May 2015

Senior Managing Director of Laser Light, Robert Brumley. Photo: Laser Light [Via Satellite 05-04-2015] Laser Light Communications, a company that has set its sights on becoming the first Optical Satellite Service (OSS) provider, is hooking up with Australian telecommunications company Optus in a partnership that promises to expand the realms of satellite communications through an…

A Formosat 7/Cosmic 2 satellite. Photo: SSTL [Via Satellite 05-04-2015] Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has transported the first of six Formosat 7 weather forecasting spacecraft to Taiwan. Designed and assembled in the U.K., the satellite successfully passed a series of systems checks in Taiwan with the National Space Organization (NSPO). The Formosat 7/Cosmic 2…

The Amos 3 satellite’s Ku-band European footprint. Photo: Spacecom [Via Satellite 05-04-2015] SPI International has entered an agreement with Spacecom for a full service uplink, encryption, and capacity on the Amos 3 satellite for broadcasts to European customers. The multi-year, multi-million dollar contract bolsters SPI International’s HD and SD channels. SPI International owns Kino Polska,…

[Via Satellite 05-04-2015] Airbus Defence and Space recently launched a global Machine-to-Machine (M2M) management solution called Proximity M2M, designed to simplify the integration and management of satellite communication components within standard M2M networks and applications. Proximity M2M helps maintain real-time data delivery in an M2M network using devices ranging from low data rate Lightweight M2M…

[Via Satellite 05-04-2015] MACOM has introduced a high linearity 6-Watt power amplifier, designed especially for Ka-band high data density satellite communications and 5G Radio Access Networks (RAN). The company’s new MAAP-011140-DIE is offered as a bare die, delivering 24 dB of linear gain, 6-Watts of saturated output power, and 23 percent power-added efficiency. The device…

Stephen Spengler, Intelsat’s CEO. Photo: Intelsat. [Via Satellite 05-01-2015] Upcoming satellites both near term and long term are Intelsat’s number one focus, according to recently appointed CEO Stephen Spengler. With three satellites expected to launch during the next 12 months, including the first of the high throughput EpicNG series, Spengler said on the company’s first…

IsatPhone 2 vehicular antenna mounted on car. Photo: Inmarsat [Via Satellite 05-01-2015] Inmarsat has launched the company’s first vehicular antenna for the IsatPhone 2. Designed by AeroAntenna Technologies, the new external, vehicle-mounted, active antenna enables IsatPhone 2 voice connectivity while on the move by providing “line of sight” to a satellite while a user is…

View of the Plaza Pedro Di Murillo in downtown La Paz, Bolivia. Photo: Guillaume Audureau [Via Satellite 05-01-2015] Advantech Wireless has successfully completed a live demonstration of its cellular backhaul LTE Solution in Bolivia with its next generation VSAT modems and hub. The company conducted the demonstration to homologate its satellite platform with the LTE…

Telesat headquarters in Ottawa, Canada. Photo: Telesat [Via Satellite 05-01-2015] Telesat reported consolidated revenues of $229 million, for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, a decrease of approximately 5 percent ($13 million) compared to the same period in 2014. The U.S. dollar was approximately 12 percent stronger than it was during the first quarter of…

[Via Satellite 05-01-2015] NSR expects satellite linear TV will remain healthy for some time despite the growth of Over-The-Top (OTT) alternatives. The research firm’s new report “Linear TV via Satellite: DTH, OTT & IPTV, 8th Edition” projects an increase of more than 21,000 channels across both Direct-to-Home (DTH) and video distribution platforms by 2024. NSR…