Intelsat announced two separate deals to lease transponder capacity to companies in the oil and gas industry. One agreement involves a long-term contract for capacity on its IA-6 satellite with CapRock Communications, a Houston-based satellite- communications service provider focused on such remote industrial markets as oilfield, construction, maritime, mining and disaster relief. CapRock will provide access to the IA-6 satellite via one of its six international teleports, with managed services controlled through its 24/7 global network operations center in Houston. The agreement is Intelsat’s first thrust in the North American energy market.

Another Houston-based company, SkyPort International, agreed to purchase two long-term capacity leases on Intelsat’s IA-7 satellite over North America.