Satellite Today :: MSUA-6 to Co-locate with SATELLITE 2009

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Scott Chase

We’re just six months out from SATELLITE 2009 and, as always, there’s a lot going on in the global satellite-enabled marketplace. Take mobile satellite services, for one example, and partnering, for another.

SATELLITE 2009 is pleased to announce that we’ve partnered with the Mobile Satellite Users Association to co-locate MSUA’s annual conference and exhibition with us in Washington next March.

“We’re delighted to be co-locating with SATELLITE 2009, the premier event in the satellite industry calendar,” says MSUA president and super-consultant Tim Farrar. “We’ll be able to build on the great success of MSUA’s conference over the last two years and showcase all of the new developments in the MSS sector to a much wider audience.”

Once widely heralded as the “next big thing,” then a decade ago declared dead on arrival, MSS has evolved into a key component of the overall satellite solutions set. MSS has taken the lead in developing relationship linking the commercial world to government and military markets, has shown great dexterity in extending MSS applications to a fast-growing consumer audience, and is driving innovation and technology development within its segment.

In the wake of the XM-Sirius merger, attention has turned to the possibility of consolidation in the MSS industry. At last year’s MSS Industry Leaders panel, organized by MSUA, only TerreStar was prepared to venture that there might be fewer CEOs participating in the session at SATELLITE 2009. Over the summer, Harbinger announced its intention to pursue regulatory approvals for a merger of MSV and Inmarsat and Inmarsat applied to the FCC for permission to take over Stratos in April 2009. Although funding has been available for MSS operators, most notably the $150 million raised by Globalstar in April and the $500 million raised by MSV in July, the share price of several ATC-focused players, such as Globalstar and TerreStar, has fallen sharply over the last 12 months, as there has been no sign of an imminent large scale ATC partnership being realized.

As a result, speculation has mounted about whether further mergers will be needed, between Globalstar and Iridium or between ICO and TerreStar, to allow these operators to ride out the current financial market storms.

At SATELLITE 2009 you’ll be able to see whether any of this consolidation has come to pass and hear from the leaders of the MSS industry about what’s going to happen next. You’ll also glean the latest details about key developments in the MSS sector, ranging from mobile broadband to ATC to changes in MSS distribution.

Make plans now to join us in Washington, D.C., in March for SATELLITE 2009. The MSUA has made its decision to be there, and we look forward to welcoming you, too!

NEW FOR 2009!
MSUA-6 will be co-located with SATELLITE 2009, taking place at the same time in the same venue!

MSUA-6 joins forces with SATELLITE 2009 to bring MSS users, manufacturers, distributors and service providers the latest in the mobile satellite services industry. With a focus on military and government applications, emergency response and the future of MSS, these sessions are a perfect complement to the SATELLITE 2009 Conference.

To register for MSUA-6, you must register for SATELLITE 2009 (registration to the Exhibition is free!) and then select MSUA-6 under Co-located Conference.

Read the Press Release

As thousands of attendees can attest to, the SATELLITE show floor is the #1 place for buyers of satellite-enabled communications technology to meet and network with suppliers of the products and services that will shape their businesses for years to come. If you’ve waited to secure your exhibit space and make plans to meet these decision-makers face to face at SATELLITE 2009, don’t delay any further! Several prime booth locations are still available – to view the current exhibit hall floor plan, click here.

Want to learn how new, innovative sponsorship ideas can help you maximize your SATELLITE experience? It’s no secret that a strategic approach to tradeshow marketing is absolutely required to stand out from the crowd and differentiate yourself. At SATELLITE 2009, with more than 9000 registrants and 280 exhibitors, the need to stand out has never been more urgent. SATELLITE sponsorship ideas are limitless – if you can dream it, we can build it! Several new and exciting sponsorship opportunities are now available on a first-come/first-served basis, and are designed to deliver the quality and quantity of leads and contacts you need to meet and exceed your team’s sales and marketing goals.

Make the most of your SATELLITE experience – contact Michael Cassinelli, Exhibit Sales Manager today at +1 (301) 354-1691 or by email at: mcassinelli@accessintel.com and put the power of SATELLITE to work for you.

Satellite Executive of the Year Award Presentation Luncheon
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26
Ballroom A, Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Don’t miss the marquee event of SATELLITE 2009! Via Satellite magazine presents its Satellite Executive of the Year 2008, honoring the top satellite industry executive who made significant business impact in the global satellite arena. The networking continues into the evening with the Satellite Executive of the Year Reception from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Satellite Executive of the Year Award Presentation Luncheon and Reception is included with your conference registration! Click here for more information on Networking Opportunities at SATELLITE 2009.

If you are looking for the latest news on the marketplace leaders in the satellite community, the SATELLITE 2009 Press Room is the place to go! Here's a recent headline:

ViaSat Awarded Infrastructure Contract for New Eutelsat All Ka-band Satellite
Provision of broadband networking equipment for ten gateway systems using KA-SAT
Carlsbad, CA, USA - Monday, September 8th 2008 - ViaSat (NASDAQ: VSAT) has received a $50 million contract award from Skylogic, the broadband subsidiary of Eutelsat Communications (Eutelsat Communications-Euronext Paris: ETL) for on-ground baseband infrastructure for the previously announced high-capacity KA-SAT Ka-band satellite system. Under the contract, ViaSat will deliver and install broadband equipment for 10 KA-SAT gateways in Europe. The gateways will connect subscribers of Eutelsat Tooway™ satellite broadband service to the Internet. The ViaSat ground infrastructure will be available for the KA-SAT launch scheduled for the third quarter of 2010. Read More

Read all press releases

SATELLITE 2009 is a proud participant of the Department of Commerce's International Buyer Program. The International Buyer Program matches buyers with companies currently exporting goods and arranges for delegations to attend SATELLITE 2009 at a discounted rate. Please contact your local U.S. Embassy for more information on attending with an official delegation from your country.

For more information about the International Buyer Program, to obtain an official letter of invitation or for tips on getting a visa, please click here.

PLDT, Mabuhay Invest in ProtoStar
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and subsidiary Mabuhay Satellite Corp. have agreed to provide some Mabuhay assets to ProtoStar Ltd. in exchange for a stake in the satellite operator, the companies announced Sept. 17.
ProtoStar will have expanded use of Mabuhay's Subic Space Center for the operation and control of satellites, and PLDT will have the option to make further investments in ProtoStar and an agreement to lease C-band transponder capacity on the ProtoStar 1 satellite.
The agreements are intended to enhance ProtoStar's pan-Asian reach while extending Mabuhay's presence in the region. ProtoStar 1 was launched in July, while ProtoStar 2 is scheduled for launch in early 2009. Mubahay's Agila2 satellite has been operating since 1997.
"PLDT and Mabuhay’s collaboration with ProtoStar will enable PLDT to enjoy full diversity and protection for its satellite needs as ProtoStar continues with its satellite fleet expansion plans," PLDT President and CEO and Mabuhay Chairman Napoleon Nazareno, said in a statement. "The PLDT group uses significant satellite capacity for its GSM backhaul requirements for its rural cell sites, and this diversification will add to the robustness of the PLDT Group's network."

Orbital Completes Ground Operations for Minotaur 4
Orbital Sciences Corp. has completed the full-scale pathfinder ground operations of the Minotaur 4 space launch vehicle in preparation for its inaugural flight, the company announced Sept. 16.
Orbital Sciences said the ground testing activities included the assembly of a full-scale Minotaur 4 rocket, using inert rocket motors and flight-qualified structures to fully validate all interfaces with the booster, ground support equipment and facility structures.
The pathfinder operations were overseen by representatives from the U.S. Air Force.
Launch of the Minotaur 4 is currently scheduled to take place in early 2009. Orbital said the Spaceport Systems International launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force base will be the launch site for all three Minotaur 4 missions planned in 2009.

OpenSky Orders 5,000 Broadband Terminals from ViaSat
ViaSat received an order for 5,000 SurfBeam Ka-band broadband terminals from OpenSky for the launch of Eutelsat Tooway consumer broadband service in Italy, ViaSat announced Sept. 15.
OpenSky said they projecting that the 5,000 terminals equate approximately a three-month supply adding that the Tooway service hopes to enable the company to extend high speed Internet to areas in Italy that are unserved or underserved by asymmetric DSL.
Paolo Dalla Chiara, president of OpenSky, commented, " ... We're excited about the next leap in high capacity satellite broadband with the new KA-SAT as well. We completed our infrastructure by partnering with a consortium of installers, CTA and CTA trade, that provide the logistic and installation all over Italy, so we can provide excellent customer service from installation to activation."
Launched in Europe in 2007, Tooway uses Ka-band capacity on Eutelsat's HotBird 6 satellite and the ViaSat SurfBeam Docsis-based broadband satellite system as the ground segment.

Telesat Leases Telstar 12 Capacity, Transponders on Telstar 11N
Talia has acquired a large amount of capacity on Telesat's Telstar 12 satellite, Telesat announced Sept. 15.
According to Telesat, Talia will use the capacity to host its iDirect Evolution DVB-S2 networks available in the Middle East and North Africa region.
"DVB-S2 technologies vastly improve with higher power, and Telstar 12 allows us to provide excellent coverage throughout the entire Middle East, Europe, and the British Isles all within one footprint," said Talia COO, Travis Mooney. Talia said it's Telstar service is designed to accommodate a large number of sites for corporate, NGO, government, military, and private customers. Talia already operates iDirect Infiniti networks in the Middle East and North Africa on a variety of satellites.
In addition, Telesat announced it signed a contract with NewWave Broadband Ltd. on Sept. 15 to provide the equivalent of three transponders on Telesat's Telstar 11N satellite. NewWave said it is also rolling out its first iDirect DVB-S2 platform to support land-based VSAT services.
According to Telesat, Telstar 11N will provide Ku-band transponder capacity with high power over four key areas, including: The Atlantic Ocean; Western and Sub-Saharan Africa; Western and Central Europe and North Africa; and North and Central America, as well as the Caribbean. Launch of T11N is scheduled between December 2008 and February 2009.

SES Astra Creates New Company, Names Executive Leadership
SES Astra has created a new company, Astra Broadband Services (ABBS), a wholly-owned subsidiary set to further promote and enhance SES Astra's portfolio of products, the company announced Sept. 12.
SES Astra said that the main focus of the new company is the further development and roll-out of Astra2Connect, a two-way high-speed internet service launched in April 2007 across several European markets.
Norbert Willems has been appointed CEO of ABBS. Willems served in other management positions at SES Astra prior to this new assignment. Alessandro De Meo has been appointed CFO. Peter Schüler has been named CCO and Patrick Biewer was named CTO.
"In the last year, we have experienced an immense success with the roll-out of Astra2Connect" said Ferdinand Kayser, president and CEO of SES Astra. "In order to further support the dynamic development and serve the high demand from different European markets, we have created this new company. It will fully focus on this promising sector and serve the growing number of customers. I am confident that with ABBS we have created a centre of excellence for our growing number of broadband customers."

Northrop Grumman to Acquire 3001 International
Northrop Grumman Corp. has signed a definitive merger agreement with 3001 International Inc. to acquire the company and expand its geospatial business, Northrop Grumman announced Sept. 10.
The company said that the transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2008. Though the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, Northrop Grumman said that 3001 will be part of its information technology sector and that completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions and approval.
3001 is currently owned by its management and CM Equity Partners, a private equity investment firm, which makes investments in private middle-market companies that operate primarily in the federal services sector.