Focus: Telecom

[Satellite Today 10-21-08] The third satellite in the Earth observation constellation, Cosmo-SkyMed is set to be launched Oct. 24 aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force, Calif., satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space announced Oct. 21. The liftoff is scheduled for 10:28 p.m. EDT.      The Cosmo-SkyMed program is designed to enhance the...

[Satellite Today 10-21-08] Integral Systems has reorganized its business operations, the company announced Oct. 20.      Integral’s SAT Corp. subsidiary will move under the company’s space communications services group, joining its RT Logic and Lumistar subsidiaries. The business will be led by Stuart Daughtridge as the group’s executive vice president and general manager. Daughtridge also...

[Satellite Today 10-21-08] Bond Offshore Helicopters has selected Blue Sky Network’s solution to provide GPS flight following, text and voice capabilities aboard its fleet of 10 helicopters based in Aberdeen, Scotland, Blue Sky announced Oct. 21.     Bond Offshore helicopters will be equipped with Blue Sky Network’s D1000C and ACH1000 systems, giving them the ability...

[Satellite Today 10-21-08] Nynex Network Solutions, a satellite network operator headquartered in Germany, has launched a DVB-S2 network with adaptive coding and modulation based on iDirect’s Evolution product line.     According to iDirect, the network will enable Nynex to deliver bandwidth efficiency to current and prospective customers throughout the Middle East, supporting enterprise-class applications such...

[Satellite Today 10-21-08] The launch of the Astra 1M satellite on a Proton rocket was postponed after an anomaly was discovered with ground equipment at the launch site in Bakinour, International Launch Services (ILS) announced Oct. 21.     The problem with the equipment, which supports testing for the Breeze M upper stage, was identified and...

[Satellite Today 10-21-08] KVH Industries reported third quarter revenue of $15.7 million, a 10 percent decrease from the same quarter in 2007. Net loss for the period was $800,000, the company announced Oct. 21.     KVH’s mobile communications revenue was $12.3 million, down 6 percent on a year-over-year basis.     "A combination of challenging economic...

[Satellite Today 10-21-08] Net sales for Lockheed Martin’s space systems unit decreased by 14 percent for the quarter and 1 percent for the nine months of 2008 from the comparable 2007 periods, the company announced Oct. 21.     Lockheed Martin said satellite sales and operating profits declined due to lower volume in commercial and government...

[Satellite Today 10-20-08] Iridium Satellite has unveiled its new satellite phone, the Iridium 9555, Iridium announced Oct. 20.     The phone’s design features a reduced size, a hand-friendly form factor, an intuitive user interface, speaker phone, improved short messaging service and e-mail capabilities, an upgraded mini-USB data port, and an internally stowed antenna.     The...

[Satellite Today 10-20-08] Lao Telecom, a joint venture between the government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thaicom, has launched the first 3G service in Laos, Lao Telecom announced Oct. 20..     Lao Telecom provides EDGE and GPRS services throughout Laso and will rollout 3G mobile services in stages. The company hopes to reach...

[Satellite Today 10-20-08] Vizada is offering Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) mobile satellite service to news organizations operating in the Middle East, Vizada announced Oct. 20.     Vizada has guaranteed streaming rates of 256 kilobits per second (kbps) for live video broadcasting and plans to increase the rate to 38 4kbps by mid-2009.    ...