An Irish company has developed the first low-cost interactive satellite and is about to develop it for the global commercial market. Armstrong Electronic's communications link allows two-way data transfer up to 3,500 times faster than with present land line technologies.

While global satellite Internet connections are beginning to emerge, nobody has been able to offer a link where the user can send requests straight to the Internet service provider via satellite without the need for a phone line. The new product will provide significantly faster access, and will also be affordable. The total equipment will initially be priced at around £800, though Mr Jerry Gatrell, chief engineer at Armstrong Electronics expects this figure to come down quite rapidly.

The Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce, Mr Treacy announced details of the advanced communications product at Armstrong Electronics' Bluebell facility this week. The system's integration of the new satellite will take place in Ireland, and it is likely to generate a number of technical jobs at Armstrong. Because the product is only just ready to go to market the company is reluctant to predict what the initial take-up will be like, working on a build-to-order basis.

The satellite will be mainly sold to Internet service providers, and Armstrong has already had a number of queries. Contracts are expected to be signed within the next month. Companies with an interest in the worldwide communications market, including Motorola and Hewlett Packard have already expressed an interest in the satellite.