Internet over satellite standard approved

Internet Protocol over Satellite or IPoS, the most widely deployed satellite broadband standard, has now become the first global standard for the industry.

The announcement was made by Hughes Network Systems following the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) ratification of the IPoS air interface standard in February.  IPoS was first ratified early in 2004 by the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA), the primary standards body for the telecommunications industry in North America.

"Now ratified and approved by the two major standards bodies, IPoS opens the door for greater optimization and economies of scale throughout the entire satellite industry," said Pradman Kaul, Chairman and CEO of Hughes Network Systems.

"IPoS is the only air interface specifically designed for the efficient delivery of broadband satellite services and offers the best means to expand satellite's addressable markets worldwide."

In announcing ETSI approval, HNS said it will promote implementation of IPoS through a multi-tiered licensing program available to all industry equipment, software and service providers.

Licensing will run from royalty free technical documentation, to the licensing of technology and technical support. IPoS is already endorsed by many leading industry providers including Microelectronics Technology, Inc. (MTI), Texas Instruments, TriQuint Semiconductor, Wind River Software, Intelsat and Telefonica de Espana.

Major service providers and satellite operators welcomed the news. "The IPoS standard is extensively field proven, highly scalable and supports low-cost terminals. Now approved by both governing bodies, widespread adoption of the IPoS will further reduce equipment costs and make broadband available and affordable to many more users worldwide," said Enrique Salvatierra, director of Satellite and Submarine Cables Department, Telefonica de Espana, S.A.U.

Frederick Morris, vice president, Product and Channel Management at Intelsat said, "Intelsat meets the connectivity requirements of some of the largest telecommunications service providers worldwide. These companies frequently turn to us for unbiased assessment of satellite broadband technologies available to their end customers and having standards like IPoS makes this process easier. We heartily endorse any effort to spread standardisation throughout the satellite broadband service industry."