September 2015

Casimir Berthier Fotso Chatue, CEO of Afrikanet. Photo: Afrikanet [Via Satellite 09-17-2015] Afrikanet, a satellite Internet Service Provider (ISP) dedicated to African markets, expects to see a surge in business as more Ka-band High Throughout Satellites (HTS) are launched over its primary market. The company, formed in 1999 to provide last-mile connectivity, started offering satellite…

Artist’s rendition of the Falcon Heavy rocket. Photo: SpaceX [Via Satellite 09-18-2015] SpaceX has received a contract from Saudi Arabia based satellite operator Arabsat for the launch of Arabsat 6A aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket. The mission is planned for 2018. Under construction by Lockheed Martin, Arabsat 6A will be located at 30.5 degrees east.…

SES Satellite Operations Center (SOC). Photo: SES [Via Satellite 09-18-2015] SES Platform Services, a subsidiary of SES, has selected 3 Screen Solutions (3SS), a customized software solutions and services provider for multiscreen digital entertainment, to provide development and integration services for Lucid OVP. Announced at IBC 2015, Lucid OVP is a new turnkey multiscreen video…

Thuraya’s SatSleeve+ and SatSleeve Hotspot [Via Satellite 09-18-2015] Thuraya Telecommunications has released a new generation of SatSleeve models, the SatSleeve+ and the SatSleeve Hotspot. The SatSleeve+ features a new voice routing system that improves on sound quality, and can be used with a wider range of smartphone models than before. The device comes with a…

Graphic of the cinema distribution network powered by Avanti’s Hylas 1 and 2 satellites and delivered via MPS’s LANsat. Photo: Avanti [Via Satellite 09-18-2015] Avanti and Motion Picture Solutions (MPS), a London-based international film services company, have signed a multi-year cinema distribution contract. Using Avanti’s Hylas 1 and 2 satellites and delivered through MPS’ LANsat…

Stewart Bain, CEO of NSDI. Photo: NSDI [Via Satellite 09-17-2015] IBM and Boeing have joined NorStar Space Data Inc. (NSDI) as partners for its NorthStar constellation of 40 satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The two companies will help handle the ground segment and analytics for the satellite network, which is split between Earth Observation…

British troops boarding RAF C17 transport aircraft. Photo: Defence Images (Flickr) [Via Satellite 09-17-2015] A new joint company formed by Eclipse and NSSLGlobal, Aerosatcom, has been launched to address the needs of the government airborne satellite communications market. According to the company, the airborne satellite communications sector has recently received a great deal of focus…

Magali Vassiere, ESA’s director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications, and Bertrand Maureau, vice-president telecommunications business line at Thales Alenia Space, signing the Neosat C/D phase contract. Photo: ESA [Via Satellite 09-17-2015] The European Space Agency (ESA), the French space agency CNES, and Thales Alenia Space have signed the C/D phase contract for Neosat, enabling the…

Artist’s rendition of Turksat 6A. Photo: Turksat [Via Satellite 09-17-2015] Turksat has selected Arris Group’s E6000 Converged Edge Router (CER) to prepare for future IP interactivity and higher speed broadband services. The router will support today’s Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) requirements as well as the company’s transition to a Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP).…

ViaSat’s IFC offering, Exede. Photo: ViaSat [Via Satellite 09-17-2015] ViaSat and Boeing have entered into a new technical agreement that initiates the evaluation process for airlines to specify installation of the ViaSat in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity system on Boeing airplanes. Under the terms of the new agreement, ViaSat’s Ka-band airborne satellite terminal will be evaluated as…