Satellite operator Intelsat has announced trials of a multicast system to allow content from frequently used Web sites to be cached in a central warehouse, where it could be sent to local Internet service providers (ISPs) around the world.
Intelsat's Internet Distribution System (IDS) will multicast the data from the warehouse via satellite to "kiosk" servers hosted by ISPs.
"The system will provide fast access to local Internet sites for users and reduce link costs for ISPs," said spokeswoman Susan Gordon. The pre-commercial trial of the system will last two months, she said.
Frequently accessed Internet content will be stored in a data "warehouse" operated by Teleglobe Inc. of Canada in partnership with Intelsat.
Intelsat said several telecommunications providers will participate in the multicasting system. They include British Telecom; Comsat of Bethesda, Maryland; Brazil's Embratel Participacoes; France Telecom; KPN International; Telia AB of Sweden; Telecom Authority of Cyprus; and IDSC Telecom of Egypt.
The multicast-to-cache service platform prototype was developed by Maryland-based AT Systems, under contract to Intelsat.
Intelsat owns and operates a global communications satellite system providing voice/data, Internet and video services in more than 200 countries and territories.
With headquarters in Washington, D.C., Intelsat can be reached at +1-202-944-6800, or via the World Wide Web at http://www.intelsat.int/.