March 2015

TSGN serves more than 150 Malaysian corporations and multi-national companies. Photo: TS Global Networks [Via Satellite 03-03-2015] Malaysia’s largest VSAT technology provider TS Global Networks (TSGN) has selected Hughes Network Systems’ Jupiter System for its existing C-band satellite network. The Jupiter system is typically used for Ka-band High Throughput Satellite (HTS) services, however TSGN has…

Photo: EAI Design Services [Via Satellite 03-03-2015] ViaSat has purchased EAI Design Services, grafting its expertise in high-speed, low-power secure space-based Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) and Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) microprocessor design into satellite and cybersecurity projects. EAI Design staff is joining ViaSat, with founder Emil Isaakian spearheading the integration of the company’s technology into…

Comtech EF Data;s CDM-760 trunking modem. Photo: Comtech EF Data [Via Satellite 03-03-2015] Customers of Comtech EF Data have begun using O3b Networks’ Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) High Throughput Satellite (HTS) system. The customers are using Comtech’s CDM-760 advanced high-speed trunking modem for fast, low latency services. According to Comtech EF Data, products currently deployed…

Iridium’s Satellite Network Operating Center (SNOC). Photo: Iridium [Via Satellite 03-02-2015] Iridium has signed agreements with four different terminal manufacturers — and has tentative plans for a fifth — for its upcoming broadband service, Iridium Certus. The operator aims to provide data speeds for a single user terminal reaching 1.4 Mbps with this service. The…

Digital rendering of coverage from OneWeb’s future satellite constellation. Photo: OneWeb [Via Satellite 03-02-2015] Honeywell Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with OneWeb to provide aircraft equipment and airtime services to OneWeb’s planned satellite constellation. Under the agreement, Honeywell will provide business jet, commercial airline and military aviation customers with aircraft hardware and airtime…

Tata Sky dishes. Photo: David Brossard (Flickr) [Via Satellite 03-02-2015] Indian Direct-to-Home (DTH) operator Tata Sky has initiated its first 4K broadcasts in the subcontinent. The company launched its 4K Set-Top-Box (STB) this January in advance of the 2015 Cricket World Cup. Taking place from Feb. 14 to March 29, 2015, this is the first…

Airservices air traffic control tower at Melbourne Airport. Photo:Airservices Australia [Via Satellite 03-02-2015] AirServices Australia has teamed with Inmarsat and other aviation stakeholders to trial improved flight tracking services on commercial airline flights to and from the country. The announcement follows an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) resolution on Feb. 6 to adopt a new…

Radomes at Buckley Air Force Base. Photo: Airman Emily E. Amyotte/USAF [Via Satellite 03-02-2015] The United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) completed a three-day test of the Increment 2 ground system for the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS). SMC and the 460 Space Wing, operator of the SBIRS missile warning satellites demonstrated…

SpaceX’s 16th Falcon 9 mission carrying satellites for Eutelsat and ABs/ Photo: SpaceX [Via Satellite 03-02-2015] At 10:50 p.m. EST March 1, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the ABS 3A satellite for Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) and the Eutelsat 115 West B satellite for Eutelsat. The two Boeing-built, all-electric spacecraft launched as a…

NovelSat chart comparing the NovelSat NS4 waveform to DVB-S2. Photo: NovelSat [Via Satellite 02-03-2015] NovelSat announced plans to demonstrate its new NS4 waveform at SATELLITE 2015 and NAB this year. According to the company, NovelSat NS4 offers 45 percent higher spectral efficiency than Digital Video Broadcasting-Satellite Second Generation (DVB-S2). NovelSat intends to commercially release the…