WorldSpace Technology applications are making significant progress in differing applications over AsiaStar and AfriStar. Their success is prevalent in basis hybrid satellite, namely terrestrial specifications deployed by XM Radio in the USA.
XM Radio, which has accumulated some 3 million customers in less than 3 years in the USA, deploys the WorldSpace Technology under agreed royalty conditions. XM Radio are forecasting some 20 million customers by 2010.
With its enhanced coding and spectrum efficiency, XM Radio delivers clear quality FM stereo at 32 Kbps. Also, WorldSpace branded radio channels (developed for and transmitted over AsiaStar and AfriStar) represent the top ratings of audio listeners on the XM Radio services.
The WorldSpace enhanced hybrid satellite, terrestrial specifications, provides the crystal clear stereo FM over 64 Kbps.
The hybrid satellite provides well interleaved hybrid satellite and terrestrial operation (the latter being an advanced MCM and related coding), allowing for the introduction of local material such as news and advertising at the terrestrial (gap filling) re-transmit level.
WorldSpace technologies are now the most widely used international specifications deployed for digital radio broadcasting.
For AsiaStar, the in-orbit control and management is provided at WorldSpace’s Regional Operating Centre in Southbank, Melbourne; here they can demonstrate all the programmes live over the satellites.