Hughes, TerreStar Partner For UMTS Platform

[10-23-07 – Satellite Today] Hughes Network Systems will design, develop and supply a satellite chipset platform for TerreStar Networks under an agreement signed Oct. 22, Hughes announced.

The platform will be based on Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standards and will enable wireless mobile devices to communicate over the satellite portion of TerreStar’s network.

Based on a proposed industry standard, the technology will enable a new generation of dual-mode mobile devices that can operate seamlessly over both multi-generational wireless/satellite networks, supporting advanced video and data services, along with voice. Hughes plans to license the technology to manufacturers of cellular mobile handsets and devices, facilitating the integration of satellite-mode capability into their products. Size and weight of such dual-mode devices are expected to be competitive with terrestrial-only versions.

In April 2007, Hughes and TerreStar signed an agreement for the design, development and manufacture of a turnkey satellite base station subsystem and satellite air interface protocol.