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TECHNOLOGY
Global Satellite USA Launches New Iridium GPS Surveillance Device
Global Satellite USA, an offshore industry satellite communications provider, has launched Polaris, a position-reporting device for monitoring and surveillance over Iridium.
The device transmits GPS coordinates via satellite to a personal computer on a timed basis, from every 20 seconds to every 24 hours, and the interval between transmissions can be changed remotely.
The Polaris device works on battery power alone or on external power. Global Satellite boasted its capability of sending over 4,000 position reports on one battery charge — the equivalent of every half-hour for 80 days at sea or almost 14 days at 5-minute intervals.
ND SatCom Unveils Military Terminal
ND SatCom has unveiled a full-featured, trailer-mounted, military tactical terminal.
The MTT2450 terminal is HMMWV-towable and supports communication via satellite or over troposcatter beyond-line-of-site links. Using the U.S. Army-approved Light Tactical Trailer as the baseline platform, the MTT2450 terminal combines a 2.4-meter antenna with an on-board diesel generator, a power distribution/protection system and environmentally protected electronics to provide a robust, autonomous communications platform, which can be quickly and easily deployed in virtually any location.
The terminal has been tested and certified for road, rail and lift transport in accordance with MIL STD 810 F.
UDcast Introduces Bandwidth Optimization Capability for UDgateway Solution
UDcast has rolled out with WANcompress for its UDgateway security and performance solution.
UDgateway offers bandwidth optimization to reduce the high operating expenditure associated with satellite communications. WANcompress is a standard feature of version 4.1 for the UDgateway.
WANcompress is a software-based caching and data compression capability that works at the data stream level making it insensitive to applications. By maintaining large, synchronized caches at both ends of the link, WANcompress has the ability to recognize redundancy in the data being transmitted over the link even days or weeks after it has been sent for the first time. UDcast said that WANcompress aims to use its local cache instead of transmitting data over the link whenever possible.
XipLink Announces Software Version 2.7
Xiplink, a developer of wireless bandwidth optimization, has rolled out with version 2.7 of its bandwidth software.
The commercial release includes improvements to XipLink’s high-performance data compression algorithms and can boast bandwidth gains of 200 percent or more for most data types.
The company’s wireless optimization solution supports IP version 6 and is based on IETF standards in combination with the Space Communications Protocol Standards, which aims to ensure government and military organizations of multi-vendor interoperability.
SERVICES
Arrowhead Orders Capacity From SES New Skies
SES New Skies will provide Arrowhead Global Solutions capacity on the NSS-12 satellite that will support U.S. government needs over the Middle East and East Africa.
Arrowhead, the government and military division of CapRock Communications, supports mission-critical needs of more than 30 government agency customers and associated end-users.
The NSS-12 satellite, being manufactured by Space Systems/Loral, is scheduled to begin operations in the second half of 2009 and will replace NSS-703 at 57 degrees East. The spacecraft features 40 C-band and 48 Ku-band transponders with DTH power levels as well as beam interconnectivity and C-/Ku-band cross-strapping.
Hughes Provides Broadband Internet to Amazonas
Hughes do Brasil has won a public tender and signed a 36-month contract with Prodam, the data processing company of the state of Amazonas, to deploy a turnkey broadband network solution that combines WiMax and Wi-Fi access technologies with satellite backhaul.
Prodam will provide high-speed wireless Internet access service to customers throughout all 61 municipalities of Amazonas, including government agencies, small businesses and the public at large. The contract calls for completion of the installation process within 12 months. In the first phase, 15 municipalities will receive the service, which includes the WiMax network connecting various public agencies and a Wi-Fi hotspot for wireless public Internet access.
Integral Systems Europe Supprorts Eumetsat’s Polar Mission
Integral Systems Europe signed a yearly renewable contract to support the Polar Mission Control System (MCS) over the next 15 years with the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (Eumetsat).
Integral Systems Europe delivered the MCS as a subcontractor to Thales Alenia Space. The MCS includes four systems at two different sites and has been in operation since October 2005.
Raytheon Restores GBS Bandwidth Over Atlantic
Raytheon Co. has been awarded a task order by the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency to restore the available bandwidth of the Global Broadcast Service (GBS) satellite communications system over the Atlantic Ocean to support naval vessels and operations.
Under the Advanced Technology Support Program 3, Raytheon will complete the integration of the satellite broadcast manager facility in Norfolk, Va., with the U.S. Naval Station uplink in Rota, Spain, to provide GBS broadcast coverage over the Atlantic. Developed and operated by Raytheon, the GBS provides high-speed, high-volume intelligence and situational awareness data to military forces around the globe.
SatLink Provides Broadcast Solutions to CNN for Middle Eastern Coverage
CNN has selected SatLink Communications Ltd. to provide its broadcast contribution needs in Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
CNN is using SatLink’s turnaround and uplink services for transmitting content from its bureaus in Israel and the Palestinian Authority to the NSS-7 satellite for reception at CNN U.S. headquarters.
SatLink will create a fiber backbone between CNN’s local bureaus and its teleport facilities outside of Jerusalem from where the content is uplinked.
Sonema, Intelsat Deliver Communications Infrastructure for African Enterprises
Sonema, a provider of telecommunication services in Europe and Africa, expanded its agreement with Intelsat for contracted satellite capacity.
Sonema uses the capacity to provide satellite communication transmissions to businesses such as financial institutions in some of the most isolated regions of Africa. The additional capacity in Intelsat’s IS-904 satellite will allow Sonema to increase its enterprise services offerings. The deal also renews Sonema’s capacity contract on Intelsat IS-1R.
Thales Alenia Space Provides Hispasat AG1 Communication Payload
Thales Alenia Space España, signed an agreement with prime contractor Hispasat for the development and supply of the Redsat Advanced Communication Payload for the AG1 satellite.
The initiative, part of the European Space Agency’s Artes 11 program, is intended to develop a small geostationary satellite which will enable European players to compete in this segment of the commercial market. The program will develop, manufacture and launch a first satellite mission to provide flight experience and an in-orbit demonstration of the advanced payload and the platform.
For the payload, Thales Alenia Space will provide the space and ground subassemblies for a broadband multimedia system DVB system. EADS Casa Espacio will develop and produce the antenna system that will provide Ku- and Ka-band communications.
MSV Awarded Licenses for New U.S. Gateways
Mobile Satellite Ventures LP (MSV) has been granted by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) communications licenses for two new MSV gateways in the United States.
MSV is constructing a network with gateways in Napa, Calif., and Dallas, along with similar facilities in Ottawa, Ontario and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. MSV also has an operating license for the Ottawa facility and has been granted authorization for the Saskatoon facility by Industry Canada (IC). The gateway network will support the company’s next-generation satellite-terrestrial communication network for North America. MSV has begun acceptance testing of the communications equipment installed at both the Napa and Saskatoon facilities and plans to begin testing in the Dallas and Ottawa facilities during the 2009 first quarter.
Boeing is constructing the gateways as part of its contract to develop MSV’s next-generation space system.
CONTRACTS
Boeing Upgrades GPs Control Segment
Boeing will upgrade the U.S. Air Force’s Operational Control Segment (OCS) satellite ground control system to operate GPS 2F satellites as well as provide advanced encryption and data-protection capabilities, Boeing announced Nov. 17.
The OCS system, also known as the Architecture Evolution Plan, is a distributed-server-based system designed to improve operations, increase efficiency and provide a foundation for new capabilities.
The first of 12 Boeing-built GPS 2F satellites is scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2009.
CPI, MCL To Develop Ka-band amplifier for air force
Communications & Power Industries Inc. (CPI) and MCL Inc., a Miteq company, each received $1.4 million contractc to design, develop and test Ka-band traveling wave tubes and amplifiers for the U.S. Air Force.
The product is expected to compliment and enhance current military airborne communication technology. The contract is sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, N.Y.
DataPath Awarded JNN/WIN-T Satellite Terminals Contract
DataPath Inc. was awarded a contract to continue providing on-site personnel to operate and maintain U.S. Army satellite communications systems.
The $4.8 million award provides 12 months of funding for DataPath technical personnel based in various locations in the United States that support satellite transportable terminals, master reference terminals and unit hub satellite communications Trucks used in the U.S. Army’s Joint Network Node (JNN)/Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program.
Eutelsat Signs Capacity Deal to Boost Belgian Position
Eutelsat signed a capacity deal with the Airfield Media Group, a company looking to make an impact in the Belgian pay-TV market, Eutelsat announced Nov. 20.
In addition to capacity at the Hot Bird neighborhood, which will be used to broadcast five Belgian French-language channels on the new Telesat pay-TV platform, the contract covers provision of contribution links, multiplexing and uplinking of the five channels from Eutelsat’s Rambouillet teleport in France.
The service is scheduled to launch in December, and DTH reception will be available throughout Belgium with MPEG-4 decoders using Nagravision’s Mediaguard 3 encryption system.
GMV, ATSB Establish Malaysia’s Coastal Differential GPS Network
GMV and Astronautic Technology Sdn. Bhd. (ATSB) won an a contract for Malaysia’s coastal Differential GPS (DGPS) network.
Under this agreement, signed with the Marine Department of Malaysia, part of the Ministry of Transportation, GMV and ATSB will supply a satellite-based technological solution to streamline operations, boost integrity and increase the accuracy of maritime applications.
DGPS provides corrections for the receiver’s GPS satellite data to increase the precision of the calculated position. Since all monitoring and control operations can be maintained from any DGPS station or remotely from a regional or national control center, all of the differential corrections can be modified. The monitoring and control centers also may use software tools that automate the documentation of GPS data.
MDA Wins Two Government Radarsat Contracts
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) received a contract from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to begin the design of the Radarsat Constellation Mission (RCM).
The RCM aims to ensure the continued use by government scientific and commercial clients of data produced by Canada’s advanced C-band radar instrument. As part of the mission, the three-satellite configuration will provide complete daily coverage of Canada’s land and oceans as well as significant coverage of international areas for Canadian and international users.
The 16-month contract is valued at $32.7 million.
Separately, MDA has been awarded a contract worth more than $11 million to provide a Radarsat-2 information solution to a confidential defense intelligence agency.
According to MDA, the solution is to be used to support a variety of surveillance and reconnaissance applications. The contract includes the provision of the first year of near real-time direct downlink of radar imagery from the Radarsat-2 satellite.
The solution is scheduled to be delivered and will become operational in 12 months.
Thuraya Signs Egypt Distribution Deal
Thuraya signed a distribution agreement with i2 of Saudi Arabia to sell and market Thuraya’s phones through its distribution network throughout Egypt.
The partnership, signed between Thuraya’s Egyptian national service provider Alkan Telecom and i2, is expected to stimulate an increase in marketing and sales activity of Thuraya’s mobile satellite services handhelds among key sectors in the country such as regional travelers, oil and gas, non-governmental organizations, tourism and transport.
ViaSat Receives FAB-T Development Contract Modification from Boeing
ViaSat Inc. has received a subcontract modification valued at more than $28 million from Boeing Co. for the Family of Advanced Beyond-line-of-sight Terminals (FAB-T) program.
As part of the Boeing team, ViaSat will develop protected communication equipment designed to provide the U.S. government with secure strategic and tactical communications. The modification adds additional technical requirements and hardware units to the ViaSat subcontract.
ViaSat has so far completed two FAB-T program deliveries – prototype acceptance testing and delivery to the U.S. Air Force as part of the Boeing team FAB-T terminal delivery and the engineering development model hardware and software, which also has been delivered to Boeing.
EXECUTIVE MOVES
NDS Makes Executive Changes
NDS, a supplier of middleware and conditional access solutions to satellite pay-TV operators, made a series of executive appointments and promotions.
Caroline Le Bigot has been named senior vice president for Latin America and EMEA, adding responsibility for the Latin American region to her current role of overseeing EMEA.
Jesper Knutsson has been appointed vice president and general manager of sales, NDS Americas and will be responsible for the overall sales strategy for NDS in the United Statees and Canada.
Sue Taylor has been named senior vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific, with responsibility for all operations across the region.
AWARDS
Spectrolab Receives California Space Innovation Award
Spectrolab Inc., a wholly owned Boeing subsidiary, received the 2008 SpotBeam Award for Space Innovation from the California Space Authority (CSA) in recognition of its 50 years of advancements in photovoltaic solar cell technology, solar panels and related products.
The SpotBeam Award recognizes organizations for extraordinary contributions to the state’s leadership in U.S. and international space arenas.
Spectrolab products have powered satellites since 1958 and have contributed to the on-orbit success of numerous commercial, national security and civil space missions. Spectrolab’s technological advancements have driven space solar cell efficiencies to more than 28 percent.
Space Systems/Loral Former CEO Inducted Into Engineering Hall of Fame
Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) former CEO, Robert Berry, was inducted into the Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame, which recognizes the accomplishments of engineers who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and have made significant contributions to the Silicon Valley community.
With a space industry career that launched in 1957, Berry was responsible for some of the world’s most advanced communications and meteorological satellite projects for defense, civil, and commercial applications.
Berry was general manager of Ford Aerospace’s Space Systems Division from 1977 until 1990, when the company became SS/L. At that time, he was named president and chairman of the company in 1999. He continues to work with the company as chairman emeritus and systems fellow.
