The leading Russian providers of satellite communications services intend to create a VSAT consortium.

Press release
Moscow, May 10, 2011

Within the framework of the 23rd International exhibition of telecommunication equipment, control systems, information technologies and communication services "Svyaz-Expocomm-2011", Russian satellite operators and equipment manufacturers LLC "ISTAR", LLC "EUROCOM", OOO "Starblizer", LLC "Race-Communication" and LLC "Romantics" announced the intention to unite in a consortium in order to create and promote modern satellite communication services for a wide category of users.

This cooperation is based on a single network infrastructure, which is being built on the basis of the domestic ISTAR VSAT platform. The consortium member companies operate this infrastructure jointly and form their own communication services based on it, which they offer to end customers on their own behalf, in fact being VNO operators.

This form of cooperation allows you to significantly reduce operating costs, and participation in the consortium of a Russian equipment manufacturer allows you to significantly reduce the cost of a subscriber device – the VSAT terminal, the cost of which will be only 30 thousand rubles, with the possibility of further reduction with full localization to 12-15 thousand rubles.

Now the average market price for a set of equipment ranges from 55 – 65 thousand rubles. According to the project participants, the reduction of one-time user costs will significantly popularize satellite communications not only among small and medium-sized businesses, but also offer competitive conditions for interactive Internet access to individual consumers. So, depending on the selected tariff plan, the monthly user costs will be from 500 rubles per month.

The infrastructure being created will allow to serve hundreds of thousands of subscribers and work through various communication satellites of any bands – C, Ku and Ka. Subscriber stations of the network are distinguished by unsurpassed bandwidth characteristics – up to 86 Mbit/s for reception and up to 6.5 Mbit/s for transmission. The network can be used to provide a variety of communication services, including: dedicated corporate networks, broadband Internet access, telephony and videoconferencing, collection and distribution of TV programs, communication on mobile objects.

"Thanks to our full own production cycle in Russia, we have a great potential for further reducing the cost of the subscriber terminal as the serial production increases. Today we are ready to ship several thousand terminals monthly," said Alexander Komaritsky, General Director of Istar LLC.

"We made the decision to join this consortium based on the positive experience of using the Istar VSAT platform in a number of projects for public and private users," said Alexey Vtorygin, CEO of Race Communications, a system integrator specializing in creating communication networks for commercial and government customers. - "We expect that combining operators from different industries within one platform will allow us to ensure efficient utilization of network resources and, consequently, guarantee favorable tariffs to customers."

"It is a great honor for us to participate in such an ambitious Russian project, which, along with the GLONASS system, will be another practical step for Russia in reviving domestic space communication technologies," Sergey Shlenkin, Technical director of the Russian enterprise of the international Romantis group, shares his expectations. – "We plan to use the network to expand the range of our services, offer its resource to our key customers in the field of television, and also intend to promote the network's services outside of Russia through the enterprises of our group."

The Consortium plans to start providing services under this project in the 3rd quarter of 2011.

The details of the product being sold will be available on the websites of the participating companies, as well as at the Istar stand (pav. 2-1, stand 21A49) during the Svyaz-Expocomm 2011 exhibition.

 
About the project participants

ISTAR LLC
ISTAR Company is a leading Russian developer and manufacturer of equipment for satellite communications. The company owns the unique ISTAR UHP technology designed for the construction of VSAT class satellite communication networks. The innovative ISTAR UHP VSAT platform has a number of competitive advantages and a high degree of novelty. The company's product portfolio includes a full range of hardware and software, including central and subscriber stations, a network monitoring and management system.
Several dozen networks have already been built on the basis of the ISTAR UHP platform in various countries of the world. ISTAR equipment sales are carried out through its own sales department and an international network of official distributors who undertake the entire range of work on the creation and operation of ISTAR networks. ISTAR equipment is certified in Russia, the European Union and other countries of the world.
www.eastar.ru EUROCOM LLC


EUROCOM is a fixed–line operator operating throughout Russia and the CIS. The company provides a full range of ground and satellite communication services at the level of modern standards. A special feature and advantage of EUROCOM is the extensive experience in creating hybrid systems that connect terrestrial and satellite communication channels into a single secure network.
www.eurocom.ru LLC "ROMANTICS"


The Russian satellite communications operator LLC Romantis was founded in 2007 and in a short time was able to take a strong position in the telecommunications market of Russia and CIS countries as one of the leading distributors of geostationary satellite capacities. LLC "Romantis" is a part of the international Romantis group and is engaged in leasing satellite capacity in the C and Ku bands, as well as designing satellite communication networks for various purposes. The presence of reliable international partners among satellite operators, equipment suppliers and system integrators allows the company to provide services of the highest quality and carry out complex projects for the creation of satellite communication and broadcasting networks. Romantics is a dynamically developing company, actively focused on servicing the growing market of satellite communications services. Among our clients are such companies as FSUE "VGTRK", FSUE "RTRS", JSC "NTV TV Company", JSC "Channel One", LLC "Teleport- Service". LLC "Romantics" has the necessary licenses to operate in the telecommunications market of Russia: for communication services for the provision of communication channels, for communication services for data transmission, for telematic communication services, for communication services for the purposes of broadcasting, as well as decisions of the State Emergency Committee on the allocation of radio frequency bands for the organization of satellite channels.
www.romantis.ru Race Communication LLC 


Race Communications is a system integrator specializing in the development, construction and technical support of networks and data transmission systems for commercial and government customers, the organization of terrestrial and satellite communication channels. The company carries out a full cycle of works on the construction of telecommunication systems and communication networks throughout the territory of the Russian Federation and CIS countries.
www.race.ru Starblizer LLC

 
StarBlazer is an operator of satellite Internet and multimedia services. The company is engaged in satellite Internet access services for private users and licensed distribution of media content.
www.starblazer.ru


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