Internet Protocol over Satellite (IPoS), the most widely deployed satellite broadband standard, has now become the first global standard for the industry. The announcement was made by Hughes Network Systems (HNS) following the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) ratification of the IPoS air interface standard in February. IPoS was first ratified early in 2004 by the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA), the primary standards body for the telecommunications industry in North America.

"Now ratified and approved by the two major standards bodies, IPoS opens the door for greater optimisation and economies of scale throughout the entire satellite industry", said Pradman Kaul, chairman and ceo of Hughes Network Systems. "IPoS is the only air interface specifically designed for the efficient delivery of broadband satellite services and offers the best means to expand satellite's addressable markets worldwide".

In announcing ETSI approval, HNS said it will promote implementation of IPoS through a multi-tiered licensing program available to all industry equipment, software and service providers. Licensing will run from royalty free technical documentation, to the licensing of technology and technical support. IPoS is already endorsed by industry players such as Microelectronics Technology, Inc. (MTI), Texas Instruments, TriQuint Semiconductor, Wind River Software, Intelsat, and Telefonica de Espana.

IPoS is the only industry standard optimised for delivery of broadband services over satellite channels. IPoS specifies a satellite independent service access point (SI-SAP), that creates a well defined interface between the satellite dependent functions and the application layers, thereby enabling an open service delivery platform. IPoS is currently implemented in over 500,000 sites worldwide, and last year HNS shipped more than 180,000 IPoS compliant terminals.

www.hns.com