Johnny-B-Goode writes "Gulf News via NewsEdge Corporation : There could be a severe disruption to satellite-based communication services during the Iraq war, according to senior industry sources.

In such a scenario, the Global Positioning System (GPS) could be among the first satellite-based services to be impacted. Sources from the industry explained that GPS is most likely to be disabled mainly for security reasons.

It could also be done as part of a wider drive to stem the flow of information/propaganda during the conflict, especially in the initial phases.

This did happen during the first Gulf War in 1991, but at that time the satellite-based communications industry had yet to tap into the full commercial possibilities that it provided.


When questioned on this issue, a spokesperson at Inmarsat's London office said: Inmarsat does not comment on speculation. We are a global service provider with over 23 years of experience in managing a global satellite communications network.

We are used by all of the world's leading broadcasters - BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, etc - and our network regularly achieves an availability figure of 99.99 per cent. This is just one reason why the media trust us with their time-critical stories.

From our headquarters in London, we closely monitor the traffic across our network to ensure that it is available to use as and when our customers need it.

Our network of nine geo-stationary satellites also provides the satellite element of the global maritime distress and safety at sea service that is closely monitored for reliability and availability by the International Maritime Organisation.

An industry expert said that a GPS could be disabled on satellite systems that have small spot beams, but not on those with the large spot beams and covering a large maritime sector.

Publication: Gulf News

Distributed by Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire

>>
© 2003, Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Article and source;
http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleId=NEa0318064.7iw&verticalID=223&vertical=Technology
"