November 2015

The image shows a field processed to highlight healthy vegetation. The chart pulls on analysis results to demonstrate a trend in the vegetation productivity compared to a four year average. Photo: Astro Digital [Via Satellite 11-18-2015] Two Silicon Valley companies, Aquila Space and Astro Digital, are readying for the launch of a two-part, 30-satellite Earth…

The Galapagos Islands. Photo: O3b Networks. [Via Satellite 11-18-2015] O3b Networks has launched trunking services to the Galapagos Islands for CNT, the state-owned telecommunications operator of Ecuador. CNT provides fixed-line telephony, mobile, satellite TV and Internet services. The Galapagos are composed of 13 islands with a combined population of approximately 26,000 inhabitants. The islands are also…

Astra satellite dishes. Photo: SES [Via Satellite 11-18-2015] SES subsidiary SES Techcom Services is expanding its Astra Connect broadband service in Africa via the Newtec Dialog multiservice platform. Newtec is supplying the new platform, which is due for launch in the first quarter of 2016. SES Techcom Services will employ the platform to leverage the…

Soldiers. Photo: Lepton [Via Satellite 11-18-2015] Lepton Global Solutions has unveiled its new Block Network, which allows customers to pre-purchase “blocks” of service, or one month allocations,
with coverage over individual regions or Combatant Commands (COCOMs) at
pre-negotiated prices. Once customers purchase blocks, they can request option files with 48 hours’
notice for any region in the world…

Eurostar Neo art. Photo: Airbus Defence and Space [Via Satellite 11-17-2015] Through a new contract, the European Space Agency (ESA), and partner Airbus Defence and Space have agreed to further development of Eurostar Neo, a new generation of platforms for geostationary telecommunication satellites. Under phase C/D of the Neosat program, this contract will lead to…

Cell towers. Photo: Andrew Hart (Flickr) [Via Satellite 11-17-2015] Analysts from VVA are disputing studies on the benefits of allocating C-band for use by the mobile industry that the GSM Association (GSMA) commissioned ahead of the 2015 World Radiocommunications Conference. The reports by Plum Consulting and Frontier Economics, posit that there would be substantial economic…

A ULA Atlas 5 mission from Space Launch Complex-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Photo: U.S. Air Force / ULA [Via Satellite 11-17-2015] The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) commended the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a bill that will extend the existing commercial space launch indemnification regime through 2025. The indemnification provision was…

Photo: iStock/Eutelsat [Via Satellite 11-17-2015] Eutelsat has sealed a three-year contract with the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) for Ku-band capacity on the Eutelsat 3B satellite. The capacity will be used to deliver 12 free-to-view channels to a nationwide network of 48 Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) transmitters. The agreement between BAZ and Eutelsat will accelerate…

Liquid Telecom and Newtec executives at the contract signing. Photo: Newtec [Via Satellite 11-17-2015] Liquid Telecom, an independent data, voice and IP provider in eastern, central and southern Africa, has selected the Newtec Dialog multiservice platform from Newtec to enlarge and improve its current VSAT services. The company intends to use Newtec Dialog to expand its…

Photo: Amos 5 Coverage Map. Credit: Spacecom [Via Satellite 11-17-2015] Spacecom has teamed up with Cameroon Internet Service Provider (ISP) Ringo to enable a large-scale cellular-satellite hybrid broadband Internet project using the Amos 5 satellite. Together, the companies are providing connectivity to more than 120 educational institutions, community centers, and rural villages. Spacecom’s hybrid service…