plan to promote
widescreen high definition television services throughout the
community. A subsidy of ECU500 million has been approved in
principle by most members, but the UK says that the funding is not
justified as other technologies under development will outdate
analogue HDTV services.

In the 21 December meeting, a proposal to allocate ECU80 million
for 1993 was made, alongside the offer to consider a report on the
prospects for a digitally-based HDTV system and long-term strategy
review.  The UK's representative agreed to parts of the proposal,
but refused to be committed in principle to elements of the
five-year plan.

John Major, the British prime minister and Jacques Delors, the EC
president, apparently rowed during a flight to the US for the
EC-Canada and EC-Summits.  Major was said to have allegedly reneged
on an agreement made at a recent EC meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Hanja Maij-Weggen, communications minister for the Dutch
government, criticised the compromise offered by the UK as a "kind
of trick" and "empty egg."  Tim Sainsbury, Britain's industry
minister, defended his decisions in the meetings, saying: "We might
be taking EC television down what could be a blind alley."

* Jacques Caumartin, former managing director of Thomson, spoke at
the recent HDTV and Future Television conference in London, and
said that Europe's HDTV strategy has become a shambles as it has
failed to observe the basic laws of economics. Caumartin said that
HDTV lobbyists should concentrate on winning over terrestrial
broadcasters rather than cable TV networks, as they control over 90
percent of the advertising revenues currently available in
television.

HIGH NOON FOR EUROPEAN ENCRYPTION STANDARDS?
The European Commission is currently considering mounting an
investigation into pay-television operations amidst allegations
that they hold monopolistic effects on domestic satellite
television markets. 

France's Canal Plus and the UK's British Sky Broadcasting are
likely to be singled out by EC Commissioners, primarily because of
their Syster and Videocrypt signals encryption standards.
Commissioners believe that the systems allow the two companies to
maintain a "gate keeper" role towards potential competitors for
subscription revenue.

On the Astra satellite, Videocrypt has emerged as a virtual de
facto standard for encrypted PAL transmissions, especially for
programming originating from, or destined to be received in, the
United Kingdom. 

DGIV, the EC's competition directorate, has received
representations from many broadcasters and EC directorates alike,
expressing concern at the possible emerging situation. But until a
formal complaint is submitted, DGIV can only monitor the situation.

Some observers feel that the proliferation of pseudo-standard
encryption systems is helping to create a restrictive system,
although other observers say that pseudo-standard systems are
preferable for the DTH market as it reduces the number of decoders
required by subscribers and reduces the invariable "spaghetti" that
accompanies domestic DTH systems. 

SOGECABLE COMMENCES ASTRA 1B TRIALS
Test transmissions have commenced on Astra 1B transponders 30 and
32 by Sociedad de Gastion de Cable (Sogecable) in readiness for the
launch of the planned Spanish language Cinemania movie channel and
Documania documentary channel.

In October 1992, SES signed an agreement for two transponders
aboard Astra 1B, with a further option for two Astra 1C
transponders (Satnews 092). 

Sogecable is a company incorporating the partners of Canal+ Espana
(PRISA, Canal+ France, BBV, March Group, Eventos, Bankinter and
Cajamadrid). 

Although the broadcasts are currently in the clear, both channels
will be encrypted with the Syster/Nagravision scrambling system,
with daily "clear" periods to promote the service.

Sogecable hopes to uplink signals directly to Astra from Madrid,
Spain, but local licences have yet to be finalised.  The channels
are set to commence broadcasting in February.  A further two
channels could be operational by June or July,  after the launch of
Astra 1C by Arianespace flight 58. 

The two new channels are the first Spanish language channels
carried on the Astra satellite system.   At the time of the
signing, Dr Pierre Meyrat, director general of SES, said: "Astra's
move into the Spanish market is another milestone in our company's
long-standing efforts to offer attractive programming packages for
viewers in the different European language markets.  SES' aim was
to develop an additional language market with Astra 1B -- this has
now been achieved."

US GOVERNMENT CONSIDER SALE OF SPY SATELLITE
The State Department of the United States government is considering
the sale of a top-secret spy satellite to the United Arab Emirates. 
If approved, the deal with provide the US and its allies with vital
signals intelligence (SIGINT) in the volatile Middle East region. 
According to US government sources the sale has caused a divide
between government departments that must authorise the sale. 
Advocates for the sale say that the UAE needs the satellite to
guard it against attacks from nearby Iran, and that it will go to
a French manufacturer, Matra Marconi, if the sale is not
sanctioned.   Opponents say that the sale could set a dangerous
precedent and may lead to sigint information being used against the
United States' Activities.

The United Arab Emirates is generally recognised as holding a
moderate pro- Western stance.

A number of possible conditions may be attached to any sale of the
satellite, including ensuring that the US is responsible for the
satellite's launch and controls over the type of sigint received
and its intended usage.  It is understood that US intelligence
agencies are vehemently against the sale.

Selected sigint data is already supplied to the UAE by the US
government and the National Security Agency through a satellite and
aeronautical surveillance.  

Some critics have questioned the UAE's requirement for a
surveillance, suggesting that it is likely to use sigint data for
"economic" rather than "defensive" purposes.  Satellite data would
provide the UAE with valuable earth-resource scanning capabilities.

EUROPEAN TV NEWS NETWORK LAUNCHED
Euronews, a pan-European multilingual television news service, was
launched on 1 January in a bid to provide a truly European news
service set to rival CNN, BBC WSTV, N-TV and Sky News.

News footage is being provided by member organisations of the
European Broadcasting Union, and the service is being edited and
broadcast from Lyon, France.  Euronews is a non-profit making
operation with no correspondents, presenters or dedicated news
bureaus.  

Programmes will be simultaneously broadcast with English, French,
German, Spanish and Italian commentaries. There are plans to
introduce an Arabic soundtrack at a later stage.  Euronews is being
broadcast using unencrypted PAL.  Previously Euronews decided to
drop plans to broadcast in D2-MAC, and it came under fire from
pro-MAC lobbyists (Satnews 097). 

Up to 30 million viewers are initially expected to tune into the
service, which is funded by the European Commission and member
nations. Advertising is expected to provide around a quarter of the
US$13 million initial budget. Initially, Euronews said that 70
journalists and 35 translators would be employed on the venture,
which was set to commence broadcasting by the end of 1991 (Satnews
031) but the launch date was revised following internal wrangling
to 1 January 1993 (Satnews 071). 

Many industry observers are questioning whether the new channel
will be a real rival to established news broadcasters in Europe and
the US. 

Existing broadcasters are apparently unfazed about the launch of
the new network.  Peter Vesey, vice president of CNN International,
was quoted in an Associated Press dispatch as saying: "We don't see
it as direct competition.  We could possibly be a complementary set
of services. 

FERRANTI TO WORK ON DEFENCE SATCOMMS PROJECT
Ferranti International is to supply integral components for a
mobile Ku- band defence satellite communications system being
developed for the Australian Department of Defence.  The system,
known as Parakeet, is being developed by British Aerospace
Australia Limited.

BAe Australia has contracted around 2 million worth of work from
Ferranti, which will be undertaken at its Poynton plant in the
north-west of England. 

According to Ferranti, a deciding factor in winning the contract
was its reputation for the production of Ku-band satellite earth
terminals and its development of solid-state transmitter equipment
technology. 

Parakeet will provide operational worldwide satellite defence
communications, and all associated hardware will be installed in a
six- wheel Land Rover vehicle. A 2.4 metre petalised satellite dish
will be used within the system.  Initially 18 Parakeet vehicles
will be provided by BAe Australia.

A number of microwave subsystems including a 20 watt Ku-band power
amplifier designed by Ferranti will be used within the system. Dual
frequency conversion equipment will be housed in sealed 19 inch
rack transit cases for "easy" operational maintenance in the field.

ROMANIA SIGNS SPACE EXPLORATION AGREEMENT
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a cooperation agreement
with the Romanian government.  The agreement will cover cooperation
on the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
This is the second agreement that the ESA has concluded with a
central or eastern European country. Previously, in April 1991, the
ESA signed an agreement with Hungary. 

HKT SIGNS CONTRACT FOR CDTV SERVICE PROVISION
Hong Kong Telecom has signed a contract with the US-based Chicago
Chinese Communications Co., making it the first user of HKT's
advanced compressed digital television service. 

The signals will be uplinked to an Intelsat satellite, and offer
dramatic savings on space segment charges.  The technology employed
by HKT allows signals to be compressed and broadcast with only 2MHz
of bandwidth, offering dramatic savings on previous bandwidth
space.

Under the two-year contract, HKT will downlink China Central
Television news programmes from the AsiaSat satellite and re-uplink
the service using CDTV to an Intelsat satellite. In the US, CCC
will receive the broadcast and distribute the programmes through
cable networks to over 20 Chinese TV stations in North America.

Lee Lam, business sales manager for HKT, said that the company was
delighted in being able to help Chinese communities throughout
North America keep in touch with the latest developments in China. 
"Hong Kong is the ideal TV broadcasting hub of Asia.  In addition
to the cost-saving factor, the CDTV service allows customers to
transmit programmes simultaneously from point to multipoint,
accommodates various video standards and allows for the use of
smaller, less expensive antennas."

HKT has also set up a special team dedicated with the provision of
TV and network services to broadcasters.

RELIGIOUS NETWORK PULLS OUT OF GAMES CHANNEL
According to an article in Television Week recently, the Reverend
Pat Robertson's International Family Entertainment company has
pulled out of plans to back Chrysalis' proposed Games Channels at
the last moment for undisclosed  "moral reasons."

Apparently the company was concerned that the channel would include
a national cash prize bingo game, leaving it  open to potential
accusations in the US that it was funding a gambling operation of
sorts. 

The article quotes Tim Dudman, the projects leader, saying that IFE
had never raised the problem of gambling face-to-face. Dudman said
that the company wanted to concentrate on its plans to take over
TVS, a former regional independent television network operator in
the UK. 

But there were also alleged differences of operating opinion. IFE
wanted to launch the Games Channel as a subset of its general
Family Channel, but Chrysalis wanted to launch the channel as a
dedicated 24-hour channel aboard Astra 1C.

Originally it was envisaged that the Games Channel would launch on
1 October (Satnews 086) but funding and operational delays stopped
this.

Chrysalis, the media and music conglomerate, has secured the
rights  to over 14,000 US game shows, and plans to run them 
non-stop for up to 18 hours a day.

JAPANESE DBS SATELLITE LAUNCH CONTRACT SIGNED
Arianespace has been awarded the launch contract for the BS-3N
satellite, operated jointly by NHK (the Japan Broadcasting Corp.)
and Japan Satellite Broadcasting Inc., to provide DBS broadcast
services to the region from 1994.

The satellite, built by Princeton, US-based GE Astro Space is a
three-axis stabilised three channel DBS satellite, and is the ninth
contract awarded to Arianespace for the launch of a Japanese
satellite.

In December 1991, a Japanese government report said that the
country should launch another broadcasting satellite in the "near
future" to help domestic broadcasters (Satnews 061).  The Ministry
of Posts and Telecommunications report endorsed proposals made by
NHK and JSB.

Three satellite channels are currently transmitted over  the BS3A/B 
satellites.    Power failures aboard the  satellite have reduced
its capacity and expected lifespan.   At the time, the report
concluded that the satellite failures on BS3A/3B meant that the
three channels may be unable to continue broadcasting after 1997 at
the latest. 

Charles Bigot, chairman and CEO of Arianespace, said that the
latest launch contract confirms the decisions of satellite
operating companies worldwide, and reinforces Arianespace's role in
providing launch facilities for Japanese broadcasters.

* Arianespace says that it currently has a launch backlog of 31
satellites, worth over US$2.6 billion.

TELCO TO BATTLE IN US CABLE MARKET
Bell Atlantic Corp. has announced plans to compete with the cable
television industry in the US.  The company has announced initial
plans to provide a system serving 60,000 homes in the Alexandria
area. 

The company filed a law suit in the Alexandria district court
against the US government in order to get a restriction in the
Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 lifted. The restriction
forbids telephone companies from directly owning and marketing
cable television programmes or systems. Bell says that its fifth
amendment rights of equal protection under the law have been
violated since the act only affects telephone companies. 

If successful, Bell will provide service through its offshoot Bell
Atlantic Video Services, and offer customers hundreds of channels
of cable programming, two-way interactive information services and
standard telecommunications services.

Industry analysts believe that it will be several years before the
case is finalised, and a system rollout can begin.  Stuart Johnson,
president of Bell Atlantic Video Services says that customers are
looking for competition and that they want to customise the type of
programming they receive, and only pay for the services they
actually require.  Johnson says that Bell's rates would be more
competitive than Jones Intercable Ltd., a company that currently
provides cable television service in the region. 

James O'Brien, president of Jones Intercable, says that he doubts
whether Bell's scheme will be given the go ahead. Bell Atlantic
recently said that it would be upgrading the local
telecommunications infrastructure in Tome River, New Jersey, to
create a 60-channel cable television system that would be operated
by FutureVision of America Corp., a startup company backed by Bell.

During the summer of 1992, the US Federal Communications Commission
granted telephone companies the right to provide facilities to
other cable operators to transmit their programmes (known as video
dialtone). 

UK TROOPS BENEFIT FROM SATPHONE HOME
Troops serving under the British Army in Bosnia over the Christmas
period were able to benefit from a special satellite phone home
service provided free by British Telecom, the largest
telecommunications service provider in the UK.

The service, known as UK Forces Direct, was organised by BT with
close cooperation by the UK's Ministry of Defence.  Ten four-wire
phones were connected in Vitez through a satellite multiplexer and
satellite modem to a 2.4 metre dual-function antenna.

Telephone calls, up to ten minutes in duration, will be relayed
until 23 January over a Eutelsat II satellite's SMS payload to BT's
London Teleport. Calls are then routed through BT's international
call connect switching unit to soldiers families in the UK and
Germany.

BT Teleport personnel briefed two soldiers on the installation and
operation of the equipment during a one-week familiarisation
programme.   The equipment arrived in Bosnia on 16 December and a
transmission cooperation agreement was reached with the Bosnian
PTT.  The installation was made on 21 December and operational two
days later.

"The UK Forces Direct project is an impressive example of swift
teamwork with the entire project taking just over three weeks from
conception to completion," said Tony Vardy, director of enhanced
services at BT. 

Further technical details were not available from BT as staff at
the company were absent for their Christmas vacation.

NEW CONTRACTS FOR MAXAT AND ACQUISITIONS
Maxat, dubbed "Britain's fastest growing satellite services
provider" by the company, has signed an extended contract with
Worldwide Television News (WTN) for the distribution of television
news to Europe and the Middle  East.

WTN is in a period of expansion, and Maxat will provide uplink
services for WTN's British Satellite Network, a UK
government-sponsored broadcast to Eastern Europe and the Middle
East. Broadcasts will be made daily from transponder 41 on the
Eutelsat II-F1 satellite, located at 13 degrees east.  Maxat will
also provide uplinking services for WTN's Starbird offshoot to
uplink around 200 hours of football and basketball for a German
broadcast company. Transponders on Eutelsat II-F1 and Telecom 1C
will be used. WTN news material from Jerusalem will be uplinked
using transponders 41, 46 or 47 on Eutelsat II-F1 for distribution
back to London and direct to clients. 

Robert Howes, vice-president of operations at WTN, says: "It is our
strategy to increase the number of fixed teleports around the world
which can access Maxat capacity for reception by WTN or our
clients." 

And Daniel Nabet, head of broadcast services at Maxat, is equally
confident about the new contract, saying:  "We are delighted that 
a major client like WTN has further endorsed our services with this
new contract."  

ASIA-PACIFIC REGION MUST IMPROVE SATCOMMS USE
Several economic and industrial analysts at the Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) said that the Asia-Pacific region urgently
needs to update its use of satellite technology in managing its
natural resources.

Remote sensing and geographic information systems are vital for a
region experiencing rapid deforestation and change in its tropical
atmosphere said the speakers.

A contrast between the rapid deforestation of Thailand  and the
China's positive use of GIS systems for mineral and element
exploration was discussed at a seminar sponsored by ESCAP and ADB.

Industrialised countries such as the US and Japan were called upon
to lend their support in training Asia-Pacific specialists in radar
technology and GIS operations, and that "External assistance should
be provided to those countries that need to upgrade their ground
facilities to receive and process data from other satellites."
India has already offered to provide free training facilities in
remote sensing and GIS for technicians from developing countries.

* Thailand is currently upgrading its regional satellite receiving
station to receive and process data from the European Space
Agency's ERS-1 environmental satellite.

HUGHES TO PROVIDE LARGE SHARED HUB
A contract has been signed by Merrill Lynch & Co. with Hughes
Network Systems for the provision of a 453-site continental USA
satellite network, making it one of the largest shared-hub
satellite networks in existence presently.

Hughes' Interactive Personal Earth Stations (PES) will be used to
provide advanced LAN connectivity through Hughes' LANadvantage
feature.   Merrill says that the LAN interconnection and the
increased flexibility for future applications were key decisive
features.

Within the network, Merrill will be able to broadcast compressed
digital video images.  Video originated by Merrill Lynch will be
broadcast to all receive sites from the Hughes hub at Spring Creek,
New York. 

Hughes will have all of the network installed and operational by
mid-1993. 

Bruce Sieben, director of telecommunications at Merrill Lynch,
says: "Quick and efficient client service is among the most
important criteria we offer.  The new Hughes satellite installation
will enhance that service by allowing us to deliver information
faster to our branch offices using sophisticated, integrated
technology."

Pradman Kaul, president and CEO at Hughes, naturally welcomed the
new contract saying how honoured the company was to be providing
such a sizable network.

COMSTREAM LAUNCH NEW SCPC RECEIVER
Comstream Corporation has launched its new DT7000 digital earth
station SCPC receiver designed for point-to-point and
point-to-multipoint satellite communications.

According to information supplied by the company, the product is a
single- source earth station combining either a 5-watt C-band or
2-watt Ku-band RF transceiver with a variable rate indoor unit.
Presently most SCPC stations are satellite modems combined with a
standard RF receiver, often duplicating a number of functions and
requiring more space. 

Comstream says that its new receiver has a number of technical
advantages over conventional equipment, namely the indoor unit
which demodulates the receive IF signal from L-band, eliminating a
second level of downconversion; a lower transmit IF frequency
enabling receive and transmit signals to be combined with monitor
and control signals on the cable and a single point of monitor and
control for the earth station. 

The DT7000 indoor unit uses the same basic architecture of the
modular CM701 modem with field-replaceable modules to change or add
data interfaces, open network compatibility or other functions. 

BSKYB RIVAL NETWORK MAY BECOME INDEPENDENT
Reports are emerging that the proposed ITV2 satellite channel
destined for the UK may be run independently of the ITV terrestrial
network centre. 

Currently the UK independent television network is split over the
launch of the channel, which will rival UK Gold by airing classic
British television repeats produced by ITV companies.  Many
companies believe that the satellite channel will encourage people
to watch other satellite channels, diminishing viewing of the
terrestrial network.  Some companies also believe that the
re-broadcast of repeats will reduce available programming for the
terrestrial network.

One option being considered is to hive off the operation of the
network to a third party, acting as a contractor for the ITV
network.  

At one stage ITV were considering not to levy a subscription fee
for the service in the light of BSkyB and UK Gold wavering over the
introduction of a subscription fee for its "basic" channels, but
with BSkyB now committed towards a subscription fee, this situation
may change.

Booz Allen and Hamilton were retained by London Weekend Television
to prepare an initial feasibility report (Satnews 092), which
concluded that there was a potential audience for the ITV 2 service
and its planned showing of old ITV programmes.  Material from
Thames Television -- an ITV company -- would not be included in the
service, as Thames is a partner in the UK Gold consortium.

BSkyB executives have confirmed that a possible tie-in with UK Gold
may be made, with a unified multi-channel subscription service of
UK Gold, all the BSkyB channels and the UA channels for a 19.99
price-point.  A common subscription management and revenue
distribution arrangement would be setup at Sky's Livingston,
Scotland location.

In August 1992, an article in the Financial Times said the proposed 
ITV  satellite network is being viewed as a spoiler to the joint 
BBC/Thames UK Gold project (Satnews 088). The  FT  article quotes
an extract from a  memo  distributed  after  a  meeting of ITV's
main backers, which says  that:  "..it  could not in any
circumstances become a money spinner."  The  new  network is set to
cost between 25-30 million and would be broadcast on the Astra
satellite.

But, according to the FT article, the memos concluded:  "The  main 
point of [ITV2] would be the possible impact on  Thames/BBC  plans,
and the siphoning of advertising revenue from other satellite
channels." 

CNN BUYS STAKE IN GERMAN NEWS NETWORK
Cable News Network (CNN) has bought a 27.5 percent stake in n-tv,
a 24-hour German news network broadcasting in Europe, just 18 days
after it commenced broadcasting on 30 November.

Under the agreement, which is subject to regulatory approval, CNN
and n-TV will provide cooperation for news gathering, footage
exchange and access to facilities.   CNN is also planning to
relocate its Berlin bureau to n-TV's headquarters at a later stage. 

Previously, CNN were holding talks with ZDF, a German state
broadcaster, over the formation of a joint collaborative venture,
but German state law prohibited any alliance being formed.

According to Karl-Ulrich Kuhlo, chief executive of n-TV, the new
alliance will make n-TV and CNN an unbeatable team in Germany. 

CNN says that further ventures with other companies are being
considered.  One CNN source says that the company is looking at
utilising a digital video compression system in Europe, and it
would be able to offer lower broadcast costs to "collaborative
members" if such a system was installed. 

N-TV was initially launched on German cable television networks,
although a contract for an Astra 1B transponder was signed on 17
December with an operational date of 23 December.

Dr Pierre Meyrat, director general of SES, the owners of the Astra
satellite, said: "In addition to its attractive entertainment
lineup, Astra proves to be the European news 'hot bird'.  After Sky
News and CNN International, n-TV is the third 24 hour news channel
on Astra.  SES is glad to be able to offer a dedicated news channel
to the millions of Astra viewers in the German speaking countries."

* The Astra satellite system (Astra 1A/1B) comprises of 32
transponders, all of which have now been allocated.  Astra 1C is
scheduled for launch during May 1993 and when operational several
weeks later will provide a further 16 transponders to the
co-located satellite system, based at 19.2 degrees east longitude.
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