November 2014

Via Satellite is reporting from the OilComm 2014 event. [Houston, Texas 11-05-2014] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is nearing a decision point on the regulatory plan 3.55-3.65 GHz Citizen’s Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). The FCC will decide on the fate of 50 MHz at the 3.65 GHz band, which several incumbent operators use today. The…

ViaSat-1 in the Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR). Photo: SSL [Via Satellite 11-05-201] Boeing has completed testing on its new anti-jamming communications technology, proving it is capable of operating as either a ground-based user terminal or satellite-based networking hub, enabling the military to send and receive secure communications at a lower cost by using existing…

Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) equipment. Photo: U.S. Army [Via Satellite 11-05-201] AIS Engineering, a woman-owned, small business, was awarded a contract to provide bandwidth for the Joint Satellite Engineering Center (JSEC) for the Project Manager Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (PM WIN-T). AIS will be providing the satellite capacity together with SES Government Solutions (SES GS). The…

Liftoff of H-IIA Flight 19. Photo: NARITA Masahiro [Via Satellite 11-05-201] Spaceflight Inc. and Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS) have announced a cooperative launch service agreement to integrate and deploy CubeSats from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Astro-H mission. Under this cooperative agreement, Spaceflight and JAMSS will launch and deploy eight 3U CubeSats…

Pharostar maritime VSAT antennas. Photo: Airbus Defence & Space [Via Satellite 11-05-201] Airbus Defence and Space has doubled its satellite capacity to provide increased throughput and service availability for yacht owners transiting back to the Caribbean from the summer season in the Mediterranean. Vessels sailing along the entire U.S. East Coast and the Caribbean will…

[Via Satellite 11-05-201] COM DEV International, a manufacturer of space hardware subsystems, has been awarded a fully-funded contract valued at approximately $6 million to deliver Ku-band equipment — including multiplexers, switches and ancillary equipment — to be used on a high throughput communications satellite. The satellite is being built to replace an existing satellite and…

Iridium’s Satellite Network Operating Center. Photo: Iridium [Via Satellite 11-04-2014] Iridium reported total revenue of $107.5 million for the third-quarter of 2014, surpassing the expectations of most analysts. The company also replaced two satellites with in-orbit spares during the quarter, leaving one spare between now and the launch of Iridium NEXT. Matt Desch, CEO of…

The Highly Adaptable Satellite (HYLAS) 1. Photo: ISRO [Via Satellite 11-04-2014] Speedy Hire, a tools, equipment, plant hire, and services company in the United Kingdom has selected Avanti Communications’ Hylas 1 Ka-band satellite for high speed broadband solutions. The company, which operates in construction, infrastructure and industrial markets in the U.K. and the Middle East,…

Photo: CPI Malibu Division [Via Satellite 11-04-2014] Communications & Power Industries (CPI) Malibu Division has received an award worth more than $5 million for additional Ku-band Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) antenna ground terminals. The United States military uses the ground data terminals to facilitate communications for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Applications include…

NanoRacks’ Vice President of Space Station Opportunities, Ron Goedendorp (left) meets Pete Worden, NASA Ames Research Center Director. Photo: NanoRacks [Via Satellite 11-04-2014] NanoRacks has opened a new office at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. The West Coast location will help the company meet customer needs and develop new business around deep…