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Leoterra LLC, a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, and Terrestar Networks Inc., a subsidiary of Motient Corp., announced Dec. 5 they will perform a joint feasibility study toward providing interoperable, advanced global mobile broadband communication services from their respective LEO and geostationary-based satellite networks. The interoperability of the satellite communication systems would provide global...

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. has been selected by Alef Soluciones Integrales and Corporative Lanix to provide a Skyedge VSAT network to more than 7,700 Mexican public-school classrooms, Gilat announced Dec. 4. Deployment of the network hub and 4,400 terminals has begun in the middle-school phase of the Mexican Ministry of Education’s computer-based Enciclomedia program, which...

Emerging Markets Communications (EMC) has been contracted to provide Internet protocol (IP) capacity via satellite to South Africa-based Internet Solutions, EMC announced. Internet Solutions, owned by Dimension Data, is the largest Cisco distributor outside the United States and offers services to about 80 percent of South Africa’s top 250 companies. EMC will provide a link...

XM Satellite Radio and General Motors (GM) announced Dec. 5 that the automaker will build more than 1.8 million 2007 vehicles with factory-installed XM Radio. GM was the first automaker to offer satellite radio when it introduced XM as a factory-installed feature on its Cadillac Seville and Deville models in 2001.

Two of the Middle East’s leading satellite operators, Arabsat and Nilesat, have joined forces in the Middle East to establish a media gateway. The agreement will enable Arabsat to establish a new Arabsat Media Gateway from Cairo that will enable the operator to provide Egypt-based broadcasters with direct access to a comprehensive range of video...

Norsat International Inc. has reached an agreement with Bill Coyne, the company’s former president and CEO, to settle all claims relating to a wrongful dismissal suit. Details of the settlement were not disclosed.

The People’s Republic of China will launch its second geostationary orbit meteorological satellite, Fengyun-2D, Dec. 8, according to Xinhua. Described in a report citing the China Meteorological Administration, the Fengyun-2D will form an observation system with Fengyun-2C, China’s first geostationary orbit weather satellite that was placed in orbit in 2004. China plans to launch the...

Concurrent to the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, XM Radio will offer Radio Hanukkah, a national broadcast channel devoted exclusively to Jewish culture, XM announced Dec. 4. From Dec. 15 through 23, XM 108 will feature a broad spectrum of Jewish music and conversation. Radio Hanukkah also will be available through XM Radio Online.

Alcatel Alenia Space signed a contract to design, manufacture and deliver Globalstar Inc.’s second-generation constellation of 48 satellites, the companies announced Dec. 4. The deal is worth about 661 million euros ($880.9 million), though the value could be reduced by up to 28 million euros ($37.3 million) if Globalstar chooses to accelerate delivery of the...

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute has chosen Arianespace to launch the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite-1 (COMS-1), Arianespace announced Dec. 4. COMS-1 will be placed into geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 5 in the first half of 2009. The spacecraft, being manufactured by EADS Astrium will carry payloads that will perform meteorological observation and...