APSCC Monthly Newsletter
January 2012
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News in this issue has been collected from December 1 through December 31.
INSIDE APSCC
APSCC – PTC’12 Breakout Session: Bringing Cost Effective Satellite Communications Technology
This spin-off session of the Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC) will be held in conjunction
with PTC’12. APSCC cordially invites you to this session which will discover a brand-new solution to reach the
most effective satellite communications technology with experts from leading new satellite industry leaders.
Title
Date
Time
Location
Bringing Cost Effective Satellite Communications Technology
18 January, 2012
09:00 – 10:30 AM
South Pacific 4, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Hawaii
Moderator
Panelist
Gregg Daffner, VP, APSCC & CEO, GapSat
Frederick Morris, VP, Sales Engineering, Comtech EF Data
Imran Malik, VP, Asia-Pacific, O3b Networks
Rick Abbasi, Senior Product Marketing Director, Intelsat
Dani Indra, General Manager, Telkom Indonesia
Pedro Leon, CTO, ZTE Colombia
SATELLITE BUSINESS
Eutelsat Announces Renaming of Satellites
December 1, 2011 - Eutelsat Communications announces that from 1 March 2012 it will be unifying the names of
its satellites around the established Eutelsat brand. From this date, the Group's satellites will take the Eutelsat
name associated with the relevant figure for their orbital position and a letter indicating their order of arrival at that
position. This new system has been devised to support Eutelsat's efforts to communicate its satellite branding and
deployment in a consistent and homogenous way. The company will retain the HOT BIRD brand but it will be
more closely associated with the Eutelsat name and adopt the numbering system to be implemented for all other
satellites, for example HOT BIRD 6 will become EUTELSAT HOT BIRD 13A.
Eutelsat Tooway Satellite Broadband Selected for Use in Rural Connection Project
December 1, 2011 - Eutelsat Communications announced that the Tooway satellite broadband service provided
by its Skylogic affiliate will be used in “The Rural Connection” project, run by Devon and Somerset County
Councils, to bring high-speed Internet services to over 1,000 of the regions’ most rural homes and businesses.
The service, delivered by specialist reseller partner, ToowayDirect, will connect residents and businesses to the
Internet via a small satellite dish installed on the outside of the property. Customers will have access to download
speeds of up to 10 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 4 Mbps and a range of tariffs, together with a program of
free ICT training and support. Devon and Somerset County Councils won EU funding for the project from the
European Rural Development Programme for England, which is being matched by the private sector.
Telemar Unveils New Paradigm in Global Maritime Broadband
December 1, 2011 - Telemar, an integrated maritime service and maintenance provider, in partnership with
ORBIT Communication Systems, a provider of mission-critical connectivity solutions including satellite
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communications, and Milano Teleport, the largest independent teleport in Italy, announces the launch of iCGlobal,
a new paradigm in maritime satellite communications. This flexible and future-proof solution combines the
benefits of robust, all-weather global coverage of C-Band and cost-efficient scalable airtime packages with the
easy-to-install and revolutionary compact OrBand VSAT system.
MTN Increases Global Presence by Inking VSAT Deal for New Costa Cruises Flagship, Costa Fascinosa
December 5, 2011 - MTN Satellite Communications (MTN) will provide Costa Cruises' new flagship, Costa
Fascinosa, with VSAT services by leveraging its global satellite network that so many cruise ships have come to
rely on for delivering crew and passenger data anywhere in the world. For the past two decades MTN has proven
that it is the de-facto VSAT standard within the cruise industry and this selection by Costa Cruises, the largest
Italian travel group and the number-one cruise company in Europe, demonstrates the company's growing foothold
within the European market. MTN operates a worldwide footprint of VSAT satellite connectivity with more than 35
satellite footprints. MTN's secure network infrastructure consists of 10 teleport gateways and 13 points of
presence, strategically located across the globe.
iDirect Demonstrates Next-Generation Airborne Capabilities for COTM Fast-Movers
December 5, 2011 - iDirect Government Technologies (iGT) announced that in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force
and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), it has successfully tested the Aero-Mobility features of
iGT's advanced Evolution technology using a Ka-band Advanced Multiband Communications Antenna System
(AMCAS) low-profile airborne antenna over the Department of Defense (DoD) Wideband Global Satcom (WGS)
system. Considered in the context of emerging commercial Aero Mobile Satcom Services (AMSS), iGT's
Evolution product family provides a unified radio access network technology option for an integrated military WGS
and commercial Ka-band AMSS. iGT's Evolution platform, which uses a Current-Force-Modem on multiple
satellite bands, and the AMCAS low-profile antenna have demonstrated the capability to transmit and receive
high-speed information when operating over a WGS system in Ka-band.
Iridium and GEOS Partner to Offer Emergency Response Service
December 6, 2011 - Iridium Communications Inc. announces the GEOS emergency response service is now
available to Iridium ExtremeTM satellite phone customers. At no additional cost to customers, Iridium has
integrated the GEOS service into the SOS button on the Iridium Extreme. Launched in September 2011, the
Iridium Extreme is the most advanced, rugged satellite phone in the market and is the first to offer an SOS button.
As part of the Iridium Force vision for future personal mobile communications, this GEOS service is an
enhancement to the phone's location-awareness services available at launch.
Hughes Awarded Order by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service
December 6, 2011 - Hughes Network Systems, LLC has been awarded a task order by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to deliver managed broadband services to 300
offices and inspection sites. The order is for a one year period under a Blanket Purchase Agreement of Hughes'
GSA Schedule 70 contract (GS-35F-0907P). FSIS inspection offices are currently connected using multiple
technologies, including Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Cable, Cellular (EVDO), T-1, and satellite. Using its
Converged Broadband Architecture, Hughes will provide multiple-access technologies under one nationally
managed broadband network for all 300 sites. As a result, FSIS will save significant taxpayer dollars by
eliminating the need to purchase special access lines and MPLS ports in remote locations.
Inmarsat Selects Intellian for Global Xpress Maritime Antennas
December 7, 2011 - Inmarsat announced the selection of Intellian Technologies for the production of marine
stabilized antennas for its forthcoming Global Xpress (GX) service. Intellian will design and manufacture a 60cm
Ka-band GX antenna and a 1m Ku-band antenna that can be converted to Global Xpress when the service starts
in 2013. Both antennas will incorporate the GX core module currently under development by iDirect. The world's
first global Ka-band network, Global Xpress will deliver a high-performance, high-quality, cost-competitive service.
Capable of providing up to 50Mbps, GX will operate alongside Inmarsat's existing L-band maritime services to
offer an unrivalled combination of power, reliability and global coverage for the world's shipping fleets.
Thuraya Upgrades IP Solution to Feature Relay Mode
December 7, 2011 - Thuraya IP, the world’s smallest satellite broadband solution supporting 384 Kbps streaming,
now features a new functionality that is vital for supporting a variety of applications for large organizations and
enterprises. Relay Mode allows NGOs, government, broadcast media, energy and other vertical and private
consumers using Thuraya IP to run a range of applications which require a public IP address on the terminal
equipment attached to the IP device. Thuraya IP is already a firm favorite in the satellite telecom industry and the
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Relay Mode will further boost Thuraya’s market positioning as a provider of superior quality satellite broadband
service. With this new feature, Thuraya IP consumers will experience greater freedom and flexibility to utilize all
applications and equipment such as computers, laptops and other devices that require this feature without any
compromise on quality of service or security.
ViaSat-1 Successfully Communicating with WildBlue Network Gateway and Satellite Broadband Terminals
December 7, 2011 - ViaSat Inc. has transmitted the first data over the ViaSat-1 high-capacity satellite and the
WildBlue high-speed data network. The initial transmissions and receptions were completed the evening of
December 2 from a SurfBeam ® 2 terminal at ViaSat's Carlsbad campus, through the ViaSat-1 satellite and a
gateway located in Milford, Utah. The test included email, web surfing, and video streaming, proving the power of
the integrated network. The satellite, designed and owned by ViaSat, is the highest capacity satellite in the world.
Once in-orbit testing is complete (planned for mid-December), satellite manufacturer Space Systems/Loral will
hand over operation of the 140 Gbps capacity satellite to ViaSat and partner Telesat. ViaSat will then begin the
final phase of integration with the network of 20 SurfBeam ® 2 ground stations that connect the satellite to the
Internet backbone. Commercial service is expected to begin prior to the end of calendar year 2011.
Nokia Siemens Networks, iDirect Connect Mobile Base Stations via Satellite
December 8, 2011 - Telecom operators can now provide 3G mobile broadband to isolated and under-served
areas via satellite backhaul. The approach that makes this possible combines Nokia Siemens Networks’ I-HSPA
with Evolution satellite routers from VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect). The solution, successfully tested by both companies,
can deliver downlink speeds of 10 Mbps per user from base stations in remote areas linked to a core network via
satellite. Nokia Siemens Networks’ I-HSPA uses a flat architecture for 3G networks that supports voice as well as
high-speed data services. By allowing base stations to connect directly to the core network, I-HSPA eliminates the
need for the intermediate nodes found in traditional networks.
Hughes Receives Order from USDA's FSIS to Deliver Managed Broadband Services
December 9, 2011 - Hughes Network Systems has won a task order by the US Department of Agriculture's, or
USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service, or FSIS, to deliver managed broadband services to 300 offices and
inspection sites. The order is for a one year period under a Blanket Purchase Agreement of Hughes' GSA
Schedule 70 contract (GS-35F-0907P). FSIS inspection offices are currently connected using multiple
technologies, including Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Cable, Cellular (EVDO), T-1, and satellite. Using its
Converged Broadband Architecture, Hughes will provide multiple-access technologies under one nationally
managed broadband network for all 300 sites.
Thuraya First Satellite Operator to Offer Twitter Services for Consumers by SMS
December 9, 2011 - Thuraya is the first in the mobile satellite industry to launch SMS based Twitter services for
its handheld consumer base. Scheduled for launch on December 15th, this unique service will enable voice
consumers to send and receive Tweets via SMS wherever they may be located within Thuraya’s 140 country
coverage area to and from their handheld devices. As such, consumers can always stay in touch in real-time and
actively engage in the new world of social media of their interest. Using the short dedicated SMS code of 1888
users can sign up for Twitter or link their Thuraya phones with their Twitter accounts or visit the Twitter website for
more information.
Globecomm Awarded Service Contract from US Government Agency
December 12, 2011 - Globecomm Systems Inc. has been awarded a one year service contract from a US
Government agency valued at US$6.0 million. This contract is a combined effort between Globecomm’s whollyowned subsidiaries, Globecomm Services Maryland and Cachendo. Under the terms of the contract, Globecomm
will provide IT support services relating to internet connectivity via its teleport facilities, IP telephone, Satellite
television, and WAN optimization. In addition, the contract includes program management, operations and
maintenance, systems development, communications and field operations support, IT equipment procurement,
maintenance, storage, distribution, and network connectivity.
iDirect Chooses SelectTech GeoSpatial for Design of Airborne-Certified Router Enclosures
December 12, 2011 - iDirect Government Technologies (iGT) has signed a manufacturing agreement with
SelectTech GeoSpatial of Springfield, Ohio, to design and manufacture two different variants of airborne-certified
enclosures. The iDirect airborne enclosures will include a standard 19-inch rack-mount unit and an ARINC 600
interface-based 4MCU unit that will include a processor which will enable antenna control for any make and
model of airborne antenna. The rack-mount unit will fit a standard 19-inch rack or can be integrated into a transit
case solution. Both variants will be designed and manufactured to the strict government certification requirements
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for airborne electronic systems. SelectTech, which is a leading manufacturer and integrator of electronic systems,
communications, sensors, hardware fabrications and frames, will design and manufacture both aircraft variants at
its Advanced Manufacturing Facility.
Gilat Selected by JSC NC 'Kazsatnet' for High Speed Data Connectivity
December 14, 2011 - Gilat today announced that it has been selected by JSC NC 'Kazsatnet', a Republic of
Kazakhstan telecommunications company, to deploy a SkyEdge™ II broadband satellite network to complement
its fiber and IP networks. Gilat's Sky Edge II solution will provide JSC NC 'Kazsatnet' with an end-to-end solution
for fiber backup and IP-connectivity, linking 14 regional centers in a multi-star topology to the SkyEdge II hub
located in Astana. The regional centers will deploy Gilat's high-performance NetEdge™ gateway solution, and
together will connect over 200 VSATs in remote sites. The deployment will also include 14 of Wavestream's 40W
Ku Band solid state BUCs (Block Upconverters).
AsiaSat and THAICOM Sign Cooperation Agreement
December 15, 2011 - Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) and THAICOM Public
Company Limited (THAICOM) announced the signing of a cooperation agreement to provide satellite services
from the orbital location of 120 degrees East. Under the agreement, the two companies will place an interim
satellite at the 120 degrees East orbital slot, while a new satellite contracted with Space Systems/Loral will be
launched in early 2014. AsiaSat and THAICOM will provide services on their portions of the new satellite under
the name AsiaSat 6 and THAICOM 7 respectively. This cooperation will preserve the 120 degrees East orbital slot
for Thailand and will provide additional broadcast, telecommunications and broadband services across the AsiaPacific region. AsiaSat 6/THAICOM 7 will have 28 high-power C-band transponders serving Asia and Australia.
GMV Tracks the First Galileo IOV Satellite
December 15, 2011 - GMV announced the tracking of both data and pilot channels of Galileo first satellite signal
with its own line of GNSS receiver products. The first two Galileo satellites were launched from Kouru Spaceport
in French Guiana on October 21 and are now in in-orbit test campaign. The Galileo PRN 11 started transmitting
the first navigation signal last Saturday. GMV has been involved in GNSS for the last 25 years and today GMV’s
GNSS team includes more than 120 highly specialized engineers, some having more than 15 years experience in
the GNSS field. GMV plays a critical role in the ongoing development of Europe’s GNSS strategy, being a key
partner in the EGNOS and Galileo programs. GMV has developed its own GNSS software receiver products:
SRX-10 on GPS, which has been optimized for the urban environment, NUSAR for GPS L1 and Galileo E1 and
its own L1 front end. This experience has been applied, even previously to the development of the receivers, to
many studies on receiver performances under very diverse signal conditions and designs, namely by processing
the GIOVE satellites signal.
Astrium Completes Vizada Acquisition
December 19, 2011 - Astrium completes the acquisition of Vizada after receiving the necessary regulatory
approvals. Vizada is a leading independent provider of global satellite communications services and will be
integrated into Astrium Services. This acquisition represents a total consideration of € 673 million and contributes
to EADS' strategic Vision 2020. With significant synergies in addressed markets, customer types, technologies
and geographies, the integration of Vizada vastly broadens the range of solutions offered by Astrium Services. It
enhances both its commercial satcoms capabilities and its global presence. Furthermore, it ensures that Vizada’s
customers and partners will benefit from long-term guaranteed service availability as well as access to best of
breed technologies and customer support capability.
Comtech EF Data Awarded Contract for SATCOM Equipment to Support Mobile Backhaul
December 20, 2011 - Comtech Telecommunications Corp. announced that its subsidiary, Comtech EF Data Corp.,
was awarded a US$ 4.1 million contract for satellite communications equipment. The equipment will be utilized by
a telecommunications operator to support a mobile backhaul network expansion in Latin America. The contract
included a full range of Comtech EF Data's satellite earth station equipment and also included Comtech Xicom
Technology, Inc.'s high-power traveling wave tube amplifiers. Satellite earth station equipment included on the
order received includes the CDM-625 Advanced Satellite Modem, the CDM-750 Advanced High-Speed Trunking
Modem, complementary redundancy switches and various other equipment including transceivers, block up
converters and high-power outdoor solid-state power amplifiers.
SES’ Broadband Service ASTRA2Connect Now Offers 10Mbps
December 20, 2011 - SES announced that its satellite-based broadband service ASTRA2Connect is now
available with download speeds of up to 10 Mbps. Following agreements with German Internet service provider
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Filiago and UK-based distribution partner BeyonDSL, end-users in Germany and in the UK and Ireland are now
able to enjoy increased speeds with their satellite broadband Internet connection. Both companies are longstanding ASTRA2Connect partners. ASTRA2Connect is Europe’s most successful satellite broadband service,
with more than 80,000 end-users to date. The service is available via the orbital positions 23.5 degrees East and
28.2 degrees East. At 28.2 degrees East SES recently added another satellite, ASTRA 1N, that provides
additional capacity for ASTRA2Connect. Both Filiago and BeyonDSL will distribute the service to consumers at
competitively-priced packages.
Gilat Awarded Internet Broadband Connectivity Contract in Colombia for Schools
December 20, 2011 - Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. has been awarded a new contract by the Colombian Ministry of
Information Technology and Telecommunication (MINTIC) to provide broadband Internet connectivity to over
1,600 schools throughout the country’s rural regions. Valued at approximately US$18.5 million, the project is
hosted by the Ministry’s Social Telecommunications Program (Compartel) and the Ministry’s Fondo de
Tecnologías de la Información y las Communicaciones, and is scheduled to commence in 2012, concluding by
mid 2013.
Globecomm Receives Contract Extension from NATO for GPS-Based Force Tracking System
December 20, 2011 - Globecomm Systems Inc. has received a contract extension from NATO CIS Agency
(NCSA) valued at US$8.8 million to extend communication services and onsite support for the Company’s
previously deployed GPS-Based Force tracking System (FTS). Globecomm previously announced approximately
US$52.5 million in contracts from NATO for this project to design and install a GPS FTS, bringing the combined
contract value to approximately US$61.3 million. The FTS provides NATO with high levels of tracking data and
messaging traffic. It enables NATO to identify where its personnel are located at all times, identify other multinational forces and have the ability to do so in routine and operational situations. This is critical in assisting with
the identification of friendly forces and helps prevent fratricide or "blue-on-blue" incidents.
Arabsat Launches and Operates its Integrated Fleet of the 4th & 5th Generation
December 24, 2011 - Arabsat has succeeded in executing its plans to transfer its telecommunications network
services from Arabsat-2B satellite to its new Arabsat-5C satellite at 20 degrees East which was launched
successfully in September. The new satellite carries telecommunications networks for the Arab States and the
African continent and private networks operating at Ka-band in addition to DTH bouquets transmitted in C-band to
the African continent. The New Arabsat-5C satellite is considered the 3rd in Arabsat 5th generation satellites
series, which were launched during the last two years to support the leading position of Arabsat in satellite
telecommunications market, this satellite is considered a great and a unique addition to Arabsat satellites fleet.
ORBCOMM to Acquire PAR Technology Subsidiary, PAR Logistics Management Systems
December 28, 2011 - ORBCOMM Inc., and PAR Technology Corporation, a provider of hospitality technology and
services, announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which ORBCOMM will acquire the
assets of PAR's subsidiary, PAR Logistics Management Systems (PAR LMS). PAR LMS is a leading provider of
advanced solutions for monitoring transport assets and cargo in the transportation and distribution industries. The
acquisition of PAR LMS adds new vertical markets to ORBCOMM and will enhance ORBCOMM's leadership
position in providing efficiency, predictability and quality to cold chain management. The combined platform
supports ORBCOMM's growth strategy by expanding its satellite, terrestrial and dual-mode offerings and
advancing sales growth in these attractive business segments.
BROADCASTING
Tata Sky and Ericsson Bring On-Demand Pay TV to Indian Satellite Subscribers
December 5, 2011 - Ericsson has supplied Tata Sky, an Indian direct-to-home (DTH) operator, with an advanced
TV on-demand system that enables its 8 million satellite subscribers to enjoy the flexibility and enhanced choice
of unlimited movies on-demand and catch-up TV. The deployment is one of the first in the world to be based on
Ericsson’s Media Delivery Network (MDN), a media-centric solution for the distribution, delivery and content
management of linear and non-linear TV. It further builds on the relationship between Ericsson and Tata Sky,
following the provision of an Ericsson headend system for the launch of high definition (HD) services this year.
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YahLive in HD Partnership with MBC Group
December 5, 2011 - SES announced that the United Arab Emirates company YahLive, in which SES is a
shareholder, closed a long-term agreement with the Dubai-based free-to-air satellite broadcaster MBC Group to
broadcast its large portfolio of High Definition (HD) channels. With this strategic partnership, viewers of YahLive
can watch seven top rated MBC Group channels in HD across the Middle East and North Africa: MBC 1, MBC 2,
MBC 4, MBC Action, MBC Drama, MBC MAX and Al Arabiya News Channel. YahLive is a partnership of SES
with Yahsat, the United Arab Emirates-based satellite communications company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Mubadala Development company. YahLive broadcasts from the orbital position 52.5 degrees East. Viewers in the
Middle East and in North Africa seeking to receive MBC Group`s HD bouquet from this position need to point their
satellite dish to it.
KA-SAT Proves its Efficiency for Fast Video File Delivery
December 6, 2011 - The mobile facilities company Jackshoot is the first to deliver TV rushes over the KA-SAT
satellite of Eutelsat in order to bring the program ‘Live and Lost with Blackberry’ to the UK’s Channel 4 television
station and YouTube. Jackshoot’s location crew were able to deliver rushes and proxy files direct to Pulse Film’s
central London editing suite over KA-SAT, demonstrating how Eutelsat’s new High Throughput Satellite is gamechanging technology for fast video file delivery for the media industry. Channel 4′s programme ‘Live And Lost with
Blackberry’ lets viewers decide which route a band takes to a show, resulting in a journey that frequently takes in
rural locations. Three of the biggest music acts (Chipmunk, Rizzle Kicks and Parade), equipped with a BlackBerry
and £20, were left in a remote location with five days to make their way across the UK. The show is shot on
location a few days before transmission and episodes are posted daily onto YouTube.
AsiaSat 4 Adds Three Indian Channels from Pride East Entertainments
December 8, 2011 - Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat) announced that Pride East
Entertainments (Pvt.) Ltd. of India has signed a new agreement for C-band capacity on AsiaSat 4 to deliver three
Indian free-to-air satellite channels serving audiences in the North Eastern region of India and across the country.
NEWS LIVE is a 24-hour news and current affairs satellite channel broadcasting in Assamese and English
languages. RANG offers Assamese, Hindi and English language entertainment programs, whereas RAMDHENU,
a new satellite channel, broadcasts music and lifestyle programming in Assamese, Hindi and English languages.
GlobeCast Adds Satellite Capacity in Russia and the CIS Countries
December 8, 2011 - GlobeCast has announced the expansion of its satellite capacity over Russia and the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with a new Ku-band platform on the Yamal-201 satellite. Offering
significant opportunities to penetrate the cable market throughout the CIS, GlobeCast’s capacity provides full
coverage of this area to regional and international channels. Uplinked from Moscow, and located at 90 degrees
East, GlobeCast’s distribution platform on Yamal-201 will offer Free-to-Air (FTA) or encrypted channels very wide
coverage from Eastern Europe to east of Japan, and from North China up to Siberia. The satellite has been live
since 2003 and boasts more than 70 diverse prime Russian and regional programs, with 90 percent penetration of
cable operators and a potential reach of more than 16 million cable homes. With this new platform GlobeCast is
once again showing its commitment to offering premium services to broadcasters in this growing region.
Optus Inks Satellite Deal Extension with GlobeCast
December 12, 2011 - Optus has announced an 11-year satellite deal to continue providing satellite services to
GlobeCast Australia. The deal, said to be worth several million dollars, will see GlobeCast – which provides
services for international broadcasters in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands – continue to use Optus
D2 satellite to cover direct-to-home services across the region. The services play out of GlobeCast’s Sydney
based broadcast center and is uplinked from the Optus Belrose Earth Station in New South Whales.
Eutelsat's FRANSAT TV Platform Now Delivering DTT Channels to 1.6 Million TVs in France
December 15, 2011 - With analogue switch-off in France completed on 29 November, Eutelsat's FRANSAT
service is firmly anchored as a key digital platform delivering national free-to-air channels to viewers beyond
range of over-the-air, cable or ADSL reception. Launched in 2009 as a subscription-free platform, FRANSAT is
available to homes in metropolitan France equipped with a dish, a FRANSAT decoder and an access card. The
platform operates from Eutelsat's 5 degrees West position, used for more than 20 years to deliver France's
national channels to homes beyond terrestrial analogue reception. With the addition of a FRANSAT decoder and
card, viewers have been able to make the transition into a fully digital environment without changing their outdoor
equipment. FRANSAT has progressively built up its audience base over 24 months, particularly in rural and
mountain areas as well as parts of France with poor terrestrial reception. The installed base today represents 1.2
million commercialized individual decoders and 400,000 community dwellings.
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Travel Channel Goes HD via MEASAT-3
December 19, 2011 - MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. (MEASAT) announced an agreement with GlobeCast
to distribute Travel Channel HD via the MEASAT-3 satellite. The new HD channel joins the MEASAT-3/3a HD
video distribution platform at 91.5 degrees East for viewers across the Asia Pacific region. Travel Channel is the
leading international travel broadcaster, transmitting 24 hours a day in 20 languages across Europe, Middle East,
Africa and the Asia Pacific regions. The channel provides inspirational, informative and entertaining programming
which transports viewers to every corner of the globe, on backpacking adventures, culinary quests, eco-friendly
holidays and luxury getaways. The Travel Channel launched its SD service via MEASAT-3 to Asia Pacific earlier
this year.
YahLive Starts Broadcasting the Saudi Sports Bouquet in HD to Europe
December 19, 2011 - YahLive, the UAE based satellite operator, has announced that it is to start broadcasting the
Saudi Sports Bouquet in HD to the European continent. The Saudi TV’s bouquet includes six channels, which
broadcasts all the Saudi Football League matches exclusively. The Saudi Football League channels can be
received in HD in Europe by directing a 60cm satellite dish at 52.5 degrees East, and by using any HD TV
compatible receiver. Launched in 2011, YahLive offers state of the art broadcasting, newsgathering, distribution
and contribution feed capacities, bringing about a new era of high-definition (HD) and 3D TV services, from Y1A
satellite positioned at 52.5 degrees East, covering the Middle East, Africa and West Asia.
GlobeCast and FRANCE 24 to Lead HbbTV Trial with Orange and SES
December 21, 2011 - GlobeCast and FRANCE 24 will launch a Hybrid Broadband Broadcast Television (HbbTV)
trial in early 2012 with the support of Orange and SES. The service, to be offered to satellite viewers of FRANCE
24, initially in Western Europe, will add a layer of interactivity to satellite TV programming by harnessing the
capability of connected TVs. Throughout 2012, participating satellite TV viewers will use their connected
televisions to interact with FRANCE 24′s linear and non-linear programming via their broadband connection. No
additional equipment or hardware will be required. This will demonstrate HbbTV’s ability to enhance the quality of
DTH users’ viewing experience. It will also provide valuable insight into how broadcast offers can combine the
power and reliability of traditional broadcast delivery with the new possibilities offered by the latest technical
solutions open to ISPs.
Fashion One TV Expands Coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa with GlobeCast
December 22, 2011 - GlobeCast has signed a deal with premium fashion broadcaster Fashion One TV to bring
Fashion One to millions of new homes across sub-Saharan Africa via its capacity on the Astra 4A satellite at 5
degrees East. The satellite, which has the most powerful Ku-band coverage in sub-Saharan Africa today, has a
footprint that covers an estimated 70 percent of free-to-air, cable, and satellite audiences within Africa from
Europe, reaching a community of potentially 50 million television households. It also offers easy reception from
dishes that average 90 centimeters. GlobeCast receives Fashion One’s signal in standard definition at its Paris
teleport, where the signal is uplinked to the Astra 4A satellite for broadcast over African territories in Ku band.
LAUNCH / SPACE
Astrium Takes a Major Step Forward in the Development of Ariane 5 ME (Midlife Evolution)
December 1, 2011 - Astrium has received confirmation from the European Space Agency (ESA) following its
Preliminary Design Review (PDR) that the Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution launcher project has been approved. More
than 100 European specialists in different fields have validated Astrium’s preliminary design definition,
development plan and specifications for the various sub-systems of the launcher that should allow the Ariane 5
Midlife Evolution program to continue full steam ahead with its development stage, once the financing is decided
by ESA’s member states during the next Council at the Ministerial meeting, planned for November 2012. Ariane 5
ME will be capable of placing up to 12 metric tons of payload in geostationary orbit, boosting the launcher’s
capacity by 20% compared with the current Ariane 5 ECA. The ME version will also have an expanded range that
covers all types of satellite orbits, meaning a larger commercial offer for Ariane while meeting the needs of
institutional customers.
China to Develop Third-Generation Weather Satellite
December 5, 2011 - China will develop the third-generation Fengyun series weather satellite to monitor
meteorological changes more accurately and persistently to help tackle climate change. The new sets will be able
to monitor the meteorological system and different layers of the atmosphere in a long-term and more consistent
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way to provide scientific evidence for research on climate change. They will collect data and images of the
atmospheric temperature, humidity and wind with higher definition and accuracy to support more reliable weather
forecasting. The satellites will also enhance the comprehensive monitoring of Earth's environment and resources.
China has launched 11 Fengyun weather satellites over the past 40 years. Six are currently in operation.
China to Launch Communications Satellite for Turkmenistan
December 6, 2011 - China will launch a communications satellite for Turkmenistan with its Long March-3B carrier
rocket in 2014. The satellite will be Turkmenistan's first communications satellite. It will be sent into orbit at the
Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan province, based on the SPACEBUS 4000C2
platform made by Thales Alenia Space France (TASF), according to a contract signed by the French company
and the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC). Carrying a Ku-band transponder, the satellite is
designed to weigh about 4.5 tonnes with a life span of 15 years. As the only Chinese company engaged in
international commercial satellite launching services, CGWIC, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and
Technology Corporation, has launched 38 foreign satellites since 1990.
Astrium Awarded Sentinel 5 Precursor Contract from ESA
December 8, 2011 - Astrium has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) as prime contractor for the
Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite (S5p) a low-cost mission to monitor atmospheric chemistry. With this €45.5 million
contract, Astrium builds upon its Earth observation heritage. S5p is part of the Global Monitoring for Environment
and Security programme (GMES), which is a joint undertaking of the European Commission and the European
Space Agency (ESA). Under GMES, S5p is a high-performance, single satellite, low-cost mission that will bridge
the observation gap predicted for when the current atmospheric chemistry measuring satellites ENVISAT and
ERS-2 reach the end of their operations.
Teledyne DALSA Secures Earth Observation Contract with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd
December 8, 2011 - Teledyne DALSA will partner with Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) to develop a
new multispectral sensor for an advanced earth observation application. With the help of Teledyne DALSA's
expertise in multispectral imaging, the multimillion dollar development project is expected to begin delivering high
resolution images during 2014. This earth observation application will utilize the DMC3 satellite constellation and
demand higher resolution commercial earth imaging than any past project. The multispectral sensors developed
by Teledyne DALSA will allow SSTL's subsidiary company and client, DMC International Imaging, to acquire
higher resolution data for applications such as urban planning and environment and disaster monitoring.
NewSat Signs Jabiru-1 Satellite Manufacturer Contract with Lockheed Martin
December 8, 2011 - NewSat Limited announced that as the next stage in the Jabiru satellite project, it has
entered into a contract with Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems for the construction of the Jabiru-1
satellite. Jabiru-1 will incorporate an advanced Ka-band payload which will provide high-powered satellite
coverage across growth regions over the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The large Jabiru-1 spacecraft will utilize
Lockheed Martin’s proven A2100 series spacecraft and is designed for an in-orbit life of 15 years. Jabiru-1 will
provide greater than 7 GHz of Ka-band capacity and features significant options in allocating the capacity among
a combination of high-powered beams. The agreement with Lockheed Martin gives considerable flexibility with
respect to the capacity of the satellite, which can be adjusted to meet NewSat’s final requirements. The financial
terms of the agreement are confidential and cannot be released at this date.
NewSat Signs Agreement with Arianespace for 2014 Launch
December 8, 2011 - NewSat Limited announced the signing of an agreement with Arianespace for the launch of
Jabiru-1 in the second half of 2014. Jabiru-1 will provide high-powered Ka-band satellite coverage across growth
regions over the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The large Jabiru-1 spacecraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin
Space Systems, utilizes the A2100 series spacecraft and is designed for an in-orbit life of 15 years. Jabiru-1 will
provide greater than 7 GHz of Ka-band capacity and features significant flexibility in allocating the capacity among
a combination of high-powered beams. Once launched, Jabiru-1 will deliver high-bandwidth communication
services to government and enterprise markets including mining, oil, gas, media and carrier-grade
telecommunications, across countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and India.
O3b Signs Agreement with Arianespace for Third Soyuz Launch
December 9, 2011 - O3b Networks Limited has exercised the first of the two options in its contract with
Arianespace for an additional launch in 2014 for the O3b Networks’ satellite constellation. By exercising this
option, O3b has allocated a total of three launches of 12 satellites to Arianespace. The first eight O3b satellites
are planned to be lofted into orbit during 2013 by two Soyuz launch vehicles operating from the Guiana Space
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Center. Each satellite will weigh about 700kg at launch, has a design life of 10 years, and provides greater than
10 Gbps of capacity. The satellites will be positioned in medium Earth orbit at an altitude of just over 8000km.
Arianespace will now launch a third tranche of four satellites for O3b from the CSG in 2014 on a Soyuz. In
addition, Arianespace is beginning construction of a third dispenser and is accelerating the launch schedule
allowing O3b to meet the growing capacity needs of its customers.
NASA Announces Launch Date and Milestones for SpaceX Flight
December 9, 2011 - NASA has announced the launch target for Space Exploration Technologies' (SpaceX)
second Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) demonstration flight will be Feb. 7, 2012. Pending
completion of final safety reviews, testing and verification, NASA also has agreed to allow SpaceX to send its
Dragon spacecraft to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) in a single flight. Dragon will perform
the final approach to the ISS while the station crew grapples the vehicle with the station's robotic arm. The
capsule will be berthed to the Earth-facing side of the Harmony node. At the end of the mission, the crew will
reverse the process, detaching Dragon from the station for its return to Earth and splashdown in the Pacific off the
coast of California. If the rendezvous and attachment to the station are not successful, SpaceX will complete a
third demonstration flight in order to achieve these objectives as originally planned. Begun in 2006, NASA's COTS
program is investing financial and technical resources to stimulate efforts within the private sector to develop and
demonstrate safe, reliable and cost-effective space transportation capabilities. In a multiphase strategy, the
program is spurring the innovation and development of new spacecraft and launch vehicles from commercial
industry, creating a new system of delivering cargo to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station.
AMOS-5 Communications Satellite Launched
December 11, 2011 - Spacecom announced that its AMOS-5 satellite has been launched from Baikonur,
Kazakhstan by a Proton Breeze-M launcher. En route to its 17 degrees East orbital position, the satellite is
scheduled to separate from the launcher’s last stage within nine-and-one-half hours following ignition and later will
unfold its solar panels and communication antennas. In the coming weeks, AMOS-5 will undergo a sequence of
in-orbit tests, after which its manufacturer, ISS Reshetnev, will officially hand over control of the satellite to
Spacecom. Commercial operation of the satellite’s pan-African C-band and Ku-band payload is scheduled to
commence in early 2012. AMOS-5’s high-power 14x72 MHz and 4x36 MHz C-band transponders, combined with
18x72 MHz Ku-band transponders, will enable it to be a prime carrier of African satellite communications traffic in
both broadcast and data services in the years to come. Spacecom’s AMOS-2 and AMOS-3 satellites co-located at
the 4 degrees West orbital “hot spot,” together with AMOS-5 at the 17 degrees East orbital position, will provide
coverage over many of the world’s fastest-growing and highest-demand satellite markets in the Middle East,
Central and Eastern Europe and Africa.
Orbital Selects "Antares" as Permanent Name for New Rocket Created by the Taurus II
December 12, 2011 - Orbital Sciences Corporation announced that Antares™ will be the permanent operational
name for the medium-class launch vehicle created by its research and development program formerly known as
Taurus II. Orbital has been in the development phase of the new rocket program for the past four years. The
operational phase of the program is scheduled to begin in 2012 with three flights on the manifest that will be
conducted under the operational name of Antares. Orbital is completing the development of the Antares mediumclass space launch vehicle that will boost satellites and other payloads into a variety of low Earth and
geosynchronous transfer orbits and Earth escape trajectories. Antares combines a powerful liquid-fuel first stage
with proven avionics, propulsion and related technologies from the company’s other launch vehicle products and
is supported by a “best-in-class” network of suppliers from the U.S. and around the world.
Arianespace Selected to Launch MEASAT-3b
December 3, 2011 - MEASAT Global has chosen Arianespace to launch the MEASAT-3b satellite. MEASAT-3b
will be boosted into geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from the Guiana Space Center,
Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, during the fourth quarter of 2013. MEASAT-3b, being built by Astrium
using a Eurostar E3000 platform, has been designed to provide 48 Ku-band transponders to support direct-tohome (DTH) broadcast services for Malaysia, India and Indonesia. Positioned at 91.5 degrees East, MEASAT-3b
will be co-located with the MEASAT-3 and MEASAT-3a satellites to enhance Asia’s key DTH neighborhood. The
satellite will weigh approximately 5,800 kg at launch, and offers a design life of approximately 15 years. MEASAT3b is the third MEASAT satellite launched by Arianespace, following the launch of MEASAT-1 and MEASAT-2 in
1996. It also marks the tenth launch contract signed by Arianespace in 2011.
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First Launch Contracts Signed for Vega
December 15, 2011 - With preparations under way for the first launch of Europe’s new light launcher Vega from
the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, Arianespace has signed its first commercial launch Service &
Solutions contracts for Vega with the European Space Agency (ESA), on behalf of the European Union.
Arianespace will use Vega to launch two satellites in the Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 families, dedicated to Europe’s
GMES program – Global Monitoring for Environment and Security. This program is co-funded by ESA and the
European Union. The launches are scheduled for 2014-2016, from the Guiana Space Center. The Sentinel-2 and
Sentinel-3 satellites are optical observation spacecraft, operating from sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of
about 800 km. Built by Astrium and Thales Alenia Space, respectively they will each weigh about 1,200 kg at
launch.
Lockheed Martin Delivers U.S. Navy’s First Mobile User Objective System Satellite
December 17, 2011 - Lockheed Martin delivered the U.S. Navy’s first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)
satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on December 15, where it will be prepared for a Feb. 16, 2012
liftoff aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle. The MUOS constellation is a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite
communications system that will augment and replace the legacy Ultra High Frequency Follow-On system,
providing significantly improved and assured communications for the mobile warfighter. The MUOS satellite will
now undergo post shipment testing, fueling, payload fairing encapsulation, and mate atop the Atlas V launch
vehicle in preparation for launch.
China Successfully Launches NigComSat-1R for Nigeria
December 19, 2011 - The launch was conducted according to the NigComSat-1R Contract signed by Nigerian
Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT LTD.) and China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC). The
NigComSat-1R is a replacement for the Nigeria Communications Satellite 1 (NigComSat-1) that failed in orbit.
NigComSat-1R spacecraft is built on Dong Fang Hong 4 (DFH-4) satellite bus developed by China Academy of
Space Technology (CAST) and launched by LM-3B launch vehicle, developed by China Academy of Launch
Vehicle (CALT). China Satellite Launch Tracking and Control General (CLTC) is providing tracking, control and
ground segment support for the program. NigComSat-1R, covering Central, Western and Southern Africa, Central
and Eastern part of Europe, and some areas of Mid-Asia, will be mainly used for communications, broadcasting,
tele-education, broad-band multimedia service, navigation service, etc. NigComSat-1R is expected to improve the
relevant national infrastructures of Nigeria and benefit people within its coverage.
CNES and Arianespace Sign Contracts for Launch Operations and Maintenance at Guiana Space Center
December 21, 2011 - French space agency CNES, contracting authority for technical facilities at the Guiana
Space Center (CSG) in French Guiana, and Arianespace, industrial prime contractor for launch operations, have
signed industry contracts that will take effect on January 1, 2012. These contracts are designed to ensure
synergies between all operations at CSG for the three launch vehicles operated from this site, Ariane 5, Soyuz
and Vega. CNES is in the process of awarding 14 contracts, while Arianespace signed 16 contracts on December
21 at its corporate headquarters in Evry, near Paris. All of these contracts represent a total of €700 million over
the next five years, and account for 900 jobs at the Guiana Space Center.
Air Force Hosted Payload on SES Satellite Completes Initial On-Orbit Tests
December 21, 2011 - SES Government Solutions (SES-GS) announced that the Commercially Hosted Infrared
Payload (CHIRP), hosted on the SES-2 satellite launched in September, has successfully completed initial onorbit testing and has begun its demonstration period. In addition to being the first commercially hosted payload for
the U.S. Air Force and the first government payload on an SES satellite, CHIRP recently broke new ground as it
observed the launch of a NASA weather and climate satellite in an early test of its capabilities. The CHIRP
program integrates a new type of wide field-of-view sensor technology, designed by Science Applications
International Corporation (SAIC) on board the SES-2 satellite, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation.
ORBCOMM Prepares for Launch of Second AIS Satellite
December 27, 2011 - ORBCOMM announced that LuxSpace Sarl (LuxSpace), an affiliate of OHB System AG,
has confirmed that construction and testing of the LuxSpace VesselSat2 AIS satellite has been successfully
completed. The spacecraft has been shipped to the China Great Wall Industry Corporation's Tiayuan Satellite
Launch Center (TSLC) in the Ganso Province of China. The target launch date for VesselSat2 is set for January
10, 2012. ORBCOMM is the exclusive licensee for the AIS data collected by VesselSat2 as well as VesselSat1,
which was launched into an equatorial orbit on October 12, 2012, and is now providing full commercial service.
VesselSat2 will be launched into a polar orbit, providing complete coverage of the Earth, including the North and
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South Poles. VesselSat1 and VesselSat2 will also supplement ORBCOMM's next generation (OG2) constellation
of 18 AIS-enabled satellites that currently are under construction.
ILS Proton Launch of SES-4 Satellite Postponed
December 27, 2011 - The launch of an ILS Proton launch vehicle with the SES-4 satellite was postponed for
approximately 25 days for technical reasons associated with the avionics system of the launch vehicle’s Breeze M
upper stage. The additional time is needed due to the required destacking and replacement of the affected
avionics unit. The satellite is being launched for SES of Luxembourg and was built by Space Systems/Loral. The
delay was called after Khrunichev engineers at the launch site received an anomalous telemetry reading on the
Breeze M upper stage during preflight testing. The vehicle and satellite remain in a safe configuration at the
launch site.
Arianespace and Starsem Orbit Six New Globalstar-2 Satellites
December 28, 2011 - Arianespace and Starsem orbited six new satellites of the Globalstar-2 constellation.
Arianespace, Starsem and their Russian partners confirmed that the Fregat orbital stage accurately injected the
six Globalstar-2 satellites into their targeted orbit. Two successive firings of the Fregat stage were needed to carry
out this mission. The six satellites were injected into orbit 1 hour and 38 minutes after liftoff. Each Globalstar-2
satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space, weighs approximately 650 kg at launch. The new constellation features an
optimized design to provide telephone and data transmission services to businesses and individuals in more than
120 countries.
ORBCOMM and SpaceX Improve Launch Plans for OG2 Satellites
December 28, 2011 - ORBCOMM Inc. and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) announced the launch
schedule for ORBCOMM's second generation (OG2) satellites. The updated plan includes launching the first OG2
prototype satellite on the first Cargo Re-supply Services (CRS) mission in mid-2012, followed closely by an
additional launch of two OG2 satellites into a high inclination orbit as a secondary payload in late 2012. In early
2013, SpaceX plans to launch eight to twelve OG2 satellites, and the remainder of the constellation of 18 OG2
satellites is expected to be launched in 2014. All launches are expected to be on Falcon 9 rockets.
EXECUTIVE MOVES
SeaChange International Announces Leadership Transition
December 1, 2011 - SeaChange International has announced the appointment of technology executive and
SeaChange board member Raghu Rau as interim CEO, effective immediately. This follows the retirement of the
Company founder, chairman, and CEO Bill Styslinger. Thomas Olson, former CEO of Katz Media Group and of
National Cable Media and a former SeaChange lead director who currently serves on the Company’s board of
directors, has been named chairman of the board. SeaChange also announced the board would immediately
engage a search firm to identify a permanent CEO.
Iridium Communications Appoints Admiral (Ret.) Eric T. Olson to Board of Directors
December 6, 2011 - Iridium Communications Inc. announced that it has expanded its board of directors from ten
members to eleven members and appointed Admiral (Ret.) Eric T. Olson as a new director. Admiral Olson brings
nearly forty years of broad leadership, management and military operations experience to Iridium. Most recently,
he was the commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), responsible for the readiness of
joint special operations missions worldwide. Prior to that, he led operational units within every component of the
Naval Special Warfare community and served in senior positions within USSOCOM and the U.S. Navy staff.
GlobeCast Americas Appoints Bart Palmer as Chief Technology Officer
December 11, 2011 - GlobeCast Americas announced that Bart Palmer has been appointed as its chief
technology officer, effective January 2, 2012. Reporting to GlobeCast Americas CEO Lisa Coelho, Palmer will
play an integral role in the company’s direction, with responsibility for establishing the company’s technical vision
and leadership. This includes managing, deploying, and developing GlobeCast’s technical facilities as well as
satellite and terrestrial infrastructure. Palmer joins GlobeCast from Discovery Communications, where he was
most recently senior vice president, Global Media Engineering. In more than 30 years in the industry, Palmer has
served in senior management positions in a wide range of organizations including Liberty Sports, Fox Sports, and
MediaComm, and was part of the team that originated Home Sports Entertainment, the first truly regional sports
channel.
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SES Further Increases Its Sales Focus on Emerging Markets
December 15, 2011 - SES has announced that it has further increased the focus on emerging and growth
markets and introduces four global sales regions with a dedicated management leading the strong SES teams in
each region. The regions are: Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific/ India/ Middle East. They will be headed
by Elias Zaccack (Americas), Ferenc Szelényi (Europe), Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou (Africa), and Deepak Mathur
(Asia Pacific/ India/ Middle East). All four executives report to the Chief Commercial Officer, Ferdinand Kayser.
Elias Zaccack has worked for SES for more than 12 years and held different positions in sales and business
development in Asia as well as in the U.S. He was previously Vice President Regional Business Development
Asia Pacific. He will be based in Washington and will work closely with Steve Bunke and Dolores Martos who
continue to lead the sales forces in North and Latin America respectively. Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou is joining SES
from Intelsat where he was Senior Key Account Director and had different sales and marketing as well as
systems operations roles over more than 15 years. His roles included the responsibility for the Intelsat
representation in Africa. In his new role, he will be based in Johannesburg. Deepak Mathur has successfully
developed the activities of SES in Asia and Africa over the past ten years. He remains based in Singapore and
will work closely with Glen Tindall who continues to be responsible for the Asia-Pacific region for SES.
RigNet Names Chad Winkle Vice President of Sales and Business Development
December 20, 2011 - RigNet, Inc., a global provider of managed remote communications solutions to the oil and
gas industry, has named Chad Winkle to the position of vice president of sales and business development. Based
at RigNet's headquarters in Houston, Winkle will lead the sales and business development organization that crafts
solutions to oil and gas clients' communications needs in remote locations around the world. Winkle joins RigNet
with over 15 years of experience in the telecommunications industry focused on the enterprise segment, most
recently serving as area vice president, Sales - Central Region for CenturyLink.
Dr. Achille De Tommaso Appointed Skylogic Chief Executive Officer
December 21, 2011 - Skylogic, the broadband affiliate of Eutelsat Communications announced the appointment of
Dr. Achille De Tommaso as its new Chief Executive Officer. Current CEO, Arduino Patacchini, will become
President of Skylogic. Dr. De Tommaso, who most recently served as senior advisor to Skylogic’s CEO and
General Director, has 40 years experience in telecommunications having built and led companies such as
Eurotech, Televas, Nortel Italy, Cable & Wireless Europe, Infostrada and COLT Italy. Dr. De Tommaso has also
worked as a consultant for the European Union DG XIII for advanced telecommunications services. Currently also
chairman of the Italian Research Center ANFoV, for the study of technologies, market and regulation of the
telecommunications industry, Achille (known as Silvio) has a doctorate in Electronic Physics.
REPORTS
EO Operators Exposure to Cuts not all the Same
December 5, 2011 - NSR’s research on the Earth Observation (EO) market confirmed the importance of
government funding for both the supply and the demand side of the business. In its Global Satellite-Based Earth
Observation, 3rd Edition report, NSR found that 69% of commercial EO satellite operators’ revenues came from
government and military users with close to half of these from North America and Europe. As those two regions
are now crippled by debt restructuring, lower financial ratings and spending reduction plans, commercial EO
operators are generally expected to be affected by budget cuts to help reduce public debt burden.
Government & Military Satcom Market to Face Reduced Budgets but Increasing Demand
December 13, 2011 - NSR's annual review of the government and military satellite market shows the industry
stands to continue revenue gains until 2020 but will need to provide higher level solutions for less cost, and via a
host of new procurement methods. The shaky global economy as well as increasing budget pressures within
countries that have driven market growth over the past 10 years, notably the United States, are at the core of
future procurements and in choosing the solution mix over the long term. NSR projects government and military
satellite communications revenues to grow from an estimated US$4.0 billion in 2010 to US$9.4 billion by 2020,
yielding total revenues of US$71.9 billion over an 11-year period. Satellite services that support ISR and tactical
missions on the ground and in the sky should receive the highest boost.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
PTC’12, January 15-18, Honolulu, USA, www.ptc.org
Milsatcom Middle East, January 23-24, Abu Dhabi, UAE, www.milsatcom.me
CABSAT 2012, February 28-March 1, Dubai, UAE, www.cabsat.com
CABSAT is the established and respected trade platform for the digital media and satellite sectors across the
Middle East, Africa and Southern Asian region. In 2011, CABSAT & Satellite MENA hosted 10,162 visitors from
103 countries with 11 national pavilions. A total of 770 exhibitors from 55 countries participated in the event in
2011. In 2012, the two successful cable and satellite event platforms will be brought into one powerful industry
leading showcase that will continue to reflect the needs of the important market it serves. The show is open to
trade and business visitors only.
World Space Risk Forum, February 28 – March 1, Dubai, UAE, www.worldspaceriskforum.com
Satellite 2012, March 12-15, Washington D.C., USA, www.satellitetoday.com/satellite2012/
Oil and Gas Communications, March 21-22, London, U.K.
www.smi-online.co.uk/events/overview.asp?is=5&ref=3775
Convergence India 2012, March 21-23, New Delhi, India, www.convergenceindia.org
Call for Paper for CommunicAsia 2012 Satellite Summit, January 31, www.communicasia.com/call-papers
CommunicAsia2012 Satellite Summit will be back in June 2012 at Marina Bay Sands. This must-attend satellite
event of the year will focus on topics that the industry needs solutions to and will provide the opportunity to meet
the Who's Who of the satellite and telecommunications industry. Submit your abstracts now to gain an opportunity
to address the biggest names in the region!
Editorials and Inquiries
News, comments, and suggestions can be sent to the editor at:
Inho Seo, Editor, APSCC Publications
Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council
Suite T-1602 Poonglim Iwantplus, 255-1 Seohyun-dong, Bundang-gu
Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, 463-824 Korea
Tel:
+82 31 783 6247
Fax:
+82 31 783 6249
E-mail:
inho_seo@apscc.or.kr
Website:
www.apscc.or.kr
About APSCC
APSCC is a non-profit, international organization representing all sectors of satellite and space-related industries.
The aim of the organization is to exchange views and ideas on satellite technologies, systems, policies and outer
space activities in general along with satellite communications including broadcasting for the betterment of the
Asia-Pacific region.
Conferences, forums, workshops, and exhibitions are organized through regional coordination with its members in
order to promote new services and businesses via satellite as well as outer space activities. APSCC membership
is open to any government body, public or private organization, association, or corporation that is involved in
satellite services, risk management or associate fields such as data-casting, informatics, multi-media,
telecommunications and other outer-space related activities with interests in the Asia-Pacific region. More
information is available at www.apscc.or.kr.
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January 2012