January 2016

Globalstar’s Spot Gen3 satellite device. Photo: Globalstar [Via Satellite 01-11-2016] U.K. water provider Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) has selected Globalstar Europe Satellite Services’ Spot Gen3 safety device to track and protect lone and remote workers. The initial deployment of more than 300 Spot Gen3 devices enhances the safety of 1,500 employees who carry out checks…

Rendering of Aireon space-based ADS-B system. Photo: Aireon [Via Satellite 01-08-2016] South African airlines are seeing growth on the horizon, but the continent still operates with relatively sparse air traffic surveillance. With the South African Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), recently signing on with Aireon to enable space-based Automatic…

Artist’s rendition of the new Eutelsat Quantum class satellite. Photo: Airbus Defence and Space [Via Satellite 01-08-2016] Airbus Defence and Space has awarded Anaren a $7 million contract for an advanced beamforming assembly to be deployed on the Eutelsat Quantum Satellite program, which Airbus Defence and Space is developing for Eutelsat, as part of a…

Hi-Vision vs. 8K Super High Vision. Photo: NHK [Via Satellite 01-08-2016] SiTune Corporation, developer of semiconductor tuners, transceivers, and wireless radios, announced the STN6528, a tuner capable of supporting the new Advanced Wide Band Digital Satellite Broadcasting Standard (ARIB STD-B44) for broadcasting 8K digital television via satellite. STN6528 availability is targeted to support NHK’s initial…

An O3b satellite. Photo: O3b Networks [Via Satellite 01-08-2016] MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) has signed a contract fro more than CA$20 million ($14.1 million) with Thales Alenia Space, prime contractor for the O3b Networks constellation, to provide 96 communication antenna subsystems. The subsystems will be used for Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites being designed…

HughesNet dish. Photo: Hughes [Via Satellite 01-08-2016] HughesNet Gen4 satellite broadband service ranked first among all major Internet service providers for delivering on advertised performance promises in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) fifth annual report on consumer broadband services, “Measuring Broadband America – 2015,” issued on Dec. 30, 2015. HughesNet has more than 1 million…

William Wade, CEO of AsiaSat. Photo: AsiaSat. [Via Satellite 01-07-2016] AsiaSat CEO William Wade believes events at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) were the most critical of the year for the satellite industry, hailing it as a “key win” for the industry in an interview with Via Satellite. He says the win for the…

KhalifaSat critical design review press conference. Photo: MBRSC [Via Satellite 01-07-2016] Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has announced the final design completion of the KhalifaSat Engineering Model in addition to the software and systems within the satellite. This is the penultimate step prior to the manufacturing of the Flight Model of KhalifaSat, scheduled…

[Via Satellite 01-07-2016] TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) has added two of the largest mobile network operators in the Middle East to its customer portfolio. With more than 22 million mobile subscribers combined, the two mobile network operators are using TCS’ Location-Based Services (LBS) solutions to meet the rapidly growing demand for mobile Internet in the region.…

OneWeb’s new office building in Virginia. Photo: Monday Properties [Via Satellite 01-07-2016] OneWeb has signed a 6,000 square foot lease at 1400 Key Boulevard in Rosslyn, Va. for its new offices and is currently looking for engineers, managers, software architects, and a corporate paralegal to fill 10 open positions for this location. The company is…