NetworkAdvantage™ Launch Transponder Grooming Product.

CommunicAsia 2005, Singapore, 14 June 2005

NetworkAdvantage™ Launch Product To Assist Satellite Network Operators Reduce Cost Of Unused Bandwidth

NetworkAdvantage™ Corporation Limited, a leading satellite communications management system developer, today announced the launch of it's Transponder Grooming product. This product will have a significant impact to Satellite Network Operators in reducing overhead costs of unused bandwidth.

Satellite network teleport operators are constantly striving to reduce costs of unused space segment created within normal satellite network operations. NetworkAdvantage's innovative Transponder Grooming product enables operators to plan frequency allocation for efficient transponder utilization, and remotely control customer satellite modems to effect changes - without requiring customer participation.

Unused bandwidth can cost the average satellite teleport operator from US$5,000 to US$20,000 per month, and many operators frequently need to 'groom' transponder bandwidth to ensure that they are using valuable satellite capacity efficiently. This is a labour intensive task not only for the operator, but also for their customers, who may not have access to skilled technicians to make the necessary configuration changes.

“We periodically need to groom space segment at our teleport” says Vince Waterson, Vice President, Hawaii Pacific Teleport. “Our customers do not wish to have their carriers moved too often and may sometimes refuse to cooperate, resulting in wasted satellite bandwidth and increased bandwidth cost overhead. We welcome this innovation from NetworkAdvantage™ that will improve our operational costs and ease stress on our staff and customers. Hawaii Pacific Teleport plan to be the first customer for Transponder Grooming.”

“Transponder grooming is a must in today's satellite industry” says Garie Pimentel, President & CEO, Mabuhay Satellite Corporation. “Gone are the days when customers leased whole or half transponders and managed their own space segment. With the commoditization of bandwidth, customers now lease smaller bandwidth segments, wanting to pay only for actual bandwidth utilized, and the flexibility to grow their networks in the future. Yet, with today's highly competitive lease rates, the only way for a satellite operator to achieve adequate returns is essentially to pack it in.”

“This is a cumbersome process today for both the satellite operator and our customers and NetworkAdvantage's™ Transponder Grooming product will certainly be useful”, adds Mr Pimentel.

“We have focused on building a cost-efficient toolkit combining bandwidth planner, customer notification and remote control of customer's satellite modem terminals over satellite” says Michael Elwood-Smith, CEO, NetworkAdvantage™. “Our new Transponder Grooming product will help satellite network operators save bandwidth costs and continue to delight their customers.”

NetworkAdvantage™ are exhibiting at CommunicAsia 2005 in Singapore (14-17 June, 2005), booth #2K1-11.

For product details see Transponder Grooming