North America News

Advantech Introduces New C-band SSPA/BUC Product Line

Canadian satellite broadcast technology manufacturer Advantech Wireless has released a new series of indoor GaN technology-based solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs) and BUCs featuring high power, high linearity and a compact size.

The Advantech Super Compact SG Series C-Band SSPA/BUCs feature: a full range of output power of 200W, 250W, 400W or 500W in a compact package; high linearity; redundant ready with no external controller; full M&C capability via RS232, RS485 or Ethernet port; built-in forward and reflected precision power metering; output RF calibrated sample port; redundant systems shipped fully tested; infinite VSWR protection with automatic high reflected power shutdown; and a detachable power supply module.

FAA Modernizes Six Florida Airports with Satellite ATC System

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has unveiled a program to modernize approaches and descents to six Florida airports as part of its transition to a satellite-based NextGen ATC system.

The FAA said the Florida program is based on Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedures that will enable pilots to fly aircraft using satellite coverage or by utilizing the onboard flight management system. The program’s partners include the National Air Traffic Controllers union, JetBlue, American Airlines, U.S. Airways and NetJets.

Kratos Subsidiary Nets Military Satellite Interference Solution Contract

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions subsidiary SAT Corp. has been awarded a contract by U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) to provide worldwide Radio Frequency (RF) interference geo-location services.

SAT Corp. will provide U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) with its quality-of-service RF monitoring and interference detection and geo-location services for commercial satellites. The award is valued at $13.2 million if all options are exercised over a potential five-year period.

SAT Corp.’s global network employs its Monics solution for interference monitoring; satID for geo-location; and tri-band C-, X- and Ku-band antennas.

Dish Launches Rural Broadband Service in the United States

Dish is launching a nationwide satellite broadband service in the United States. The operator is launching dishNET, a high-speed Internet service via satellite nationwide beginning in October. The dishNET satelite service offers rural residents download speeds of up to 10 Mbps.

Dish says these speeds are fast enough for typical Internet applications, including social media, telecommuting, music streaming, online video streaming and even Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. The dishNET brand leverages advanced technology and high-powered satellites launched from Hughes and ViaSat to provide broadband coverage nationwide.

Dish sees a strong market opportunity here. It cites a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report which says around 19 million Americans lack access to high-speed Internet, including 14.5 million who live in rural regions. The FCC highlighted that 23.7 percent of rural residents lack broadband access.

DishNET will offer 4G-level speeds that Dish claims are about 50 percent faster than the typical residential broadband connections in American homes. The Internet service starts at $39.99 per month and is available with next-day installation.

NASA Issues Grant to Design Tether Deployment System for Nano-Satellites

NASA has issued a $100,000 grant to technology firm Tethers Unlimited to develop a design for the deployment of nano-satellites using a tether.

The NASA-supported concept is called NanoThor, which would place a nano-satellite in a geo-transfer orbit as a secondary payload with a larger satellite. The nano-satellite would be extended along a high strength tether, which would be set to spinning using residual fuel from the launch vehicle. NASA said the momentum of the swinging tether would greatly enhance the delta V of the nano-satellite, which would combine the high specific impulse of electric ion engines and short transfer times inherent in using a chemical rocket. The nano-satellite would be released into an Earth escape trajectory, to the moon, an asteroid, or another planet. The tether would be deorbited to burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere.

NASA said that, if successful, it could send entire fleets of nano-satellites into space at a fraction of the cost of using more conventional robotic probes.

TCS Wins $5.5 Million Snap VSAT Order from U.S. Army

TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) has received a combined $5.5 million in satellite systems delivery orders from the U.S. Army.

The combined orders were for equipment, field services support and maintenance of Secret Internet Protocol Router and Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Access Point (SNAP) Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite systems equipment.

The TCS SNAP VSAT systems aim to provide multimedia communications capabilities that convey encrypted voice, video and data as highly transportable and ruggedized products.

The U.S. Army Project Manager for the Warfighter Information Network – Tactical (PM WIN-T) Commercial Satellite Terminal Program is funding these procurements through the Army’s $5 billion World-Wide Satellite Systems (WWSS) contract vehicle.

Telesat Demonstrates Broadband Services for ACIA Investment

Telesat conducted live demonstrations in September in Iqaluit to illustrate how satellite services can help remedy the bandwidth gaps that were identified in the Arctic Communications Infrastructure Assessment (ACIA) Report completed in 2011 for the Northern Communications & Information Systems Working Group and sponsored by the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

Telesat’s satellite demonstrations in Iqaluit included: providing high speed broadband to the Iqaluit Centennial Library Community Access Program (CAP) site that match and exceed the speeds available in Southern Canada; providing high speed satellite broadband capacity linking 3G cellular service provided by Northwestel to the Internet backbone; and providing streaming and live webcasting in cooperation with Inuit Communications Systems Ltd.

Telesat announced its ACIA initiative earlier this year with a $40 million investment that will serve as part of a proposed broader public/private partnership to provide broadband communications infrastructure that meets the needs of Northern communities over the next decade.

ViaSat Adds Multichannel Encryption Engine to FEC Product Line

ViaSat has added a multi-channel AES-256/128 bit security IP core to its line of soft decision Forward Error Correction (FEC) cores for 100/200G optical communications.

The core consists of a comprehensive set of pre-integrated security functions that customers can implement into FPGA or ASIC designs. The security core requires only a one-time configuration load after power-cycle/reset. Once configured, the security core will automatically set up a secure connection to its peer core or cores in the distant-end equipment.