Digital IP satellite

Protected 10 Mhz digital Ku bandwidth available 24x7x365

In contrast to terrestrial systems such as videoconferencing and Internet video streaming, the cost of ATS's digital satellite bandwidth does not increase as new sites and classrooms are added.Through these economies of scale ODU is able to provide reliable, cost effective programming to 60+ community college, military installations, corporate offices, and other locations throughout North America.

North American satellite footprint

ODU leases transponder space on IntelSat Galaxy 26 (formerly IntelSat America 6 or IA 6), this satellite orbits 23,000 miles above the earth's equator at 93 degrees west longitude (about the same longitude as Minneapolis, Minnesota).From this prime location approximately in the middle of North America, ODU's digital Voice over IP and high resolution MPEG-4 video streams are readily available with minimally sized satellite dish systems.

Voice over IP

Voice over IP was the first service offered to ODU distance learning locations on the new Internet Protocol satellite system.This unique network builds on digital satellite telephone systems in use by oceanic oil rigs and deployed military units, and adds audioconferencing capabilities to build virtual communication environments independent of geographical limitations.Through these innovative VoIP audio conferences students are able to interact, collaborate, discuss, and present to instructors and other students during classes, meetings, and interviews.

High resolution MPEG-4 video over IP

This solution builds on the success of the previous MPEG-2 video satellite system, but now provides the same level of video and audio quality at half the bandwidth.Because of the recent conversion to the much more efficient MPEG-4 format, ATS can increase the resolution on the satellite system to support large HDTV Plasma and LCD displays in the nest classrooms and conference rooms.