Asia Pacific News

Dish TV

Boosts Content Offering in India

Dish TV, India’s largest DTH operator, has signed a key sports content collaboration deal as it seeks to improve its content offering. Dish TV has well over 10 million subscribers in India, one of the world’s most vibrant DTH markets.

Dish has announced that it is joining up with Ten Sports to bring UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League Matches exclusively on Dish TV on Football on Demand. Dish TV will now be offering 46 select matches in 24 days exclusively on PPV for the first time in India through this Football on Demand service.

Eutelsat

Completes Acquisition of GE-23 Satellite

Eutelsat Communications has obtained all required regulatory approvals to acquire the GE-23 satellite, associated customer contracts and orbital rights from GE Capital, which completes the operator’s transaction.

Thales Alenia Space built the GE-23 satellite, which was launched into geostationary orbit at 172 degrees East in December 2005. The satellite offers coverage over the Asia-Pacific region via a payload of 20 Ku-band transponders accessing five interconnecting beams and 18 C-band transponders connected to a trans-Pacific beam.

Following the acquisition, the satellite was renamed Eutelsat 172A and integrated with Eutelsat’s fleet.

ISRO

To Launch SARAL Satellite on PSLV-C20 in December

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will launch the Indo-French SARAL satellite Dec. 12 on a PSLV-C20 rocket, ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan confirmed.

The SARAL spacecraft will ferry two satellites – Argos and Altika – from French space agency CNES to undertake the study of ocean parameters. Argos is expected to cover localization, acquisition and distribution of environmental data. The Ka-band Altika satellite will be dedicated to the measurement of ocean surface topography.

OnAir

Receives Authorization to Operate Wi-Fi Service in Australian Airspace

OnAir has been granted authorization for its airline customers to provide its Internet OnAir in-flight Wi-Fi service in Australian airspace after having satisfied all the pre-conditions stipulated by Australian regulations and authorities.

OnAir’s customers currently operate Wi-Fi services on flights to Australia, including Emirates, Qantas and Singapore Airlines.

Singapore Airlines

Launches Full In-Flight Service

Singapore Airlines has launched Wi-Fi and GSM passenger connectivity on its long-haul fleets, using OnAir’s connectivity services operating over Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband.

Following an introductory launch earlier in the year, Singapore Airlines will make in-flight connectivity available on 14 of its aircraft, including all five Airbus A340-500s deployed on the world’s longest non-stop flights, as well as on Airbus A380-800s. It will also be available on the airline’s Boeing B777-300ERs.

Inmarsat vice president of aviation David Coiley called Singapore Airlines one of the most prominent architects of the modern in-flight experience.