Teleglobe is introducing a digital video broadcast/internet protocol (DVB/IP) satellite service for internet service providers (ISPs). Using DVB/IP, inbound only internet is delivered to the service provider and business customers at speeds of up to 48 mbps using a compact rooftop antenna. A low cost receiver located at the customer site decodes the signal from the antenna and routes IP packets to the customer's network.

Sharat Jain, country manager, said that the solution provided a number of benefits to the consumer including a low cost alternative to terrestrial for high speed connection and bypass terrestrial congestion with direct connections to service multiple locations.

Elaborating on the features, Jain said that the technology builds uponexisting video broadcast protocols with the required hardware being inexpensive and readily available. The DVB/IP service also takes advantage of the inherent asymmetry of the internet.

The customer uses their existing Internet connection to send data requests to Teleglobe's internet backbone, The DVB/IP service then provides the customer with a `big pipe' for downloading internet content in response to those requests.

Jain added that unlike a fixed `leased line' access service, the DVB/IP platform can statistically multiplex multiple traffic streams and derive up to a 100 per cent increase in bandwidth, which translates to lower costs.

The broadcast capability generates additional savings when used to distribute newsfeed, streaming and caching traffic.

ISPs and large corporations will have access to high speed bandwidth at their premises and gain greater economy and efficiency through this advanced service platform, he pointed out.

Jain said that Teleglobe would invest $5 billion over the next fiveyears to build a globally integrated internet, voice, data and video network which will increase the company's currently installed network capacity by an estimated 200-fold and provide customers with direct network access from 160 major cities worldwide.