Satellite Today articles from February 2003

Satellite Today archives from February 2003

EchoStar Completes Early Repayment Of Debt.
February 3, 2003... EchoStar Communications [Nasdaq: DISH] confirmed its subsidiary, EchoStar DBS, completed a previously announced repurchase of all of its 9.25 percent senior notes due 2006. The redemption occurred three years early in accordance with the...

Intelsat Invests in Occasional Video Solutions Service.
February 3, 2003... Intelsat has introduced occasional video solutions (OVS), a service that offers a one stop shop for the video needs of news, sports and special event content providers. A dedicated video operations center is available to handle bookings,...

USAF Blasts GPS, XSS-10 Satellites Into Orbit.
February 3, 2003... The U.S. Air Force has launched a Delta II rocket, built by Boeing [NYSE: BA], with a Global Positioning System IIR-8 satellite and an XSS-10 demonstration satellite payload. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 1:06...

Zanett Acquires Paragon Satellite Engineering Firm.
February 3, 2003... Zanett [Nasdaq: ZANE] has acquired Paragon Dynamics, a firm that provides software and satellite engineering services with domain area expertise on government and aerospace satellite and IT infrastructure contracts. According to the terms...

Optimus Gets FHA Contract To Test GPS-based Pedestrian Alert System.
February 3, 2003... Optimus, a provider of public safety technology, has been awarded a Federal Highway Administration research grant to develop a pedestrian alert system (PAS) using Global Positioning System technology. An Infiniti Q45 from Optimus (Silver...

Samsung Selects Conexant's Set-Top Box for Interactive TV.
February 3, 2003... Korea's Samsung Electronics has selected Conexant Systems [Nasdaq: CNXT] to provide digital satellite set-top box (STB) semiconductors deployment in Korea digital satellite broadcasting's (KDB) SkyLife satellite television network. The STB...

Loral Loses Arbitration Ruling In Dispute With Alcatel.
February 4, 2003... An arbitration tribunal has ruled against Loral Space & Communications [NYSE: LOR] in its dispute over whether it violated a partnership agreement with Alcatel Space. Still unresolved is whether Loral will have to pay damages to the unit of...

Showtime Aims To Break Profitability Barrier This Year.
February 4, 2003... Middle East pay-TV satellite operator Showtime expects to become profitable in 2003. The operator, which has around 250,000 subscribers in markets throughout the Middle East, hopes to consolidate its already strong position in the region. ...

DirecTV To Offer Five New Chinese-language Channels.
February 4, 2003... TVB Satellite Platform (El Segundo, Calif.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Chinese-language broadcaster TVB Group, agreed to let DirecTV, a Hughes Electronics [NYSE: GMH] subsidiary and the largest U.S. digital satellite TV...

SES Astra Gains New Customer.
February 4, 2003... InOut TV agreed to buy satellite capacity from SES Astra, a unit of SES Global [Luxembourg: SESG]. A satellite at 19.2 degrees East will allow InOut TV subscribers to receive services that include broadband, multimedia and data operations. The...

Canadian Space Agency Tags MDA To Design Satellite Mission.
February 4, 2003... MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates [Toronto: MDA] has been selected by the Canadian Space Agency to design an Earth observation satellite mission that will use hyperspectral technology. The mission will use special cameras to measure the...

TV Globo Chooses Intelsat 805 As Distribution Platform.
February 4, 2003... TV Globo, Brazil's largest broadcaster, has signed a 10-year contract to distribute its international news and entertainment programming to cable and satellite TV operators throughout the Americas over the Intelsat 805 satellite at 304.5[broken...

Boeing Demonstrates Capabilities of Micro-satellite.
February 5, 2003... Boeing [BA] has completed a 12-hour test mission for its first microsatellite, called XSS-10, to show that an autonomous satellite can operate near other orbiting space objects without colliding, company officials said. The XSS-10 was one...

Final Ariane 4 Flight Is On Schedule.
February 5, 2003... The last flight of the highly reliable Ariane 4 rocket is scheduled for Feb. 12. It will carry the Intelsat 907 satellite into orbit, Arianespace officials said. The 4,685-kilogram (10,328-pound) telecommunications satellite has been...

AirTV Validates In-flight Internet Connectivity on Alitalia.
February 5, 2003... Italian airline Alitalia this month will begin passenger demonstrations of AirTV's in-flight Internet access following the service's validation on one of the airline's Boeing 767s. AirTV uses satellites to offer high-speed global Internet...

Eutelsat To Expand Broadband Services With ViaSat Terminals.
February 5, 2003... European satellite operator Eutelsat has awarded contracts worth $2.5 million to ViaSat [Nasdaq: VSAT] for two broadband satellite networking systems and development of a future Ka-band system. The systems will enable Eutelsat to use its...

GMPCS Extends Distribution Agreement with Telenor.
February 5, 2003... GMPCS Personal Communications of Pompano Beach, Fla., has extended its distribution agreement with Telenor Satellite Services, a unit of Norwegian telecom carrier Telenor [Nasdaq: TELN]. GMPCS will continue to use Telenor Satellite Services...

Gilat Secures Approval of Debt Restructuring Plan from Creditors.
February 5, 2003... Gilat Satellite Networks [Nasdaq: GILTF] announced Wednesday that its bank lenders and the holders of its 4.25 percent convertible subordinated notes due 2005 voted to approve the company's debt restructuring plan. The approval of the...

Noteworthy.
February 5, 2003... Don't miss the world's largest satellite industry conference and exhibition! SATELLITE 2003 February 26 - 28, 2003 Washington Convention Center Washington, DC www.satellite2003.com SATELLITE 2003 is the industry...

New Skies Plans To Relocate Satellite.
February 6, 2003... New Skies Satellites N.V. [NYSE: NSK], a global satellite operator based in the Hague, the Netherlands, plans to change the orbital assignment for its yet-to-be launched NSS-8 satellite. The spacecraft originally was scheduled to be...

Boeing Executive Leaves For Northrop Grumman.
February 6, 2003... Alexis Livanos is leaving his position as an executive vice president of Boeing's [NYSE: BA] Boeing Satellite Systems division to join Northop Grumman [NYSE: NOC]. In his post as vice president of program operations at Northrop, Livanos...

ViaSat Receives Order From ARINC for SKYLink Terminals.
February 6, 2003... ViaSat [Nasdaq: VSAT] has received a delivery order from ARINC for initial production quantities of SKYLink airborne integrated satellite communications terminals. The contract includes delivery of terminals for corporate jets built by General...

X-Prize Organizers Affirm Commitment As Tribute To Astronauts.
February 6, 2003... X-Prize organizers renewed their commitment to the competition that will offer $10 million for the first private sector team to fly 100 kilometers or 62 miles to space, return to Earth and repeat the flight within two weeks. X Prize...

Epicus Teams With DirecTV Partner.
February 6, 2003... Epicus, a subsidiary of Phoenix International Industries [OTCBB:PHXU], has signed a comprehensive joint sales and marketing agreement with Satellite Solutions, a DirecTV reseller. The agreement enables Epicus (West Palm Beach, Fla.) to...

S&P Downgrades Telesat Canada's Rating.
February 6, 2003... Standard & Poor's Rating Services has downgraded Telesat Canada's debt rating. S&P analyst Barbara Komjathy said the company's biggest challenge is excess capacity on satellite and fiber-optic networks, which could slow the pace of growth into...

SBC Is Unlikely To Buy DirecTV, Lehman Brothers Says.
February 10, 2003... Despite reports that Bell giant SBC [NYSE: SBC] is in discussions to buy satellite TV operator DirecTV Inc., Lehman Brothers analysts think a deal is unlikely. Blake Bath, a Lehman Brothers telecommunications analyst, believes "strongly"...

EchoStar, EarthLink Partner On TV/Internet Package.
February 10, 2003... Littleton, Colo-based EchoStar Communication Corp. [Nasdaq: DISH] and Atlanta-based EarthLink [Nasdaq: ELNK], the nation's third-largest Internet service provider, have agreed to team up to bundle EchoStar's DISH Network digital satellite...

Peregrine Semiconductor Closes $23M Financing.
February 10, 2003... Peregrine Semiconductor, a supplier of high-performance integrated circuits for satellite, wireless and wireline communications, has raised $7.5 million in the third and final tranche of its $23 million series A1 round. Australian venture...

Sutron Signs Satellite Contract with Venezuelan Utility.
February 10, 2003... Sutron has received a $445,000 contract for a meteorlogical-hydrological project from Venezuelan electricity provider CVG Electrificacion del Caroni (EDELCA). Under the contract, Sutron (Sterling, Va.) will provide remote hydro-met...

TRL Signs Agreement To Convert Truck Fleet To Aether MobileMax.
February 10, 2003... Aether Systems [Nasdaq: AETH], a provider of satellite-based mobile fleet tracking products, has signed a contract with truckload carrier TRL (Pittson, Pa.) to convert its entire fleet of 600 trucks to Aether MobileMax, a fleet tracking and...

Integrated Services To Acquire Global Pocket PC Solutions.
February 10, 2003... Integrated Services Group (ISVG) and Global Pocket PC Solutions have signed a letter of intent under which Integrated Services will acquire Global Pocket PC Solutions for an undisclosed consideration. Global Pocket PC Solutions will expand on...

Noteworthy.
February 10, 2003... Don't miss the world's largest satellite industry conference and exhibition! SATELLITE 2003 February 26 - 28, 2003 Washington Convention Center Washington, DC http://www.satellite2003.com SATELLITE 2003 is the...

New Skies' 2002 Results Slip.
February 11, 2003... The fourth-quarter and full-year 2002 financial performances for satellite operator New Skies Satellites [NYSE: NSK] were off compared to 2001, due to a difficult economy, adoption of a new accounting rule for goodwill and re-configuration of...

Falconhead Pays $30M for Maritime Telecommunications.
February 11, 2003... Private investment firm Falconhead Capital is paying $30 million to acquire Maritime Telecommunications Network, a provider of satellite-based communications and networking services to the cruise ship and offshore oil and gas industries. ...

GlobeCast Introduces DTH Platform On Eutelsat HOT BIRD.
February 11, 2003... Satellite broadcast services provider GlobeCast has launched a digital direct-to-home platform on a Eutelsat HOT BIRD satellite. The France Telecom [NYSE: FTE] subsidiary's new proprietary DTH platform will operate on the satellite via its...

ESA, Russia Sign Space Cooperation Accord.
February 11, 2003... The European Space Agency and the Russian government have signed an agreement to cooperate in the use of space for "peaceful purposes." The accord replaces one concluded in 1990 between ESA and the Soviet Union. ESA and the Russian space...

ND SatCom To Build U.S. Teleport for Intelsat.
February 11, 2003... Germany's ND SatCom has been awarded a contract by Intelsat for a turnkey delivery of five C-Band Standard A antenna systems, one Ku-Band Standard C antenna system and all associated equipment for Intelsat's U.S. East Coast teleport. The...

Udowitz Joins SBCA As Communications Director.
February 11, 2003... Robert Udowitz has joined the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA) as director of communications. Udowitz will serve as SBCA's primary spokesman and will oversee all communications activities. He will report directly to...

Noteworthy.
February 11, 2003... Don't miss the world's largest satellite industry conference and exhibition! SATELLITE 2003 February 26 - 28, 2003 Washington Convention Center Washington, DC http://www.satellite2003.com SATELLITE 2003 is the...

XM's Panero Named Satellite Executive of the Year.
February 12, 2003... Hugh Panero, president and CEO of XM Satellite Radio [Nasdaq: XMSR], has been selected as Via Satellite's "Satellite Executive of the Year" by the editors and analysts at PBI Media. Panero will receive the award during the SATELLITE 2003...

Arianespace Delays Final Launch Of Ariane 4.
February 12, 2003... The speed and direction of high-altitude winds led French launch firm Arianespace to stop the launch countdown before the scheduled liftoff of the final Ariane 4 rocket in the early morning hours today. The Ariane 44L rocket and its Intelsat...

MTN Gains Minority Investor From Oil And Gas Sector.
February 12, 2003... Satellite communications provider Maritime Telecommunications Networks' (MTN) plans to expand its reach beyond its core cruise ship business into the oil and gas arena took a step forward this week when it gained a new minority stakeholder with...

Diebold To Use Spacenet's Connexstar Satellite Connectivity For ATMs.
February 12, 2003... Diebold [NYSE: DBD] has contracted with Spacenet, the U.S. subsidiary of Israel's Gilat Satellite Networks [Nasdaq: GILTF], to become an authorized channel partner of Spacenet's Connexstar business-grade satellite broadband service. As a...

New KVH Tracphone F55 Offers Marine Communications.
February 12, 2003... KVH Industries [Nasdaq: KVHI] is launching a satellite communications system designed for maritime use--the Tracphone F55. The Tracphone F55 uses Inmarsat's satellites to offer leisure and small commercial vessels voice connections...

MDA To Implement Environmental Monitoring Program in Bangladesh.
February 12, 2003... MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates [Toronto: MDA] announced Wednesday that the $4.45 million Canadian ($2.9 million) second phase of its Environmental Monitoring Information Network (EMIN) in Bangladesh has been approved for implementation....

Noteworthy.
February 12, 2003... Don't miss the world's largest satellite industry conference and exhibition! SATELLITE 2003 February 26 - 28, 2003 Washington Convention Center Washington, DC http://www.satellite2003.com SATELLITE 2003 is the...

Boeing Uses Satellites To Showcase Real-time Flight Information.
February 13, 2003... Boeing's [NYSE: BA] Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Connexion by Boeing units demonstrated the feasibility of enhancements to the National Airspace System intended to improve the capacity, efficiency, safety and security of the system by...

SES Gains Shopping Service As Customer.
February 13, 2003... SES Astra, a unit of SES Global [Luxembourg: SESG; Frankfurt: SDSL], and Ideal Shopping Direct have signed a new agreement for digital satellite capacity at 28.2 degrees East to launch the new 24 hour Goldshield Vitality Channel. The Goldshield...

Weather Will Determine Timing Of Final Ariane 4 Launch.
February 13, 2003... The last launch of an Ariane 4 rocket will occur early Friday if weather conditions that postponed the mission today and Wednesday improve sufficiently, Arianespace officials said. A decision is expected by 4:30 p.m. EST on whether a launch...

MTG Confirms CA Vendor Change.
February 13, 2003... In its year-end results, Modern Times Group (MTG) said it added net 28,000 new digital subscribers for its direct-to-home pay-TV services in Scandinavia in the fourth quarter. Its pay-TV operations generated net revenues of 549 million Swedish...

Raytheon To Provide $31.8M In Communications System IES To Italian Navy.
February 13, 2003... Raytheon [NYSE: RTN] will provide an integrated electronics suite (IES) for the Italian Navy's multi-purpose vessel program under a foreign military award of $31.8 million equipping the Italian government with the newest data collection...

GS Telecom Provides Teleport In Mozambique.
February 13, 2003... African satellite services provider GS Telecom has installed a high-rise teleport in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, to provide telecommunications services throughout the country. GS Telecom is installing a ViaSat [Nasdaq: VSAT] Linkway DAMA...

Noteworthy.
February 13, 2003... Don't miss the world's largest satellite industry conference and exhibition! SATELLITE 2003 February 26 - 28, 2003 Washington Convention Center Washington, DC http://www.satellite2003.com SATELLITE 2003 is the...

SES Americom Evaluates AMC 9Launch Options.
February 14, 2003... Alternative launch vehicles are under consideration by SES Americom and International Launch Services (ILS) to carry the AMC 9 satellite into orbit. The SES Americom satellite's scheduled launch in January was delayed due to a Proton rocket...

Digital Angel Gains Mexican Order.
February 14, 2003... Digital Angel [AMEX: DOC] received two purchase orders for 6,000 of its personal Global Positioning System mobile connectivity units from its exclusive distributor in Mexico--Corporativo S.C.M., which operates under the Guardian Digital brand....

Arianespace To Try Again With Final Ariane 4 Launch.
February 14, 2003... The final launch of an Ariane 4 rocket could come as soon as early Saturday following three days of weather delays, Arianespace officials said. Conditions late this afternoon EST (after SATELLITE TODAY's deadline) will determine if the launch...

MTV CEO Targets France.
February 14, 2003... MTV Networks Europe CEO Brent Hansen said France could offer the most opportunities for the music and entertainment channel provider in Europe in 2003. He told SATELLITE TODAY: "The market that has the most potential and appeal to me is France....

Tandberg, Raytheon Launch Compact DSNG Transmission Product.
February 14, 2003... Tandberg Television will introduce digital satellite newsgathering technology developed in cooperation with Raytheon [NYSE: RTN] and Vocality International during the National Association of Broadcasters 2003 convention in Las Vegas, April...

ESA Satellites Help With Gorilla Conservation.
February 14, 2003... A joint European Space Agency/United Nations project to protect African gorillas using data from satellites is entering its second phase, an official from a conservation program told an ESA workshop on Friday. Data from ESA satellites are...

Editor's Note.
February 14, 2003... SATELLITE TODAY will not be published on Monday, Feb. 17, in observance of Presidents' Day. We will return to our regular daily schedule on Tuesday, Feb. 18. [Copyright 2003 PBI Media, LLC. All rights reserved.]

Noteworthy.
February 14, 2003... Don't miss the world's largest satellite industry conference and exhibition! SATELLITE 2003 February 26-28, 2003 Washington Convention Center Washington, DC http://www.satellite2003.com SATELLITE 2003 is the industry...

Final Ariane 4 Launches Intelsat 907 Into Orbit.
February 18, 2003... The last of the Ariane 4 rockets was launched Saturday with the Intelsat 907 satellite onboard. Intelsat ranks as the heaviest user of Arianespace's services and has had more than 60 percent of its operating satellites lifted by the French...

Orbital Recovery Names PricewaterhouseCoopers As Advisor.
February 18, 2003... Orbital Recovery has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers as its financial advisor, with responsibility for leading the company through its final funding round for its new Geosynch Spacecraft Life Extension System (SLES). In addition,...

MTN To Lease New Skies Capacity For Pacific Ocean.
February 18, 2003... Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN), a provider of ship-to-shore satellite communications, has signed an agreement to use capacity on New Skies Satellites' [NYSE: NSK] NSS-5 satellite over the Pacific Ocean. Through NSS-5, MTN...

Comtech Finalizes $23.5M Contract for Army Tracking and Messaging System.
February 18, 2003... Comtech Telecommunications [Nasdaq: CMTL] has finalized a contract with an unidentified U.S. government contractor for satellite-based location tracking and messaging system and services. The $23.5 million contract, which was awarded to the...

SoundWorks Acquires Satellite Up-link Facility.
February 18, 2003... SoundWorks International [OTC: SODW] has acquired White Springs Media, a company formed to own and operate an earth station satellite up-link facility in White Springs, Fla. SoundWorks (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) intends to complete a video,...

Mainstream Data To Provide European Pressphoto Agency With Satellite Platform.
February 18, 2003... Mainstream Data and European Pressphoto Agency have signed an agreement under which Mainstream (Salt Lake City) will provide the agency with satellite communication solutions for delivery of its picture service to customers in Europe and...

Noteworthy.
February 18, 2003... Don't miss the world's largest satellite industry conference and exhibition! SATELLITE 2003 February 26-28, 2003 Washington Convention Center Washington, DC http://www.satellite2003.com SATELLITE 2003 is the industry...

New Skies Still Bullish On 2003.
February 19, 2003... New Skies Satellites [NYSE: NSK] admitted that it is not likely to meet forecasts of double-digit revenue growth this year. The Netherlands-based satellite operator still expects a strong year, despite the struggling world economy, said CFO...

Intelsat, TVB Launch Hong Kong Pay-TV Service.
February 19, 2003... Intelsat and Television Broadcasts (TVB) will set up a joint venture, Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, offering pay-TV service for Hong Kong. Intelsat will own a 51 percent stake in the venture, which is licensed to provide satellite pay-TV...

MTN Gains Oil And Gas Industry Customer.
February 19, 2003... Maritime Telecommunication Networks (MTN), a provider of satellite-based communications, networking and other services to the cruise ship and offshore oil and gas industries, has signed a three-year pact to provide equipment and services that...

GlobeCast Expands Presence In Asia.
February 19, 2003... Satellite broadcast provider GlobeCast, a France Telecom [NYSE: FTE] subsidiary, is expanding its Asian operations to include Japan and Korea through the opening of a liaison office in Tokyo. The Tokyo office will serve as the local...

SiRF To Acquire Wireless Location Technology Company.
February 19, 2003... SiRF Technology (San Jose, Calif.) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Enuvis, a wireless location technology provider. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. SiRF intends to integrate Enuvis' assisted-GPS (A-GPS)...

DirecTV's Hartenstein Will Be Keynote Speaker At Business Roundtable Luncheon.
February 19, 2003... DirecTV Chairman and CEO Eddy Hartenstein, will be the keynote speaker at the Washington Space Business Roundtable luncheon on Feb. 26, which is part of PBI Media LLC's SATELLITE 2003 conference in Washington, D.C. Hartenstein, a senior...

Noteworthy.
February 19, 2003... Don't miss the world's largest satellite industry conference and exhibition! SATELLITE 2003 February 26-28, 2003 Washington Convention Center Washington, DC http://www.satellite2003.com SATELLITE 2003 is the industry...

Intelsat's Financial Performance Dips.
February 20, 2003... Intelsat reported reduced profitability and revenues for its fourth quarter due to a challenging telecommunications environment. For the quarter, Intelsat's (Washington, D.C.) net income decreased by $68.3 million, or 68 percent, to $31.5...

Loral Seeks Shareholder OK For Reverse Stock Split.
February 20, 2003... Loral Space & Communications [NYSE: LOR] wants shareholder approval to implement a reverse stock split at its annual meeting on May 29 to comply with New York Stock Exchange share price requirements for continued listing. Loral (New York...

France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications Extends Range Of Services.
February 20, 2003... France Telecom's [NYSE: FTE] Mobile Satellite Communications unit is extending the range of mobile satellite services by teaming up with Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications, a handheld satellite telephone service based in the Middle East....

Space Imaging Fires Up Bangkok Ground Station.
February 20, 2003... Space Imaging Southeast Asia, an affiliate of Space Imaging (Denver, Colo.), has begun direct tasking and data collection of high-resolution imagery from the IKONOS satellite. The operations as well as the receiving antenna and processing...

Raytheon Reaches WAAS Milestone Ahead of Schedule.
February 20, 2003... Raytheon [NYSE: RTN] has completed contractor acceptance and inspection for the Federal Aviation Administration's Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), a component in the agency's next-generation space-based aircraft navigation and landing...

National Scientific, Verify Partner On GPS-based School Safety System.
February 20, 2003... National Scientific [OTC: NSCT] is teaming with Verify Systems to develop and provide a mobile wireless platform for its iVERIFIED school bus rider authentication system. iVERIFIED allows school systems to track and verify where students and...

Noteworthy.
February 20, 2003... Don't miss the world's largest satellite industry conference and exhibition! SATELLITE 2003 February 26-28, 2003 Washington Convention Center Washington, DC http://www.satellite2003.com SATELLITE 2003 is the industry...

Telesat Canada Troubleshoots Nimiq 2 Glitch.
February 21, 2003... Telesat Canada on Thursday experienced a malfunction on its Nimiq 2 satellite that affected the available power on the spacecraft. The company took steps to restore the affected traffic. The majority of the transponders are functioning...

British Airways Tests In-flight Connexion by Boeing Service.
February 21, 2003... British Airways [NYSE: BAB] is trying out the new Connexion by Boeing's in-flight satellite broadband service onboard a daily transatlantic flight between London and New York. The service gives passengers the capability to plug laptops into...