[Satellite Today 04-03-09] Hughes Network Systems signed an agreement to develop and implement software that will power the satellite capability in SkyTerra‘s and TerreStar Network‘s next-generation integrated device chipsets, Hughes announced April 2.
    The software will enable the GMR1-3G satellite air interface standard to run side-by-side with cellular standards in a software-defined radio (SDR) chipset being developed for SkyTerra and TerreStar Networks by Infineon Technologies, Hughes said. SkyTerra, TerreStar and Infineon revealed the SDR platform in an April 1 announcement.
    "We are excited to work with Hughes on the development of software to enable a single, integrated satellite-terrestrial chipset for burgeoning mass market cellular devices. It opens the door to enable advanced generations of combined satellite and cellular devices that can operate on virtually all digital cellular standards globally, at low incremental cost," Drew Caplan, chief network officer for SkyTerra, said in a statement.