[Satellite Today – 4-16-08] iDirect Inc.’s IP communications platform has been certified to be interoperable with Ericsson’s Abis over IP GSM satellite backhaul solution, iDirect announced April 15.
    The joint capabilities enables operators to reduce the cost of transporting cellular traffic over satellite by replacing Single Channel Per Carrier (SCPC) links with a shared IP Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network.
    iDirect and Ericsson-Oman have also signed their first joint customer, Nawras, a major cellular operator in the Middle East based in the Sultanate of Oman. In an effort to extend its GSM service to Oman’s entire population, Nawras will install an iDirect Series 15000 Universal Hub at its headquarters along with 20 iDirect iNFINITI 5000 Series Satellite Routers. The operator also plans to leverage the satellite network to provide broadband connectivity to commercial enterprises and government organizations in the Sultanate of Oman.
    “Satellite cellular backhaul represents one of the most promising business opportunities for mobile operators worldwide,” said Rash Jhanjee, regional vice president of the Middle East and Africa for iDirect in a statement. “Integrating the iDirect platform with Ericsson’s Abis over IP technology is a critical accomplishment. The joint solution establishes an attractive [return on investment] model for operators to extend cellular service to every corner of the globe, while at the same time enabling operators to gain a broadband satellite network that can be marketed to support critical business and government IP applications where terrestrial connectivity is not an option or is not adequate.”