The User Segment programme line promotes those near-to-market development activities in the area of satellite communications that have a direct effect on the user community.
In the current economic climate, innovative development of new and application of existing technologies is ever more important. That's why operators and service providers are constantly looking at ways to enlarge their product/service offerings. Development of new applications and user terminals can make all the difference.
Any success in a satellite communications venture relies on an appropriate combination of all system elements, in particular those that are directly exposed to use by end users. For the consumer market specifically, key factors are:
- Cost
- Performance
- Usability
- Size
- Weight
While other programme lines such as Technology provide the environment for the development of stand-alone products and equipment, the User Segment focuses on end-to-end concepts. In particular this ITT focuses on Integrated Applications and User Terminals which, from the users' point of view, are crucial elements in determining the attractiveness of the system and in its eventual success in the market place.
Click here for more details on the ITT 2. ESA Telecom will be issuing the User Segment ITT 3 later this year (the first was issued in February). ITT 2 and ITT 3 are reissues of the same ITT. Please note that the ITT 3 will be issued a week later than had been previously announced.
User Segment ITT timeline:
| Task | Start Date | End Date |
| ITT 2 User Segment | 19.05.03 | 05.09.03 |
| Tendering period | 19.05.03 | 11.07.03 |
| Briefing | 03.06.03 | 03.06.03 |
| Evaluation | 14.07.03 | 05.09.03 |
| ITT 3 User Segment | 08.09.03 | 21.11.03 |
| Tendering period | 08.09.03 | 24.10.03 |
| Briefing | 15.09.03 | 15.09.03 |
| Evaluation | 24.10.03 | 21.11.03 |
For information on working with ESA Telecom click here.
