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.

SatCom Global's Horizon satellite communications terminal had hit significant growth milestones set by SCG's owner, One Horizon Group Plc., for the first half of 2012.

A recent announcement by One Horizon Group detailed the Horizon terminal's milestones. Horizon has processed over 67,000 pre-paid voice minutes and transferred 4GB of data in June. Furthermore, Horizon satellite communications units saved 14GB of data for its maritime customers through optimization, which was more than 75 percent compared to rival Inmarsat terminals. Horizon had also achieved a monthly voice growth of 68 to 92 percent throughout Q2 2012.

“Horizon’s substantial growth validates it has gained visibility with crew in the maritime industry," said Sandy Johnson, COO, SatCom Global, "and that they recognize the value that Horizon offers. Through the affordability that Horizon’s optimisation provides crew members have also been able to increase their time spent online by 59%.”

Maritime industry crewmen often stay isolated for long periods of time. The capacity to keep in touch with family and friends through cost-effective satellite communications would drastically increase morale and work efficiency.

SCG's Horizon satcom terminal puts mobile and fixed satellite network bandwidth to efficient use. Its optimisation technology uses as little as 20% data than other VoIP services and saves more of 20,000 bytes per website viewed. By making voice and data services more efficient, Horizon significantly reduces crew communications costs.

Horizon also allows crew members to track their call and surf expenditures. And gone are the days when crew needed to wait in a queue; Horizon uses an IP link to enable up to eight simultaneous calls.

SatCom Global's Horizon terminal empowers ship owners with the ability to provide voice and data services to their crew for morale purposes at an affordable price. SCG's SmartPacket technology allows VoIP using only 2kbps. Other VoIP services require around 8kpbs. Horizon extends the same optimizition to other data applications, resulting in compressed email, internet on satellite, and instant messaging services.

VA-208 dual satcom payload undergo last preparations

As of July 23, 2012, Ariane Flight VA-208's satellite passengers are undergoing last preparations for their August 2 launch mission.

The French Guiana-located Spaceport’s S5B dual-function hall is hosting the HYLAS 2 satellite. At the time of this writing, the satellite has received its propellant, which it will use to maneuver itself once in orbit. Manufactured by Orbital Sciences Corporation on behalf of satellite communications company Avanti Communications, HYLAS 2's cutting-edge Ka-band technology will deliver high-speed, low-cost two-way data communications. The Ka-band satellite can direct 24 fixed beams and one steerable beam to provide data capacity to rapidly-expanding African, Middle Eastern, and Caucasus markets.

HYLAS 2's companion, the Intelsat 20 platform, has already been mounted on its adapter interface with the Ariane 5 rocket. Built by Space Systems/Loral for satellite communications company Intelsat, the C-band / Ku-band satellite specializes in delivering high-power distribution of video, voice, and data network services using legacy C-band and Ku-band payload. This spacecraft will replace the earlier, co-located Intelsat 7 and Intelsat 10 communications satellites.

The upcoming Arianespace Flight VA-208 will be the 208th mission of an Ariane family vehicle. Commission by satellite communication companies Intelsat and Avanti, VA-208 will also be the fourth mission for the heavy-lift Ariane 5 for this year.

American Red Cross deploys GRT's mobile field-data solution for Colorado wildfire

The American Red Cross (ARC) used Global Relief Technologies' Rapid Data Management System (RDMS) technology solution to coordinate ARC field workers participating in support and relief efforts during the Colorado Wildfires.

RDMS is a leading mobile data collection, management, and analysis solution used by various agencies, the US military, non-government organizations like the ARC, and other countries. Suzanne Bresette, Executive Vice President of GRT, explained that "We at GRT know the use of RDMS by the American Red Cross will help ARC provide needed support and aid much faster to the unfortunate victims of the disaster caused by the Colorado Wildfires."

Investigators are still studying the possible cause of the Colorado Wildfires. The state has spent over $9 million to battle the wildfires, which started on June 23. More than 100,000 acres across the state had been devastated, and many residents were forced to evacuate their homes. In just one of the neighborhoods overrun by Colorado's most destructive wildfire, a total of more than $110 million worth of homes had been destroyed. The Denver Post reported that actual losses will probably run much higher during the final estimate.

There was a bright spot in the ash-filled gloom. The American Red Cross was able to effectively coordinate and direct its field workers through the use of Global Relief Technologies' Rapid Data Management System. RDMS had already been proven its worth during earlier emergency response and disaster relief efforts to areas affected by hurricanes, tornados, and floods.

ARC collects Damage Assessments of the scenario via RDMS. The data is saved and then combined with geo-location information that maps the data. The resulting map is used to determine the extent of damage dealt by a disaster to a geographic area as well as to ascertain the severity of structural damage.

In addition, RDMS can use any number of map overlays to enhance the user's situational awareness by displaying access points, rights of way, weather, and other salient points. Satellite imagery from GRT's partner GeoEye, in particular, can be used to great effect.

Particular features found in Global Relief Technologies' RDMS include an intuitive graphical user interface, 100% real-time two way communication, a Workflow Rules & Computation Engine that validates structured data and improves accuracy during the collection process, and Global Positioning System (GPS) & Geographic Information System (GIS) integrated mapping capabilities. RDMS also has the capacity to work in a connected and/or disconnected environment, is easily reconfigured to the specific needs of individual users, and ensures high levels of security.

RDMS can also keep Emergency Response, Disaster Recovery Teams, and Military Operations connected 24/7 through the use of Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) satellite communications. This is critical because wireless, and other modes of connection are often unavailable during a natural disaster.

EM Solutions wins bid with Japan for KIZUNA-compatible SOTM system

EM Solutions and its Tokyo-based partner, Jepico Corporation, will provide Japan with the Satellite on the Move (SOTM) system, which -in combination with the planned W.I.N.D.S. (KIZUNA) Ka-band communications satellite- can ensure unbroken satellite communications and broadband during disasters.

The two partner companies won a bid with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan’s national research institute on information and communications. Their SOTM system will ensure steady communications with the newest Ka-band broadband satellites (such as KIZUNA) even in the roughest conditions, such as stormy seas or off-road.

More than 21 meters in length with solar panels fully extended and massing 2.7 tons, KIZUNA will be placed at an altitude of approximately 36,000km at the 143 degrees East slot. It will provide super high-speed data communications with download speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps for government organizations, companies, and even private civilian users.

EM Solutions first developed its SOTM technology with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) through the former's links with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO.) According to Dr. Rowan Gilmore, EM Solutions CEO, the ADF asked the DSTO to provide a mounted battle command on-the-move satellite communications system. The end result was a very tough terminal that could maintain vital communications and supply troops with high-quality, broadband information even in the worst driving conditions.

According to Dr. Gilmore, SOTM can be easily mounted on a vehicle, driven to the location of a natural disaster, and deployed to provide a mobile communication facility on site. SOTM can support vital communications during times when everything else breaks down.

The recent Great East Japan earthquakes, aftershocks, and accompanying tsunami disrupted terrestrial communications networks throughout affected regions of Japan. The dearth of communications severely disrupted early-warning, rescue, and relief efforts that relied on those disabled ground stations.

Japan's WINDS OTM system is intended to maintain high-speed broadband communications even when terrestrial networks are down. EM Solution's SOTM platform will be one of many systems that can tap KIZUNA's capacities in order to coordinate disaster relief operations.

NewSat's Ball Plans Growth and Jabiru

NewSat’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), David Ball, an executive focusing on scientific and technological issues within the organization, features in APB’s Satellite Special. He discusses the big changes within the satellite industry, as well as news that shakes and shapes the market.

Ball sketches out three growth areas and threats to the satellite market. Aside from that, he also provides an update on the Jabiru Satellite Program’s fleet of Ka band satellites.

NewSat is to date the largest independent  provider of satellite communications/communications satellite (COMSAT) or artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications in the Commonwealth of Australia, a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.   

Newsat provides coverage to 75.5% of the Earth’s surface, including their satellites, VSATs (very small aperture terminals), a two-way satellite ground station or a stabilized maritime VSAT antenna with a dish antenna that is smaller than three meters, and teleports (telecommunications port), a satellite ground station with multiple parabolic antennas (i.e., an antenna farm) that functions as a hub connecting a satellite or geocentric orbital network with a terrestrial telecommunications network.

See: 'Voyager 1' Mission Profile: Exploration of Jupiter

NewSat, Australia's Satellite Company

NewSat Limited (ASX: NWT) is Australia’s largest specialist satellite communications company, delivering Internet, voice, data and video communications via satellite. With its unique-to-Australia Teleport infrastructure, NewSat provides a full range of managed satellite communication services and has established a reputation as the partner of choice for governments, corporations and private enterprises. Today, NewSat has the ability to provide coverage to 75% of the globe; from Australia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, across the Indian Ocean extending into Europe and across the Pacific Ocean, reaching into the West coast of the USA.


NewSat’s world acclaimed Teleports in Perth (Western Australia) and Adelaide (South Australia) were Top 3 Finalists in the World Teleport Association’s 2012 and 2010 “Awards for Excellence” and made the 2011 “Top Operator Rankings”. Both Teleports are accredited to supply services to the Australian Department of Defence (DRSS) and are recognised as highly secure Global Access Points, supporting certified classified networks to ensure the transmission of vital and sensitive information for government clients.


NewSat will be expanding its satellite capabilities with the Jabiru Satellite Program, beginning with the launch and operation of Jabiru-1, Australia’s first independently owned commercial satellite. Jabiru-1, a large Ka- band next generation satellite, will provide superior coverage over South East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Jabiru-2, also scheduled, will deliver enhanced coverage in and around Australia. NewSat has rights to eight premium orbital slots and its fleet of next generation geostationary satellites will lead Australia’s space quest. 

Diggers and Dealers' 20th

On its 20th anniversary, the Diggers & Dealers Forum is going to meet on August 6-8, 2012 at the Goldfields Arts Centre, Cheetham Street, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. They are bringing together again miners, suppliers and the investment community as the industry continues to grow, with Australia leading in the mining sector.

NewSat, Australia’s largest satellite provider, will be among the 150 exhibitors at this year’s event. With the continuing focus on the reduction of overhead costs and the increase of margins, satellite communications are helping to deliver savings for mine site operations and staff welfare. The company delivers fast and reliable Internet, voice, data and video conferencing to remote mining sites, not only increasing operational efficiencies, but also helping mining companies attract and retain the best staff through the provision of five-star in-room entertainment systems via satellite.

See: The Exploration of Saturn

Thuraya, T-Mobile team up to provide roaming service in US

International mobile satellite services operator Thuraya Telecommunications Company partnered with American mobile operator T-Mobile, USA Inc. to establish its roaming service in the US.

Thuraya's mobile service in the US began on July 12. Subscribers can now use their Thuraya mobile numbers to roam throughout T-Mobile's US network, which covers 96 percent of the American population. They can also now make and take calls as well as text messages (SMS.) T-Mobile will later enable Thuraya's GmPRS roaming service on its network.

Thuraya will also deploy its latest and the most advanced satellite phone, the Thuraya XT-DUAL, to complement its roaming service. Featuring both satellite and GSM capabilities, the handheld allows users to alternate between the Thuraya satellite network and the locally-available GSM networks. The XT-DUAL handset also supports Tri-Band GSM frequencies, allowing it to be used in the US and Canada.

Mr. Tarek Shqairat, Director of Inter-Carrier Relations, Thuraya Telecommunications Company, explained that its roaming service partnerships ensure subscribers enjoy constant coverage even in places outside the Thuraya satellite network. "With more than 350 roaming partners worldwide," Mr. Shqairat said, "Thuraya is the only satellite operator offering roaming services over GSM networks." He added that "This facility is particularly beneficial to travelers who want to remain connected all the time."

Thuraya provides satellite communications solutions to customers from more than 140 countries all across the world. Its partner, T-Mobile USA, Inc, is part of Deutsche Telecom AG, one of the world's largest telecommunications companies.

The C Band Interference

There is one issue that refuses to go away for the satellite industry. It is the C band interference.

ABS’s Chief Operating Officer Scott Sprague said “C band Wi-max issues and interference are always a worry.” He said that the satellite is used for lifeline-like services and then there is also the economic impact.

SES World Skies’s Senior Vice-President Deepak Mathur at SES agreed: “C band is an enormous issue and will be an ongoing issue. We have to remember 98% of video content in Asia is delivered by C band.”

The C band is the name given to certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum which includes wavelengths of microwaves that are used for long distance radio telecommunications. The IEEE C band (4 GHz to 8 GHz) and its slight variations contains frequency ranges that are used for many satellite communications transmissions, some WiFi devices, some cordless telephones, and some weather radar systems.

The microwave frequencies of this band perform better under adverse weather conditions in comparison with others, especially Ku band (11.2 GHz tyo 14.5 GHz) microwave frequencies which are used by another large set of communication satellites. The adverse weather conditions, collectively referred to a rain fade, all have to do with moisture in the air, including rain and snow. 

See: 'Voyager 1': Pre-Voyager Mission Interstellar Mission Profile

SkyTrac ISAT-200 provides flight following for AES

Helicopters of Canadian company Airborne Energy Solutions will no longer drop out of the communications loop, not with SkyTrac's ISAT-200 flight following system keeping track of their location every second they're in the air.

Headquartered in Whitecourt, Alberta, AES deploys helicopters to remote locations with limited or non-existentent communications coverage and infrastructure. The lack of reliable communications made flight following difficult and ineffective, as well as creating a void in operational safety.

AES therefore sought out a flight following vendor to bridge this gap in their capabilities. The company eventually selected SkyTrac's ISAT-200, a flight following/satellite communications system which is AFF-approved and certified by Transport Canada, FAA, and EASA.

As a result of installing the ISAT-200  system in all of their aircraft, AES has seen a dramatic improvement in operational efficiency and safety, especially with late check-in situations.

AES company dispatchers now employ a text messaging procedure with regards to real-time flight following. When a late check in occurs, dispatchers can take several options to ensure that pilots and passengers are safe. They can also quickly find out if the situation is an actual emergency that needs immediate response.

ISAT-200 also collects and stores information that may be of use during incident investigations. This makes it easier for AES to ascertain what went wrong during an accident and what to fix.

NewSat Towards the World

NewSat, Australia’s largest satellite communications company, is providing vital communications for Australian Defence personnel located in far-flung places. They are also now preparing to launch its very own communications satellite.

Mike Keneally, Vice-President of Satellite Strategy, speaks to Grant Smith about the company’s Government Accredited Adelaide and Perth teleports, the services the Teleports provide Australian and US Defence Force personnel and Jabiru-1, Australia’ first locally owned commercial satellite.

See: ‘Voyager 1′ Before the Voyager Interstellar Mission

Americas, Key for Growth for NewSat?

"Are the Americas a key growth area for NewSat, and what is in store for NewSat for the rest of 2012?"

The line above is a question asked by Milsatmagazine (MSM) on an interview with Diego Paldao, NewSat's Senior Director-Americas. He said that the Americas region will certainly benefit from NewSat's global plans as they are planning to expand their presence in the region to support the growing demand from clients based in the Americas in general, and specifically the United States.

"NewSat has tremendous flexibility today in structuring agreements that help our clients start a new business or service so that we can grow together. Clients serving a growing market such as Latin America can certainly benefit from our partnership approach," Paldao said.

According to him, it is a very exciting time for NewSat: Lockheed Martin is several months into the build of Jabiru-1 and Jabiru-2, a hosted payload with MEASAT and will launch next year; and further satellites like Jabiru-3, Jabiru-4, and Jabiru-5 are being designed and are well underway to determining the best use of their remaining orbiting slots.

NewSat is to date the largest independent provider of satellite communications/communications satellite (COMSAT) or artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications in the Commonwealth of Australia, a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Newsat provides coverage to 75.5% of the Earth's surface, including their satellites, VSATs (very small aperture terminals), a two-way satellite ground station or a stabilized maritime VSAT antenna with a dish antenna that is smaller than three meters, and teleports (telecommunications port), a satellite ground station with multiple parabolic antennas (i.e., an antenna farm) that functions as a hub connecting a satellite or geocentric orbital network with a terrestrial telecommunications network.

See: Diego Paldao and NewSat

SOS: Radio Officers needed in the satcom era?

Is there the possibility that the long-defunct position of radio officer might come back in this age of computerization and satellite communications?

The last time anyone saw a ship's radio officer was probably during the 'Titanic' movie, which got re-released in 3D format quite recently. The ill-fated ship's two radio officers, Jack Phillips and Harold Bride, kept sending emergency and SOS signals up until the radio shack got flooded.

A radio officer, by the way, was an employee of a radio company like Marconi or RCA, who handled radio equipment leased to ships. Also called radio operators, they were considered outsiders by the crew, who called them "Sparks" because their early radio transmitters were crude, low-frequency "spark gap" transmitters.

For decades, radio officer and their transmitters were almost the only means a ship had to maintain communication with shore or other ships. "Sparks" and his brethren handled all communication to and from the ship. He also monitored VHF conversations that were used in bridge-to-bridge communications. He even the use of the ship's radar, because radar used radio pulses. So radar operators had to log their uses in the radio log for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC,) which mandated that all radio communications be recorded.

In fact, a radio officer was so important that regulations forbade a ship from sailing without one. This led to at least one incident of a radio officer who would leave the ship right before it was ready to sail. The mischievous officer would then listen to the ship's crew beg him to return, and wait until he was satisfied with their show of obeisance before returning to his radio shack.

But the proliferation of computers and other electronic technology -especially satellite communications gear- has rendered the radio officer position superfluous. Satellite and broadband communications equipment allow a modern-day ship to easily maintain clear contact with shore. And computer automation could perform the radio officer's many myriad tasks faster and more accurately.

So it was an irony that, during June's GVF Conference on Broadband Maritime in London, a conference participant thought that the defunct position of radio officer still existed. (Perhaps that person could be forgiven; the 3D re-release of 'Titanic' was quite popular.)

Previously, two presenters for major maritime companies had complained that their VSAT systems did not work as advertised. The first presenter, Demetris Makaritis, Fleet Manager, Navigator Gas, said that his VSAT systems didn't work more often than not. He found out that the VSAT systems procured by his company were not compatible with the requirements of his business.

The second presenter, Kaushik Roy, DPA and Company Security Officer for MOL LNG, complained that VSAT was not only unreliable, but also that he couldn't contact the ship if the crew was using the entirety of the ship's VSAT and Fleet Broadband capacity. The solution: Traffic prioritization. The new problem? The MOL LNG crew apparently did not know how to prioritize traffic.

The aforementioned conference participant expressed his curiosity on why the radio officer was not involved in the VSAT purchase. The participant presumed that the radio officer would know the technical requirements for a ship's communication needs. Kuba Szymanski of Intermanager had to inform the participant that radio officers were essentially as extinct as the dinosaurs.

Satellite Markets & Research writer Eliisabeth Tweedie, who covered the GVF Conference on Broadband Maritime, proposed that satcom vendors consider recruiting retired radio officers as advisors. She noted that the conference covered cases where vendors apparently did not understand the unique needs of their customers, who in turn didn't understand the capabilities -and limitations- of satellite communications.

Radio officers  made a living on organizing and ensuring maritime communications during an age when a single missed message might mean "Iceberg, straight ahead!" They can advise vendors and buyers alike about the basic principles of ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communications, like traffic prioritization. "Sparks" and company might not understand what SkyNet is made of, but they know what those newfangled computers do. That used to be their job; it used to be an art.

VSAT History

The concept of the geostationary orbit was originated by Russian theorist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, an Imperial Russian and Soviet rocket scientist and pioneer of the astronautic theory. He wrote articles in space travel at the turn of the century. 

In the 1920s, Hermann Oberth and Herman Potocnik, aka Herman Noordung, described an orbit at an altitude of 35,900 kilometers. Its orbital period, or the time for it to make one complete orbit about another object, exactly matched the Earth’s rotational period, making it appear to hover a fixed point on the Earth’s equator. 

Arthur C. Clarke contributed to the understanding of satellites through an article published in Wireless World in October 1945 titled “Extra-Terrestrial Relays: Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?” In this article, Clarke not only determines the orbital characteristics/elements, or the parameters required to uniquely identify a specific orbit, necessary for a geostationary orbit, but also discusses the frequencies and power needed for communications. 

Live satellite communications was developed in the sixties by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), named Syncom 1-3. It is transmitted live coverage of the 1964 Olympics in Japan to viewers in the United States and Europe. Soon after, on April 6, 1965, the first commercial satellite was launched into space, Intelsat I, nicknamed Early Bird. 

The first commercial VSATs were C band (6 GHz) receive-only systems by Equatorial Communications using spread spectrum technology. More than 30,000 60 cm antenna systems were sold in the early 1980s. Equatorial later developed a C band (4/6 GHz) two-way system using 1 m x 0.5 m antennas and sold about 10,000 units in 1984-85. 

In 1985, Schlumberger Oilfield Research co-developed the world’s first Ku band (12-14 GHz) VSATs with Hughes Aerospace to provide portable network connectivity for the oil field drilling and exploration units. Ku Band VSATs make up the vast majority of sites in use today for data or telephony applications. The largest VSAT network (more than 12,000 sites) was developed by Spacenet and MCI for the US Postal Service.

See: SDI is No "Star Wars"

Ku Band Platforms to be Launched by RRsat on AMOS-5 Satellite Over Africa

One of the leading providers of global, end-to-end content management and distribution services, RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd., is now expanding to radio and television broadcasting industries. To support the expansion, RRsat has teamed up with SpaceCom to deliver high-powered Ku band, MCPC platforms via the Amos 5 satellite. The development will see an increase in the direct-to-home capacity content to Sub-Saharan Africa. 

SpaceCom's Amos 5 has been delivering Ku-band, as well as C-band capacity to the entire African continent. The company's plans to be multi-regional satellite operator is also supported by the upcoming projects like AMOS-4 in 2013 with coverage over Russia and South Asia, and AMOS-6 in 2014 with coverage over Europe and the Middle East.

International point-to-point businesses have declined and the satellite industry is now investing more on DTH services. RRsat's new Ku band, MCPC platforms will deliver powerful beams and greater coverage to the African continent, providing the needed infrastructure to meet the increasing TV viewing demand in the continent. 

"The African market for broadcast television is growing rapidly," said Lior Rival, VP Sales & Marketing at RRsat. "Together with AMOS, we believe that with these platforms we will be able to provide leading TV and radio channels the opportunity to reach a continent demanding new television viewing. RRsat is able to cost-effectively bring content from Europe, Asia and the Americas for DTH distribution.

Aside from Ku band, the newest spectrum called Ka band is also emerging in the Asian and Australian regions. It's greater capacity and ability to complement existing Ku band services are being seen as the future of a satellite industry facing challenges like limited orbital slots and frequencies. 

SES uses Trilogy Mercury system to coordinate stations

Satellite operator SES will be coordinating mission critical activities throughout its international operations and tracking stations through the Mercury multi-site IP communications system by Trilogy Communications.

SES's fleet of 50 satellites provide high-bandwidth communication links anywhere in the world. Broadcasters, companies, individuals, governments, and international institutions rely upon SES for fast and secure telecommunications, satellite broadband, and network connectivity needs.

Controlling this fleet are a total of nine Spacecraft Operations Centres (SOCs) and Telemetry, Tracking and Control (TT&C) Stations. The stations are found in the USA, Canada, Luxemburg, Gibraltar, Mexico, and Belgium. The large amount of data exchanged between these SOCs and TT&Cs require highly robust communications, which is delivered by Trilogy's Mercury system.

Mercury uses industry-standard IP connections to link SES' SOCs and TT&Cs together. Operators on either end gain the capability to communicate freely during routine operations such as repositioning the satellites, setting up ground systems, and planned and unplanned maintenance.

A Mercury Interface Unit (MIU) has been installed at each of the nine SES SOCs and TT&Cs to facilitate the connections. Because of the critical nature of the operations they support, Trilogy added a dual redundant power supply and a second standby unit to each MIU.

Mercury operator positions feature a 16 Key communications panel that allows latching or non-latching participation in one-to-one, group, or conference calls. The PC-based Mercury Configuration Editor eases the task of configuring all these groups and conferences.

Mercury also provides a Quick Response (QRS) key which stores the number of the last person to call a panel, and audio recording through a Stancil VoIP Network Recorder that can be accessed from a back-up or live from any point on the network. The recording option can be configured to match current or planned operations. These features will pay significant dividends in improving SES’s communications capability and overall operational efficiency.

Avanti hires MDA for HYLAS 3 satellite broadband payload

Information solutions provider MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) signed a CA$35 million contract with U.K. satellite company Avanti Communications Group plc. MDA will design and build a Ka-band broadband communications payload solution for Avanti's HYLAS 3 satellite.

Avanti's HYLAS 3 satellite will deliver high-capacity, high-speed data communications services to Africa and the Middle East. This includes numerous satellite communications and broadband services. Avanti expects a 2015 launch.

Avanti selected MDA to work on its HYLAS 3 payload due to the Canadian company's expertise in Ka-band multi-beam solutions. "MDA is delighted to begin work on HYLAS 3," said Don Osborne, MDA Vice President, "To leverage its world-class Ka-band satellite technology in support of Avanti's continued growth and success."

FCC-CAF funds Frontier Communications to bring broadband to rural America

The Federal Communications Commission provided $71.9 million to Frontier Communications for the purpose of speeding up the provision of satellite broadband services to rural America.

The FCC drew the funds from its Connect America Fund. With the assistance of companies like Frontier, the CAF aimed to ameliorate the lack of broadband services in the rural US.

Accepting the funding from the CAF committed Frontier to delivering broadband service to an additional 92,876 households. This will ensure rural customers in states such as Michigan, Oregon, Washington, and West Virginia gain access to broadband connectivity.

Frontier had earlier taken the initiative to deploy and enhance broadband connectivity in underserved or un-served areas. The company has privately spend more than $1.5 billion over the last two years to provide rural America with an advanced satellite communications network.

Currently, 18 million Americans live in rural areas. They have no access to affordable and robust satellite broadband infrastructure.

Frontier Communications provides broadband services to nearly 80% of households within 27 states. In addition to expanding its coverage area, Frontier also aims to boost broadband speeds throughout its entire network.

NewSat's Paldao on His Ka-Band Perception

"We are not trying to be all things to all people, but certain application such as ISR are an ideal fit for Ka-band." - Diego Paldao

Milsatmagazine (MSM) asked Diego Paldao, NewSat's Senior Director-Americas on his opinion about Ka-band, the one which covers the frequencies of 26.5-40 GHz, in the middle of all the varied perception.

Paldao said that Ka-band is the next generation of satellite technology as there's some forward thinking companies like: ViaSat, a DBS distributor and TV broadcaster, owned by Swedish media conglomerate Modern Times Group; DIRECTV, an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California; SES, a global satellite owner and operator based in Betzdorf, Luxembourg and is listed in the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol SESG; and EchoStar Corporation, a technology company that is the owner and maintainer of the satellite fleet for closely affiliated Dish Network. These companies have been promoting and leveraging Ka-band capabilities for some time already. He believes that in the very near future, Ka-band will be more mature and understood in many new sectors.

"I think we will see a higher proliferation of Ka-band terminals due to higher demand, which will help drive down costs and standardize design, just like we saw with Ku-band," he said.

NewSat is to date the largest independent provider of satellite communications/communications satellite (COMSAT) or artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications in the Commonwealth of Australia, a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Newsat provides coverage to 75.5% of the Earth's surface, including their satellites, VSATs (very small aperture terminals), a two-way satellite ground station or a stabilized maritime VSAT antenna with a dish antenna that is smaller than three meters, and teleports (telecommunications port), a satellite ground station with multiple parabolic antennas (i.e., an antenna farm) that functions as a hub connecting a satellite or geocentric orbital network with a terrestrial telecommunications network.

In 1987, NewSat was founded by its CEO Adrian Ballintine and the co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation, an American multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, United States, that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services related to computing, Paul Allen, an American investor and philanthropist. The company started as a multimedia business. It survived the dotcom crash/bubble (also referred as the "Internet bubble" and the "Information Technology Bubble"), a historic speculative bubble covering roughly 1995-2000 (with a climac on March 10, 2000, with the NASDAQ peaking at 5132.52 in intraday trading before closing at 50048.62) during which stock markets in industrialized nations saw their equity value rise from growth in the Internet sector and related fields, to evolve into a fully-fledged satellite communications company. Most NewSat customers are located in Australia, the Middle East, a region that encompasses Western Asia and all of or part of Northern Africa, depending on the context; Africa is the world's second largest and second-most-populous continent, after Asia.

See: "Voyager 1" Mission Background: Scientific Instruments

ITSO receives new mandate, Ugandan President pleads for affordable satellite communications

Last week, Ugandan President Yoweri Museven expressed his hopes that the International Telecommunication Satellite Organisation could use its recently-renewed mandate to make satellite communications services more affordable for landlocked countries.

The Daily Monitor reported that a week-long 35th ITSO Assembly of Parties took place in Kampala, Uganda. Representatives from 85 countries unanimously voted that the ITSO receive another eight-year mandate to oversee, regulate, and ensure price control of global satellite services.


The Assembly participants relied upon the ITSO to shield its member states from exploitation. This went double for landlocked countries like Uganda, which were far more reliant upon satellite communications.

In a speech read on his behalf, President Museven said that Uganda and other landlocked were concerned with the high cost of satellite communications. The Ugandan statesman asked ITSO to come up with ways to decrease the cost of satellite communications services for developing countries.

Most nations make heavy use of submarine cables for high-speed, bandwidth-heavy communications. Uganda and at least 26 other countries are landlocked, however. Their difficulties in accessing those cables and the expense of alternative satellite communications systems have resulted in very irregular and unreliable communications within those nations, which negatively impacted business and slowed down economic development.

Australian Satellite Communications Leading the Pack

Australian satellite communications has seen tremendous growth over the years, and it hasn't gone unrecognized. In the Satellite 2012 event in Washington, the Australian Ambassador to the United States, Kim Beazley hosted an evening to recognize the outstanding achievements of the satellite communications industry down-under.

As the forefront of space technology shift from the Americas and Europe to the Asia-Pacific region, satellite operators in Australia have taken the opportunity to lead the changes. Case in point, the independent satellite operator NewSat.

Over the years, NewSat has transformed itself from a communications company into the leading independent satellite operator in the country since it's acquisition of world-class Teleport facilities in Adelaide and Perth in 2005. With these assets, NewSat rallied behind improved services to deliver high-quality satellite capacity to both enterprise and government consumers. Now, services like VoIP, satellite broadband, terrestrial backhaul, and private corporate networks are more accessible to the Australian community. 

Presently, the company is riding a wave of positive feedback as it offers wireless communications services to various industries. This include providing mission critical communications for the US Military in the Middle East; communications solutions to government departments like the DFAT and NSW fire brigade; and providing the entertainment solutions via satellite communications in remote mining locations.

Just recently, NewSat celebrated a milestone with the completion of its Jabiru-1 Satellite - part of the Jabiru Satellite Program - by Lockheed Martin. The high-powered Ka band capacity satellite has been designed to meet the demand for the spectrum across South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Ka band offers unique advantages over the usual C band and allows a technology which can be combined even with present Ku band services.

With the focus of the satellite industry on direct-to-home service increasing, expect that the demand for Ka band will also grow, and along with it, a robust sector being led by operators in Australia.