Focus: Telecom

[11-19-07 – Satellite Today] Stratos Global Corp.’s FleetBroadband service is commercially available, the company announced Nov. 19.     FleetBroadband, a maritime broadband satellite communications solution based on Inmarsat‘s FleetBroadband service, provides high-speed data and voice communications at speeds up to 432 kilobits per second. FleetBroadband also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of a...

[11-16-07 — Satellite News] The satellite industry scored a resounding victory at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07), as the meeting closed with delegates rejecting requests from terrestrial players that they have more access to C-band spectrum. “The global satellite industry emerged today from four weeks of successful negotiations to protect the users of its...

[11-16-07 – Satellite Today] The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has allocated Iridium Satellite LLC exclusive access some L-band spectrum for global mobile satellite services, the company announced Nov. 15.     The FCC order, issued Nov. 9, gives Iridium exclusive use of 2.625 megahertz (MHz) of L-band spectrum which previously had been shared. Under the...

[11-16-07 – Satellite Today] Arinc has tested and deployed XipLink’s embedded acceleration system in Arinc’s Skylink broadband communications platform, XipLink announced Nov. 14.     The XipLink acceleration system combines SCPS-based acceleration with advanced data compression, quality of service and HTTP acceleration technologies. Engineers from Arinc and XipLink have been working to integrate the XipLink system...

[11-16-07 – Satellite Today] The DirecTV Group  is switching its stock exchange listing from the New York Stock Exchange  to the Nasdaq, DirecTV announced Nov. 15.     "Companies that list on NASDAQ share a common goal of being visionaries within their sectors; moving beyond old ways of doing business and leading through innovation," Bruce Aust,...

[11-16-07 – Satellite Today] A pair of U.S. Congressmen have written to NASA Administrator Michael Griffin expressing concern over a study contract awarded to small satellite manufacturer Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) of the United Kingdom.     The letter, dated Nov. 6 and signed by Reps. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and Randy Forbes (R-Va.), expresses concern...

[11-15-07 – Satellite News] While relying more and more on commercial satellite services, the government is a “terrible customer” for the industry, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. James Armor said Nov. 13.     “I did spend 34 years as a space professional in the Air Force, and I still despair a little at the Air...

[11-15-07 – Satellite Today] The Ariane 5 rocket placed the SkyNet 5B and Star One C1 satellites into orbit, Arianespace announced Nov. 14.     SkyNet 5B, built by Astrium Services, is the second of three satellites that will form a new constellation to meet the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s communications requirements.     Star One C1,...

[11-15-07 – Satellite Today] Northrop Grumman Corp. has tested a new type of rocket engine that uses oxygen and methane propellants, the company announced Nov. 14.     The TR408 engine is designed to use oxygen and methane propellants that range from all-gas to all-liquid and fully vaporizes both the oxidizer and the fuel by passing...

[11-15-07 – Satellite Today] Stratos Global Corp. has introduced a new dedicated GSM service for crewmembers and officers of merchant ships, the company announced Nov. 15.     GSM Oceanwide enables seafarers to use their existing mobile phones onboard merchant ships in deep ocean waters. The system, which is available around the globe, enables users to...