The Lowdown
Australian Space development in focus
Australia in Space, its history and it's future, links, comments and opinion.
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Any submissions, additions or corrections relating to these links are more than welcome.
Optus
Optus provides a broad range of communications services (to five million customers plus) including mobile, national and long distance services, local telephony, international telephony, business network services, internet and satellite services and pay television. Optus is the leading satellite owner and operator in Australia. It currently has four satellites in orbit and nearly half a million Australians have a dish pointed at its B3 satellite.
Optus Public Affairs has kindly provided material and answers to a few initial questions.
The URL below is for the satellite products and case studies section of the Optus website, It is quite marketing focused, but has some good information and satellite coverage maps.
Optus Public Affairs has also provided PDFs copies of their space related media releases and backgrounders. The media releases, but not necessarily the backgrounders are all on the website as well, but there's not a special satellite section, just a newsroom.
http://www.cwo.com.au/newsroom
The backgrounder titled 'Satellite Backgrounder' is the most general overview.
- Satellite Backgrounder
- ABC DTV deal
- NT Satellite Dist Education
- NT EOP Launch
- Optus two-way broadband
- Optus Satellite in NSW
- Backgrounder-Monitoring
- Optus HOT and CTBTO
- Optus satellite and education
- Optus Interactive Distance learning
- Optus and SingTel
- Optus satellite and country doctors
- Satellite dish for Optus
Optus Public Affairs has stated that the media releases demonstrate the practical uses of satellite technology especially for rural and remote communication. The real benefits come in the education, health and broadcast sectors.
Optus has identified that the launch of 'C1' in Q3 2003 will be a real driver for their satellite business. It will enable them to focus on the Asia-Pacific region, rather than mostly Australia and NZ.
Some questions posed to Optus Public Affairs:
Q: How is the relationship with
Ariane? Is it a long term multi launch deal?
A: Our relationship is good and we have a single launch contract
for the 'C1' satellite.
Q: What sort of conditions would
be required to be met for Optus to consider a local launch company
using Christmas island facilities?
A: Cost and risk are the key factors. A local launch would have
to be competitive.
Q: Is a link up with Austar possible
in the near future?
A: We do not comment on rumour. All we have said to media is
that we have an ongoing relationship with Austar on several fronts,
and as a matter of course, we speak to them on a wide variety
of issues every day.
Q: Does Optus have a position
on the current uptake of Satellite based interactive media and
or its medium term future?
A: We have a positive view of the growth potential of (Direct
to Home) DTH services.
Editorial Content
The editorial content of this site is the opinion of the Editor Mr Matthew King. News items, submitted items and items of public interest will be identified as such and are subject to standard journalistic practices.
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Email: info@lowdown.com.au
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