TECHNOLOGY

EchoStar Europe Targets European Cable Market with Set-Top Box

EchoStar Europe is targeting the European cable market with a new range of advanced set-top boxes.
    EchoStar Europe aims to help cable operators as they compete against satellite and IPTV operators in Europe by launching its high-definition, HDC-600 series platform. Available with either an integrated DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS-based modem or IP return channel, the unit supports broadcast and two-way/interactive services such as video on demand.
    The line-up of products targets the migration of networks from analog to digital, the continued rollout of high definition services and the growth in popularity of personalized digital video recording. The offer includes advanced functionality through its SlingLoaded initiative/technology.

Fujitsu Releases Encoder With DVB-S, DVB-S2 Capabilities

Fujitsu Computer Products of America’s IP-9500 MPEG-4 AVC encoder now features DVB-S and DVB-S2.
    Fujitsu said that the integration of DVB-S/S2 capabilities into the IP-9500 eliminates the need for separate modulators, enabling broadcasters to maintain HD picture quality produced by the IP-9500 while reducing overall costs of transmitted HD signals via satellite.
    The addition also enables HD satellite news gathering and live events transmission using existing broadcast satellite infrastructure.

Infineon, SkyTerra, TerreStar Unveil Mobile SDR Platform

Infineon Technologies, SkyTerra and TerreStar have unveiled a multi-standard mobile platform based on Infineon’s software-defined-radio (SDR) technology.
    The SDR technology, the product of a cooperative development effort between the three companies, aims to enable ubiquitous mobile communications coverage from anywhere in North America using mass-market devices with similar prices compared to terrestrial cellular-only devices. The technology also allows software upgrades to handsets.
    Infineon said that the chipset platform will undergo handset trials for performance on a 4G network.

Swe-Dish Develops Multi-band Fly-Away Terminal

Swe-Dish Satellite Systems unveiled its FA120KS Fly-Away satellite communications terminal with multi-band capability.
    The FA120KS is being marketed for voice, video and data use by non-technical military personnel, commercial news broadcasters and first responders. The terminal is designed to meet mission-critical requirements and features global Ku-band capability with X- and Ka-band upgradeability.
    Swe-Dish said that the system meets the full requirements for U.S. military combat service support and MIL-STD-810F environments as well as with U.S. Federal Communications Commission, Intelsat, Eutelsat and International Telecommunication Union standards.

Global Satellite USA Launches Multi-Purpose Iridium Communication System

Global Satellite USA has released MCG-101, an Iridium-based communications system for offices, remote locations, military, aircraft, oil and gas, mining, and marine applications.
    The system allows Iridium satellite phones to operate as a telephone, Internet gateway, GPS device, SMS messenger and allowing it to attach to other devices through RS232 or CAN bus.
     The MCG-101 operates on private branch exchange technology.

Hughes Network Systems Releases New HX Broadband Routers

Hughes Network Systems has released new HX broadband satellite routers, the HX260 Mesh and the HX200.
    Featuring an integrated, multi-channel TDMA demodulator, the HX200 supports connection to a variety of radios, including L-Band BUCs, and can be configured to support advanced features offered by the HX System, including mobility support.
    The unit is compliant with the DVB-S2 standard with ACM and the , router platforms enable operators to rapidly configure both star and mesh networking topologies to provide cost-efficient, combined mesh, voice and data services, including on-the-move mobility applications.

TeamCast debuts DVB-T2 Modulator

TeamCast is releasing Power4-T2, the first version of its DVB-T2 modulator, the company announced March 10.
    The solution has completed DVB-T2 testing, allowing the first software products to be released to market. Power4-T2 aims to provide the capability to operate in any of the DVB-T2 SISO/System A standard modes at 5, 6, 7 or 8 megahertz.

UBS, Albertis Deploy DVB-SH Network Prototype

Unique Broadband Systems (UBS) and Abertis Telecom have deployed a pilot network using digital video broadcasting equipment based on the DVB-SH standard.
    During a live mobile TV demonstrations of the network, UBS-designed terrestrial repeaters were deployed on top of Abertis Telecom towers and relayed satellite signals provided through capacity supplied by Eutelsat. The signal was transmitted to Quantum receivers equipped with Calearo active antennas installed in automobiles.
    UBS will test the full DVB-SH technology using Eutelsat’s W2A satellite, which carries an S-band payload managed by Solaris Mobile.

SERVICES

Bantel Upgrades to Hughes HN System

The U.S. subsidiary of Telecomunicaciones Bantel C.A., a satellite communications provider in Venezuela, has upgraded to the advanced Hughes HN System platform in providing Ku-band broadband services to Latin American markets.
    Bantel is implementing the full range of HN7000S, HN7700S, and HN7740S satellite terminals for its base of vertical sector customers throughout the region.
    Bantel also is exploring the possibility of providing video broadcasting services to enterprises, including digital signage applications.

BB Sat Begins Satellite Broadband Service in japan

BB Sat officially launched its satellite broadband service in Japan.
    BB Sat’s broadband service, operated with ViaSat’s SurfBeam system, will provide speeds of 2.5 megabits per second forward and 512 kilobits per second return via Ka-band capacity provided by Sky Perfect JSAT’s Superbird B2 satellite.
    The service aims to provide broadband to Japan’s rural areas and to ADSL users who, because of their distance from provisioning facilities, receive a diminishing quality of service. Customers will pay 5,000 yen ($51) monthly for BB Sat broadband plus a terminal rental fee.

GlobeCast Launches New Satellite Broadcast Platform

GlobeCast has launched its second MCPC platform on the AsiaSat 3S satellite.
    The C-band platform is located at 105.5 degrees East with a footprint covering the Middle East to East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, targeting a potential audience of more than 95 million households.
    German broadcaster Deutsche Welle is the transponder’s first client, delivering transmissions via GlobeCast’s international RIBU fiber network to a Hong Kong teleport for uplink to AsiaSat 3 and distribution to the Asian-Pacific region.

IDC Provides Hoyts Cinemas in Australia with Broadband Receivers

International Datacasting Corp. (IDC), in partnership with its Australian-based distributor, OmniCast, received an order from Global Vision Networks for the provision of a digital cinema broadband distribution network for Hoyts Cinemas in Australia and New Zealand.
    Under the order, IDC has supplied SuperFlex SFX4104 pro-video multimedia satellite receivers to Global Vision for installation throughout their network for Hoyts digital satellite cinemas. The SFX4104 can decode both legacy MPEG2 and MPEG4 AVC HD video and is enabled for future upgrade using Sensio technology for live 3D alternate content.
    Hoyts Cinemas owns and operates 45 cinemas, with more than 400 screens and more than 75,000 seats throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Networkfleet Offers Satellite Maps for Wireless Fleet Management

Networkfleet Inc. has made high-resolution satellite and hybrid maps available to its flagship Networkfleet wireless fleet management system.
    Networkfleet combines GPS vehicle location tracking with diagnostic monitoring, allowing fleet managers to log in to a secure Web site and observe vehicles on a street map, a satellite map or a combination hybrid map.
    The enhanced mapping functionality is immediately available to Networkfleet subscribers and new users via its Web-based Networkfleet wireless fleet management system.

SES Astra Extends Digital Television Reach in Germany

SES Astra has increased the number of digital television-equipped homes reached by the Astra satellite system in
Germany by 13.9 percent.
    The company now boasts a total customer base of 11.1 million digital TV households, according to the results of the Astra’s latest Satellite Monitor, an internally administered study.
    According to the study, Germany had 37.7 million analog and digital TV homes at the end of 2008. With 16.2 million households, satellite reached 43 percent of the total market. Cable provides television to 18.5 million households, equaling a share of 49 percent and terrestrial television DVB-T had 2.8 million viewers and a share of 7 percent. IPTV reaches 270,000 households, or 1 percent of the market.

Thaicom Brings Satellite Broadband to Japan

IPStar Co., subsidiary of Thaicom, has received the necessary licenses from the Japanese government to bring satellite broadband services to Japan.
    IPStar will be allowed to operate it gateway in Japan and provide IPStar service in the country beginning in April. The construction of the gateway, located about 60 kilometers from downtown Tokyo, has been completed.
    IPStar said there are about 800,000 households in Japan without broadband access, of which it is targeting about 200,000 IPStars users.

Thuraya Launches Telecom Service in Zambia and Cameroon

Thuraya has launched a satellite-based Public Calling Office (PCO) service in Zambia and Cameroon.
    Thuraya’s PCO is a telephone unit providing voice, data and fax communication for communities based in remote and rural areas who have no access to terrestrial networks. It enables users to call and send text messages nationally and internationally in multiple languages and without having to purchase a mobile satellite handset.
The launch in the two African markets has been through commercial partnership with Fort Info Technology, a Dubai-based long-standing service provider for Thuraya services across several countries. The initiative in both Zambia and Cameroon is being undertaken in partnership with local non-government organizations that are responsible for installing the PCO in remote areas.

CONTRACTS

Ball Aerospace to Supply Ares 1 Flight Computer

Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. has been selected by Boeing as the contractor for the Ares 1 launch vehicle’s Instrument Unit Assembly flight computer and command telemetry computer.
    Ball will employ its common computing architecture to build three flight computers that operate synchronously as well as two command telemetry computers for each Ares 1 vehicle, providing measures to ensure astronaut safety.
    Ares 1,  the manned launch vehicle being developed by NASA to launch the Orion spacecraft, is the replacement for NASA’s space shuttle program, set to retire in 2010.

Com Dev Wins Boeing Contract for NASA TDRS Development

Com Dev USA was awarded a $20 million contract by Boeing to supply passive microwave components for the next generation of NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS), a constellation of geosynchronous communication satellites.
    The contract award includes an initial $1.6 million awarded in September in the form of an authorization to proceed.
    Under the contract, Com Dev will develop and produce 68 different designs with nearly 500 deliverable hardware items, including filters, diplexers, switches, ferrite devices and ancillary microwave components on two TDRS spacecraft, with delivery anticipated by the end of Com Dev’s 2010 fiscal year.
    Design and production work will be performed at Boeing’s manufacturing facility in El Segundo, Calif., and Boeing will have the option to order equipment for a two additional satellites.

Deutsche Welle Signs SES Capacity Deal

SES Americom-New Skies signed a three-year capacity deal with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle for capacity aboard SES Americom’s Digital C platform.
    Deutsche Welle will use 4.5 megabits per second of capacity on AMC-1 to deliver programming to cable headends and German-, Spanish- and English-speaking television viewers and radio listeners.

GlobeCast Renews Capacity Deal with Eutelsat

GlobeCast renewed its lease with Eutelsat to use five Hot Bird transponders for broadcasting in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
    GlobeCast signed for a seven-year extension of all five transponder contracts.
    From several of its 12 facilities worldwide, GlobeCast uplinks five digital multiplexes to Eutelsat’s Hot Bird satellites comprising almost 70 television channels including BBC World News, CNN International, EuroNews, JSTV, Al Jazeera, RTR Planeta and Berbère TV.

GeoEye Signs Reseller Contracts with Asian, EMEA Customers

GeoEye Inc. has signed agreements with several international resellers to provide high-resolution satellite imagery and value-added products from GeoEye-1 to Beijing Earth Observation (BEO), Space Imaging Middle East in Dubai, and INTA Spaceturk, located in Ankara, Turkey.
    GeoEye also has signed seven new non-exclusive resellers in Russia to sell Ikonos and GeoEye-1 imagery in that country.

ILS Will Launch viasat-1

International Launch Services (ILS) has been contracted by ViaSat to the launch the ViaSat-1 satellite on an ILS Proton in the first half of 2011.
    ViaSat-1 is a Ka-band spot beam satellite, which the company expects to be the highest capacity of all current and planned North American satellites with 10 times the throughput of any other Ka-band satellite. ViaSat-1 aims to provide broadband Internet services to customers and businesses across North America.
    The satellite is under construction by Space Systems/Loral.

Mitsubishi Selects Integral Epoch to Support DS2000 Satellite Platform

Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has selected Integral Systems’ Epoch Integrated Product Suite) to support Mitsubishi’s DS2000 satellite platform.
    Under the contract, Integral Systems will add capability to its Epoch IPS to support the DS2000 platform, including all required telemetry and command processing, memory management, and orbit analysis. Upon completion of the effort, Epoch will provide an integrated environment for DS2000 satellite operations and mission analysis.
    The deal marks Integral Systems’ sixth commercial command and control contract signing in Asia over the last 12 months.

NDS adds Russian IPTV Deal

NDS has secured a contract win with Comstar-United TeleSystems (Comstar), a subsidiary of Russian company Sistema, to supply a number of services, including content protection and a next-generation user interface.
    Comstar-UTS has more than 147,000 double-play subscribers in Moscow for its Stream-branded pay-TV channels.
    Comstar will be the first customer to deploy the NDS Master UI, NDS said.

Newtec Wins Middle East Mobile TV Deal

Mobision has selected Newtec’s Horizon HZ420 equipment for use in what Newtec claims is the Middle East’s first ever paid mobile television service for mobile phones and DVB-H compliant devices.
    The service will consist of a package of 22 television channels broadcasted over satellite and received in four cities in Iraq by Newtec’s Horizon HZ420 equipment, which then converts the signal into DVB-H and re-transmits it using terrestrial transmitters.

Premiere Ready To Increase HD Offer

German pay-TV operator Premiere signed a deal with SES Astra to lease one-and-a-half additional transponders at Astra’s orbital position 19.2 degrees East in an effort to increase Premiere’s high-definition (HD) offering to subscribers.
    According to recent market research studies conducted on behalf of SES Astra, 219,000 HDTV receivers were sold in Germany in 2008, with 80 percent of these being satellite receivers. In total, 530,000 HDTV receivers have been sold since the introduction of HD.
    Premiere launched its HD services on Astra in 2005 and currently broadcasts two HD channels.

Satlynx Secures Arabsat Capacity

Satlynx has purchased a “significant volume” of capacity on the Arabsat-5A satellite from Arabsat.
    The capacity deal covers the entire African and Middle Eastern regions as well as most of Central Asia. Satlynx is working with customers to scope, design and begin the build phase of projects across the region in advance of the launch of the satellite.
    Arabsat-5A is expected to be ready for commercial service early in 2010.

Spectracom Wins Globecomm Network Subsystems Contract

Globecomm Systems has selected Spectracom to supply network synchronization subsystems for Globecomm’s new satellite communications system.
    The contract, valued at $500,000, includes the procurement of Spectracom’s NetClock master clock platform and Epsilon signal distribution platform to generate and distribute a variety of timing signals for satellite ground terminals.
    Deliveries will begin in the second quarter and continue throughout the year.

Symmetricom Awarded GPS 3A Contract from ITT

Symmetricom has been awarded a contract from ITT Corp. to provide components for the GPS 3 system.
    Under the contract, valued at a minimum of $4 million, Symmetricom will deliver its Model 9552 ovenized quartz master oscillators to ITT as part of the building of GPS 3A, the next-generation GPS space system program.
    GPS 3A aims to improve position, navigation and timing services with anti-jam capabilities that will yield superior system security, accuracy and reliability.

Thales Alenia Space Will manufacture w3c satellite

Thales Alenia Space won a contract to build Eutelsat’s W3C satellite.
    W3C satellite will be based on the Spacebus 4000 platform and be equipped with 56 transponders. The satellite is scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 2011 and is intended to provide Ku-band coverage of Europe with a beam centered over central Europe and Turkey; provide Ku-band coverage across Extended Europe, including North Africa and the Middle East as far as central Asia; and provide Ku-band coverage of sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean islands for regional telecommunications and Internet services.
    W3C will be co-positioned with W3A to expand capacity at 7 degrees East from 44 to 70 transponders. The co-positioning of both satellites underscores Eutelsat’s objective to transform 7 degrees East into a flagship position, repeating the multi-satellite strategy pursued at 13 degrees East.
    Eutelsat said the decision to order the W3C satellite was taken after it decided not to integrate its W2M satellite into its fleet following an anomaly which occurred during its transfer from the location used for in-orbit tests to its operating position at 16 degrees East where its mission was to replace well in advance Eutelsat’s W2 satellite. As a result of this incident, Eutelsat decided that the W3B satellite, which is already a year into construction, will replace W2 in mid-2010.

ULA Scores NASA Contract

United Launch Alliance (ULA) won a contract valued at about $600 million from NASA to launch four science and satellite communications missions beginning in 2011.
    According to the terms of the contract, the ULA will launch orbiters for NASA’s tracking and data relay satellite service in early 2012 and 2013. The contract also includes the launch of four NASA satellites designed to study the physics of plasma particles where solar winds hit the earth’s magnetic field in 2014.
The missions will use Atlas 5 rockets from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

ViaSat Wins Ka-Sat Broadband Gateway Contract

ViaSat received an $18 million contract award from Skylogic, the broadband subsidiary of Eutelsat, for broadband gateway earth stations for the Ka-Sat Ka-band satellite system.
    ViaSat will deliver and install eight broadband Earth stations, which are designed to connect subscribers of Eutelsat’s Tooway broadband service throughout Europe. ViaSat also will provide maintenance and support services.
    The ground infrastructure will be available for the Ka-Sat launch scheduled for mid-2010, ViaSat said.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

EMS Names New Executives

EMS Technologies named Gary Hebb vice president of innovation and strategy and Joanne Walker general manager.
    Hebb will be responsible for cross-divisional initiatives and will report to EMS COO Neil Mackay.
    Walker will focus on tightening up company expenses to run more efficiently. Walker, who has been with EMS since 1990, previously supervised aerospace research and product manufacturing operations.

Newtec Adds Former Barco CEO to Strategic Committee

Newtec appointed Martin De Prycker to its strategic committee, which advises and assists the board with company policy and strategy.
    De Prycker is the former CEO of Barco, a designer and developer of professional display and visualization solutions. He is also a member of a number of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Broadband Technology and Agoria, a Belgian multisector federation for the technology industry.

SpaceX Names Former Head of Sea Launch as Vice President

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX ) has named former Sea Launch President and General Manager, Rob Peckham as its new vice president of business development.
    Peckham is responsible for the development and expansion of SpaceX’s customer base across its family of launch vehicles and Dragon spacecraft, as well as leading the sales, marketing and mission management teams. He will report to SpaxeX President Gwynne Shotwell.
    In addition to Sea Launch, Peckham previously served at Hughes Space and Communications and McDonnell Douglas.