Orbital's OrbLink network is based on seven operational satellites in a medium-altitude (9,000 Km) equatorial orbit, such that the system's capacity is available virtually worldwide. The system will support a wide range of high-speed data communications services, including electronic mail and commerce, video conferencing, computer networking, Internet access, imagery transmission, and other broadband data applications. Those services, which are enabled by using new extremely high-frequency radio bands, will be provided in three basic areas:

• First, OrbLink will use the 65.0-71.0 GHz band for inter-satellite communications, providing a ``space cable'' wireless ring in orbit around the Earth with intercontinental capacity of up to about 15 billion bits (gigabits) per second. It will support flexible high-capacity trunking traffic between North and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia.
• Second, by using frequencies in the 37.5-38.5 GHz and 47.7-48.7 GHz bands, OrbLink will offer direct two-way digital connections between terrestrial users within each continent at speeds between 1.5 million bits (megabits) per second and 1.25 gigabits per second, with total regional capacity in excess of 150,000 T-1 high-speed circuits.
• Finally, by operating in concert with regional gateway platforms that serve as ``capacity concentrators'' over metropolitan areas or with other satellite systems that serve as high-speed relays, OrbLink will provide high-speed connectivity to systems which offer even greater capacity in high-density regions.

Mr. David W. Thompson, Orbital's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: ``The principal advantage of the OrbLink system is its ability to provide affordable, near-universal access to high-speed digital connections. Our network will deliver substantial additional capacity at dramatically lower costs to the rapidly expanding data communications industry, positioning Orbital in a satellite services market that is expected to grow five to ten times faster than voice telephone traffic over the next 10 years.''

Current broadband customers, such as medium to large companies and government agencies, are increasing their reliance on digital data communications at 40-50% per year in order to support the growing use of electronic mail, fax transmissions, video conferencing, database maintenance, computer file transfers, and other data-intensive applications that are becoming standard business practices in many organizations.

In addition, the OrbLink network will make broadband services available and affordable to new groups of users who may not have access to terrestrial fiber connections. ``OrbLink will open the door to super-fast direct Internet access for smaller businesses, schools, libraries, hospitals and other users with low access charges and modest equipment costs,'' Mr. Thompson added.

The OrbLink satellites will be based on Orbital's STARBus lightweight geostationary spacecraft platform, which the company acquired as part of its recently completed purchase of CTA Incorporated's space system business. These satellites represent a new generation of smaller, more powerful spacecraft technology. The seven operational and one on-orbit spare satellites in the OrbLink network each will generate approximately 4 kilowatts of electrical power. Each satellite will have 100 spot beams for space-to-ground transmissions, along with two east-west inter-satellite links. The satellites will be designed for a lifetime of nine years and will weigh approximately 3,000 pounds in orbit. They can be launched two or three at a time on Delta 3, Atlas 2 or Ariane 4 vehicles, or four at a time on larger vehicles. Individual satellites also can be launched on a Taurus-derivative launch vehicle.

Orbital estimates that the total investment necessary to develop, construct and deploy the OrbLink global network will be approximately $900 million. This is comparable to the cost of two trans-Atlantic fiber cables, which have less than 10% of OrbLink's total trunking capacity. In addition to its capital cost advantages compared to undersea cables, OrbLink features spot beams that provide a ubiquitous coverage ``foot print'' offering direct, efficient connections to any user between approximately 50 degrees North and South latitudes, encompassing about 95% of Earth's population. Finally, the new network will provide data transmission times that are generally faster than either ground-based fiber or geostationary satellite alternatives.

Orbital plans to add technology and distribution partners to the OrbLink project in the future, to supplement its own marketing and operational resources and to assure the strongest possible position for its services in domestic and international markets.

Orbital is a space and information systems company that designs, manufactures, operates and markets a broad range of affordable space infrastructure systems, satellite access products and satellite-provided services, including launch vehicles, satellites, sensors and electronics, satellite ground systems and software, satellite-based navigation and communications products, and satellite-delivered fixed and mobile communications and Earth observation services.
http://www.orbital.com.

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