Spacenet Wins 10,000 Node VSAT Postal Contract

GE Spacenet has been selected by MCI WorldCom Government Markets Division to provide a VSAT satellite network for the United States Postal Service. The USPS VSAT network will initially link 10,000 locations nationwide, with potential growth to 26,000 sites during the 10-year program — nearly three times the size of today’s largest VSAT network.

MCI WorldCom’s selection of GE Spacenet as the VSAT provider falls within the Managed Network Services (MNS) contract that the USPS awarded to MCI in 1997. Through the MNS contract, MCI WorldCom supports the Associate Office Infrastructure (AOI) Program, the Postal Service’s vehicle for extending the latest information technology to its offices.

MCI WorldCom is implementing GE Spacenet’s VSAT services to provide the USPS with a comprehensive upgrade to existing terrestrial dial-up services now in use at post offices across the country. The new VSAT network — which utilizes commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology — will provide post offices with full-time, on-line networking capabilities on an unprecedented scale. The network will support a wide range of applications, including point-of-sale and credit card processing, package delivery confirmation, remote monitoring, software and data file downloading, IP multicasting, and multimedia broadcast.

The network will provide the USPS with world-class connectivity to all locations, enabling a superior, state-of-the-art customer service infrastructure. The VSAT network will provide on-line services to as many as 19,000 locations as well as back-up services to the existing MCI WorldCom Frame Relay network at up to 7,000 of the largest post office locations.

Network implementation has begun and will continue at a rapid pace until the network is complete. Service will be provided from GE Spacenet’s shared hub facilities. Space segment for the USPS VSAT network is provided on GE Americom’s GSTAR IV satellite and will provide coverage to the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

GE Spacenet President Gino Picasso said, “GE Spacenet has assembled a team of experienced professionals who are dedicated to the successful implementation of the USPS VSAT network. The confidence MCI WorldCom and USPS have shown in our people and our systems helps demonstrate our commitment to becoming the world’s leading VSAT services company.”