General news on the satellite and space industry from around the web
X2nSat ST4G. Photo: X2nSat [Via Satellite 3-18-2015] SES announced X2nSat has doubled its Ku-band capacity aboard the SES 2 spacecraft to power its new generation ST4G broadband service, delivering higher speeds and the reliability of Ku-band satellite capacity across North America. To offer connection speeds up to 15 megabits per second, X2nSat has tapped both…
Advantech Wireless Series 7000 VSAT router. Photo: Advantech Wireless [Via Satellite 3-18-2015] Advantech Wireless is launching a new family of VSAT routers/modems. The new Series 7000 product family provisions Advantech Wireless A-SAT-IITM Bandwidth Optimized Satellite System technology, providing more than 50 percent reduction in the satellite bandwidth, through transmission switching between multiple access schemes achieved…
Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides. Photo: Virgin Galactic [Via Satellite 03-17-2015] With a recently christened manufacturing facility, Virgin Galactic is gearing up for regular missions with the LauncherOne small satellite vehicle. The Long Beach, Calif. facility, first announced in February, is now open. LauncherOne is among the most promising small satellite, or “SmallSat,” launch vehicles…
Kymeta and Airbus executives. Photo: Kymeta [Via Satellite 3-17-2015] Kymeta announced partnerships with Intellian and Airbus Defence and Space to commercialize world-class next generation Ku-band maritime satellite terminals. The terminals, built by Intellian, will integrate Kymeta’s thin, flat, lightweight, electronically beam-steered mTenna satellite antennas, which are built on metamaterial-based technology. Airbus intends to sell Kymeta’s…
ViaSat 1 Broadband Satellite.Photo: Space Systems/Loral [Via Satellite 3-17-2015] ViaSat and Boeing are teaming together to offer the ViaSat Flexible Broadband System. The Flexible Broadband System is designed to provide the satellite bandwidth economics in a more affordable package, tailored to regional operators. This system enables service providers to start with a smaller investment, focus…
Seatback in-flight entertainment via IFC. Photo: Global Eagle Entertainment [Via Satellite 3-17-2015] SES and Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE) have signed capacity deals for services on three SES satellites. These agreements are part of a strategic partnership to deliver In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) and services to airline passengers around the world. Under the deal, GEE will…
Inmarsat S-band services. Image: Inmarsat [Via Satellite 3-17-2015] Thales has selected Harris Corporation to provide a new advanced space antenna reflector that is half the weight of competing antennas, is impervious to vibration during launch, and reduces shadows that can block solar arrays on satellites. Harris will deliver two fixed mesh reflectors that will be…
Maritime media. Photo: MTN Communications [Via Satellite 3-17-2015] MTN Communications announced the launch of its High-Definition (HD) live television service at sea, MTN Worldwide TV HD (MTN-TV HD). This service launch starts with IMG’s Sport 24 Channel in HD. The first-ever 24/7 sports channel designed for the maritime market, it is the most watched sports…
David Bruner VP of global communications at Panasonic Avionics. Photo: Panasonic Avionics [Via Satellite 3-17-2015] Panasonic Avionics has secured satellite capacity on the Hunter Communications Canada Ku-band beam hosted on Eutelsat Americas’ Eutelsat 115 West B satellite. By procuring nearly one-third of the available capacity, Panasonic will provide Internet access, airline data services and live…
Intelsat Galaxy 3C coverage. Photo: Intelsat [Via Satellite 3-17-2015] Intelsat and The Space Connection, a wholly owned subsidiary of Telesat Canada, announced a new, multi-year capacity agreement. Under the deal, The Space Connection expanded its capacity commitment on Intelsat’s Galaxy 17 satellite located at 91 degrees west and renewed services on Intelsat’s Galaxy 3C satellite…