Focus: Telecom

Following integration of its full payload stack, the heavy-lift Ariane 5 is now complete in preparation for its July 25 launch.

At the ACOMM awards July 18, the Communications Alliance awarded Optus the “Satellite Provider of the Year” honor for the company’s commitment to providing satellite products and services in remote areas.

Since the release of a U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report earlier this year, demand for satellite broadband service continues to increase exponentially, prompting service providers such as Hughes and ViaSat to change how they do business to meet this increased demand.

The SPOT 6, a high-resolution Earth observation satellite designed, built and operated by Astrium has been qualified by the Joint Research Center (JRC) to take part in the MARS-CAP program run by the European Commission.

For the first time, mobile users, including military troops and border patrol agents, will soon be able to use secure voice and data on the move

Satélites Mexicanos (Satmex) announced it has entered into an agreement with Boeing for the design, construction and delivery of Satmex 9, the latest communications satellite in its fleet. Satmex 9 will be launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla. aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

Washington state-based Kymeta recently closed a $50 million Series C financing arrangement, serving to further accelerate the company’s growth plans.

Google recently held meetings with major media companies that own television networks, signaling the race to sell services via the Internet.

SES could be in for a challenging couple of years. A new research report by Morgan Stanley has moved SES to an “underweight” rating. The report highlights a number of risks that could impact the operator in the near future.

Boeing and Panasonic are preparing to open a new market for eXConnect, Panasonic’s secure, satellite-based, in-flight broadband service.