New Broadcast Network on Trial in Paris

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new network, demonstrating the broadcast of TV and radio services to phones, other hand-held devices and cars, across Paris and the surrounding areas is now open. Solaris Mobile and its partners in this collaboration, Alcatel-Lucent and TowerCast, have built a hybrid network based on complementary satellite and cellular mobile technology. The network will be trialled through next year, before a possible extension across the rest of France, and into other European countries.

The collaboration sees Solaris Mobile providing satellite capacity and frequency rights; Alcatel-Lucent is providing transmission equipment, and TowerCast is providing its antenna sites in, and around, Paris. The resulting ‘hybrid network’ will combine the instant coverage of satellite with the deep network capabilities of cellular mobile systems. This is the first such network to be deployed within Europe and it is designed to be the first step towards the launch of commercial services.

Such networks, operating across the whole of the EU, in frequency bands adjacent to the existing 3G mobile bands around 2GHz, will open up new opportunities to deliver next generation broadband and broadcast services to people on the move. Video, data down-loads and ubiquitous voice services delivered to people’s phones, or cars, will soon match the range currently available only with fixed line services in their offices or homes.

This hybrid network was enabled after the European Commission and the 27 EC member States authorised Solaris Mobile to operate services in 2 x 15 MHz blocks of S-Band spectrum across Europe in May 2009.

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Notes to editors

Solaris Mobile

Solaris Mobile, a joint venture between Eutelsat and SES-Astra was set up in 2008 to develop next generation mobile communication services. The company intends to deploy a hybrid satellite and terrestrial network enabling the provision of mobile television, radio and data channels as well as broadband and voice communication services s to be delivered to mobile phones, portable terminals and in vehicle devices.

In May 2009, the European Commission awarded Solaris Mobile the right to operate satellite & terrestrial services in S-Band in all 27 EU member states. S-Band is spectrum residing in the 2GHz band and is adjacent to UMTS used by mobile 3G operators.

For this trial, Solaris Mobile will deploy a number of prototype hand-held devices and has equipped several vehicles with new enabling technology. Development partners supporting the trial also include Calero, who have designed the s-band receive antenna mounted on cars; the receivers are made by Quantum and the S-Band chip which they incorporate is made by DiBcom. Eutelsat is providing the transmission head-end service based in Rambouillet which aggregates the content and encodes to DVB-SH for transmission to the Solaris S-Band payload.

For more information log onto www.solarismobile.com

Venture partners: TowerCast and Alcatel-Lucent

TowerCast

TowerCast, which was established in the 80’s, is a 100% French owned company affiliated to the NRJ Group. With 20 years experience in broadcasting TowerCast already manages a capital of several hundred high point masts right across France for radio transmissions (FM, digital radio, TNT, TMP. For more information: www.towercast.fr

Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent (EuroNext Paris and NYSE:ALU) is the favoured partner of the service providers, businesses and administrations world-wide, providing them with the voice operated services, data and video services for their own users and customers. Leader in the field of broadband networks, mobiles and bundling, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent relies on the unique technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, on of the biggest research companies in the communications industry. Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with an international dimension. The company which had a turnover of €16.98 billion in 2008 is a French legal entity with it’s headquarters in Paris. For further information visit www.alcatel-lucent.com.