Really Rocket Science

According to the Times of India, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India issued a report on distance learning and how it’s not working out as well as expected (see Edusat post from 2008).

The report said that as per norms fixed by the director of technical education, five programmes of one hour’s duration each were to be telecast a week. This was to educate students through the Satcom network at all government engineering colleges and polytechnics, infrastructural facilities such as LCD projectors and Satcom network were created by Bisag in 2001.

The report said scrutiny of records revealed that while 155 lectures were delivered through Satcom for government engineering college students, no lectures were delivered for polytechnic students during 2005-10. The shortfall in programmes ranged between 82 and 98 per cent during 2005-10 in degree colleges and 100 per cent in polytechnics. Thus, the infrastructure created remained underutilized and deprived diploma students from the intended benefits of distance learning, the CAG report stated.

For more, check out the Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space Application and Geo-informatics.

That’s right: free coffee. Courtesy of the NAB Show‘s official satellite broadcaster, On Call Communications.

“This is the first time we’ve used IP satellite as part of the official show coverage,” according to Michelle Kelly, NAB’s Senior Vice President of Convention Marketing. “In the past, broadcast outlets had to set up their own uplinks. On Call’s IP satellite is cutting-edge technology that will expand the coverage of the show to a much wider audience and we couldn’t be happier.”

“We are thrilled to be asked to play such an important role in this year’s NAB,” responded On Call’s CEO Jim Gilbert. “Our QuickSPOT™ Dual IP/DVB Satellite News Gathering System is the perfect platform for the show. It’s kind of like a Swiss army knife for broadcasters. It not only provides high quality standard or high definition video, but can also webcast, transfer files, and provide IFB, voice, internet access and e-mail all on one easy to use platform. It offers the convenience and functionality of IP with a twist of DVB thrown in to allow the signal to be sent to lots of broadcasters simultaneously.”

On Call will introduce its newest satellite news gathering system at the show, dubbed The QuickSPOT™ Solution. “We’ve enhanced the Classic QuickSPOT™ IP SNG System by giving the studio direct control over the encoders, audio and video switches and HD cameras, using an intuitive web based graphical user interface,” said Gilbert. “That not only makes its operation even easier, it makes single person live reporting from the field achievable, reducing crew and cost for networks and affiliates.”

On Call Communications will exhibit at NAB 2011 April 11-14 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The exhibit booth features an insert studio and a live uplink. Attendees are welcome to visit the booth #OE910 to watch the IP/DVB system in action as it transmits from the show. Visitors may also try out the new intuitive IP studio control and view demonstrations of On Call’s studio controlled HD cameras. Upon request, On Call will also make the live uplink available to broadcasters either from the booth or from nearly any location on the floor.

Downlink everyday:

Satellite:   Intelsat Horizons 2 Ku-band @ 74° West, Transponder 20K
Modulation:   DVBS QPSK
FEC:   3/4
Downlink:     14495 Mhz (1445Mhz L-band) Vertical
Symbol Rate:   3.37384 Msps
System Bit Rate:   4.663 Mbps
Video Format:   NTSC
Encoding:   MPEG-4 HD
Aspect Ratio:   16 x 9
Audio Configuration:   Stereo

And let’s not forget the NAB YouTube channel. More NAB resources from TV Technology and the NAB Show Daily.

Good move by the ITU, ITSO and Intelsat…

ITU reached agreement with Intelsat S.A. and the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) to strengthen emergency telecommunication resources. The collaboration aims to quicken the response to restore vital communications infrastructure in the aftermath of natural disasters.

“Recent catastrophes that have wrought havoc around the world demonstrate eloquently that there is an increasing need for effective and timely deployment of telecommunication resources to help countries in emergency and disaster relief,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré. “This agreement between ITU, Intelsat and ITSO will go a long way in increasing our early response capabilities and in re-establishing the communication links that are so vital in rescue and relief operations.”

Recognizing that satellite technology, with its ubiquitous coverage and rapid deployment, is ideally suited for response to communications needs in emergency situations, the agreement between ITU, Intelsat and ITSO brings together key players in the satellite industry to address the emergency communications needs of countries worldwide. Following the request from a Member State for assistance in the aftermath of a natural disaster, ITU will inform Intelsat of the request for satellite capacity and other related needs. Intelsat will then consult with ITSO and consider donating satellite capacity.

Intelsat is one of the world’s leading providers of satellite telecommunications services, with a footprint covering over 200 countries. ITSO is an intergovernmental organization with a mission to ensure that Intelsat complies with its contractual obligations following its privatization in 2001 to provide international public telecommunications services, including voice, data and video, on a global and non-discriminatory basis.

ITSO Director General José Toscano said, “When emergencies occur in remote or geographically isolated places, satellite providers like Intelsat are often the ideal solution for solving the communications needs.”

“Intelsat, with over 50 satellites in orbit around the world, is often the enabler of the first communications links re-established following a natural disaster. We will collaborate with ITU and ITSO to streamline the provisioning of connectivity and communications infrastructure that support critical humanitarian services during emergencies,” said Intelsat CEO Dave McGlade.

The agreement between ITU, Intelsat and ITSO is an outcome of the Hyderabad Plan of Action adopted by the World Telecommunication Development Conference in 2010 that called for private sector participation to help close the gap in universal access to information and communication technologies (ICT) and to support emergency communications in particular.

The most significant real news coming out of last week’s Satellite 2011 show in Washington was the contract between Intelsat and MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) of Canada to re-fuel orbiting geosynchronous spacecraft. If successful, it has the potential of shifting the economics of satcom services. MDA has the experience and it takes away some of the thunder created by ViviSat earlier this year.

MDA has been pitching this business for years now, and the people managing the spacecraft could not find a way to (1) accept the engineering risk, and (2) see the financial benefits.  The scenario was adroitly summarized by Peter de Selding’s piece in Space News…

• Intelsat will select one of its satellites nearing retirement to be moved into a standard graveyard orbit some 200 to 300 kilometers above the geostationary arc 36,000 kilometers over the equator. It is the most used orbital highway for telecommunications satellites.
• Richmond, British Columbia-based MDA will launch the SIS servicer, which will rendezvous and dock with the Intelsat satellite, attaching itself to the ring around the satellite’s apogee-boost motor.
• With ground teams governing the movements, the SIS robotic arm will reach through the nozzle of the apogee motor to find and unscrew the satellite’s fuel cap.

The SIS vehicle will reclose the fuel cap after delivering the agreed amount of propellant and then head to its next mission.

MDA Chief Executive Daniel E. Friedmann said in a conference call with investors that MDA has identified more than 40 different types of fueling systems and that the SIS will carry a toolkit designed to open most of them.
Steve Oldham, president of MDA’s newly formed Space Infrastructure Services division, told reporters here March 15 that SIS will be carrying enough tools to open 75 percent of the fueling systems aboard satellites now in geostationary orbit.

Oldham said each mission will last two or three weeks.

So the potential is there for MDA — and you’ve got to give Intelsat credit for looking into the future potential like they’ve got a set. Other operators seem content to wait and see if it works — for now. With 52 orbiting spacecraft, Intelsat is in a good position to give it a go.

Andy Pasztor’s story in the Wall Street Journal latched on to the real financial potential for Intelsat: reselling the service to government customers who have their own spacecraft in need of refueling:

But the seven-year, $280 million contract announced Tuesday is the culmination of MacDonald Dettwiler’s efforts to take the lead in shifting from demonstrations and research to using the technologies in real-world applications.

“This takes it out of the realm of science fiction,” said Kay Sears, president of Intelsat’s government-services unit. “We don’t need to study it any more, we’re going to do it.” Intelsat, based in Luxembourg but with its main office in Washington, operates the largest global commercial-satellite fleet.

By pairing a sophisticated robotic service vehicle with what essentially amounts to an orbiting gas station for satellites, MacDonald Dettwiler intends to shuttle fuel to satellites reaching the end of their normal operational lives of between 10 and roughly 15 years.

Unlike concepts favored by rivals, the Canadian system is designed to have the mobile servicing vehicle disconnect from satellites after they are refueled, a process likely to take several weeks.

According to Ms. Sears, Intelsat chose that approach because it affords maximum flexibility to subsequently move rejuvenated satellites around as market conditions change.

In addition to using the venture to assist Intelsat’s own fleet of more than four dozen satellites, Ms. Sears said the company has the exclusive right to market the first-of-a-kind services to the Pentagon and other prospective U.S. government customers operating satellites, including spy agencies.

Once the venture gains momentum, she said, “it’s going to change the industry” and offer U.S. government officials “a nice opportunity to use a cost-effective” solution to avoid huge replacement costs for certain aging satellites.

This creates a new market in the space business, so I’d expect ViviSat’s simplified solution to gain some traction with other operators in the near future.

Fantastic presentation of before and after satellite photos — with interactive slider — of the catastrophic tsunami in Japan, only on the Web site of The New York Times, nytimes.com

Who would dare compete for the attention of hip techies with SXSW in Austin? Quite a few, actually, and none of them are hip.

There’s the Indiana Flower & Patio Show and the NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education annual conference in Philadelphia. There’s also the PITTCON Conference & Expo (laboratory science),  International Summit & Exhibition on Health Facility Planning, Design & Construction and one in Seattle: the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.  Wait, there’s one more: Satellite 2011.

That’s right: satcom has yet to come across as being “hip.” OK, so investors may want to stick with traditional, risk-minimizing returns from the major player. That good for now. What about the future? Who will be making the decisions whether to use satellite technology in the future?

Ed Horowitz was alluding to the coming change in the marketplace in his pre-conference luncheon speech yesterday…

There is an impending conflict between media distributors and media providers. New media is growing faster than traditional media. It is about carrying your content around with you. New media consumers want to do more than just consume available information. They want to create it. Five out of the 10 fastest growing websites have user-generated content. Very soon, 50 percent of the workforce will be Generation X and Generation Y. 2011 marks a new rubicon for our business. Traditional media connections are changing. The new model is an open model with a direct connection between the consumer and media.

The concept of prime time is gone. Prime time is all the time. You have Google, Apple, Netflix, etc. TVs are becoming Web browsers. The revolution is global. The convergence of the TV and the PC is happening. Lastly, this generation that has grown up with this empowerment. If you don’t serve them what they want, you die (AOL and MySpace). Satellite must be ready to serve customers on the move. It has to be at the network’s core. This will require the industry to team up with new players.

TV Everywhere. Who’s on it? TimeWarner’s CNN, according to a piece by Staci Kramer in paidContent.org…

The launches are still months away but CNN Digital has a pair of announcements from SXSW tonight that mark significant advancements for the network’s online and mobile video offerings. In early summer, CNN plans to flip the switch on its version of Time (NYSE: TWX) Warner’s CEO Jeff Bewkes’ TV Everywhere, making it possible for subscribers of Comcast (NSDQ: CMCSA) Xfinity, Dish, Cox and Verizon FiOS to watch CNN live across platforms and devices. Other Turner Broadcasting networks, including TNT and TBS are likely to offer authenticated live streaming of linear channels at the same time.

CNN also will launch a new video player taking full advantage of the native HD being used for nearly all its footage now, the first major update for CNN’s online video experience in three years. KC Estenson, SVP and GM of CNN.com, showed me the new player on multiple bank of screens during a practice session before I left Austin; the quality of the video being streamed over WiFi in 19:9 format to the large screen array doing double duty as a computer monitor was stunning. Equally important, the player is designed to work across platforms, including Google (NSDQ: GOOG) TV. Eventually Estenson, who calls the new player a “quantum leap,”  expects it be to be available through any internet-connected TV.

In addition to various technical improvements, the player features a playlist that moves with the user from device to device. Start watching on a computer, switch to an iPhone or iPad, pick it up later on a connected TV and the player will know where the user left off and what is in the queue. One hitch: at launch, it will only work with internet access. Eventually, CNN hopes to make offline viewing possible. Estenson is striving for the quality of Vimeo, the serendipity of YouTube, the experience of Hulu and the portability of Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX).

Meanwhile, back at satcom ranch, the most exciting news is SES signing with SpaceX for a Falcon-9 launch. That’s a good one, compared to other news surrounding Satellite 2011.

The SPPI Gala is going hip? Yeah, no more black-tie attire.  Let me make a bold prediction: nobody will dress like the partygoers at the Angry Birds event at SXSW…

How about on-site promotion? Have you ever seen anything resembling this at the satellite show? A Nokia N8 promotion in Austin. Why? Because they’re competing for relevancy and satcom should do likewise.

ATTENDING SATELLITE 2011?  Send me an email if you’d like to meet.  Bill

Russia’s Raduga-1 geostationary military communication satellite has likely lost communications with the flight control center and may have run out of fuel.
[CRI English – 03/11/2011]

Naval Research Laboratory positions unique elliptic-orbit TacSat-4 for launch in May 2011.
[Business Wire – 03/11/2011]

Group of 17 major stakeholders in GPS industry want FCC and NTIA to make LightSquared guarantee its planned network won’t interfere with GPS systems.
[Wireless Week – 03/11/2011]

Yahsat’s Y1A satellite, Abu Dhabi’s first, ready for March 30 launch by Arianespace from French Guiana.
[Gulf News – 03/11/2011]

Hughes Network Systems high-performance commercial satellite router receives National Institute of Standards and Technology security certification.
[SatNews – 03/11/2011]

New technology from SES ASTRA base on ASTRA2Connect allows telecommunications operators and Internet service providers to offer satellite-base broadband via existing last-mile infrastructure.
[SatNews – 03/11/2011]

Germany’s Fairplay Towage selects FleetBroadband from Stratos for deep-sea tugboats.
[PR Newswire – 03/11/2011]

UK Royal Academy of Engineering report claims that growing dependence on satellite navigation systems poses serious economic and safety risks to society.
[The Register – 03/10/2011]

Euroconsult reports that revenue in global aeronautical satellite communications market grew by almost 25% in 2010; growth expected to continue at slower pace over next decade.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight to be held in New Mexico in October to focus on how technical advances are driving success of companies in commercial space industry.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

South African Maritime Safety Authority installs sophisticated navigation satellite systems to protect the country’s waters from piracy and other threats.
[The New Age – 03/10/2011]

NASA soon to unveil its new rocket integration facility at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia; first customer to be Orbital Sciences Corp with its Taurus II launch vehicle.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

FCC to determine whether to extend rate caps on SiriusXM satellite radio beyond July 28 – final comments due March 11.
[Twice Mobile – 03/10/2011]

SpeedCast signs multi-year agreement with SES WORLD SKIES for additional capacity on NSS-6, NSS-7, and NSS-12 to serving growing demand of maritime customers in Middle East, Africa, and South America.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

First Space Based Infrared Systems satellite delivered by Air Force to Florida base for May launch.
[U.S. Air Force web site – 03/10/2011]

New Zealand satellite communications provider Farmside and IPStar provide free of charge wireless communications via satellite in support of post-earthquake rescue efforts.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

Satellite communications provider NSSLGlobal assists Associated Press communicate with world during Eqyptian uprising.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

French capital development fund acquires Thomson Video Networks, promising revamped satellite product line.
[Satellite Today – 03/10/2011]

Blue Sky Network debuts new SkyRouter 2, allowing customers to more easily track and communicate with all their mobile assets.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

Satcom Direct partners with AirCare Solutions Group to offer in-flight tele-medicine service to FDF customers.
[Satellite Today – 03/10/2011]

The Satellite Users Interference Reduction Group changes its name to Satellite IRG, and re-aligns its management structure.
[Satellite Today – 03/10/2011]

Vizada and Telemar win 85-ship maritime broadband contract in Germany.
[Satellite Today – 03/10/2011]

Boeing announces completion of Preliminary Design Review for three Ka-band satellites with hosted payloads to be built for Inmarsat as Inmarsat-5 spacecraft.
[SatNews – 03/09/2011]

UltiSat wins contract from AT&T Government Solutions to provide satellite-based Internet services to U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan.
[Satellite Today – 03/09/2011]

Inmarsat selects Cobham as intital launch partner for maritime satellite terminals for its forthcoming Global Xpress service.
[Trade Arabia – 03/09/2011]

Hiding in plain site at Satellite 2011 – a Norsat 1.8 meter transportable terminal concealed in a ConcealFab Corp PVC barn.
[SatNews – 03/09/2011]

Aircell announces plans to migrate its Gogo airborne Wi-Fi service to international flights as well as increase performance of its domestic services.
[PC Magazine – 03/09/2011]

Globecomm Systems launches Globecomm Maritime, bringing together its four business units Telaurus, Mach6, Evosat, and Carrier2CVarrier to provide a comprehensive suite of maritime communication solutions.
[SatNews – 03/09/2011]

Hughes executive to address military forum at Satellite 2011 on commercial satellite capabilities for government/defense communications-on-the-move (COTM).
[PR Newswire – 03/09/2011]

NSR report – Earth Observation value-added services may not offer the easy cruise anticipated, but could become a bumpy ride.
[NSR – 03/09/2011]

Turkey signs $571M deal with Mitsubishi Electric of Japan for two satellites.
[Satellite Today – 03/08/2011]

Iridium is making a push into lower-cost satellite services.
[Space News – 03/08/2011]

CapRock selected as one of 46 prime vendors to be awarded basic ordering agreement by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; continues string of successful GSA Schedule 70 awards.
[Globe Newswire – 03/08/2011]

C-Com set to unveil two mobile satellite antenna systems at Satellite 2011, including its iNetVu Airline Checkable antenna.
[marketwire – 03/08/2011]

Air Force awards contract to study Ka-band architectures and acquisition strategies to Hughes Network Systems.
Defense Systems – 03/07/2011]

Spacenet receives 2010 Satellite Spotlight Product of the Year Award.
[Business Wire – 03/07/2011]

Thuraya announces launch of new Seagull 5000i maritime terminal in partnership with Addvalue Communications.
[AMEinfo – 03/07/2011]

Matys Satcom Ltd. introduces new LP-90 low profile phased array Ku-band satellite antenna system intended for high-performance broadband connectivity to defense, homeland security and commercial land vehicles on the move as well as maritime.
[Government Video – 03/07/2011]

SES enters framework understanding with Sea Launch regarding possible cooperation on future launch of SES satellites on Sea Launch launch vehicles.
[SatNews – 03/07/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

ATTENDING SATELLITE 2011?  Send me an email if you’d like to meet.  Bill

NASA climate satellite fails to reach orbit as nose cone fails to separate on time, dooming the $424m Glory mission.
[Space on msnbc – 03/04/2011]

Air Force’s second launch of secret X-37B space plane set for today; likely to test spy satellite technology.
[Fox News – 03/04/2011]

EGNOS Safety-of-Life signal formally declared available to aviation; for first time space-based navigation signals officially usable for critical task of vertically guiding aircraft during landing approaches.
[SatNews – 03/04/2011]

EADS signs Memorandum of Understanding with Skolkovo Foundation on research collaboration, formalizing EADS intention to establish research center in Skolkovo Innovation Centre in Moscow.
[SatNews – 03/04/2011]

General Dynamics C4 Systems gets NASA contract to implement additional flexibility, replace aging equipment, and bring new capabilities to the ground segment of the TDRS Satcom system.
[SatNews – 03/04/2011]

ViaSat restructures YahSat deal to extend its Ku-band international mobility coverage to include Ka-band.
[Satellite Today – 03/04/2011]

Shuttle booster-mounted camera provides never before seen view of shuttle launch – NASA video.
[R&D Magazine – 03/04/2011]

NewCom Unveils Internet-Based Rural Education Package via Satellite for Latin America, Africa.
[PR Web – 03/04/2011]

Yahsat schedules launch of its first satellite, Y1A, for March 30.
[Trade Arabia – 03/04/2011]

Russia’s upper house of parliament ratifies new agreement with Ukraine for protection of rocket and space technology.
[SatNews – 03/04/2011]

AsiaSat launches DVB-S2 DTH platform on AsiaSat 4 for Australian and New Zealand audiences; SES WORLD SKIES renews service of three NSS-11 transponders to provide pay TV services in Hong Kong.
[SatNews – 03/04/2011]

Iridium provides satellite communications for 2011 Iditarod sled dog race safety.
[Globe Newswire – 03/04/2011]

SST Online provides new apps for iPad and iPhone allowing users including fishermen to interact with navigational charts and GPS positioning.
[SatNews – 03/04/2011]

Vroon selects KVH TracPhone V7 and Mini-VSAT broadband service for 125+ vessels.
[Globe Newswire – 03/04/2011]

Latitude announces two new control and displahy units to support their SkyNode line of satellite data and telephone systems.
[SatNews – 03/04/2011]

India’s space program becoming increasingly militarized, with interest in developing anti-satellite weapons.
[SatNews – 03/03/2011]

China to develop GPS system by 2020.
[Satellite Today – 03/03/2011]

WTA to announce Teleport Awards for Excellence March 15 at Satellite 2011.
[SatNews – 03/03/2011]

Former commercial DC-8 in service for NASA for over 25 years deployed as airborne science laboratory to observe launch of Glory satellite from Vandenberg.
[Washington DC Examiner – 03/03/2011]

Spaceflight activity in New Mexico gains momentum as the governor appoints retired Air Force official to head up the Spaceport Authority and Virgin Galactic’s first customer signs on.
[SatNews – 03/03/2011]

Harris Corp is awarded contract from Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems to build antennas for three Inmarsat-5 satellites.
[Biz Journals – 03/03/2011]

Telesat announces agreement with Loral Space & Communications to acquire the Canadian payload of the ViaSat-1 satellite.
[SatNews – 03/03/2011]

France’s International Space University will hold 25th annual Space Studies Program in Florida, USA from June through August 2011.
[SatNews – 03/03/2011]

DirecTV professes that, while it has begun to resell broadband service from its partners AT&T and Verizon, it has no plans to acquire additional spectrum like Echostar and compete with Telcos.
[Connected Planet – 03/03/2011]

Harbinger Capital Partners, backer of LightSquared, bids on bankrupt satellite company DBSD together with Solus Alternative Asset Management.
[Wireless Week – 03/03/2011]

Hughes, which recently agreed to be acquired by Echostar, sees profits for latest quarter rise.
[Washington Business Journal – 03/03/2011]

Viasat builds on success of global mobile satellite networking business at Ku-band by expanding into Ka band in key markets, including airborne.
[PR Newswire – 03/03/2011]

Starmax HD selects GlobeCast end-to-end services for Spanish distribution.
[Satellite Today – 03/02/2011]

AT&T claims to be America’s fastest-growing TV provider, beating growth of Satellite, Cable, and other providers.
[vision2mobile – 03/03/82011]

Thales Alenia creates separately owned German Subsidiary, Thales Alenia Space Deutschland GmbH in Stuttgart area in order to play a growing role in Germany.
[SatNews – 03/02/2011]

SES successfully places E650m 10-year Euro bond.
[Business Wire – 03/02/2011]

Loral Space & Communications gets $1.5m contract from US Air Force to study technology the military might use to communicate during future wars.
[Forbes – 03/02/2011]

US Army satellite control facilities move from Camp Roberts in California to the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.
[SatNews – 03/02/2011]

The Federal Communications Commission is expected to review rules governing fees that satellite and cable companies pay TV stations to retransmit their signals.
[Washington Post – 03/02/2011]

Plans for combining satellite and cellular Access in new mobile phones, like the LightSquared LTE network being built, worry those in the GPS industry.
[Kansas City The Star blog – 03/02/2011]

Libya accused of jamming satellite signals of Thuraya and Al Jazeera.
[Mother Nature Network – 03/02/2011]

American contractor jailed in Cuba on charges of brining in illegal satellite communications equipment and setting up internet access in violation of Cuban law.
[Reuters – 03/02/2011]

Dispute between LIN Media and Dish Network regarding retransmission fees may be added ammunition for reform advocates four days before FCC review of rules begins.
[Ad Week – 03/02/2011]

NAB asks Congress to investigate alleged spectrum hoarding by Dish Network and Time Warner Cable.
[Wireless Week – 03/01/2011]

LightSquared and the United States Global Positioning System Industry Council file joint report as required by FCC, outlining analyses they plan to conduct together.
[SatNews – 03/01/2011]

TSF deploys humanitarian calling operations at entrance to transit camp between Tunisia and Libya in collaboration with Tunisian Red Crescent and International Red Cross.
[SatNews – 03/01/2011]

Ericsson releases MPEG-4 Voyager 2 Satellite Newsgathering product.
[Satellite Today – 03/01/2011]

Retransmission fees fight in Canada heads to Supreme Court on appeal by Rogers Communications.
[Winnipeg Free Press – 03/01/2011]

Harbinger restructures LightSquared holding to make direct investments easier.
[Reuters – 03/01/2011]

Noteholders of DBSD North America file reorganization plan for bankrupt satellite communications company in case proposed acquisition by Echostar fails to
occur.
[Denver Post – 03/01/2011]

Segovia Executives to open and close panel sessions at Satellite 2011, speaking about new technologies, innovations in MSS, and satellite industry
challenges in the year ahead.
[PR Newswire – 03/01/2011]

MTN Executives to speak at Satellite 2011 on introduction of Ka-band to the Maritime industry and Disaster Relief Coordination.
[PR Newswire – 03/01/2011]

UniSat provides end-to-end managed VSAT network service to US Army in Afghanistan.
[Business Wire – 03/01/2011]

NSR Report projects oil & gas via satellite market will reach nearly $1B by 2020.
[NSR Press Release – 03/01/2011]

Vizada Networks implements iDirect-based VSAT infrastructure in Europe for large Civil Defense agency.
[PR Newswire – 02/28/2011]

Newtec signs deal with NPO SvyazProekt of Russia, certifying it as Newtec’s first authorised repair centre in Eastern Europe.
[realwire – 02/28/2011]

Libyan authorities jam RT’s Arabic channel Rusiya al-Yaum, broadcast in Libya via the Nilesat (AB4) satellite.
[PR Newswire – 02/28/2011]

Following approval of Belgium, all of member states of EUMETSAT are now firmly commited to Meteosat Third Generation program.
[SatNews – 02/28/2011]

GLONASS system begins operation on Vladivostok’s municipal transport system.
[ITAR-TASS – 02/28/2011]

ORBIT awarded IDIQ contract by US Army for Airborne voice altitude warning systems for combat deployed Blackhawk helicopters.
[The Street – 02/28/2011]

Sea Ray, manufacturer of pleasure boats and yachts, names KVH Industries (TracVision antennas and miniVSAT broadband) its exclusive satellite partner for the next three years.
[SatNews – 02/28/2011]

SkyTrac Systems to launch SkyWeb Mobile for iPho0ne, Blackberry, and Android which will display curent position and flight data for aircraft equipped with
SkyTrac’s hardware solutions.
[SatNews – 02/28/2011]

AT&T to launch "Geo-fencing" using Placecast technology and GPS data to target marketing to consumers based on their location.
[Satellite Spotlight – 02/28/2011]

Satellite operators pursue mobile backhaul market – besides current operators, Hylas 1 will also look at backhaul, O3b is planning launches, and Microsat Systems Canada intends to build a LEO constellation of 84 Ka-band satellites for commercial backhaul services.
[Satellite Markets – March 2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

STS-133 and Canada’s Dextre.  Photo courtesy of NASA, naturally.

ATTENDING SATELLITE 2011?  Send me an email if you’d like to meet.  Bill

Discovery chases International Space Station after lifting off on its final mission.
[R&D Magazine – 02/25/2011]

Astrium ATV-2 executes perfect automatic docking maneuver with International Space Station and is on target to accomplish ISS supply and orbit-raising mission.
[SatNews – 02/25/2011]

Libya blocks satellite phone signals.
[UK International Business Times – 02/25/2011]

Russia and Israel set up joint group to focus on development of communications satellites.
[TMCnet – 02/25/2011]

Worldwide communication networks growing exponentially on consumer demand and commercial requirements, relying on infrastructure including satellite communications.
[PR Newswire – 02/25/2011]

New Paradise Datacom 80W X-band high power amplifier delivers 56W of WGS linear power in small package with Gallium Nitride transistor technology.
[SatNews – 02/25/2011]

Canadian company Advantech Wireless receives significan orders for new 900 Watt and 1600 Watt Ku-band outdoor solid state amplifier systems.
[SatNews – 02/25/2011]

Miteq introduces ultra compact HPA designed for airborne operation in 6-18 GHz range with 100W out at flange.
[SatNews – 02/25/2010]

Dish Network chairman and CEO Charlie Ergen professes no current plans for wireless spectrum it has been trying to amass for past few months, though it has value as investment and strategic play.
[Multichannel News – 02/24/2011]

Hughes Communications to increase its satellite coverage in India.
[India Times / Economic Times – 02/24/2011]

NASA’s Glory satellite launch delayed for at least a week as crews still troubleshoot problem that caused launch to be scrubbed at last minute.
[Santa Maria Times – 02/24/2011]

Russian Glonass-K navigation satellite launch delayed.
[SatNews – 02/24/2011]

New Army Wideband Satellite Communications Operations Center at Wahiawa Annex of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii dedicated.
[Star Advertiser – 02/24/2011]

Dish Network’s fourth quarter earnings rise 41% in spite of losing subscribers for third straight quarter.
[Wall Street Journal – 02/24/2011]

4G LTE won’t destroy GPS; will LightSquared?  (No – both GPS and LTE have to work).
[PC Magazine – 02/24/2011]

Lou Altman, CEO of BWCS, specialist consultancy focused on TMT sector and GlobaFone, to Speak at Train Communications Systems 2011.
[Benzinga – 02/24/2011]

Vizada launches Pharostar, a proprietary VSAT fixed satellite communications service added to its maritime broadband portfolio.
[SatNews – 02/24/2011]

Inmarsat to launch new Dynamic Telemetry Service via FleetBroadband later this year.
[SatNews – 02/24/2011]

Yahsat partners with Boeing and Astrium to provide secure airborne satellite communications capability.
[Zawya – 02/23/2011]

New Mexico’s bet on space tourism hits snag; governor wants to privatize Spaceport America, saying taxpayers have payed their fair share.
[NY Times – 02/23/2011]

Hapag-Lloyd is first to deploy Stratos’ new FBBPlus Managed Broadband service.
[PR Newswire – 02/23/2011]

KTs signs alliance agreement with SpeedCast to deliver global maritime network services via SpeedCast’s global Ku-band network.
[SatNews – 02/23/2011]

Inmarsat subsidiary Segovia wins NATO’s Communications Information Services Consultant Support Services indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for professional and technical services to International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
[SatNews – 02/23/2011]

RRsat providing 3D delivery of Fashion TV programming on three satellites.
[Street Insider – 02/23/2011]

DirecTV swings to fourth-quarter profit on subscriber growth based on takeaways from cable rivals.
[Wall Street Journal – 02/23/2011]

Abu Dhabi to launch first satellite next month.
[Khaleej Times – 02/23/2011]

Newcom International’s Office Without Borders package provides turnkey mobile office for Oil & Gas sector.
[TechZone – 02/23/2011]

Satellite Spotlight award presented to iDirect’s SatManage network management.
[Satellite Spotlight – 02/23/2011]

Lightsquared closes $586 million in additional debt financing from USB and JP Morgan, bringing debt financing over last 7 months to more than $2 billion.
[Wireless Week – 02/22/2011]

Air Force concerned about Lightsquared interference – general suggests company’s licenses should be pulled.
[DSL Reports – 02/22/2011]

Boeing to begin selling commercial satellite capacity.
[Wall Street Journal – 02/22/2011]

Astrium wins contract to provide AirPatrol airborne satcom terminals to Canadian Department of National Defence.
[Defense World – 02/22/2011]

Yahsat signs contract with Astrium to manage operations, training, and maintenance for ground systems of UAE Armed Forces’ new military satellite communications system.
[AME Info – 02/22/2011]

DVB Steering Board approves DVB-3DTV specification which will be sent to European Telecommunications Standards Institute for formal standardization.
[SatNews – 02/22/2011]

USAF successfully demonstrates over-the-air, low-data-rate communication between orbiting Milstar satellite and the family of Advanced Beyond line-of-sight Terminals.
[SatNews – 02/22/2011]

Space Florida and Bigelow Aerospace agree to work together to pursue and identify foreign and domestic companies that could use Bigelow’s expandable, orbital space complexes.
[SatNews – 02/22/2011]

Swedish students’ rocket takes off on 11 minute flight to 80.6 km altitude with four experiments from students all over Europe.
[SatNews – 02/22/2011]

R&M Energy selects Stratos Global for BGAN-based SCADA network.
[PR Newswire – 02/22/2011]

Yahsat’s first satellite Y1A, built by Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, is shipped from Astrium facilities in Toulouse, France to Kourou, French Guiana launch site.
[SatNews – 02/21/2011]

European Commission urges member states to remove obstacles to introduction of satellite broadband as a matter of "urgency."
[eweek Europe – 02/21/2011]

White House requests $47m to convert politically grounded climate satellite into observatory to monitor space weather and warn of solar storms.
[SpaceFlight Now – 02/21/2011]

First four Globalstar Second Generation satellite have been successfully position, marking start of service for this new constellation.
[SatNews – 02/21/2011]

GeoDecisions picks Orbcomm for global satellite and cellular data communications for its Web-based portal GeoILS.
[Trading Markets – 02/21/2011]

Research and Markets adds report "Satellite Communications – an Essential Wholesale Infrastructure" to their offering.
[Business Wire – 02/21/2011]

NSR Webinar March 31 – The Earth Observation Market:  Good Business or Public Service?
[NSR webinar details]