Archive for the ‘Satellite TV’ Category

LightSquared’s Lawyer Dollars

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2015

Sure, it all makes sense now.

LightSquared had a plan to use frequencies for mobile services. That turned into a fight with the GPS industry. They fucked with the farmers, too.

Just before they filed for bankruptcy protection, they paid Dennis Hastert’s lobbying firm $200,000 to keep an eye on GPS legislation. And the science behind the interference issue was real.

All this seems like a waste of money, right? Think again and bring the bankruptcy fees. Case Number 1:12-bk-12080 got their exit financing approved on 2 June 2015, so the end is near. The FCC is asking for comment on the available frequencies.

Who’s involved in this bankruptcy? These are the entities for Reston, VA-based LightSquared:

LightSquared Inc.
LightSquared
Investors Holdings Inc.
One Dot Four Corp.
One Dot Six Corp.
SkyTerra Rollup LLC
SkyTerra Rollup Sub LLC
SkyTerra Investors LLC
TMI Communications Delaware, Limited Partnership
LightSquared GP Inc.
LightSquared LP
ATC Technologies, LLC
LightSquared Corp.
LightSquared Finance Co.
LightSquared Network LLC
LightSquared Inc. of Virginia
LightSquared Subsidiary LLC
Lightsquared Bermuda Ltd.
SkyTerra Holdings (Canada) Inc.
SkyTerra (Canada) Inc.
One Dot Six TVCC Corp.

Are we counting the “lawyer dollars” now? More, please. Here are the people on the other side of the table…

Creditor
ACE American Insurance Company and other members of the ACE group of companies
Represented by:
Karel S. Karpe, KarpeLaw

Creditor
APA Properties No. 10, LP
Represented by:
Patrick J. Potter, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Creditor
ASM Capital IV, L.P.
Represented by:
Douglas Wolfe, ASM Capital, LP

Creditor
ASM Capital, L.P.
Represented by:
Douglas Wolfe, ASM Capital, LP

Unknown
AT&T Corp.
Represented by:
David A. Rosenzweig, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

Creditor
Ad Hoc Group of LightSquared LP Lenders
Represented by:
Glenn M. Kurtz, White & Case, LLP
Julia M Winters, White & Case LLP

Unknown
Ad Hoc Preferred LP Group
Represented by:

Creditor
Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc.
Represented by:
Alyse M. Aruch, McCarter & English

Unknown
Donna Pelligrini Alderman
Represented by:
Joel M Melendez, Molo Lamken LLP

Financial Advisor
Alvarez & Marsal North America, LLC
Represented by:
Karen Gartenberg, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP

Unknown
BDC Parkridge LLC
Represented by:
Anthony D. Boccanfuso, Arnold & Porter

Stockholder
Blue Line DZM Corp.
Represented by:
Paul Nii-Amar Amamoo, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP
David M. Friedman, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman, LLP

Creditor
Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc.
Represented by:
Todd J. Rosen, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Bradley Schneider, Munger, Tolles & Olson, LLP

Creditor
Cates Strategy Group, LLC
Represented by:
Leon S. Jones, Jones & Walden, LLC

Interested Party
Centaurus Capital LP
Represented by:
Jeffrey S. Sabin, Venable LLP

Claims and Noticing Agent
Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC, Claims Agent
Represented by:

Unknown
Clerks Office of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Represented by:
Creditor
Raymond Coburn
Represented by:

Creditor
Comerica Bank
Represented by:
Ronald Scott Beacher, Pryor Cashman LLP
Conrad Chiu, Pryor Cashman LLP

Unknown
Covington & Burling LLP
Represented by:
Ronald A. Hewitt, Covington & Burling LLP

Unknown
Crown Castle USA Inc.
Represented by:
Leslie Ann Berkoff, Moritt, Hock & Hamroff, LLP

Creditor
DACA VI LLC
Represented by:

Unknown
DISH NETWORK CORPORATION
Represented by:
Brian D. Glueckstein, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Attorney
DLA Piper LLP (US)
Represented by:
Gregg M. Galardi, DLA Piper LLP (US)

Creditor
Dallas County
Represented by:
Elizabeth Weller, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP

Creditor
Debt Acquisition Co of America V, LLC
Represented by:

Interested Party
Deere & Company
Represented by:
Philip Le B. Douglas, Jones Day

Attorney
Dentons Canada LLP
Represented by:
Karen Gartenberg, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP

Unknown
Dickstein Shapiro LLP
Represented by:
Shaya M. Berger, Dickstein Shapiro, LLP

Mediator
Robert D. Drain
Represented by:

Interested Party
Charles W. Ergen
Represented by:
James C. Dugan, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Other Prof.
Ernst & Young LLP
Represented by:
Karen Gartenberg, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
Lars A. Peterson, Foley & Lardner LLP
John A. Simon, Foley & Lardner LLP

Unknown
FCDB LSQ LLC
Represented by:

Creditor
Fortress Credit Investments I Ltd., Fortress Credit Investments II Ltd., Fortress Credit Funding IV LP, Fortress Credit Opportunities I LP, Worden Master Fund LP, Worden Master Fund II LP, Drawbridge
Represented by:

Unknown
Fortress Investment Group LLC
Represented by:
Kristopher M. Hansen, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP

Other Prof.
Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP
Represented by: Interested Party
Garmin International, Inc.
Represented by:
Philip Le B. Douglas, Jones Day
Paul Bartholomew Green, Jones Day

Unknown
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Represented by:
Michael A. Rosenthal, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Stockholder
HGW US Holding Company, L.P.
Represented by:
Paul Nii-Amar Amamoo, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP
David M. Friedman, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman, LLP

Stockholder
Harbinger Capital Partners LLC
Represented by:
Paul Nii-Amar Amamoo, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP
Daniel A. Fliman, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP
David M. Friedman, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman, LLP

Unknown
Harbinger Capital Partners LLC, et al.
Represented by:
Ronit J. Berkovich, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Debra A. Dandeneau, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP

Stockholder
Harbinger Capital Partners SP, Inc.
Represented by:
Paul Nii-Amar Amamoo, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP
David M. Friedman, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman, LLP

Unknown
Intelsat Corporation
Represented by:
Stephen B. Selbst, Herrick, Feinstein LLP

Interested Party
Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund
Represented by:
Michael S. Etkin, Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Cassandra M. Porter, Lowenstein Sandler LLP

Unknown
STEPHEN KETCHUM
Represented by:
Charles E. Bachman, O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Peter M. Friedman, O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP

Attorney
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Represented by:
Paul M. Basta, Kirkland & Ellis, LLP

Christopher Marcus, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Joshua Sussberg, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Unknown
Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC
Represented by: Interested Party
L-Band Acquisition, LLC
Represented by:
Brian D. Glueckstein, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Rachel C. Strickland, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Unknown
Latham & Watkins LLP
Represented by:

Debtor
LightSquared Inc.
Represented by:
Matthew Scott Barr, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy
Paul M. Basta, Kirkland & Ellis, LLP
Karen Gartenberg, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
Christopher Marcus, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Alan Stone, Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP
Mitchell S. Bigel, Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec, P.A.

Creditor
Liquidity Solutions, Inc.
Represented by: Unknown
MAST Capital Management LLC
Represented by:
Philip Dublin, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP
Lawrence S. Robbins, Robbins Russell Englert Orseck Untereiner

Interested Party
Melody Business Finance, LLC
Represented by: Attorney
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
Represented by:
Matthew Scott Barr, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy

Creditor
Missouri Department of Revenue
Represented by:
Steven A. Ginther, Missouri Department of Revenue

Financial Advisor
Moelis & Company LLC
Represented by:
Karen Gartenberg, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP

Unknown
New York State Department of Labor
Represented by:

Creditor
One Beacon Street Limited Partnership
Represented by:
Douglas B. Rosner, Goulston & Storrs, P.C.

Creditor
Oracle America, Inc.
Represented by:
Shawn M. Christianson, Buchalter Nemer Fields & Younger
Amish R. Doshi, Magnozzi & Kye

Creditor
James Paull, IV
Represented by:
Lawrence A. Katz, Leach Travell Britt PC

Creditor
Jay Paull, IV
Represented by:
Lawrence A. Katz, Leach Travell Britt PC

Creditor
John Paull
Represented by:
Lawrence A. Katz, Leach Travell Britt PC

Unknown
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Represented by:
Bruce D. Jacobs, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Brandon Johnson, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Matthew J Oliver, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Patrick J. Potter, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Dania Slim, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Unknown
Providence TMT Special Situations Fund LP and TMT Debt Opportunity Fund II LP, investment funds managed by affiliates of Providence Equity Partners LLC (collectively, the “Providence Funds”)
Represented by:
Emanuel C. Grillo, Baker Botts L.L.P.

Creditor
SBA Structures Inc. and SBA Towers III LLC
Represented by:
Lucian Murley, Saul Ewing LLP

Interested Party
SIG Holdings, Inc.
Represented by:
Nicholas E. Baker, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Sandeep Qusba, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Interested Party
SP Special Opportunities, LLC
Represented by:
James C. Dugan, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Tariq Mundiya, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Rachel C. Strickland, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Interested Party
Lili Schad
Represented by:
Scott D. Cousins, Bayard, P.A.
Kevin D. Galbraith, Zamansky & Associates LLC
Jacob H. Zamansky, Zamansky & Associates, LLC

Unknown
Sandeep Singh
Represented by:

Unknown
Solus Alternative Asset Management LP
Represented by:
Malek Schiffrin LLP, Malek Schiffrin LLP

Interested Party
Sound Point Capital Management, L.P.
Represented by:
Charles E. Bachman, O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Peter M. Friedman, O’MELVENY & MYERS LLP

Unknown
Special Committee of the Board of Directors of LightSquared Inc. and LightSquared GP Inc.
Represented by:
Paul M. Basta, Kirkland & Ellis, LLP
Joshua Sussberg, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Interested Party
TR Capital Management, LLC
Represented by: Creditor
Tennessee Department of Revenue
Represented by:
Marvin E. Clements, Jr., Office of the Tennessee Attorney General

Unknown
The Law Office of John T. Whelan, LLC
Represented by:
John T. Whelan, The Law Office of John T. Whelan LLC

Interested Party
The U.S. GPS Industry Council
Represented by:
Philip Le B. Douglas, Jones Day

Interested Party
Trimble Navigation Ltd.
Represented by:
Philip Le B. Douglas, Jones Day

Unknown
U.S. Bank National Association
Represented by:
Philip Dublin, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP

John W. Weiss, Alston & Bird LLP

Creditor
UBS AG
Represented by:
Adam J. Goldberg, Latham & Watkins, LLP
David S. Heller, Latham & Watkins

U.S. Trustee
United States Trustee
Represented by:
Susan D. Golden, Office of United States Trustee SDNY

Unknown
United States of America on behalf of the Federal Communications Commission
Represented by:
Alicia M. Simmons, U.S. Attorney’s Office, SDNY

Creditor
Universal Service Administrative Company
Represented by:
Michael L. Schein, Vedder Price, P.C.

Unknown
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Represented by:
Debra A. Dandeneau, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP

Interested Party
Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB
Represented by:
Darren T. Azman, McDermott Will & Emery LLP

Unknown
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Represented by:
David S Forsh, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP


Turkmen Satcom Irony

Tuesday, April 28th, 2015

Nice job by both Thales Space in building a Spacebus 4000C2 in 27 months and by SpaceX for launching it via the Falcon 9 from The Cape yesterday.

The spacecraft is going into a slot allocated to Monaco (52 deg. East). What they plan to do with it, we don’t know. First on the list is always some TV mux for direct-to-home application. It covers Africa, too, so I’m sure they’ll come up with something.

Ironically, the Turkmen government has issued an order to destroy all satellite dishes.

Authorities in Turkmenistan have started a new campaign of demolishing satellite dishes, aiming at fully blocking independent access to international TV and radio in the country, the Civic Solidarity Platform reported on April 19.

The government of Turkmenistan has taken a decision to liquidate all privately owned TV and radio satellite dishes in the country, demanding all of them to be demolished, be they on apartment buildings or private houses, and fully prohibit their use. This information has come from governmental sources.

This decision is aimed at fully blocking access of the population of Turkmenistan to hundreds of independent international media outlets which are currently accessible in the country only through satellite dishes, including all leading international news channels in different languages. The main target of this campaign is Radio Azatlyq, the Turkmen-language service of Radio Liberty/Free Europe. It is the only independent source of information about Turkmenistan and the world in the Turkmen language and is widely listened to in the country.

Overwhelming majority of the Turkmen public is able to listen to independent radio and watch foreign television through satellites; all houses in the cities of the country are equipped with dishes, legally bought by people in the last 20 years.

The demolition campaign started in the end of March. There have been earlier attempts in the course of the last few weeks when the local authorities at the level of communal management demanded that people take down the dishes or they will be demolished. However, residents refused, relocating the dishes from the walls to the roofs and collectively organising neighborhood watch groups on the roofs to protect their property from demolition. When local authorities demanded that people uninstall the dishes they did not present any legal grounds and did not produce any official documents, just citing a decision of the superior authorities. Now the government has started to use a new tactic: seasonal workers hired by municipal authorities come during the day when residents are at work and destroy the dishes, breaking the equipment. In Ashgabat the satellite dish demolition campaign is going full speed now, and thousands of satellite dishes have been already destroyed in many districts of the city in the last two weeks.

As a “replacement” for the demolished satellite dishes, the authorities offer “cable TV packages”, which include mostly entertainment channels produced by Russia, Turkey, and India. All TV and radio channels offering news are excluded from these “packages”.

The main argument used by the authorities to justify demolition of the dishes is that they “distort the architectural-urban image of the city.”

Experts believe that the authorities are now aiming at solving the problem of independent access to information through the satellite dishes for the third – and the last – time in anticipation of the next presidential elections scheduled for the beginning of 2017 to ensure full control over information.

You can’t be a modern country if you don’t allow free speech.


WBMSAT News Bits 03/15/2015

Wednesday, March 18th, 2015

Featured Article

Photo – U.S. Air Force – C4ISR&Networks

Commercial firm will take over the Air Force’s Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) constellation by 2016.
[C4ISR&Networks – 03/13/2015]

Read rest of WBMSAT News Bits current issue here.


DIY Friday: Backyard Flying Saucer

Friday, January 16th, 2015

We like upcycling. When it includes old satellite dishes, we love it!

Using a couple of old C-band mesh antennas to make an alien spacecraft in your backyard is brilliant and worth sharing.

The idea for this project had been milling around in my brain for awhile… I had visualized taking two satellite dishes, preferably 2 of the fiberglass type and slap them together like 2 pie plates to form a traditional saucer shape. The first task I had was to find suitable dishes to salvage for the project. I drove around whenever I had time to watch out for candidates, and I watched Craigslist and other sources of ads on the Internet. I live just outside the city limits, and had plenty of countryside to travel around. I also kept my mind open to the possibility of using the metal mesh dishes as well, thereby doubling my chances of finding what I needed.

Eventually, I placed an ad on Craigslist asking for a dish, and voila! I got a bite! It turned out to be a mesh dish in the city but just a few minutes away. I went over on a Sunday afternoon and it took an hour and some elbow grease to dismantle the dish and load it into the back of my pickup. I should mention that even if I couldn’t use the mesh dish, I could always take it to the recycling center and get some cash out of it! Ironically, I found a fiberglass dish about a mile from home, and after a couple of tries, I finally met the home owner, who said his wife had been asking and asking and asking him to remove the dish. Sounded like I arrived just in time! This one took about TWO hours to take off the mount and take it down to 2 halves and strap them down to my utility trailer. Note: It helps if you have some assistance to dismantle these things, they are HEAVY as all get out! After bringing them home and laying them out in the back yard, I pondered what to do about the situation, as time was marching on and I was tired of looking for dishes.

Get out there and make your own!


WBMSAT News Bits 10/03/2014

Monday, October 6th, 2014

Featured Article

Federal Communications Commission proposes to comprehensively revamp filing procedures to cut costs and complexity in licensing new satellite systems.
[Space News – 10/03/2014]

Industry Reports

A new market research publication announced by Reportstack, ‘Global Enterprise VSAT Market 2014-2018,’ projects market growth at CAGR of 10.49% for the period.
[Whatech – 10/01/2014]

New NSR report finds satellite operators driving efficiencies via HTS and acquisitions.
[SYS-CON Media – 09/30/2014]

Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) Market 2018: managed and wholesale services analyzed and forecasts in new research report at Sandlerresearch.org.
[University Chronicle – 09/28/2014]

The October issue of Satellite Executive Briefing Magazine includes “Change and Challenges Ahead in the  Satellite Industry” by  Elisabeth Tweedie, “Satellite Communications Networks and Cyber-Security” by Martin Jarrold, and “Case Study on Globalstar’s SPOT Lifesaving Rescues” by Virgil Labrador.
[Satellite Markets & Research – October 2014]

Industry Groups, Trade Shows

SES TechCom has been given the prestigious Changing Lives Award at the VSAT 2014 conference in London for emergency.lu.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 10/02/2014]

Work Microwave addresses broadcast, satellite, and telco industry challenges at IBC 2014.
[The IABM – 10/01/2014]

Mitsubishi Electric to exhibit at CEATEC Japan 2014 October 7 to 11.
[Business Wire – 09/29/2014]

Blue Sky Network to unveil new SATCOM solution at separate aviation industry events in October.
[Aviation Pros – 09/29/2014]

Airbus announced to present at SMi’sGlobal MilSatCom 2014 conference and exhibition.
[PRWeb – 09/29/2014]

The 15th International Exhibition of Telecommunications, Information Technology & Solutions (Iran Telecom 2014) is to be held in Tehran during October 6-9.
[Zawya – 09/28/2014]

Launch Activity

Midterm elections could shape the U.S. launch debate.
[Space News – 10/03/2014]

Indians watch launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C23). (Arun Sankar K./Associated Press) – CBC

The Canadian satellite M3M will be launched by India instead of Russia, after long delays amid tension with Russia.
[CBC News – 10/03/2014]

Nanorack identifies root cause of ISS cubesat deployment failures.
[Space News – 10/02/2014]

A Proton-M rocket. Photo: Khrunichev – Via Satellite

Returning Proton rocket faces challenges in the market.
[Via Satellite – 09/30/2014]

China’s Long March-2C carrier rocket launch. Photo: Xinhua. – Via Satellite

China successfully completes launch of experimental scientific satellite.
[Via Satellite – 09/29/2014]

Small satellite launch company Firefly Space Systems is moving from California to Cedar Park, Texas.
[Via Satellite – 09/29/2014]

Russian Proton places Russian military satellite into geostationary orbit in 1st launch since May failure.
[Space News – 09/28/2014]

Swiss Space Systems meets with Russia’s JSC Kuznetsov to evaluate the NK-39 engines planned to power the unmanned suborbital shuttle SOAR SmallSat launch vehicle.
[Via Satellite – 09/26/2014]

Satellite Construction

© ITAR-TASS/Sergei Kazak

U.S. restrictions on supplies to Russia lead to an increase in time of satellite construction of 8 or 10 months.
[ITAR-TASS – 10/01/2014]

Romania plans to have its own communications satellite.
[telecompaper – 09/29/2014]

COM DEV gets $7.5 million contract from undisclosed customer to manufacture components for a High Throughput Satellite.
[Via Satellite – 09/29/2014]

Satellite Operations

Some 160 cubesats were launched between 2003 and 2013. Credit: NASA photo – Space News

Cubesat revolution and spotty compliance with debris rules fuel dangerous congestion in low earth orbit.
[Space News – 10/03/2014]

Russian satellite communications operator hopes to triple capabilities of orbital group by 2020.
[Interfax – 10/03/2014]

Satellite Technology

India seeks outside help on High Throughput Satellite.
[Space News – 10/02/2014]

Ground Systems Technology

Rockwell Collins ARC-210 radio becomes first airborne radio to operate over the U.S. government’s MUOS constellation.
[Satnews – 10/03/2014]

Orbit Communications Systems gets contract to upgrade ground station in Alaska for U.S.-based system integrator.
[Via Satellite – 09/30/2014]

SatixFy integrates IP cores for advanced satellite modem SoC using Sonics on-chip networks.
[Design & Reuse – 09/30/2014]

Macom releases new set of surface mount S-Band GaN power amplifiers.
[Via Satellite – 09/30/2014]

M2M Connectivity announces the distribution of SkyWave terminals for the Inmarsat satellite network in Australia and New Zealand.
[CSO – 09/29/2014]

Government, Military & Defense

Spanish Ministry of Defence approves Globalstar GSP-1700 satellite phone for use by its personnel
[Satnews – 10/03/2014]

Syracuse 3A satellite – Thales Alenia artist’s concept – Space News

France proceeding with planned electronic-intelligences satellite and next-generation military telecommunications satellite systems.
[Space News – 10/02/2014]

Germany joins EDA’s program to pool and share purchases of commercial satellite bandwidth for military and government use.
[Space News – 10/01/2014]

Canadian government contracts with Com Dev subsidiary exactEarth to extend the availability of AIS to the entire government.
[Via Satellite – 10/01/2014]

U.S. DoD effort launched in early 2013 to reform the way it buys commercial satellite communication bandwidth appears stalled, frustrating lawmakers.
[Space News – 09/29/2014]

Army’s new Joint Incident Site Communication Capability’s (JISCC’s) Delta Package radio-bridging and voice cross-banding capability with satellite terminal supports National Guard/First Responder communications during emergencies.
[army.mil – 09/29/2014]

Lockheed to buy European-built satellite for South Korea as part of $7 billion deal to provide 40 F-35 fighter jets to South Korea.
[Reuters – 09/26/2014]

IDC receives US government contract for broadcast network equipment.
[Via Satellite – 09/26/2014]

Regulatory

One-day Space and Satellite Regulatory Colloquium to be focused on emerging space law and myriad regulatory issues facing global government administrations.
[Satnews – 10/03/2014]

AT&T commitment to bid $45 billion for 5 blocks of 20 MHz of spectrum dependent upon success of DirecTV acquisition.
[TVTechnology – 10/02/2014]

Satellite industry backs the importance of C-band in Africa, citing new research, and claims wireless industry efforts to claim spectrum would undercut African economies.
[IT News Africa – 09/29/2014]

Aeronautical

Inmarsat sees an Air-to-Ground network serving as the centerpiece for its in-Flight Connectivity plans in high traffic areas.
[Via Satellite – 09/29/2014]

Broadband

E-Networks of Guyana becomes first Latin American customer of O3b.
[Via Satellite – 10/02/2014]

Xplorenet ramps up satellite side of its business to cover all of Canada, and plans eventual broadband speed of 100 Mbps using HTS.
[Via Satellite – 10/02/2014]

SES and Swisscom will launch Astra Connect in Switzerland.
[Via Satellite – 10/01/2014]

Artist’s rendition of Yahclick. Photo YahSat – Via Satellite

YahSat intiates two-month promotional offer for satellite broadband through Yahclick in select African countries.
[Via Satellite – 10/01/2014]

Orbitcom to deliver Astra Connect service from SES in Germany.
[Via Satellite – 09/26/2014]

Earth Observation

National Geographic, in partnership with Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, intends to develop new imagery from ISS for educational purposes.
[Via Satellite – 09/29/2014]

Enterprise

SkyVision VPN to connect Unity Bank branch offices in Africa.
[Via Satellite – 10/01/2014]

NSSLGlobal adds two new satellite beams to improve quality and geographical reach of its global VSAT network.
[The Maritime Executive – 09/30/2014]

M2M (Machine to Machine)

M2M Connectivity to distribute SkyWave terminals for Inmarsat satellite network in Australia and New Zealand.
[Ferret – 10/03/2014]

Maritime

MTN announces that the number of TBN –connected cruise ships has doubled and covered regions have tripled in the past year.
[Satnews – 10/02/2014]

Mobile

Gilat successfully demonstrates maximum 4G handheld device performance over satellite at tier-one operator in Asia.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 10/02/2014]

Video

Thomson Reuters, partnering with Avanti, Sematron, and BIPS, successfully broadcast the entire Oscar Pistorius trial in live HD.
[Market Watch – 10/03/2014]

Pi Telecom’s partnership with SatLink expands into IP delivery . . . immediate TV everywhere . . . ready to launch managed service via the cloud within days.
[Satnews – 09/30/2014]

Sky Perfect JSAT to launch dedicated 4K Ultra-HD channels on March 1, 2015.
[Via Satellite – 09/26/2014]

Space

NASA and ISRO of India sign two new documents for future joint missions in space.
[Via Satellite – 10/02/2014]

Trace Gas Orbiter and entry, descent and landing module – Credit: ESA artist’s concept – Space News

Thales Alenia says funding commitment for ExoMars is needed in December to complete the agreed-to funding package.
[Space News – 10/01/2014]

Sierra Nevada Corp partners with Stratolaunch for Dream Chaser derivative, looking for commercial uses for the space vehicle.
[Via Satellite – 10/01/2014]

Why a refrigerator-sized spacecraft could be humanity’s best hope against solar storms.
[Nextgov – 10/01/.2014]

Capacity Agreements

Eutelsat signs two satellite beams on Eutelsat 21B to Vizocom for its AfricAsia Satellite Services.
[Via Satellite – 10/02/2014]

Market Strategy & Revenues

Australian operator NewSat and partner ITC Global have tightened their partnership to focus on opportunities in the energy sector.
[Via Satellite – 10/01/2014]

Gilat Satcom provides additional satellite route between Africa and the United States.
[Satellite Spotlight – 10/01/2014]

ITC Global announces another record quarter, with $100 million in new bookings year to date.
[San Antonio Business Journal – 09/30/2014]

Globalstar seeks to build up its presence in Southern Africa with new gateway station in Botswana for simplex services.
[Via Satellite – 09/30/2014]

Armada Group proposes acquisition of up to 45.95% of equity interest in China Satellite Mobile Communications Group.
[Reuters – 09/30/2014]

Airbus is divesting its commercial satcoms business, including its maritime satcoms division and subsidiary Marlink.
[Satnews – 09/29/2014]

History

Globecomm mentioned in Global Satellite Industry Campaign, with projects in Afghanistan and Caribbean highlighted.
[Business Wire – 10/02/2014]

Russia is a stalwart of the satellite industry but, as a market, has seen challenges.
[Via Satellite – 09/26/2014]

The Human Aspect

Malaysiakini file photo

Group claiming to be independent experts says the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) should be searching further south in the Indian Ocean for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370.
[malaysiakini – 09/30/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

WBMSAT News Bits 09/26/2014

Friday, September 26th, 2014

Featured Article

Credit: Smyrna Air Center graphic – Space News

World’s largest satellite fleet operators propose that global regulators not extend current radio spectrum allocations for air-to-ground communications links to satellite services.
[Space News – 09/26/2014]

Industry Reports

Global Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) research report at ReportsnReports.com projects the market to grow at 5.48% by 2018.
[TMCnet – 09/26/2014]

Africa’s socio-economic development depends on satellite services delivered via C-band spectrum according to Euroconsult report.
[GVF.org – 09/26/2014]

Technavio report forecasts the Global Mobile Satellite Services market to grow at a CAGR of 7.39% over the period 2013 to 2018.
[PR Newswire – 09/23/2014]

Industry Groups, Trade Shows

SMi Group’s 16th Annual Global MilSatCom conference and exhibition will occur from November 4th to 6th, 2014, in London.
[SatNews – 09/25/2014]

The power of the satellite communication and navigation technology industries is being celebrated in World Space Week in October.
[Global Trader – 09/2014]

Launch Activity

Proton rocket on its way to set up for launch. Photo: Khrunichev. – Via Satellite

Khrunichev, Roscosmos prepare Proton for launch of Loutch SC built by ISS-Reshetnev.
[Via Satellite – 09/25/2014]

Europe’s Guiana Space Center. Credit: ESA photo – Space News

ESA’s Ariane 6 cost estimate rises with addition of new launch pad.
[Space News – 09/24/2014]

Atlas V launch vehicle carrying the NROL 67 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. Photo: ULA – Via Satellite

ATK offers U.S. Air Force a solid rocket alternative to the Russian-built RD-180.
[Via Satellite – 09/23/2014]

Satellite Construction

Romania may have its own communications satellite in 3 – 4 years.
[actmedia – 09/26/2014]

COM DEV wins contract to deliver multiplexer equipment, waveguide, coaxial switches and microwave components for construction of a High Throughput Satellite (HTS).
[Your Communications News – 09/26/2014]

Macdonald Dettwiler & Associates to build a Ka band data relay terminal flight model for use on the ESA Columbus module of the ISS.
[4-traders – 09/25/2014]

Azerbaijan’s blueprint for a domestic space industry includes global competition for optical satellite.
[Space News – 09/25/2014]

Laser Light Communications selects Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. to be prime contractor for the first global, all optical commercial satellite system.
[Hispanic Business – 09/24/2014]

With negotiations to lease an orbital slot from an Intersputnik member nearly complete, Bangladesh plans to request bids for its Bangabandnu 1 satellite.
[Space News – 09/23/2014]

Satellite Technology

Airbus sees greater promise in all-electric satellite sales, and expects fierce competition ahead.
[Via Satellite – 09/24/2014]

Boeing announced it is has received a new six-month contract to evaluate a scientific hosted payload named Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO).
[Via Satellite – 09/24/2014]

Iridium announces completion of extensive testing program for qualification of its new solar panel design for Iridium NEXT.
[Space Ref – 09/23/2014]

Ground Systems

An MDA ground station. Photo: MDA – An MDA ground station. Photo: MDA – Via Satellite

MDA to build ground station for DigitalGlobe.
[Via Satellite – 09/25/2014]

Macom unveils new up-converter for 28 to 34 GHz.
[Via Satellite – 09/24/2014]

C-Com files patent application for a low cost phase shifter for in-motion Ka-band antennas.
[Market Wired – 09/23/2014]

European broadcasters embrace revolutionary low-cost satellite flyaway system from ATCi.
[EFY Times – 09/23/2014]

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. is awarded $6.7 million in orders for communications jamming High-Power Amplifier systems.
[Market Watch – 09/23/2014]

Government, Military & Defense

Colombian government shelves its plans for a satellite due to insufficient funds.
[SatNews – 09/25/2014]

Comtech Telecommunications subsidiaries receive new or follow-on contracts for different satellite products which will support the military.
[Via Satellite – 09/24/2014]

Upgrade to iDirect Evolution helps Telefonica Peru win bid for telemedicine network.
[Market Watch – 09/24/2014]

L-3 wins $23 million contract to provide satellite terminals and communications equipment to the U.S. Air Force.
[SatNews – 09/23/2014]

New UK company Spacepath Communications joins with Silicon Valley-based Tango Wave to market new range of high efficiency HPAs for global market.
[SatNews – 09/23/2014]

Canadian Space Agency grants MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates three projects to apply satellite data to national interest: tracking ships, geo-hazard monitoring, and logging and deforestation.
[Via Satellite – 09/23/2014]

First Canadian military satellite to keep watch on space junk – MDA – CBC News.

The Canadian DND  announced it will be sharing space data from a satellite launched last year to keep watch on space junk with defence departments in the U.S., U.K. and Australia.
[CBC – 09/22/2014]

Russian Federal Space Agency presents President Vladimir Putin a draft resolution that would allow for public use of sub-meter satellite imagery.
[Via Satellite – 09/23/2014]

Aeronautical

Honeywell Aerospace and Thales partner to create a joint In-Flight Connectivity service using Ka-band Global Xpress capacity.
[Via Satellite – 09/22/2014]

Broadband

SES expands partnership with ORBITCOM to include delivery of Astra Connect for communities in Germany.
[Satellite Evolution Group- 09/25/2014]

Maritime

KVH brings Dish ‘Pay As You Go’ service to maritime.
[Via Satellite – 09/25/2014]

Oil & Gas

Increasing Oil & Gas activity in Papua New Guinea drives EMC’s expanding satellite communications service in the area.
[Market Wired – 09/23/2014]

Video

DirecTV is actively looking into supporting Ultra-HD content in 2014.
[Via Satellite – 09/22/2014]

Space

Boeing’s CST 100 – Credit: Boeing artist’s concept – Space News

NASA requests proposals for follow-on ISS cargo contract.
[Space News – 09/26/2014]

Experimental Spaceplane XS-1 – Credit: DARPA artist’s concept – Space News

DARPA, industry study how to commercialize experimental spaceplane.
[Space News – 09/26/2014]

UK joins list of U.S. allies agreeing to strengthen space surveillance sharing.
[Space News – 09/25/2014]

FAA says safety report does not infer any intention to regulate human spaceflight, but is intended to support industry development of standards.
[Space News – 09/25/2014]

Dream Chaser – Credit: SNC artist’s concept – Space News

After losing a NASA commercial crew competition, Sierra Nevada lays off its Dream Chaser staff.
[Space News – 09/25/2014]

Long delayed award of the US Air Force’s Launch and Test Range System Integrated Support Contract now expected in October.
[Space News – 09/24/2014]

India triumphs in its first interplanetary mission, placing a satellite into orbit around Mars.
[R&D Magazine – 09/24/2014]

Capacity Agreements

Gazprom Space Systems leases capacity on the Yamal 402 satellite to iSAT Africa.
[Via Satellite – 09/22/2014]

Market Strategy & Revenues

As U.S. sales soften, Inmarsat’s growth plan hinges on emerging markets.
[Space News – 09/26/2014]

NSSLGlobal adds two new satellite beams to improve the quality and geographical reach of its global VSAT network.
[MarineLink – 09/26/2014]

SSTL’s Geostationary Minisatellite Platform (GMP) – Credit: SSTL artist’s concept – Space News

Cipriot company Kypros teams with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. of Britain to offer turnkey systems to small nations entering the market.
[Space News – 09/26/2014]

DirecTV shareholders vote overwhelmingly to approve merger with AT&T.
[The Hill – 09/25/2014]

Applied Satellite Technology (AST), launched its new brand logo at its Annual European Customer Event.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 09/24/2014]

SatLink Communications expands its Asian coverage with a new PoP in Hong Kong.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 09/24/2014]

The Human Aspect

SES joins Clinton Global Initiative and unveils an electronic health, or e-health platform named SATMED.
[Via Satellite – 09/25/2014]

Devastating floods marooned everything in Kashmir, including the fibre-optic based and mobile telephone communication system, but officials from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) ensured that the Valley was reconnected to the outside world for coordinating relief work.
[Zee News – 09/23/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

WBMSAT News Bits 09/22/2014

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014

Featured Article

Blue Origin’s BE-4 Engine Model. Photo: Via Satellite

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has selected Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company Blue Origin to build the Blue Engine 4 (BE-4) to replace the Russian-built RD-180.
[Via Satellite – 09/18/2014]

Industry Reports

New ReportnReports Global mobile satellite services report projects that market segment to grow at a CAGR of 7.39% to 2018.
[WhaTech – 09/19/2014]

NSR sees mobile video as key satellite opportunity, with mobile subscriptions on track to outpace human population soon according to Ericsson.
[Via Satellite – 09/15/2014]

HTS revenues to overtake FSS in battleground applications per NSR’s Global Satellite Capacity Supply & Demand, 1th edition.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 09/12/2014]

iDirect white paper discusses how satellite operators, infrastructure providers and small cell manufacturers are working together to help mobile operators expand their reach.
[telecoms – iDirect October 2013 whitepaper]

Launch Activity

Ariane 6 Credit: CNES artist’s concept – Space News

Next generation Ariane rocket expected to take priority over International Space Station as European space ministers meet in Zurich.
[Space News – 09/22/2014]

ORS-4 launch, first flight of experimental low-cost launch system for small satellites and based in Hawaii, delayed to early next year.
[Space News – 09/19/2014]

Atlas V launches from Cape Canaveral carrying the secretive CLIO satellite built by Lockheed-Martin.
[ABC News – 09/16/2014]

Satellite Construction

Lockheed Martin successfully mates large system and propulsion modules of NOAA’s GOES-R next-gen weather satellite.
[Via Satellite – 09/19/2014]

MDA to build satellite communications subsystem for ESA’s Columbus module on the international space station.
[Market Watch – 09/18/2014]

CBERS 4 at China Academy of Space Technology’s (CAST) facility. Photo: AEB – Via Satellite

China Academy of Space Technology completes Final Design Review of the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite 4 (CBERS 4).
[Via Satelllite – 09/18/2014]

Qatari Es’hail 2 satellite will include AMSAT-DL Phase 4 ameteur radion transponders.
[eHam.net – 09/18/2014]

Orbital Sciences selected by Yahsat to build Al Yah 3 communications satellite.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/15/2014]

SGDC satellite. Photo: AEB – Via Satellite

Brazil orders hybrid satellite from Thales Alenia Space.
[Via Satellite – 09/16/2014]

Artist’s concept of Es’hail 2 satellite – Arabian Business

Japanese firm Mitsubishi selected to build new Qatar satellite.
[Arabian Business – 09/13/2014]

Canadian Manufacturing file photo – Canadian Manufacturing

MDA subsidiary Space Systems/Loral wins contract to build Hispasat 1F satellite.
[Canadian Manufacturing – 09/12/2014]

Satellite Operations

FCC greenlights Iridium plan for deorbiting its 1st-generation constellation.
[Space News – 09/17/2014]

All six of Orbcomm’s OG2 satellites enter commercial service.
[Via Satellite – 09/15/2014]

Satellite Technology

Israeli startup hopes to stop satellites from getting lost in space.
[Haaretz – 09/21/2014]

Future SES satellites to focus heavily on in-flight connectivity.
[Via Satellite – 09/116/2014]

Ground Systems Technology

Paradigm Communictions and Skyware Technologies successfully complete factory acceptance testing of Global Xpress terminals.
[SatNews – 09/17/2014]

NBN Co’s Walumla ground station. Photo: NBN Co – Via Satellite

NBN of Australia nears completion of satellite ground station network.
[Via Satellite – 09/17/2014]

European Broadcasters embrace revolutionary low-cost satellite flyaway system from ATCi.
[The Street – 09/15/2014]

Government, Military & Defense

U.S. Air Force Space Command general excited but cautious on new ULA-Blue Origin partnership.
[Space News – 09/22/2014]

U.S. Air Force selects Harris Corporation for hosted payload solutions contract.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/19/2014]

Using technology similar to that of average smarthones, the U.S. Navy’s MUOS satellites provide long-distance military communications to manpack terminals.
[TMCnet – 09/18/2014]

United States Rep. Jim Bridenstine calls for the NOAA to make use of commercial weather data to mitigate risk from both pending and potential future weather data gaps.
[Via Satellite – 09/17/2014]

Fireball spotted over U.S. likely part of a Russian spy satellite.
[The Blaze – 09/17/20147]

German satellite communications company Stellar has servers hacked by government security agencies according to Snowden leaked documents.
[softpedia – 09/15/2014]

Space.com image

DARPA wants to test satellite repair droids in orbit.
[Space.com  – 09/12/2014]

Regulatory

U.N. body to discuss radio frequency spectrum for satellite tracking of airplanes.
[Yonhap News – 09/17/2014]

The Senate commerce committee releases a version of the satellite distant-signal reauthorization bill that eliminates the “Local Choice” proposal, and broadcasters appear to drop opposition.
[The Hill – 09/15/2014]

Aeronautical

Flight path of Globalstar’s ADS-B test flight. Photo: Globalstar – Via Satellite

Globalstar, in collaboration with ADS-B Technologies, completes a four-day 7,000-mile flight test of a dual-link Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system.
[Via Satellite – 09/19/2014]

CPI provides novel quad-band radome to support successful flight demonstrations of ViaSat, Inc.’s first integrated Ku-band and Ka-band airborne satellite terminal.
[pcb007 – 09/19/2014]

UK inflight entertainment solutions brand roKKi and Inmarsat launch first low-cost inflight connectivity service in the Asia-Pacific region.
[Hispanic Business – 09/18/2014]

Virgin Atlantic to offer new Gogo satellite-Internet service as it becomes the first European customer for a new in-glight connectivity system being sold by Gogo.
[The Wall Street Journal – 09/17/2014]

Gogo wins bidding to provide in-flight connectivity services for Vietnam Airlines, expected to be the first Gogo commercial airline to use Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band technology.
[TMCnet – 09/17/2014].

Panasonic Avionics providing in-flight connectivity for Spain-based Air Europa.
[Via Satellite – 09/16/2014]

Hawaiian Airlines to be first commercial airline to install new Inmarsat communications system.
[Pacific Business News – 09/16/2014]

Maritime

VSAT provider OmniAccess has partnered with US antenna manufacturer Phasor to launch what they claim is the world’s first maritime Ku-band digital phased array antenna.
[Digital Ship – 09/19/2014]

GVF launches maritime satellite communications glossary of terms.
[MarineLink -09/18/2014]

MTN delivers yachts the first dual Ku/Ka-band ultra-high speed satellite solution to further enhance its powerful Maestro service.
[PR News wire – 09/17/2014]

Mobile

Global connectivity for smartphones and tablets is today a reality with the ITU to boost communication capacity and emergency communication solutions for small island developing states.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/16/2014]

Global connectivity for smartphones and tablets is today a reality with the worldwide launch of IsatHub from Inmarsat.
[4GWE – 09/16/2014]

Video

Eutelsat and Cisco partner on cloud video via satellite.
[Via Satellite – 09/16/2014]

Space

Artist’s concept of the MAVEN spacecraft provided by NASA – R&D Magazine

NASA’s Maven spacecraft enters Mars orbit.
[R&D Magazine – 09/22/2014]

SpaceX breaks ground on Texas spaceport.
[Space News – 09/22/2014]

Inmarsat is helping to extend global awareness of the international celebration of science and technology, World Space Week 2014.
[WebWire – 09/22/2014]

SpaceX supply load for space station includes first 3-D printer bound for orbit.
[R&D Magazine – 09/22/2014]

NASA awards a $4.2 billion contract to Boeing and a $2.6 billion contract to SpaceX to build rockets and spacecraft capable of taking astronauts into orbit.
[Nextgov – 09/17/2014]

Capacity Agreements

Globecast, KTsat choose AsiaSat to broadcast the 2014 Asian Games.
[Via Satellite – 09/19/2014]

Telmex wins contract to provide satellite communications network to the country’s Health Secretary.
[TMCnet – 09/19/2014]

Bentley Walker purchases capacity on Yamal 402 satellite to be used for services in Africa.
[Via Satellite – 09/17/2014]

Eutelsat inks contract with Nilesat on Eutelsat 8 West B satellite.
[Reuters – 09/15/2014]

Onlime has entered an agreement with Gazprom Space Systems (GSS) for capacity on the upcoming Yamal 402 satellite.
[Via Satellite – 09/15/2014]

SES signs capacity deal for Astra 3B with EuroSkyPark.
[telecompaper – 09/13/2014]

Market Strategy & Revenues

Aireon to offer satellite tracking free to help search for missing planes.
[Reuters – 09/22/2014]

Singtel extends Glopbal Xpress VAR relationship with Inmarsat.
[twst.com – 09/22/2014]

Inmarsat and Thales condlude GX Aviation reseller agreement.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/22/2014]

Thales Alenia steps up efforts to sell Earth-observation satellites abroad.
[Space News – 09/19/2014]

ViaSat eyes urban markets, touts aviation broadband service.
[Space News – 09/19/2014]

Globalstar makes satellite communications available to everyone throughout EMENA with the lowest-cost pre-paid service in the industry.
[FIS – 09/17/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space to sell suite of assets including its commercial satellite communications services division.
[Space News – 09/16/2014]

Apllied Satellite Technology joins the VT iDirect Distribution Program.
[SatNews – 09/16/2014]

Rockwell Collins Satellite Communications Systems, recently acquired by Atlanta-based private investment group, re-emerges as well-known Datapath brand.
[PR Newswire – 09/15/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

 


WBMSAT News Bits 09/12/2014

Saturday, September 13th, 2014

Featured Article

Ariane 5 launch – NASA photo

Ariane 5 ECA launches Optus 10 and MEASAT-3b satellites from French Guiana.
[NASA Spaceflight – 09/11/2014]

Industry Reports

HTS revenues to overtake FSS I battleground applications, with GEO-HTS revenues to grow from $250 million in 2013 and exceed $3.5 billion by 2023,  per NSR report.
[Market Wired – 09/12/2014]

Military Market Research Reports provides market forecast and analysis for the global military communications market up to 2019.
[WhaTech – 09/09/2014]

Industry Groups, Trade Shows

Frost & Sullivan recognizes Advantech Wireless with 2014 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for New Product Innovation Leadership for new series of GaN-based SSPAs.
[PR Newswire – 09/12/2014]

Orbital Sciences CEO expresses disappointment in potential for hosted payload market during panel discussion at World Satellite Business Week in Paris.
[Via Satellite – 09/11/2014]

Euroconsult announces recipients of its 11th Annual Awards for Excellence in Satellite Communications at World Satellite Business Week in Paris.
[SpaceRef – 09/10/2014]

CEOs from the “Big Four” FSS operators engaged in a lively debate about the future of the satellite industry at Euroconsult’s World Satellite Business Week.
[Via Satellite – 09/09/2014]

Launch Activity

A Falcon 9 leaving the hangar. Photo: SpaceX – Via Satellite

Sky Perfect JSAT chooses SpaceX for JCSAT 16 launch.
[Via Satellite – 09/11/2014]

Falcon 9 lifts off from Cape Canaveral with Asiasat 6. Photo: SpaceX – Via Satellite

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off successfully from Cape Canaveral with AsiaSat 6/Thaicom 7 aboard.
[Via Satellite – 09/08/2014]

An Ariane 5 rocket in flight. (Credit: Arianespace) – Forbes

Arianespace selected to launch Al Yah 3 satellite in fourth quarter of 2016; Arianespace claims to now hold 60% of the commercial launch market.
[Forbes – 09/08/2014]

Satellite Construction

Al Yah 3 – Artist’s conception published at Space Ref

Orbital Sciences to build Al Yah 3 communications satellite for Yahsat.
[Space Ref – 09/10/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space will built EchoStar 105 with 24 C-band transponders known as SES 11 under agreement between SES and Echostar.
[Aerospace Manufacturing and Design – 09/10/2014]

Ball Aerospace selected by Laser Light Communications to be prime contractor for the first global, all-optical commercial satellite system.
[PR Newswire – 09/10/2014]

Boeing receives first order for 502 Phoenix small satellite from HySpecIQ of Washington, D.C.
[Space Ref – 09/10/2014]

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) and Kypros Satellites (Kyprosat) have teamed up to provide a turnkey telecommunications SmallSat for Geostationary Earth Orbit.
[Via Satellite – 09/10/2014]

Space Syustems/Loral selected to provide a communications satellite for Bulgaria Sat.
[Balkans Business News – 09/09/2014]

Ghosts of satellite constellations from the past? Flurry of announcements and projects under the radar hitting fever pitch.
[NSR – 09/08/2014]

Artistic rendition of Es’hailSat 2 courtesy of Mitsubishi – SatNews

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation gets a new contract to deliver the Es’hail 2 communications satellite to operator Qatar Satellite Company (Es’hailSat) in Doha.
[SatNews – 09/08/2014]

Artist’s concept of BulgariaSat 1. Credit: Space Systems/Loral – Spaceflight Now

Bulgaria’s first satellite to be built by Loral and launched by SpaceX, with financing by the Export-Import Bank.
[Spaceflight Now – 09/08/2014]

Satellite Operations

NIGCOMSAT leases out DTH platform to PPTV.
[Vanguard – 096/10/2014]

Satellite Technology

Lockheed Martin unveils reprogrammable A2100 satellite bus with dual launch capability.
[Via Satellite – 09/09/2014]

Ground Systems Technology

Kratos brings Big Data analysis to satellite operations for Es’hailSat to better manage service levels and optimize satellite operations.
[CNN Money – 09/11/2014]

Avanti demos Google Glassware satellite application that optimizes Ka-band field site installation process at IBC.
[Market Watch – 09/11/2014]

Cobham SATCOM launches latest innovation in EXPLORER satellite terminal range, with new, compact design and focus on wireless connectivity, at IBC 2014.
[SatNews – 09/11/2014]

MaxLinear to showcase 4K satellite Full-Spectrum Capture technology at IBC.
[TMCnet – 09/11/2014]

C-COM mobile antenna receives Eutelsat type approval for NewsSpotter newsgathering service.
[Market Wired – 09/11/2014]

Newtec first to deliver full DVB-S2X solution across entire product line, showcased at IBC.
[realwire – 09/10/2014]

C-COM is exhibiting its next generation Eutelsat approved antennas at IBC in Amsterdam.
[Market Wired – 09/09/2014]

Spacepath Communications, a new company behind family of high power outdoor amplifiers, debuts at IBC.
[SatNews – 09/09/2014]

Satellite earth station antenna options work to mitigate Ka-band losses due to weather effects.
[Satmagazine article]

Government, Military & Defense

TeleCommunication Systems awarded $13.7 million to supply managed satellite services to the U.S. Marine Corps.
[Market Watch – 09/11/2014]

Space Daily file image

Intelsat General extends contract with DRS Technologies to provide satellite capacity to forces in Afghanistan.
[Space Daily – 09/10/2014]

SES is awarded contract to provide satellite capacity to support the Army Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T).
[Business Wire – 09/09/2014]

ViaSat and Data Link Solutions win multimillion dollar military contracts.
[Via Satellite – 09/09/2014]

Regulatory

Export-Import bank’s approval of $4.8 billion in satellite deals since 2002 – almost all of that in the last three years – complicates its fight for survival.
[Reuters – 09/09/2014]

Aeronautical

ORBIT Communication Systems receives order to supply its comprehensive airborene satellite communications solution to a leading UAV manufacturer.
[SatNews – 09/11/2014]

Broadband

Timor Telecom goes live on O3b Network’s “Fiber in the Sky” satellite network.
[Via Satellite – 09/08/2014]

Maritime

SpeedCast selected by Jan De Nul Group for satellite communications for fleet of offshore & dredging vessels.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/09/2014]

Video

CinecolorSat chooses satellite receiver equipment from International Datacasting to support expansion of their digital cinema distribution network across Latin America.
[PRWeb – 09/11/2014]

Eutelsat, in partnership with MStar Semiconductor, Aston and Quadrille Ingénierie, are working together to validate push Video-On-Demand (VOD) using the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) 2.0 standard.
[Via Satellite – 09/09/2014]

IDC ‘s TITAN 3 high definition contribution encoder selected for deployment in Latin America by Grimsat.
[Market Watch – 09/08/2014]

Space

Solar Dynamics Observatory/ESA/NASA – Time Magazine

Strong solar flare headed toward Earth but scientists say its worst effects will likely bypass the planet when it arrives this weekend.
[Time Magazine – 09/11/2014]

Understanding how objects in space spin and where centers of mass are crucial to potential space missions to clean up space debris.
[R&D Magazine – 09/10/2014]

Legal

ViaSat settles claim against Loral Space & Communications.
[Bloomberg – 09/07/2014]

Capacity Agreements

Amos 6 to broadcast Ukraine’s 1+1 Media’s entire network.
[Via Satellite – 09/11/2014]

Services Contracts

Kacific  signs agreement with International Telecommunication Union for development of satellite communications capacity and emergency communications solutions for the Pacific region.
[Voxy – 09/08/2014]

Market Strategy & Revenues

RRSat’s (RRmedia’s) Hawley Teleport. Photo: RRSat – Via Satellite

Hispasat signs new international teleports and expends broadcasting services over its orbital position at 30 degrees west.
[Via Satellite – 09/11/2014]

Inmarsat signs Rockwell Collins as Value Added Reseller for Global Xpress.
[Via Satellite – 09/10/2014]

Senior executives from space programs across the world discuss ambitious satellite projects in key emerging markets during Euroconsult’s World Satellite Business Week in Paris.
[Via Satellite – 09/08/2014]

Russian DTH operators are unsure about the prospects of satellite broadband in Russian, and are unlikely to get involved in the market.
[Via Satellite – 09/08/2014]

NSSLGlobal announces merger with the ESL group of companies, a satellite solution provider and system integrator.
[Via Satellite – 09/08/2014]

The Human Aspect

Malaysian Defence Ministry dismisses as “absolute gossip” reports that Malaysian Navy was secretly deployed to location close to Langkawi Island to retrieve Flight 370 debris and bodies.
[International Business Times – 09/07/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Technical Proposals System Acceptance Testing
Link Analysis System Quality Testing
Systems Engineering Project Management
Systems Integration Satellite Industry Research

360-895-0478   email:  [email protected]


WBMSAT News Bits 09/05/2014

Friday, September 5th, 2014

Featured Article

U.S. Air Force selects SSL for hosted payload services.
[Via Satellite – 09/05/2014]

Industry Reports

Research and Markets announces addition of the “Analysis of the Global Satellite Transponder Market” to their offering, seeing continued solid adoption 2014 – 2020.
[TMCnet – 09/05/2014]

New Markets and Markets report projects M2M satellite communications market to be worth $4.76 billion by 2019.
[TMCnet – 09/04/2014]

Keysight Technologies complementary webcast series keeps interested parties cognizant of satellite communications technologies and solutions.
[SatNews – 09/04/2014]

Euroconsult’s “Satellite Communications & Broadcasting Markets Survey.Forecasts to 2023,” reports 2013 FSS revenue growth of 2.2%, a significant slowdown, but sector is in investment phase and expected to rebound.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 09/04/2014]

Satellite Executive Briefing magazine, September issue, includes “The Changing Economics of Satellite Communications by Jan Grandrup-Vivanco, “Silicon Valley Investing in the Satellite Industry” by Elisabeth Tweedle, “Outsourcing Content Management” by Virgil Labrador, and “Disruption of the ‘GoodEnough’” by Lou Zacharilla.
[Satellite Markets & Research – September 2014]

MarketBrief report on Evolving VSAT Requirements examines changing VSAT network requirements in vertical markets such as Oil and Gas, Mining, Power Utilities, Government, and others.
[Satellite Markets & Research – September 2014]

Updated NSR study provides a comprehensive market analysis of the three major methods of UltraHD consumption via satellite — DTH, IPTV and Cable Distribution.
[NSR Reports – August 2014]

NSR’s Global Satellite Capacity Supply and Demand, 11th Edition (GSCSD11) is a comprehensive analysis of the commercial satellite capacity market.
[NSR Reports – July 2014]

Industry Groups, Trade Shows

SATCON 2014 to feature sessions led by technical experts and influential business leaders highlighting most recent developments in the satellite communications industry, November 12–13, 2014.
[SatNews – 09/05/2014]

Emerging Markets Communications to exhibit at SMM Hamburg Maritime Tradeshow in Germany September 9-12, 2014.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/04/2014]

RRsat CEO to participate in Euroconsult panel on future of TV distribution.
[Market Wired – 09/04/2014]

EUsatcom puts new generation satellite broadcasting in the spotlight at IBC2014 with Conference on High-Thoughput Satellite Broadcasting and Innovation Awards show.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 09/03/2014]

Launch Activity

SpaceX launch of AsiaSat 6 moved to Sunday, September 7.
[Florida Today – 09/04/2014]

China uses single rocket to launch two satellites, to relay environmental information and experiment with multimedia satellite communication.
[The Telegraph – 09/04/2014]

An ILS Proton rocket. Photo: ILS – Via Satellite

Roscosmos announces return of Proton rocket, with launch scheduled for September 28, 2014 of payload known as “Ray.”
[Via Satellite – 09/04/2014]

Deployer releasing CubeSats – Credit NASA – Via Satellite

NanoRacks studies an anomaly that occurred with its CubeSat deployers on the International Space Station, which have ceased to deploy CubeSats when commanded.
[Via Satellite – 09/04/2014]

Vladimir Putin pledges 50 billion rubles ($1.3 billion) to complete Vostochny Cosmodrome in anticipation of 2014 first flight.
[Space News – 09/03/2014]

CONAE’s Tronador 2 launch vehicle. Photo: Wikipedia – Via Satellite

Argentina’s space agency completes second experimental flight of the Tronador 2 launch vehicle, with VEX 1B rocket reaching 2,200 meter height.
[Via Satellite – 08/29/2014]

Satellite Construction

EchoStar and SES choose Airbus Defense and Space to build the EchoStar 105/SES 11 satellite, which will replace AMC15.
[edu Bourse – 09/04/2014]

GeoMetWatch is re-evaluating original plan to orbit six geo-hyperspectral sounders as hosted payloads.
[Via Satellite – 08/29/2014]

Satellite Operations

United Kingdom Space Agency commands the UKube-1 CubeSat to use alternate configuration of “FUNcube-2 transceiver” as the satellite’s temporary downlink.
[eHam.net – 09/04/2014]

DigitalGlobe photo reprinted from Quartz – Nextgov

New DigitalGlobe WorldView 3 satellite can see the forest fire through the smoke.
[Nextgov – 09/03/2014]

O3b declares constellation fully operational following completion of in-orbit testing of latest 4 satellites, bringing its current constellation to 8 with 4 more to be launched in early 2015.
[Via Satellite – 09/02/2014]

Satellite Technology

Though Boeing struck first, Airbus has lead in booking commercial all-electric satellite orders.
[Space News – 09/03/2014]

Kongsberg Norspace of Norway books first two orders, for SES-10 construction, for command receivers with flexibility allowing more leeway to control use of satellite broadcast frequencies.
[Space News – 09/03/2014

Ground Systems Technology

NovelSat announces new solution that will allow DTH TV providers to offer more channels using existing satellite bandwidth.
[Via Satellite – 09/05/2014]

AvL technologies antenna receives Eutelsat KA-SAT type approval.
[Via Satellite – 09/05/2014]

Wavestore and Datasat partnership ensures remote viewing of HD video via satellite for security applications.
[Source Security – 09/02/2014]

GRC SandFly Ka-band flyaway system endorsed for use on Avanti Communications fleet of Ka-band satellites.
[TMCnet – 09/01/2014]

Government, Military & Defense

DARPA Phoenix artist rendition. Image Credit: DARPA – Via Satellite

DARPA issues RFI for robotic in-orbit satellite servicing, and seeks to learn the technical characteristics of commercial spacecraft buses that may integrate with DARPA’s robotic technology.
[Via Satellite – 09/04/2014]

U.S. Air Force plans to release formal solicitation in December for potential $1 billion contract to consolidate work on the service’s main satellite control network.
[Space News – 09/04/2014]

U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center MILSATCOM Program Office to seek enhanced ground based X-band anti-jam capability for WGS constellation.
[C4ISR & Networks – 09/03/2014]

Artist’s concept of Space Based Space Surveillance satellite – Credit: U.S. Air Force – Spaceflight Now

U.S. Air Force tasks Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory to design and build a small pace surveillance satellite to monitor satellite traffic in geosynchronous orbit.
[Spaceflight Now – 09/03/2014]

Watts Constructors LLC of Honolulu, Hawaii is awarded $38.9 million contract to build a satellite earth station facility in San Miguel, California for the U.S. Army.
[AFCEA – 09/03/2014]

Kapooka Army Recruit Training Centre near Wagga, Australia to host satellite antennas to support new WGS satellite communications system.
[Daily Advertiser – 09/03/2014]

U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awards $29 million contract modification and exercises extension option for LinQuest system engineering and integration support services.
Signal online – 09/03/2014]

Regulatory

Iridium application for provision of mobile satellite communications in Global Maritime Distress and Safety System reviewed and approved.
[4-traders – 09/01/2014]

Broadband

Globalstar releases the 9600, the world’s smallest satellite data hotspot, seamlessly pairing a satellite phone with a smart phone with an app.
[BlogZone – 09/04/2014]

iNet Communications selects Newtec to provide fastest ever satellite broadband service in Guyana.
[RealWire – 09/02/2014]

Maritime

Fred.Olsen’s Boudicca cruise ship in port. Photo: Fred.Olsen – Via Satellite

MTN increases staff and office space to accommodate its expanding maritime business.
[Via Satellite – 09/03/2014]

Orange Business Services wins strategic satellite communications contract with BW Offshore.
[Market Watch – 09/02/2014]

Legal

SpaceX disputes Blue Origin over sea-landing rocket technology, arguing that technology called specialized should not be considered so.
[Via Satellite – 09/03/2014]

Capacity Agreements

An installation on the Guyana Defence Force military base in the New River Triangle. Photo: Eutelsat – Via Satellite

iNet Communications, the licensed telecoms provider for Global Technology in Guyana, has entered an agreement with Eutelsat for its IP Easy satellite broadband service.
[Via Satellite – 09/02/2014]

Onlime expands capacity on AFRICASAT-1a.
[PR Newswire – 09/01/2014]

Market Strategy & Revenues

Airbus Defence and Space is expanding services in Australia and the Pacific region in partnership with SES, utilizing NSS-12..
[SatNews – 09/04/2014]

Global Eagle is looking heavily outside the U.S. at opportunities for new in-Flight Connectivity customers.
[Via Satellite – 09/04/2014]

Three Google employees with deep satellite communications expertise leave – Greg Wyler, formerly of O3b, Brian Holz, and David Bettinger – leaving questions about Google satellite project.
[Silicon Beat – 09/03/2014]

WorldVu, a satellite startup aiming to provide global Internet connectivity, continues to grow absent clear Google relationship.
[Space News – 09/03/2014]

C-COM announces partnership with leading European Satcom technology company Newtec, integrating iNetVu antenna technology with MDM300 IP modem series.
[Market Wired – 09/03/2014]

SES awards Commetric a multi-year contract to deliver media analysis and evaluation in local languages across multiple markets.
[SatNews – 09/03/2014]

Latin American satellite solutions provider Axesat is looking into cellular backhaul as its next major vertical.
[Via Satellite – 09/02/2014]

Erwin Kayser-Threde, located in Munich, Germany has merged with OHB System AG in Bremen, Germany.
[Via Satellite – 09/02/2014]

Panama is one of the first countries in Latin America where Inmarsat’s IsatHub connectivity service will be offered.
[Via Satellite – 09/02/2014]

Human Interest

Photo taken from the Pleiades 1B satellite. Credit: French Space agency, CNES, image – Space News

French imaging satellites keep tabs on Ukraine crisis.
[Space News – 09/04/2014]

Ghana’s Crossover International Academy – SPY Ghana

Skyvision donates satellite connectivity to support students of Ghana’s Crossover International Academy.
[SpyGhana – 09/03/2014]

Greg Wyler leaves Google and reportedly will work with SpaceX, though not as an employee.
[Silicon Republic – 09/03/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services


WBMSAT News Bits 08/29/2014

Monday, September 1st, 2014

This Week’s Featured Article

Re-entry of Intelsat SA and Eutelsat Communications SA into Iran as allowed by U.S authorities poses risk to the companies’ reputations.
[Risk & Compliance Journal – 08/29/2014]

Industry Reports

Reportbuyer.com adds two new market research reports on the African broadband market; “Africa – Internet and Fixed Broadband Market,” and “Africa – Mobile Broadband Market.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 08/29/2014]

Global satellite broadband in public safety market set to grow at CAGR of 8.45% until 2018, per Telecommunications Market Research report.
[WhaTech – 08/27/2014]

Digital TV Research report predicts that one in five European TV homes will subscribe to online packages by 2020.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 08/27/2014]

NSR report projects slightly more than 40,000 in-service narrowband and broadband satellite units in the fishing market by 2023.
[SatNews – 08/26/2014]

New market research report on companiesandmarkets.com projects global fixed satellite service market to experience 5.4% CAGR growth from 2012 to 2016.
[LIVE-PR – 08/25/2014]

ABI Research report projects installed base of active wireless connected devices will exceed 16 billion in 2014 and 40.9 billion by the end of 2020.
[Microwave Journal – 08/20/2014]

Industry Groups, Trade Shows

The NAB and the SBE are getting together to conduct a satellite workshop Sept. 29–Oct. 2 at the NAB’s headquarters in Washington.
[Radio World – 08/27/2014]

Satellite Launches

SES promises Barizil that two orbital positions it won at auction in May will be filled with satellites within four and six years.
[Space News – 08/29/2014]

Russian newspaper reports the failure of the Galileo satellites to reach intended orbit likely caused by software errors in the Fregat-MT rocket’s upper stage.
[GPS Daily – 08/29/2014]

SpaceX delays launch of Asiasat 6 following explosion of test rocket, to investigate any possible commonalities.
[Space.com – 08/27/2014]

Launch date for the U.S. government’s CLIO satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, has been set for September 16, 2014.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 08/27/2014]

A Europeanized Russian Soyuz rocket lifts off with two Galileo satellites. Credit: ESA photo – Space News

European commission summons ESA, Arianespace for explanation of Galileo launch failure.
[Space News – 08/26/2014]

SpaceX Falcon 9R explosion. Photo: @EthansMommy17 (Twitter), used with permission by Via Satellite

SpaceX reusable Falcon 9 self-terminated during test mission.
[Via Satellite – 08/25/2014]

Arianespace’s video of Soyuz launch VS09. Photo: Arianespace – Via Satellite

Galileo launch not so great after all – anomaly leaves uninsured satellites in flawed orbit.
[Via Satellite – 08/25/2014]

Satellite Operations

Artist’s impression of UKube 1. Photo: ClydeSpace. – Via Satellite

United Kingdom Space Agency’s first CubeSat mission, UKube1, is experiencing an anomaly with it primary communications link.
[Via Satellite – 08/26/2014]

Artist’s view of Galileo Satellites 5 & 6. Photo: ESA / J Huart – Via Satellite

ESA seeks to make best use of Galileo satellites, placed in wrong orbit by Soyuz.
[Via Satellite – 08/27/2014]

Satellite Construction

ISS-Reshetnev finishes construction of Yamal 401 satellite for Gazprom.
[Via Satellite – 08/28/2014]

Italy commits more funds to second-generation radar satellites.
[Space News – 08/28/2014]

Newsat gets conditional waiver to continue Jabiru-1 satellite construction, aver alleged breaches of financial facilities had halted funding of the project.
[itnews – 08/25/2014]

Satellite Technology

An Airbus Zephyr test flight. Photo: Airbus – Via Satellite

Airbus conducts winter test of unmanned aerial vehicle Zephyr 7 ‘Psuedo-Satellite’ using satellite communications for control for first time.
[Via Satellite – 08/29/2014]

Brazil plans liquid rocket test at Alcantara launch center.
[Via Satellite – 08/28/2014]

The ‘DeOrbiter’ from Effective Space Solutions Ltd. Effective Space Solutions Ltd. – The Wall Street Journal

Space ‘tugboat’ answer for stranded satellites like Galileo?
[Wall Street Journal – 08/27/2014]

CPI Canada gets 3.3 million contract from Canadian Space Agency to develop Ka-band extended interaction klystron for SWOT satellite.
[Hispanic Business – 08/27/2014]

Singapore engineering team successfully pilots the world’s first ZigBee wireless sensor network for satellite communications.
[ECN Magazine – 08/26/2014]

BHT-1500 Hall effect thruster during life testing. Credit: Henry Neeser photo – Space News

Space News spotlights Busek Co. Inc., whose Hall effect thruster technology helped raise the orbit of the first AEHF military satellite after its liquid apogee engine failed.
[Space News – 08/25/2014]

Ground Systems Technology

Vislink’s new ultralight Ku-band flyaway antenna based on successful Mantis-LT used in military spec MSAT terminal to be unveiled at IBC.
[SatNews – 08/28/2014]

Iridium announces successful upgrade of its System Control Segment and completion of its Launch and Early Operations control center for Iridium NEXT.
[CNN Money – 08/27/2014]

ViaSat receives over 3000 orders for fixed site Machine to Machine (M2M) and airborned terminals for its upcoming L-band network.
[Via Satellite – 08/27/2014]

A quiet revolution is underway – carrier identification (CID) makes inroads in the satellite industry with goal of reducing and eliminating sources of interference.
[Via Satellite – 08/26/2014]

API Technologies introduces model LCFS-X configurable RF and microwave frequency synthesizers for SIGINT, EW, Satcom, and radar.
[Military Aero Space Electronics – 08/26/2014]

Government, Military & Defense

Russian Defense Ministry decides to stop using the Rokot light rocket carrier from 2016 because of reliance on foreign parts, switching to the Soyuz and Angara carriers.
[Space Mart – 08/29/2014]

The Joint Polar Satellite System // NOAA // Nextgov

Commerce Department inspector general blasts NOAA climate-satellite program and Raytheon contractor for ignoring thousands of major cyber vulnerabilities.
[Nextgov – 0/26/2014]

Government Regulation

FILE- Iranian soldiers destroying satellite dishes with an army tank in the southwestern city of Shiraz. – Voice of America

U.S. grants Intelsat, Eutelsat new waivers for Iran channels.
[Voice of America – 08/28/2014]

Dish petitions FCC against proposed Comcast/Time Warner merger, calling it ‘eerily similar’ to Primestar, whose application for orbital slot was turned down.
[Via Satellite – 08/28/2014]

Qualcomm’s proposal to auction Ku-band spectrum for air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity for inflight Wi-Fi needs closer examination in light of Google WorldVu NGSO satellite network plans.
[Runway Girl Network – 08/27/2014]

Pan-Arab Space Agency: pipe dream or real possibility?
[Via Satellite – 08/26/2014]

Aeronautical

Gogo signs Aeromexico as its first 2Ku Inflight Connectivity (IFC) customer.
[Via Satellite – 08/26/2014]

Broadband

Bentley Walker is extending its coverage to Iraq using Newtec’s Ka-band VSAT broadband platform at Avanti’s new gateway in Cyprus.
[SatNews – 08/28/2014]

GlobaFone expands service offerings with rental program for Iridium GO! Personal Wi-Fi hotspot.
[PRWeb – 08/28/2014]

Earth Observation

A WorldView 3 image of Madrid at 40-cm resolution. Photo: DigitalGlobe – Via Satellite

DigitalGlobe unveils first WorldView 3 images.
[Via Satellite – 08272014]

Oil & Gas

KCA Deutag expands contract with Signalhorn for maintenance of its satellite and terrestrial network in Oman.
[Via Satellite – 08/28/2014]

Video

Ultra HD is coming to a screen near you – cinema uptake of 4K is proceeding rapidly, and satellite is playing its part.
[Via Satellite – 08/26/2014]

Fraunhofer researchers will be presenting latest hardware and software for high efficiency video encoding/decoding for 4K ultra HD at IBC.
[R&D Magazine – 08/25/2014]

Space

Metop satellite image – Credit: ESA artist’s concept – Space News

U.S. will extend its close debris-threat monitoring to two European polar-orbiting meteorological satellites.
[Space News – 08/29/2014]

Major cost and schedule review concludes that debut of NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket may be delayed by nearly a year.
[Space News – 08/29/2014]

NASA approves extensions for seven missions that senior scientists vetted in the agency’s 2014 senior review of planetary missions.
[Space News – 08292014]

Lockheed Martin and Electro Optics Systems agree to build a space objet tracking facility in Western Australia using both lasers and optical systems.
[Via Satellite – 08/26/2014]

Services Contracts

O3b signs multi-year agreement with Our Telekom of the Solomon Islands, for Internet backhaul services.
[Via Satellite – 08/25/2014]

Market Strategy & Revenues

Inmarsat receives $9.1 million dues from LightSquared, but notes significant uncertainty of any further payments from bankrupt company.
[Reuters – 08/29/2014]

Delta-V, a new space industry accelerator, hopes to create a $1billion commercial space industry in Australia.
[Via Satellite – 08/27/2014]

Comtech Telecommunications Corp is exploring strategic alternative, including a possible merger or sale of the company.
[Reuters – 08/25/2014]

Lockheed Martin completes acquisition of Astrotech Space Operations.
[Via Satellite – 08/25/2014]

Dubai-based RSA Logistics appointed as local hub to distribute equipment required for consumers to connect to YahClick Satellite Broadband internet service.
[SIP Trunking Report – 08/25/2014]

History

Intelsat celebrates 50-year anniversary, and Via Satellite looks at some of the key moments in its history.
[Via Satellite – 08/26/2014]

By Athelstan Spilhaus, dean of the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology and author of the comic strip. – paleofuture

1960’s comic strips made amazing and prophetic predictions about life in a world with satellites.
[paleofuture – 08/25/2014]

Human Interest

Mitsubishi Electric to donate 10 million yen to aid victims and support recovery efforts after destructive landslides in Hiroshima.
[TMCnet green – 08/29/2014]

C-COM antennas deployed in Japan landslide disaster.
[Market Wired – 08/26/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services