Satellite News articles from July 2004

Satellite News archives from July 2004

Anik F2 Carries Broadband Hope.(high-power satellite)
July 12, 2004... The world's largest commercial communications satellite ever built is scheduled to launch today to usher in a new era in satellite broadband services that promises to bridge the digital divide for rural consumers across North America. The...

Cable TV Rivals Gain Strength.
July 12, 2004... Former baseball great Satchel Paige once was quoted, "Don't look behind, someone may be gaining on you." That may well be the situation satellite-TV service providers are facing in the form of intensified competition from a U.S. cable industry...

Intelsat RIF Signals A Renewed Readiness To Sell.(reduction in force )
July 12, 2004... By Paul Dykewicz Intelsat Ltd.'s latest reduction in force (RIF) by close to 50 people along with its restructuring of certain teams earlier this month are not surprising moves in light of the company's recent struggles. The...

Spotlight: Versatility Aids Sale Of Anti-Theft Device.(CSI Wireless)
July 12, 2004... Satellite-based, asset-tracking hardware from Alberta, Canada-based CSI Wireless Inc. is helping to catch crooks and assist motorists in other ways. Law-enforcement officials and private citizens alike are displaying increased demand for...

Seeking African Hearts, Minds And Access.(survey of satellite communications in Africa)
July 12, 2004... As part of a development program funded by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) conducted an indepth survey of satellite communications in Africa. Examined were "stakeholders" at every link of...

Cyfrowy Polsat Closing The Gap On Cyfra +.
July 12, 2004... The Polish pay-TV market has seen the emergence of a dynamic new player in recent years, with Cyfrowy Polsat emerging as a major threat to Cyfra +. While cable still is the dominant pay-TV platform in Poland, satellite pay-TV is growing fast....

SES Astra CEO Hails DPC Deal.(Digital Playout Center )
July 12, 2004... SES Astra CEO Ferdinand Kayser believes the company's acquisition of German pay-TV operator Premiere's Digital Playout Center (DPC) could offer a blueprint beyond Germany, particularly in Eastern Europe. DPC operates a teleport facility in...

The Satellite News Financial Ticker.
July 12, 2004... Week of July 1-8, 2004 Percentage 8-Jul One One Symbol Price Week APT SATELLITE HLDGS ATS 1.71 -12.3 ASIASAT TELECOM ...

Loral Escapes Launch Fallout.( Loral Space and Communications)
July 19, 2004... The availability of substantial additional fuel onboard Loral Space and Communications' Telstar 18 satellite allowed the spacecraft to be maneuvered into its proper orbital position, and it may even allow the bird exceed its 13-year design...

Russians Probe Rocket Malfunction.(investigations on Zenit-3SL rocket upper stage to halt)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2004... The investigation into what caused the Zenit-3SL upper stage to halt its second burn almost a full minute earlier than scheduled currently centers around a Russia commission that was formed to address the malfunction. That panel is headed...

A La Carte Pricing Poses Risks.(television broadcasting)
July 19, 2004... Congressional interest in pursuing legislation to let U.S. television viewers pick and choose the individual channels they want to buy each month from their satellite and cable TV providers is under attack. Opponents claim such a policy could...

Iridium Adds Key Executive.(Iridium Satellite LLC appoints Patrick Brant )(Brief Article)
July 19, 2004... Patrick Brant, former president and COO of Loral CyberStar, is joining satellite phone service Iridium Satellite LLC as its newest executive-team member. Brant will serve in a multi-dimensional role as executive vice president of sales,...

Spotlight: Cruise Ship Initiates Unique Phone Service.
July 19, 2004... For the first time, cruise ship passengers will be able to use their cellular phone to talk and send text messages while in international waters. The Island Escape cruise ship is the first to take advantage of a new communications offering...

Satellite Services for Remote Communities.
July 19, 2004... By Roger Rusch For decades, universal communication service has been the dream of government planners. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Development Sector is chartered to collect statistics and to encourage the spread of...

Loral Skynet Looks To A Future Beyond Bankruptcy.
July 19, 2004... Loral Skynet, a satellite-operating subsidiary of Loral Space and Communications, is hoping for an upswing in fortunes over the next few months. While its parent company has had to deal with a number of balance sheet issues that pushed it into...

Launch Vehicle Development In Asia Pacific Region.
July 19, 2004... By Kirby Ikin The world is entering an interesting new era as China ventures into manned space flight. Following in the footsteps of only two other nations, China has embarked on a far-reaching effort to establish itself as a superpower...

Wall Street Analysis.(Blackstone Group's acquisition of New Skies Satellites )
July 19, 2004... By Paul Dykewicz, Antitrust regulators and a top Wall Street analyst made good calls last week regarding New Skies Satellites N.V. [NSK]. The Blackstone Group, a private investment firm, received early termination of the required...

At Press Time: Smaller Is Better.(Brief Article)
July 26, 2004... Satellite News has learned that Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) is calling on the U.S. government to shift its focus from large satellites that have lots of technology packed onto them to smaller ones. Allard said that a by-product of spending...

HNS Rides The Wi-Fi Wave.(Hughes Network Systems )
July 26, 2004... Germantown, Md.-based Hughes Network Systems is looking to ride the growth of Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) services by providing connectivity to retail establishments that offer the service in addition to their typical fare of gourmet coffee,...

The Money Is There.(Wi-Fi)
July 26, 2004... The profit potential of offering a Wi-Fi hot spot is substantial. If a retailer charges an average of $6 per use, beginning with three users a day in the first year and growing to eight per day within three years, a revenue stream of $122,580...

SBR Causes 'Confusion' In Congress.(Space Based Radar )
July 26, 2004... According to an executive from one of the United States' top defense contractors, the Pentagon's failed advocacy for the Space Based Radar (SBR) satellite program on Capitol Hill was due, in part, to confusion surrounding the program, despite...

Sirius Makes Progress In XM's Shadow.(Sirius Satellite Radio )
July 26, 2004... By Paul Dykewicz Sirius Satellite Radio is the Rodney Dangerfield of satellite broadcasting. The company gets little or no respect, just as the famous American comedian humorously laments about himself as part of his act. The...

DigitalGlobe Imagery Helps Mississippi Protect Coast.
July 26, 2004... The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR) has elected to incorporate DigitalGlobe's innovative QuickBird satellite imagery into its current geographic information system (GIS) to help with the management and protection of the state's...

Caught Between A Milestone and A Hard Place.
July 26, 2004... By Maury Mechanick, White & Chase On June 24, the Federal Communications Commission released two orders dealing with the consequences of failure to comply with milestone requirements contained in licenses issued for the construction of...

MTV Networks Europe CEO Ready For German Assault.(Brent Hansen)
July 26, 2004... Viacom's acquisition of German media company VIVA Media will change the face of the youth entertainment market in Europe. The deal, which happened in June, saw Viacom acquire a majority stake in the German music television group for more than...

Pace Credits Satellite For A Return To Profitability.
July 26, 2004... Pace Micro Technology [PACE.L] hopes its recent return to profit signals an upsurge in fortune. The set-top box manufacturer had a tough financial year in 2003, reporting an overall loss of $30 million. However, it just released its results for...

The Satellite News Financial Ticker.
July 26, 2004... Week of July 16 - 22, 2004 Percent Symbol July 22 Price One Week APT SATELLITE HLDGS ATS 1.58 -4.2 ASIASAT TELECOM SAT 16.98 2.3...