MONTREAL, Canada, Oct. 1, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- EMS Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG), through its Space & Technology Group in Montreal, announced that it has recently delivered two "SpaceMux" on-board processor units to Boeing Satellite Systems. EMS's SpaceMux is the first on-board processor compatible with the open-standard DVB-RCS system. It will be carried as a demonstration payload on the ANIK-F2 satellite currently in production at Boeing for Telesat Canada.
The SpaceMux will enable satellite-based Internet broadband applications to be deployed over large geographical areas for both point-to-point and point-to-multi-point communications. The system will use DVB-RCS (Digital Video Broadcast - Return Channel via Satellite) open-standard user terminals. The SpaceMux will enable individual users to communicate at 2Mbit data rates between themselves in a mesh configuration, without having to pass through a gateway.
Although intended to be a demonstration payload, SpaceMux has been designed to meet the same standards as a fully operational commercial system. The efficient bandwidth utilization is based on Multi-Frequency Time Division Multiple Access (MF-TDMA) on the uplink and Time Division Multiplexing on the downlink. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells on the return link and Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) MPEG Transport Stream packets on the forward link carry traffic and signaling data.
The SpaceMux is a self-contained unit, including the Local Oscillator, the RF modules for up and down conversion, and the Electronic Power Supply. The on-board digital signal processing required to recover the ATM traffic cells, as well as the associated overhead signaling information transmitted on the uplink, is performed by the Multi-Carrier Demodulator (MCD) modules, which are Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)-based, real time, digital signal processors.
Due to the high level of complexity of the ASICs (some of which feature over 1 million gates) and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), several new processes have been developed and qualified at EMS. EMS is now poised to manufacture the next generation of flight hardware with advanced digital packaging.
About Boeing Satellite Systems:
Boeing Satellite Systems is the satellite manufacturing arm of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, a unit of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA). BSS is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial communications satellites and a major provider of space systems, satellites, and payloads for national defense, science and environmental applications.
About EMS Technologies, Inc.
EMS Technologies, Inc. is a leading innovator in the design and manufacture of space, airborne and terrestrial wireless 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. For more information, visit the company on the World Wide Web at www.ems-t.com.
Editor's Note: Editors may download a photo of the EMS SpaceMux on-board processor units at: www.ems-t.com/EMSPressRoom/PressPhotos/spacemux.asp