ATLANTA, Jan. 30, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- EMS Satellite Networks, a division of EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG), Nera Broadband Satellite AS, and the Newtec Group jointly announced today that they fully endorse and support the European Space Agency's recent award of a DVB-RCS interoperability test bed contract to VeriSat based in Norway.
EMS, Nera and Newtec recently concluded DVB-RCS open-standard interoperability testing and demonstration by each validating its DVB-RCS terminal with the other two companies' DVB-RCS hubs. ESA's subsequent contract award to VeriSat will provide the basis for the first formal interoperability certification mechanism for the DVB-RCS open standard by the end of 2004, and EMS, Nera and Newtec intend to cooperate with VeriSat to achieve this goal.
The European Space Agency's SatLabs Group (www.satlabs.org) is an open industry organization working for compliance and interoperability of DVB-RCS systems. The mission of SatLabs is to complement the DVB-RCS standard with recommendations and guidelines to facilitate DVB-RCS terminal interoperability, and to provide a mechanism for formal DVB-RCS interoperability certification. SatLabs will publish system profiles that ensure interoperability, and compliance to these profiles will be subject to certification by an independent test house.
VeriSat (www.verisat.no) is a manufacturer of DVB-RCS protocol test equipment. They have developed several products for DVB-RCS forward and return link analysis. The test bed to be developed will on completion be handed over to an independent test house for implementation of the DVB-RCS / SatLabs certification process.
Interoperability is one of the core benefits of the DVB-RCS open standard. Until the advent of DVB-RCS, satellite communications and very small aperture terminal (VSAT) customers had no choice but to make significant and often long-term commitments to proprietary systems for two-way broadband access via satellite. Interoperability will give customers the choice of purchasing from one or several vendors throughout the lifetime of their systems, thereby fostering competition among vendors and accelerating cost efficiencies and performance improvements in DVB-RCS equipment.
About Nera
Nera is a world-leading supplier, developing, manufacturing and selling fixed, wireless and satellite communication equipment and systems. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets point-to-point and point-to-multipoint radio link equipment, satellite terminals and gateways for mobile and fixed satellite communications. Nera is a major supplier to INMARSAT. The Company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Nera ASA has an associated company, Nera Telecommunications Ltd., listed in the Singapore Exchange Ltd. (ticker: Nera Tel). Nera Broadband Satellite is a fully owned Nera company focusing on broadband solutions via satellite, and is a leading provider of terminals and hub solutions. For more information, visit Nera ASA at www.nera.no. or contact:
Helge Skaar, Head of Corporate Communications, Nera ASA Telephone: +47 55 22 58 20 E-mail: hsk@nera.no
About Newtec
The Newtec Group is a Belgium-based Satellite Communications Equipment Manufacturer & Total Solution Provider, offering highly reliable products and services throughout the entire world. The Company provides satellite equipment for a wide variety of applications, including: Video & Audio Exchange Networks, High-Rate IP-Backbone Links, One-Way (business TV) and Two-Way Access Networks, Broadcast Uplink Stations (DTV & IP-Broadcast), Primary TV Distribution Networks. Newtec distributes its products and service through subsidiaries in the USA and Singapore, as well as through a large network of authorized distributors. For more information, please visit our website at www.newtec.be or contact Richard C. R. Schaap, VP Business Development & Marketing, Newtec, Telephone: +32 3 780 65 00 e-mail: ris@newtec.be.
About EMS Technologies, Inc.
EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG) is a leading innovator in the design and manufacture of wireless, satellite and defense solutions, and focuses its unique range of advanced technologies on the needs of broadband and mobile information users. The Company is headquartered in Atlanta, employs approximately 1,700 people worldwide and has manufacturing facilities in Atlanta, Ottawa, Montreal and Brazil.
The Satellite Networks Division of EMS Technologies, based in Montreal, Canada has played a critical role in the development of the DVB-RCS international open standard for high-speed bi-directional Internet communications via satellite, and is a leading provider of broadband satellite communications ground terminal and hub solutions.
For more information, visit EMS on the World Wide Web at www.ems-t.com.