General news on the satellite and space industry from around the web
The Army’s Deployable Ku-band Earth Terminals such as the one shown here in August 2013 at an enduring site in Afghanistan, are part of the WIN-T network architecture. Photo: U.S. Army [Via Satellite 09-09-2014] The United States Defense Information Services Agency (DISA) has awarded a contract to SES Government Solutions to provide capacity for the…
[Via Satellite 09-09-2014] The United States Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) has awarded a $54 million contract to ViaSat and Data Link Solutions to jointly develop and qualify new Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) capabilities. The award supports a U.S. government program aimed at transitioning from the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low…
Artist’s rendition of bulgariasat 1. Photo: SSL [Via Satellite 09-09-2014] SSL has been selected by Bulgaria Sat, a joint stock company established by the owners of Bulsatcom, to build the company’s first satellite: BulgariaSat 1. Slated for launch in 2016 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the satellite will provide Direct-To-Home (DTH) TV services in…
QuadriCast VOD graphic. Photo: Quadrille Ingénierie [Via Satellite 09-09-2014] Eutelsat, in partnership with MStar Semiconductor, Aston and Quadrille Ingénierie, are working together to validate push Video-On-Demand (VOD) using the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) 2.0 standard. VOD enables viewers to save content to a Set-Top-Box (STB) to watch at a later date. According to Eutelsat,…
Azerspace 1. Photo: Azercosmos [Paris, France 09-08-2014] Senior executives from space programs across the world discussed the potential for their ambitious projects in key emerging markets during a lively panel at Euroconsult’s World Satellite Business Week (WSBW) in Paris. Some of the main highlights came from the Caucasus region and Latin America. Azercosmos Wesley Wong,…
ViaSat-1 in the Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR). Photo: SSL [Via Satellite 09-08-2014] ViaSat has reached a comprehensive settlement of all outstanding claims related to its litigation with Space Systems/Loral (SSL) and Loral Space & Communications for breach of contract and patent infringement. In April, a U.S. District Court in San Diego, Calif. determined that…
Falcon 9 lifts off from LC-40 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., carrying the Asiasat 6 satellite. Photo: SpaceX [Via Satellite 09-08-2014] After two delays, AsiaSat’s newest communications satellite, Asiasat 6, successfully lifted off on Sept. 7. This was the second SpaceX Falcon 9 launch for AsiaSat this summer, after AsiaSat 8 on Aug. 5. Approximately 32…
Kacific seeks to connect the Pacific islands with high speed satellite broadband. Photo: Kacific [Via Satellite 09-08-2014] Kacific Broadband Satellites has signed a cooperation agreement with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the development of satellite communications capacity and emergency communications solutions for the Pacific region. The project will establish 55 fully equipped e-centers to…
An O3b satellite with solar panels deployed. Photo: Ob3 [Via Satellite 09-08-2014] Timor Telecom, a subsidiary of Portugal Telecom, has gone live on O3b Networks’ “Fiber in the Sky” satellite network. This follows the May 14 announcement that the Portugal Telecom subsidiary had signed a deal with O3b to bring high throughput, low latency capacity…
[Via Satellite 09-08-2014] Satellite communications service provider NSSLGlobal has announced its merger with the ESL group of companies, a satellite solution provider and system integrator specializing in custom solutions for the government, fishing, commercial shipping and offshore industries. NSSLGlobal and ESL both target similar market sectors within complementary geographies. The merger gives each company a…