Focus: Telecom

[Satellite Today – 6-12-08] China Central Television (CCTV), the national broadcaster of the People’o;s Republic of China, renewed a multi-year contract on Intelsat’s Galaxy 3C satellite, Intelsat Ltd. announced June 12.     CCTV, which has used Intelsat services since 1995, will use the Ku-band capacity to distribute its regional direct-to-home (DTH) services in the United...

[Satellite Today – 6-12-08] SkyBitz Inc. launched the GLS 100 satellite mobile communicator, a global asset tracking solution that uses the Globalstar Simplex data network, Globalstar announced June 11.     The GLS 100 increases the SkyBitz range of technology offerings and is designed to expand its customer base in rail, marine, energy, hazardous materials and...

[Satellite Today – 6-12-08]  Starling Advanced Communication is launching a new airborne broadband antenna system, the company said June 12. The new Ku-band antenna system MIJETLite will be launched at CommunicAsia next week.     The system enables data transmission and reception at true broadband bit rates via a low profile and lightweight antenna. The antenna...

[Satellite News – 6-12-08] SES Astra is having to go back to the drawing board for its digital TV plans in Germany.     The company in September launched its digital satellite TV platform Entavio with German pay-TV operator Premiere. SES Astra hoped would the platform would offer broadcasters a compelling alternative to bring their latest...

[Satellite Today – 6-11-08] Blue Sky Network has unveiled a new satellite communications kit for vehicle fleet tracking and management, the company said June 10.     The Iridium-D411 is designed for fleets operating in remote areas with unreliable cellular coverage and provides messaging and allows fleet managers to always know the exact location of their...

[Satellite Today – 6-11-08] Global revenues for the commercial satellite industry jumped 16 percent in 2007 to $123 billion, the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) announced June 11.     Average annual growth has been 11.5 percent during the period from 2002-2007, according to SIA’s 2008 State of the Satellite Industry Report, which was compiled by Futron...

[Satellite Today – 6-11-08] TerreStar Corp. closed separate transactions with EchoStar Corp. and CCTV Wireless I LLC to gain additional spectrum, TerreStar announced June 11.     Under the deals, announced in February, TerreStar acquired certain 1.4 gigahertz spectrum licenses held by EchoStar in exchange for 30 million shares of TerreStar common stock. TerreStar acquired the...

[Satellite Today – 6-11-08] Eutelsat Communications signed a new capacity deal with Television Broadcasts Ltd. (TVB) of Hong Kong, a producer and distributor of Chinese programs, Eutelsat announced June 11.     TVB will use capacity on the Eurobird 9 satellite to launch a multi-channel digital platform of Chinese-language channels for satellite homes across Europe. The...

[Satellite Today – 6-10-08] Eutelsat Communications appointed Ignacio González Núñez chief risk officer, the company said June 9.     Núñez’s activities in this newly created position will cover identification and implementation of a coordinated cross-departmental approach to risk management for Eutelsat and its subsidiaries.     “Risk management is now an integral component of an organization’s...

[Satellite Today – 6-10-08] VT iDirect Inc. and ST Electronics Pte Ltd. formed a strategic partnership with Indian VSAT service provider Tatanet Services Ltd., to provide services in India, the companies announced June 10.     Tatanet has set up an iDirect Series 15000 universal hub in Mumbai, India, which will enable it to expand its...