Really Rocket Science

Soyuz-2.1b modernized rocket – Space Daily

Soyuz rocket puts Russian GLONASS-M navigation satellite into orbit.
[GPS Daily – 06/16/2014]

Reportlinker.com announces new market research report analyzing worldwide markets for satellite transponders in number of 36 MHz Transponder Equivalents (TPE) by application area.
[MarketWatch – 06/15/2014]

Proposed AT&T and DirecTV merger heading to streamlined Senate hearings, with little observable opposition.
[eWeek – 06/14/2014]

ReportsnReports.com offers “In-depth Research and Development Forecast of Satellite Application Industry in China, 2014″ report in its store. [Satellite Spotlight – 06/13/2014]

Avanti raises $ 157.5 million in bond market, to be used to begin HYLAS 4 satellite project.
[Hispanic Business – 06/13/2014]

Spacecom is planning new satellites to reach 80 percent of the world by 2020.
[Via Satellite – 06/13/2014]

Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 capsule (interior shown above), Credit: Boeing artist’s concept – Space News

Two companies vying to build space taxis to fly NASA astronauts to the international space station plan to offer unmanned versions of their vehicles in competition for cargo resupply services.
[Space News – 06/13/2014]

Eutelsat taps Siemens to improve satellite monitoring in Latin America.
[RAPIDTV News – 06/13/2014]

Months before awarding sole source contract to United Launch Alliance, the USAF rejected an unsolicited offer from SpaceX to launch GPS 3 satellites for $80 million each.
[Space News – 06/13/2014]

Eutelsat to introduce its 4k Ultra HD TV channel in Asia on the Eutelsat 70B satellite, in partnership with ST Teleport, one of Asia’s leading full-service communications service providers.
[SatNews – 06/13/2014]

European Space Agency modifies frequencies used by some radar Earth observation satellites to reduce the interference from ground-based wireless communications systems often operating illegally.
[Space News – 06/13/2014]

Though DigitalGlobe wins approval to sell its highest-resolution imagery to all customers, regulators reserve the right to impose some restrictions on commercial sales of data from the company’s newest, most capable satellite to be launched in August.
[Space News – 06/13/2014]

More than 300 Chinese space enthusiasts have booked tickets costing nearly $100,000 for a five minute trip to outer space.
[Space Travel – 06/13/2014]

TelOne announces new broadband through satellite product in the United Kingdom.
[TMC News – 06/13/2014]

New report from Markets and Markets defines and segments the global Nano and Microsatellites market, which it projects to be worth $1.887 billion by 2019.
[Satellite Sppotlight – 06/12/2014]

SMi presents the 16th annual Global MilSatCom conference and exhibition – Europe’s leading Military Satellite Communications event.
[University Chronicle – 06/12/2014]

The UK officially joins the US, Canada and the Netherlands in using the Lockheed Martin-produced Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) protected communications satellite system.
[Airforce Technology – 06/12/2014]

Google is in talks with Virgin Galactic about a deal that will hand it crucial access to satellite-launch technology and an equity stake in its space tourism venture.
[Space News – 06/12/2014]

Eutelsat’s KA-SAT during electromagnetic testing. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence & Space. – SatNews

Eutelsat’s KA-SAT satellite has been selected by Wireless Innovation as part of an emergency mobile communications solution to help protect EDF Energy’s critical infrastructure in the UK.
[SatNews – 06/12/2014]

Eutelsat completes carrier ID implementation for its American coverage satellites in advance of the World Cup.
[The Wall Street Journal – 06/12/2014]

Intelsat and Speedcast join forces to bring market leading broadband and mobility solutions to the Maritime, Oil & Gas and Enterprise sectors.
[University Chronicle – 06/12/2014]

Gilat’s low-profile maritime terminals deployed on naval vessels of an unnamed Asian country.
[Yahoo Finance – 06/12/2014]

McMurdo Group integrates Iridium GO! into its fleet management software.
[Digital Ship – 06/12/2014]

NASA first demonstrated laser communications in space in October 2013. (Artist’s illustration} – Defense Systems

DISA mulls laser system for satellite communications.
[Defense Systems – 06/11/2014]

Google buying satellite maker Skybox for $500 million to improve quality and immediacy of satellite imagery used in its digital maps.
[Top Tech News – 06/11/2014]

The U.S. military’s Africa Command supervises project to improve communications for allies in North Africa and Sahel; awards $8.2 million contract to SES Government Solutions for transponders to support satellite communications from Africom.
[World Tribune – 06/11/2014]

Inmarsat names Satcom Direct Communications a “value added reseller” for Global Xpress.
[ExecutiveGov – 06/11/2014]

Intelsat aims for close cooperation with Azerbaijan`s “Azercosmos” OJSC satellite operator, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and High Technologies reported.
[TMC News – 06/11/2014]

ViaSat focuses on creating a more economically favorable M2M system designed to provide higher speeds, greater security, and faster response to small fixed and mobile terminals.
[Market Watch – 06/11/20104]

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. receives $5.3 million order for Ka-band satellite power amplifiers from an existing customer, to be used in the HTS market.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/11/2014]

New NovelSat solution for DSNG allows units to deploy multiple cameras through a single satellite modem without requiring additional bandwidth for each camera.
[Via Satellite – 06/11/2014]

WORK Microwave DVB-S2 equipment now features Carrier ID technology.
[Broadcast Newsroom – 06/11/2014]

MultiChoice to expand its leading Direct-to-Home services in sub-Sharan Africa via new Intelsat satellite, Intelsat 36.
[The Wall Street Journal – 06/11/2014]

Globecomm gets orders for WGS certified tri-band satellite terminals.
[BusinessWire – 06/11/2014]

Morelos 3. Photo: Boeing – Via Satellite

Boeing completes second Mexsat 702HP satellite.
[Via Satellite – 06/10/2014]

The High Throughput Satellite Roundtable, which is being organized for the second consecutive year, will feature dynamic new program content developed jointly by GVF and EMP.
[SatNews – 06/10/2014]

Will Google be the new Big “G” in the satellite industry? NSR professes cautious optimism in its analysis of Google’s plans to enter the satellite business.
[SatNews – 06/09/2014]

Financial district in Shanghai – PHYS.ORG

A Chinese military unit has run a hacking campaign that includes sending bogus email in a bid to intercept Western satellite communications and aerospace secrets, a US security firm said.
[PHYS.ORG – 06/10/2014]

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. gets $4.2 million order for DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier satellite modems on behalf of the U.S. Army.
[Yahoo Finance – 06/09/2014]

New report at ReportsnReports.com provides forecasts and analysis of the nanosatellite and microsatellite market 2014 – 2019.
[University Chronicle – 06/06/2014]

Senate defense bill urges expansion of launch competition.
[Space News – 06/06/2014]

Eutelsat CEO says “The proliferation of national telecommunications satellites in Africa, Asia and Latin America is a waste of resources that will introduce unhealthy pressure on the global satellite industry.”
[Space News – 06/06/2014]

Source: Eutelsat – Spacenews Graphic

Eutelsat points finger at Ethiopia as incidents of jamming triple in 2013.
[Space News – 06/06/2014]

Canadian satellite component builder Com Dev sees shrinking U.S. losses – is searching for a U.S. acquisition target.
[Space News – 06/06/2014]

Managing EDRS. Credit: ESA artist’s concept – Space News

Airbus seeks new terms on data-relay contract with ESA.
[Space News – 06/06/2014]

Will Google be the new big “G” in the satellite industry? – NSR cautiously optimistic.
[NSR – 06/06/2014]

Asia to dominate satellite backhaul market with 27% of global revenue per NSR report.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 06/05/2014]

Measat 3B launch rescheduled from June 6 to September 2014.
[Via Satellite – 06/05/2014]

The search for the doomed Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has been moved to another area of the Indian Ocean dubbed “the 7th arc” following new analysis of satellite communications data.
[USA Today – 06/05/2014]

Arianespace scheduled to launch four more satellites for the O3b constellation on July 10, 2014.
[SatNews – 06/05/2014]

China bids to build Bolivia’s second satellite, an exploration satellite.
[Global Post – 06/05/2014]

EuropaSat/Hellas-sat 3 satellite – Credit: Thales Alenia Space – Space News

Arabsat, Inmarsat order dual-purpose satellite from Thales Alenia – Ku-band satellite TV payload for Arabsat, and S-band mobile payload for Inmarsat.
[Space News – 06/05/2014]

Mexico to auction two orbital slots.
[telecompaper – 06/05/2014]

ESA chief says ties with Roscosmos remain strong.
[Space News – 06/05/20104]

New T2C2 Lite suitcase-sized satcom terminal adds Ka and X bands to L-band capability, boosting performance to megabits per second and allowing soldiers to use advanced applications.
[Defense Systems – 06/05/20104]

Photograph by: Justin Tallis/AfP/Getty Images, Postmedia News – canada.com

British Airways to be first airline to offer in-flight internet in Europe.
[Canada.com – 06/05/2014]

Inmarsat to launch pan-European in-flight broadband, with British Airways in talks to become launch partner.
[The Wall Street Journal – 06/05/2014]

Global fixed satellite service market forecast for 5.4% CAGR growth between 2012 – 2016 by new market research report on companiesandmarkets.com.
[LIVE-PR – 06/04/2014]

Mobile Internet usage to increase at twice the global rate in 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 06/04/2014]

OTT and multiscreen TV drive spending on broadcast and streaming video equipment.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 06/04/2014]

Intelsat hopes its Boeing-built Epic satellites, each with up to 3 times the capacity of a WGS satellite, and changes in defense acquisition approach, will supply the U.S. military with enormous on-call bandwidth.
[Breaking Defense – 06/04/2014]

KazSat-3 reaches its orbital position.
[TMC News – 06/04/2014]

SpaceX aims to increase rocket production to two per month by year-end 2014.
[Space News – 06/04/2014]

Raytheon wins when U.S. Air Force switches contractors with $298 million award for FAB-T satellite terminals.
[Defense Systems – 06/04/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space BYOD solution enables a vessel’s crew to use their own devices on board for voice and data communication, seamlessly with Pharostar VSAT, FleetBroadband or Iridium OpenPort.
[SatNews – 06/04/2014]

New high-speed satellite broadband service from Broadband Everywhere, using Astra Connect, will help bridge Scotand’s digital divide.
[University Chronicle – 06/04/2014]

Marlink to roll out its customised Ku-band VSAT service, Sealink, on 27 Stena line ferries operating in Scandinavia, the Irish Sea and the North Sea.
[Digital Ship – 06/04/2014]

Northrop Grumman introduces high power GaN amplifiers for Ka-band satellite communication terminals.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/04/2014]

API Technologies unveils new line of radiation-hardened products.
[Via Satellite – 06/04/2014]

‘Analysis of the US Government and Military Commercial Satellite Market’ report – new satellite initiatives for Ku- and Ka-band technology in the Middle East drive adoption.
[LIVE-PR – 06/03/2014]

As announced by Russian Deputy Prime Minister in May, 2014, IGS GPS tracking stations co-sponsored by U.S. interests have stopped making their data available to scientists and others.
[Space News – 06/03/2014]

ABS ramps up for more launches after it’s sixth satellite launch in February 2014 expanded its coverage to 80% of the world’s population.
[SatNews – 06/03/0214]

Avanti Communications gets significant sale of service using Artemis capacity and considers further use of U.S. bond market to finance new satellite build.
[4-traders – 06/03/2014]

C-COM Ka-band flyaway antenna gets type approval from Eutelsat. [Market Wired – 06/03./2014]

Comtech Telecommunications is awarded $1 million order for infrastructure equipment to support satellite mobile backhaul network in Africa.
[Yahoo Finance – 06/03/20154]

TriQuint’s high performance GaN Ka-band solutions showcased at IEEE IMS/MTT.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/03/2014]

Spanish infrastructure firm Abertis has sells its 5.01% stake in Eutelsat Communications.
[Broadband TV News – 06/03/2014]

Chinese satellite service companies are planning to form an alliance to expand their share of an increasingly competitive global market.
[TMC News – 06/02/2014]

Greg Wyler goes from O3b to Google to head up 180 satellite project.
[CED Magazine – 06/02/2014]

Globalsat Group and MultiSAT Mexico form a strategic alliance for the continental provision of satellite services and the development of advanced solutions.
[Market Watch – 06/02/2014]

RSCC’s Express AT2 satellite enters service, and Express AM6 is delivered to its launch base.
[Via Satellite – 06/02/2014]

Intersputnik negotiating joint ventures for unused orbital slots.
[Space News – 06/02/2014]

KVH plans to offer affordable delivery of AWT’s Global Weather Data to subscribing vessels Over the mini-VSAT Broadband(SM) Network.
[Wall Street Journal – 06/02/2014

ViaSat prepares to launch new M2M satellite services worldwide.
[Via Satellite – 06/02/2014]

Integrasys image – SatNews

Monitoring High Throughput Satellites presents a challenge – Integrasys addresses it with an upgrade of its ControlSat Carrier Monitoring System.
[SatMagazine – June 2014]

The June issue of Satellite Executive Briefing Magazine includes ‘Asia-Pacific Satellite Lead in All Indicatiors’ by Virgil Labrador, ‘Technical Tutorial on Ground Communications Segment’ by Bruce Elber, ‘Back and Forth on Antennas and Terminals’ by Lou Zacharilla and ‘The Oil and Gas Bandwidth Optimization Imperative’ by Martin Jarrold.
[Satellite Executive Briefing magazine – June 2014]

Free NSR webinar June 16 – ‘Wireless backhaul via satellite: the battleground between FSS and HTS.’
[NSR – June 2014]

[WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

SpaceX completes qualification testing for the SuperDraco thruster, a 3-D printed rocket engine that will power the Dragon spacecraft’s launch escape system and enable propulsive landings.
[R&D Magaazine – 05/30/2014]

A group of amateur astronomers working with NASA’s blessing raised money, did the work, and successfully reestablished communications with a satellite called ISEE-3 that launched in 1978.
[technabob – 05/30/2014]

Industry officials expect the U.S. Air Force to release a draft solicitation within the next month for a contract worth about $500 million for another ground-system consolidation effort.
[Space News – 05/30/2014]

Buoyed by initial court victory, ViaSat girds for protracted legal battle with Loral.
[Space News – 05/30/2014]

ViaSat launches new worldwide network service for M2M market designed to provide higher speeds, greater security, and faster response to small fixed and mobile terminals.
[Yahoo Finance – 05/30/2014]

Google-backed global broadband venture secures spectrum for satellite network.
[Space News – 05/30/2014]

SpaceX unveils capsule to ferry astronauts to space.
[Space Travel – 05/30/2014]

HISPASAT to broadcast soccer match live in Ultra High Definition in run up to World Cup.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/30/2014]

Iridium extends its agreement to provide satellite connectivity to SkyBitz in support of their new SkyBitz as a Service offering for the M2M market.
[SatNews – 05/30/2014]

Azerbaijani satellite launched in February 2013 now broadcasts 97 channels.
[ABC.AZ – 05/30/2014]

At Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre from 17 – 20 June, SatComm2014 will once again unveil the largest contingent of satellite companies witnessed at any single ICT trade event in Asia.
[ACN Newswire – 05/29/2014]

Thales Alenia Space signs agreement with Snecma to use its PPS 500 plasma thruster as standard equipment on the new Spacebus platform, making for a satellite platform with all-electric propulsion.
[Via Satellite – 05/29/2014]

Britain opposes Iridium bid for certification as maritime safety services provider.
[Space News – 05/29/2014]

Virgin Galactic signs deal with US aviation authorities to let it blast paying customers into space.
[Space Travel – 05/29/2014]

Wireless Innovation selects Eutelsat’s KA-SAT satellite for Thales contract to help protect EDF’s UK critical energy infrastructure.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/29/2014]

Arabsat is subject to jamming and its engineers succeed in locating the source.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/29/2014]

KVH introduces the TracVision(R) RV1, a powerful and compact stabilized antenna designed to provide superior performance for satellite TV reception from RVs and other vehicles.
[05/29/2014]

Australian company Ocean Signal introduces rescueME PLB1, the world’s smallest personal locator beacon, through new distributors All Sat Communications at Sanctuary Cove Boat Show.
[mysailing.com – 05/29/2014]

Korean antenna manufacturer KNS announced that it has been awarded Ka-band Type Approval from satellite operator Avanti Communications.
[The Digital Ship – 05/29/2014]

Satellite industry seen outpacing global economic growth in new SIA report.
[Via Satellite – 05/28/2014]

Global market for satellite communications seen as driven by challenging environment of oil and gas rigs in C&M report.
[LIVE-PR – 05/28/2014]

String of delays portends summer traffic jam for launch providers.
[Space News – 05/28/2014]

Earth Science managers attempt to get IceSat-2 back on track after technical problems with its instrument busted the budget by about $200 million.
[Space News – 05/28/2014]

Traffic offload is central to mobile operators in order to relieve spectrum congestion and maximize revenue potential – satellite operators appear poised to play increasing role.
[NSR – 05/28/2014]

As more MSS constellations and more powerful FSS and HTS satellites launch, the satellite mobility market is on the cusp of major change.
[NSR – 05/28/2014]

Virgin Galactic hopes replacing original rubber fuel with new plastic fuel will allow SpaceShipTwo to reach new heights.
[Space News – 05/28/2014]

Aselsan of Turkey signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus Group of France to develop civil and military avionic systems, satellite communication systems and secure radio communications.
[Industrial Info Resources – 05/28/2014]

Russian Express-AT2 satellite enters commercial service.
[Broadband TV News – 05/28/2014]

At Qitcom, Qatar’s largest ICT event, Es’hailSat showcased Es’hail 1, Qatar’s first satellite, and the Es’hailSat satellite program.
[SatNews – 05/28/2014]

COM DEV wins contract for communications satellite switches and multiplexers.
[The Wall Street Journal – 05/28/2014]

The SWE-DISH CCT120 Suitcase® satellite terminal by Rockwell Collins has been selected by the Canadian Army for its Land Forces Portable Satellite Terminal program.
[SatNews – 05/28/2014]

NorthernAxcess implements eye catching design, easy navigation, and personal support in guides to using satellite phones and BGAN terminals.
 [PR.com – 05/28/2014]

Laos to launch its first satellite in 2015.
[Bangkok Post – 05/27/2014]

Successful launch of Eutelsat 3B helps Sea Launch put behind it the failed launch of Intelsat 27 in February of 2013.
[SEN – 05/27/2014]

Malaysia and Inmarsat release satellite data on missing MH370 flight.
[Reuters – 05/27/2014]

Arctic Oil and Gas market does not provide green light for widespread satellite communication solutions as found in other regions of the globe, per new NSR report.
[Yahoo Finance – 05/27/2014]

C-COM and ViaSat to develop low profile land mobile Satcom-On-The-Move Ka-band antenna.
[Market Wired – 05/27/2014]

Future Media Concepts and the NAB add the NY Post|Production Conference to the 2014 Content and Communications World (CCW) and Satellite Communications Conference and Expo (SATCON).
[TV Technology – 05/27/2014]

ViaSat gets patent for weather detection using satellite communication signals.
[TMCnet – 05/26/2014]

SES signs capacity agreement to serve CETel in Africa on NSS-7.
[Yahoo Finance – 05/26/2014]

Hedge-fund manager Mark Rachesky may be playing a game that jeopardizes the pending sale of Loral Space & Communications, a majority owner of Telesat.
[NY Post – 05/25/2014]

US Air Force AFSMC budget was cut from $10 billion to $5.6 billion without a drop in the services it must provide; this will likely lead to a greater reliance on the commercial satellite industry.
[Defense News – 05/24/2014]

SpaceX CEO alleges revolving door exists in national security launch business.
[Space News – 05/24/2014]

COSPAS-SARSAT satellite rescue network, including NOAA’s geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites, inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame.
[Nextgov – 05/23/2014]

NSR’s FREE Wireless Backhaul via Satellite webinar will discuss and examine the role and opportunities for satellite technology in the wireless backhaul, trunking and video offload markets.
[NSR – 05/22/2014]

U.S. and European space chiefs urge public to look past incendiary Russian rhetoric and see the durable underlying value of the space station partnership.
[Space News – 05/23/2014]

Soyuz rocket with Fregat restartable upper stage – Credit: ESA/Starsem photo – Space News

Russian launch countdown resumes without Canadian satellite, carrying U.S., British and Norwegian satellites.
[Space News – 05/23/2014]

National Intelligence Director James Clapper hailed upstart launch services provider SpaceX during a keynote address, endorsing competition in the U.S. government launch industry.
[Space News – 05/23/2014]

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has successfully completed their latest milestone, a wind tunnel test, in the company’s NASA Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) agreement.
[SatNews ] 05/23/2014]

Europe’s work on the service module for NASA’s Orion crew-transport vehicle has made up most of the slip in schedule and is on track for delivery to NASA in time for a late 2017 launch.
[Space News – 05/23/2014]

Water was discovered in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that recently returned to Earth from a month-long stay at the international space station, but so far as NASA knew May 21, none of the agency’s cargo was damaged.
[Space News – 05/23/2014]

Antares’ AJ-26 engine, slated to power Orbital Sciences Cor[.’s 2015 mission to ISS, suffers test stand failure.
[Space News – 05/23/2014]

NROL-33 launch on Atlas % – Credit: ULA photo – Space News

An Atlas 5 rocket lifted off May 22 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida carrying a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
[Space News – 05/22/2014]

SES Broadband Services announces partnership with Meanswhat to deliver satellite communications for multi-national enterprises and Governmental Agencies with branch offices or production facilities in remote areas.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/22/2014]

Millicom selecs Eutelsat Americas satellite capacity to support its recent entry into the satellite pay-TV market in Latin America.
[Yahoo Finance – 05/22/2014]

Commercial Launch Services (LMCLS) will launch the WorldView-3 commercial remote sensing spacecraft, placing it into orbit on August 13 for DigitalGlobe.
[SatNews – 05/22/2014]

Hughes is selected to power delivery of high-speed satellite internet service in Columbia by HISPASAT Colombia.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/22/2014]

ITC Global expands presence in Asia-Pacific, opening branch office in Singapore.
[Satelllite Evolution Group – 05/22/2014]

Gogo gets STC from the FAA and certification from the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) to install Gogo’s Ku-satellite based connectivity service on Japan Airlines’ 767-300 aircraft.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/22/2014]

M7 Deutschland will acquire Kabelkiosk platform from Eutelsat.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/22/2014]

The United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada have signed a memorandum of understanding to work more closely together on space situational awareness activities.
[Space News – 05/21/2014]

Eutelsat Americas aligns names of satellites acquired with Mexsat with the Eutelsat brand.
[Market Watch – 05/21/2014]

Yahsat gets Satcom Africa “Satellite Operator of the Year” award for 2014.
[Star Africa – 05/21/2014]

Orbital Scinces begins production of Thaicom 8 commercial communications satellite, to be the second built for Thaicom by Orbital.
[Satellite spotlight – 05/21/2014]

Markets and Markets study projects M2M satellite communication market to be worth $4.76 billion by 2019.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/21/2014]

Cobham’s new Aviator 5 series airborne satellite communications system will support wide range of communication applications in both the cockpit and the cabin.
[SatNews – 05/21/2014]

HeliosNet selects Newtec to provide Business-to-Consumer and Business-to-Business VSAT services across Eastern Russia.
[Via Satellite – 05/21/2014]

“Global M2M Satellite Communications Market Report 2014 – 2019″ added to Research and Markets offering; ) market represents an interesting and potentially huge revenue stream for the satellite industry.
[Business Wire – 05/20/2014]

Under pressure from families of passengers of Malaysia Flight 370, Inmarsat confirms it will publish full record of communications received from the plane the day it disappeared.
[New York Times – 05/20/2014]

Australian Communications Minister and his Parliamentary Secretary give contradictory statements within 3 months regarding possible sale of NBN’s satellite infrastructure soon.
[Delimiter – 05/20/2014]

Human error likely led to the recent failure of a Proton-M rocket carrying Russian telecommunications satellite, a source close to the commission investigating the incident told RIA Novosti.
[Space News – 05/20/2014]

Orbit 2.4m and 3.7m three axis tracking antennas, with radomes for withstanding extreme environments, can be mounted on building roofs and eliminate keyhole effect while tracking low earth orbit satellites. [SatNews – 05/20/2014]

Airbus delivers X-band satellite communications capabilities using Airbus’ Skynet 5 constellation to four United Kingdom Mine Counter Measure Vessels in the Arabian Gulf.
[Via Satellite – 05/20/2014]

NSR report – satellite industry generated almost $35 billion in 2013, and is expected to deploy 1000+ satellites and generate $275 billion in next 10 years.
[Yahoo finance – 05/19/2014]

“The Military Communications Report 2014-2024″ now available on ASDReports judges the market to be worth $16.35 billion in 2014. [SatNews – 05/19/2014]

Competition shrinks with more mergers – Credit: AP – Think Progress

AT&T $49 billion offer to acquire DirecTV includes promise of net neutrality.
[Think Progress – 05/19/2014]

AFP Getty Images – Daily Mail

UFOs found in Chinese fields identified as space debris, after Russion rocket failed in satellite launch attempt.
[Daily Mail – 05/19/2014]

Satcom1 accredited as Inmarsat SwiftBroadband Distribution Partner, acheiving highest level of partnership with Inmarsat.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/19/2014]

Lockheed Martin begins final assembly of new GOES-R U.s. weather satellite.
[Reuters – 05/18/2014]

Military missions simply cannot succeed without reliable communications – this means satellite technology is essential for operations.
[MilsatMagazine – May 2014]

[WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Filing suit in the Court of Federal Claims was the first step, then came the response from United Launch Alliance. And now, at the National Space Symposium in Colorado, they start swinging at each other.

The leadership at ULA may not read what’s happening with the Russian Federation’s attempts at global domination, but they do read Stars & Stripes…

In the most recent court filing, the California-based Space Exploration Technologies, which is in the process of developing a launch site here on Boca Chica Beach, said its amended complaint is the result of four recent developments:

• SpaceX has submitted all required flight data for its third qualifying certification launch, and SpaceX is therefore eligible to compete for the Air Force’s business.
• Recent Air Force statements indicate that it will purchase some or all of its future launch vehicles on a sole-source basis from ULA, even though SpaceX is eligible to compete.
• The Air Force recently indicated that, during the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, it will purchase a number of launch vehicles for which SpaceX is qualified to compete.
• SpaceX learned on April 17 that the Air Force decided not to open the purchase to competition because the Air Force has an “existing 36-core contractual requirement” with ULA.

This is among the most recent developments in the complaint that SpaceX brought against the Air Force April 28 in the federal claims court in Washington D.C. ULA intervened in the litigation.

Lawyered-up ULA comes back with a 5-page press release, nicely distilled and summarized in the Denver Post…

ULA CEO Michael Gass said the cost per launch averages $225 million, not the erroneously computed figure of more than $460 million that SpaceX founder Elon Musk frequently cites.

“SpaceX is very aggressive in their public relations and how they diffuse or obfuscate the issue is by not ever talking about apples and apples, it’s apples and oranges,” Gass said.

ULA’s simpler rockets cost $164 million and its most powerful rockets hit $350 million, he said.

At the heart of the debate is a $11 billion block-buy contract for 36 rockets awarded to ULA by the U.S. Air Force last year.

SpaceX sued the Air Force last month for what it claimed was illegal actions blocking competition by effectively giving ULA — a joint venture between Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. — a monopoly on launch services.

“People use a pejorative term like monopoly. Those are incongruent when you talk about national security. It’s not a commercial market, it’s not consumerism,” Gass said. “I like to think of it as a sole-source provider.

“The nation made a decision to meet its military needs. They wanted assured access and two systems. ULA was formed to solve that problem. Consolidate the infrastructure, deliver two systems as one team, more cost effectively to meet the end-mission needs.”

Gass also said the U.S. space industry is currently at the all-time peak for the number of launches but said that will drop off by 20 to 30 percent in the next five years.

“There was a thing called sequestration,” he said. “Satellites aren’t being ordered.”

When asked how this will impact ULA’s large operations, Gass said “we will right-size to the demand that can flourish again.” This likely means a 20- to 30-percent reduction in workforce, he said.

About 1,700 of ULA’s 3,600 employees are in Colorado.

ULA also released its add-on launch costs if the government decides to grant the company up to 14 more launches. Much to the surprise of observers, each additional launch would cost less than $100 million for the lower-capability rockets.

But SpaceX refutes these figures.

“The Air Force budget for 2015 speaks for itself — in the budget, three single core vehicles add up to $1.212B, or $404M per vehicle. Mr. Gass’ statements run counter to budget reality,” SpaceX president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell said in a statement Wednesday.

“ULA has the most expensive launch services in the world — nearly double that of the next most expensive competitor. When you don’t have to compete, there’s little incentive to control costs or innovate.”

A recent GAO report on annual assessments of major weapons programs puts the program unit cost at $420 million per launch, but that number looks at the whole life of the program not just this block buy.

And that’s how to get members of Congress to pay attention. Mess with us and there will be layoffs.

Give them a chance to compete. The launch market is looking good for SpaceX, so let them have a go at some EELV business. And their rocket engines are MADE IN THE U.S.A.

Ah, summer in Greenland. Temparatures in the mid-20’s F and the sun is out — all day. Time to go out and take a stroll.

Let’s verify what Cryosat-2 sees from space. No need to be alarmed. Just follow the little yellow rope back to where you came from.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Antarctica is losing ice at an alarming rate! Read this abstract from Geophysical Research Letters and see what all the fuss is about…

We use 3 years of Cryosat-2 radar altimeter data to develop the first comprehensive assessment of Antarctic ice sheet elevation change. This new dataset provides near-continuous (96%) coverage of the entire continent, extending to within 215 kilometres of the South Pole and leading to a fivefold increase in the sampling of coastal regions where the vast majority of all ice losses occur. Between 2010 and 2013, West Antarctica, East Antarctica, and the Antarctic Peninsula changed in mass by −134 ± 27, −3 ± 36, and −23 ± 18 Gt yr−1 respectively. In West Antarctica, signals of imbalance are present in areas that were poorly surveyed by past missions, contributing additional losses that bring altimeter observations closer to estimates based on other geodetic techniques. However, the average rate of ice thinning in West Antarctica has also continued to rise, and mass losses from this sector are now 31% greater than over the period 2005–2011.

The ESA’s been tracking this for some time and getting something done before summer vacations hit in Europe is an honored tradition.

Inmarsat refutes Malaysia’s claim that it does not have the raw data from Inmarsat used in the MH370 search, insisting it surrendered all information to investigators early on.
[The Malay Mail online – 05/16/2014]

New NSR report examines the potentials of the utility market for satellite communications.
[SatNews – 05/16/2014]

Azerbaijan’s next moves in satellite communications depend upon cooperation with France.
[TMCnet – 05/16/2014]

SpaceX launch of Canadian government space-weather satellite. Credit: SpaceX photo – Space News

Aerospace Corp., hired by U.S. Air Force to evaluate the Falcon 9 rocket for national security launches, says it won’t cut corners on SpaceX certification.
[Space News – 05/16/2014]

RapidEye+ will be a constellation of five satellites with an imaging capacity that will far exceed the current RapidEye constellation’s capacity of 5 million km2 per day.
[SatNews – 05/16/2014]

O3b signs agreement with FSM Telecommunications Corporation to provide its O3bTrunk service to Chuuk in Micronesia.
[SatNews – 05/16/2014]

KNS launches satellite antenna Z18MK3, Ku- and C-Band, to provide advanced communications for ships requiring broadband speeds at sea with exception reliability and durability.
[SatNews – 05/16/2014]

Dubai sunset – ThreatPost file photo

The emerging threat to satellite communications – satellite communications systems and devices subject to security risks.
[Threat Post – 05/15/2014]

Russian Proton-M rocket crashes while attempting to launch Express-AM4R satellite intended to provide affordable internet access to people in remote parts of Russia.
[NBC News – 05/15/2014]

Launch of GPS IIF-6 delayed because of poor weather.
[NASA Spaceflight – 05/15/2014]

Inmarsat 5 F2 – Boeing artist’s concept – Space News

State Department issues shipping licenses for two Russia-bound satellites.
[Space News – 05/15/2014]

Russian space program gets $52 billion boost as sanctions war vaporizes U.S.-Russian space cooperation.
[Space News – 05/15/2014]

Physicists and engineers research technique to ‘sweep’ Low Earth Orbit (LEO) debris from space using an Active Debris Removal (ADR) system of deployed micron-scale dust.
[SatNews – 05/15/2014]

COMSYS report confirms Hughes as the leading provider in VSAT. [Satellite Evolution Group – 05/15/2014]

ARKA file photo

Armenia’s government makes decision to create a satellite communication department in the national center for telecommunications.
[ARKA Telecom – 05/15/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space delivers full X-band operational capabilities to four UK Royal Navy Mine Counter Measure Vessels in Arabian Gulf ahead of equipping additional vessels.
[GISuser – 05/15/2014]

U.S. Air Force is discussing the possibility of building at least two more Wideband Global Satcom communications satellites with funding from potential international partners, according to Boeing.
[Space News – 05/15/2014]

Via Sat Brasil books full high throughput payload on EUTELSAT 3B for broadband services across Brazil.
[Market Watch – 05/15/2014]

SES launches new video distribution neighborhood for Latin America and new antenna seeding program for the NSS-806 satellite.
[SatNews – 05/15/2014]

MTN releases new connectivity solution for yachts.
[Via Satellite – 05/15/2014]

KVH receives $5.2 million international military order for its TACNAV tactical navigation system.
[SatNews – 05/15/2014]

Valleypoint Telecoms of Africa contracts with Avanti Communications to extend broadband coverage across Western Kenya.
[SatNews – 05/15/2014]

New report by Euroconsult provides comprehensive analysis of the how and why of the military’s usage of satellite communications, which saw tremendous growth over past 15 years.
[Space Daily – 05/14/2014]

U.S. officials complete final draft of regulations that will remove some satellite hardware and technology from the U.S. Munitions List.
[Space News – 05/14/2014]

Kennedy Space Center director says that without NASA’s planned heavy-lift Space Launch System rocket and Orion deep-space capsule, the center has no reason to exist.
[Space News – 05/14/2014]

Malaysia PM calls for real-time tracking of planes.
[abc News – 05/14/2014]

Rivals say Inmarsat’s offer of free tracking service for airlines is misleading, since outfitting a jet with the system could cost more than $100,000.
[Reuters – 05/14/2014]

Satellite Today file photo

Inmarsat states that its equipment is onboard almost 11,000 aircraft already and free global aircraft tracking can be done “almost instantaneously.”
[Via Satellite – 05/14/2014]

Via Satellite Asia covers various aspects of the satellite market in Asia, which “remains a showcase for satellite.”
[Via Satellite – 05/14/2014]

High Throughput Satellites are a growing opportunity in Asia.
[Via Satellite – 05/14/2014]

Abducted school girls – Leadership file photo

Delegate to Nigerian National Conference claims foreign intervention over rescue of abducted girls resulted because of NigComSat’s inability to locate the girls by satellite.
[Leadership – 05/14/2014]

India’s Telecom regulator TRAI recommends that BSNL be allowed to set up a new gateway for providing satellite phone services to address an urgent requirement by security forces.
[BGR – 05/14/2014]

[KVH introduces IP-MobileCast content delivery service, an industry first that will enable seafarers to receive daily digital newspapers, television news, sports updates, music, movies, and more.
[SatNews – 05/14/2014]

The International Media Associates (TIMA) signs three-year contract with Eutelsat for Eutelsat 10A capacity to serve the growing market for satellite news gathering (SNG) across Europe,
[Broadband News – 05/14/2014]

Xplornet and Hughes sign agreement for all Echostar XIX High Throughput Satellite broadband capacity over Canada.
[MarketWatch – 05/14/2014]

Mitsubishi to provide launch services for Sky Perfect JSAT for the first time, in 2016 from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.
[Via Satellite – 05/14/2014]

Hispasat signs an agreement with Intelsat to co-locate its Amazonas 1 satellite at the same position as Intelsat’s Galaxy 11, at 55.5 degrees west.
[Via Satellite – 05/14/2014]

Skycasters unveils new portable, easy-to-assemble antenna system for installers who need to establish satellite Internet connections in remote areas at Governor’s Hurricane Conference.
[News9 – 05/14/2014]

Advantech Wireless announces release of new 2300-G series 60W to 125W Ku-Band SSPA/BUC designed to withstand extreme temperatures.
[University Chronicle – 05/14/2014]

South-Korean antenna manufacturer Intellian has officially opened its newly expanded Innovation Centre in Seoul, saying that the extra space will allow it to increase production.
[The Digital Ship – 05/14/2014]

Federal court lifts ban on RD-180 engines, but Russian cooperation is uncertain.
[Via Satellite – 05/13/2014]

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin calls for ban on U.S. military use of RD-180 engine, and says that Russia does not intend to continue cooperation with the U.S. on the international space program beyond 2020.
[Space News – 05/13/2014]

AT&T in talks to buy satellite TV provider DirecTV for $50 Billion as telecoms megadeal war looms.
[MailOnline – 05/13/2014]

Teachers and pupils in a GEC program classroom. Photo: Department for International Development – Via Satellite

Avanti Communications has partnered with the British Department for International Development (DFID) to deliver education programs to 60,000 students in Kenya.
[Via Satellite – 05/13/2014]

Speedcast announces buyout of Satcomms Australia.
[University Chronicle – 05/13/2014]

A North Sea oil rig. Photo: Snapper (Flickr) – Via Satellite

ITC Global confident that oil and gas sector is on a long-term upswing for satellite connectivity; the sector counted for roughly half of its first quarter 2014 business.
[Via Satellite – 04/13/2014]

Image taken from the DubaiSat 2 satellite of the Emirates palace in Abu Dhabi on December 1, 2013. Photo: EIAST – Via Satellite

Emirates Institution for Advance Science and Technology unveils results from its Super Resolution Tool which improved resolution of satellite imagery by 2.5 feet, including images from DubaiSat 2.
[Via Satellite – 05/13/20104]

Marlink announces that it has been contracted to provide its new WaveCall Plus bundle to MSC Cargo Italy’s entire fleet of 124 vessels.
[Digital Ship – 05/13/2014]

Satellite operators to proceed with launches from Russia.
[Spaceflight Now – 05/12/2014]

Thales Alenia Space signs a contract with the Korean satellite service operator KT Sat to build two telecommunications satellites, Koreasat-7 and Koreasat-5A.
[SatNews – 05/12/2014]

U.N. agency gathers in Canada to discuss better flight-tracking solutions after Malaysia jet loss.
[Reuters – 05/12/2014]

Satellite operator Inmarsat is to offer a free, basic tracking service for almost all of the world’s passenger jets after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.
[NBC News – 05/12/2014]

SMU Research file photo – PHYS ORG

Satellite view of volcanoes finds the link between ground deformation and eruption.
[PHYS ORG – 05/12/2014]

Inmarsat Maritime to provide communications services to small vessels.
[Via Satellite – 05/12/2014]

NSR’s regional-centric analysis of DTH platforms points to a significant divergence in market trends not just between “developing” and “developed” markets, but also within the markets of the “developing world”.
[NSR – 05/12/2014]

Satcom Direct is expanding outside its traditional aeronautical market through a partnership with Thuraya.
[Via Satellite – 05/12/2014]

Tigo Star, owned by Millicom International Cellular, launches DTH service in Bolivia.
[Via Satellite – 05/12/2014]

Afghanistan’s first satellite begins formal operations.
[KHAAMA PRESS – 05/10/2014]

MarketBrief report examines the current trends and opportunities in the Canadian Fixed Satellite Services in the light of recent regulatory changes and industry developments.
[Satellite Markets – May 2014

Joint Polar Satellite System – Credit: Ball Aerospace artist’s concept – Space News

House Appropriations Committee approves full funding for NOAA next-generation polar-orbiting and geostationary weather satellites, but not climate sensor plans.
[Space News – 05/09/2014]

SpaceX challenge to ULA block buy of Russian-made engines appears to hinge on the question of whether the plaintiff met the deadline for filing its protest.
[Space News – 05/09/2014]

NSR’s Global Direct-to-Home (DTH) Markets, 7th Edition, provides industry-leading analysis on the Satellite Television markets worldwide.
[NSR – 05/09/2014]

ASTRA 2G – Credit: SES Artist’s Concept – Space News

SES says Astra 2G has been cleared for shipment to Russia for launch.
[Space News – 05/09/2014]

Evolution of Milsatcom in India – a discussion of the space technologies deployed for defence and security of India.
[Pakistan Defence – 05/09/2014]

Jupiter 1/EchoStar 17 – Credit: SSL Artist’s Concept – Space News

Echostar warns investors that use of its EchoStar 19 Ka-band satellite now in development may be affected by the patent litigation between ViaSat and Space Systems/Loral.
[Space News – 05/09/2014]

Recovering mobile satellite services operator Globalstar reports double-digit growth in handset saels and subscriber revenue for its key two-way voice service.
[Space News – 04/09/2014]

Global Satellite Engineering now integrates SkyWave’s IsatData Pro, Automatic Vehicle Location, and Garmin-based dispatch within its fleet management solution.
[SatNews – 05/09/2014]

Euroconsult releases report providing insight into Milsatcom industry.
[Via Satellite – 05/08/2014]

United States remains the leader in space competitiveness, but is the only nation to decline for seven straight years, according to Futron 2014 Space Competitiveness Index..
[Satellite Markets & Research – 05/08/2014]

Oilfield communications market expected to reach $3.18 billion by 2019 – new report by MarketsandMarkets.
[TMCnet – 05/08/2014]

Research and Markets announces the addition of the “Analysis of the Global Satellite Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Market” report, analyzing the VSAT market 2012-2019, to their offering.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/08/2014]

Navy’s Ice Camp Nautilus on floating ice – (PHOTO COURTESY LOCKHEED MARTIN) – NUNATSIAQ Online

Navy’s floating Ice Camp Nautilus north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, uses the MUOS secure satellite system to transmit large data files and voice transmissions during March exercises.
[NUNATSIUAQ ONLINE – 05/08/2014]

Euroconsult and Hughes to share information about how latest satellite backhaul solutions are opening opportunities to expand cellular addressable markets beyond the current paradigm in a webinar.
[SatNews – 05/08/2014]

Judge lifts temporary band on purchase of Russian RD-180 engines by United Launch Alliance.
[Space News – 05/09/2014]

RSCC plans to implement Center for Geolocation and Space Monitoring in Dubna, Russia.
[Via Satellite – 05/08/2014]

The House Armed Services Committee calls on U.S. national security officials to report back on the threat posed by Russian satellite monitoring stations.
[SatNews – 05/08/2014]

A map showing satellite communications company Inmarsat’s global subscriptions. (Reuters) – The Atlantic

Outside satellite experts say investigators could be looking in the wrong ocean for MH370 because the Inmarsat analysis doesn’t hold up.
[The Atlantic – 05/08/2014]

Inmarsat and Sea Launch say Russia sanctions won’t disrupt upcoming launches.
[SatNews – 05/08/2014]

Spaceflight Inc.’s first Sherpa hosted payload flight almost fully booked with smallsats.
[Via Satellite – 05/08/2014]

Bandwidth crunch will force Australian broadband project to ration capacity.
[Space News – 05/08/2014]

HISPASAT and Eskaltel sign agreement to provide broadband internet access throughout Spain.
[SatNews – 05/08/2014]

The International Media Associates (TIIMA) acquires capacity on the EUTELSAT 10A satellite in hopes of serving international news teams covering high-profile events such as Oscar Pistorius trial.
[Screen Africa – 05/08/2014]

Fishing Boats in NS Harbour – Marinelink file photo

Inmarsat says it now connects leisure and fishing vessels with a specially designed broadband service.
[Marine Link – 05/08/2014]

ORBCOMM will offer its portfolio of M2M solutions to government customers under Corp Ten’s General Services Administration schedule.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/08/2014]

ViaSat launches Exede Business internet service for small and medium-sized businesses.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/08/2014]

Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium. Credit: Image courtesy of Brazil’s government – Space News

Brazil awards satellite positions to Eutelsat, Hispasat, and SES affiliates.
[Space News – 05/07/2014]

Utility market full of satcom potential.
[NSR – 05/07/2014]

IPTV is set to overtake DTH in western Europe, according to a new report from Digital TV Research.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 05/07/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space launches a new Global Field-Service Alliance (GFSA) initiative to ensure quality installation and maintenance of VSAT equipment in major ports.
[Digital Ship – 05/07/2014]

Globalstar subsidiary SPOT LLC announces that its products have been used to initiate 3000 rescues around the world since 2007.
[Market Watch – 05/07/2014]

Intellian launches its new x60 terminal, designed to deliver efficient high-speed broadband on Inmarsat’s Global Xpress service, coming into service later this year.
[BYM News – 05/07/2014]

Research and Markets adds the “Global Satellite Transponder Market” report to their offering.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/06/2014]

Pentagon funding for space programs is projected to fall 37 percent over the next four years when compared to last year’s projected spending over the same time period.
[Defense News – 05/06/2014]

Coming soon, NSR’s 4th edition of Satellite Manufacturing & Launch Services report combines thorough and invaluable market analysis with extensive and in-depth forecasts.
[NSR – 05/06/2014]

KVH doubles mini-VSAT broadband network capacity in Africa to support offshore oil and gas industry.
[MENA FN – 05/06/2014]

Sprite picosat developers hoping Kicksat, launched by Falcon 9 April 18, will deploy the 104 microsatellites it holds on May 16, before falling back into atmosphere.
[Space News – 05/06/2014]

ITC Global closes more than $30M in new service contracts and deploys 27 high-end satellite networks in first quarter 2014.
[Yahoo Finance – 05/06/2014]

NSA and British counterpart GCHQ seek ways of monitoring airplane passenger communication: Greenwald.
[Daily News – 05/06/2014]

Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat) urges National Conference to facilitate government policy to direct all security agencies to key into its National Public Security.
[Leadership – 05/06/2014]

U.S. sanctions against Russia’s space industry affect Europeans.
[Space Daily – 05/05/2014]

Avonline Broadband signs multi-million dollar contract extension with Avanti Communications, in order to provide a series of tailored broadband solutions to SME customers across Europe.
[SatNews – 05/05/2014]

Globecomm receives service contract extension for mission-critical distribution systems from global media and information firm in New York.
[Business Wire – 05/05/2014]

Thaicom selects Orbital Sciences Corp. and SpaceX to build and launch another television broadcasting satellite.
[Spaceflight Now – 05/04/2014]

WiFi on airlines: users will find it’s worth the trouble.
[eweek – 05/04/2014]

Nigeria Internet Group chief urges Nigerian government to sell NigComSat to private investors.
[The Nation Online – 05/04/2014]

SatNews file photo

Today’s SatHealth vehicles help save lives, time, and money. [SatMagazine – May 2014 issue]

KickSat follow-up:

Regular updates as well as more background information are available on the project’s Kickstarter page. As an open source project, all of our code and design files are freely available. The primary source for technical information on the KickSat project is the project wiki. Academic publications are listed on our research group’s website.

The trends are pointing in favor of the cord-cutters.

Even BSkyB, the pay-tv service that put Astra on the map, is itself moving away from using satellite technology.

The Telegraph published an excellent report, which could be the slow de-orbiting of the satellite business…

BSkyB is preparing a major overhaul of its set-top box technology to address the threat to its subscription business from internet-based television services from American giants such as Amazon, Apple and Google.

A special unit has been set up within the company under the name “Project Ethan” to develop an entirely new system that will aim to make it easier for customers to access programmes on any device, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal.

For instance, Project Ethan is understood to include plans for television recorded using the Sky+ service to be stored in a central data centre rather than on set-top box hard disks. The recordings in “the cloud” will be accessible via smartphones and tablets, or on internet-connected televisions outside the living room.

For both recorded and on-demand video, the new software will make it possible for viewers pause on their main television and then pick up where they left off on another device, and vice-versa. Sources said BSkyB, which formerly referred to the investment as “Project 2016,” could roll out the system to millions of customers as soon as two years from now.

The multi-screen technology would also allow BSkyB to extend the reach and sophistication of its recently-launched targeted advertising service. In one possible scenario, retailers could target viewers in a given postcode on their sofa then follow up with a special offer delivered to their smartphone via the Sky app.

Almost sounds like the IP-PRIME service that SES killed back in 2009.