26 May 2002
Satcoms
Australia Subsidises Mobile Handsets
L-3 Celerity Systems to
Provide Test Instrumentation for Sirius Satellite Radio
New Skies Supports International
Broadcasting Bureau's Expansion With Additional IOR Capacity
Star One and Andesat to Jointly
Operate New Alcatel Satellite
VTL Adopts Cabit OSB and EMS Technologies' PDT-100
System
Earth
Observation
Ball
Aerospace Picked to Provide NPP Spacecraft Bus
Military
Space
Com Dev Europe
to Supply Ferrite Switch Assemblies for US Military Satellite Constellation
France’s Space
Supervision Radar
Manned
Space
SDL Delivers
Low-cost Growth Chamber for ISS to Russians
Technology
Aerojet and Pratt & Whitney Achieve Three SLI Milestones
Aerojet Successfully
Demonstrates Thrust-Augmented Nozzle
HyShot Second Flight Planned for July/August
NASA and US Air Force
Forge Ahead With Reusable Launch Technology
Launch
Services
Overloading
Caused Baikonur Roof Collapse
Business
DigitalGlobe Commences Full Commercial Operations
Liberty Satellite
Hopes to Lead Restructured Astrolink
New ESA Initiative to Fund SME Satcom Innovations
StarBand Files Suit
Against EchoStar
Stratos Completes Equity Offering
Products and Services
Broadcom Demonstrates Highest Level of System Integration for Next
Generation Satellite Set-Top Boxes
Intelsat Rolls Out GlobalConnex Solutions
iSECUREtrac
Delivers New GPS Offender Tracking Units
Kingston inmedia's New Israel -
London Service
New KVH Tracphone F77 Connects Ocean-going Vessels to Internet and
Corporate Intranets at Super-fast ISDN Speed
SkyStream Unveils First
All-Inclusive Video Networking Platform for Broadband
People
Boeing Space and Communications Strengthens European
Presence
Connexion by Boeing Names CFO
Infosat Telecommunications Names
John P. Robertson President and CEO
Taylor Named President and CEO of
Ball Aerospace
Australia Subsidises Mobile Handsets
(21 May
2002) The Australian Minister for Communications, Information Technology and
the Arts, Senator Richard Alston has announced the Federal Government's
Satellite Phone Subsidy promised as part of the response to the
Telecommunications Service Inquiry (TSI).
People living
in rural and remote Australia, beyond terrestrial mobile phone coverage, can
apply for a one-off government grant of up to Aus$ 1,100 to purchase mobile
satellite phone handsets.
The subsidy is available for satellite phone
handsets purchased by people in areas without terrestrial CDMA or GSM mobile
coverage and that are unlikely to get coverage in the near future. It will also
be available to community groups, small business, and emergency services
operating in these areas.
This new subsidy will ensure that mobile
communications is more accessible and affordable for those living and working
in the remotest parts of Australia. This application-based scheme will provide
up to 50% of the purchase price of a satellite mobile handset with financial
assistance of up to Aus$ 1,100 (including GST) per handset. It is available for
all mobile satellite systems and all telephone companies.
A separate
Commonwealth-funded Networking the Nation initiative and State Government
Satellite Mobile Phone Scheme operating in Western Australia is already
providing a subsidy for these services for people in that state.
The
Coalition Government is committed to extending and improving the coverage of
mobile services in Australia, and this initiative is part of the Government's
response to the independent Telecommunications Service Inquiry
(TSI).
L-3 Celerity Systems to Provide Test
Instrumentation for Sirius Satellite Radio
(22 May 2002) Celerity
Systems Inc, a division of L-3 Communications, has announced an agreement with
Sirius Satellite Radio, a premier provider of Satellite Digital Audio Radio
Service (SDARS).
Under the terms of the agreement,
Celerity will deliver development, field-measurement, and production test
solutions for Sirius. These solutions are also available for use by original
equipment manufacturers (OEM's) and producers of after-market SDARS radios.
With 200 million registered vehicles, 15 million annual new passenger vehicle
sales, and after-market auto radio sales of 10 million units, analysts believe
SDARS subscribers could achieve 5 to 8 million users by 2005.
Celerity
is a division of L-3 Communications specialising in the design, development,
and production of digital broadband test and measurement solutions. With
expertise in signal generation and analysis, channel simulation, and wideband
signal capture, Celerity has become the leader in digital broadband test and
measurement.
New Skies Supports International Broadcasting Bureau's
Expansion With Additional IOR Capacity
(21 May 2002) New Skies
Satellites is supporting the growth of the International Broadcasting Bureau
(IBB) in the Indian Ocean region with additional capacity on the NSS-703
satellite. The increased capacity will broaden IBB's coverage and enhance the
distribution of their radio and television programming across the region.
The US government-funded IBB oversees the global
distribution of audio and video programming in 53 languages to long-haul short-
and medium-wave affiliate stations, radio and television stations as well as
satellite direct-to-home (DTH) systems world-wide.
IBB has expanded
its capacity on the C band global beam of New Skies' NSS-703 Indian Ocean
region satellite to enhance its coverage of Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The agency also currently employs capacity on the NSS-806 Atlantic Ocean region
satellite to reach audiences throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
IBB is using Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA) technology on NSS-703
to obtain the most efficient use of the expanded capacity, sharing the space
segment between multiple locations as demands warrant in the region. The New
Skies capacity will be used to carry programming from regional news bureaus,
IBB's Washington DC headquarters and other locations to existing, as well as
planned, broadcast facilities and satellite DTH gateways.
IBB is
composed of the Voice of America (VOA), Worldnet Television and Film Service,
Radio and Television Marti to Cuba, and the Office of Engineering and Technical
Services. The Office of Engineering and Technical services also provides
engineering support for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free
Asia (RFA), Radio Free Iraq (RFI) and the newest broadcast element, Radio Free
Afghanistan, all of which are US government-funded surrogate broadcast
services.
Star One and Andesat to Jointly Operate New Alcatel Satellite
(24 May
2002) Alcatel Space has confirmed that the satellite construction contract
signed last October with Brazilian operator Star One had taken effect. Worth
more than US$ 100 million, the contract covers the construction of a new Ku
band communications satellite for Latin America. It will allow the Andean Pact
countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela), working through
Andesat, to develop a satellite communications infrastructure - a key to
regional integration.
Alcatel Space teamed up with
Andesat in 1999 to create a joint company, Bolivar*Sat, to launch a satellite
system into the 67° W slot, and market its services. In April, Alcatel
Space sold its share in Bolivar*Sat to the Brazilian operator Star One, which
now has 51% of the company, alongside Andesat. Together, they will operate the
Star One C1 satellite.
Star One C1, based on the Spacebus 3000
platform, will be launched in 2004 by an Ariane 5. The first C-series satellite
operating in Ku band, it will be equipped with 44 transponders (36 MHz) to give
South American high-speed Internet and multimedia capacity.
Star One
is the largest satellite operator in Latin America and Number 10 world-wide.
Founded in December 2000, Star One is a partnership between Embratel, which
owns 80%, and SES Global with a share of 20%. In 2001, it posted net income of
R$ 61.7 million on total revenues of R$ 314 million.
Andesat is a
multinational consortium comprising 43 investors from the five Andean Pact
countries (Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia); each country has a
20% share of the consortium. In addition to the orbital slot assigned to the
Simon Bolivar F1/ Star One C1 satellite (67º W), Andesat has two other
orbital slots (61º W and 106º W). Using these resources, the company
intends to develop satellite communications
throughout South and Central
America.
VTL Adopts Cabit OSB and EMS Technologies' PDT-100
System
(23 May 2002) EMS Technologies Inc and Cabit Systems
have announced that VTL Transportation, of Montreal, Quebec, has incorporated
the Cabit Online Service Bureau (OSB) packet data satellite solution into its
fleet. Cabit OSB is a total communications solution for fleet management. The
VTL fleet already has 46 trucks outfitted with the system.
Cabit OSB operates over the MSV MSAT-1 satellite network,
using the EMS PDT-100 as the satellite terminal. The software works on Personal
Digital Assistants (PDAs) like the Palm, on DOS terminals like the rugged
Wescor data terminal, and on Windows CE/ Pocket PC devices.
VTL uses
the Palm OS-based system primarily for electronic bills of lading and reliable
real-time text messaging. Other applications for the system include log and
fuel reports.
Ball Aerospace Picked to Provide NPP Spacecraft Bus
(22 May
2002) NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has selected Ball Aerospace and
Technologies Corporation (BATC) to build the National Polar-orbiting
Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP)
Spacecraft.
Under the terms of the delivery order valued
at US$ 94 million (including spacecraft and all associated options) BATC will
be responsible for the design and fabrication of the NPP spacecraft bus,
integration of the Government-furnished instruments, satellite-level testing,
and on-orbit satellite check-out.
NPP is a joint mission with
contributions by NASA and NOAA's NPOESS Integrated Program Office (IPO). NASA
is providing the NPP spacecraft, the launch vehicle and one of the three
advanced sensors. The IPO will develop two new sensors, the spacecraft
operations control centre and ground processing systems.
The delivery
order was awarded under NASA/GSFC's Rapid II Indefinite Delivery Indefinite
Quantity (IDIQ) Contract. The contract is for Core Spacecraft Systems.
The NPP satellite will be launched into a 824-km polar orbit in 2006. With a
five-year design lifetime, the satellite will continue the series of
measurements initiated with instruments aboard NASA's Earth Observing System
(EOS) Terra and Aqua satellites, and bridge the timeframe until the flight of
the first NPOESS spacecraft late in the decade.
The NPOESS merges
Department of Defense and Department of Commerce meteorological satellite
systems into a single asset. NPP will provide the first flight opportunity for
three NPOESS instruments: the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), the
Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), and the Visible-Infrared Imager Radiometer
(VIIRS). All three instruments are currently under development.
The
NPP mission will also provide operational agencies -- NOAA and the DOD - early
access to data from the next generation of operational sensors, thereby greatly
reducing the risks incurred during the NPOESS transition. This will permit
testing of the advanced ground operations facilities and validation of sensors
and algorithms while the current operational systems are still in place. This
new system will provide nearly an order of magnitude more data than the current
operational system.
To accomplish its mission, NPOESS satellites will
replace NOAA's Polar-Orbiting Environmental System (POES) and the DOD's Defense
Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) constellation that have served the
nation for many years. NPOESS and NASA have undertaken a far-reaching program
of sensor development and satellite transition to provide complete coverage of
meteorological conditions for civil, military and scientific purposes while
cutting operational costs dramatically.
The NPOESS program extends to
the year 2018, building on new technologies to create a new system supporting
long-term data continuity for environmental monitoring and global change
assessment.
Com Dev Europe to Supply Ferrite Switch Assemblies for US
Military Satellite Constellation
(22 May 2002) Com Dev Europe
has been contracted by TRW to supply the Beam Select Switch (BSS) subsystem for
the first two satellites of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF)
Satellite Project, the US Department of Defense's next generation secure
communications satellite constellation.
The contract is
valued at Cdn$ 9.5 million (US$6 million) over the next three years.
The BSS is a key component in the beam-hopping operations of the satellite and
incorporates both ferrite switch technology developed by Com Dev Space's
European facility and electro-mechanical switches developed by Com Dev Space's
Cambridge, Ontario facility.
The Advanced EHF Program is the next
generation of global, highly secure, survivable communications systems for
warfighters within all services of the Department of Defense. Lockheed Martin
is the Advanced EHF system prime contractor and will be providing the
spacecraft bus and Mission Control Segment. TRW will be the payload
integrator.
France’s Space Supervision Radar
(30
April 2002) France’s Ministry of Defence has granted ONERA (French Office
of Air and Space Studies and Research) a 15 million Euro contract to speed up
the development of new radar detection techniques.
ONERA's is to optimise the Nostradamus radar system performance and to bring
the Graves radar system to an operational stage. The objective is to provide
France with a detection system, which will be unique in Europe, by 2005.
Nostradamus is an over the horizon radar, transmitting at between 6 and 30
MHz, a band which is reflected by the ionosphere and which therefore travels
thousands of kilometres.
Graves is a space supervision radar, designed
for the detection and measurement of low orbit satellite trajectories.
Currently undergoing improvements, this radar should be used by the French Air
Force in 2004.
SDL Delivers Low-cost Growth Chamber for ISS to
Russians
(22 May 2002) Astronauts living aboard the
International Space Station will soon be able to choose between dehydrated food
and fresh vegetables harvested from the LADA growth chamber built by the Space
Dynamics Laboratory (SDL).
SDL is working with the
Russian Institute of Bio-Medical Problems to develop LADA, a small, low-cost
growth chamber named after the ancient Russian Goddess of spring. LADA will be
hosted in the Russian segment of the Space Station. The Russian team is running
final tests at SDL this week, preparing LADA for delivery to Russia for its
expected launch to the ISS in September 2002.
The LADA growth chamber
is patterned after the Svet style greenhouse that was used for seven
experiments on Mir between 1990 and 2000. LADA uses much of the same technology
and approaches that were present in Svet, but with lower volume and power
requirements. The device automatically controls root zone moisture with the use
of sensors.
Mizuna, a plant similar to lettuce and native to Russia,
will be the first plant grown in LADA. It is a tall, fast-growing plant that
can develop in the growth chamber growing up to 8 inches in three weeks.
Shorter, slower growing plants, like tomato, pepper and rice can also be
planted in linear rows in the growth chamber.
Under the Russian plan,
LADA will become a permanent fixture on the ISS with new root systems and
supplies sent up as needed. SDL and Russia will have joint ownership of the
hardware. Experiments using the hardware will be flown as part of the Russian
scientific program with USU investigators as partners.
Aerojet and Pratt & Whitney Achieve Three SLI Milestones
(20 May
2002) The joint venture team of Pratt & Whitney and Aerojet has achieved
three major milestones in development of the COBRA reusable
booster/second-stage engine for NASA's Space Launch Initiative (SLI): prototype
engine preliminary design review, subscale preburner testing, fabrication and
proof testing of subscale milled channel wall nozzle.
COBRA (Co-Optimized Booster for Reusable Applications) is a reusable,
hydrogen-fuelled liquid booster/second-stage engine in the 600,000-pound thrust
class.
Prototype engine preliminary design review: Last month at Pratt
& Whitney's West Palm Beach Facility, the team presented its prototype
COBRA engine configuration, which addresses the SLI goals of improved safety,
reliability, cost and operability. The COBRA engine uses a single, fuel-rich
preburner, staged combustion cycle that incorporates proven state-of-the-art
technology.
Subscale preburner testing: Last week, Aerojet
successfully completed testing the first of three subscale preburners at its
Sacramento facility. The tests are a major step towards demonstrating
combustion stability of the preburner, which is an enabling technology for the
COBRA cycle.
The joint venture plans to test two preburner alternate
designs by the end of May. Full-scale preburner testing will follow next year
at NASA's Stennis Space Center.
Fabrication and proof testing of
subscale milled channel wall nozzle: The joint venture has completed
fabricating and proof testing of an approximately 40% scale, milled channel
wall nozzle for the COBRA engine.
The channel wall nozzle has a part
count of 10, dramatically lower than the part count of 1,000 for a typical tube
nozzle, which supports NASA's increased safety and cost reduction goals.
Pratt & Whitney-Aerojet Propulsion Associates formed in March 2000 to
support NASA's second-generation reusable launch vehicle, a Space Shuttle
replacement. The team is developing COBRA and a hydrogen-fuelled, expander
cycle engine called RLX. The COBRA engine provides a 100-mission life span with
a 50-mission before overhaul interval.
Aerojet Successfully Demonstrates Thrust-Augmented Nozzle
(21 May
2002) Aerojet has successfully test-fired a hydrogen/oxygen rocket engine with
a Thrust-Augmented Nozzle (TAN), which injects and burns propellants downstream
of the nozzle throat to increase thrust and create an "afterburning"
engine.
The April 11 test at Aerojet's Sacramento
facility demonstrated nearly 29% improvement in thrust performance by injecting
and burning additional propellants into the supersonic flow path of the rocket
nozzle at sea level conditions. The additional thrust was achieved without
significant loss in engine efficiency - a key goal of the test.
Aerojet is proposing the TAN concept as an integral part of booster rocket
engines for both the US Air Force's and NASA's next generation reusable launch
vehicles. Aerojet will conduct additional TAN development testing and reusable
launch vehicle level studies over the next several months, followed by a 40,000
lbf thrust demonstration test in 2003 or 2004.
HyShot Second Flight Planned for July/August
(24 May
2002) The University of Queensland, Australia, is working towards the second
flight in the international HyShot program to be launched from Woomera,
possibly in late July or early August.
HyShot team
leader Dr Allan Paull of the University of Queensland’s Centre for
Hypersonics said the team was awaiting confirmation whether the Defence
Department’s Aircraft Research and Development Unit had been tasked to
work with UQ on the second flight.
HyShot aims to provide the
world’s first in-flight tests of scramjet technology, validating
experiments held in ground test facilities. Scramjets are air breathing
supersonic combustion ramjet engines which could revolutionise the launch of
small space payloads such as communication satellites by substantial lowering
costs.
Both NASA and the HyShot group staged scramjet experiments last
year which did not reach all their objectives. Last October a flight anomaly
caused the scramjet and second stage Orion booster disappeared into the desert
north of Woomera.
In February this year, the HyShot team searched
again for the missing debris, with the support of the University and DCSW
(Defence Corporate Support Woomera). The debris was located by kangaroo aerial
surveyor Professor Gordon Grigg and his team from UQ`s School of Life
Sciences.
The UQ team has received the investigators` report into the
first flight, which paves the way for the second flight and also has allowed
the release of debris, most of which is firmly back at UQ.
Researchers
at UQ`s Centre for Hypersonics and Astrotech Space Operations, the launch
providers, had completed an extra analysis of the first flight and as far as
American authorities were concerned, the second flight had been cleared to go.
A number of corrective actions had been undertaken. Recently, the Defence
Science and Technology Organisation had confirmed telemetry support was in
place for the next flight.
NASA and US Air Force Forge Ahead With Reusable Launch
Technology
(21 May 2002) US Air Force and NASA officials recently
agreed with the primary recommendation of a 120-day study team that the Air
Force and NASA should continue to assess building a joint Reusable Launch
Vehicle (RLV) demonstrator.
After scrutinising shared
technologies and mutual requirements for space access, the study team's top
recommendation to the Air Force and NASA was that the two organisations should
work together to assess building a joint operations demonstrator vehicle. The
study also concludes this demonstrator could eventually lead to a follow-on
cargo vehicle for both the US Air Force and NASA, as well as to a crewed
vehicle for NASA.
Another significant development of the meeting was a
mutual agreement by the principals to continue a cadre of experienced Air Force
people to work with NASA to proceed with joint study efforts, which include
refining concepts of operations, requirements, figures of merit, and design
reference missions. These efforts would support the fielding of a joint
operations demonstrator vehicle as well as follow-on vehicles, which may evolve
from that effort.
Other study highlights include the
following:
Overloading Caused Baikonur Roof Collapse
(21 May
2002) Overloading has been blamed for the collapse of the roof of Building 112
at Baikonur Cosmodrome on May 12 by the Russian state commission charged with
investigating the accident.
Several factors contributed
to the collapse:
Eight workers died in the accident.
DigitalGlobe Commences Full Commercial
Operations
(21 May 2002) DigitalGlobe has entered into full
commercial operations by offering its QuickBird imagery products to the global
marketplace. DigitalGlobe began selling products to its Charter Club members in
January and to resellers in March, and the company is now making imagery
available to all customers with the announcement of its commercial market
rollout.
Working closely with its global reseller
network and through a direct sales channel, DigitalGlobe serves the needs of
customers with the responsiveness and expertise the marketplace requires.
Through its partnerships with vendors of software for geographic information
system (GIS) and image analysis, processing and visualisation, DigitalGlobe is
set to provide products customers can easily use with popular software
packages. QuickBird Imagery Products have use in a number of applications
ranging from transportation planning, environmental monitoring and facilities
mapping to agriculture assessments, defence and intelligence planning and
forest mapping.
The QuickBird satellite was launched in October 2001
to collect images of the Earth at sub-meter resolution. Imagery collected by
the satellite has been filling DigitalGlobe's digital archive and, by the end
of 2002, will represent a significant portion of the Earth's surface. QuickBird
imagery that exists in DigitalGlobe's archive is available for under US$ 600.
New collections may also be ordered.
Liberty Satellite Hopes to Lead Restructured Astrolink
(21 May
2002) Liberty Satellite & Technology Inc has signed a non-binding letter of
intent with Lockheed Martin Corporation, TRW Inc, and Telespazio SpA, in
connection with a proposed restructuring of Astrolink International LLC.
Astrolink was formed in 1999 to establish and operate a global communications
system to deliver next-generation broadband service. Liberty Satellite
currently owns 31.5% of Astrolink, with the remainder owned by Lockheed, TRW
and Telespazio, in each case through one or more subsidiaries.
The non-binding letter of intent contemplates the settlement
of all claims among the parties and their affiliates relating to Astrolink and
the acquisition of all the assets of Astrolink by Liberty Satellite. If the
transactions contemplated by the non-binding letter of intent are consummated,
Liberty Media Corporation will make a capital contribution to Liberty Satellite
at the closing, in exchange for shares of Liberty Satellite's Series B common
stock at fair market value at closing. The parties have agreed not to publicly
disclose the specific economic terms of the proposed transaction, pending
execution of a definitive agreement on such terms.
Subject to
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the non-binding letter of
intent, and any necessary regulatory approvals, Liberty Satellite currently
plans to pursue a revised operating plan for the new Astrolink system, taking
into account current financial and market factors.
The transactions
contemplated by the non-binding letter of intent are subject to, among other
conditions, the negotiation, execution and delivery of definitive agreements,
required third party and governmental consents, and the termination or
renegotiations, on terms acceptable to Liberty Satellite, of Astrolink's prior
procurement contracts.
New ESA Initiative to Fund SME Satcom Innovations
(21 May
2002) The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched a second and expanded round
of funding for innovative R&D initiatives in satellite communications from
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
ESA's first
round of funding last year is already supporting projects in fields including
transportation management, tracking systems, integration of satellite IP
networks and interactive satellite advertising.
Companies selected to
join the scheme will be offered technical and financial support of up to Eur
300 000 to develop their concepts to a level where commercial funding can be
sought. The scheme might fund new uses for existing satellite technologies (to
provide new Internet, multimedia, location-based communication or mobile
applications) or support new systems and technologies with the potential to
improve existing services. Two possible funding levels are available, depending
on the commercial maturity of the proposal.
a) financial support up to
100% (max EUR 300 000) for validation of concepts in early stages of
development involving innovative technologies with perceived high commercial
and/or technical risks,
b) financial support up to 50% (max EUR 150
000) for integration and demonstration activities based on existing
technologies tailored to pre-operational products, systems and applications,
also involving high risk, but with identified market opportunities.
ESA will also use its expertise and contacts to bring together complementary
ideas and ventures in the satcom field.
Recognising the resource
issues faced by small companies, ESA has created a fast-track application
process allowing applicants to submit tentative ideas for initial feedback,
before producing a full proposal. Initial ideas will be accepted over a
four-week period from 21 May 2002.
Any small or medium-sized business
from a country participating in ESA's Telecommunications Programme is eligible
to apply. Participating countries are Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Particular attention will be paid to
proposals from companies who have never had a contract with ESA
before.
StarBand Files Suit Against EchoStar
(24 May 2002) High-speed,
two-way satellite Internet provider StarBand has filed a lawsuit against
EchoStar Communications with the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Virginia.
In its suit, StarBand is seeking a
restraining order and injunction against EchoStar to transfer back StarBand's
customer base and cease operating as StarBand's billing agent. The suit also
requests the court to prohibit EchoStar from collecting fees from StarBand
customers. StarBand is seeking damages for EchoStar's failure to pay millions
of dollars rightfully owed StarBand.
In the suit filed on Thursday,
StarBand charges that EchoStar has not forwarded any of the millions of dollars
in fees it has collected and is collecting as its billing agent. As a result of
EchoStar's continued delay of the customer base transition, StarBand will be
denied another month of service fees and has requested injunctive relief and
damages from EchoStar.
Stratos
Completes Equity Offering
(21 May 2002) Stratos Global Corporation has closed
its bought deal equity offering previously announced by the Company on May 2,
2002.
The offering consisted of the issue and sale, to a
syndicate of underwriters led by RBC Capital Markets, of 7.6 million common
shares at a price of Cdn$ 15.50 per common share to raise gross proceeds of
Cdn$ 117.8 million. In addition, Aliant Inc, the Company's principal
shareholder, purchased an additional 2.0 million common shares on terms
identical to those being offered to the public for additional proceeds of Cdn$
31 million.
The total gross proceeds of the offering was Cdn$ 148.8
million. The net proceeds of this issue will be used to repay indebtedness
under the Company's bridge credit facility.
The bought deal offering
was announced shortly after the release by Stratos of its financial results for
the first quarter ended March 31, 2002. The Corporation reported a profit for
the quarter of US$ 2.8 million, an increase of US$ 14.0 million over the US$
11.2 million loss reported for the same period last year. The Corporation also
reported revenue of US$ 79.4 million for the first quarter of 2002, a 20.5%
increase over revenue of US$ 65.9 million for the same period last
year.
Broadcom Demonstrates Highest Level of System Integration for Next
Generation Satellite Set-Top Boxes
(21 May 2002) Broadcom Corporation has
announced a single chip decoder that enables unmatched functionality for Direct
Broadcast Satellite (DBS) set-top boxes. The Broadcom BCM7315 includes personal
video recording (PVR) functionality, a high performance MIPS processor, an
advanced graphics engine, and significant mixed signal integration for lower
system solution cost.
Built upon previous generations of
Broadcom digital cable and satellite set-top box chips and technology, the
BCM7315 is optimised to enable advanced functions for DBS users. Service
providers deploying set-top boxes designed around this new chip will be able to
cost-effectively provide their subscribers with advanced television viewing
features. Addressing both Direct Video Broadcast (DVB) and DirecTV(R)
standards, the BCM7315 is deployable in major satellite television markets
world-wide.
The BCM7315 sets a new standard in integration for
all-digital satellite receivers. It fully integrates a QPSK receiver, MPEG-2
audio/video decoder, MIPS32 CPU and peripherals for a complete set-top box
system. This cost- effective solution for DBS applications supports NTSC/PAL
and SECAM TV formats. The chip also integrates multiple new security features
to defeat the growing problem of satellite television piracy. Featuring a
one-time programmable memory block, an on-chip boot ROM and secure EJTAG debug
functionality, the BCM7315 provides formidable impediments to satellite network
hackers.
In addition, the BCM7315 offers new functionality such as
PVR, which enables the viewer to watch a live DBS or pre-recorded television
program while simultaneously recording another program. PVR capability also
enables viewers to perform VCR-like functions such as pause, instant replay,
fast-forward and reverse.
The BCM7315's advanced 2D graphics system
offers true studio-quality text and graphics on television monitors with
extremely efficient use of memory and bandwidth. Its design, based on
Broadcom's extensive expertise in standard CMOS technology that integrates
digital and analogue components, further enhances its cost effectiveness. To
expedite product development for set-top box manufacturers, Broadcom also
developed device drivers that enable rapid software development cycles that
support industry-standard operation systems.
Also available is the
BCM97315 reference design, a development platform for set-tops based on the
BCM7315. The reference design comes with complete software source code,
schematics and Gerber files, and provides detailed design information for
manufacturers of interactive cable TV set-top terminals.
The BCM7315
is priced at US$ 50.00 in 10K quantities. Both the BCM7315 and the BCM97315
reference design are available today to Broadcom's customers.
Intelsat Rolls Out GlobalConnex Solutions
(21 May
2002) Addressing customer demand for more consolidated communications services,
Intelsat has unveiled GlobalConnex Solutions, a portfolio of bundled services
that combines Intelsat's global satellite fleet with terrestrial capabilities -
including teleport services, fibre and points of presence (POPs) at strategic
exchange points.
GlobalConnex Solutions will deliver
voice, data, Internet and video content efficiently and reliably to customers
around the world.
In conjunction with the rollout of this new service,
Intelsat announced it has signed the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT)
as one in a growing list of GlobalConnex customers. Intelsat is providing the
CAT with a 45 Mb/s duplex Internet link between Thailand and the US, by
integrating satellite, teleport and IP access services.
The first
products to be offered as part of the GlobalConnex portfolio
include:
In addition to Intelsat's global satellite fleet, the GlobalConnex Solutions utilise teleports in Europe and both East and West coasts of the US, along with POPs connected by fibre at key traffic exchange points in Los Angeles, New York and London. Intelsat also plans to use a teleport in Asia.
iSECUREtrac Delivers New GPS Offender Tracking Units
(21 May
2002) iSECUREtrac Corp has announced the first deliveries of its state of the
art GPS offender tracking units which have passed rigorous field testing over
the last 6 months.
iSECUREtrac's 2100NC GPS tracking
unit now provides authorities the most advanced yet low cost capabilities to
track and monitor offenders by integrating Global Positioning System technology
with the first wearable monitoring device. Authorities now can track and
monitor an offender while the offender pursues his or her daily activities of
work or travel outside the home.
The 2100NC tracking system gives
probation and parole authorities the ability to enhance public safety, simplify
the process of implementing and monitoring probation and parole violation
parameters, reduce the opportunity for an offender to violate their conditions
of release, and reduces the time and cost associated with probation and
offender management.
Integrated with iSECUREtrac's US-wide tracNET24
communications link, hosted data warehouse, and web monitoring system,
authorities and their agents can obtain easy and fast access to historical
location data, specific violations, and active location
surveillance.
Kingston inmedia's New Israel - London Service
(20 May
2002) Kingston inmedia has launched a new dedicated point-to-point satellite
service between Jerusalem/Tel Aviv and London, in conjunction with RR Satellite
Communications of Israel.
Kingston inmedia can now
provide broadcasters with solutions built on end-to-end connectivity from all
major studios and facilities companies in Israel, through the hub of RR Sat's
Rehovot Teleport, then via satellite to Kingston inmedia's Gerrard's Cross
Teleport. From Gerrard's Cross the route extends onward either to London's
Telecom Tower and other UK premises using Kingston's extensive national fibre
network, or to further destinations such as North and South America, via
Kingston's transatlantic fibre and satellite infrastructure. Early take-up of
the service has been strong and includes a major US news
broadcaster.
New KVH Tracphone F77 Connects Ocean-going Vessels to Internet
and Corporate Intranets at Super-fast ISDN Speed
(21 May 2002) The KVH
Tracphone F77 is fully compatible with Inmarsat's new Fleet service, which
provides high-quality voice connections as well as data connections at speeds
up to 64 kb/s.
Tracphone F77 offers five communications
options to suit a variety of requirements:
Designed for short-burst
data transmissions, MPDS is perfect for receiving e-mail, logging onto and
working within a company Intranet, or browsing the web. And with its
pay-by-the-bit pricing, users are charged only for the amount of the data sent
and received, not by connection time. As a result, a vessel can remain
connected via e-mail or the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at no
additional cost. The high-capacity mobile ISDN channel provides a constant data
stream at speeds as fast as 64 kb/s, making G4 fax service, video conferencing,
and transmitting large files and images, fast and easy. ISDN usage is charged
on a per-minute basis. The 3.1 kHz audio channel provides a high-speed analogue
connection for G3, 14.4 kHz fax and the capability to connect a personal
computer at 28.8 kb/s through the internal modem in the PC.
With its
fully stabilised antenna and high-impact dome, Tracphone F77 is equipped to
withstand the rigorous conditions of life at sea. The Tracphone F77 package
includes the antenna, a transceiver, and a telephone handset and cradle. The
system's transceiver serves as the hub for all on-line communication via the
ship's telephone networks and fax machines. Connected to an IP router,
Tracphone F77 can link all shipboard computers to onshore web- based systems,
including e-mail and Internet services. With its "always on- line" MPDS
capability, Tracphone F77 can turn a ship into a fully operational node in a
company's world-wide network.
SkyStream Unveils First All-Inclusive Video Networking
Platform for Broadband
(20 May 2002) SkyStream Networks has unveiled the
Mediaplex 20 Video Services Router, the industry's first all-inclusive platform
for service providers and carriers to deliver advanced video services to
consumers and businesses over existing broadband networks.
Mediaplex 20's wide range of video and data processing
capabilities and broadcast level security architecture, enable service
providers to bring broadcast, on demand and interactive television services to
market faster and more cost-effectively, with security than currently available
solutions.
SkyStream's Mediaplex dramatically reduces the capital and
operating expenses typically associated with the delivery of advanced digital
video services, enabling faster rollout of high-margin video services to
consumers and businesses. Mediaplex 20 is built on a modular, carrier-class
chassis with a unique distributed architecture, which significantly increases
the efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of large-scale delivery of
video and data streams.
The SkyStream Mediaplex 20 platform includes
several patented and patent-pending technological breakthroughs to assure
non-stop high quality video delivery over diverse networks. One large US-based
and one Europe-based telecommunications company and several systems
integrators, including Sony Electronics Inc's Systems Solutions Division and
Imagine Broadband, are evaluating the Mediaplex 20 for deployment in their
networks or with their service provider customers.
In addition, more
than a dozen technology companies from the set-top box, middleware, video
headend and broadband networking equipment industries have announced their
support for SkyStream's latest solution for video delivery over broadband.
SkyStream designed the Mediaplex 20 to pave the way for service providers
to deliver new video services more quickly and cost-effectively via several
technology innovations. These innovations enable service providers to leverage
their existing network capacity and deliver services with the highest levels of
scalability, redundancy and security in today's marketplace.
The
Mediaplex OS (MPOS) is the routing engine and the heart of SkyStream's
Mediaplex product, featuring several patent-pending technologies in the areas
of QoS, redundancy, reliability and high-performance video routing and
switching. MPOS also enables service providers to create real-time, non-stop
video and data services.
The Mediaplex Management Console (MPMC)
enables real-time monitoring and management of all modules, ports and
functions, providing comprehensive control over all aspects of the device. The
MPMC features an easy to use, Web-based interface for configuration and
diagnostics of the chassis.
The Mediaplex platform supports the
delivery of the following applications: residential and business broadcast TV
services, Movies on Demand, Pay Per View, Interactive TV, video-powered
enterprise communication services, video backhaul services, and video over IP
for multiple dwelling units (MDUs) and multi tenant office (MTUs) facilities.
Located in the video head-end of a carrier or phone company or satellite
operator, SkyStream's Mediaplex offers a wide range of video and data
processing capabilities that achieve several industry milestones in cost,
performance, reliability, management and security.
Built on a
chassis-based architecture to ensure maximum flexibility, reliability and
scalability, Mediaplex 20's customisable architecture allows service providers
to add functionality such as real-time MPEG encoding, video program switching
or multiplexing as they need it to meet the precise needs of their network and
service mixture. This high-density system was designed for space-constrained
data centre and telco racks, and includes hot swappable modules for fast,
efficient and reliable deployment and management of advanced video
services.
The Mediaplex 20 video services router will be available in
June of this year directly from SkyStream Networks and authorised distribution
partners.
Boeing Space and Communications Strengthens
European Presence
(22 May 2002) The Boeing Co has named Paul van
IJsselstein as vice president business development for Europe.
A 25-year aerospace veteran, van IJsselstein will be based
in Amsterdam in the Boeing office at Schiphol Airport. In his new role, van
IJsselstein will lead Boeing Space and Communications business development
activities in Europe.
Before joining Boeing, van IJsselstein served
with the Dutch Navy and held positions with Fokker Space and Thales in
Australia. van IJsselstein will report to Space and Communications headquarters
in Seal Beach.
Connexion by Boeing Names CFO
(23 May 2002) The Boeing
Company has announced that Curt Nohavec, 49, has been named chief financial
officer for Connexion by Boeing.
A 25-year Boeing
veteran, Nohavec previously served as director of Finance for the Technical
Services and Modifications business within Boeing Commercial Airplanes, to
which he was appointed in November 2001. In that role, he was responsible for
the financial management of the organisation, including estimating and pricing,
cost management, and financial planning activities.
Nohavec received
his undergraduate degree in Finance, and his master's degree from the
University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. He also attended the Executive
Development Program at the University of Illinois.
Infosat Telecommunications Names John P. Robertson President and
CEO
(21 May 2002) John P Robertson has been appointed as
president and CEO of Infosat Telecommunications, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Telesat. Robertson's mandate is to strengthen Infosat's position as Canada's
leading satellite telecommunications system integrator and provider, and to
aggressively grow the company's business into new markets.
Robertson, who has over 18 years of experience in the
telecommunications industry, is moving to Infosat from Unity Wireless Corp.
where he was president and CEO. Previously, he was executive vice-president of
Glentel Corp and executive vice-president of Uniden Canada Corp.
Taylor Named President and CEO of Ball Aerospace
(22 May
2002) Ball Corporation has announced that on June 1, David L Taylor will become
president and chief executive officer of Ball Aerospace & Technologies
Corp, the company's aerospace and technologies subsidiary. Donald W
Vanlandingham, president and CEO of Ball Aerospace since 1996, will become
chairman of its board at that time and will serve in that position until his
retirement at the end of this year.
Taylor, 50, has
served as senior vice president and chief operating officer for Ball Aerospace
since January 2001. Taylor, who has been with the company for 18 years, led a
recent change in Ball Aerospace's strategic direction and a resulting corporate
reorganisation. Prior to his role as COO, he was vice president, commercial
space operations, an organisation he led from inception in 1995 to the
successful completion of innovative projects such as imaging satellites
QuikSCAT for NASA and QuickBird for DigitalGlobe. Taylor's 25-year career spans
commercial aviation, commercial fixed-price, government cost reimbursable, and
international commercial communications business. He has held executive
positions in US and foreign aerospace companies.
Vanlandingham, 62,
has served as president and CEO of Ball Aerospace since 1996. Previously, he
was vice president electro-optical subsystems from 1991 to 1996, and served in
numerous other technical and management positions during his 35 years of
service.
