Focus: Telecom

[Satellite Today 10-10-08] International Datacasting Corp. (IDC), a satellite broadband multimedia content distributor, has been selected by The Radio Network (TRN) in New Zealand to modernize the broadcaster’s satellite distribution, IDC announced Oct. 10.     IDC will provide its SuperFlex pro audio satellite products to develop a DVB-S2 IP-based satellite network that supports the integration...

[Satellite News 10-10-08] TerreStar is leveraging its research, chipset development efforts, base stations and financing from its U.S. subsidiary into European programs as part of a push to create a pan-European integrated satellite and complementary ground component network.     Ben Gore, a director at TerreStar Europe, told Satellite News that the current wireless environment in...

[Satellite Today 10-10-08] Frank McKenna, president of International Launch Services (ILS), said the key focus for the company over the next year will be implementing a quality initiative launched in April.     “This broad-based plan with 46 initiatives is being implemented in phases, and Khrunichev has taken initial steps that allowed us to return to...

[Satellite Today 10-10-08] Victor Chavez has been appointed deputy CEO for Thales U.K., the company announced.     Chavez will replace John Howe, Thales U.K.’s vice chairman, who will retire at the end of January after eight years in the position. Howe will take up the position of non-executive director of the company’s U.K. advisory board....

[Satellite Today 10-10-08] EchoStar Corp. appointed Joseph Clayton to the company’s board effective Oct. 7. This appointment increases the size of EchoStar’s board from seven to eight members.      Clayton will serve on the audit, nominating and compensation committees of the board.      Clayton previously served as chairman of Sirius Satellite Radio from November 2004...

[Satellite Today 10-09-08] Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) has been awarded several patents for network-assisted GPS  methods and terminals by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, MSV announced Oct. 9.     The patent involves technology that improves the efficiency of GPS capabilities when using future hybrid satellite-terrestrial phones and devices.      "This technique will reduce the...

[Satellite Today 10-09-08] ICO Global Communications (ICO) is the latest operator to bid for a pan-European mobile license, the company announced Oct 8.     ICO’s European subsidiary, ICO Satellite Ltd., has filed an application with the European Commission (EC) in response to the call for applications for pan-European systems providing mobile satellite services.     Earlier...

[Satellite Today 10-09-08] Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) has been awarded a contract to build the SES Sirius 5 satellite for SES, the manufacturer announced Oct. 9.     Sirius 5, based on the SS/L 1300 platform, will carry 36 Ku- and 24 C- band transponders to provide direct-to-home broadcasting, broadband, point-to-point and VSAT services in Europe and...

[Satellite News 10-09-08] Premiere, Germany’s leading satellite pay-TV operator, is in a state of flux, mired in a scandal over bloated subscriber figures which already has claimed the company’s CFO and chief marketing and sales officer.     Premiere announced Oct. 2 that it expects its 2008 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to...

[Satellite Today 10-09-08] Premiere, the German pay-TV operator, has seen another top executive resign as the fallout over inflated subscriber figures continued.     Oliver Kaltner, chief marketing and sales officer, left Premiere after only three months on the job. CFO Alexander Teschner also resigned due to the subscriber number issue and the expected losses that...