Focus: Telecom

[12-26-07 – Satellite News] From changes of ownership to new operators, the fixed satellite services sector landscape continued to undergo significant changes throughout 2007. Intelsat and SES Global remain the largest operators by a significant margin over their competitors, but other global satellite operators and even regional players continue to position themselves to compete against...

[12-26-07 – Satellite Today] Wegener Corp. has added an additional high-definition (HD) channel in the United States and Canada, the company announced Dec. 20.     An unnamed large U.S. cable programmer is using Wegener satellite receiver equipment to distribute HD video programming service to cable and satellite affiliates.     “We are excited to support this...

[12-26-07 – Satellite Today] Broadcast International Inc. has sold about $15 million in aggregate principal as well as common stock and common stock purchase warrants to unnamed accredited investors, the company announced Dec. 26.     The notes mature Dec. 21, 2010 and are convertible into shares of Broadcast common stock at an initial conversion price...

[12-21-07 – Satellite Today} The RASCOM-QAF1 and Horizons-2 satellites have been launched into orbit, Arianespace confirmed Dec. 21. This was the sixth successful Arianespace mission of the year. Both satellites were launched via an Ariane 5 from Kourou in French Guiana.     The RASCOM-QAF1 is a pan-African telecoms satellite built by Thales Alenia Space for...

[12-21-07 – Satellite Today] SkyTerra Communications Inc., Inmarsat plc, Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) and Mobile Satellite Ventures (Canada) Inc. have reached a cooperative agreement for L-Band operations in North America, Inmarsat announced Dec. 21.     The agreement is intended to enable the re-banding and efficient reuse of a substantial segment of North American L-Band radio...

[12-21-07 – Satellite Today] ITT Corp. has delivered a new demonstration payload for the GPS Block 2R satellite to Lockheed Martin‘s facilities, Lockheed Martin announced Dec. 20.     The payload, which was delivered two months ahead of schedule, will be integrated on the spacecraft and undergo final system-level testing in preparation for launch next year....

[12-21-07 – Satellite Today] Gilat Satellite Networks has signed a deal with Mexico’s Grupo Elektra to provide a substantial broadband satellite network across the region, the company announced Dec. 21. Gilat will supply a SkyEdge satellite hub station and 1,964 Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) for use in several Latin American countries including Mexico, Guatemala,...

[12-20-07 – Satellite Today] SES Astra signed a deal with Euro Marketing Group to offer Astra2Connect in Poland, SES Astra announced Dec. 20.     Euro Marketing will offer the satellite-based broadband access service through its partner networks, retailers and Web shops beginning in January.     This is the second major Astra2Conection distribution agreement SES Astra...

[12-20-07 – Satellite Today] Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. has been awarded a $96.7 million contract by NASA to provide the Geostationary Lightning Mapper for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-R series, Lockheed Martin announced Dec. 19.     Data from the sensor, which will monitor lightning around the globe, will be used to study the...

[12-20-07 – Satellite Today] Pace Micro Technology boosted its position in the set-top box market by acquiring the operations of Royal Philips Electronics, Pace announced Dec. 19. Philips supplies of set-top boxes to satellite as well as cable, terrestrial and IPTV operators.     The proposed transaction values the business at nearly 95 million euros ($136.8...