Globecomm Expands Managed Services to Caribbean

Globecomm Systems will provide wireless managed services to unnamed service operators in Antigua, the Turks and the Caicos Islands.

Globecomm will provide CDMA switching facilities to these customers to support wireless voice and data services offerings to subscribers and roaming partners in the Antigua, Turks and Caicos regions.

Globecomm’s wireless managed services utilize hosted 2G and 3G switch platforms, extending coverage to operators without a major capital or operational investment. The company plans to roll out a 4G platform upgrade within the next year.
 

Inmarsat, GateHouse Deliver BGAN Service to JTRS Program

Inmarsat signed a partnership agreement with technology developer GateHouse for the two companies to create a development program to enhance the BGAN Software Defined Radio (SDR) waveform originally developed by GateHouse.

The partnership is an effort to deliver the complete BGAN SDR waveform to the U.S. Department of Defense’s Joint Tactical Radio System program in compliance with its software communications architecture framework. BGAN SDR aims to establish on-the-move broadband satellite communications that are beyond-line-of-sight for military forces engaged in remote regions where BGAN is the only viable option.
 

Kongsberg Begins Service on AISSat-1

Norwegian operator Kongsberg’s AISSat-1 nanosatellite entered service and began transmitting automatic identification system (AIS) messages from orbit via its ground station at Svalbard, Norway.

AISSat-1, launched in July by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on a PSLV rocket, is an experimental satellite equipped with a Kongsberg Seatex payload that receives and forwards AIS messages from ships. AIS is required under Norwegian law to be carried on all seagoing vessels of 300 gross tons or more and all passenger vessels. Its purpose is to assist the ship navigational watch to avoid collision with other vessels as well as to allow maritime authorities to track and monitor ship movements through operation of land-based AIS stations.
 

OnAir To Install SwiftBroadband on Emirates’ A380 Fleet

Emirates Airlines has selected OnAir to install its full Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir in-flight passenger communications services on their entire Airbus A380 aircraft fleet.

Emirates’ A380 fleet consists of 90 of double-decker aircraft operating on long-haul intercontinental routes. The OnAir services, powered by Inmarsat SwiftBroadband, will allow passengers to use their mobile phones, smart phones and BlackBerry devices onboard Emirates A380 aircraft to make voice calls, send SMS text messages or use data services wirelessly to their iPod, iPhone, iPad and laptops equipped with GPRS modems.

Emirates will begin installation of the OnAir connectivity features on its A380 aircraft at the beginning of 2011, and the first OnAir-equipped Emirates aircraft will begin service in June 2012.
 

SES Astra Brings Astra2Connect to Hungary

SES Astra signed an agreement with Hungarian information technology services provider RG Networks to market Astra2Connect to businesses and private customers under the brand name Vannet.

RG Networks, a subsidiary of the Hungarian information technooogy specialist RG Hungary, provides wireless data transmission technologies. By adding Astra2Connect to its services portfolio, the company said it aims to improve the availability of its services.
 

U-blox Enters Brazilian Market

Embedded wireless and global positioning semiconductor and module supplier U-blox has expanded its contract manufacturing capacity for its Leon GSM/GPRS module to the Brazilian region.

The production line is intended to capitalize on Brazilian government mandates that new automobiles sold in Brazil must have a built-in automatic vehicle lLocation unit, which uses a combination of GPS with mobile communications for tracking, managing and recovering vehicles and other goods. AVL is intended to deter vehicle theft, prevent road-tax fraud and lower insurance costs.