High-Speed Internet Delivery with OPEN-SKY

EUTELSAT Outlines its Vision to Provide Multimedia and High-Speed Internet
                            Delivery with OPEN-SKY

    PARIS, April 27 -- The future of broadband via satellite was the 
subject of a recent international conference organized by leading satellite 
operator EUTELSAT.  The highlight of the Broadband Multimedia Conference was 
the presentation of OPEN-SKY, a major new initiative to build a new open 
standard multimedia and high-speed Internet service.

    The Broadband Multimedia Conference, held at the University of Bologna,
attracted more than 600 delegates from 33 countries who charted the future of
broadband satellite.  Delegates from the telecommunications, government and
broadcasting sectors, ISPs and content providers discussed present and future
broadband services.  An international array of speakers in the Internet and
content provider fields presented case studies of how they presently use
satellite to deliver their services.  Highlights from the event are already
being streamed on EUTELSAT's website and will shortly be rebroadcast free-to-air 
from HOT BIRD(TM) 3 (downlink frequency 12.111 GHz, vertical polarization, 
symbol rate 27.5, FEC 3/4).

    In his keynote address EUTELSAT Director General Giuliano Berretta outlined 
his vision for the introduction of an open standard service platform
delivering rich media, audio and personal broadcasting services to users'
PCs via satellite.  This major new initiative entitled OPEN-SKY gives consumers 
access to a full range of interactive multimedia services including rich 
multimedia content, fast file delivery, personal broadcasting services
and high-speed Internet access.

    OPEN-SKY is already running from EUTELSAT's W3 satellite at 7 degrees East
and carrying 20 unencrypted international video services that are being
streamed at speeds from 256 to 700 kilobits/s using MPEG4 encapsulated over
IP.  A retransmission of the Bologna conference proceedings in high-speed
streaming video will be added in early May.  This offer is soon expected to grow 
to nearer 50 video-streaming services.  Users need a satellite dish and PC 
equipped with an add-in card to receive these new services and can select 
between accessing content on-line or retrieving content delivered by satellite 
and stored in their PC in off-line mode.

    EUTELSAT is investing significant revenue and resources to ensure the
success of the new platform and is partnering with multiple content and
service providers to deliver rich multimedia content to users.

    The second day of the conference opened with a live duplex with
Sir Arthur C. Clarke in Sri Lanka utilizing a two-way Ku-band satellite link
on EUTELSAT's SESAT satellite.  Speaking to delegates, Sir Arthur spoke about
how technology developments are realizing the dream of global communications.
He said:  "The developments of communications now mean that the world is
getting smaller and smaller.  Advances such as those provided by
EUTELSAT marks the future of digital communication."

    Speaking about the conference, EUTELSAT's Director General, Giuliano
Berretta said:  "At EUTELSAT we believe that satellite will play an
important role for the delivery of multimedia broadband services -- particularly 
for those users who do not have access to other forms of high-speed access.
Initiatives such as OPEN-SKY demonstrate EUTELSAT's commitment to being a
world-leader in the provision of satellite broadband services.  We organized
our first Broadband Multimedia Conference to create an open exchange forum to
discuss the commercial, economic and technical potential for broadband via
satellite."

    Other themes addressed during the conference included interactive services
for distance learning, tele-medicine, two-way services for Internet Service
Providers, pay-per-use bandwidth using EUTELSAT's range of D-SAT products, and
mobile voice and positioning services using EMSAT.  Delegates also had an
opportunity to see live demonstrations of EUTELSAT services and meet with host
partners and customers in an exhibition area.

    The location of the conference was selected to honour the home-town of
Guglielmo Marconi.  Under the patronage of the Guglielmo Marconi Foundation,
EUTELSAT inaugurated celebrations to mark the centenary of the first
transatlantic wireless transmission by Marconi.  This will also be marked by
the launch of two new satellites (ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 1 and 2) that will provide
connectivity between the Americas and Europe.  These satellites will be
dedicated to Marconi -- drawing parallels between his historical broadcast and
the modern day satellite equivalent linking the Americas with Europe.

    Also in Bologna, on April 9, an Honorary Doctorate (Laurea honoris causa)
in Management Engineering was conferred upon Giuliano Berretta by the Rector
and Senate of the University of Bologna in the premises of the University's
Great Hall.  The Honorary Doctorate was conferred in recognition of Mr. Berretta's 
clear understanding of the characteristics of management engineering and his 
decisive leadership qualities that are founded on a solid grasp of technical-
scientific issues and a thorough sense of economic organization.