Technology

Glowlink Rolls Out Geolocation product

Glowlink announced the rollout of a geolocation product with integrated interference detection and monitoring capability. Targeted for the satellite communications market, the new product can detect interference or unauthorized satellite access, locate the offending emitter’s position and identify available information such as the name, address and telephone number of the suspected offender.

The new product integrates the company’s Model 1000 interference detection technology with geolocation on a common signal acquisition and processing platform. The product will be deployed initially to select customers of the Glowlink Model 1000 system, with general availability to follow within three to six months. (Glowlink Communications Technology Inc., 333 Distel Circle, Los Altos, CA 94022; Tel: 650/237-0226; Fax: 650/237-0225; Web: http://www.Glowlink.com)

STMicroelectronics Launches Digital Satellite Set-top box chip

STMicroelectronics, a supplier of silicon chips for set-top boxes (STBs), announced a low-cost satellite STB receiver/decoder chip — the STI5188 — intended for high-volume free-to-air markets in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, South America and Europe.

This integrated device combines the functions of ST’s STV0288 DVB-S receiver and the STM5118 mass-market STB decoder to create a product that will enable the manufacture of digital receivers that will compare to the cost of analog sets.

Engineering samples of the STI5188 have been shipped to key customers, with volume production planned to begin before the end of the second quarter, the company said. (STMicroelectronics, 39 Chemin du Champ des Filles, C. P. 21, CH 1228, Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland; Tel: +41 22 929 29 29; Fax: +41 22 929 29 00; Web: http://www.st.com)

Services

BSkyB Unveils Telecoms Plans

U.K. satellite pay-TV operator BSkyB plans to launch a variety of new services enabled by its acquisition of Easynet, BSkyB announced.

The satellite operator, which has been accelerating its plans to move away from offering just traditional direct-to-home services, plans to add Voice over Internet Protocol (IP) and IPTV services in 2007.

BSkyB also intends to include broadband and push video-on-demand services as the company steps up its drive to become an integral part of the digital home. BSkyB launched its Sky by Broadband and Sky by Mobile services at the beginning of this year as it looks to boost revenues from alternative platforms.

BT Unveils Name For IPTV Service

BT, which call is Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) service, set for launch later this year, BT Vision. The service will combine digital terrestrial television (DTT) with on-demand film, TV and music programming, as well as interactive services. BT is stressing that its service is more complementary to direct-to-home satellite TV provider BSkyB rather than competitive, though BSkyB also has acquired Easynet, so it could look to compete with BT in the IPTV space going forward.

Euronews Launches in Mexico

Euronews announced the appointment of Eurochannel as its exclusive representative for South America. Eurochannel’s mission will be to extend the distribution network of the multi-language news channel across the continent via cable, satellite and new media platforms.

Euronews was launched on digital cable in Mexico City March 1 by Cablevision, allowing 100,000 subscribers to watch the service in Spanish, English and French.

ICG Delivers Iridium-based ACARS messaging Service

International Communications Group Inc. (ICG) announced that it has completed testing of its ACARS-compliant (Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System), Iridium- based messaging solution and delivered initial production equipment.

ICG and ARINC have demonstrated ACARS-compliant, Iridium-based messaging with production equipment. Test transmissions included text messages, graphical weather, flight plan uplinks and other common messages.

The ICG system complies with ARINC 741 standards for satellite-based interface to the data link management unit, as well as ARINC 618 and 620 specifications for ACARS messaging.

Tandberg Enabling China To Offer HDTV

Tandberg Television announced that it is providing the video compression systems to enable China’s first national high definition (HD) TV rollout. The HD video delivery system is based on the company’s E5780 MPEG-2 HD encoder.

The new HDTV service is being deployed to provide a television infrastructure for China offering movies, TV series, documentaries and 3-dimensional animated pictures.

HD is the immediate future for Chinese broadcasting, with the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing already being hailed as the High-Definition Games. Additionally, the Chinese government has set a deadline of 2015 for switch off of analog broadcasting.

Contracts

Geoeye Receives Orders From NGA

Geoeye received an additional $13 million in orders from the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) under the Clearview contract, the company announced. The latest orders are in addition to the $36 million awarded to the company in January, bringing the total value of the contract for Geoeye to $49 million in 2006.

The NGA also awarded a similar contract to Digitalglobe, adding $12 million to the company’s Clearview contract, a mechanism which allows the NGA to streamline its purchases of commercial imagery from the two companies.

NDS Wins SES Americom Contract

NDS won an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) security solutions contract from SES Americom, as the operator takes the next step with its IP-Prime service, a new IPTV distribution solution in the United States. The new offering enables telcos to offer secure, premium TV services to their customers. SES Americom will deliver up to 300 channels encoded into MPEG-4/H.264 via their IP-Prime platform, offering telcos a more efficient and robust transmission path.

Panamsat Lands My TV DTH Platform In Africa

Panamsat announced that it signed a multi-year agreement with Strong Technologies LLC of Dubai for programming distribution on Panamsat’s PAS-10 Indian Ocean Region satellite. The multinational company will use the Ku-band payload to establish My TV, a direct-to-home (DTH) platform in sub-Sahara Africa.

This is the latest addition to the more than 20 DTH platforms that operate on the Panamsat fleet.

Patriot Wins IPStar Contract

Patriot Antenna Systems signed a definitive agreement with Shin Satellite Public Company Ltd. to supply 100,000 84-centimeter Ku-band VSAT Terminals. The Patriot terminals will be used for two-way Internet service supplied through Shin Satellites newly launched IPStar broadband satellite. The Patriot terminals meet all of Shin Satellites requirements for two-way internet service, which will be marketed for both commercial and residential customers throughout Asia Pacific.

The IPStar satellite, with 45 gigabits per second of capacity, can serve 3 million to 5 million users.

Unasat Taps ViaSat for DOCSIS-based Broadband Satellite System

ViaSat Inc. is supplying Unasat Communications LLC with a DOCSIS-based two-way satellite broadband access network to provide services for the small-to-medium enterprise market. The initial $5 million contract includes a quantity of Ku-band Surfbeam DOCSIS-for-satellite modems, a satellite modem termination system (hub), a 6-meter hub antenna and RF equipment.

The Unasat Surfbeam network provides seamless access to advanced broadband data and voice-over-Internet protocol services. These services are available through the Unasat satellite, regional phone company, and ISP dealer network throughout North America.

Wegener Wins Contract With BBC World

Wegener Corp., a provider of television, audio and data distribution networks worldwide, announced the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) purchased a complete IPump System Solution for its international radio distribution network.

The system will allow the BBC to distribute audio to more than 900 partners globally through advanced digital file store-forward technology, as well as traditional linear broadcasting.

Executive Moves

Globecast America Announces Executive Appointments

Globecast has announced several executive appointments throughout its sales and technical organization in America.

Mary Frost, senior vice president of sales, has been named chief commercial officer and will be responsible for the company’s revenue growth and business development opportunities. Frost is based in Washington, D.C.

Thomas Reiss, senior vice president of technology, has been appointed chief technology officer, responsible for all technical development, planning and execution He is based at the company’s Technical Operations Center in Miami.

David Szelag, based in Los Angeles, has been named vice president, technical operations, responsible for overall management of Globecast’s technical facilities in America as well as service execution of Globecast products.

Mary Salih has been appointed vice president, broadcast services, responsible for directing all commercial activities for broadcast services in North and Latin America. She is based in New York.

Lisa Coelho, based in New York, has been named vice president, Globecast WorldTV and will manage the commercial and marketing operations of Globecast WorldTV, an aggregator and distributor of international television and radio programming.

Micro-Ant Appoints President

Micro-Ant Inc., a developer and manufacturer of low profile antennas for fixed and mobile satellite communications, satellite TV and satellite radio, announced that John Guenard joined the company as president. Guenard has 20 years of experience in the microwave component and subsystem industry supporting both military and commercial original equipment manufacturers and system integrators. In addition to overseeing the release of Micro-Ant’s new Micro1600 L-band tracking antenna, Guenard will be directly involved with product development strategies for next generation high data rate antennas.

SpaceX Names President and COO

Space Explorations Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) announced that Jim Maser will join the company as president and COO. Maser spent most of his career with Boeing, most recently serving as president and general manager of Sea Launch.