Focus: Telecom

[Satellite Today – 6-30-08] The launch of TerreStar Networks Inc.‘s TerreStar-1 satellite may be pushed into the second quarter of 2009 due to damaged sustained during construction, TerreStar Corp. announced June 30     The spacecraft’s reflector sustained damage during manufacturing at Harris Corp., a subcontractor to prime contractor Space Systems/Loral (SS/L). The companies did not...

[Satellite Today – 6-27-08] Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) conducted a full launch dress rehearsal and hold down firing of the Falcon 1 Flight 3 vehicle June 26, the company announced     The first launch pad firing of SpaceX’s Merlin 1C engine, conducted on Omelek Island, SpaceX’s launch site at Kwajalein Atoll, is the final...

[Satellite Today – 6-27-08] The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne a contract for the fabrication and ground test of a solar thermal propulsion rocket engine, the company announced June 26.     This $2.2 million contract extends the High Delta-V Experiment Program six months and follows a critical design...

[Satellite Today – 6-27-08] Avanti Communications has won a key satellite broadband contract in Scotland, the company said June 26.     Avanti will provide broadband services to premises throughout Scotland, which have been identified as out of the reach of terrestrial alternatives. The contract, valued at worth 3.3 million British pounds ($6.3 million), will cover...

[Satellite News – 6-26-08] Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. will provide a broadband satellite network to Alldean Satellite Networks (Kenya) Ltd., Gilat announced June 25.     The SkyEdge 2 hub and IP VSATs initially will cover sites in various parts of Kenya, providing interactive data, broadband Internet access, Voice Over Internet Protocol and client-server banking applications...

[Satellite News – 6-26-08] The European Commission (EC) has cleared the proposed acquisition of joint control over Spain’s Hispasat by Abertis and a group of Spanish state-owned entities, the EC announced June 26.     Abertis, a Spanish industrial group, reached an agreement in October to acquire a 28.4 percent stake Hispasat, buying shared controlled by...

[Satellite Today – 8-25-08] STM Group has completed the development of a DVB-RCS compatible mesh VSAT network system that serves as an extension of its SatLink product platform, STM announced.     The SatLink 1910 Mesh VSAT is enabled via a plug-in card upgrade to the current SatLink 1910, which equips the VSAT to receive burst...

[Satellite Today – 8-25-08] EMS Satcom introduced an Iridium-based packet data terminal for use in force tracking systems, the company announced June 23.     The eNcompass PDT-300i terminal operates around the globe and is designed specifically to enable critical communications capabilities required for force tracking. The fully integrated, single-piece product offers with a lower profile...

[Satellite Today – 8-25-08] Revenues from consumer satellite broadband services will overtake enterprise class broadband VSAT network services by 2013, according to a study from NSR LLC.     By the end of 2008, total subscribers to single site satellite broadband Internet access services, mainly but not exclusively found in North America, will surpass the global...

[Satellite Today – 3-24-08] Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) awarded a contract to Cadence LLC to lead the design, architecture and development of MSV’s integrated services delivery framework, MSV announced June 24.     The platform will enable MSV to provide transparent and interoperable wireless broadband services across its North American satellite-terrestrial network through conventional handsets and...