Focus: Telecom

[Satellite Today 07-11-08] Eutelsat is to play a key role in reducing the digital divide in the Piedmont region of Italy, the company said July 10.     Under a memorandum of understanding signed with regional authorities, Eutelsat’s satellite technology will be used to accelerate the availability of digital services for all of Piedmont’s citizens. The...

[Satellite Today – 07-10-08] SES Americom and SES New Skies will be combined into a single operating segment, parent company SES announced July 10. Robert Bednarek, president and CEO of SES New Skies, will serve as president and CEO of the new segment.     “By creating this new segment and combining the experienced management teams...

[Satellite Today 07-10-08] Integral Systems Inc. named John Higginbotham the company’s new CEO effective immediately, Integral announced July 9.     Higginbotham founded private equity firm SpaceVest Capital (now RedShift Ventures) and also serves on the board of ProtoStar Ltd. He previously served as a  director of Analytical Graphics Inc., Novariant Inc. and Imaginova Inc. and...

[Satellite Today – 07-10-08] Pace expects to perform ahead of expectations over the next year, the company said July 10.     The set-top box manufacturer expects to benefit from a combination of a favorable exchange rate and stronger-than-expected performance of certain parts of its business.     Pace France, the renamed Philips set-top box and connectivity...

[Satellite News – 07-09-08] Panasonic has licensed iDirect’s satellite IP router hardware and spread spectrum mobile waveform for a system that will provide broadband access to aircraft.     The iDirect technology will serve as core components of Panasonic’s in-flight satellite transmission platform, eXConnect. The new broadband IP pipe in the sky would allow ExConnect to...

[Satellite Today – 07-10-08] A new satellite solution will spearhead a new push into Europe for Newpoint Technologies, a market in which the company has “significantly underperformed” in throughout the last few years, according to the company’s top official.     The Compass satellite management system, set for release in September, “is the most important product...

[Satellite Today 07-09-08] Portuguese airline TAP will run a six-month commercial trial of GSM mobile calling and messaging enabled via SwiftBroadband with equipment supplied by Inmarsat partner OnAir, TAP announced.     The equipment, installed on an Airbus A319, will allow passengers to send and receive text messages, emails, voice calls and other services during flight....

[Satellite Today 07-09-08] CETel has announced a contract with Arabsat following the launch of Arabsat’s BADR-6 satellite, CETel said July 9.     CETel, a satellite communications service provider, has committed to half a transponder on the satellite, with the opportunity to take further capacity, if needed. Arabsat and CETel have built up a partnership with...

[Satellite Today 07-09-08] WildBlue Communications has completed hardware and software system upgrades designed to increase its total network capacity by more than 150,000 additional customers, the operator announced July 9.     WildBlue claims its total network capacity will service over 640,000 customers nationwide. "Our total system capacity to date is now 31 percent above where...

[Satellite Today 07-09-08] RigNet, a communications solutions provider, announced two shifts in personnel. Shareholders elected Tom Matthews chairman of the board of directors and Brian Keefover was named director of global operations.     Matthews, a former CEO of four Fortune 500 utility companies, has been serving as managing trustee of Link Energy Trust since 2002....