TECHNOLOGY

Advantech Releases Dual-Operation DVB-S2 VSAT Modem

Advantech Satellite Networks released its S5420 DVB-S2 (Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite – Second Generation)VSAT modem, which is capable of operating in either of two access methods, SCPC or MF-TDMA, and can support DVB-S2 (ACM, CCM) SCPC point-to-point as well as DVB-S or DVB-S2 SCPC (ACM, VCM, CCM) and DVB-RCS point-to-multipoint.
    Advantech is marketing the S5420 as an IP VSAT connectivity solution for enterprise and government users, network operators, service providers and broadcasters.

ATCi unveils MPEG-4 Satellite Broadcasting System

Antenna Technology Communications Inc. (ATCi) has unveiled a digital broadcast system designed for local channels and DMA extension systems which aims to cut the costs of high-definition (HD) broadcasting.
    The system also transcodes signals through ATCi’s legacy MPEG-2 format allowing signal delivery to existing set top boxes.

Comtech Xicom Releases 1250-Watt Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier

Comtech Xicom Technology has unveiled its Model XTD-1250KL outdoor traveling wave tube amplifier (TWTA).
    The unit is the satellite communications industry’s first outdoor packaged 1250-watt TWTA designed to operate in the Ku-band uplink frequency, Comtech says. The TWTA enables satellite operators to mount power amplifiers at the antenna and aims to eliminate long waveguide runs and shelter requirements, reducing upgrade costs.

IDC Rolls Out Live 3-D in Europe

IDC and Sensio Technologies Inc. began the first operational rollout of live 3-D in high definition for digital cinema in Europe. The first 3-D live broadcast via satellite was an April basketball game in Europe to multiple locations throughout Italy. The event was broadcast by OpenSky, whch installed Pro Cinema 3D live decoders as an add-on to the digital cinema broadcast network previously provided by IDC.
    The Sensio 3-D technology used in the system adds additional revenue generating capability to Open Sky’s satellite broadband DVB-S2 (Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite – Second Generation) distribution network, which has been deployed specifically for live events and alternate content delivery to theatres across Europe equipped with digital cinema projection systems.

Inmarsat Introduces Faster BGAN Service

Inmarsat has unveiled a speed upgrade to its Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service. BGAN X-Stream service, which initially is available in the Asia-Pacific region, guarantees streaming data rates at a minimum of 384 kilobits per second (kbps) and up to 450kbps.
    The enhancement represents an increase in BGAN’s streaming rate of at least 50 percent, and the service will be available around the globe by the end of June.

MotoSAT Unveils Messenger Series VSAT Antenna

MotoSAT released its Messenger series mobile VSAT antenna, which is designed to meet the technical and environmental demands of the digital satellite newsgathering (DSNG) industry.
    Messenger is compatible with a range of HPA-BUC configurations, supporting high-definition broadcasting (MPEG-4), SNG and videoconferencing. When combined with a DVB-S2 controller, the Messenger becomes a single button, single operator process.

SERVICES

Arianespace Increases Ariane 5 Payload Capacity

Arianespace will extend the burn period of the upper stage of its Ariane 5 ECA rocket to increase its payload capacity by 400 kilograms, enabling it to lift two large telecommunications satellites.
    The modifications will not include any hardware changes and should be complete by the end of 2010.

Arqiva Partners With Dolby To Deliver Digital Content To Cinemas

Dolby Laboratories partnered with Arqiva to launch Dolby Direct Distribution Services, a European satellite content delivery network for digital cinemas.
    The service uses Arqiva’s international satellite infrastructure to distribute feature movies, trailers and advertising content direct to participating exhibitors and cinemas. Dolby’s JPEG 2000 compression and two-pass encoding system will deliver the digital cinema packages in low file sizes.

AUC Launches EU-Funded Satellite Receiving Station

The Africa Union Commission (AUC) had inaugurated an AU-AMESD project satellite receiving station at the AUC headquarters in Ethiopia. The AMESD, financed by the European Union, aims to enhance environmental monitoring for preparedness and adaptation, as well as management of African environmental and poverty issues.
    AUC said the project would increase the information management capacity of the African continental, regional, and national institutions in support of decisionmaking processes at different levels to facilitate sustainable access to Africa wide environmental information based on the Earth observation system.

DiBcom, Solaris Mobile Offers DVB-SH Mobile TV in Europe

DiBcom, a semiconductor company, has entered into an agreement with Solaris Mobile to help provide mobile television and in-vehicle entertainment, information and communication services throughout Europe.
    DiBcom will contribute DVB-SH broadcast receiver solutions to enable mobile devices to have access to the multimedia content transmitted by satellite and terrestrial repeaters. Solaris Mobile, which operates the W2A satellite, is one of four operators that submitted an application to the European Commission for the rollout of mobile satellite services over dedicated S-band spectrum.

Eutelsat Moves KabelKiosk Platform to Eurobird 9A

Eutelsat has moved its KabelKiosk digital cable platform to the Eurobird 9A satellite.
    Nearly 200,000 homes subscribe to KabelKiosk, with the number of channels increasing from 70 to 120 in a 12-month period. With the move, the platform, which offers German and international content, will contribute to the full transition to digital of cable markets in the regions it serves, Eutelsat Deutschland says.

Fox Sports Establishes Latin American HD Platform on Intelsat Network

Fox Pan American Sports, a Spanish-language sports programming venture, secured capacity on Intelsat’s IS-805 satellite to distribute high-definition (HD) programming to Latin American markets.
    IS-805, located at 55.5 degrees West, will deliver Fox Sports in Latin America and Fox Sports en Español to 37 million households throughout the Americas.

Harris Develops Digital Signage Channel for McDonald’s

Harris Corp. is beginning a pilot program with McDonald’s that will launch a branded TV channel, delivered via satellite and powered by Harris digital signage solutions, into 20 McDonald’s restaurants in the United States.
    Each pilot location will feature Harris digital signage and Harris InfoCaster solutions to manage, monitor and play out digital broadcast-quality video content for the McDonald’s Channel.

Iridium Certifies BlueTraker LRIT

Iridium Satellite has certified EMA Group’s BlueTraker Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) ship terminal to provide LRIT services over the Iridium satellite network.
    BlueTraker LRIT terminals are provided by Pole Star Space Applications, a U.K.-based application service provider, as well as other EMA distributors worldwide. EMA is an Iridium value-added reseller and value-added manufacturer.

Telekom Austria Launches Global Satellite Broadcast Service

Telekom Austria (TA) launched a satellite global service package for international Internet service providers and government organizations.
    The bundle, created to be deployed on the Telstar 11N satellite, includes space segment, a managed uplink service from the company’s Earth station and satellite hub in Aflenz, Styria, as well as direct connections to Telekom Austria’s terrestrial broadband backbone network, JetStream.

CONTRACTS

Avanti Picks Up U.K. Telecoms Awards

Avanti Communications won contracts to supply broadband products to four separate telecoms service providers in the United Kingdom.
    The contracts with Avonline, Broadbandwherever, Coview Solutions and KBR IT & Networking Solutions are worth a minimum of 400,000 British pounds ($586,000) throughout the next two years.

CPI Wins DataPath WIN-T Upgrade Contract

Communications and Power Industries Inc. (CPI) received a contract worth about $3 million from DataPath to support an upgrade to terminals used for the U.S. Army’s Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) satellite communications program.
     CPI will supply Ka-band high-power satellite communications amplifiers to upgrade DataPath’s unit hub satcom truck terminals used for the WIN-T program. These terminals originally were configured solely for Ku-band communications.

Harris Receives U.S. Army Contract for Satcoms Upgrade

Harris Corp. has been awarded a 10-year, $600 million contract from the U.S. Army to provide next-generation military satellite communications terminals developed for the Modernization of Enterprise Terminals (MET) program.
    Harris will develop, test and certify four unique terminal configurations during a 30-month test phase and provide production hardware and support to field activities such as site preparation, installation, test, operations and maintenance. The company also is contracted to replace up to 80 aging communications terminals around the globe with X- and Ka-band terminals capable of interfacing with Wideband Global Satellites.

Hughes Networks Systems Secures Brazilian Broadband Deal

Hughes Network Systems signed a three-year satellite broadband deal in Brazil with the State of Santa Catarina Administration Department to provide broadband satellite service to the state’s agencies.
    Hughes will provide voice, data, and video to 423 agency locations not covered by a terrestrial network. The service will interconnect state agencies such as the Departments of Education, Health, Infrastructure, police and other regional departments.

Intelsat Signs Long-Term Deal With Australian Military

Intelsat signed a $167 million contract to host a specialized UHF payload to provide communication services for the Australian military. Intelsat is dedicating a portion of its Intelsat 22 satellite, which is being manufactured by Boeing, to be used by Australian defense forces for 15 years.
    The payload is optimized to address high-growth service areas, supplying 48 C- and 24 Ku-band transponders for providing network services and media customers in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Lockheed Martin To Build JCSAT-13

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract by Sky Perfect JSAT to build the JCSAT-13 satellite.
    Based on the A2100 series and scheduled for launch in 2013, the satellite will carry 44 Ku-band transponders that will cover Japan, Asia and Oceania. The satellite, located at 124 degrees East, also will have two steerable antennas.

SES Americom-New Skies Signs DRS Technologies Deal

SES Americom-New Skies has signed a capacity deal with DRS Technologies, renewing an agreement for satellite capacity and connectivity to support the DRS Technologies Global Communications Network (GCN).
    DRS will use C-band and Ku-band capacity on 14 beams across four SES Americom-New Skies satellites to support telemedicine and rural learning programs.

SpaceX Wins Falcon 9 Launch Contract for Argentinean Satellites

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) signed an agreement with Argentina’s National Commission on Space Activity (CONAE), for two launches aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
    The flights will send the Saocom 1A and 1B Earth observation satellites into sun-synchronous orbits. The two satellites will join four X-band SAR Cosmo-SkyMed satellites from the Italian Space Agency, creating the Italian-Argentine System of Satellites for Emergency Management constellation.

Telenor Adds Capacity Via SES Sirius Satellite

Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSB) has signed a deal with SES Sirius to gain further capacity in the Nordic region using the . Sirius 4 satellite at 5 degrees East.
    The additional capacity will be used for dedicated occasional use broadcasts within the Nordics and Baltics.