21 December 2003
Satcoms
ESA and Inmarsat to Improve Satellite Mobile Phone and
Data Services
HNS
Supplies Shenzhen Securities Communication Company with Broadband Network
Iridium Satellite
Signs Five Service Provider Agreements in Middle East
Orbcomm Announces Global Partnership
with Fleet Management Solutions
SES Americom Receives Type 1 Telecom License in
Japan
Earth
Observation
Integral Systems Remote Sensing Antenna On-Line
Science
Mars Express Releases Beagle 2
Manned
Space
Engine, Parachute Tests Pave Way For Launch Escape System
SpaceShipOne
Reaches Mach 1.2 on First Powered Test Flight
Launch
Services
Arianespace
Wins Three Launch Contracts
Launches
UFO 11
Launch Schedule
Business
Inmarsat Acquisition Finalised
SES Global Increases Stake in
NSAB to 75%
Products and Services
Inmarsat Fleet F33 Upgraded for Major Increase in Data
Throughput
New International Rectifier DSCC-Qualified Linear Voltage
Regulators
People
Alexander Duka Dismissed from Post of RSCC Director
General and CEO
Radarsat International Names New President
Yoav Leibovitch Resigns as
Gilat’s Chief Financial Officer
ESA and
Inmarsat to Improve
Satellite Mobile Phone and Data Services
(16 December 2003) An agreement signed by ESA and
Inmarsat brings the reality of reliable mobile broadband communications
services a step closer. For the first time, global mobile broadband services
will be available for those at sea, in a plane or travelling on land virtually
anywhere in the world.
This agreement marks the first
collaboration between ESA and Inmarsat on system engineering activities and
will extend the capabilities of the new Broadband Global Area Network System
(BGAN) to be offered by the Inmarsat I-4 satellite constellation.
Following the launch of the first of the fourth generation Inmarsat satellites
in 2004, BGAN is expected to become operational for land services in 2005. BGAN
is designed to meet the growing demand from business and private users for
high-speed internet access and multimedia connectivity, and a wide range of
tele-services, including tele-working and distance learning. Applications will
include internet and intranet access, video on demand, web TV,
videoconferencing, fax, email and LAN access at speeds of up to 432 kb/s to
notebook-sized terminals almost anywhere in the world.
This BGAN
extension project will establish the specification and definition for
directional as well as omni-directional BGAN platforms and services for
maritime, aeronautical and land mobile applications. Definitions for the land
portable BGAN platform are already in place, but the technical challenges of
developing service specifications for truly mobile platforms are considerable,
and need to address issues such as availability and quality of service under
mobility and propagation dynamics.
The BGAN system has been designed
to support point-to-point telecommunication services on portable and semi-fixed
land mobile platforms with low to medium gain directional non-tracking
antennas. The project also aims to diversify the BGAN service portfolio by the
development of multicast service capability, thereby exploiting the natural
satellite strength in delivering multicast services at the global level.
The BGAN system will be compatible with third-generation (3G) cellular
terrestrial systems. The project will adopt an ‘Open Standards’
approach and the results will be presented in a number of standardisation
forums including ITU, ETSI and IETF, to encourage wide industrial
participation.
Under the terms of the agreement, ESA has agreed to
fund 50% of the project and to provide technical support.
Now that the
agreement has been signed, work will begin on assessing the suitability of the
present baseline BGAN system to provide the services required and making any
modifications necessary. The key challenges are: to develop the new user
terminals, perform the required modifications to the baseline BGAN system in
order to support the new platforms, to develop a multicast system architecture
and to establish protocols that can meet multicast service requirements while
complying with the constraints imposed by the BGAN system architecture.
A number of companies, apart from Inmarsat, will be involved in this
agreement. EMS Satcom Ltd (UK) is in charge of developing the aeronautical
mobile platforms, Logica CMG (UK) will mainly be involved on multicast
service-centre development, and the Norwegian company Nera ASA will be
responsible for developing maritime platforms. In addition, the University of
Surrey (UK) will also be working on the BGAN multicast performance
analysis.
(source: ESA)
HNS Supplies Shenzhen Securities Communication Company with
Broadband Network
(16 December 2003) Hughes Network Systems Inc (HNS) is
supplying the Shenzhen Security Communications Co Ltd (SSCC) with a
comprehensive DirecWay broadband satellite network. The multi-million dollar
contract comprises two Network Operations Centres (NOCs) and more than 3,500
DW1000 remote satellite terminals.
SSCC provides
database communication services for the Shenzhen Securities Exchange, one of
two stock exchanges in mainland China, handling billions of Yuan in
transactions annually, with 508 companies listed from across the country. With
the DirecWay broadband satellite network, SSCC will be able to broadcast vital
stock information to stock brokerages across China in real- time, thereby
improving the services they provide their customers.
Initially
deployed as a one-way broadcast system, operational in December 2003, the
DirecWay network can be expanded easily to a two-way solution as SSCC's needs
expand.
Shenzhen Securities Communication Co., Ltd (SSCC) was
established in August of 1993. It provides database communication services for
the stock markets. The stockholders include Shenzhen Securities Exchange,
Chinese Space Technology Institution, and China Satellite Communications
Corporation.
For the past ten years, SSCC has gained enormous
experience in launching, expanding, operating, maintaining, and managing stock
market communications systems. SSCC now provides nation-wide service and has
become the most capable, highly secure and most efficient network company. It
is responsible for stock IPO, exchange, account opening, clearance, news
releases, notary Internet services, and multimedia information exchange.
(source: Hughes Network Systems)
Iridium Satellite Signs Five Service Provider Agreements in
Middle East
(15
December 2003) Iridium Satellite LLC has signed agreements with five new
service providers to sell Iridium services to customers in the Middle East. The
agreements will further expand the distribution of Iridium services to
additional industrial and government markets in remote areas where no other
form of communication is available. Iridium serves several key segments
including the maritime, oil and gas, military, remote construction,
non-governmental organisation and government markets.
With these latest additions, Iridium's service provider network now includes:
NASCO - a Saudi Arabia-based company that is a provider of communication
solutions for the government, offshore oil and gas industries; Delta
Communication - an Egyptian-based company that is a leading provider of
communications services in the Middle East; Compagnie d'Energie et d'Etudes
Maritimes (C2EM) - headquartered in Dubai, UAE, and serving Iraq with products
and services for the maritime, oil and gas and power generation markets; Saif
Group - a recognised specialist in the field of telecommunications in Pakistan
and CIS countries and a major force in the Pakistani IT market; and AZ COMM -
headquartered in Sana'a, Yemen, with a large base of vertical markets customers
throughout the region.
(source: Iridium Satellite)
Orbcomm Announces Global Partnership with Fleet Management
Solutions
(18
December 2003) Orbcomm has entered into an agreement with Fleet Management
Solutions LLC to provide wireless data access through its low-earth-orbit
satellite network for tracking and managing fixed and mobile assets around the
world. FMS is launching their Orbcomm enabled MLT 300 Series tracking solution
US-wide with roughly twenty selected fleets this month. The MLT 300 provides
GPS and other critical sensor information to end-users, with an emphasis on
reliability and cost effectiveness.
For the initial soft
launch, the MLT 300 series is targeting the North American market, leveraging
more than 130 dealers for sales and support. FMS also offers customers
subscription options through its FMAC arm (Fleet Management Acceptance
Corporation). Together, Orbcomm and FMS are offering this robust service via a
pure satellite solution at or below cellular prices.
In addition to
industry standard tracking and reporting features, the MLT 300 series includes;
dispatch, exact routing, DOT reporting, stop durations, idle times, mileage,
automated maintenance scheduling, and optional two-way messaging.
(source: Fleet Management Solutions)
SES
Americom Receives Type
1 Telecom License in Japan
(16 December 2003) The Government of Japan, through
its Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
(the Japanese telecommunications authority), has granted SES Americom a Type 1
Telecommunications Business License which includes the authority to operate an
earth station to facilitate satellite services for a broad range of customers
distributing content between Japan and the US.
SES
Americom plans to be an active participant in the Japanese telecommunications
industry through its newly-formed Worldsat business, supporting both Japanese
and US-based customers with connectivity and bandwidth services.
(source: SES Americom)
Integral
Systems Remote Sensing
Antenna On-Line
(16
December 2003) Integral Systems Inc's new 6.1-meter autotracking X band Antenna
System at the CSRSR (Center For Space and Remote Sensing Research) in Taiwan
has completed acceptance testing and is operational. This system marks the
inauguration of the new Explorer 12000 antenna positioner model. The Model
12000 is currently the largest of Integral's full motion tracking antenna
pedestals, supporting dish antennas up to 7 meters in diameter.
CSRSR, located at National Central University, is Taiwan's
centre of excellence for the fields of remote sensing and space research. The
new antenna provided through the Integral Systems contract is equipped with
electronics compatible with the X-band downlinks from the ROCSAT-2, SPOT2, 4,
& 5, Terra, Aqua, ERS-2, ENVISAT, and RADARSAT remote sensing satellites.
The new antenna system is integrated with the existing hardware and image
processing systems at the facility.
(source: Integral
Systems)
Mars
Express Releases Beagle
2
(19 December
2003) On Friday morning, ESA's Mars Express flawlessly released the Beagle 2
lander that it has been carrying since its launch on 2 June this year. Beagle 2
is now on its journey towards the surface of Mars, where it is expected to land
early in the morning of 25 December.
At 9:31 CET, the
crucial sequence started to separate the Beagle 2 lander from Mars Express. As
data from Mars Express confirm, the pyrotechnic device was fired to slowly
release a loaded spring, which gently pushed Beagle 2 away from the mother
spacecraft.
Since the Beagle 2 lander has no propulsion system of its
own, it had to be put on the correct course for its descent before it was
released. For this reason, on 16 December the trajectory of the whole Mars
Express spacecraft had to be adjusted to ensure that Beagle 2 would be on
course to enter the atmosphere of Mars. This manoeuvre, called "retargeting''
was critical: if the entry angle is too steep, the lander could overheat and
burn up in the atmosphere; if the angle is too shallow, the lander might skim
like a pebble on the surface of a lake and miss its target.
This fine
targeting and today's release were crucial manoeuvres for which ESA's Ground
Control Team at ESOC (European Space Operations Centre) had trained over the
past several months. The next major milestone for Mars Express will be the
manoeuvre to enter into orbit around Mars. This will happen at 2:52 CET on
Christmas morning, when Beagle 2 is expected to land on the surface of
Mars.
(source: ESA)
Engine, Parachute Tests Pave Way For Launch Escape System
(18 December 2003) NASA
has tested rocket engines and parachutes that could be instrumental in
developing the first spacecraft crew launch escape system in almost 30
years.
The tests pave the way for a series of integrated
Pad Abort Demonstration (PAD) test flights to support NASA's Orbital Space
Plane (OSP) program. Launch pad abort tests support development of a system
that could pull a crew safely away from danger during lift-off. Knowledge
gained from the testing will reduce the future design and development risks of
a launch escape system that could be used for the OSP.
The engines
were fired in tests at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville,
Alabama, in November and December. A series of 14 hot-fire tests of a
50,000-pound thrust RS-88 rocket engine were conducted, resulting in a total of
55 seconds of successful engine operation. The final test was completed on
December 11. The engine is being designed and built by the Rocketdyne
Propulsion & Power unit of The Boeing Company.
The parachutes were
tested at the US Army's Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Arizona, December 9. The
tests verify the function, performance and stability of an 80-foot drogue
parachute and four 156-foot main parachutes. A 12.5-ton pallet, simulating the
size and weight of a crewed vehicle, was dropped from 10,000 feet. The pallet
descended to a soft landing under almost two acres of parachutes. A second set
of parachute tests will be conducted at Yuma in spring 2004.
Integrated launch abort demonstration tests in 2005 will use four RS-88 engines
to separate a test vehicle from a test platform, simulating pulling a crewed
vehicle away from an aborted launch. Four 156-foot parachutes will deploy and
carry the vehicle to landing. Lockheed Martin Corporation is building the
vehicle for the PAD tests.
Seven integrated PAD test flights are
planned during 2005/06. For the initial PAD flight test in mid-2005, a
representative crew escape module will be mounted on a pusher propulsion
module. Instrumented mannequins will represent a spacecraft crew during the
tests.
NASA awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin in November 2002, to
design and build a crew escape and survivability system demonstrator and to
establish a flexible test bed for use in support of the OSP program.
The OSP program will support U.S. International Space Station requirements for
crew transport, rescue and contingency cargo. The OSP will initially launch on
an expendable vehicle and provide rescue capability for at least four
crewmembers. OSP could launch as early as 2008. Crew transfer for the Station
is planned as soon as practical, but no later than 2012. The PAD project is
managed at JSC for the OSP Program. The OSP Program is managed at MSFC.
(source: NASA)
SpaceShipOne Reaches Mach 1.2 on First Powered Test Flight
(17 December 2003) X
Prize contender Scaled Composites' SpaceShipOne spacecraft successfully
completed its first powered test flight on the 100th anniversary of the Wright
brothers first flight.
The White Knight turbojet launch
aircraft, flown by Test Pilot Peter Siebold, carried research rocket plane
SpaceShipOne to 48,000 feet altitude, near the desert town of California City.
After being released by the White Knight, SpaceShipOne Test Pilot Brian Binnie
flew the ship to a stable, 0.55 mach gliding flight condition, started a
pull-up, and fired its hybrid rocket motor. Nine seconds later, SpaceShipOne
broke the sound barrier and continued its steep powered ascent. The climb was
very aggressive, accelerating forward at more than 3-g while pulling upward at
more than 2.5-g. At motor shutdown, 15 seconds after ignition, SpaceShipOne was
climbing at a 60-degree angle and flying near 1.2 Mach (930 mph). Binnie then
continued the manoeuvre to a vertical climb, achieving zero speed at an
altitude of 68,000 feet. Once SpaceShipOne began its fall to Earth, Binnie
configured the spacecraft into its "feathered" mode for about a minute during
which the craft mimics a shuttlecock, falling in a safe attitude and rapidly
losing energy. Binnie then configured the craft as a conventional glider for
its return to Mojave airport some 12 minutes later.
During landing,
the landing gear retracted, causing SpaceShipOne to veer off the runway. There
was some minor damage from the incident which will easily be repaired. There
were no injuries.
This flight featured a number of firsts
including:
(source: Scaled Composites, Space Dev)
Arianespace Wins Three Launch Contracts
(18 December 2003) Arianespace has been
awarded contracts to launch three satellites: Syracuse IIIB, MSG 3 and
XTAR-EUR.
Alcatel Space has chosen Arianespace to orbit
France's new Syracuse IIIB military communications satellite for the French
defence procurement agency DGA. Syracuse III will be launched by an Ariane 5 at
the end of 2005 from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou,
French Guiana. Syracuse IIIB is a third-generation military communications
satellite serving the operational needs of the French MoD. Built by Alcatel
Space on a Spacebus 3100 platform, Syracuse IIIB will give armed forces
significantly higher performance in terms of data throughput, operational
flexibility and resistance to countermeasures and attacks. It will weigh about
3,750 kg at launch.
Eumetsat has awarded Arianespace the launch
contract for the MSG 3 weather satellite. The launch of MSG 3 is scheduled for
the first half of 2009 from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana,
using an Ariane 5 launch vehicle. Built by Alcatel Space in Cannes, southern
France, MSG 3 will weigh about 2,000 kg at launch. It will have 12 channels and
be capable of transmitting images every 15 minutes.
XTAR, a joint
venture between Loral Space and Communications and Hisdesat SA, have entered
into an agreement with Arianespace to launch its XTAR-EUR satellite aboard an
Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle. The XTAR-EUR satellite is now undergoing final
testing at Space System/Loral (SS/L) in Palo Alto. The launch of XTAR-EUR is
currently planned for early second quarter 2004. With its launch arrangements
and funding requirements secured, XTAR expects to begin offering its X band
services to government users in the United States, Spain, and other friendly
and allied nations in July 2004, shortly after launch and the completion of
in-orbit testing. Service will commence at the 29° East orbital slot
providing a footprint extending from the Eastern Atlantic to Southeast Asia.
Weighing 3,600 kilograms at launch, XTAR-EUR is based on SS/L's 1300 platform
and carries twelve wideband and high-power X band transponders. The satellite
will feature on-board switching and multiple steerable theatre beams that allow
X band capacity to follow its users as they travel anywhere within the
footprint of the satellite. XTAR-EUR is designed to operate with existing and
planned defence communications terminals around the world.
(source:
Arianespace, Loral Space and Communications)
UFO
11
Launched: 17 December 2003
Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launcher: Atlas 3B
Orbit: GEO: 172° E
International Number: 2003-057A
Name: UHF
F11
Owner: US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command
Contractor:
Boeing Satellite Systems
UHF F11 is a US military communications
satellite.
Based on the Boeing 601 bus, UFO F11 carries a new
ultra-high frequency (UHF) digital receiver that will provide additional UHF
channels and greater flexibility in configuring communication services. The
spacecraft's extremely high frequency communications subsystem will provide
enhanced antijam telemetry, command, broadcast, and fleet interconnectivity
communications, using advanced signal processing techniques.
Inmarsat Acquisition Finalised
(17 December 2003) Inmarsat confirms that the final approval
process for the acquisition of the company by funds advised by Apax Partners
and Permira has been successfully completed, following overwhelming support for
the transaction from shareholders on 1 December and official Court approval for
the Scheme of Arrangement on 16 December.
Funds advised by Apax
Partners and Permira respectively, together with Inmarsat shareholders which
validly elected to rollover their holdings, will as shareholders in
Duchessgrove Limited own the share capital of Inmarsat through Grapeclose
Limited. Consideration is expected to be despatched to former Inmarsat
shareholders on 30 December 2003.
Andrew Sukawaty, currently Chairman
of Telenet NV and Deputy Chairman of mmo2, will become non-executive Chairman
of the new Inmarsat Group. He will work closely with Michael Storey, Inmarsat's
CEO to continue the development of the company's strategy to be the world's
leading mobile satellite communications company by continuing with plans to
launch the Inmarsat-4 satellites and the next generation of high speed data and
voice services -- the Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service.
(source: Inmarsat)
SES
Global Increases Stake
in NSAB to 75%
(15
December 2003) SES Global SA and Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) have entered
into a definitive agreement whereby SES Global increases its existing interest
in Sweden's Nordic Satellite AB (NSAB) from 50% to 75%, by acquiring an
additional 25% stake from SSC. Financial terms of the transaction, which is
expected to close on February 2nd, 2004, were not disclosed.
By increasing its interest in NSAB, SES Global intends to
benefit from enhanced synergies between its European Astra satellite system and
NSAB's Sirius satellites, whilst the legal, corporate and brand identity of
NSAB-Sirius will continue to be maintained. SES has been a 50% stakeholder in
NSAB since October 2000.
SES Global and Swedish Space Corporation have
also concluded a new shareholders agreement whereby Swedish Space Corporation
will retain a 25% interest in NSAB and, under a new Technical Services
Agreement, will continue to provide Network operations as well as Satellite
Control, Telemetry, Tracking & Control (TT&C) services to the Sirius
satellites.
(source: SES Global)
Inmarsat
Fleet F33 Upgraded for
Major Increase in Data Throughput
(15 December 2003) Inmarsat, the Total Communications
Network, and Nera have announced a significant upgrade to the Fleet F33 system
to include integrated compression within the terminal's dial-up data
channel.
Fleet F33, launched in April 2003, already
delivers voice in the global beam areas, Group 3 fax and dial-up data at 9.6
kb/s in the spot beam areas. The new enhancement will apply the latest modem
compression standards to Fleet F33, currently provided by Nera SatCom of
Norway, increasing the data throughput by up to seven times.
The
combination of this performance upgrade with the small size and low weight of
Fleet F33 equipment will be of particular benefit to vessels in the leisure,
fishing, coastal and patrol sectors. The added compression will enable smaller
vessels to take advantage of the first data solution to offer higher speeds
without compromising on the vessel's real-estate.
Users will not need
to run specialist software in order to activate the data acceleration, and will
not have to contact their service provider to arrange the set up. The increased
throughput is provided through a fully-integrated channel function, delivered
as standard to every Fleet F33 user.
The Inmarsat Fleet range includes
three services: Fleet F77, F55 and F33 - each delivering global voice and a
range of data services. Fleet F33, the smallest terminal in the range, will be
further enhanced in early 2004 with the addition of Inmarsat's Mobile Packet
Data Service, allowing data access chargeable by volume of data instead of
time, and an "always-on" connection option. Existing terminals will be
upgradable by means of a software update.
The modem compression
standards used on Fleet F33 are V44 and V42bis. Compression rates are variable
and depend on the type of data transferred.
(source:
Inmarsat)
New International Rectifier DSCC-Qualified Linear Voltage Regulators
(15 December 2003)
International Rectifier (IR) has introduced a new series of high current,
ultra-low dropout (ULDO) linear voltage regulators in high density, hermetic
packages for military and space applications. The new regulators feature a
typical dropout voltage of 0.43 V to 0.6 V. Low dropout voltage means low power
consumption, a requirement for power-restricted applications such as military
and commercial aircraft, ground-based vehicles, radar and electronic warfare
suites.
The ULDO DC-DC post regulator devices have low
ripple and low noise, with 1% regulation tolerance, making them ideal for
low-voltage point-of-load digital bus applications requiring fast transient
response and output voltages from +20 V to +1.8 V. Advanced PC processors can
demand high jumps of current very quickly. Current steps of 300 mA to 4 A in 20
ns are not uncommon. When properly biased, IR's new regulators can provide the
transient response necessary to handle this current demand.
All
devices in this series are adjustable from +20 V to +1.8 V and an output
current range of 3 A to 10 A. The dropout voltage range is +0.4 V to +0.60 V at
full rated current. Input voltage range is +2.7 V to +20 V.
The new
regulators are DSCC (Defense Supply Center Columbus) certified, with Standard
Microcircuit Drawing (SMD) models available. IR's new regulators provide
circuit designers with DSCC-qualified, components built to comply with military
standards per MIL-PRF-38535/MIL-STD-883 specifications. "B" level screening per
monolithic MIL-PRF-38535 is available.
Pricing begins at US$ 76.97
each.
(source: International Rectifier)
Alexander
Duka Dismissed from
Post of RSCC Director General and CEO
(18 December 2003) Alexander Duka was dismissed from
his post of the RSCC Director General and CEO on the 1st December, 2003, by the
order of Minister for Communications and Information of the Russian Federation.
Yuri Izmailov has been nominated for the post of Acting Director General and
CEO of RSCC.
In 1974, Yuri Izmailov graduated from the
USSR Order of the Red Banner of Labour awarded Odessa Polytechnic University,
Department of “Designing and Radio Equipment Production”. In 1979 -
Military Red Banner and the USSR Order of Lenin awarded Communications Academy
named after S. M. Budenyi in the speciality of Engineer of Military Systems and
Communications Means.
Over the period of 1974 to 1991, Yuri Izmailov
did his service in military forces of government communications of the USSR
State Security Committee, KGB. Over the period of 1991 to 2003, he held
top-level positions in Federal Agency of Government Communications and
Information acting under the President of the Russian Federation. Since August,
2003, Yuri Izmailov has held a position of the RSCC Deputy Director General -
The Maintenance of the RSCC Terrestrial Facilities.
The Russian
Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) is the Russian national satellite
communications operator. RSCC is a shareholder of Intelsat and Eutelsat and a
major partner of Intersputnik. The RSCC domestic market share is 83% in
satellite telecommunications. RSCC takes the 15th place among 42 operators
world-wide with respect to provision of satellite communications services. RSCC
possesses the largest orbital fleet of 11 GEO satellites operating in C, Ku and
L bands. The satellites are positioned in the orbit between 14° W and
145° E.
(source: RSCC)
Radarsat International Names New President
(17 December 2003)
Radarsat International has announced the appointment of Dr John Hornsby to
President. Dr Hornsby joined Radarsat International in 1991 and has held the
positions of Director of Operations, Director of Worldwide Sales,
Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, and most recently Vice-President of
business development for the upcoming Radarsat-2 satellite.
Dr Hornsby has been involved in both the public and private
sectors of the remote sensing industry for over 22 years.
Phil S Gray,
RSI's President since 2001, is expanding his role in MacDonald Dettwiler and
Associates (MDA) to become General Manager of the Information Services Group
that includes RADARSAT International, EarthSat, and the Mapping group.
(source: Radarsat International)
Yoav
Leibovitch Resigns as
Gilat’s Chief Financial Officer
(17 December 2003) Gilat Satellite Network Ltd has
announced that Yoav Leibovitch, CFO of the Company, would be leaving his
position to pursue other career opportunities. Mr Leibovitch has served as the
Company’s CFO and Vice President for Finance and Administration since
joining Gilat in 1991.
In Mr Leibovitch’s place,
Gilat’s management has appointed Ms Tal Payne, Vice President, Finance and
Mr Yaron Suher Vice President, Financial Planning and Treasury. The changes
will be implemented in the coming weeks.
Ms Tal Payne has been serving
as Gilat’s Financial Director. Prior to joining Gilat, Ms Payne served as
a CPA and Manager for Kesselman & Kesselman, PriceWaterhouseCooper’s
Israel office . She has a BA in Economics and Accounting as well as advanced
studies in accounting, from Tel Aviv University.
Mr Yaron Suher has
been serving as Gilat’s Director, Financial Planning and Analysis. Prior
to joining Gilat, Mr Suher worked as a senior economist for Teva
Pharmaceuticals and as an analyst for Poalim Trust Funds. He has an MBA in
Finance and a BA in Economics, both from Bar-Ilan University.
(source:
Gilat Satellite Networks)
