Firm Develops ‘on Demand’ Satellite System

A satellite bus would enable commercial users to buy a seat or seats for their equipment on any given launch, but Interstate Electronics Corp. in Anaheim says it has developed a system that allows users to sign on to an already orbiting communications satellite for as little as a minute at a time.

Interstate, like most defense contractors, is seeking to broaden its business base and cut its reliance on the government’s ever-shrinking pocketbook. The company spent two years developing its IEC-2000 “on demand” system and showed it for the first time at the annual meeting of the International Telecommunications Satellite (INTELSAT) program participants last week in Washington.

Instead of requiring a user to sign a full-time lease for a telecommunications band for the life of the satellite mission--now about 12 years--IEC’s system will enable users to buy access time only as needed, says Robert Levin, head of sales for Interstate’s commercial communications unit.

He said the response among the representatives of the 150 or so countries that belong to INTELSAT was favorable. Now the chore is to get satellite operators to sign up and start selling access time on an “on-demand” basis. No deals have been signed yet, “but we’re getting close on a couple,” he said.

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John O’Dell covers major Orange County corporations, manufacturing and economic issues for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-5831 and at [email protected]