Satellite Today articles from February 2004

Satellite Today archives from February 2004

Integral Systems To Provide Satellite Control System for JCSAT-9.
February 2, 2004... Integral Systems [Nasdaq: ISYS] has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) to provide an EPOCH satellite control system for JSAT Corp.'s A2100-based JCSAT-9 satellite. The system will incorporate several...

North American Satellite Transponder Market To Reach $2.56B by 2009.
February 2, 2004... Despite overcapacity and strong competition from terrestrial networks, the fixed satellite services market in North America will continue to grow throughout the rest of the decade, according to a recent study by Frost and Sullivan. The...

AMC-10 Satellite Good To Go for Thursday Launch.
February 2, 2004... The AMC-10 satellite of SES Americom, the Princeton, N.J.-based unit of SES Global [Luxembourg: SESG], has been fully integrated into the fairing of the AtlasIIAS launch vehicle and is ready for the scheduled early evening Feb. 5 liftoff. The...

General Motors Expands XM Satellite Radio Availability.
February 2, 2004... General Motors [NYSE: GM] announced Monday that it would be increasing the availability of XM Satellite Radio [Nasdaq: XMSR] on more than 50 cars and trucks in the 2005 model year. XM is currently available on 42 GM products in the 2004 model...

PlanetLink Begins Field-Testing Of GPS Tracking Product.
February 2, 2004... PlanetLink Communications [OTC BB: PLKC], a Cumming, Ga.-based provider of satellite-based products and services, has begun the field-testing phase of its PlanetTRAKS GPS product. Twelve PlanetTRAKS units will be installed on personal...

Norway Replaces Satellite-Link With Fiber for Northern Most Territory.
February 2, 2004... Telenor Svalbard has opened the world's northernmost fiber-optic broadband access network at 78 degrees North, serving the citizens and businesses of Longyearbyen, Norway. Svalbard's broadband access is supplied in partnership with the...

Alcatel Space Names de Ledinghen To Head Navigation Unit.
February 2, 2004... Nicolas de Ledinghen, 43, has been named vice president of the Navigation and Aeronautical Communications Business Unit at Paris-based Alcatel Space. He is in charge of all activities in this area, from infrastructures such as Galileo and...

Fox Entertainment Moves All U.S. Programming To PanAmSat.
February 3, 2004... Wilton, Conn.-based PanAmSat [Nasdaq: SPOT] will gain an infusion of revenue from a new multi-year, multi-satellite transponder agreement with Fox Entertainment Group, which recently gained an ownership stake in PanAmSat's parent Hughes...

PanAmSat Notches Profitable Year.
February 3, 2004... PanAmSat [Nasdaq: SPOT] Tuesday reported positive fourth quarter and year-end 2003 financial results. Total revenues for 2003 rose 2.3 percent to $831.0 million, up from $812.3 million in 2002. Earnings per share (EPS) increased 15.8...

New Skies, Telenor Link Up for Pacific Ocean Coverage.
February 3, 2004... New Skies Satellites [NYSE: NSK], a Netherlands-based satellite communications company, has signed a 10-year agreement with Telenor Satellite Services, a Norway-based provider of satellite communications services, for Pacific Ocean region...

Scopus To Supply Digital TV Platform To T-Systems.
February 3, 2004... Scopus Network Technologies, an Israel-based supplier of digital compression technology to the broadcasting industry, has signed an agreement to supply German business services provider T-Systems, a Deutsche Telekom [NYSE: DT] subsidiary, with...

Navy Takes Delivery of UHF Follow-On Satellite.
February 3, 2004... The U.S. Navy has accepted delivery of the 11th UHF Follow-On (UFO) spacecraft, built by Boeing [NYSE: BA], following the satellite's completion of its in-orbit test program. The satellite, which will provide secure mobile communications to...

SES Americom Retires GSTAR-4 After 13 Years of Service.
February 3, 2004... SES Americom, the Princeton, N.J.-based satellite operating subsidiary of SES Global [Luxembourg: SESG], has conducted its last operations on the GSTAR-4 satellite. The company is de-orbiting the satellite more than 250 kilometers (155 miles)...

Space Industry To Pass $100 Billion in 2004, Council Predicts.
February 4, 2004... The global space industry continued to grow in 2003, fueled by a significant increase in U.S. military contracts and continued growth in its commercial markets. According to the 2004 State of the Space Industry, a recently released report of...

Intelsat Announces $500M Initial Public Offering.
February 4, 2004... Intelsat announced Wednesday its intention to conduct a long-awaited initial public offering of its ordinary shares, which is expected to raise $500 million. Intelsat's current shareholders will be given the opportunity to sell ordinary shares...

Transocean Renews Satellite Communications Contract With CapRock.
February 4, 2004... Oil drilling firm Transocean has renewed its satellite communication agreement with CapRock. CapRock has been providing Transocean's communications services for nearly a decade, and the drilling company decided to extend the agreement for...

Gilat To Provide Satellite Communications To Kenyan Postal Service.
February 4, 2004... Israel-based Gilat Satellite Networks' [Nasdaq: GILTF] Spacenet subsidiary has received a contract to supply a satellite-based communications network to the Kenyan postal service, Posta Kenya. Financial terms were not disclosed. Gilat's...

Pegasus Offers $100M in Senior Notes.
February 4, 2004... Pegasus Satellite Communications, a subsidiary of Bala Cynwyd, Pa.-based Pegasus Communications [Nasdaq: PGTV], intends to offer $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 11 1/4 percent senior notes due in 2010. The senior notes will be...

EchoStar To Offer Spanish-Language Columbia TV Packages.
February 4, 2004... Englewood, Colo.-based EchoStar Communications [Nasdaq: DISH] has announced that its DISH Network will offer Spanish-language TV Columbia programming packages beginning Feb. 11. TV Colombia is an alliance between RCN Television, Columbian TV...

SS/L CEO Hopeful On Asian Prospects.
February 5, 2004... Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) President Patrick DeWitt believes there are a number of growth opportunities for the satellite manufacturer in Asia. He told SATELLITE TODAY: "We are very bullish on Asia in terms of international growth. That is part...

ESA To Select Earth Explorer Satellite Missions.
February 5, 2004... This spring the European Space Agency will select finalists for the Earth Explorer satellite missions. Before decisions are taken, the ESA will hold an Earth Explorer User Consultation Meeting, which will be held on 19-20 April at ESA's ESRIN...

EchoStar Programming To Be Bundled With Sprint.
February 5, 2004... Sprint [NYSE: FON] and EchoStar Communications [Nasdaq: DISH] have signed a marketing and sales agreement to provide DISH Network satellite TV service to households served by Sprint's local telephone division. The relationship formalizes a...

Merrimac Receives $1.1M GPS Order from Boeing.
February 5, 2004... Merrimac Industries [AMEX: MRS], a West Caldwell, N.J.-based manufacturer of RF microwave components, has received a $1.1 million order from Boeing [NYSE: BA] to supply beamforming networks and RF microwave signal processing components on...

Gencom Partners with Helius In Australasian Market.
February 5, 2004... New Zealand-based Gencom Technology has teamed up with Helius, a Lindon, Utah-based broadband IP over satellite provider, to provide satellite-based broadband to the Australasian market. The two companies will offer interactive distance...

Samsung Develops Satellite Chip for Mobile Phones.
February 5, 2004... Samsung Electronics, a Seoul-based manufacturer of electronic products, has completed development of a satellite digital media-broadcasting (DMB) chip for mobile phones and automobiles. The satellite DMB chip is able to receive satellite...

Correction.
February 5, 2004... The story on EchoStar's new Spanish-language programming in the Feb. 4 issue of SATELLITE TODAY misspelled the name of the country Colombia. We regret the error. [Copyright 2004 PBI Media, LLC. All rights reserved.]

Canada To Develop C$140M Multipurpose Satellite.
February 6, 2004... The Canadian Space Agency and Industry Canada announced Friday that they will develop a multipurpose satellite called CASSIOPE, which will require the building of a satellite platform adaptable for a range of assignments, including science,...

ILS Launches AMC-10 Bird Into Orbit.
February 6, 2004... International Launch Services launched the AMC-10 satellite Thursday at 6:46 p.m. (EST) on board an Atlas IIAS rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The satellite is an A2100 model, built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for SES Americom, a...

Consortia Short-Listed For Galileo Concession.
February 6, 2004... A number of consortia have been short-listed for the Galileo satellite navigation system concession. One consortium is led by Alcatel [NYSE: ALA] and includes Finmeccanica and VICNI Concessions. Another consortium is made up of Inmarsat, EADS...

TAMSCO Gets $17.6M Contract To Support Iraqi Authority.
February 6, 2004... Engineered Support Systems' [Nasdaq: EASI] subsidiary Technical and Management Services Corp. (TAMSCO) of Calverton, Md., has been awarded a contract to support Iraq's Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in command and control information...

Federal FY2005 IT Spending Request Indicates Slow-Growth Trend.
February 6, 2004... President Bush's fiscal year 2005 budget contains a $59.8 billion request for information technology spending, an increase of less than 1 percent over the previous year's request, indicating a major slow-down in the pace of growth in the...

Mayflower Awarded $10.4M Contract To Develop Navy GPS System.
February 6, 2004... Mayflower Communications, a Burlington, Mass.-based developer of GPS and communication data link technologies, has been awarded a small business innovation research Phase III contract totaling $10.4 million from the Naval Surface Warfare Center...

ITT Agrees To Buy Remote Sensing Systems For $725 Million.
February 9, 2004... White Plains, N.Y.-based ITT Industries [NYSE: ITT] signed a definitive agreement to purchase the Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) business from Eastman Kodak Co. [NYSE: EK] for $725 million to significantly broaden the buyer's existing capability....

SPACEHAB's Financial Performance Is Hurt By Suspension Of Space Shuttle Flights.
February 9, 2004... Houston-based SPACEHAB's [Nasdaq: SPAB] revenue for the second fiscal quarter of 2004, excluding a $17.5 million long-term contract prepayment, decreased by approximately 46 percent from the prior year's quarterly revenue of $28.1 million...

Integral Systems Boosts Financial Performance.
February 9, 2004... Lanham, Md.-based Integral Systems [Nasdaq: ISYS] notched a 2.5 percent rise in revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 to reach $20.1 million, up from $19.6 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2003, company officials said. ...

New Skies Satellites Unveils New Teleport In Greece.
February 9, 2004... New Skies Satellites N.V. [AEX, NYSE: NSK], a global satellite communications company based in The Hague, Netherlands, introduced a new teleport in Athens, Greece, to become the company's primary European gateway to the Middle East, Africa and...

Sirius, Standard Team To Offer Satellite Radio In Canada.
February 10, 2004... Standard Radio, a Toronto-based radio broadcasting company, is the latest partner to team up with New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio [Nasdaq: SIRI] in an attempt to bring satellite radio to Canada. Sirius filed an application with the...

Gilat Introduces Next Generation of SkyEdge.
February 10, 2004... Gilat Satellite Networks [Nasdaq: GILTF], an Israeli-based satellite communications company, has developed a new generation of products called the SkyEdge family. The SkyEdge product family includes a series of VSAT products that will operate...

Cisco, Surrey Deploy Router in Space.
February 10, 2004... VIENNA, Va. -- U.S.-based Cisco Systems [NYSE: CSCO] and British small satellite manufacturer Surrey Satellite Technology have successfully launched and deployed a "router in space." The Cisco-supplied router is part of the payload on a small...

EGNOS Undergoes Test in China Before Mid-Year Launch.
February 10, 2004... The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS), designed to improve the accuracy of satellite global navigation systems, is now undergoing tests prior to service launch in the middle of the year in Europe. Carried out jointly by...

Metro Fuel Chooses Satellites for Tanker Control and Security.
February 10, 2004... Satellite Security, a San Diego-based company that provides secure Global Positioning System (GPS) services, has signed a pact to monitor oil tankers for New York-based Metro Fuel Oil. No financial terms were disclosed. The Satellite...

DirecTV Appoints New Senior Executive.
February 10, 2004... El Segundo, Calif.-based DirecTV, the largest U.S. satellite television services provider, added to its executive team by naming Richard Slenker to become its executive vice president of technology and engineering operations. Slenker will...

Hughes Revenues Rise, While One-time Charge Spurs Bottom-line Decline.
February 11, 2004... El Segundo, Calif.-based Hughes Electronics [NYSE: HS] reported that its fourth quarter 2003 revenues rose more than 20 percent to $2.95 billion, on the strength of rising subscriber gains and average revenue per user (ARPU) at the company's...

American Wireless Expands Role With EchoStar.
February 11, 2004... Campbell, Calif.-based American Wireless, a North American wireless retail distributor, has agreed to begin selling the satellite TV services of EchoStar Communications [Nasdaq: DISH] and its DISH Network nationally, rather than just on the...

Elektra Plans To Expand VSAT Network.
February 11, 2004... Elektra, a Mexican-based home appliance retailer, plans to expand its VSAT network with the help of Israel's Gilat Satellite Networks [Nasdaq: GILTF]. Elektra's network provides internal connectivity services to its retail outlets in Mexico,...

KVH Launches New Tracphone.
February 11, 2004... KVH Industries [Nasdaq: KVHI], a Middletown R.I.-based manufacturer of mobile communication products, has introduced a new compact satellite communication device to offer global voice coverage. The device, called the Tracphone F33, is...

Sirius To Air Wall Street Journal Network.
February 11, 2004... Sirius Satellite Radio, [Nasdaq: SIRI] has agreed to broadcast The Wall Street Journal Radio Network throughout the United States. Starting this month, subscribers will be able to hear hourly market reports and news from experts at The Wall...

XM Tops 1.5 Million Subscribers.
February 12, 2004... Washington-based XM Satellite Radio [Nasdaq: XMSR] topped the 1.5 million subscriber mark this month, while also reporting that its fourth quarter financial performance beat the guidance it had given Wall Street. At the end of 2003, XM had...

Intelsat Receives FCC Approval For Loral Transaction.
February 12, 2004... Intelsat announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the transfer of FCC licenses for Loral Space and Communications' [OTCBB: LRLSQ] North American satellite assets to Intelsat. The regulatory nod is part of the...

RadioShack, EchoStar and Sirius Form Marketing Alliance.
February 12, 2004... Ft. Worth, Texas-based electronics retailer RadioShack [NYSE: RSH], Littleton. Colo.-based satellite TV service provider EchoStar Communications [Nasdaq: DISH] and New York-based satellite radio service provider Sirius Satellite Radio [Nasdaq:...

AsiaSat Buys Integrated Satellite System.
February 12, 2004... Asia Satellite Communications Co. (AsiaSat) [NYSE: SAT], a Hong Kongbased satellite operator, agreed to buy a single consolidated primary satellite control system from Integral Systems [Nasdaq: ISYS], a Lanham, Md.-based provider of satellite...

ViaSat To Supply VSAT Systems for Iraq.
February 12, 2004... ViaSat [Nasdaq: VSAT], a Carlsbad, Calif.-based satellite technology company, received a contract for more than $7 million from Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems [NYSE: LMT] for satellite equipment to be installed in Iraq for the coalition...

DirecTV Names Giacalone To Head Customer Service.
February 12, 2004... El Segundo, Calif.-based DirecTV appears to be looking for a way to reduce its monthly churn by naming an executive vice president of customer satisfaction. The satellite TV service provider chose bottom-line oriented Peter Giacalone to...

Iridium Introduces New Distress Signals For Ships.
February 13, 2004... Arlington, Va.-based Iridium Satellite has introduced a new range of maritime satellite communication services aimed at helping ship owners costeffectively meet new International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements for ship security and...

Court Approves DirecTV Latin America's Reorganization Plan.
February 13, 2004... The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., has approved DirecTV Latin America's plan of reorganization, setting the stage for the Hughes Electronics' [NYSE: HS] subsidiary to emerge from Chapter 11. The unit expects that the plan will...

Sirius Announces Pricing of Convertible Notes Offering.
February 13, 2004... New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio [Nasdaq: SIRI] announced that it priced an offering of $250 million of 2-1/2 percent convertible notes due 2009, to a qualified institutional buyer. Sirius has also granted the initial purchaser a 30-day...

LogicaCMG, New Skies Deliver Secure IP Services.
February 13, 2004... LogicaCMG successfully demonstrated Friday its secure multicast system over a live satellite network using New Skies' [NYSE: NSK] IPsys service. The system employs new security mechanisms to improve the flexibility of satellite broadcast...

T. Howard Foundation Plans To Honor Starz Encore, BET Leaders.
February 13, 2004... The satellite industry's 11th annual T. Howard Foundation fundraising dinner, scheduled for April 14 in New York, will include the presentation of awards to two industry visionaries. The group, created to provide scholarships and internships to...

Editor's Note.
February 13, 2004... SATELLITE TODAY will not publish on Monday in observance of the Presidents' Day holiday. You will receive your next issue on Tuesday, Feb. 17. [Copyright 2004 PBI Media, LLC. All rights reserved.]

AsiaSat Forges Deal To Provide Backup Facilities.
February 17, 2004... AsiaSat announced a deal to provide backup facilities and services to Star through AsiaSat's new Tai Po Earth station at Hong Kong. The deal cements a new arrangement between two long-term partners in the Asia Pacific region. AsiaSat will...

New Arabic Language Channel Carried Via Satellite.
February 17, 2004... Alhurra, a new Arabic-language satellite television network, began broadcasting to millions of viewers in 22 countries across the Middle East last weekend. Alhurra, an Arabic word for "the free one," primarily will be devoted to news and...

Satellite Newspapers to Cover Asia.
February 17, 2004... Satellite Enterprises [OTCBB: SENR], a North Haven Conn.-based printer of syndicated newspapers around the world, announced that Peter Yuen has agreed to pay a fee to join the company's World Wide Network to provide satellite newspaper kiosks...

SiRFstarIII Runs fast on GPS for LBS Users.
February 17, 2004... SiRF Technology Holdings, a San Jose, Calif.-based supplier of GPS semiconductor and software solutions, announced that its SiRFstarIII architecture would increase GPS performance significantly for location based services (LBS). The...

Vettro Facilitates GPS Mapping Distribution.
February 17, 2004... Vettro, a New York, N.Y.-based provider of mobile applications, has begun regular distribution of a GPS console integrated with Microsoft MapPoint. The Vettro GPS mapping console enables enterprises to visually manage mobile worker...

Digital+ Nears 1.8 Million-Subscriber Mark In Spain.
February 18, 2004... Digital+, the pay-TV satellite operator in Spain, ended 2003 by reporting nearly 1.8 million subscribers, despite launching service only last July after the successful merger of two rival pay-TV platforms, Canal Satelite Digital and Via...

Intelsat Agrees To Provide Satellite Voice Services To Costa Crociere Cruise Ships.
February 18, 2004... Intelsat signed a five-year contract with Telespazio to provide satellite capacity for cellular telephone services Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) will make available to passengers on Costa Crociere cruise ships in the Mediterranean, Northern...

XM Offered As Standard Feature On Volkswagen's Limited Edition Beetle.
February 18, 2004... XM Satellite Radio [XMSR], America's largest satellite radio service, will be a standard feature on Volkswagen of America's limited-edition 2004 Volkswagen "Satellite Blue" New Beetle vehicle, which will be available for purchase at U.S....

Gilat Inks Pact To Supply VSAT Terminals In Australia.
February 18, 2004... Petah Tikva, Israel-based Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. [GILTF] agreed to supply Australia's second largest telecommunications company, SingTel -Optus, with an additional 2,500 Skystar 360E Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) and hub...

Silverman Elected Chairman Of Digital Angel.
February 18, 2004... Digital Angel [DOC], a South St. Paul, Minn.-based communications company that deploys Global Positioning System (GPS) services to track and locate livestock, named Scott Silverman as its new chairman. Silverman had served on the company's...

Leaderboard Founder To Join GPS Industries.
February 18, 2004... GPS Industries [GPSN], a Vancouver, B.C.-based developer of GPS golf courses, chose Don Adamson as its vice president of golf operations. Adamson, founder of LTS Leaderboard and widely regarded as the pioneer in tournament software...

Frost & Sullivan Launches Space And Communications Group.
February 19, 2004... Frost & Sullivan, an international consulting firm, is looking to grow its satellite and space consulting practice. To do so, the firm launched a Space & Communications Group. The unit will offer strategic and operational consulting services in...

GlobeCast Delivers Italian Channel Via Satellite.
February 19, 2004... Paris-based GlobeCast, an international satellite services provider, agreed to deliver the Italian TV channel Telepace to Europe on the HOT BIRD satellite and to North America via the Telstar 5 platform. Telepace is receiving an end-to-end...

NeoMagic Inks Deal With Mobile Broadcast Company.
February 19, 2004... NeoMagic [NMGC], a Santa Clara, Calif.-based reseller of mobile phones and communication devices, agreed to let Mobile Broadcast Company (MBC) use its MiMagic 6 for MBC's MBCO satellite. Financial terms were not disclosed. MBC will be...

NovAtel Begins Shipment of GPS Components to Leica.
February 19, 2004... NovAtel [NGPS], a Calgary, Alberta-based Global Positioning System (GPS) provider, has reached an agreement with Swiss Leica Geosystems [LGSN] to provide GPS capability on Leica's new System 1200. Financial terms were not disclosed. The...

EchoStar Introduces Local Channels To Va. and Tenn. Tri-Cities.
February 19, 2004... Englewood, Colo.-based EchoStar Communications [DISH] announced its DISH Network would begin offering local TV channels by satellite television to the Tri-Cities area of Virginia and Tennesee. For the first time, CBS Channel 11 (WJHL), NBC...

ViaSat CEO Dankberg Named Satellite Executive Of The Year.
February 20, 2004... Mark Dankberg, the chairman and CEO of Carlsbad, Calif.-based ViaSat [VSAT] will be honored "Satellite Executive of the Year" at the Satellite 2004 international conference and exhibition in early March. The award, given annually by PBI Media...

Inmarsat Executive Happy With Regional BGAN Performance.
February 20, 2004... Inmarsat Managing Director Michael Butler believes the operator's Regional BGAN service has been relatively successful so far. Regional BGAN delivers a seamless GPRS-compatible data service in as many as 99 countries using 144 Kbps shared...

Rosetta Set To Launch Next Week.
February 20, 2004... The European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed that the launch of the Rosetta comet chaser, due to take place on Feb. 26 is on track. Rosetta will be launched on board an Ariane 5 from Kourou, French Guiana. ESA will be hoping that the launch...

ORBCOMM Announces International Agreement With MICAD MARINE.
February 20, 2004... Dulles, Va.-based ORBCOMM LLC (ORBCOMM), a global satellite telecommunications company, reached agreement with Micad Marine LLC (Micad) to provide global data communications services in connection with Micad's MICAD NET Service. MICAD NET...

Telemundo Re-Commits To Use AMC-4 For Distribution.
February 20, 2004... Princeton, N.J.-based SES Americom and SES GLOBAL [SESG] signed a multiyear transponder renewal agreement for C-band service on SES Americom's AMC-4 satellite. The transponder will be used for the distribution of Telemundo's U.S....

Isle of Man Could Be Tax Haven For Space, Satellite Companies.
February 23, 2004... The Isle of Man is positioning itself to become a tax haven for companies involved in space and satellite businesses. A big draw would be a newly announced zero corporate income tax to such businesses. The tax break for space and satellite...

Digital Angel Lifts Its Involvement With Petroleum Helicopters.
February 23, 2004... Digital Angel, [DOC], a South St. Paul, Minn.-based provider of advanced technology for location tracking and asset monitoring, announced that its recently-acquired OuterLink subsidiary has secured a major commitment from Lafayette, La.-based...

VOOM Goes Hollywood at the Academy Awards.
February 23, 2004... VOOM, the first comprehensive high-definition (HD) television service, teamed up with Samsung Electronics, a manufacturer of high-definition television (HDTV) technologies, to provide a free gift to Academy Award presenters. The presenters each...

Equant Launches Two New Satellites in Remote Sites.
February 23, 2004... Equant [ENT: EQU], a Paris-based communications company, has agreed to provide satellite access services in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe to the Foreign Ministries of France and the Netherlands. The France Foreign Ministry...