WORLDSPACE(R) Receives Approval for Satellite Radio Service in Germany
09 Abril 2008 - 4:21PM
Business Wire
WORLDSPACE� Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:WRSP) one of the world leaders
in satellite based digital radio service, today announced its
wholly owned subsidiary, WORLDSPACE Europe, received approval from
Germany�s Federal Network Agency, the Bundesnetzagentur, to use
12.5 MHz of spectrum in the L-band (1479.5 - 1492 MHz) on a
nation-wide basis for the operation of a terrestrial repeater
network in Germany. The repeaters will work in conjunction with
WORLDSPACE�s existing satellite network to provide German consumers
with a subscription-based satellite radio service in automobiles.
This authorization from the Bundesnetzagentur, makes Germany the
third European nation to enable satellite radio in automobiles.
WORLDSPACE expects to secure licenses in additional countries
before the end of the year. The Company continues to build solid
momentum toward a pan-European mobile satellite radio service and
has a plan to deliver its service to Germany, Italy and Switzerland
with its existing in-orbit satellite network. Germany has the
largest automobile market in Western Europe, with an average of 3.4
million cars sold ever year over the past 16 years. Annual
commercial vehicle sales exceed 200,000 units. In addition, it is
the most populous nation in Western Europe with over 82 million
people. This affluent, technologically advanced nation has the
fifth largest economy world-wide, the largest GDP in Europe and has
the largest revenue-generating European radio market as well. �This
is a significant development for WORLDSPACE,� said Noah A. Samara,
Chairman and CEO, WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio. �We are very happy to
receive authorization for our mobile satellite radio services in
Germany. This achievement confirms the remarkable recent trajectory
of our business in Europe, and supports our current discussions
with potential partners who have large commitments in these
markets. �The German market is a critical market for us. Not only
is Germany the largest country in Western Europe with the largest
economy, it is home to a number of the world�s leading automobile
manufacturers who are very familiar with satellite radio, having
already integrated satellite receivers into their vehicle lines for
the American market. We are working to extend that experience to
their home base.� WORLDSPACE expects to launch its German satellite
radio service shortly after its 2009 service introduction in Italy.
The Company expects the funding required to launch its German
service to be substantially reduced because of its new plan to use
existing in-orbit satellite capacity to serve the Italian, Swiss
and German markets. WORLDSPACE is currently in discussions with a
number of potential strategic partners who have a strong interest
in the German market. Upon service launch, subscribers throughout
Germany will have access to a wide range of exclusive content
including commercial-free music as well as news, sports, talk and
other entertainment content. WORLDSPACE also expects to provide
other services beyond radio including traffic, navigation and
personalized content such as music downloads directly from the
satellite. WORLDSPACE expects to obtain similar terrestrial
repeater authorizations in other markets in Europe during the
course of 2008 and 2009. It recently announced receipt of a
repeater license in Switzerland, where approximately 65% of the
population speaks German and about 10% speak Italian. In France,
the European Telecommunications Standards Institute�s (ETSI)
satellite digital radio (SDR) standard, upon which WORLDSPACE�s
technology is based, was approved for deployment in the L-band in
January 2008, and its licensing process is targeted for later this
year. Other European countries are expected to address their
licensing processes within a similar timeframe. WORLDSPACE
continues to execute against its business plan for Europe, with
numerous milestones achieved. The Company recently selected Delphi
to design the first WORLDSPACE satellite radio mobile receivers
(aftermarket and OEM) for Europe; Fiat Group Automobiles has signed
on as the first manufacturer to install and distribute WORLDSPACE
satellite radio in Italy; Telecom Italia has designed and is
installing the terrestrial repeater network for Italy; Sodielec has
developed and is producing the terrestrial repeaters that comply
with the European standard for satellite radio; Fraunhofer IIS is
developing the receiver reference design for the radio; and
Certicom�s conditional access system has been selected for security
of the Company�s broadcast services. WORLDSPACE also participated
in the development of the standard for satellite digital radio
(SDR) adopted by the European Telecommunications Standards
Institute (ETSI) in December 2006. About WORLDSPACE� Satellite
Radio Based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Worldspace,
Inc. (NASDAQ:WRSP) is the world's only global media and
entertainment company positioned to offer a satellite radio
experience to consumers in more than 130 countries with five
billion people, driving 300 million cars. WORLDSPACE� delivers the
latest tunes, trends and information from around the world and
around the corner. WORLDSPACE subscribers benefit from a unique
combination of local programming, original WORLDSPACE content and
content from leading brands around the globe including the BBC, CNN
International, RFI and Virgin Radio UK. WORLDSPACE has two
satellites covering two-thirds of the earth's population with six
beams. Each beam is capable of delivering up to 80 channels of high
quality digital audio and multimedia programming directly to
WORLDSPACE Satellite Radios anytime and virtually anywhere in its
coverage areas. WORLDSPACE is a pioneer of satellite-based digital
radio services (DARS) and was instrumental in the development of
the technology infrastructure used today by XM Satellite Radio. For
more info, visit http://www.WORLDSPACE.com. Forward-looking
Statements This press release may contain certain forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's
current expectations or beliefs about future events and financial,
political and social trends and assumptions it has made based on
information currently available to it. The Company cannot assure
that any expectations, forecasts or assumptions made by management
in preparing these forward-looking statements will prove accurate,
or that any projections will be realized. Such forward-looking
statements may be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or
unknown risks or uncertainties. Actual results may vary materially
from those expressed or implied by the statements herein. For
factors that could cause actual results to vary, perhaps
materially, from these forward-looking statements, please refer to
the Company's Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and other subsequent filings. Forward-looking
statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this
release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or
revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether to reflect
new information, future events or otherwise.
Worldspace (MM) (NASDAQ:WRSP)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De May 2024 a Jun 2024
Worldspace (MM) (NASDAQ:WRSP)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De Jun 2023 a Jun 2024