Ariane 5 lifts off with Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1 and GSAT 7. Credit: ESA-CNES-Arianespace

Arianespace Orbits Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1 and GSAT 7
Arianespace completed its fourth Ariane 5 launch in 2013, making it the vehicle’s 57th successful launch in a row. The launcher carried two telecoms satellites to orbit: the Eutelsat and Es’hailSat jointly owned Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1, and the GSAT 7 for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

Eutelsat and Es’hailSat announced that their 6.3-ton satellite Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1’s solar panels were deployed within four hours of separation from the launch vehicle and preparations are underway for the first of four firings of its apogee motor to complete its journey into orbit. The two companies expect to bring their jointly-owned satellite into service at 25.5 degrees east by the end of October.

Hispasat Brings Telecoms Services for Spanish Cycling Race
Hispasat is providing telecoms services for the Vuelta a España cycling race, which started in Vilanova de Arousa, Pontevedra, and ends in Madrid in late September.

Two high-performance mobile satellite transmission units will follow this year’s edition of the Vuelta 2013. Among other things, Hispasat will use them to offer broadband Internet, telephony and video services to both the race organizers and the reporters at the finish lines of each stage, enabling them to send their daily reports and interviews of the stage winners via videoconference with accredited press members.

Hispasat has equipped its two mobile units with a next-generation broadband satellite communication system to offer the transmissions with maximum quality and security. One unit will be placed at the finish line of each stage so that the press rooms can deliver broadband Internet and high-quality videoconferencing services, as well as the full range of telephony services. The other will be positioned each day at the race’s permanent office, which in addition to the aforementioned solutions will include a mobile call center providing fax and telephone services.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during liftoff. Credit: SpaceX

SpaceX to Launch German Radar Reconnaissance Satellite System
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) won a two-flight contract to launch Germany’s second-generation radar reconnaissance satellite system.

The satellites, provided by OHB System AG (OHB) and Astrium GmbH, will replace the current OHB-built five-satellite SAR-Lupe constellation. The three-satellite constellation will be delivered to orbit by two Falcon 9 rockets in 2018 and 2019.

Vislink Acquires Amplifier Technology
Vislink, a wireless communications products and services provider for the broadcast, defense and security markets, has paid 4 million pounds ($6.1 million) to acquire Amplifier Technology (AT), a radio frequency design and manufacturer of amplifiers and jammers for the defense and surveillance market.

In the year ending June 30, 2012, AT’s revenues were 4.8 million pounds with adjusted EBITDA of 1.1 million pounds. The acquisition includes a maximum earn out of $ 2 million pounds to be paid if AT reaches an EBITDA of $ 3 million pounds for the year ending June 30, 2014. The company must reach a minimum EBITDA of 1 million pounds for an earn out to be paid.

Cobham Broadcast Appoints Sam Medler as Technical Services Manager
Cobham Broadcast has appointed Sam Medler as technical services manager for broadcast. Medler, who will be based at the company’s head office in Whiteley, Hampshire, U.K., will begin serving in the new position immediately.

He will be a direct liaison for existing and prospective Cobham Broadcast customers worldwide. Medler has extensive technical service and project management experience, including international service and support; research and design of system architectures for video and data capture, storage and transfer; and technical cost/benefit assessment.