OnSPOT Emergency Response System ensures high security and
high performance in difficult ad-hoc networking conditions so response
teams can concentrate on the immediate needs of their communities
Sophia-antipolis, France, ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. and BETHESDA, MD -
(December 6, 2006) - To ensure performance and security of mission
critical communications services in extreme situations, leading
satellite system suppliers UDcast, On Call Communications and Intelsat
announced today that they are providing the United States Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
with high performance disaster recovery communications systems.
The OnSPOTTM Emergency Response System
gives public safety agencies valuable communications services that set
up easily in a matter of minutes so response teams can concentrate on
the immediate needs of their communities. OnSPOT comprises
automatically deployable (auto-acquisition, auto-deploy) satellite
antennas mounted on light vehicles, that also host the complete set of
electronic equipment.
To meet FEMA's needs for satellite
communications and video capability, On Call has provided FEMA with 70
OnSPOT units including telephone, fax and data capabilities for their
Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers and Mobile Emergency Response Units.
FEMA has contracted On Call to provide 25 additional units for the
Regional offices and FIRST response teams including video transmission
capabilities while on the move.
OnSPOT antennas deploy and lock on the
satellite at the touch of a button. Automated login into the QuickSpot
satellite bandwidth on-demand service platform provides instant
broadband IP connectivity ready to launch any IP application. OnSPOT
broadband systems are capable of data rates up to 4.5 Mb/s to meet all
tactical communications needs, such as voice lines (from 2 to 72 lines
per mobile system), secure accelerated Internet access, wi-fi
networking, video broadcasting and Webcasting. OnSPOT terminals are
designed exclusively for use on the QuickSpot service network, a
partnership between Intelsat and On Call Communications.
"In the most critical moments of a
natural disaster or national emergency, FEMA has to know that it can
depend on the smooth operation of emergency response communications
networks," said James Gilbert, CEO, On Call Communications. "OnSPOT
systems provide reliable communications services that let emergency
personnel concentrate on taking care of the people while we take care
of the communications. Using UDcast's UDgateway® we are able to meet
FEMA's needs with a powerful and flexible tool that manages and
controls the network, providing a high level of security without
sacrificing quality or performance."
"In most cases during natural and
manmade disasters, satellite communications is the only solution that
enables the operations of a quick response communications
infrastructure. Intelsat's support of the QuickSpot service is another
example of how deploying our powerful satellite resources and teleport
facilities meets the unique demands of the first responder and disaster
recovery markets," said Alex Flores, Intelsat's senior product manager.
The efficient management of standard
communication protocols over satellite links, providing the level of
performance and security required by FEMA, is ensured by UDcast's
UDgateway. UDgateway performs data and voice over encrypted IP,
providing FEMA with an end-to-end virtual private network environment.
A variety of protocol acceleration functions performed by the UDgateway
provides high performance communication over two-way satellite
connections.
"By choosing the UDgateway, On Call can
offer the best in class satellite performance and security to its
customers," said Antoine Clerget, vice president of engineering and
co-founder of UDcast. "Our UDgateways integrate easily in all
networking environments, including mobile applications. The proposed
solution helps to manage recovery missions, saving lives of persons in
danger and accelerating the reconstruction process in the damaged
areas."
OnSPOT's QuickSpot dedicated satellite bandwidth service provides:
• Customer applications receive guaranteed data rates (non-shared)
• No quality degradation due to network congestion
• Economic savings by paying only for bandwidth used by the minute, day or month
• Nationwide satellite service network
• Compatibility with IP applications - video, data, voice, Internet
- ends -
About UDcast
UDcast is a leading provider of solutions enabling full IP over
broadcast media, focusing on IPTV to the mobile DVB-H solutions as well
as satellite-aware enterprise networking solutions. UDcast provides
DVB-H standard compliant solutions for the delivery of IPTV to mobile
devices. In addition, UDcast provides satellite aware IP appliances
that bring terrestrial-like performances and security to broadband
satellite links. UDcast's feature rich solutions enable satellite
service providers to deliver revenue-generating value added services
that meet enterprise needs. Founded in 2000, UDcast maintains its
global headquarters in Sophia Antipolis, France. For more information,
visit www.udcast.com.
About Intelsat
Intelsat is the largest provider of fixed satellite services worldwide
and is the leading provider of these services to each of the media,
network services/telecom and government customer sectors, enabling
people and businesses everywhere constant access to information and
entertainment. Intelsat offers customers a greater business potential
by providing them unrivaled resources with ease of business and peace
of mind. Our services are utilized by an extensive customer base,
including some of the world's leading media and communications
companies, multinational corporations, Internet service providers and
government/military organizations. Real-time, constant communication
with people anywhere in the world is closer, by far.
Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking
statements" that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical
facts. The forward-looking statements made in this release reflect
Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs
about future events and are subject to risks, including known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are
outside of Intelsat's control. Important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or
implied in the forward-looking statements include known and unknown
risks. Detailed information about some of the known risks is included
in Intelsat's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2005 and Intelsat's registration statement on Form S-4 on file with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Because actual results
could differ materially from Intelsat's intentions, plans,
expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the future, you are urged
to view all forward-looking statements contained in this news release
with caution. Intelsat does not undertake any obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
*Editor's Note: Comments from press
conference with FEMA Director David Paulison, August 2006, Coral
Gables, Fla. http://www.fema.gov/media/archives/2006/080206.shtm
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