Finance

Iridium Communications contracted Ericsson Federal Inc. (EFI) to implement a new mobile softswitch solution for Iridium’s next-generation switching technology, including custom design, development, integration and maintenance for the Iridium satellite communications system, Iridium announced Oct. 19.     The Ericsson platform will support current and future satellite communications services as well as increase the capacity of...

Vendors and booth operators at the 2010 Offshore Communications conference seemed unanimous in their assessment of this year’s traffic – the potential customer base is growing in size and more engaged with vendors on how to meet their application needs.    Cobham Satcom Sea Tel Product Manager Atul Chawla told Offshore Communications E-daily that there...

At the Offshore Communications 2010 opening session roundtable, Chevron IT Co. Senior Engineer Bryan Frederick was quite frank with his assessment of WiMax versus VSAT affordability. For Chevron, WiMax is slated to replace satellite VSAT connectivity in the future – continuing the conversation over whether WiMax and VSAT are enemies or friends in the oil...

SingTel’s maritime services sector in Asia now generates about half of the company’s total revenues, and the operator now is looking to increase consumer uptake. SingTel Vice President of Satellite Titus Yong told OffShore Communications E-daily that his company has received a flood of orders and is confident it that Asia’s maritime sector will continue...

RSCC is investing about $1 billion in new satellites in a campaign to boost the operator’s capacity from 283 transponders today to 680 transponders by 2015, according to CFO Dennis Pivnyuk. “The RSCC investment program will bring huge amount of new capacity to the market. Two of those eight spacecraft are direct broadcast satellites that...

Satellite communications provider Vizada is set to launch a maritime VSAT fixed-satellite broadband service, the company announced.     The service will fall under the Vizada Solutions platform, which offers both Iridium and Inmarsat connectivity services, and will be provided exclusively with Vizada’s base connectivity services for communications and administrative needs. Vizada’s full range of SkyFile...

Satellite communication services provider GE Satcom and United Arab Emirates’ integrated telecom service provider Du have entered into a partnership agreement that will see the two companies cooperate to deliver satellite network solutions throughout the Middle East, Africa and beyond.    The partners said the deal creates opportunity for the companies to achieve significant growth...

Cyprus-based maritime company Intership Navigation has contracted MTN Satellite Communications to provide VSAT broadband satellite connections for two of its new giant bulk carriers.      Both of the 177,000 deadweight ton ships were designed as designated training vessels, which can accommodate up to 12 nautical students and a training officer in addition to their standard...

Phoenix International, a subsidiary of the John Deere Co., introduced an addition to its integrated telematics solutions product line with the release of Satellite Gateway, a tracking and monitoring product.     Satellite Gateway incorporates the Iridium-based Quake Global Q9612 short-burst data transceiver with Iridium’s global satellite network coverage. The unit is designed for installation on...

CapRock Communications has completed rollout of iDirect’s next-generation Evolution platform to more than 300 energy and maritime vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, with more sites scheduled for implementation over the next year.      CapRock will use the platform to provide global service and maintain existing service capabilities while vessels are en route. The Evolution...