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"Can't Be Done," Indeed
By Rex Porter

	Rex Porter

One question was: "Every discussion about transmitting the Internet has been limited to ground-based cable and fiber systems. Why dont we envision long distance Internet signals being uplinked from the senders headend to a low-orbit satellite system such as Teledesic? Then these same signals would be downlinked to the addressee through that systems headend, completing the journey through the cable system to that long-distance addressee."

Only one panelist gave the query much consideration. Other answers amounted to: "It cant be done!" "Theres not enough bandwidth with satellites!" "Its too complicated!" "Fiber is better!"

Now the Washington Post says Lockheed Martins new telecommunications unit is investing $3.6 billion in a four-satellite system called Astrolink. And guess whatLockheed Martin plans to carry high-speed data and video Internet traffic across the nation and around the world with it.

I simply hate seeing money wasted on a venture with no future. And Lockheed Martin earlier lured poor little Comsat into a proposed $2.7 billion merger, which doubtless means disaster for Comsat, too.

Lockheed will provide A-2100 satellites and launch vehicles. It also duped a tiny outfit named TRW into thinking this is a viable project. According to the Post, TRW will provide digital communications equipment for the satellites.

Not only is Lockheed ready to add five more satellites if demand warrants, but Hughes Network Systems Spaceway and the Teledesic project owned by Bill Gates and cellular phone pioneer Craig McCaw also have their own systems.

Apparently, America Online also thinks its possible, investing $1.5 billion in Hughes Satellite TV Service. If Internet-over-satellite can be done, and these players certainly have the means to do it, then we might keep our local Internet business while others just grab the long distance Internet businessfor now. Later, well pay the piper whatever he demands.

But we say it cant be done. Shouldnt we share our knowledge with other industries to protect them from their own folly?

Editor-in-Chief

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