Satellite Today :: Downlink 9-28-09


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"SATELLITE provided the access and ability to meet new people and establish new business relationships."

Julia Geissinger
Director of Business Development
Coastal Satellite, Inc.

Scott Chase

Emerging markets and enabling technologies long have been themes catalyzing the world’s satellite-enabled marketplace. For satellite, this even has a bit of “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” to enliven any debate about the future of this or that new technology or growing geographic region.

One thing is certain: The first commercial satellites positively were solutions in search of problems. As things turned out, rather quickly, the capability set offered by satellite was – and remains – so elegant, so versatile, so adaptable, and so profitable that it has remained at the forefront for decades. Meantime, the movers and shakers that define the ever-expanding outer limits of satellite-enabled markets and services know that half the battle in the introduction of new services is to get the solution in front of the right service providers and end users.

In that regard, the world’s broadcasters step to the front of the line in terms of longevity and relevance. From the first global live events via satellite in the mid- and late 1960s to the thousands of channels on air today, the broadcast sector has been a first-tier driver for both emerging markets and enabling technologies.

Just last week Via Satellite editors at the core of the Satellite Group at Access Intelligence hosted a well-attended webinar on the future of satellite-delivered 3D TV. Among the questions: What are the prospects for 3D HD in the digital cinema market? How much will it cost to deploy 3D services? How can current infrastructure be used to roll out 3D entertainment offerings? With HDTV penetration still relatively low, how soon can 3D TV realistically make an impact, even in major markets such as the United States and Europe? Are satellite players uniquely positioned to offer these services and capture a large share of the potential revenue?

And that’s just 3D TV. Take any other hot topic we’ve covered recently – maritime and cruise connections, smaller, lighter, more efficient antennas, satellite TV and other services from cars, in-flight services, launch vehicles, mobile, military, commercial, broadcast, emerging markets and enabling technologies – you name it, and all you have to do to get a heads up on the agenda at SATELLITE 2010 is fill in the blanks.

SATELLITE never stays the same. More new information, more new opportunity, more challenge, more uncertainty, and more promise has been generated by the world’s satellite-enabled marketplace in the last year than in the previous five. An understanding of all of this is critical to your business success as we enter the early months and years of the next decade.

And there’s one place to get it all, under one roof, at one time. That’s why you need to register for SATELLITE 2010 right now.

At the SATELLITE 2010 Conference, you'll take a fresh look at new solutions to overcome challenges you are facing today and roadblocks on the horizon. Sessions will be led by panels of experts and focus on topics such as:

Key markets that will help you sustain growth through turbulent times
ITAR and the changes made by the new administration
Emerging regions including Latin America, the Middle East and Africa
Broadcast technologies for worship
And more!

Beginning March 16, more than 300 exhibiting companies at SATELLITE 2010 will be on full display for thousands of qualified buyers to meet and network with. Cutting-edge products and services will be demonstrated and evaluated, new relationships will be forged and the products and services seen on the show floor will play an integral role in the satellite-enabled communications networks of tomorrow.

One of the highest priorities for every exhibitor is how to best maximize their marketing and sales efforts pre, during AND post-event. According to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, sponsorships can increase qualified booth traffic by as much as 104%! Many of the most successful SATELLITE exhibitors are already taking advantage of customized sponsorship programs that build brand-awareness, increase booth traffic, and help maximize their company message. Are you?

To view an updated menu of sponsorship opportunities, please click here. If your company is interested in increased exposure at SATELLITE 2010, a customized sponsorship program can help you achieve and exceed your marketing and sales goals and put your company in the spotlight! To discuss a plan that fits your unique needs, contact Michael Cassinelli today at +1-301-354-1691 or mcassinelli@accessintel.com.

SATELLITE 2010 is the premier event offering unparalleled networking opportunities. You'll connect with colleagues from all sectors of the global satellite community. Here's one of the can't miss networking events at SATELLITE:

The WTA 2009 Teleport Awards Luncheon

11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 16
Since 1995, WTA has presented annual awards to companies and individuals who have dramatically demonstrated excellence in the field of teleport operations, development and technology. Celebrate the winners and network with colleagues during the Awards Luncheon.

Tickets for the WTA 2009 Teleport Awards Luncheon can be purchased when registering for SATELLITE 2010.

The SATELLITE 2010 Press Room is your one-stop-shop for the latest news and updates on exhibiting companies. Here's a recent headline:

ORBITAL-BUILT OPTUS D3 COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED ABOARD ARIANE ROCKET
Third Orbital-Built Spacecraft Launched for Australian Satellite Operator

Dulles, VA, USA - Tuesday, September 15th 2009 – Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that the Optus D3 commercial communications satellite, built by Orbital for Optus Networks Pty Limited of Australia, was successfully launched into its targeted orbit aboard an Ariane 5 rocket on Friday, August 21, 2009. The mission originated from the spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana at approximately 6:10 p.m. (EDT). The Optus D3 satellite was deployed into a geostationary transfer orbit about 32 minutes after lift-off. Initial communications with the satellite have been established and it is performing as expected in the early stages of the mission. Read More

Read all Press Releases

Harbinger to Acquire SkyTerra; Company Going Private
SkyTerra has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by a new corporation formed by Harbinger Capital Partners and its affiliates, which will see SkyTerra transform into a private company, SkyTerra announced Sept. 23.
The new Harbinger entity will pay $5.00 in cash per share 56 percent more than the average closing price for each of SkyTerra's outstanding shares of common stock not held by Harbinger or its affiliates. Harbinger and its affiliates together hold about 48 percent of SkyTerra's outstanding voting common stock and about 49 percent of SkyTerra's voting and non-voting common stock combined.
The merger agreement has been approved by a special committee of evaluators, which included Morgan Stanley, Skadden, Arps, Slate and Meagher & Flom. The transaction is subject to approval by the holders of a majority of SkyTerra's outstanding voting common stock and to regulatory approvals, including approval of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, and other closing conditions.
SkyTerra already has filed with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission and anticipates that the transaction will close in late 2009 or early 2010.

AsiaSat 5 Enters Service
The AsiaSat 5 satellite has entered into commercial service, AsiaSat announced Sept. 21.
AsiaSat 5, a Space Systems/Loral 1300 satellite, is located at 100.5 degrees East, where it will replace AsiaSat 2. Transfer of traffic from AsiaSat 2 to AsiaSat 5 will be completed over the next few weeks, AsiaSat said.
AsisSat 5 has 26 C-band and 14 Ku-band transponders and will provide video and news distribution and contribution services as well as governments and corporations for VSAT network services for private broadcasters.

Eutelsat Awarded Broadband Connectivity Deal by Moroccan Government
Eutelsat and VSAT partner Nortis Cimecom have been awarded a contract by the Moroccan Ministry for Education and the Moroccan National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to deliver a satellite-based broadband service to schools beyond range of terrestrial networks, Eutelsat announced Sept. 16.
The government deployment program forms part of a national program dubbed Génie, driven by the Moroccan Ministry of Education to extend ICT infrastructure to schools for on teacher training programs and Internet access to educational content for pupils of all ages.
Nortis Cimecom will deploy Eutelsat¹s D-Star satellite-based solution to equip 25 percent of schools in the first phase of the national program. The second phase of the program is being assessed by the national telecommunications regulatory authority with the ultimate objective to deliver broadband to a total of 21,000 schools.
Financial details of the contract were not disclosed.

Atrexx Launches 2way2sat Services in Iraq
Atrexx, a German provider of telecommunications and broadcast solutions, is now offering satellite-based communications services to the Iraq region via Eutelsat¹s Eurobird 4A satellite, Atrexx announced Sept. 16.
The Atrexx service, 2way2sat, will use Eurobird 4A¹s wide beam coverage encompassing Europe, the Atlantic Islands, North Africa, and the Middle East. The service is based on the iDirect Evolution platform and includes next-generation X3 satellite routers, equipped with DVB-S2 standard with adaptive coding and modulation. Service features allow for a range of IP applications, including virtual private networks, voice-over-IP, telephony and video-conferencing.
In a statement, the company said it was responding to "the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, which has led to the delay of the withdrawal of U.S. troops and thus to continued strong demand for communications services - including for security forces and for soldiers who want to stay in touch with friends and family back home."

OmniGlobe Wins Big With Middle East Service Contracts
OmniGlobe Networks EMEA has won two contracts to provide backhaul platforms and mobile services in the Middle East, the company announced Sept. 15.
Arabsat selected OmniGlobe to provide 12 new backhauling platforms for the transmission of SCPC TV streams throughout the Arab world countries. The new platforms will be designed for continuous operation, capable of receiving their own signals for monitoring purposes and will be equipped with extensive control and diagnostic functions, both on and off sites.
OmniGlobe will supply, design, integrate, test and commission the broadcast contribution earth stations and all other associated equipment and systems, including earth station/RF chains/baseband equipment chains. The manufacturer will produce small aperture antennas with associated RF compliant with the ITU Appendix 30B frequency band, as offered across the Arabsat 5-A satellite.
The entire project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2010.
Separately, OmniGlobe signed a contract with the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) to supply mobile Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) services for connection to the Multimedia Exchange Network Over Satellite (MENOS) network, OmniGlobe announced Sept. 15.
The deal will see OmniGlobe partnering with Sat-Comm to deliver compact vehicle-based DSNG solutions that are tailored to match ASBU¹s specific requirements and optimized for the terrain conditions of the Middle East and North Africa regions.
The three "Buckys" will be equipped with mobile auto-deploy AuraSat 1.2m antenna systems as well as all the associated equipment required to convert the video signals for direct transmission to a satellite. The vehicles will also include video cameras as well as audio and video editing capabilities, and operate over multiple satellites, allowing digital transmission to the MENOS network.
"The broadcast industry is extremely fast-paced and we are constantly looking at ways to improve our technology and services, and provide optimum broadcast services. OmniGlobe was chosen based on their industry experience, high level of customer service and ability to deliver a unique and robust solution to closely match our operational and environmental requirements," said Abdelrahim Suleiman, ASBU director of engineering affairs, in a statement.