Editing 1worldspace (section)

==System==
The 1worldspace system had three major components: the space segment, the ground segment, and the user segment. The space segment referred to the company-owned satellites that broadcast the signals over a large percentage of the eastern hemisphere. The ground segment referred to the operating and broadcasting centers. The user segment referred to the user-owned devices in which the signal was received. In addition, the company planned to implement terrestrial repeater networks in order to facilitate access to new markets in Europe and the Middle-East.

The 1worldspace system was built with companies including [[Alcatel Space]] (now [[Thales Alenia Space]]), [[EADS Astrium]] and [[Arianespace]] (France), [[SED Systems|SED]] (Canada), GSI (USA), [[Fraunhofer Society]] (Germany), [[ST Microelectronics]] (Italy), Micronas (Germany) and others.<ref name="sec.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1315054/000119312508071173/d10k.htm|title=Form 10-K |work=Sec.gov|accessdate=March 1, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920175949/http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1315054/000119312508071173/d10k.htm|archivedate=September 20, 2012}}</ref>

===Space segment===
1worldspace operated two satellites: [[AfriStar]] and [[AsiaStar]]. This made it available in Asia, Africa, Middle East, and parts of Europe.

The company ordered also a third satellite, [[AfriStar|AmeriStar]] (also known as CaribStar and later renamed AfriStar 2). This satellite was built but never launched. A fourth satellite, [[AfriStar|WorldStar 4]], was also considered and some components were acquired. However, the whole WorldStar 4 satellite was never built.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/worldstar.htm |title=AfriStar 1, 2, AsiaStar, WorldStar 4 → Spectrum 1, 2 |access-date=26 September 2019 |archive-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926003726/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/worldstar.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===[[Ground segment]]===
The regional [[Mission control center|operations centers]] for the satellites were located in [[Silver Spring, Maryland]] for AfriStar and [[Melbourne, Australia]] for AsiaStar.<ref>{{cite web|title=Form 10-K Worldspace, Inc.|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1315054/000119312508071173/d10k.htm|date=December 31, 2007|website=sec.gov
|access-date=January 27, 2023|page=10}}</ref> These centers managed the performance and status of the satellites by controlling them and monitoring there. The system architecture is identical for each region.

Telemetry, command and ranging (TCR) [[ground station]]s consisted of an [[X band|X-Band]] uplink command and control system and an [[L band|L-Band]] telemetry monitoring system. A backup mode was also provided using an [[S band|S-Band]] link from [[Bangalore]], [[India]]. Each satellite had two TCR stations with sufficient geographic distance between them so that if natural disasters or any unforeseen events were to make one inoperable, a back-up station would be available. The TCR stations for AfriStar were located in [[Bangalore, India]] and [[Port Louis, Mauritius]], and the ones for AsiaStar in Melbourne, Australia and Port Louis, Mauritius.

In addition to the TCR stations, a communications system monitoring station (CSM) was associated with each satellite to monitor continuously the quality of the downlink services. The CSM facilities were located in [[Libreville, Gabon]] and [[Johannesburg, South Africa]] for AfriStar and Melbourne, Australia for AsiaStar.<ref name="sec.gov"/>

===User segment===
Users purchased receivers compatible with the [[L band|L-Band]] frequency in order to access the system. The radio receiver processed, decoded and descrambled the signals to allow users to receive programming content. The company's broadcast frequency and satellites required a special receiver design incorporating either a small patch antenna measuring approximately 6 to 8 cm (2.4 to 3.2 inches) which folded neatly into the receiver unit or a similarly sized omni-directional antenna mounted on the car rooftop. Each receiver was individually addressable via a unique identifier that could be used to unlock specially coded audio or multimedia signals. This capability provided the flexibility to deliver free, subscription and/or premium services to consumers.

The currently available receivers were manually coded for subscription authorization. A password, valid for varying periods of time depending upon the length of the subscription purchased and paid for, is provided to a subscriber and entered into the receiver. Passwords were re-validated on a quarterly basis. Upon subscription renewal, a new passcode was provided and similarly entered into the receiver. As new receiver products were introduced, there were plans to provide over-the-air activation of subscriptions.<ref name="sec.gov"/>

The radio sets, or receivers, which could pick up 1worldspace signals were manufactured by South Korea's AMI, India's [[BPL Group|BPL]] and China's Tongshi, among other corporations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldspace.com/howitworks/receivers/receiverfaq/index.html|title=Receiver FAQ|work=worldspace.com|date=January 27, 2012|accessdate=March 1, 2012|archive-date=28 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028081341/http://www.worldspace.com/howitworks/receivers/receiverfaq/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Discontinued models were manufactured by [[JVC]], [[Sanyo]], [[Hitachi]], and [[Panasonic]]. The radios consisted of a satellite receiver plus an [[Antenna (radio)|antenna]] that has to be placed in clear view of the relevant satellite, and properly oriented to the user's geographic [[azimuth]] and elevation. A new receiver manufactured by Delphi using [[open standard]] [[ETSI Satellite Digital Radio]] technology would have been used in Europe if the company had entered the car satellite radio receiver marketplace.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investor.worldspace.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=189783&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1119610&highlight=|title=Investor |work=worldspace.com|date=January 27, 2012|accessdate=March 1, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216124246/http://investor.worldspace.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=189783&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1119610&highlight=|archivedate=February 16, 2012}}</ref>

===Debt===
1worldspace finally became insolvent in 2009/2010 after a prolonged series of financial crises. In the first quarter of 2008 the company lost a net total of 2,676 subscribers and reported that it would scale back its marketing activities around the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rapidtvnews.com/index.php/200805181172/worldspace-concerned-at-lack-of-cash.html|title=WorldSpace "concerned" at lack of cash |work=Rapid TV News|date=June 28, 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628192443/http://rapidtvnews.com/index.php/200805181172/worldspace-concerned-at-lack-of-cash.html|archivedate=June 28, 2009 |accessdate=March 19, 2012}}</ref> WorldSpace recorded a $36.0 million net loss in the second quarter of 2008, as compared to a net loss of $51.2 million in the second quarter of 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=31470772|title=1worldspace-reports-second-quarter |work=investorshub.advfn.com|accessdate=August 14, 2008}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Throughout 2008 and 2009 company was in deep debt and was reported to owe its creditors over $50 million, due to be paid by various repeatedly postponed deadlines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=31470772|title=1worldspace Reports Second Quarter 2008 Results|last=|first=|date=|work=Investor Hub|access-date=|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901113337/https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=31470772|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Bankruptcy===
The company filed for [[Chapter 11]] bankruptcy protection on 17 October 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ae8qD.ZAhts8|title=WorldSpace, Inc. Voluntarily Files for Bankruptcy Protection|work=Bloomberg|date=October 17, 2008|accessdate=March 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315192036/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive |archivedate=March 15, 2012}}</ref> The reorganization includes a 90-day $13 million ''[[debtor-in-possession financing]]'' approach, with the hopes of obtaining added funds to repay senior secured notes and [[convertible bond|convertible notes]]. The company's wholly owned India affiliate was not covered by the bankruptcy filing.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]]|volume=169 |date=October 27, 2008|title=WorldSpace Bankruptcy|page=19}}</ref>

===High-profile resignations===
In August 2008, two of the top executives of 1worldspace announced their resignations. Greg Armstrong, co-COO, left effective on August 1 and Alexander Brown, co-COO, has given notice of his intention to leave.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rapidtvnews.com/index.php/200808101867/two-worldspace-top-execs-bail-out.html|title=Two Worldspace top execs bail out|work=RapidTVNews|first=Chris|last=Forrester|date=August 10, 2008 |accessdate=March 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723001608/http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/200808101867/two-worldspace-top-execs-bail-out.html|archivedate=July 23, 2012}}</ref>