Wireless Satellite and Broadcasting Newsletter back issues from Thursday, May 1:
Thuraya expands its satellite coverage into Asia-Pacific.(TOP NEWS)
May 01, 2008 ... [GRAPH OMITTED] United Arab Emirates-based Thuraya Satellite, the biggest provider of handheld mobile satellite services in the world, has expanded its satellite coverage in the Asia-Pacific region. The company said that this coverage expansion marks the launch of its third ...
AT&T to sell Dish Network's satellite TV services in nine states.(TOP NEWS)
May 01, 2008 ... Telecommunications service provider AT&T Inc. has decided to sell Dish Network Corp.'s satellite TV services in nine southeastern states. The telecom operator said that it would launch this service via AT&T Advanced TV to boost options in the high-definition segment. Although AT&T had ...
Brazilian regulator allows Embratel to launch DTH satellite pay-TV services.(TOP NEWS)
May 01, 2008 ... Brazilian telecommunications regulator Anatel has permitted Embratel to launch DTH (direct-to-home) satellite pay television services in the nation. Anatel said in its statement that the decision to allow Embratel to launch satellite pay-TV services would be implemented when it comes up ...
Portugal Telecom plans to unveil its satellite television service.(TOP NEWS)
May 01, 2008 ... According to Jornal de Negocios, Portugal Telecom, SGPS, SA will soon unveil its satellite television services. The paper stated reports that the company would launch the satellite service via PT's Meo brand for complementing its IPTV (Internet Protocol television) offering over copper ...
Aces Regional Services to enter the broadband satellite market.(TOP NEWS)
May 01, 2008 ... Aces Regional Services Co., which is the mobile satellite terminal distribution division of Jasmine Internet, is planning to venture into the satellite broadband market to cash in on the increasing demand for the service. The firm plans to market a terminal named Inmarsat BGAN Sabre I for ...
EC finalizes rules for usage of mobile phones on aircraft in Europe.(TOP NEWS)
May 01, 2008 ... The European Commission has fixed rules for the commencement of pan-European cellular services on aircraft. The services would enable consumers and businessmen to make and receive calls form their mobile phones on flights in Europe. These rules framed by the EU would help to address ...
France Telecom ties up with two European satellite operators to launch Internet TV.(TOP NEWS)
May 01, 2008 ... According to the Financial Times, France Telecom has entered into partnerships with two Europe-based satellite service providers for launching its Orange Internet television services in France, ...
Raytheon awarded $86.7 million to upgrade satellite communication terminals.(TOP NEWS)
May 01, 2008 ... Raytheon Company has won an $86.7 million contract to produce and install upgrade kits for the Army's Secure Mobile Anti-jam Reliable Tactical Terminal, or SMART-T. The award, part of an indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity contract originally awarded in 2007, increases the total ...
NavCom expands StarFire system and extends RTK capabilities.(NEW PRODUCTS)
May 01, 2008 ... NavCom Technology Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Deere & Company, announced the release of new software for its RTK and StarFire products providing users access to an expanded StarFire Network of six satellites and NavCom's new Ultra RTK capability. By increasing the ...
Blue Sky Network releases satellite communications kit for vehicle fleet tracking and management.(NEW PRODUCTS)
May 01, 2008 ... Blue Sky Network, a global provider of mobile asset management and fleet management solutions using GPS tracking, announced the D411, its simplest and most affordable satellite fleet tracking solution for vehicles. Designed for fleets operating in remote areas with unreliable cellular ...
Boeing and TEAM TSAT confirm readiness of advanced satellite electronics.(NEW PRODUCTS)
May 01, 2008 ... The Boeing Company and its TEAM TSAT industry partners have successfully demonstrated the readiness of the advanced electronics that will be used in the Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT). Tests of the TSAT Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) demonstrated ...
US Air Force/Lockheed Martin team celebrates success of GPS IIR Program.(PARTNERSHIPS)
May 01, 2008 ... In a ceremony heralding the success of the US Air Force's Global Positioning System Block IIR modernization effort (GPS IIR-M), Lockheed Martin announced it has completed work on the last satellite in the program constellation, which features a demonstration payload that will transmit the ...
Raytheon to lead team pursuing the US Air Force Global Broadcast Service.(PARTNERSHIPS)
May 01, 2008 ... Raytheon Company has signed exclusive teaming agreements with Harris Corporation and HP as part of a team to pursue the $30 million US Air Force Global Broadcast Service Satellite Broadcast Manager transition contract. The GBS is a critical mission support system ...
CDN signs agreement with TVK to launch the first DTH service in Cambodia.(CONTRACTS)(Cambodian DTV Network Limited )(National Television of Kampuchea)(Brief article)
May 01, 2008 ... Cambodian DTV Network Limited (CDN), an affiliate of Shin Satellite, has signed a deal with National Television of Kampuchea (TVK) for unveiling the first DTH service in the country. Via the TECHO-DTV service, direct-to-home programming would be expanded to all homes in Cambodia. The scope ...
Japanese firms to use Arianespace's commercial satellites for launching broadband and HD broadcasting services.(CONTRACTS)
May 01, 2008 ... France-based satellite launching firm Arianespace S A has said that Japan-based firms are likely to engage its services for launching commercial satellites for the provision of broadband and high-definition broadcasting services. Jean-Yves Le Gall, the company's chairman and CEO said that ...
B-SAT awards Lockheed Martin contract for BSAT-3b satellite.(CONTRACTS)
May 01, 2008 ... Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract by the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) of Japan to build its next geostationary telecommunications satellite. Designated BSAT-3b, the satellite will provide high-definition (HD) direct broadcast services throughout Japan ...
SES ASTRA inks framework contract with Satelliet Electronics to sell ASTRA2Connect in Belgium and the Netherlands.(CONTRACTS)
May 01, 2008 ... SES ASTRA said that it has signed a framework deal with Belgian company Satelliet Electronics for marketing and selling its ASTRA2Connect satellite-based broadband service in the Netherlands and Belgium. Satelliet Electronics has entered into an agreement with the Dutch VoIP operator ...
AMERICOM Government Services wins Army TROJAN contract.(CONTRACTS)
May 01, 2008 ... Satellite solutions provider AMERICOM Government Services (AGS) has won a follow-on contract via a competitive tender with an initial value of $136.2 million over a five year base period in support of the U.S. Army's TROJAN Network. This contract also includes five additional one-year ...
ViaSat wins $52 million Lot 9 MIDS delivery order.(CONTRACTS)
May 01, 2008 ... ViaSat Inc. has won a delivery order valued at approximately $52 million for Multifunctional Information Distribution System terminals from The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), San Diego. By gathering information into a digital view of the battlefield, MIDS provides ...
Globecomm Systems awarded $3.1 million contract from a provider of telecommunications services in Asia.(CONTRACTS)
May 01, 2008 ... Globecomm Systems Inc., a provider of satellite-based communications infrastructure solutions and services on a global basis, announced that the Company has been awarded a contract to build and install a new Ku band earth station valued at $3.1 million from an existing telecommunications ...
Globecomm Systems awarded infrastructure contract valued at $1.2 million from a mobile telecommunications operator.(CONTRACTS)
May 01, 2008 ... Globecomm Systems Inc., a provider of satellite-based communications infrastructure solutions and services on a global basis, announced that the Company has been awarded an infrastructure contract from a telecommunications operator valued at $1.2 million. Globecomm will design, ...
Sierra Nevada Corporation selects Argon ST Inc. for $44.7 million payload provider contract under ORBCOMM Generation 2 program.(CONTRACTS)
May 01, 2008 ... Argon ST Inc. announced that Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has selected Argon ST to develop and deliver the satellite payloads for the ORBCOMM Generation 2 (OG2) satellite constellation. The contract, valued at approximately $44.7 million, includes development and delivery of ...
Intelsat to transmit HD Olympics across Europe for the European Broadcasting Union.(CONTRACTS)
May 01, 2008 ... Intelsat, Ltd., a provider of commercial satellite services and the only global satellite operator to provide coverage of every Olympic Games since 1968, announced that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has signed a multitransponder deal for the video carriage of the 2008 Summer Games ...
Wireless Maritime Services (WMS) announces new contract with Royal Caribbean Ltd. to continue to provide cellular service at sea.(CONTRACTS)
May 01, 2008 ... Wireless Maritime Services (WMS), a provider of cellular service to the cruise line industry, announced that they have signed a new five year contract to continue providing cellular at sea wireless service to guests and crew members on all ships from Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. and ...
Intelsat renews China Central Television contract for US DTH services.(CONTRACTS)
May 01, 2008 ... Intelsat Ltd., a provider of commercial satellite services, announced that China Central Television (CCTV), the national broadcaster of the People's Republic of China, renewed a multiyear contract on Intelsat's Galaxy 3C satellite for Ku-band capacity to distribute its regional ...
Echo SatCom launches hurricane preparedness program.(BUSINESS)
May 01, 2008 ... Officials of Echo Satellite Communications Inc., a global provider of wireless, non-line-of-sight satellite communications products and services, announced a hurricane awareness marketing push, targeting first responders and emergency preparedness centers throughout the Gulf Coast region ....
Boeing completes hardware installation for SBSS Satellite Operations Center.(BUSINESS)
May 01, 2008 ... Boeing said it has finished installing the hardware for its Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) system's Satellite Operations Center (SOC). The SOC now has the necessary security certification to allow the SBSS program to begin integrated testing. "The SBSS SOC will transform ...
DIRECTV and Thomson launch new version of multifamily housing triple-play distribution system.(BUSINESS)
May 01, 2008 ... The MFH3 (Multi-Family Housing version 3) satellite-based distribution platform developed by DIRECTV and Thomson is being rolled out with a new software release that doubles the number of DIRECTV receivers MFH3 will support, providing a more cost-effective installation for large properties ...
Greek telecom operator Forthnet buys Netmed.(BUSINESS)
May 01, 2008 ... Greece-based telecom operator Forthnet said that it has bought Netmed, the owner of satellite pay-television companies Netmed Hellas and Multichoice Hellas. Forthnet bought Netmed from Myriad International Holding (MIH), an affiliate of South ...
DISH Network Corp. and Alcatel-Lucent to perform joint DVB-SH test in the US.(BUSINESS)
May 01, 2008 ... DISH Network Corporation and Alcatel-Lucent announced that DISH Network will test the DVB-SH (Digital Video Broadcasting-Satellite services to Handhelds) mobile broadcast technology in the United States, with the appropriate DVB-SH equipment, test tools, and training provided by ...
Mobile Satellite Ventures provides satellite communications for United States earthquake preparedness and safety.(SERVICES)
May 01, 2008 ... Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) announced that it has joined with the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) to form a new satellite mutual aid radio talkgroup (SMART) dedicated to the preparation for and response to earthquakes throughout the central United States. ...
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems completes testing for GeoEye's next-generation earth imaging satellite.(SERVICES)
May 01, 2008 ... General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, announced the completion of satellite integration and environmental testing for GeoEye's next-generation earth imaging satellite, GeoEye-1. General Dynamics is the prime contractor and integrator of the ...
Satellite capable of providing television on mobile phones launched.(SERVICES)
May 01, 2008 ... A new satellite capable of having a strong affect on mobile phone services has been launched. The satellite, which would be able to provide 10-15 live TV stations for cellphones in the near future, with signals ...
C/NOFS satellite built by General Dynamics successfully launched from Reagan Test Site.(SERVICES)
May 01, 2008 ... The Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite, designed and built by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, was successfully launched from the US Army's Reagan Test Site in the Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. C/NOFS is a Department of ...
DTH operator Focus-Sat begins transmission from 1 degree West.(SERVICES)(Telenor Satellite Broadcasting )(Brief article)
May 01, 2008 ... Moldova's first direct-to-home (DTH) operator, Focus-Sat, has begun its transmission at 1 degree West. The DTH operator has signed a deal with Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc). Leiv Svenning, head of central and Eastern Europe at TSBc, stated that the company is happy to provide a ...
Talia launches new broadband network on SES's NSS-703 satellite.(SERVICES)
May 01, 2008 ... SES company SES NEW SKIES has stated that Talia Limited, which provides satellite Internet services in the Middle East and North Africa, has contracted 10.9MHz of capacity on the SES company's NSS-703 satellite for providing a new broadband network. This network is ready for immediate ...
The successful launch of ICO G1 to expedite the provision of advanced mobile TV services.(SERVICES)
May 01, 2008 ... ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited said that it has launched the North America-based geosynchronous satellite named ICO G1. Later on this year, ICO will carry out alpha trials of this interactive mobile video and emergency assistance service, called ICO mim (mobile interactive ...
CEA praises House DTV hearing.(POLICY)
May 01, 2008 ... The following statement, issued by Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) President and CEO Gary Shapiro, commends the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Telecommunication and the Internet for the recent hearing that explored the status of the digital television (DTV) ...
TerreStar enhances nationwide spectrum footprint--finalizes transactions with EchoStar and Harbinger.(COMPANY NEWS)
May 01, 2008 ... TerreStar Corporation announced that it has enhanced its nationwide spectrum footprint by obtaining, through separate transactions, certain 1.4GHz spectrum licenses held by EchoStar Corporation and CCTV Wireless I, LLC (CCTV). TerreStar has acquired the CCTV 1.4GHz spectrum pursuant to an ...