Focus: Telecom

[09-20-07 – Satellite Today]  Tandberg Television has won a deal to supply advanced IP infrastructure equipment and encoders to a new direct-to-home provider in India, Tandberg announced Sept. 19. Bharti Telemedia, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, will use a range of Tandberg’s solutions including the iSIS 8000 IP head-end and MPEG-4 standard definition encoders.

[09-20-07 – Satellite Today]  OHB Technology Group of Germany has acquired part of SpaceDev Inc. of California, the companies announced Sept. 19. OHB, which has operations in satellite, space hardware manufacturing and advanced space payload systems development, will use the relationship to further its reach into the United States, while SpaceDev will have greater access...

[09-20-07 – Satellite Today]  SES New Skies will partner with SeaMobile’s Maritime Telecommunications Network product group to test a pair of miniaturized VSAT antennas for small vessels, the companies announced Sept. 19. The 60-centimeter antennas include a heavy-duty Ruggidized version for fishing, work boats and ocean-going support vessels and a lighter Sure Lock version, which...

[09-18-07 – Satellite Today] The state of Missouri awarded Orbital Data Net a satellite broadband contract to provide WildBlue high-speed internet via satellite service throughout the state, the company announced. The first state agencies to receive the service will be the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Department of Natural Resources. The companies will also...

[09-18-07 – Satellite Today] International Communications Group (ICG) received a contract Dassault Falcon to provide Iridium satellite communication systems and handsets as optional equipment for the Falcon family of aircraft, ICG announced Sept. 18. Products available for installation include the ICS-100, ICS-200 and the CIS-100 Iridium Communications Systems transceivers. Dassault also will  install 2-Wire and...

[09-18-07 – Satellite Today] In-orbit testing of the DirecTV 10 satellite has uncovered problems with some of the spacecraft’s spot beams, DirecTV announced Sept. 14. DirecTV 10, which will be used to deliver high-definition (HD) programming throughout the United States, was placed into orbit in July by a Proton rocket. Testing found “that a portion...

[09-18-07 – Satellite Today] JSAT is teaming up with Broadcasting Satellite System Corp. (B-SAT) to jointly procure and launch a hybrid broadcast/communications satellite in 2011, the companies announced Sept. 18. The satellite, which will be located at 110° East, will be controlled by B-SAT. The agreement was reached after changes in regulations in the Japanese...

[09-17-07 – Satellite Today] The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) revealed a series of draft recommendations Sept. 17 designed to boost broadband growth in India. The “Growth in Broadband” initiative focus mainly on telecoms, but two key recommendations involve the use of satellite broadband. TRAI recommends the Indian government should ensure availability of more...

[09/14/07 – Satellite News] Smart Communications CEO Napoleon Nazareno admitted to Satellite News it was “a possibility” that the operator could use satellite technology when offering mobile TV services in the future. The Philippines telco, which has close to 30 million wireless subscribers is already one of the most progressiv e telcos in the region...

[Satellite Today – 09-13-07]  The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) announced Sept. 12, the winners of a new set of individual licences for commercial satellite and cable subscription broadcasting services. ICASA had received up to 18 applications by the end of August from a variety of parties looking to gain more access to...