Focus: Telecom

 

[Satellite Today – 5-22-08] Iridium Satellite initiated its second “Test Your Satellite Phone” Week, coinciding with the start of this North American hurricane season, Iridium announced May 22.     The goal of the program, which begins May 25, is to increase satellite phone user preparedness and to help users confirm their satellite phones will work...

 

[Satellite Today – 5-22-08] Al Yah Satellite Communications Co. (Yahsat) wants to raise $1.2 billon from the finance markets to fund its satellite communications system, the company said May 20. The plans call for $1 billion in term loans, $100 million in stand-by term loans and $85 million in a debt service reserve letter of...

[Satellite Today – 5-21-08] Sea Launch placed the Galaxy 18 satellite into orbit for Intelsat, the companies announced May 21.     The satellite, manufactured by Space Systems/Loral, features 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders and will serve programmers, government and corporate broadband customers in the United States.     “Galaxy 18 will provide our customers valuable...

 

[Satellite Today – 5-21-08] SES has completed the closing and signing of a 550 million euro ($857.5 million) revolving credit facility, the company announced May 20.     The facility closed oversubscribed and has been increased from a launch amount of 350 million euros ($545.7 million). The facility, which was arranged by ABN AMRO Bank N.V.,...

[Satellite Today – 5-21-08] EchoStar DBS Corp. plans to raise $750 million in funds through an offering of debt securities, parent company Dish Network Corp. announced May 20.     The net proceeds of the offering, which originally had been planned for $500 million, are intended to be used for general corporate purposes.

[Satellite Today – 5-21-08] Thuraya is collaborating with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on a variety of relief campaigns in Asia, the companies announced May 21.     Thuraya has deployed an initial batch of 30 mobile handheld terminals and 10 DSL terminals to the ITU to help provide communication and coordinate relief operations after the...