ECHOSTAR INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

In the field of satellite communication, EchoStar Communications Corporation is in a league of its own. No other Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) provider controls the full chain of both satellite services and products.

EchoStar owns and operates 2 main up-link centers, 8 satellites and several call centers in the USA that together make up the digital TV platform called DISH. EchoStar is also the leader in the field of high tech digital set-top box design, and manufactures a wide range of receivers supporting various services and digital platforms all over the world.

EchoStar International Corporation (EIC) is the international arm of Echostar Communications Corporation. EIC offers DVB-S solutions and distribution throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia operating from its headquarters in Almelo, The Netherlands and Madrid, Spain.

Echostar International's core activities are:

Hardware - Design and manufacturing.
From the very beginning EchoStar International Corporation has supported a large international engineering team that, in liaison with its counterparts from EchoStar Technologies Corporation, develops a wide range of technically advanced DVB MPEG-2 hardware solutions such as DVB-T, DVB-C and DVB-SMATV apart from DVB-S.

Software implementation.
As a member of the DVB Group in Geneva, EchoStar International works in close partnership with the various international operators and other DVB parties, in order to establish a common API based on Java or MHEG-5. On top of that, Echostar's engineering team has extensive knowledge in the implementation of OpenTV™ and is able to quickly implement other available interactive engines, like MHP, PVR, home networking, etc.

Marketing, Distribution and Service.
International sales and promotion of EchoStar products with support of its marketing team is a primary function of EchoStar International Corporation (EIC).
EIC's various international subsidiaries and distributors promote and service the products globally and are well positioned to support any retail market or (service) provider. Having developed many international markets from 'day one', EchoStar International is the right partner to support demanding customers with their local infrastructural requirements. The after-sales service is a major focus of EchoStar International, operated through its worldwide network of service/repair organizations called Authorized Service Centers (ASC).

EIC has also set up at the Spanish premises a refurbishment line that operates since 1998 and is dedicated to the reconditioning of IRDs of the Spanish digital TV platform Via Digital. This 4-year experience has optimized the quality and speed of the service rendered to Via Digital.

Research and Development
EchoStar Communications Corporation has several development centres around the globe to support its various sales divisions. The 3 main interrelated design centres focus on the development of DVB set top boxes. They consist of EchoStar Technology Corporation ("ETC") in Englewood (Denver), Colorado, USA; EchoStar International Corporation ("EIC") in Almelo, The Netherlands; and Eldon Technology Limited in the UK. There is a fourth development centre, EchoStar Data Networks ("EDN") in Atlanta, USA, focusing on network video terminals and spoolers.