Mobile Connectivity

A new integral partnership is helping to develop the European Commission’s initiative of a Single European Sky. Single European Sky Air Traffic Management System (SESAR) Deployment Manager and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed a memorandum of cooperation on the deployment and use of Iris, a satellite-based communication system. This agreement sets out the basis...

The World Teleport Association (WTA) revealed that Central European Telecom Services (CETel) achieved Tier Three full certification of its teleport under WTA’s Teleport Certification Program. CETel became the eighth European teleport to achieve Tier Three certification. Full certification under the WTA program involves a data-collection and inspection process through an independent auditor. Certification is issued...

Intelsat has joined the Seamless Air Alliance, a U.S.-based consortium dedicated to the development and promotion of standards to facilitate a better, more seamless in-flight connectivity experience for passengers. Airbus, Airtel, Delta, OneWeb, and Sprint founded the consortium. The standards would eliminate costs and hurdles associated with acquisition, installation, and operation of data access infrastructure...

Harris will provide an audio communications system for NASA’s first human deep-space exploration mission, scheduled to launch in 2022 onboard the Orion spacecraft, the company announced today. Orion is NASA’s first spacecraft designed for long-duration, deep-space exploration by humans. Harris was selected by Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for Orion, to deliver the audio system...

Inmarsat is growing its ground infrastructure to support aviation passenger Wi-Fi services, maritime services, and land users across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Inmarsat has awarded the ground infrastructure contract for its fifth Global Xpress (GX-5) high-speed, broadband communications satellite to VT iDirect, an IP-based satellite communications provider. The iDirect Velocity platform and iQ...

The United Nations Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development’s Working Group on Broadband for the Most Vulnerable Countries issued a report at the UN headquarters indicating that access to broadband internet helps Least Developed Countries (LDCs) overcome vulnerabilities, grow economies, and enhance people’s livelihoods. The report highlights how Rwanda is building a 4G/LTE wireless broadband network,...

RockFleet, a global tracking and messaging system manufactured by U.K.-based Iridium satellite communications specialist Rock Seven, has been selected as one of four approved devices in a mandated plan to install a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) in all fishing boats in Queensland, Australia. The new mandated tracker plan for commercial fishing boats will enable Fisheries...

Globecomm has been boosted by a key deal with a major German shipping company. The company, a provider of maritime connectivity services, is supplying its global Ku-band Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) service to German shipping company Briese Schiffahrts to support its fleet growth plans. Briese Schiffahrts is currently renewing its fleet by constructing a...

South Korean telecommunications company KT Corporation, unveiled its Skyship next-generation platform for disaster and safety management. It is the company’s latest venture into 5G-enabled technologies. The Skyship platform will be used in disaster search and rescue operations, as well as to deploy remotely controlled drones and robots from an aircraft and mobile communication center. Rescuers...

Speedcast has partnered with Kymeta to develop and roll out product offerings featuring the Kymeta KyWay Terminal, which integrates mTenna flat-panel antenna technology. Under the partnership agreement Speedcast will integrate the Kymeta terminal into the company’s industry-leading Speedcast Atlas managed service to deliver the latest technology to its customers. The Kymeta KyWay terminal features an...