Focus: Telecom

[Satellite Today 10-09-08] Intelsat has appointed Michael McDonnell CFO and executive vice president, the company announced Oct. 9.     McDonnell comes to Intelsat from MCG Capital Corp., a publicly-held commercial finance company, where he served as executive vice president and CFO. McDonnell is expected to begin his new position Nov. 17.

[Satellite News 10-08-08] Advancements on DigitalGlobe’s next-generation imagery satellite, WorldView-2, will allow the company to deliver the detailed imagery that is in high demand from its U.S. government customers, especially in the area of alternative energy research.     “One of the things that the satellite’s imagery improvements will allow it to identify is, to different...

[Satellite Today 10-08-08] Globalstar Inc. has launched a satellite-based remote automated utility meter reading interface (MRI) solution designed to communicate with meters located in areas not served by the traditional public landline telephone system, the company announced Oct. 8.      Globalstar designed the MRI after being approached by a number of the electrical utilities in...

[Satellite Today 10-08-08] Harris Corp. received an order to provide systems integration and information technology services to the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Harris announced Oct. 8.     NGA is acquiring the services under a multi-vendor five-year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract valued at $140 million. The contract also provides continuity for NGA programs currently...

[Satellite Today 10-08-08] Thaicom’s satellite broadband plans in New Zealand have been boosted by the take-up of a new retail broadband package, which is “significantly” increasing subscriber numbers, Thaicom said Oct. 8.     IPStar user terminal sales in New Zealand have jumped since the launch of a new retail broadband package, Rocket Broadband, through partner...

[Satellite Today 10-08-08] SES Astra’s Astra 1M satellite will be launched aboard a Proton Breeze M rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Oct. 31, the company said Oct. 8.     The mission, provided by International Launch Services (ILS), will be the seventh Astra satellite to be launched on a Proton rocket.     The satellite was...

[Satellite Today 10-08-08] Spacenet Inc. has expanded coverage for its commercial grade Connexstar service to include select countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the company announced Oct. 8.     The Connexstar International Satellite Service will connect remote overseas locations with telephone service, high-speed broadband Internet access and two-way video capabilities via satellite directly...

[Satellite News 10-07-08] Tesacom, Stratos Global and Addvalue Communications delivered the largest single contract for the purchase of Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) services to Brazilian regional elections in remote areas.     Stratos Vice President Ian Canning told Satellite News that Tesacom brought Stratos the opportunity to support the Brazilian elections with a tight...

[Satellite Today 10-07-08] A consolidated securities class action lawsuit against Globalstar Inc. and its officers was dismissed Sept. 30 by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.     The case, Ladman Partners Inc. v. Globalstar Inc., was filed in 2007 and stemmed from securities issued related to Globalstar’s initial public offering....

[Satellite Today 10-07-08] Vizada said that its Iridium sales have spiked 70 percent over the past month due to the new batch activation capability now available for Iridium subscribers using The Source, Vizada’s Web-based account management tool, the company announced Oct. 7.     Vizada claims its service partners activated nearly 500 Iridium subscribers in less...