4 August 2002
Satcoms
Andrew Wins US$ 20 Million Contract for iPSTAR Satellite
Network
Astrium
to Build Hellas-Sat
Gilat Alldean (Africa), Receives License to be Second
VSAT Operator in Kenya
Gilat Continues Expansion in Kazakhstan with 400 New Sites
Gilat Provides
Network to Turkish Weather and Water Monitoring Agencies
HNS Announces 20 New Broadband Alliance Members
Scopus Supplies
Largest Broadcaster in India
Earth
Oservation
RSI Supports Safe Vessel Navigation in the Icy Waters of
Greenland
Military
Space
ITT Wins US$ 113
Million Contract to Provide Ka Band Satellite Earth Terminals and
Support
Science
Emcore
Awarded Solar Array Contract for Cryosat
Manned
Space
Genesis
Engineering to Develop Innovative Cargo Container Designs for Space
Station
Technology
HyShot Scramjet Flies
Business
Allied Research Acquires SeaSpace Corporation
Comtech Acquires
Advanced Hardware Architectures Business
Orbital Awarded US$ 57 Million
Technical Services Contract by Lockheed Martin
New Skies and Kingston inmedia
Announce Strategic Relationship
Products and Services
Andrew Introduces 3.5 Meter Ka Band Earth Station
Antenna
Solar2000 RG v1.23 Released
Stratos Announces
Revolutionary New High Speed Service
Stratos Launches Inmarsat
Fleet High Bandwidth Services
People
Americom Announces Americom2Home Management Team
Space Imaging Expands Federal
Sales Team
Andrew
Wins US$ 20 Million
Contract for iPSTAR Satellite Network
(1 August 2002) Andrew Corporation has received a US$
20 million plus contract from Shin Satellite Public Company Limited (Shin Sat)
one of Asia's largest satellite operators, for a network of 18 earth station
gateway systems throughout Australia, Asia, and New Zealand.
The network will be used to deploy Shin Satellite's iPSTAR
Broadband Satellite System. A typical iPSTAR gateway will include an Andrew
8.1-meter Ka band (20-30 GHz) earth station, a Ku band broadcast earth station
(with a 7.6-meter antenna), and accessories. Andrew will design, install,
implement, and deploy the entire gateway RF network. Network installation will
commence in mid 2003. The iPSTAR satellite is scheduled for commercial launch
by the end of 2003.
The iPSTAR satellite system will supply low cost,
high capacity, direct-to-desktop, two-way broadband communications services
across Asia, India, and Australia. Available services will include broadband
Internet access, mass broadband access service, Virtual Private Networking over
iPSTAR, Video Conferencing, and iPSTAR's Voice Service. The iPSTAR network will
service Australia, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia,
Myanmar, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand, The Philippines, and Vietnam. Shin
Satellite and iPSTAR have already announced framework service agreements with
many major regional service providers.
Astrium to Build Hellas-Sat
(31 July 2002) The Hellas-Sat Consortium has signed a
contract with Astrium for the supply of its first satellite which is due for
launch in early 2003 and which will provide television and telecommunications
services for the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.
Hellas-Sat will be based on Astrium's Eurostar E2000+ platform and will be
equipped with 30 active Ku band FSS transponders. It will have a launch mass of
3250 kg and an end-of-life power of 7.6 kW. From an orbital position of 39°
E two deployable antennas will provide Pan European coverage, including Greece,
the Balkans and Eastern Europe, while two steerable beams can be moved to cover
South Africa and the Middle East.
Five companies are part of the
Hellas-Sat Consortium: the Cypriot Company Avacom Net, the Hellenic
Telecommunications Organisation, the Cyprus Bank of Development, the Hellenic
Aerospace Industry and Telesat.
Gilat
Alldean (Africa),
Receives License to be Second VSAT Operator in Kenya
(31 July 2002) Gilat Alldean (Africa) Limited
has received a license to be the Kenya's second VSAT data networks operator. By
providing this license, the country's telecommunications regulator, the
Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), in effect broke the monopoly of a
single VSAT networks operator in Kenya, a phenomenon that exists in most
African countries.
Gilat has also announced a slew of
new VSAT contracts with customers in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, the
Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
In Kenya, operating under the
name "NyoyaSat", Gilat Alldean (Africa) is deploying DialAw@y IP, FaraWay and
Skystar 360E hubs, and several networks of each platform throughout the
country, providing private corporate data networks. Gilat Alldean will now be
offering high-speed data networks to corporations, SME's, government agencies
and NGO's across Africa based on the Skystar 360E, DialAw@y IP and FaraWay
platforms.
In Tanzania, the country's largest IP operator, Satcom
Networks Africa Ltd., in an initial order, is installing a Skystar Advantage
hub and some one hundred sites across the country. Satcom Networks Africa Ltd.,
which is also an ISP, will be providing its customers, which include banks and
Tanzanian government ministries, with private data networks and IP
applications.
Ethiopian Telecom Corporation (ETC), a long time Gilat
customer, has completed upgrading its DialAw@y IP and FaraWay telephony
networks, and is adding several hundred rural telephony sites across Ethiopia.
As part of the upgrade to the existing several hundred sites, the network is
now totally digital and IP enabled. Gateways with digital, rather than analogue
interfaces, and multiple E1 interfaces, have been added to all the network
switches.
In Mozambique, licensed operator Satcom is installing 150
DialAw@y IP sites for corporate networks. The mesh VSAT networks will provide
IP and voice for virtual private networks (VPN).
In the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC), local operator Tatem Telecom is installing an initial
order of more than 150 remote DialAw@y IP sites for rural telephony
applications throughout the country.
In Rwanda, Artel Communications
is installing a DialAw@y IP network, which includes a hub and an initial order
of 100 VSAT terminals. The network is expected to be used by Artel to provide
customers and businesses with telephony and high-speed Internet service in
education, health care, financial services and government markets in Rwanda and
Central Africa.
Gilat
Continues Expansion in
Kazakhstan with 400 New Sites
(30 July 2002) Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd has been
selected by Astel OJSC to supply two satellite rural telephony/Internet
networks of 200 sites each for the Kazakhstan State Postal Office (KazPost) and
the State Center on Pension Payment.
The two DialAw@y IP
VSAT networks will be operated by Astel OJSC, one of Kazakhstan's largest
telecommunication operators. Astel successfully deployed its first, 100-site
DialAw@y IP network last year. The new networks will provide corporate
telephony, fax, data, Internet, e-mail, e-post and e-government services to
rural users across Kazakhstan. Deployment of the State Pension network is
expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter, while the KazPost
network is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The
Kazakh Post Office network is the latest example of VSAT technology bringing
government postal services to residents across a country. Similar applications
provided by Gilat exist in China, Brazil and in the United States. The
application of the United States Postal Service is one of the largest VSAT
networks in the world, with some 11,000 sites already installed and with a
potential to expand considerably.
DialAw@y IP is one of the only VSAT
products capable of providing high-speed Internet connectivity and toll-quality
telephony service on a single, low-cost platform. Each unit supports a PC/LAN
connection and up to six telephone channels. It is a low-cost solution for the
fulfilment of Universal Service/Access Obligations, Public Call Office
requirements and small office/home office (SOHO) requirements for bundled
telephony and Internet access.
DialAw@y IP networks are rapidly
deployed, highly scalable and field upgradable. The remote equipment functions
in extreme weather conditions, has a long lifespan and can be monitored from a
distance. Ultra-low power consumption (less than 25W) enables the units to
operate in remote locations that have minimal or no electricity, by
incorporating a single-panel solar system or power generators.
In May,
Gilat announced three additional deals in Kazakhstan with CJSC Kazakhstan
Telecommunications, OJSC KazTransCom and CJSC NC KazMunayGas. With the addition
of the new networks announced today, some 1,800 Gilat VSATs will be deployed
throughout the country.
Gilat
Provides Network to
Turkish Weather and Water Monitoring Agencies
(31 July 2002) Gilat Satellite Networks has
been selected by a Turkish government agency to provide a 356-site satellite
communications network for use by the Turkey Emergency Flood and Earthquake
Recovery Project (TEFER).
Gilat will provide one Skystar
Advantage central satellite hub system to Turkey's General Directorate of State
Meteorological Works (DMI) and one hub system to the Directorate of State
Hydrological Works (DSI). The VSAT terminals are expected to be used by both
agencies to increase communications efficiency between meteorological radar
systems, Automated Weather Observation Systems (AWOS), hydrological stations
and airport meteorological stations. Deployment of the VSAT equipment has begun
and the project is scheduled to be completed by the first quarter of
2003.
HNS Announces 20 New Broadband Alliance Members
(29 July 2002) Hughes
Network Systems Inc (HNS) has announced that more than 20 new members have
joined the Broadband Alliance since its launch last November. The Alliance is
designed to encourage partners to develop new cutting-edge broadband
applications utilising SpaceWay, the next generation satellite network for
DirecWay.
Broadband Alliance members are supported by
the Hughes Applications Center of Excellence, staffed with 100 engineers who
collaborate with members and customers during the development and deployment
processes. Applications include high-quality, secure videoconferencing,
telecollaboration, telemedicine, distance learning-on-demand and flexible
end-to-end networking solutions.
The new members of the Broadband
Alliance represent a variety of technology industries and include: ATI, C-Com,
EMC, Envivio.com, Hewlett- Packard, Inktomi, Intel, Media Management Systems,
Inc., Optistreams, Paymate.net, Radvision, RealCastLive, Scala, Inc., Sitara
Networks, Sony Electronics, Ulidian Networks, VCON, Vianet, VideoNext, and
Vividon.
Launching in 2003, SPACEWAY will provide full-mesh
connectivity for delivery of high-bandwidth multimedia services. In addition to
its unique peer-to-peer architecture, SpaceWay incorporates many other advanced
features - such as packet switching, spot beams and bandwidth-on-demand. It is
expected to open up a wealth of opportunities for delivering high-speed,
multimedia content services and new applications to North American
businesses.
Scopus Supplies Largest Broadcaster in India
(28 July 2002)
Doordarshan, India's national television service and largest broadcaster, has
selected Scopus digital broadcast platforms to upgrade elements of its digital
broadcast infrastructure.
Scopus has worked closely with
Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), a major manufacturer of professional and
strategic electronic equipment under the Indian Ministry of Defence Production,
to incorporate the platforms within Doordarshan's existing infrastructure.
Scopus' equipment was benchmark tested under vigorous conditions by Doordarshan
engineers and systems operators for six months before the Indian broadcaster
made its order.
In March 2002, Doordarshan placed an order with BEL
for the supply and the integration of professional IRDs. BEL and Scopus
supplied these professional IRDs (Scopus' CODICO IRD-2800) within 6 weeks of
the order to Doordarshan for operation at hundreds of receiving sites
throughout India.
To meet Doordarshan's needs, Scopus made specific
adjustments in its platforms fitting them with front end audio/video monitoring
as well as inputs for satellite reception.
RSI Supports Safe Vessel Navigation in the Icy Waters of
Greenland
(30 July
2002) Radarsat International (RSI) and the Danish Meteorological Institute
(DMI) have signed a contract worth US$ 935,000 for the near-real time
processing and delivery of Radarsat-1 and Envisat data.
The contract runs until December 31, 2003 and ensures that DMI will receive
time-sensitive imagery for creating ice charts and reports. This critical
information is delivered from DMI to the bridge of ships navigating the
Greenland Sea, to ensure their safe passage.
Radarsat-1 data is
delivered to DMI from a network of three Radarsat-1 ground stations: the
Canadian Data Processing Facility in Canada, QinetiQ in Scotland and Kongsberg
Satellite Services (KSAT) in Norway. These stations receive and process the
Radarsat-1 data in near-real time, and then send it electronically over the
Internet to DMI within 2-4 hours of data acquisition. In addition, for this
project, RSI will be supplying Envisat data to DMI.
The pairing of
Radarsat-1 and Envisat data increases the coverage availability over the
Greenland Sea, in particular the hazardous Cape Farewell region.
DMI
has been operationally incorporating Radarsat-1 data into their ice services
since 1999. This has led to the reduction of ice reconnaissance using
aeroplanes from 12 to 2.5 months a year.
ITT Wins US$ 113 Million Contract to Provide Ka Band
Satellite Earth Terminals and Support
(31 July 2002) ITT Industries has been awarded a US$
113 million contract to provide Wideband Gapfiller Ka band satellite earth
terminals and support to the US Army's Project Manager Defense Communications
and Army Transmission Systems (PM DCATS).
The base
contract of US$ 17 million includes options that bring the contract total to
more than US$ 113 million. Contract work will be performed by ITT's Systems
Division, located in Colorado Springs.
Through the Ka Band Satellite
Earth Terminal and Support Program, ITT will provide the primary strategic
terminals that the United States Department of Defense will use to communicate
over the Wideband Gapfiller Satellites scheduled for launch in mid 2004. The
WGS system is a high-capacity military satellite communications system that
will service all branches of the military.
The contract includes a
guaranteed buy of 2 Ka band satellite earth terminals, with a potential of up
to 50 terminals over a 6-year period. The contract also includes a 10-year
provision to provide complete life cycle support of the earth
terminals.
Emcore Awarded Solar Array Contract for Cryosat
(1 August 2002) Emcore
Corporation has been awarded a contract to design and develop a solar array to
power the Cryosat satellite, a project of Astrium for the ESA (European Space
Agency). This contract follows Emcore's recently announced acquisition of the
Applied Solar Division business of Tecstar Inc, which now forms part of
Emcore's PhotoVoltaics Division.
The first in a series
of earth explorer opportunity missions sponsored by the ESA's 'Living Planet'
program, the Cryosat satellite will monitor land and marine ice mass fluxes to
improve the understanding of climate change. According to the terms of the
contract, Emcore will lead a team comprising itself and the European Aeronautic
Defence & Space Company (EADS), in which EADS will provide the mechanical
design while Emcore undertakes the electrical design. The solar array, which
converts sunlight into electrical power, will be the primary power source for
the Cryosat satellite.
Genesis Engineering to Develop Innovative Cargo Container Designs
for Space Station
(29 July 2002) The next generation of transportation
containers going to the International Space Station will provide a soft ride
for sensitive parts, will be robotically operated, and will provide heat to
protect against the cold space environment.
Genesis
Engineering Solutions, along with team members Boeing and CSA Engineering, will
design the Cargo Transportation Container (CTC), to carry critical replacement
parts to the International Space Station. The CTC will be a key element in the
overall transportation architecture supporting Station logistics and re-supply
operations. The CTC will have a system to dampen severe vibration loads
experienced during Shuttle launches, similar to protective enclosures Genesis
has designed and built for the Hubble Space Telescope and other customers such
as SPACEHAB/Oceaneering Space Systems.
In addition to providing a safe
ride and thermal control, the CTC will be designed to save money. On the
ground, CTCs will offer streamlined processing, saving in some cases up to a
million dollars in labour. On-orbit, CTC cargo can be removed and replaced by
both the Space Station's robotic arm or by the astronauts in space suits.
Robotic operation saves money and frees up crew time because one astronaut can
do the work of three; two in space suits and one inside.
The contract
was awarded by NASA's External Carrier's Office at the Johnson Space Center,
Houston, Texas.
HyShot Scramjet Flies
(30 July 2002) University of Queensland researchers
have declared the launch of the HyShot scramjet test vehicle on a Terrier Orion
Mk70 rocket at the Woomera Prohibited Range a success.
The aim of the experiment is to achieve the world's first flight test of
air-breathing supersonic ramjet engines, also known as scramjets. These engines
could revolutionise the launch of small space payloads, such as communications
satellites, by substantially lowering costs.
Recovery of the vehicle
and initial analysis of the results will take place over the next few days.
Other consortium partners include the Aircraft Research and Development
Unit, Australian Defence (ARDU); the Defence Science and Technology,
Organisation (DSTO); Astrotech Space Operations; DTI and GASL; QinetiQ; NASA
Langley Research Center; Seoul National University; the DLR (German Aerospace
Centre); NAL (National Aerospace Lab. Japan); AFRL (Air Force Research
Laboratory, USA); Australian Space Research Institute (ASRI), Institute of
Engineers Australia (IEAust); UniQuest and the Australian Department of
Defence.
Scramjets are air-breathing supersonic combustion ramjet
engines.
The aim of the HyShot program is to provide the world’s
first in-flight tests of scramjet technology, validating experiments held in
ground test facilities.
The program involves taking the scramjet
engine to a design speed of Mach 7.6 by a Terrier Orion rocket. The rocket and
payload will reach an altitude of 314 km before the rocket is configured to fly
in a new trajectory pointing the payload back down to earth. The flight
experiment will take place within only the last few seconds of the flight,
lasting almost 10 minutes. The rocket is intended to impact 371 km downrange of
the launch site.
Allied Research Acquires SeaSpace Corporation
(31 July 2002) Allied
Research Corporation has announced the acquisition of SeaSpace Corporation, of
Poway, California, in a cash and stock transaction.
The
SeaSpace transaction, along with NS Microwave and Titan Dynamics Systems Inc,
marks the third modest acquisition in the short tenure of Allied Research's new
management team, as they build a strategic portfolio of defence and security
companies. As with the others, SeaSpace is expected to quickly add to Allied
Research's earnings. Transaction terms were not announced.
SeaSpace is
the world's leading supplier of environmental satellite ground reception
systems. Its proprietary TeraScan software processes earth remote sensing
satellite data for mission-critical applications requiring timely and accurate
weather and environmental information.
Founded in 1982, SeaSpace
pioneered the development of cost-effective, easily deployed systems, and has
built a world-wide base of over 450 military, commercial, and academic
customers. SeaSpace has also established market leadership in development and
deployment of ground stations supporting the newest generation of "X-Band"
satellites being launched by NASA and other organisations.
SeaSpace
Corporation will continue to operate from its current location in Poway,
California, with the same management team, headed by its President, Linda S
Bernstein, and Chief Technology Officer, Dr Robert L Bernstein.
Comtech Acquires Advanced Hardware Architectures Business
(31 July 2002) Comtech
Telecommunications Corp's newly-formed subsidiary, Comtech AHA Corp (Comtech
AHA), has acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of
privately-held Advanced Hardware Architectures Inc (AHA) located in Pullman,
Washington.
AHA designs, develops and markets forward
error correction integrated circuits and data coding technology solutions for
telecommunications systems customers. Among its most notable products is the
latest generation forward error correction technology, called Turbo Product
Codec (TPC). TPC chips are an important enabling technology included in Comtech
EF Data's bandwidth efficient modems. AHA has also developed chips used in
other telecommunications applications, as well as data compression for tape
storage.
Comtech AHA purchased certain of the assets of AHA, including
accounts receivable, inventory, equipment and intellectual property for US$ 6.8
million, and assumed certain operating liabilities of AHA. The purchase price,
which is being funded from available cash balances, is subject to adjustment
based on a final determination of the net tangible assets of AHA as of July 31,
2002. AHA is expected to contribute approximately US$ 7 million of revenue and
be accretive by one or two cents in fiscal 2003.
Comtech also
announced today that is has appointed Bill Thomson as president of Comtech AHA.
Thomson, who served as president of AHA, has been with the company since 1989
and has a close working relationship with its customers and industry
organisations.
In connection with the acquisition, Comtech expects to
record a one-time charge during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002 for purchased
in-process research and development as determined by an independent valuation
firm.
New
Skies and Kingston
inmedia Announce Strategic Relationship
(1 August 2002) Kingston inmedia and New
Skies Satellites have signed an agreement to co-operate closely in offering a
range of communications services using New Skies' global satellite network and
Kingston inmedia's fully integrated media facility at Gerrards Cross, just
northwest of London.
Under the terms of the new
agreement, Kingston inmedia and New Skies will expand the range of satellite
communications services offered to customers throughout Europe, the Americas,
India, the Middle East and Africa. Specifically:
Together, Kingston inmedia and New Skies currently serve approximately 50 video and IP customers. Occasional-use and full-time video customers include using the New Skies satellite system for customers including The Racing Network International (TRNI) and SSVC. Customers for New Skies' internet backbone connectivity service, IPsys, are some of the world's most successful ISPs: Satyam, Gulfsat, Data Access, Primus, Logitech, Siti Cable, BSES, Cybernet, Comet-Simbanet and Ethiopia Telecom. This latest agreement will permit additional growth in the range and volume of both video and internet services.
Orbital Awarded US$ 57 Million Technical Services Contract by
Lockheed Martin
(29
July 2002) Orbital Sciences Corporation's Technical Services Division (TSD),
based in Greenbelt, Maryland, has been selected for an eight-year, US$ 57
million cost-plus/award fee contract by Lockheed Martin Corporation. Under the
contract, engineers and other personnel from Orbital's TSD will support
Lockheed Martin as part of the NASA Ames Research Center's Programs and
Projects (P&P) services contract.
Under the terms of
Orbital's contract from Lockheed Martin, the company will perform numerous
activities involved in NASA Ames space research and flight programs, including
its Space Station Biological Research Project, Flight Payload Integration and
Fundamental Biology Programs, as well as its Space Station payload projects and
Discovery missions. Orbital will also assist in maintaining project and mission
schedules and in co-ordinating science planning between NASA Ames and NASA
Headquarters and other NASA centres, science working groups and external
groups. The company's technical staff will support Lockheed Martin in planning
and analysing options for potential space flight opportunities during
development of flight experiments and hardware.
Andrew
Introduces 3.5 Meter Ka
Band Earth Station Antenna
(29 July 2002) Andrew Corporation has introduced the
3.5 meter Ka band Earth Station Antenna, a third generation receive/transmit
antenna for high-speed satellite communication systems. Ka-band satellites are
playing a critical role in the global information infrastructure, providing end
users with a wide variety of affordable, always-on services such as high-speed
Internet access, tele-education, telemedicine, and entertainment video.
The new generation, cost-effective, Andrew 3.5 m Ka band
antenna offers superior structural strength, consistent performance, and low
cost but accurate tracking system.
The 3.5 meter Ka band antenna
features a spun aluminium reflector and galvanised steel mount and subreflector
struts for maximum durability with minimal maintenance, even under adverse
weather conditions. An optional rain vaporiser is available to combat signal
loss due to water accumulation on the feed window. For added durability and
flexibility, other options available for the 3.5 m Ka band antenna include
anti-icing, mount motorization, and pressurisation systems.
The
antenna features advanced dual-reflector technology together with a one-piece
spun aluminium reflector assembly. This combination provides extremely accurate
surface contour, ease of installation, and consistent performance for gain and
sidelobe pattern characteristics. The antenna has an advanced subreflector
tracking system that eliminates the need for costly high-strength jack drives
and large motors. This is an alternative to the traditional mount tracking -
both options are available.
Solar2000 RG v1.23 Released
(1 August 2002) Space Environment
Technologies has announced the release of Solar2000 v1.23 Research Grade model
for determining solar irradiances.
The IDL GUI
application that runs on any platform supporting IDL v5.3 or higher can be
downloaded at http://SpaceWx.com at the Solar2000 v1.23 link.
The
release of this version of the model provides additional, new proxies that can
be used by several communities including the thermospheric heating rate, Qeuv
(ergs cm-2 s-1), the derived sunspot number, Rsn (unitless), the exospheric
temperature at 450 km, Tinf (K), and the EUV hemispheric power, Peuv (GW). The
model provides self-consistent irradiances and proxies from Feb 1947 through
May 2002. In addition, small improvements were made in the variability of the H
and C continua emission and the absolute values of E10.7, for example, may
change by ~1% at different times during the last 5 solar cycles compared to S2K
v1.20 E10.7 values.
The operational grade version of the model, using
the same code as the research grade version, is now online at NOAA/SEC and is
producing daily nowcast irradiances and proxies. The model results, and
particularly E10.7, have recently been rigorously tested in a USAF study. The
results of that study indicate a significant improvement in satellite orbit
determination using near-term forecast E10.7 compared to F10.7. The general
results of that work will be discussed at upcoming AIAA conferences.
This version of Solar2000 is one of the final releases prior to the
incorporation of a FUV variability model developed by researchers at the
University of Colorado, LASP. The release of S2K v2.00 is anticipated this
autumn with variability from 1-300 nm.
Stratos
Announces Revolutionary
New High Speed Service
(30 July 2002) Stratos has announced that it is
planning to introduce a new Inmarsat satellite service which will enable
businesses, governments and education establishments in up to 99 countries
around the globe to benefit from the Internet and IT revolution.
The new Inmarsat Regional Broadband Global Area Network
(Regional BGAN) service, due for launch at the end of this year, will bring
reliable high- speed data communications to developed and developing nations 24
hours a day, with usage charges based purely on the amount of data sent or
received rather than conventional 'per minute' charging for satellite
airtime.
Inmarsat Regional BGAN is expected to deliver a General
Packet Radio System (GPRS)-compatible data service in up to 99 countries
stretched across north, central and western Africa, as well as the Middle East,
Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. Users will have access to a
high-speed (up to 144 kb/s) shared secure channel, offering connection speeds
more than twice as fast as GPRS or 2.5G. Its key features include:
Stratos
Launches Inmarsat Fleet
High Bandwidth Services
(1 August 2002) Stratos has launched a comprehensive
suite of the latest Inmarsat voice and data communications service, Inmarsat
Fleet. Stratos will also augment this global high-speed communication service
with Stratos' own proprietary communication application technologies, which
will enable users to reap additional benefits from this groundbreaking new
system.
Inmarsat Fleet service is a feature rich
integrated maritime communication service giving the user the chance to choose
from ISDN, PSTN, low cost voice and fax telephony an Mobile Packet Data Service
(MPDS). MPDS revolutionises satellite communications by providing an "always
on" data channel where users only pay for data sent and received, not the time
connected. This means that for the first time, cost effective Internet access
and email, as well as new real-time telemetry, SCADA, navigation and messaging
applications are possible. Fleet F77, which is the first phase of Inmarsat
Fleet services, will provide dedicated 64 kb/s ISDN connectivity to enable
high-speed data transfer and high quality voice, fax and video, as well as low
cost "mini M" voice telephony and fax.
Stratos makes the most of this
new technology by adding on its own suite of services for voice and data
communications. Stratos' services for Fleet F77 users include: Dynamic Domain
Name Server, which allows an MPDS user to be always addressable from the shore;
StratosNet for optimised compressed satellite Internet access; StratosOne for
integrated email, fax, and telex communications; and Instant Messaging.
Additionally, Stratos' 'Call Alert' application ensures that mariners are
constantly contactable by shore-based telephone callers, and users in MPDS mode
will be informed of every 'to- mobile' call attempt. Stratos' User Account web
page presents MPDS session, firewall and accounting details to the user or
administrator as well.
Americom Announces Americom2Home Management Team
(29 July 2002)
Following its announcement of new television and broadband Internet services
for American consumers, SES Americom has announced the executive team charged
with launching the new residential services.
Kevin
Smyth, Senior Vice President, Residential Satellite Services, is responsible
for the overall direction, strategy, and business planning for the
Americom2Home initiative including daily leadership and ongoing operations.
Smyth has held key roles at Telesat Canada, then with Indonesia's first private
satellite telecommunications company called Pasifik Satellite Nusantara, and
since 1998 with SES Astra. Smyth's efforts led to the launch of Astra's
Broadband Interactive System (BBI) and investment in Embratel's StarOne. He
also played a key role in Astra's merger with GE American Communications to
form SES Global and SES Americom. Smyth has an engineering degree from the
University of New Brunswick and an MBA from the University of Ottawa.
Rick Langhans, Vice President - Technology, Residential Satellite Services, is
responsible for the technical design and implementation of the Americom2Home
system. With over 25 years of experience in the design and operation of
commercial satellites and associated ground segment, he has held many senior
management positions such as Vice-President of Engineering and Operations and
Chief Technology Officer at GE Americom. Langhans has an electrical engineering
degree from Manhattan College, attended the MSEE program at NYIT, and holds an
Executive Program Certificate from the University of Michigan School of
Business Administration.
Sergy Mummert, Vice President - Commercial
Development, Residential Satellite Services, is responsible for developing the
Americom2Home business, including the business plan, service design and
negotiation of partnership arrangements. Mummert was a senior manager for
DirecTV who led efforts to create new international pay-TV businesses, enabling
the company to leverage platform and brand abroad, delivering multi-channel
video services over satellite. Mr Mummert also was a founding member of the
joint venture team Astrolink International LLC, chartered to develop a global
broadband satellite network. Mr Mummert has a BA from San Diego State
University and MA in international management from the American Graduate School
of International Management in Arizona.
Space
Imaging Expands Federal
Sales Team
(29 July
2002) Space Imaging has announced the appointment of Jim Youker to director of
Military Programs and Dennis Jones to director of Intelligence & National
Security Programs.
Jim Youker, director of Military
Programs, is responsible for selling imagery, products, and services to the
Commands and Agencies of the Department of Defense. Youker has more than 15
years experience in marketing and sales, most recently as Space Imaging's
director of Solutions' Strategy. Before joining Space Imaging, Youker held
various marketing positions with Coors Brewing Company. Prior to that Youker
was chief of Industrial Engineering and chief programs representative for
Lockheed Martin Astronautics' electronics manufacturing facility. Youker holds
a master's degree in business administration from the University of Northern
Colorado. He is a colonel in the US Army Reserves and commands a combat support
brigade size unit.
Dennis Jones, director of Intelligence &
National Security Programs is responsible for all sales to the United States
Government Intelligence Community organisations. Jones has more than 11 years
industry experience, most recently as Space Imaging's director of Global
Alliance Programs. Prior to joining Space Imaging, Jones was senior project
engineer at The Aerospace Corporation where he led commercial imagery and
technology transfer strategy, policy and plans development for the National
Reconnaissance Office. Before that Jones held various analytical positions for
The Executive Office of the President's Office of National Drug Control Policy
and the Central Intelligence Agency. Jones holds a bachelor of art's degree in
history from Yale University and a master's degree in governmental
administration from the University of Pennsylvania.
