Satellite Today articles from February 2005

Satellite Today archives from February 2005

Double Launch Campaign Successful For ILS.
February 4, 2005... International Launch Services (ILS) oversaw the launch of two rockets yesterday originating on both sides of the Atlantic. A Proton/Breeze M rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying the AMC-12 satellite for SES...

Intelsat Announces Proposed New Debt Issuance.
February 4, 2005... Intelsat, Ltd. announced that it and a newly formed subsidiary are intending to issue new Senior Discount Notes due 2015. Subject to regulatory approvals of certain asset transfers between subsidiaries of Intelsat and consummation of those...

GlobeCast Distributes Shopping Network on Eurobird.
February 4, 2005... GlobeCast announced that the home shopping channel Authentic TV has signed up to its global distribution network. Specializing in collectables and memorabilia, Authentic TV launched on BSkyB's platform, uplinked via Eurobird 28.5 degreesE from...

Telesat Raises Annual Earnings By 18 percent.
February 4, 2005... Telesat Canada, a satellite communications operator, reported that its 2004 profit rose 18 percent on a 5 percent revenue increase. Ottawa-based Telesat, which owns and operates satellites covering the Americas, said its net earnings for the...

XM Signs On New Personalities.
February 4, 2005... It would seem Sirius is not the only player in town with sites set on high-profile agreements. XM Satellite Radio announced it would become the new home to national talk radio personalities Dr. Laura Schlesinger and G. Gordon Liddy, beginning...

BT And Vista Team Up For SuperBowl Transmission.
February 4, 2005... BT Broadcast Services will enable broadcasters to produce and transmit Super Bowl coverage globally this weekend, working with VISTA Satellite Communications (VISTA) team will provide access to a pre-established live standup and play out...

Loral Skynet Provides Satellite Communications Services In Tsunami Region.
February 4, 2005... Loral Skynet announced that it would provide satellite communications services to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), through an agreement with Global Crossing, that will support the recovery efforts related to the tsunami...

RSCC established for the Russian President Vladimir Putin a space bridge with Sri Lanka.
February 4, 2005... The Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) established for the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin a space bridge with Sri Lanka via the new Express-AM1 Satellite at 40 degrees E. The chief of the Russian Emergency...

Arianespace On Track For Friday's Launch.
February 7, 2005... All systems remain on track for the long-awaited launch of Arianespace's ECA upper stage. Flight 164, carrying a test payload as well as the commercial spacecraft XTAR-EUR is in its final preparation stages at the European launcher's spaceport...

DISH Network Brings Local Channels to Florida Town.
February 7, 2005... EchoStar Communications Corporation announced that its Dish Network satellite service will offer local TV channels to Gainesville, FL, and the surrounding area. The following local TV channels will be available: ABC Ch. 20 (WCJB), CBS Ch. 4...

Citicorp's Banamex To Adopt Satellite-based Music and Messaging System.
February 7, 2005... Banamex, the Mexico subsidiary of Citibank, will implement a satellitebased communications system for 1,100 locations that will enable site-specific delivery of audio content, including music, advertising and other promotional messaging, to...

Russia To Deliver A Satellite To Iran.
February 7, 2005... According to Interfax The Academician Reshetnev Applied Mechanics Research and Production Association (NPO PM) will deliver a new generation satellite to Iran. "Under the contract, the project time from the beginning of operations to final...

Air Force War Game Aims to Test Space Technologies.
February 7, 2005... According to Reuters, the U.S. military began a five-day war game to see how space-based assets such as satellite communications and precision bomb guidance systems would fare in a hypothetical war against terrorism in 2020. "This is not...

EADS Astrium Delivers First Inmarsat-4 Satellite.
February 8, 2005... EADS Astrium said it has completed the production and test of the first Inmarsat-4 satellite. The satellite is based on EADS Astrium's Eurostar E3000 satellite platform. The satellite is part of Inmarsat's forthcoming Broadband Global Area...

Foxtel Exec Confident Over 2005 Prospects.
February 8, 2005... Foxtel Digital's executive director of content, development and delivery, Patrick Delany, is confident that the operator will see strong growth in 2005. The satellite and cable pay-TV operator, which launched digital services in the first half...

Viasat Boosts Digital Packages.
February 8, 2005... Viasat Broadcasting, a satellite pay-TV operator in the Nordic region, is boosting its content offering thanks to an agreement with one of Sweden's key broadcasters. It has signed a three-year deal with TV4, which will see a host of new...

QuetzSat Given Nod To Offer Satellite Broadcast Services.
February 8, 2005... QuetzSat SRL de CV said it has received a concession for the Ku-band broadcast satellite services frequencies at 77 degrees West from the Mexican government. QuetzSat is a Mexican partnership that includes Grupo Medcom, SES Americom, Ricardo...

MTN To Deliver Same-Day Newspapers To Cruises.
February 8, 2005... NewspaperDirect said it would be delivering same-day newspapers to ships in Radisson Seven Seas Cruises fleet through its partnership with Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN). Cruise ship passengers will be able to get USA Today,...

Arinc, Telenor Add Altobridge Technology To In-Flight Mobile Phone Solution.
February 8, 2005... Arinc Inc. and Telenor said that they have signed a technology contract with Altobridge Ltd. to provide the link between Inmarsat satellites and GSM phones onboard planes, enabling GSM phone users to make calls from their cell phones while a...

DirecTV Taps Evan Grayer For Broadband Position.
February 8, 2005... The DirecTV Group Inc. said it has named Evan Grayer to be the vice president of broadband. Grayer will be responsible for evaluating broadband options for DirecTV and executing the strategy going forward. He has held business development roles...

Xantic Boosted By Inmarsat Distribution Agreement.
February 9, 2005... Xantic, a provider of mobile satcom solutions for voice, fax and highspeed data, finalized a key agreement with Inmarsat. The two companies have ratified their agreement to appoint Xantic as a launch distribution partner for Inmarsat's new...

ILS Tapped To Launch National Security Satellite.
February 9, 2005... International Launch Services said it received authorization from the U.S. Air Force to begin operations for the launch of a national security payload on an Atlas 5 vehicle in mid-2007 from Cape Canaveral, FL. The mission will use the "401"...

New Skies Seeks Credit Facilities Amendment.
February 9, 2005... New Skies Satellites BV said it is seeking an amendment to its existing credit facilities via Deutsche Bank. The amendment is being sought in connection with the initial public offering of New Skies Satellite Holdings Ltd., New Skies' indirect...

DirecTV Launches Rebranding Campaign.
February 9, 2005... DirecTV Inc. announced the launch of a new brand and national television advertising campaign to support it. According to DirecTV, the objective of the new branding is to remind customers that all TV providers are not equal. The campaign...

Verizon Launches Combined Bill For Telecom, DirecTV Services.
February 9, 2005... Verizon said that new DirecTV customers that order the direct-to-home satellite television service through the company will receive a single bill that covers the DirecTV service as well as the telecommunications services offered through...

HNS Europe, Net2Phone Launch VoIP Via Satellite.
February 9, 2005... Hughes Network Systems Europe, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Network Systems Inc., said it teamed up with Net2Phone Inc. to offer integrated voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service to Direcway broadband satellite customers throughout...

Satamatics Reports More Than 50,000 Terminals In Operation.
February 9, 2005... Satamatics, operator of Inmarsat D+ satellite-based micro telemetry service, said it now has more than 50,000 mobile satellite communication terminals operating over its worldwide network. The terminals are used to monitor the locations and...

Dish Launches Pentagon Channel Availability.
February 9, 2005... EchoStar Communications Corp. said its Dish Network direct-to-home satellite television service now offers the Pentagon Channel to its subscribers at no additional cost, though it did note that certain subscribers might require a second...

Tachyon Names New CEO.
February 9, 2005... Tachyon Networks Inc. said it appointed Peter Carides as its president and CEO. "The hiring of Peter Carides is the latest and most significant step in positioning Tachyon for strategic growth," Erik Anderson, chairman of Tachyon's board...

Japan Begins Countdown For Next H2-A Rocket Launch.
February 9, 2005... The Associated Press reported Feb. 8 that Japan's space agency has begun the countdown to the latest launch of that nation's H2-A rocket, which will carry a multipurpose weather and telecom satellite into orbit on Feb. 24. The mission is the...

Arianespace Delays Launch For 24 Hours.
February 10, 2005... Arianespace said it is delaying the launch of an Ariane 5 until Feb. 12 after an anomaly occurred with the ground equipment. The rocket will carry the Xtar-Eur X-band telecommunications satellite along with two other payloads. The launch had...

Lockheed Martin Delivers New GPS Satellite To U.S. Air Force.
February 10, 2005... Lockheed Martin said it delivered the first modernized GPS satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and the spacecraft is undergoing final preparations for its May launch. The satellite, designated GPS IIR-M1, will provide...

Alcatel Heads Euro Mobile Broadband R&D.
February 10, 2005... Alcatel has been tagged to lead a new $16 million European R&D effort to establish standards for providing broadband to ships, trains and planes. The European consortium, called MOWGLY (MObile Wideband GLobal Link sYstem), formally sprang into...

Paradigm Delivers Secure Satellite Link To NATO.
February 10, 2005... Paradigm Secure Communications said it established the first satellite link in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Satcom Post 2000 program. The link between one of NATO's ground stations in Europe and its front line operational...

XM Takes Flight With AirTran.
February 10, 2005... AirTran Airways and XM Satellite Radio officially launched the availability of XM's service on AirTran flights Feb. 9. AirTran said it has three planes in its fleet that have complimentary XM availability and will add 20 additional planes by...

General Dynamics Taps Enea For MUOS Operating System.
February 10, 2005... Enea Embedded Technology said its OSE real-time operating system and development tools have been selected by General Dynamics for use in a wireless satellite ground control system that General Dynamics is providing for the U.S. Navy Space and...

OpenTV Claims Industry First In The U.S.
February 10, 2005... OpenTV is claiming a key industry first in the interactive shopping arena in the United States. The company announced that it built the first interactive television shopping application for EchoStar Communication Corp.'s Dish Network...

Satellite Radio Not In Immediate Future For iPod.
February 10, 2005... According to a Feb. 9 report on CNN's Web site, there are no immediate plans for satellite radio to be integrated into Apple's iPod portable MP3 player. CNN quotes Sirius Satellite Radio CEO Mel Karmazin as saying he has spoken with Apple CEO...

Nigeria Plans 2006 Launch For Communications Satellite.
February 10, 2005... Reuters reported Feb. 9 that Nigeria has inked a deal with China Great Wall Industry Corp. to build and launch a communications satellite. Specific specifications of the spacecraft, named Nigeria-Communication SAT 2, were not revealed by the...

SSPI To Host Feb. 15 Briefing On Media Programming's Transition To Digital.
February 10, 2005... The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) is hosting an evening reception and briefing on the media's transition to digital programming. The briefing will examine what satellite operators can do...

Eutelsat Taps ILS For Hot Bird Satellite Launch.
February 11, 2005... International Launch Services (ILS) said it signed a contract with Eutelsat SA for the launch of Eutelsat's Hot Bird satellite in the first quarter of 2006. The contract was negotiated and signed in the framework of Eutelsat's strategy of...

FCC Reaffirms Decision On ATC Integration In MSS Systems.
February 11, 2005... The Federal Communications Commission Feb. 10 reaffirmed its decision to allow satellite operators to integrate ancillary terrestrial components (ATC) to existing mobile satellite service (MSS) systems and modified the rules governing ATC to...

ITN Taps Norsat For Spot News Coverage.
February 11, 2005... United Kingdom television news supplier ITN has selected the Norsat Newslink terminal to enable live and timely news broadcasts of breaking news stories from around the world. The Newslink terminal is optimized for satellite newsgathering...

GlobeCast Adds Interactive Dating Channel.
February 11, 2005... GlobeCast added an interactive dating channel, Look4Love TV to its global distribution network. The channel will be available on BSkyB's platform, uplinked via Eurobird 28.5 degreesE from GlobeCast's Brookman's Park teleport. The channel...

Motient Purchases Additional Interest In Mobile Satellite Ventures.
February 11, 2005... Motient Corp. said it has closed a series of transactions with Telecom Satellite Ventures, Columbia Space Partners and Spectrum Space Equity Investors, the result of which increases Motient's ownership stake in Mobile Satellite Ventures to...

DirecTV Files For Secondary Common Stock Offering.
February 11, 2005... The DirecTV Group Inc. has filed an amendment to its registration statement with Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the commencement of a secondary offering of common stock. The selling stockholders--General Motors Special...

Gilat Names Benjamini To Serve As External Director To Board.
February 11, 2005... Gilate Satellite Networks Ltd. said that Haim Benjamini has been elected to serve as external director to the company's board of directors. He will serve a term of three years. [Copyright 2005 Access Intelligence, LLC. All rights reserved.]...

Cablevision To Divest Voom.
February 14, 2005... Cablevision Systems Corp. said it signed a letter of intent under which Voom HD LLC, a new private company formed by certain Cablevision Class B Common Stock holders, including Cablevision Chairman Charles Dolan and Tom Dolan, will acquire the...

SBS Makes Key Nordic Acquisition.
February 14, 2005... SBS Broadcasting has made a key acquisition to strengthen its position in the Nordic pay-TV arena. The company acquired a number of top premium movies and sports channels, which should provide strong subscription revenues going forward. ...

Arianespace Confirms Feb. 12 Launch Schedule.
February 14, 2005... Arianespace has given the go-ahead to launch an Ariane 5 ECA heavy-lift rocket on Feb. 12 from its launch site in Kourou, French Guiana, one day later than originally scheduled, following the completion of a launch readiness review. The rocket...

MTN, Paycard Systems Launch Shipboard Banking App.
February 14, 2005... Maritime Telecommunications Network and Paycard Systems announced they are jointly offering a new service aimed at employees of the cruise industry as well as the offshore oil and gas industry to facilitate access to payroll funds by these...

AirCell Offers Flight Tracking Capability.
February 14, 2005... AirCell said it is now offering the capability of tracking aircraft in real-time, regardless of whether the plane is on IFR flight plans within standard air traffic control radar coverage. Aircraft with an AirCell satellite transceiver and a...

BN TV Joins GlobeCast World TV Lineup In America.
February 14, 2005... GlobeCast said that Bosnia-based television channel BN TV has been added to its World TV direct-to-home satellite television platform. It is the first Bosnian channel to appear on the service. GlobeCast is providing BN TV with transmission to...

Telefonica Backs Away From Selling Stake In Hispasat.
February 14, 2005... According to an AFX wire report from Feb. 10, Telefonica SA will not be selling its 13.23 percent stake in Hispasat. The report noted that an unnamed Telefonica official said the decision not to sell was made in response to a request from...

Ariane 5 ECA Launch Successful, Inks Star One Launch Contract.
February 15, 2005... After a failed maiden voyage and a 24-hour delay, Arianespace successfully launched its Ariane 5 ECA rocket Feb. 12, carrying the Xtar-Eur and two other satellites into orbit. The rocket lifted off from the launch pad at Arianespace's Kourou,...

WBU Taps Telesat For HDTV Codec Interoperability Testing.
February 15, 2005... Telesat said it was selected by the World Broadcasting Union's International Satellite Operations Group (WBU-ISOG) as the host site for tests to ensure the global interoperability of codecs used for high definition TV (HDTV) video...

Star One CEO Expects Solid 2005 Profits.
February 15, 2005... Star One CEO Edson Soffiatti believes the operator is in a strong position to achieve financial success in 2005 despite intense competition and transponder pricing pressure within the Latin American communications markets. The satellite...

Connexion by Boeing Available To Seattle SAS Flight.
February 15, 2005... Connexion by Boeing and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) said that SAS would be the first international carrier to introduce the Connexion by Boeing wireless in-flight Internet service to flights between Seattle and Copenhagen, Denmark. SAS...

GlobeCast Provides Satellite Connection For Fundraising Soccer Match.
February 15, 2005... GlobeCast said it is donating its satellite broadcasting services to a FIFA/UEFA "Football for Hope" Tsunami Relief Match between Ronaldinho XI and Shevchenko XI on Feb. 15 at Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona, Spain. The entire proceeds of the...

Networkcar Offers Satellite Tracking Option.
February 15, 2005... Networkcar, a Reynolds and Reynolds company that specializes in tracking of trucking fleets and automobiles, said it is expanding its coverage area by offering satellite vehicle tracking in addition to its already offered terrestrial wireless...

EMS Satcom Appoints New Accounts Manager For Commercial Sales In Western U.S.
February 15, 2005... EMS Technologies Inc. said it has appointed Russ Gordon as the account manager for commercial sales in the Western United States for the company's Satcom division. Gordon brings 20 years of sales and marketing experience specialized in the...

WorldSpace Released New Satellite Radio Receiver.
February 15, 2005... AsiaPulse reported Feb. 14 that WorldSpace Satellite Radio unveiled Diva, the company's new satellite radio receiver. The receiver is compatible with CD players and other entertainment systems components. Diva will retail for $114, including an...

Satellite Industry Seeks To Streamline Earth Station Approval.
February 16, 2005... The Global VSAT Forum (GVF) said the international satellite sector has launched an initiative seeking to streamline earth station-type approvals procedures through the endorsement of a global standard and the expansion of an industry...

Tandberg Signs Key DirecTV HD Deal.
February 16, 2005... Tandberg Television is set to play a key role in the U.S. High-Definition (HD) television market, thanks to a landmark deal with satellite television service provider DirecTV. The deal with DirecTV will enable DirecTV to deliver multiple HD...

SES Americom Taps ViaSat For DOCSIS-based Broadband Satellite System.
February 16, 2005... ViaSat Inc. said it reached agreement to supply SES Americom with its SurfBeam DOCSIS-based two-way broadband satellite system, which it says will enable SES Americom to expand its enterprise offerings across the region with a low-cost, high...

Eagle Broadband, GlobeCast Launch Turnkey IPTV Solution.
February 16, 2005... Eagle Broadband Inc. and GlobeCast said they are launching IPTVComplete, which they describe as the first turnkey IPTV services solution that enables telephone companies, municipalities, utilities and real estate developers to rapidly deliver...

Comtech Nabs $2 Million Equipment Contract.
February 16, 2005... Comtech Telecommunications Corp. said its Comtech EF Data Corp. subsidiary won a $2 million contract to provide Ku-band satellite ground equipment to an unnamed civil aviation customer in Asia. Comtech EF Data will ship a Model KST-2000A Earth...

Phillip Spector Named Executive Vice President And General Counsel For Intelsat.
February 16, 2005... Intelsat said Phillip Spector has been hired by the company to serve as executive vice president and general counsel. The well-known Washington attorney most recently serves as chairman of the Communications and Technology Group at...

Express-AM 2 Prepped For Transportation To Baikonur.
February 16, 2005... Itar-Tass reported Feb. 15 that the Express-AM 2 satellite is being prepared for transportation to the Baikonur cosmodrome for its scheduled late March launch. The satellite was to have been shipped by the end of 2004, but a spokesperson for...

iiNet Sells Satellite Business.
February 16, 2005... The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) reported Feb. 15 that Western Australian ISP iiNet sold its satellite business in Australia and New Zealand to Bordernet, which specializes in providing rural customers satellite Internet access. Financial...

Inmarsat Seeks ATC License.
February 17, 2005... Inmarsat said it would apply for authorization to operate ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) facilities in the United States to provide voice and data communications using L-band frequencies. The announcement comes after the Federal...

Sky Television Announces Content Additions.
February 17, 2005... Sky Television New Zealand announced two new additions to its programming line-up to boost its content production in the areas of sports and current affairs. It announced that it intends to launch a new current affairs show, "Williams - Up...

Morsviazsputnik Taps EMS For DVB-RCS System.
February 17, 2005... EMS Technologies said its satellite network division signed a contract with Morsviazsputnik for a DVB-RCS system to be installed in Russia. The DVB-RCS product and technology solutions enable two-way broadband access for a wide range of...

BellSouth Brings In 200,000 Subscribers For DirecTV.
February 17, 2005... BellSouth said Feb. 16 that it added more than 200,000 DirecTV satellite television subscribers since it began offering the service in August 2004. "This significant milestone is evidence that BellSouth customers are looking to bundle...

Globecomm Taps iDirect For Satellite Broadband Access Solution.
February 17, 2005... Globecomm Systems Inc. said the company launched a worldwide two-way, high-speed Internet protocol platform utilizing iDirect Technologies' satellitebased broadband access solution. The Globecomm offering combines iDirect's IP platform with its...

Wendy's Of Rochester Taps Gilat For Networking Applications.
February 17, 2005... Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. said its U.S.-based subsidiary, Spacenet Inc., was selected by Wendy's Restaurants of Rochester Inc. to provide a Connexstar broadband satellite network to link 123 Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburger restaurants...

MSV Announces Personnel Moves.
February 17, 2005... Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) announced the appointment of Jennifer Manner as the company's new vice president of regulatory affairs. She comes to MSV after most recently serving as senior counsel to Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy of the...

Space Imaging Up For Sale?
February 17, 2005... Reuters reported Feb. 15 that Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Co. are planning to sell their Space Imaging remote sensing joint venture. The report cited industry analysts as the source for the sale talk, but was unable to get comment from Space...

Russian Spy Satellite Lost.
February 17, 2005... MSNBC reported late Feb. 15 on its Web site that Russia appears to have abandoned the search for a spy satellite that has not been seen since returning to Earth Jan. 9. The report said amateur satellite trackers determined the satellite was...

Sea Launch Postpones XM-3 Launch.
February 18, 2005... At press time, Sea Launch said it was postponing the launch of the XM-3 satellite for XM Satellite Radio until Feb. 17 at 7:53 p.m. PST due to rough sea conditions at its equatorial launch platform at 154 degrees West, giving the launch a...

MTG Sees Baltic Numbers Leap.
February 18, 2005... Viasat Broadcasting ended 2004 with 680,000 digital pay-TV subscribers across Scandinavia and the Baltics. This is compared to 629,000 at the end of 2003. This was one of the highlights as, Modern Times Group (MTG), the owners of the Viasat...

El Al Signs On With Connexion By Boeing.
February 18, 2005... El Al Israel Airlines signed a definitive agreement to receive Connexion by Boeing's in-flight high-speed Internet access service for its passengers, the two companies said. The agreement calls for the installation of the Connexion by Boeing...

Raymarine Unveils Marine Satellite TV System.
February 18, 2005... Raymarine is launching a satellite television system designed for marine users to allow them to access satellite television while at sea. According to Raymarine, the new system, named 45 STV, will automatically identify, acquire and track...

German Milsat Launch Scheduled For December.
February 18, 2005... Itar-Tass reported Feb. 17 that a German military satellite, the first of five, is scheduled for launch in December. The satellite will be launched into orbit from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, Russia, on a Kosmos-3M launch vehicle. The four...