"It was a true success", said Giovanni Garofalo of ESA Telecom.
"I think visitors to the ESA stand were genuinely impressed by not only the quality but the wide range of applications that interactive satcom solutions can offer."
| Alcatel Space's DVB-RCS interactive, collaborative and video-conferencing tool received great attention. Most observers noted how impressive the tool was in terms of both its flexibility and potential for applications ranging from video-conferencing to telemedicine and distance learning. Among the attendees special guest Bernard Mathieu, Chairman of the Joint Communication Board (JCB), got the opportunity to take part in a live interactive session between the ESA stand and the Alcatel Space remote site in Cannes France. |
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The ESA Telecom stand was also honoured by the visit of the Italian Minister for Communications, Mr. Maurizio Gasparri and Mr. Ehud Olmert, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade Labour and Communications of Israel. Mr Olmert remarked, "As I get my first look at the possibilities supplied by this DVB-RCS technology, I realise that we are already living in the future." |
| A variety of visitors from several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) came to learn how DVB-RCS could be applied to info-poverty solutions in Africa, South America and East Asia. As well, other visitors made note of the potential applications for banking services and the automotive industry. |
| Of additional interest to participants of the three day event, were the benefits two-way technologies can bring to users. Demonstrations of SES-ASTRA's SATMODE project to deliver low-cost two-way TV communication via satellite and Aramiska's DVB-RCS fast internet via satellite produced many positive reactions from onlookers. |
| ESA Telecom funded projects, NESA and REMSAT were on hand to provide ample evidence of the broad range satcom solutions can offer the user community. Many participants of SAT Expo 2004 were surprised to learn that even fighting forest fires was an area satcom can aid. Likewise, the NESA ambulance (image right) received special attention by establishing a satellite link to the Vicennes hospital. |
| On 2 October, Mr Viriglio, ESA's Director of European Union and Industrial Programmes gave a presentation on the relationship between HDTV and satcom during the Session on High Definition Television. In it he expressed how HDTV might affect future satcom development and how they can mutually benefit from each other. |
| Moderated by Giovanni Caprara (image right) a Round Table discussion on Telemedicine was held on the first day. One participant, Daniela Carraro of the Direttore Generale Azienda ULSSS had this to say: "It's clear that we are in a transition period with Health Services and that these new technologies will open many perspectives." |
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The ESA telecom team were on hand with a large assortment of fact sheets and brochures highlighting the applications element of ESA Telecom. |
To view projects which demonstrated at the ESA Telecom stand at SATExpo 2004 just click under Related Links on the right of this page.
