Harbinger Signs Deal to build LTE Satellite Network

Harbinger Capital signed an eight-year, $7 billion contract with Nokia Siemens Networks to build and operate a 4G LTE satellite and mobile broadband network for wireless providers, which will rely on satellites and terrestrial spectrum that Harbinger acquired through its $280 million purchase of SkyTerra in March.

The new venture, dubbed LightSquared, plans to launch in its first markets by the middle of 2011 and aims to provide coverage to 92 percent of the United States by 2015. The company will raise up to $1.75 billion in debt and equity before service launch. Harbinger Capital Partners and affiliates have invested $2.9 billion in the venture.

Sanjiv Ahuja, former CEO of France Telecom’s Orange subsidiary, has been selected to lead LightSquared.

Hughes Wins Deal to Power Chevron Broadband Network

Hughes Network Systems has been named Chevron’s certified provider of secure managed broadband services for Chevron marketer and retailer stations nationwide.

Hughes will provide Chevron customers with connectivity options, including broadband DSL, cable, 3G wireless and satellite service. The fully managed broadband service aims to provide marketers and retailers with an always-on turnkey system that includes installation, proactive monitoring, and technical support.

Hughes Managed Services also will provide secure point-of-sale connectivity to Chevron’s credit card authorizer via a PCI-compliant network and wireless intrusion detection technology to greatly reduce security breach risks.
 

Iridium Renews Partnership With Boeing

Iridium Communications signed two long-term agreements designating Boeing as Iridium’s sole operations and maintenance provider for the current Iridium constellation and grants Boeing exclusive rights for Iridium Next.

The first of the two agreements will see Boeing continue operating Iridium’s current satellite constellation and will provide support for Iridium’s satellite control system. The second agreement names Boeing the exclusive operations and maintenance provider for Iridium’s next-generation constellation, Iridium Next. Boeing will further upgrade Iridium’s satellite control systems to become fully compatible with Iridium Next.
 

SS/L Selected to Build Satellite for Eutelsat, IctQatar

Eutelsat Communications and IctQatar, representing the state of Qatar, selected Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) to build a high-performance satellite that the two companies will jointly own and operate at 25.5 degrees East.

The spacecraft, expected to enter service in early 2013, will be based on SS/L’s 1300 satellite bus and provide Ku- and Ka-band coverage across the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia regions. The satellite will be a follow-on from Eutelsat’s Eurobird 2 satellite, also located at 25.5 degrees East.

The selection of SS/L as prime contractor marks the next step in a partnership agreement signed by Eutelsat and IctQatar in May.
 

ViaSat Wins Blue Force Tracking 2 Contract

The U.S. Army selected ViaSat as the winner of the Blue Force Tracking 2 (BFT-2) program contract.

ViaSat said it was awarded $477 million under the BFT-2 indefinite-delivery, indefinite contract and received the first delivery order for $37.7 million to fund deliveries of first article and initial production terminals and other ground networking equipment. ViaSat’s BFT-2 system is derived from its ArcLight mobile satcom technology, which uses VSAT antennas to provide broadband communications-on-the-move voice, video and services.