Focus: Telecom

[Satellite Today 08-07-08] A gap of 1.5 seconds between engine shutdown and stage separation caused Falcon 1’s engines to fail, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) founder Elon Musk said in an Aug. 6 telephone conference.     The third attempt to launch SpaceX’s Falcon 1 rocket failed Aug. 2. The problem could have been “easily fixed” by...

[Satellite Today – 08-07-08] The European Commission launched a competition Aug. 7 seeking satellite operators to provide mobile services across Europe.     New regulations will allow the selected operators to provide their services over a specifically reserved spectrum without having to secure permission from individual countries.     "Mobile satellite services have the tremendous advantage of...

In these difficult economic times, U.S. federal and state governments are looking for alternatives to cut costs of living for citizens. While the concept of upgraded infrastructure has long meant building more bridges and roads, political parties are focusing on a new area — broadband and communications infrastructure.   Technology, it seems, is being explored as...

[Satellite Today 08-06-08] Hughes Network Systems LLC launched its fastest consumer broadband satellite Internet access plan, offering speeds of up to 5 megabits per second (Mbps), the company announced Aug. 6.     The ElitePremium plan, operating over the HughesNet service, will be available Aug. 21 and will be joined by the Elite and ElitePlus plans...

[Satellite News 08-06-08] ViaSat‘s revenues reached a record $153 million, up 19 percent year-over-year, ViaSat announced Aug. 5     Inventory was down from the beginning of the fiscal year due to shipments of certain consumer broadband inventory to customers, offset by the transition of some products to units to delivery basis of accounting.     ViaSat...

[Satellite News 08-06-08] Iridium‘s total revenue in the second quarter 2008 was $81.7 million, a 22 percent increase over revenues of $66.7 million in the same quarter, according to second quarter results released Aug. 6.     Second quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization was $25.8 million, up 28 percent from $20.2 million in...

[Satellite News 08-06-08] Inmarsat posted a strong increase in operating profits and revenues for the first six months of the year, the satellite operator announced Aug. 6.     In the first half of 2008, Inmarsat recorded revenues of $311.6 million, an increase of nearly 10 percent compared to the first half of 2007. Revenues from...

[Satellite News 08-06-08] Customers loyal to Radyne products have nothing to fear over the company’s acquisition by Comtech Telecommunication Corp., said Comtech EF Data‘s senior vice president of strategic marketing & business development, Daniel Enns, in an interview with Satellite News.     Comtech EF Data has been reassuring Radyne customers since the deal closed Aug....

[Satellite News 08-05-08] It is little surprise that Toshiba Corp. decided to shut down Mobile Broadcasting Corp. (MBC), its satellite digital multimedia broadcasting business, considering the subscriber numbers have been massively below expectations.     Mobile Broadcasting will stop mobile digital satellite broadcasting services at the end of March. The S-band service was launched in October...

[Satellite News 08-05-08] SkyTerra displayed strong confidence during its second quarter earnings report that a speedy regulatory process would allow the company, along with Harbinger Capital Partners, to acquire Inmarsat.     While SkyTerra has had discussions with Harbinger to make an offer for Inmarsat, it remained unclear if Inmarsat itself was as far along in...