October 2015

Skywan 5G. Photo: ND SatCom [Via Satellite 10-21-2015] ND SatCom has partnered with Ruag Defence to incorporate its new Skywan 5G VSAT modem in a portable manpack terminal into the Ruag Aranea Communication Solution. This cooperation gives Ruag Defence the ability to offer more advanced mobile terminal solutions to customers. ND SatCom’s Skywan 5G uses…

Maritime vessels rely heavily on satellite for communications out at sea. Photo: Bridget Coila (Flickr) [Via Satellite 10-20-2015] Orange Business Services is seeing a shift in the maritime sector toward greater use of satellite services. The company has experienced exponential growth over the last 18 months in maritime, according to Michel Verbist, director of business…

Intelsat US Administrative Headquarters: Photo: Intelsat [Via Satellite 10-20-2015] Intelsat Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Michael McDonnell is leaving Intelsat to accept a CFO position at another public company. McDonnell’s resignation is effective mid-December. As CFO at Intelsat, McDonnell has been responsible for the company’s financial operations, including the accounting, treasury, financial planning, tax, investor relations,…

Iridium’s satellite Network Operating Center (NOC). Photo: Iridium [Via Satellite 10-20-2015] Iridium has completed its first voice and data ground test call over the next-generation Iridium Certus broadband network, currently under development. The test demonstrated the service using the prototype Iridium Certus Broadband Core Transceiver (BCX) module, processed through an updated Iridium Next satellite undergoing testing…

Photo: ETL Systems [Via Satellite 10-20-2015] Satellite Radio Frequency (RF) distribution equipment company ETL Systems has provided carrier monitoring switches to SatSignature, an online global enterprise satellite monitoring service. SatSignature allows users access to real-time satellite spectrums, enabling them to get live feeds of any satellite at any time over the Internet. The product will…

Globecast Digital Satellite Newsgathering trucks. Photo: NovelSat [Via Satellite 10-20-2015] Globecast has ordered NovelSat NS3 products for use in distributing video from major events worldwide by satellite. Globecast is a global company that distributes video from live news and sporting events in Standard Definition (SD), High Definition (HD) and 4K. The company is now adding…

FirstNet’s Oct. 1 to 2, 2015 board meeting. Photo: FirstNet [Via Satellite 10-19-2015] Leadership forming the U.S. First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) is encouraging satellite companies to step up and play a role in building the nationwide public safety network. Representatives from FirstNet said Oct. 2 in a conference call with media that in order…

Rodolphe Belmer, future CEO of Eutelsat. Photo Rémy Cortin [Via Satellite 10-19-2015] Eutelsat CEO Michel de Rosen has informed the company’s board of directors of his intent to step down from his current role as of March 2016. Following this transition, he will remain in the role of non-executive chairman of the board of directors…

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rollout. Photo: SpaceX [Via Satellite 10-19-2015] Orbcomm and SpaceX have announced plans to launch the remaining 11 satellites in the Orbcomm Second Generation (OG2) constellation within the next six to eight weeks. The launch will take place from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station using an upgraded Falcon 9 rocket. The second…

APT Satellite launches Apstar 9 on a Long March 3B/E rocket. Photo: APT Satellite [Via Satellite 10-19-2015] APT Satellite launched Apstar 9, its replacement satellite for Apstar 9A, on Oct. 17 aboard a Long March 3B/E rocket. Apstar 9 is based on China Great Wall Industry Corp.’s (CGWIC) DFH-4 series platform and carries 39.5 C-band 36…