News & Events

SES’ DVB Ultra-HD HDR demo broadcast. Photo: SES [Via Satellite 05-08-2015] SES and Samsung demonstrated a Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) in High Dynamic Range (HDR) Ultra-HD earlier this week at SES’ Industry Days event. According to SES, the broadcast was the first to show how industry can launch new HDR Ultra-HD TV services with DVB…

[Via Satellite 05-08-2015] STMicroelectronics has released a 500Mbaud High-Symbol-Rate (HSR) satellite demodulator chip. Designed as part of the French Space Agency (CNES) THD-SAT 2 program, the STiD135 bolsters bandwidth efficiency and throughput for satellite broadband from higher frequency bands such as Ka-band. The demodulator chip is compliant with Digital Video Broadcast (DVB)-S2, DVB-S2X and DVB-S2…

Unloading I-5 F3 from Antonov AN-124 heavy transporter at Baikonur Cosmodrome. Photo: Inmarsat [Via Satellite 05-07-2015] Inmarsat is confident that the upcoming launch of the third satellite in the Global Xpress constellation will open the floodgates for new business. The date for full commercial service has slipped slightly again, now from early in the second…

Maritime vessels rely heavily on satellite for communications out at see. Photo: Bridget Coila (Flickr) [Via Satellite 05-07-2015] Maritime satellite communications is forecast to grow to almost $5.2 billion in retail revenues by 2024, according to NSR’s “Maritime Satcom Markets, Third Edition,” report. The research firm estimates that 80,000 in-service units across all segments of…

Arabsat TV Everywhere brings video to tablets, smartphones and other devices. Photo: ebayink (Flickr) [Via Satellite 05-07-2015] Arabsat has started a multiplatform Over-The-Top (OTT) television service with long-term partner Globecast called Arabsat TV Everywhere. The service builds on the Arab States Broadcasting Union’s (ASBU) Global Arabic Bouquet, bringing content to devices such as computers, smartphones…

SES’ headquarters. Photo: SES [Via Satellite 05-07-2015] SES reported revenues of $538 million during its first quarter 2015 results, an increase of 2.6 percent over the year prior, but down 4.9 percent when measured at “constant FX,” which refers to the restatement of comparative figures to neutralize currency variations to facilitate comparison. Earnings Before Interest,…

[Via Satellite 05-07-2015] Cobham Antenna Systems has developed a range of dual-polar C-band antennas covering the 4.40 to 5.00GHz frequency band. The antennas leverage interleaved elements for dual vertical and horizontal polarization, within a single compact, rugged and stable radome. Additionally, the antennas are configurable for operating in dual circular or dual slant ±45 degree…

Rhys Torrington, CEO of Azam Media. Photo: Azam Media [Via Satellite 05-05-2015] Azam Media, a fast growing Direct-to-Home (DTH) service provider in East Africa, has climbed to more than a quarter-million subscribers since first launching in December 2013. Starting in Tanzania, the company expanded to Uganda in October last year, and opened up a new…

1st row (from left to right):Eric Souleres, Wendy Mars, Mike Healy2nd row (from the left to the right):Max Rano, Marco Abbondanza, Eyal Bavli, Juan Emilio Murillo. Photo: Airbus Defence and Space [Via Satellite 05-06-2015] Airbus Defence and Space and Cisco have entered a new global partnership to leverage each other’s strengths in defense, security and…

Media coverage in the United Kingdom. Photo: CR-Steve Forrest-Pianos-REA [Via Satellite 05-06-2015] In preparation for the United Kingdom’s May 7 general election, television channels and news agencies have booked more than 400 hours of capacity on four Eutelsat satellites, the company reports. The satellite operator is involved in helping media report from voting booths and…