Profile
IPSTAR is the first, and most advanced, IP-Based broadband satellite technology in the
world. Since 1997 Shin Satellite has invested more than ten billion baht to jointly
develop this technology with partners from around the world. The technology comprises two
parts, the IPSTAR ground system and the new satellite, IPSTAR-1. The IPSTAR ground system
is able to operate with conventional satellites, thus the service can be deployed
immediately without waiting for the launch of IPSTAR
1. IPSTAR-1 has a capacity of 40-45 Gbps which is 20 times higher than conventional
satellites (which normally have a capacity of about 1-2 Gbps). IPSTAR-1 will provide
service coverage to more than 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific Region (IPSTAR is the first
and only service provider at the moment): Thailand, China, India, Australia, New Zealand,
Philippine, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia.IPSTAR-1
has a very large capacity that offers the benefit of high bandwidth cost saving. It is the
first satellite that can offer broadband Internet for a reasonable price. With a huge
bandwidth capacity and Asia-Pacific service coverage, IPSTAR-1 will deliver low price
broadband Internet to millions of users compared to the higher price and lower capacity
that a conventional satellite can serve.
1PSTAR technology is aimed at Consumers
To provide broadband internet for home and SOHO users. Rural areas
Applications for this market could be rural telephony, Internet access for schools and
villages, and tele-education, which sometimes comes under Universal Service Obligations.
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To provide Intranet or VPN (Virtual Private Networks) for corporate users or
organizations that require broadband internet, telephone services, video conferencing,
e-learning or e-government. In addition, IPSTAR can also provide voice networks for mobile
or fixed line telephone operators.
The launch of IPSTAR this year will be an important step forward in the satellite
industry because it will be the first time that a satellite can deliver the broadband
technology. This will make Shin Satellite the leader in space technology at the
international level, benefiting everyone.
IPSTAR deployment for Universal Service Obligations will greatly benefit development of
a country. Governments have to spend a lot of money to subsidize services in rural areas.
Conventional technology is expensive and inflexible compared to IPSTAR technology because
IPSTAR has a small and easy to install ground system plus a low price. This will help
governments to reduce the cost of all projects and may even be profitable.
IPSTAR is the best solution to undertake such service obligations and reduce the
digital divide. For example, IPSTAR can deliver interactive distance learning to rural
areas effectively and efficiently. This will help enhance the quality of distance learning
and reduce manpower cost. Another example is rural telephony. Although IPSTAR is capable
of providing powerful broadband applications, it can also be applied for simple
applications like telephone networks. With its low bandwidth and equipment cost, it will
change the way of providing such services. In the past, a lot of wiring and base station
installation had to be carried
out in order to deliver telephone services to remote areas. On the other hand, IPSTAR
can provide such services anywhere at anytime, and at lower cost.
In New Zealand, IPSTAR is being deployed for broadband Internet and telephone services.
These are initially being provided to members of the country's biggest cattle farm
cooperative society. Under the plan, there will be more 10,000 locations served. Myanmar
has been using IPSTAR for rural telephony since 2002. The first project was to install
IPSTAR service at 5,000 sites within five years (1,000 sites installed to date) and the
second project will serve 6,000 sites (2,500 sites are supported by government loans from
Thailand to the Myanmar (Govemment)
