Industry Latest

Global XpressPhoto: Inmarsat [Via Satellite 01-20-2015] Inmarsat Government has executed a service provider agreement with Globecomm Systems to supply Inmarsat Global Xpress service in support of U.S. government customers. Under the deal, Globecomm will offer comprehensive solutions involving network services, system integration, and end-user products and applications enabling a complete end-to-end solution for these customers. Inmarsat’s…

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket carrying the third Mobile User Objective System satellite. Photo: ULA [Via Satellite 01-21-2015] United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched the third Mobile User Objective System (MUOS 3) satellite for the U.S. Navy on Jan. 20 aboard an Atlas 5 rocket. The next-gen narrowband tactical communications satellite weighed…

Two Planet Labs satellites, known as Doves, deployed from the ISS. Photo: NanoRacks [Via Satellite 01-21-2015] Planet Labs, operator of a constellation of 73 small Earth observation satellites, has completed the first closing of the majority of its $70 million Series C round which, led by Data Collective, garnered support from both new and existing…

[Via Satellite 01-21-2015] Orbcomm has purchased InSync Software from the privately-held Identec Group AG, closing the acquisition on Jan. 16. InSync Software is a California-based provider of Internet of Things (IoT) enterprise solutions. The company’s software products are used in sensor-driven asset tracking and remote monitoring applications worldwide. Orbcomm plans to expand InSync’s uniform software platform from Radio-Frequency Identification…

A HughesNet Satellite Dish. Photo: Alan Levine [Via Satellite 01-21-2015] Hughes Network Systems has updated its Gen4 satellite Internet plans with Hughes SmartTechnologies, bringing improvements in downloading, browsing and data usage management. SmartTechnologies is comprised of four tools for improving the company’s satellite Internet offerings. SmartFetch reduces the number of “hops” needed to retrieve content,…

Natalya Brikner, CEO of Accion Systems. Photo: Accion Systems [Via Satellite 01-20-2015] Accion Systems, a startup company founded by graduate students from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Space Propulsion Lab, is preparing to commercialize a new miniaturized electric propulsion system for small satellites. Using an ionic liquid propellant, the company’s electric thrusters are expected to…

Artist’s rendition of a Boeing 702MP satellite. Photo: Boeing [Via Satellite 01-20-2015] New York Broadband (NYBB), operator of 12 Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) television channels in the United States, has ordered a high-powered L-band satellite from Boeing. Hong Kong-based CMMB Vision has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NYBB to lease all the capacity on the…

Boeing 737’s on the production line. Photo: Boeing [Via Satellite 01-20-2015] Global Eagle Entertainment’s (GEE) Ku-band satellite connectivity system provisions will now be offerable on new Boeing 737 airplanes — the most popular commercial aircraft offering. The two companies are working on line-fit installation feasibility for catalogue offering consideration. Airlines ordering new Boeing 737 airplanes will then have the option…

Telecom Cook Islands team. Photo: O3b [Via Satellite 01-20-2015] O3b Networks anticipates that its rollout of satellite services among Pacific Islands will surpass fiber for international connectivity to individual countries in 2015. As of January 2015, the company has contracted 5 Gbps of total capacity to the Pacific region, according to a statement. O3b cited…

Brig. Gen. Peter F. Hoene. Photo: U.S. Air Force [Via Satellite 01-20-2015] SES Government Solutions (SES GS) has appointed Brig Gen Peter Hoene USAF (Ret) as new president and CEO, effective March 2. Hoene succeeds current President and CEO Tip Osterthaler, who plans to retire after nine years with the company. Hoene joined SES GS…