Singapore hosts first ever NSSLGlobal office in Asia Pacific

As part of its ongoing expansion and commitment to support important regional clients, satellite communications provider NSSLGlobal Ltd. will open its newest office in Singapore.

The global satcom service provider has been riding the wave of steadily-growing business in the Asian market during the last few years. NSSLGlobal has already secured important clients and inroads in Asia, leading the Company to create a local facility that will directly deliver sales and technical resources to its consumers.

The Singapore office will be the first one established by NSSLGlobal in the Far East. The island nation possesses excellent infrastructure and enables easy access to neighboring countries. These qualities make Singapore the perfect base for satellite communications companies like NSSLGlobal, which can provide account management services to the increasing numbers of customers in the Asia Pacific market within the local time zone. 

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SkyTrac shows off satellite communications, flight following solutions for NATA

Starting this Monday, SkyTrac Systems will be exhibiting its flight-following and satellite communications solutions at booth #6 of the AGM and Trade Show of the Northern Air Transport Association (NATA.) The trade show will take place from April 8 to April 10, 2013.

The NATA association takes part in the decision-making process that covers transportation throughout Northern Canada. It has two goals: To create and maintain partnerships with interested parties in the industry and governments; and to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the air transportation system in the North.

Numerous companies in Northern Canadian leverage SkyTrac's flight-following and satcom solutions. The Company's industry-leading products enable reliable satellite communications and improved safety measures in the unforgiving sub-Arctic environment of the North.

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Hughes presents new Inmarsat BGAN satcom terminal for hazardous locations

Hughes Network Systems, LLC and Inmarsat recently presented the Hughes 9502 global-use terminal, the first BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) M2M (machine-to-machine) satellite communications terminal in the world to feature Hazardous Locations Accreditation.

The new Hughes BGAN terminal has successfully finished tests with accredited laboratory Met Laboratories, Inc., which cleared the Hughes 9502 for operation in hazardous locations that may have explosive gaseous atmospheres.

Hughes designed and produced its 9502 terminal for global use over the Inmarsat BGAN L-band satellite service. The new satellite communications terminal enables highly affordable and reliable end-to-end IP data connectivity for a wide variety of customers, including global energy customers who deploy SCADA networks in hazardous environments.

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Kratos Cybersecurity Assessment enhances satellite communications cybersecurity

In response to the growing threats and unique needs of the satellite industry, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has introduced a new service for satellite communications companies: the SATCOM Cybersecurity Assessment.

Cybersecurity legislation will soon require all U.S. critical infrastructure -including satellite communications- to conform with NIST Information Assurance (IA) standards. SATCOM Cybersecurity Assessment will help ensure that satcom companies will be ready to

The Kratos service tackles the unique security challenges confronted by the satellite industry. SATCOM Cybersecurity Assessment will assist satellite organizations in identifying, prioritizing, and mitigating security threats. Kratos will perform a rigorous gap analysis that will present a detailed view of the satellite network's readiness. The Company will then provide detailed recommendations and a roadmap of corrective actions to mitigate risks and ensure the customer's network complies with NIST IA regulations, standards, and guidelines.

Kratos possesses 30 years of experience with the satellite communications industry. Its products and services see service with more than 75% percent of the satellite operators in the world as well as 85% of the space missions based in the United States. It has thousands of successfully completed IA assessments and validations to its name, and is an Air Force Agent of the Certifying Authority (ACA) for Space Systems.

The Company is uniquely suited to assist SATCOM companies in the mitigation of risk and demonstration of compliance. With its SATCOM Cybersecurity Assessment, commercial satellite operators and service providers will be able to proactively reduce their risk and to evaluate their readiness for new regulations and enforcement in the near-future. 

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Orbcomm satcom network powers global OEM telematics solution for Sumitomo

Orbcomm has been tapped to deliver the wireless data connectivity that Sumitomo Construction Machinery needs for its global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) telematics solution.

Sumitomo is a Japanese manufacturer of construction machinery. It will use Orbcomm's global satellite communications network to track and monitor the location, status, and performance of its construction equipment on a global scale.

In addition to ensuring the visibility of its products, the Orbcomm-powered solution allows Sumitomo to improve its operational efficiency and cut back on unecessary costs.

Starting this year, Sumitomo will begin deploying its OEM installation on a global scale.

Satcom Direct aviation router makes its debut

Satcom Direct proudly introduces Satcom Direct Router (SDR,) its very first certified aviation hardware product. The new router will be able to manage cabin communications, support software apps, and provide 3G/4G connectivity using any satellite communications system.

The SDR can be integrated with any satellite communications system. Of note amongst the softapps it supports are the moving map app by Satcom Direct, the Flight Tracker iPhone/iPad by FlightAware, and apps that enables command and control of satellite links and real-time reports on connection.

Users can use different constellations at the same time. They can also smoothly switch between different satcom networks such as L-, Ku-, Ka-, and X-band. Flight departments can use the latter capability to split Wi-Fi traffic on the router. This lets them provide the connection with the highest speed to the aircraft owner. It also ensures that the passengers can access the network with the mnost bandwidth for the best performance.

SDR is compatible with DO-160G and DO-178B Level E (soon D) standards. Furthermore, Satcom Direct is securing supplemental type certificate approvals so that the SDR can be installed on business jets.

The SDR is compatible with Inmarsat Swift 64 and SwiftBroadband satcoms by Cobham, EMS, Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, and Thrane & Thrane. It can also be integrated with ViaSat’s Yonder and Gulfstream’s BBML. Finally, it is compatible with Global Xpress, the upcoming satellite broadband service from Inmarsat.

The SDR will enter commercial availability in May. It will be available through a dealer network. Satcom Direct will support the dealers by ensuring the proper installation of the SDR.

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Beam prepares delivery of Inmarsat marine satellite terminals to MSN

Beam Communications Pty Ltd will be supplying Inmarsat marine satellite communications terminals to Beijing Marine Communications & Navigation Company (MCN.)

The initial order was for $1 million worth of Beam SATCOM terminals. Delivery is set to begin during the first quarter of 2013 and is scheduled to be completed by May 31, 2013. Following that order, MCN will must make further commitments to Beam if it wants to keep its exclusive right to distribute the Beam product in China.x

MCN had tested the Beam terminals back in July 2012. Two hundred Beam Oceana 400 and Oceana 800 marine communications terminals were installed aboard Chinese fishing vessels and integrated into the fleet's Inmarsat FleetPhone Service. Beam passed the test and its terminals were accepted by MCN.

Beam designed and built its satellite communications terminals to support voice, data, and tracking communications over the Inmarsat network through its ‘Fleetphone’ maritime service. These terminals are aimed at emerging satellite markets and are meant to be deployed in high volumes.

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Newtec signs deal with NCIA for SATCOM equipment, services

Satellite equipment company Newtec and the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) have entered a Basic Ordering Agreement for the swift and cost effective acquisition of Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) satellite communications hardware, software, and services.

The Basic Ordering Agreement streamlines the process of acquisition of Newtec's COTS SATCOM products, a boon given the Company's status as a long term partner to NATO-affiliated government and defense organizations.

Newtec's portfolio of COTS products and solutions serve as the building blocks and turnkey systems of satellite networks used by government and defense customers. The large install base of the Company's satellite communications equipment enable government and defense operations to perform a broad range of applications.

The increasing number of airborne ISR missions and complex, bandwidth-intensive data collection equipment have contributed to the rapid growth of transmission rates, making optimization of data and video links optimizers even more important than before.

Newtec responded by designing its solutions to keep on adapting to changing transmission conditions. This ensures the successful delivery of mission critical data despite the degradation of signal quality due to signal fade. 

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Air Force issues contracts under Protected Milsatcom Design study

According to a recent announcement made by the US Air Force Space Command’s Space and Missile Systems Center, the USAF’s “Protected Milsatcom Design for Affordability Risk Reduction Demonstration Study” initiative has issued  more than 15 contracts for protected military satellite communications to big satellite manufacturers.

The goal of the USAF study is to find out if existing and/or narrowly modified commercial protected satellite communications systems can be used to support future protected Milsatcom needs in a cost-effective and affordable manner. The Protected Milsatcom study will cover concept development and component level demonstrations.

The USAF awarded contracts to Boeing, General Dynamics, General Dynamic Advanced Information Systems, Government Communications Systems, Harris, Hughes Network Systems, L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Markham Technology, Northrop Grumman, Orbital Sciences, Space Micro, Raytheon, Space Systems, and ViaSat. The study participants will be given until July 28, 2013 to complete their proposals for protected satellite communications systems.

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Astrium Services integrates SATCOM solution into Brazil Tetrapol radio networks

Cassidian and Astrium Services recently staged a live demonstration on how satellite communications could connect Tetrapol regional networks in Brazil. The two companies created an end-to-end communications solution to enhance Brazil's border surveillance capabilities and to show the advantages in combining SATCOM and digital radio communications.

Cassidian's Tetrapol professional mobile radio (PMR) networks provide secure radio communications to Brazil's Departamento de Polícia Federal (federal police force) and other government offices. Brazil operates nine Tetrapol regional wireless IP networks, which provide wireless communications coverage from the Atlantic coast to Brazil's borders with nine South American countries.

Terrestrial infrastructure usually links up Tetrapol regional networks. However, there are plenty of remote areas in Brazil that lack such connections.

Astrium Services provided its SKYWAN technology as a new way to connect several networks. DAMA technology allows networks to share bandwidth between all the nodes over satellite links.

The satellite solution's scalability will expand Tetrapol's service offerings, allowing them to be delivered through tactical temporary coverage as well as permanent regional coverage. And it will not be limited to Tetrapol's voice communication services.

The satellite link generated by Astrium's SKYWAY and DAMA technologies will provide access to Internet from satellite services and allow for numerous media applications and data transmission services.

SES-GS, US government enter custom SATCOM solutions contract

SES Government Solutions (SES-GS) has entered into a Custom SATCOM Solutions (CS2) contract from the U.S. Government. SES-GS will provide access to their custom network solutions capabilities and their fleet of communications satellites.

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) created CS2 contracts to serve as the third segment of the Future Commercial Services Acquisition (FCSA.) The CS2 will open up more avenues of access to satellite services for government customers.

Thanks to the CS2 contract, the U.S. Government can directly approach SES-GS for customized communications capability and solutions on the satellite operator's fleet of 51 communications platforms.

Eight CS2 contracts have been awarded so far. The U.S. government has set a total funding ceiling of USD 2.6 billion that will be spent over the next three years with options for two additional one-year periods.

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Sonalysts installs Wideband Global SATCOM simulator upgrades in two Air Force space trainers

Sonalysts, Inc. recently installed Release 1.0 of its Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) simulation in the Standard Space Trainer (SST) labs at Vandenberg AFB and Schriever AFB.

The WGS Release 1.0 training system is a Mission-Specific Vendor Plug-in (MSVP) application launched from the SST Architecture that trains crews and operators in ground operations and vehicle support for WGS communications satellites. Sonalysts installed it in the SSTs of the 533rd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, and the 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB.

The SST Architecture allows space system trainers to be built using a personal computer-based, commercial off-the-shelf hardware solution. The trainers are not forced to rely upon the actual hardware or software of the space system. In addition, new training systems deployed from the same SST Architecture can develop through a Software Development Kit package.

Sonalysts also installed the SST Architecture and the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) MSVP. The latter MSVP was already resident in the SST training labs. Thanks to these upgrades, the 533rd and 50th are the first sites where the SST Architecture is deploying MSVPs for two different satellite communications systems within a single training lab. 

Later this year, Sonalysts plans to install WGS Release 2.0 in the 533rd and 50th's respective SSTs. It will also further modify the SST Architecture and DSCS MSVP.

The SST upgrades are an important milestone in satellite operator training. Instructors will be able to link training sessions between different MSVPs and facilitate the cross-sharing of data in real-time in the same training exercise. Multiple crews will now be able to train interdependently for the first time.

Sonalysts performed these upgrades as part of its Small Business Innovation Research Phase 3 contract with the Department of the Air Force, Headquarters, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. The upgrade cost over over $20 million. Around 24 software engineers, software testers, training specialists, and Air Force subject-matter experts in Waterford, CT and Colorado Springs, CO helped develop the WGS program.

USAF awards $339 million to Boeing for new WGS-10 satellite

The U.S. Air Force likes what Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems is doing for the Wideband Global Satellite Communications program. So it’s modifying its contract and awarding Boeing an additional $338.7 million to build a tenth WGS military communications satellite.

As its name suggests, the planned WGS-10 will be the tenth member of the WGS system. Its new wideband digital channelizer gives it twice the satellite bandwidth compared to its predecessors’ configuration.

The USAF is procuring the WGS satellites through a commercial-style operating model. The new purchasing model saves significant amounts of money by streamlining processes, tests, and governmental oversight functions based on the developing maturity of the WGS production line.

Boeing’s production of the WGS satellites began in 2000. The first three satellites are in geosynchronous orbit, providing wideband communications to warfighters around the globe. WGS-4 was successfully launched in January 2012 and is currently being readied for operations. The next five satellites, 5 to 9, are currently in production, while number 10 has just been ordered by the USAF.

The Wideband Global satellite communications system provides 24/7/365 communication worldwide for U.S. warfighter through broadcast, multicast and point-to-point connections. It is the only system that can support X- and Ka-band communications at the same time, and its capability to crossband ensures transparent communication across terminal types. The three currently-operational satellites currently gathers and routes real-time data through more than 700 X-band, 3100 Ka-band, and 400 X/Ka-band terminals around the world.