Focus: Telecom

[Satellite Today 09-17-08] Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and subsidiary Mabuhay Satellite Corp. have agreed to provide some Mabuhay assets to ProtoStar Ltd. in exchange for a stake in the satellite operator, the companies announced Sept. 17.     ProtoStar will have expanded use of Mabuhay’s Subic Space Center for the operation and control of...

[Satellite News 09-17-08] The Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat) is one of the largest fixed satellite services operators in the Middle East and likely will play a strong role in the development of communications and television market in the region.      Arabsat CEO Khalid Balkheyour spoke with Satellite News Associate Editor Mark Holmes about the...

[Satellite Today 09-17-08] The launch of  the Nimiq 4 satellite was postponed 24 hours until Sept. 20, International Launch Services (ILS) announced.     An avionics unit on the first stage of the Proton M rocket showed an anomalous signature during routine testing, and will be replaced, ILS said.     The capacity on the Nimiq 4...

[Satellite Today 09-16-08] Hughes Network Systems LLC (HughesNet) has introduced a new equipment leasing option that reduces upfront start-up fees by more than seventy-five percent.     The company said the new program aims to lower the expense for new customers of having to purchase equipment. To promote the option, Hughes has also offered all new...

 [Satellite Today 09-16-08] Orbit has received Anatel type approval, the third after it received Intelsat and Eutelsat type approvals, for its OrSat Ku-band maritime stabilized antenna system, the company announced Sept. 16.     Orbit said the approval affords service providers using OrSat in Brazilian waters the ability to offer cost and time savings to users....

[Satellite Today 09-16-08] Orbital Sciences Corp. has completed the full-scale pathfinder ground operations of the Minotaur 4 space launch vehicle in preparation for its inaugural flight, the company announced Sept. 16.     Orbital Sciences said the ground testing activities included the assembly of a full-scale Minotaur 4 rocket, using inert rocket motors and flight-qualified structures...

 [Satellite Today 09-16-08] SES New Skies has signed a new capacity deal with CETel, the company said Sept. 16. SES New Skies will provide CETel services on the upcoming NSS-12 satellite to serve what CETel perceives as growing demand in the Middle East and Africa for VSAT services and corporate networks.    CETel signed a...

 [Satellite Today 09-15-08] Integral Systems Europe delivered and installed a fully-integrated carrier signal monitoring, transponder planning, and network management system for the Vinasat satellite program, Integral said Sept. 15.     The system, according to Integral, will be part of a network operations center to be provided by SES Astra TechCom to Vietnam Telecom International in...

 [Satellite Today 09-15-08] Cybernet has implemented a satellite-based IP network built on iDirect’s Evolution DVB-S2 product line with adaptive coding and modulation, iDirect announced Sept. 14.    According to Cybernet, the new network allows it to deliver critical satellite broadband connectivity to a range of businesses, especially in the financial sector.    Cybernet said it...

[Satellite Today 09-15-08] Mega Hertz, a cable industry distributor, has placed an order with Wegener Corp. for Unity 4600 professional satellite receivers totaling over $800,000, Wegener announced Sept. 15.     Wegener said shipments are due to start during the first quarter of its 2009 fiscal year.     The company said that the newly released Unity...