Focus: Telecom

SeaMobile Inc. announced Dec. 18 that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Geolink, a satellite-based broadband communications and networking services provider to the European market. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has received the first signals from the Engineering Test Satellite No. 8 (Kiku-8), which was launched Dec. 18 from the Tanegashima Space Center, JAXA reported. The solar panels have been deployed, and “the satellite is now in good condition and operations are progressing smoothly.”

The Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) businesses of Loral Space & Communications Inc. and Telesat Canada will be combined under a new Canadian company that will become the fourth largest operator in the world, the companies announced Dec. 18. Loral and its partner, Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), will acquire 100 percent of...

SES Astra announced Dec. 18 its establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary, SES Astra TechCom Belgium, through which it intends to boost revenues derived from the Belgian satellite market. SES Astra also detailed plans to expand satellite services in and from Belgium and to develop active cooperation with other Belgian space companies. The new subsidiary...

DigitalGlobe Inc. awarded a contract to MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to supply ground station systems for the WorldView imagery satellite, MDA announced Dec. 14. MDA will provide DigitalGlobe’s international customers with ground systems capable of programming, receiving and processing imagery from the WorldView satellites. The systems will be offered both as new and...

Hughes Network Systems announced the next phase of a contract with Enlaces Integra and Globalstar de M�xico to deliver an additional 10,860 broadband satellite terminals for the Mexican Ministry of Education’s Enciclomedia program. This deal will serve about 17,500 secondary school classrooms in Mexico, expanding the initial network of more than 13,000 terminals serving about...

Avanti Screenmedia, a U.K. satellite, media and telecom business, announced plans Dec. 14 to separate its satellite operations from its core digital advertising screen business. The proposed action is expected to result in the admission to AIM — the London Stock Exchange’s international market for smaller companies — of a new holding company of Avanti’s...

The Saskatchewan Communications Network (SCN) and OmniGlobe Networks Inc. (OGN) have formed a strategic alliance to deliver satellite-based wireless broadband Internet to rural and remote communities across Canada, the companies announced. Under a memorandum of understanding signed Dec. 11, SCN and OGN will combine satellite and terrestrial wireless access: SCN will provide and maintain the...

ViaSat Inc. will supply its LinkStar DVB-S2 satellite networking system to Unete Telecomunicaciones S.A. of Bolivia, ViaSat announced Dec. 13. The contract, valued at about $6 million, includes installation and integration of a satellite network hub in Guayaquil, Ecuador and 1,200 LinkStarS2 terminals. Deliveries of the hub, networking equipment and first shipment of broadband VSAT...

Integral Systems Inc. announced Dec. 13 that it has added EchoStar Communications Corp.’s EchoStar-11 satellite to the satellite operator’s existing Epoch IPS satellite control system. EchoStar’s entire fleet of satellites is operated by the Epoch IPS system. Separately, EchoStar announced it has signed an agreement with New Line Cinema to offer the studio’s movie titles...