November 2014

An O3b Teleport in Perth, Australia. Photo: O3b Networks [Via Satellite 11-19-2014] Gulfsat Madagascar has selected O3b Networks to provide satellite capacity for high-performance broadband and telephony services. The company is using O3b’s service as part of a hybrid network using satellite and fiber. The additional bandwidth enables Gulfsat to offer enterprise services at speeds…

Marco Visser, CEO of M7 Group. Photo: M7 Group [Via Satellite 11-18-2014] Luxembourg-based satellite TV provider M7 Group has purchased additional capacity from SES and extended its capacity contract at Astra 23.5 degrees east. M7 Group reaches more than 2 million Direct-to-Home (DTH) households through Skylink. The new capacity enables the company to offer more…

FirstNet Oregon Initial Consultation. Photo: FirstNet [Via Satellite 11-17-2014] The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sees room for satellite to play a role in the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), a developing national broadband network prioritized for emergencies and public safety. Introduced in 2012 from the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, the…

Sami Boustany, CEO of Yahlive. Photo: Yahlive [Via Satellite 11-17-2014] Yahlive, a joint venture between Yahsat of the UAE and SES of Luxembourg, has leased a new transponder to Babylon Media Company. The agreement provides additional capacity for a minimum of four more TV channels on Yahlive’s East beam. Babylon Media Company currently broadcasts 13…

Hyperspectral imaging is an information-rich technology that uses spectral color bands to identify objects and materials in an image. Photo: Boeing [Via Satellite 11-17-2014] HySpecIQ, a commercial remote sensing startup, has selected Raytheon to build hyperspectral payloads for the company’s two upcoming satellites. Raytheon will develop the payloads in El Segundo, Calif. and expects to…

Soldiers using the AN/PRC-152A wideband handheld radio. Photo: Harris Corp. [Via Satellite 11-17-2014] The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have selected Harris Corporation for a four-year $159 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Harris Falcon 3 radios. The company will supply secure tactical radio systems such as the AN/PRC-152A wideband handheld radio, the AN/PRC-…

Jabiru 2 footprint. Photo: NewSat [Via Satellite 11-17-2014] Airbus Defence and Space has completed Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) operations, and in-orbit trials for the Measat 3b satellite. NewSat’s Jabiru 2 hosted payload is now also operational and is supporting its first carriers. Measat has collocated the new satellite with Measat 3 and Measat…

IDC’s Star Pro Audio. Photo: IDC [Via Satellite 11-17-2014] Australian broadcaster Super Radio Network (SRN) has chosen International Datacasting Corporation’s (IDC’s) Star Pro Audio Solution to upgrade and expand its satellite radio distribution network. Today the company broadcasts 36 AM and FM radio stations, 45 translators and five Sydney DAB+ radio stations, the majority of…

ULA President and CEO Salvatore T. “Tory” Bruno speaking at the Atlantic Council. Photo: Screen capture from Atlantic Council event. [Via Satellite 11-14-2014] United Launch Alliance (ULA) will focus first on an expendable rocket to succeed the Atlas 5 using Blue Origin’s BE-4 engine. Delivering 550,000lbs of thrust each, ULA chose the American-made engine to…

A DirecTV satellite dish. Photo: ellibertario (Flickr) [Via Satellite 11-14-2014] DirecTV has teamed up with Samsung to begin offering 4K content. Beginning today, customers with DirecTV’s Genie HD DVR and a 2014 model Samsung Ultra-High Definition television will have access to new releases, popular films and nature documentaries in 4K. DirecTV’s 4K offerings begin with…