Subject: Satellites over Latin America (fwd)
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1998 005346 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Roy L. Beavers" <rbeavers@llion.org>
To: emfguru@hotmail.com
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 21:56:13 -0700
From: dingel@concentric.net
To: Roy Beavers
Subject: Satellites over Latin America
Dear Roy:
I noticed this article and wondered if we have friends on this list who can
help divine what is coming with satellite technology for phone
communications and whether it will be/is an improvement or not. I see
Latin America is already going to rely upon satellites for their
telecommunications - see article below - - they have little to no existing
infrastructure and this is apparently believed to be the best solution.
Why, then, is the U.S. undergoing this major overhaul of its existing
infrastructure if satellite communications technology is already available?
Once the U.S. shifts to satellite, will this be a safer technological
alternative from a public health standpoint? If the U.S. becomes dependant
on satellite-based communications, will the land based systems be removed?
If not, under what circumstances might these towers and antennas still be
required? This rapid technological transformation is moving at a fast
clip - I just wonder what others can see coming.
Thank you.
Libby Kelley
Satellite Boost for Latin America
by Kristen Philipkoski
3:08pm 13.Aug.98.PDT
Charter Communications International and
Comsat Mexico have announced an
agreement to allow their customers to
access both companies' services, paving
the way for more direct broadband
access to the Internet from Latin
America.
The deal comes in the wake of a bill
passed by the US House of
Representatives in May. The bill
encourages privatization of the
International Telecommunications Satellite
Organization by 1 January 2001.
"Comsat owns satellite teleport facilities
throughout Mexico and Central America,"
said Richard Ames, a spokesman for
Charter. "This accord allows their
customers to come and use our facilities
for Internet services, or tie their network
into the Internet. Our customers can go
to Comsat -- it's a very mutually
beneficial accord."
The deal will give Charter more than 20
satellite, Internet, and
telecommunications licenses from eight
nations. It will allow Comsat "to provide
one-stop shopping for customers that
need to extend satellite communications
networks into Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and
Panama, where Charter has infrastructure
already in place," said Dave Groobert, a
spokesman for Comsat. He added that the
integration will make it easier for Latin
American countries to use satellites to
extend their broadband network, and
connect back to the US.
Observers pointed to the changing face
of international telecom, and the role that
satellite-based services will play in the
future.
"The future of telecom is focused toward
a time purchasing model. It's moving from
private owned and operated model to a
time purchasing model," said David
Cooperstein, senior analyst in telecom
strategies at Forrester Research. "So
satellite companies need to rethink the
way they sell their services on the
ground. This deal gives [Comsat] an
international on-the-ground partner,
which broadens their reach."
Currently, Latin American businesses have
trouble connecting to working phone
lines, and often employ multiple phones
on desktops to improve their odds. But as
privatization breaks up traditional
government monopolies, Latin American
countries are finding they have access to
satellite systems instead of rundown
telephone poles and limited lines.
"The satellite has been popular in Latin
America to create a link because there's
not a lot of other infrastructure
available," Cooperstein said.
"Companies like us, that offer satellite
communications, give them [businesses]
immediate access through satellites,
which puts them on equal footing with
anyone else in the world," Ames said.
The deal could also be a significant
chance for foreign labor to participate in
the telecommunications work force.
International telecommunications
companies have a specific need for
Spanish-speaking employees, and can use
a new source of available workers.
"A number of international call centers,
like Delta's airline reservations, are looking
to move into the area," Ames said. "The
labor force, like in Costa Rica, has people
who are very well qualified. It's a new
arena for many companies, and not as
costly."
Other companies with an eye to either
expand or move into the area are Coastal
Corp., iNet, and Amoco.
The accord could expand opportunities for
the domestic Latin American population as
well.
"One branch of our company is prepaid
telephone cards. People in Mexico and the
US use them -- our call center has
expanded significantly, and we have hired
many Hispanic bilingual people who can
handle the calls from Mexico," Ames said.
Archive provided courtesy of WaveGuide, http://www.wave-guide.org
Reprinted with permission of Roy Beavers, http://www.feb.se/EMF-L/EMF-L.html