Satellite Today articles from July 2003

Satellite Today archives from July 2003

Loral To Pay Alcatel $13M As Part of Contract Settlement.
July 1, 2003... New York-based Loral Space & Communications [NYSE: LOR] and Paris-based Alcatel [NYSE: ALA] announced Tuesday that they had reached a settlement resolving all outstanding issues between them, including a contract dispute that has been in...

ITU's WRC Closes In On Deals.
July 1, 2003... The International Telecommunication Union's World Radiocommunication Conference is heading down the home stretch as it prepares to wrap up a month's worth of work at the end of this week. The WRC plenary, the body that has the final...

XM's Second-Quarter Subscriber Gains Top Forecasts.
July 1, 2003... XM Satellite Radio [Nasdaq: XMSR] is continuing to meet or exceed its promises to Wall Street. The Washington-based satellite radio company beat the expectations of satellite analysts Tuesday when it announced a second-quarter subscriber gain...

Intelsat Appoints International Video Sales Executives.
July 1, 2003... Washington, D.C.-based Intelsat has appointed Doug Triblehorn and Jean-Philippe Gillet to head regional sales efforts for its Media and Entertainment Business Unit in Asia and Europe, Africa and the Middle East, respectively. Triblehorn is...

Thales Becomes Sixth Partner In European Galileo System.
July 1, 2003... Thales Group has signed an agreement with Galileo Industries, the consortium set up to build, deploy and operate the European Galileo satellite navigation system, under which Thales will become the sixth partner in the consortium. Thales is...

Launch of Second Mars Probe Delayed Until July 5.
July 1, 2003... The launch of the second Mars Exploration Rovers, named "Opportunity," aboard a Boeing [NYSE: BA] Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., has been delayed until July 5 from an original launch date of June 26 that has been rescheduled...

Arianespace Looks For Asian Boost.
July 2, 2003... Arianespace, the France-based launch service provider, hopes to secure additional contracts outside its core markets of Europe, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. In April this year, Arianespace inked a deal with the Indian Space Research...

Orbital Gets Debt Refinancing Plan Approval.
July 2, 2003... Dulles, Va.-based Orbital Sciences [NYSE: ORB] has taken another step toward refinancing its debt in a move similar to what many U.S. homeowners are doing to take advantage of falling interest rates. Orbital this week received consent from...

SAS, Connexion by Boeing Sign Service Accord.
July 2, 2003... Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) and Connexion by Boeing, a business unit of Boeing [NYSE: BA], have signed a definitive service agreement for equipping the European air carrier's long-haul aircraft with the satellitedelivered broadband...

RT Logic Awarded Skynet 5 Contract by EADS Astrium.
July 2, 2003... RT Logic, a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based subsidiary of Integral Systems [Nasdaq: ISYS], announced that EADS Astrium has awarded the company a contract to supply satellite baseband systems, S-Band modem systems, and other ground equipment for...

FiberSat Global Services Launches Satellite Feed of S/Networks.
July 2, 2003... FiberSat Global Services has commenced the operation of the new satellite-fed channel called S|Networks. FiberSat Global Services is operating under an agreement to originate the S|Net video programming, as well as provide satellite uplinking...

Gilat Puts In Place Corporate Restructuring Plan.
July 2, 2003... Israel-based Gilat Satellite Networks [Nasdaq: GILTF] has put in place a financial restructuring program aimed at increasing efficiency and cutting corporate expenses. The program includes a variety of measures, including organizational and...

WRC Gives Final Approval to WLAN Allocation.
July 2, 2003... In a late-afternoon plenary session Wednesday at the World Radiocommunication Conference, delegates gave final approval to an allocation of 455 megahertz of spectrum in the 5 gigahertz spectrum band for wireless local area networks (WLANs) that...

Asianet USA Joins GlobeCast DTH Platform.
July 2, 2003... Direct-to-home provider GlobeCast and Intelsat jointly announced that Malayalam-language television channel Asianet USA has joined the GlobeCast DTH platform using the Telstar 5 satellite. GlobeCast's platform on Telstar 5 is the fastest...

WRC Wraps Up With Key Satellite Agreements.
July 3, 2003... The International Telecommunication Union's World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) is wrapping up its month of spectrum allocation work on Friday with some key agreements affecting satellite services, members of the U.S. delegation said...

Satlynx CEO Resigns.
July 3, 2003... Satlynx, a European satellite broadband venture, said that its founding chief executive officer, Yves Elsen, will resign effective Aug. 31 "to pursue career opportunities in a new field." The company's board has set up a search committee to...

Globecomm Gets $8.3M Terminal Contract.
July 3, 2003... Globecomm Systems [Nasdaq: GCOM], a Hauppauge, N.Y.-based supplier of satellite communications products and services, has received an $8.3 million contract to supply fixed and mobile earth station terminals for satellite communications from an...

Inforetech Wireless, Augustine Fund Retire $1.25M in Convertible Debt.
July 3, 2003... Inforetech Wireless Technology [BB: WYRE], a Vancouver, Canada-based supplier of GPS technology for the golf industry, has reached an agreement to retire $1.25 million in convertible debt obligations to Augustine Fund. The agreement also...

XATA Awarded Orders Totaling $1.8M From Major Grocer.
July 3, 2003... XATA [Nasdaq: XATA], a Minneapolis, Minn.-based provider of fleet management products for the commercial trucking industry, has been awarded orders totaling $1.8 million by an undisclosed company in the grocery industry. The orders cover...

Dyband Delivers IP Traffic Management for Nunavut.
July 3, 2003... Dyband, an Ottawa, Canada-based supplier of IP traffic management products to service providers, governments and enterprises, Thursday announced delivery of a multi-site IP traffic management solution to the government of Nunavut, an Inuit...

Orbit Unit Gets New Orders for Satellite Power Systems.
July 3, 2003... Orbit International's [Nasdaq: ORBT] Behlman Electronics unit has received orders from the U.S. military to provide power supply components for a U.S. Army mobile satellite communications system and for Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles,...

Editor's Note.
July 3, 2003... Because of the July 4th holiday in the United States, we will not publish SATELLITE TODAY tomorrow (Friday). Look for us again on Monday, July 7. Have a great holiday! I'd also like to take this opportunity to solicit feedback from...

AMC-9 Begins Commercial Services from 85 Degrees West.
July 7, 2003... The hybrid C-band/Ku-band AMC-9 satellite has begun commercial service and soon will start serving a number of SES Americom customers who are being switched from the AMC-2 bird during the next few weeks. Customers that will be moved to the...

Russia, China To Deploy Satellite Telemedicine Network.
July 7, 2003... Russian Satellite Communications Co. and ChinaSatCom have signed a cooperation agreement to deploy a satellite telemedicine network in China, Russia and Southeast Asia. The project will involve the deployment of telemedicine...

Satlynx Gets BySky Satellite Broadband Contract.
July 7, 2003... BySky, a satellite service provider based in Ruinen, The Netherlands, has signed a reseller agreement with Satlynx to deliver two-way broadband satellite services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), public and educational sectors in...

Telenor Satellite Services Inks Maritime Deal With Fugro Survey.
July 7, 2003... Telenor Satellite Services has signed a contract with Fugro Survey Ltd. of Aberdeen, UK, for Sealink maritime high-speed data communications aboard three of Fugro's survey and research vessels. Under the terms of the agreement, Telenor will...

NTN Leverages New Satellite Platform For Restaurant Chain.
July 7, 2003... NTN Communications [AMEX:NTN] a Carlsbad, Calif.-based provider of interactive communications and entertainment products for the hospitality industry, will offer two-way satellite communication services to Damon's International, a casual dining...

DaimlerChrysler Chooses Smartnav As Satellite Navigation Option in UK.
July 7, 2003... DaimlerChrysler [NYSE: DCX] has begun offering Smartnav, a satellite navigation system from Trafficmaster, as an approved accessory in the United Kingdom on its Voyager, Grand Voyager, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee and PT Cruiser models. ...

Serbia's Pink Selects GlobeCast's DTH Platform.
July 7, 2003... Serbian television and radio channels Pink Plus, Extra and Radio Pink have signed up to deliver their programming via GlobeCast's digital direct-to-home platform at 13 degrees East Longitude across the European continent, Northern Africa and...

Showtime Captures BSkyB Executive.
July 7, 2003... Former head of pay-per-view events at BSkyB, Marc Conneely, will join Gulf DTH as vice president, advertising sales and new business development. Gulf DTH owns and operates the Showtime network in the Middle East. The Showtime network...

Teledesic Abandons Broadband Project, Returns License.
July 8, 2003... Teledesic LLC's one-time plan to launch a $10 billion constellation of satellites to provide broadband services has been scaled back over the years and now appears to have ended, after the startup recently chose to return its spectrum license...

Stratos Adds Satellite for Asia-Pacific Inmarsat Service.
July 8, 2003... Stratos [TSX:SGB], a Bethesda, Md.-based provider of global remote communications, announced that effective immediately it will provide Inmarsat leased services through a fifth satellite located at 143.5 degrees East Longitude. This satellite...

DigitalGlobe Offers Civil Government Customers Imagery Package.
July 8, 2003... DigitalGlobe, a Longmont, Colo.-based satellite imagery firm, is making available to non-military government customers a new color imagery product, as well as a subscription program and a civil government license. The product specifications,...

Canadian Court Upholds Signal Piracy Decision.
July 8, 2003... A Canadian federal court has upheld a lower court order to seize satellite equipment and access cards from a number of dealers in Ontario and Quebec. The federal court also issued an injunction prohibiting the dealers from selling satellite...

Mars Probe Finally Launched.
July 8, 2003... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched its second Mars probe, "Opportunity," July 7 aboard a Delta II rocket. The launch, originally scheduled for June 28, was delayed numerous times because of concerns with cork thermal...

LiveTV To Provide First Satellite TV Service in Canada.
July 8, 2003... LiveTV, a unit of JetBlue Airways [Nasdaq: JBLU], has signed an agreement with Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet Airlines [Toronto: WJA.TO] to provide inflight satellite TV service on the carrier's fleet of 40 Boeing 737-700 aircraft. This will...

SatLynx Looks To Southern Europe For Broadband Demand.
July 9, 2003... SatLynx, the European two-way broadband service provider, believes markets in southern Europe offer the best opportunities for the company as it bids to make an impact on the European broadband landscape. Robert Feierbach, vice president of...

MSV To Unveil Vision for ATC Deployment in North America.
July 9, 2003... Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) plans to unveil its vision of the controversial deployment of ATC (ancillary terrestrial component) services in North America during the First International Conference on Advanced Satellite Mobile Systems (ASMS)...

Infiniti Offers Satellite Radio As Option on All Vehicles.
July 9, 2003... Nissan North America's Infiniti division will begin offering XM Satellite Radio [Nasdaq: XMSR] and Sirius Satellite Radio [Nasdaq: SIRI] equipment as a factory or dealer installed option for its entire lineup of vehicles beginning this month....

PlanetLink Communications Signs Sales and Marketing Agreement.
July 9, 2003... PlanetLink Communications [OTC BB: PLKC.OB] , a Cumming, Ga.-based provider of satellite-based products and services, has signed a sales and marketing agreement with James J. Vogel, dba Market One Direct, to expand its strategic marketing...

SBCA Chief Slams Cable Industry Over Pricing Report.
July 9, 2003... Andrew Wright, president of the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association (SBCA), said that the Federal Communications Commission's Report on 2002 Cable Industry Prices, released this week, "illustrates why consumers continue to...

UN Uses Satellite Images For Development Work.
July 9, 2003... United Nations-led development efforts in some of the poorest and most remote parts of the globe are being guided by images from satellites provided by the European Space Agency. The ESA-backed UNOSAT consortium is providing an average of five...

Arianespace, Boeing, Mitsubishi To Form Launch Alliance.
July 10, 2003... France's Arianespace, U.S.-based Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries [PNK: MHVYF.PK] expect to complete a satellite launch alliance by the third quarter, according to Suzanne Chambers, Arianespace director of external...

Intelsat To Transmit All-Star Game Abroad.
July 10, 2003... Major League Baseball International, which coordinates network planning and broadcast of Major League Baseball (MLB) games, has chosen Intelsat to broadcast the July 15 All-Star Game to viewers worldwide. Using four Intelsat satellites - the...

Globecomm Works To Restore Telecommunications in Baghdad.
July 10, 2003... Globecomm Systems [Nasdaq: GCOM], a Hauppauge, N.Y.-based provider of satellite-based communications, announced Thursday that it has been working with an unidentified customer in an effort to restore telecommunication services in Iraq. The...

Italy's Netsystem Adds Second Astra Transponder.
July 10, 2003... Italy's Netsystem has signed a long-term agreement to use a second transponder on SES Astra's satellite at 19.2 degrees East Longitude to provide satellite-based Internet service throughout Italy. This follows a separate agreement between...

Boeing-SAIC Team Selects Future Army Combat Systems Partners.
July 10, 2003... Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Science Applications International Corp. has selected 15 partners to join the U.S. Army future combat systems (FCS) program. The 15 new partners will lead teams of approximately 70 companies formed to play system...

ESA's MERIS Sensor Completes Testing.
July 10, 2003... The medium resolution imaging spectrometer (MERIS) sensor aboard the Envisat environmental satellite is ready to begin operating, the European Space Agency announced Thursday. A test campaign has validated the software system that converts...

ESA Awards Two Galileo Contracts Worth $113M.
July 11, 2003... The contracts for the first two Galileo satellites were signed on Friday at the European Space Agency's research and technology center in Noordwijk, Holland. The contracts are for experimental satellites, forerunners of the system's in-orbit...

EMS To Keep Satellite Unit.
July 11, 2003... Atlanta-based EMS Technologies [Nasdaq: ELMG] announced Friday that it plans to keep its startup satellite networks business when it sells off its Montreal-based commercial space division later this year. The commercial space division...

Anaren Plans To Dispose Of European Operation.
July 11, 2003... Anaren [Nasdaq: ANEN], a Syracuse, N.Y.-based maker of integrated microwave components for satellite and wireless communications, Friday said it plans to dispose of its Anaren Europe operation. "This action is being taken due to the decline in...

Trimble Gains Patent for Status Reporting System.
July 11, 2003... GPS device maker Trimble [Nasdaq: TRMB] received a U.S. patent for its automated status reporting of ready-mix concrete trucks. The system allows fleet operators to receive automated status reports of ready-mix trucks during their daily...

Herley Receives Contract for GPS-based Missile Tracking Hardware.
July 11, 2003... Lancaster, Pa.-based Herley Industries [Nasdaq: HRLY] received a contract from the U.S. Navy and Air Force's Joint Advanced Missile Instrumentation Program to supply GPS-based time space position indicator processor unit. The first application...

SnapTrack Partners with Motorola In China.
July 11, 2003... SnapTrack, a subsidiary of Qualcomm [Nasdaq: QCOM], and Motorola [NYSE: MOT] have agreed to provide CDMA carrier China Unicom [NYSE: CHU] with SnapTrack's assisted GPS location server platforms. SnapTrack's position location technology enhances...

Eutelsat Confident HDTV Will Make Impact in Europe.
July 14, 2003... Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat wants to be one of the key players in bringing the high-definition TV (HDTV) experience to European consumers, according to CEO Giuliano Berretta. He told SATELLITE TODAY: "I believe that we will see HDTV...

ILS Readies Rainbow 1 Launch This Week.
July 14, 2003... International Launch Services is preparing for the launch of Cablevision Systems' [NYSE: CVC] Rainbow 1 DBS satellite onboard an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Fla., scheduled for July 17. The 9,542 pound Rainbow 1, manufactured by Lockheed...

Arianespace Readies August Launch of Three Satellites.
July 14, 2003... At the end of August, Arianespace is preparing to launch three satellites onboard an Ariane 5 rocket from its Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. The three satellites are the European Space Agency's SMART-1 scientific satellite, the Indian Space...

FAA Satellite Navigation System Achieves Program Milestone.
July 14, 2003... The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has commissioned its latest satellite navigation system for instrument flight use. The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) enhances the accuracy and reliability of the Global Positioning System (GPS)...

Heinerscheid Named President and CEO of Satlynx.
July 14, 2003... The European broadband satellite venture Satlynx wasted little time in naming Paul Heinerscheid to replace Yves Elsen as its new president and CEO. Elsen announced he would be stepping down at the end of August. Heinerscheid had been working as...

Hong Kong's Galaxy Awards Satellite Transmission Contract To Tandberg.
July 14, 2003... Hong Kong-based pay TV operator Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting has awarded a contract to Tandberg Television to provide a satellite transmission system for Galaxy in Asia. Under the contract, Tandberg will provide a compression and broadcast...

Boeing Takes $1.1 Billion Charge For Launch, Satellite Losses.
July 15, 2003... Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced Tuesday that, as a result of continued weakness in the commercial space launch market, higher mission and launch costs on its Delta IV program, and cost growth in its satellite businesses, it would take a pre-tax...

Intelsat To Pay $1 Billion For Loral's North American Satellites.
July 15, 2003... Intelsat is addressing one of its most glaring weaknesses by signing an agreement to acquire for $1 billion six Loral Space and Communications [NYSE: LOR] satellites and orbital slots to serve North America. The satellites - four already...

Europe*Star CEO Sets Aggressive Targets.
July 15, 2003... Europe*Star CEO Yves De La Serre said he expects his company to improve the fill rates on its satellites. De La Serre told SATELLITE TODAY: "We are targeting to increase significantly this year the number of transponders, which are leased and...

Gilat Names Gerety New Spacenet CEO.
July 15, 2003... Israel's Gilat Satellite Networks [Nasdaq: GILTF] has named Bill Gerety as the new CEO of its Spacenet subsidiary. Gerety takes over from Nick Supron, who served as Spacenet's CEO for the last two years. Gerety joins Spacenet from broadband...

SpaceDev To Develop Nanosatellite Technology For Air Force.
July 15, 2003... SpaceDev [OTC BB: SPDV] has been awarded a contract to develop micro- and nano-satellite bus and subsystem designs for the U.S. Air Force. This Air Force Research Laboratory Small Business Innovation Research contract will enable SpaceDev to...

Mentat Releases SkyX Gateway with Web Prefetch.
July 15, 2003... Los Angeles-based Mentat announced Tuesday the availability of SkyX Gateway firmware version 4.0, incorporating Web Prefetch functionality for faster downloads of Web content over satellite links. Benchmark testing demonstrates that the use of...

Hughes, Boeing Settle Dispute Over Purchase of Satellite Manufacturing Operations.
July 16, 2003... Hughes Electronics [NYSE: GMH] has reached a settlement agreement with Boeing [NYSE: BA] that resolves the outstanding purchase price adjustment disputes arising from Boeing's October 2000 acquisition of Hughes' satellite manufacturing...

Xantic Signs $45M Support Services Contract With ESA.
July 16, 2003... Xantic, a Dutch satellite communications provider, has signed a $45 million contract to provide maintenance and operational support services for the European Space Agency's Perth and New Norcia earth stations in Western Australia. The...

Inforetech Wireless Secures US$1M Line of Credit.
July 16, 2003... Inforetech Wireless Technology [OTC BB: WYRE.OB], a Vancouver, Canadabased supplier of GPS technology for the golf industry, has secured a C$1.5 million (US$1.08 million) line of credit. That amount was less than the company originally...

Scopus Upgrades Sky Italia Digital TV Platforms.
July 16, 2003... Israel's Scopus Network Technologies has been selected to upgrade digital broadcasting platforms for Sky Italia, the new name of Italian pay-TV satellite operator Telepiu, which was acquired by News Corp [NYSE: NWS] and Telecom Italia [NYSE:...

Digital Angel Installs GPS-Based Livestock Scanner For PM Beef.
July 16, 2003... Digital Angel [AMEX: DOC], a Minneapolis-based provider of GPS-based tracking devices, has been awarded a contract to supply PM Beef with a GPS-based system for tracking livestock and capturing data from proprietary RFID and software products...

Cablevision Plans To Compete Head-to-head with Satellite TV Providers.
July 17, 2003... CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.--New York-based cable TV operator, Cablevision Systems [NYSE: CVC], plans to use its Rainbow 1 satellite scheduled for launch this evening to compete head-to-head with existing satellite TV providers, DirecTV and EchoStar...

ILS Launch Of Cablevision's Rainbow 1 Satellite Has 40 Percent Chance Of Weather Delay Tonight.
July 17, 2003... At press time, Cablevision Systems [NYSE: CVC] was preparing to launch its first satellite aboard an Atlas 5 rocket Thursday evening but weather conditions could interfere with those plans. Rain and thunderstorms were forecasted at the Cape...

PanAmSat Puts Latest Satellite Woes In Perspective.
July 17, 2003... PanAmSat [Nasdaq: SPOT] officials explained this week that recent technical problems it is incurring with two of its Boeing 601 model satellites will not disrupt services to its customers or cause major financial fallout for the company. ...

Hughes Electronics, DirecTV Report Solid Second-quarter Results.
July 17, 2003... Hughes Electronics [NYSE: GMH] and its satellite TV subsidiary, DirecTV, notched strong results for the second quarter ended June 30. Hughes reported that second quarter 2003 revenues increased 8.1 percent to $2.37 billion compared with...

E! Networks Looking For Deals With Europe's Major Satellite Players.
July 17, 2003... E! Networks, one of the largest entertainment channel providers in the United States, is seeking a number of deals with European pay-TV satellite operators in the coming months. The channel provider recently has opened up an office in London...

PanAmSat and Liberty Foundation to Deliver Healthcare/Aids To South Africa.
July 17, 2003... PanAmSat [Nasdaq: SPOT] is teaming up with Liberty Foundation, a South Africa-based company that supports education and skills training, to deliver healthcare and educational programming via satellite across all regions of the country. ...

Rainbow Seen In Skies Over Florida.
July 18, 2003... CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.--An Atlas V-521 blasted the Rainbow 1 DBS satellite into orbit at 7:45 p.m EDT Thursday in a launch for Cablevision Systems [NYSE: CVC]. While the launch itself went smoothly, it was delayed because of leakage of...

Eutelsat Expects Broadband Push In Next Five Years.
July 18, 2003... Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat expects revenues derived from broadband services to significantly increase over the next five years, according to CEO Giuliano Berretta. At the moment, broadband constitutes a small part of Eutelsat's...

Logsdon Named Director of Space Enterprise Council.
July 18, 2003... David Logsdon has been named executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Space Enterprise Council. In his new position, he will be responsible for U.S. export control policy, space transportation policy, remote sensing policy, GPS...

iDirect Participates in Launch of Satellite Broadband In Ireland.
July 18, 2003... iDirect Technologies, a privately held company that designs, develops, and markets bi-directional satellite-based broadband access solutions, is working with the South Western Region Authority of Ireland to launch satellitebased broadband...

Stratos Reports Increase in Earnings, Revenues.
July 18, 2003... Stratos Global [TSX: SGB], a Bethesda, Md.-based satellite communications provider, recorded net earnings for the second quarter of $8.3 million, or 16 cents per share, an increase of $5.7 million over the $2.6 million in net earnings, or 6...

Nicholas To Head Andrew Next Year.
July 18, 2003... Andrew Corp. [Nasdaq: ANDW], an Orland Park, Ill.-based satellite and telecommunications equipment manufacturer, announced that Vice Chairman and CFO Charles R. Nicholas will succeed Floyd L. English as chairman of the company when English...

Qwest Forges Agreement With Satellite TV Providers for Bundled Services.
July 21, 2003... Denver-based Qwest Communications International [NYSE: Q] has signed strategic marketing agreements with Hughes Electronics' [NYSE: GMH] DirecTV and EchoStar Communications [Nasdaq: DISH] to make satellite TV services available to its customers...