[Satellite TODAY 07-16-10] Astrium Services and Cisco have entered into a technology partnership agreement to study the applications of space-based IP routers, the companies announced July 15.
    The partnership initially will focus on studying the space-based router that Cisco is testing on Intelsat 14 and how to apply Astrium’s communication service and payload processing capabilities to better support its customers. Astrium’s military satcom provider subsidiary, Paradigm, will work with Cisco on the first in a series of studies to be completed by January.
    Through this joint technology study, Astrium Services said it would look to provide a more diverse range of telecommunication services in remote areas that require rapid data transfers. These would include crisis management situations, remote medical emergencies and mobile military operations.
    “Our partnership with Cisco is a natural step in ensuring that we remain at the cutting edge of innovative satellite services, providing our customers with both greater capacity and flexibility,” Astrium CEO Eric Béranger said in a statement.