China launched its fifth satellite as part of its GPS satellite navigation system, with BeiDou-2 IGSO-1 placed into orbit via the CZ-3A Chang Zheng-3A (CZ3A-17/Y16) launch vehicle. Launch from the Xi Chang Satellite Launch Center, in Sichuan Province occured at 5:30am local time on Sunday.

The satellite that was launched is the first BeiDou-2 IGSO (Inclined GSO) satellite of the system. This constellation of satellites will eventually consist of 35 vehicles, including 27 MEO satellites, 5 GSO satellites and 3 IGSO. The satellites will transmit signals on the following carrier frequencies: 1195.14-1219.14 MHz, 1256.52-1280.52 MHz, 1559.05-1563.15 MHz and 1587.69-1591.79 MHz, notably overlaying the Galileo PRS band and the GPS M-code.


The Compass Navigation Satellite System (CNSS) is China’s second-generation satellite navigation system capable of providing continuous, real-time passive 3D geo-spatial positioning and speed measurement.

The system will initially used to provide high-accuracy positioning services for users in China and its neighboring regions, covering an area of about 120 degrees longitude in the Northern Hemisphere. The long-term goal is to develop a global navigation satellite network similar to the GPS and GLONASS.

Like their American and Russian counterparts, CNSS will have two types of services; a civilian service that will provide an accuracy of 10 meters in the user position, 0.2 m/s on the user velocity and 50 nanoseconds in time accuracy; and the military and authorized users service, providing greater accuracy.

The first phase of the project will provide for the coverage of the Chinese territory, ahead of the future use of the Compass constellation for the entire globe.

Previous BeiDou satellites were launched on October 30, 2000 ‘BeiDou-1A’ (Catalogue Number: 26599 International Designation: 2000-069A); December 20, 2000 ‘BeiDou-1B’ (26643 2000-082A); May 24, 2003 ‘BeiDou-1C’ (27813 2003-021A); February 2, 2007 ‘BeiDou-1D’ (30323 2007-003A); April 13, 2007 ‘BeiDou-2 Compass-M1′ (31115 2007-011A); April 14, 2009 ‘BeiDou-2 Compass-G2′ (34779 2009-018A), January 16 ‘BeiDou-2 Compass-G1′ (36287 2010-001A) and June 2, 1010 ‘BeiDou-2 Compass-G3′ (36590 2010-024A).

China used their CZ-3A Chang Zheng-3A launch vehicle to loft BeiDou-2 IGSO-1 uphill. The CZ-3A is a large-scale three-stage liquid launch vehicle, which has inherited the matured technology of the CZ-3 Chang Zheng-3.

An upgraded liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen cryogenic third stage has been developed to enable CZ-3A performing greater geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) capability. The CZ-3A is equipped with a more flexible and sophisticated control system which supports substantial attitude adjustments to orient the payloads before spacecraft separation and provides adjustable satellite spin-up rotation rate.

It has paved the way for the development of CZ-3B Chang Zheng-3B and CZ-3C Chang Zheng-3C, and become the workhorse of GTO launches for China.

The CZ-3A can also be used for LEO, SSO and polar orbit missions, as well as dual-launch and multiple-launch missions. The launch capacity of the CZ-3A to GTO is 2.650 kg, the lift-off mass is 241.000 kg, the overall length is 52.5 meters, the diameter of first stage and second stage is 3.35 meters, the diameter of third stage is 3.0 meters, and the maximum fairing diameter is 3.35 meters.

The first stage and second stage of CZ-3A employ storable propellants, i.e. unsymmetrical dimethy1 hydrazine (UDMH) and nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4), and the third stage uses cryogenic propellants, i.e. liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX).

On the first stage, the CZ-3A uses a DaFY6-2 engine with a 2961.6 kN thrust, while the second stage is equipped with a DaFY20-1 main engine (742 kN) and four DaFY21-1 vernier engines (11.8 kN each). The third stage is equipped with two YF-75 engines (78.5 kN each).

The fairing diameter of the CZ-3A is 3,35 meters and has a length of 8.89 meters.

CZ-3A consists of rocket structure, propulsion system, control system, telemetry system, tracking and safely system, coast phase propellant management and attitude control system, cryogenic propellant utilization system, separation system and auxiliary system, etc.

The CZ-3A has a 100 percent launch success rate since its maiden flight on February 8, 1994 when it successfully launched two experimental satellites. And it was awarded the ‘Gold Launch Vehicle’ title by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in June 2007.

China used a CZ-3A to successfully launch the Chang’e-1 lunar satellite on October 24, 2007, which indicated that has taken a substantial step for lunar exploration.

This was the 125th successful Chinese orbital launch, the 124th launch of a Chang Zheng launch vehicle, the 54th successful orbital launch from the Xi Chang Satellite Launch Center, the third successful orbital launch from the Xi Chang in 2010 and the fifth successful orbital launch from China in 2010.

Equipped with two launch pads (LC2 and LC3), the centre has a dedicated railway and highway lead directly to the launch site. The Command and Control Centre is located seven kilometers south-west of the launch pad, providing flight and safety control during launch rehearsal and launch.

Other facilities on the Xi Chang Satellite Launch Centre are the Launch Control Centre, propellant fuelling systems, communications systems for launch command, telephone and data communications for users, and support equipment for meteorological monitoring and forecasting.

The first launch from Xi Chang took place at 12:25UTC on January 29, 1984, when the CZ-3 Chang Zheng-3 (CZ3-1) launched the Shiyan Weixing (14670 1984-008A) communications satellite into orbit. The launch of the new BeiDou-2 satellite was the 52nd successful orbital launch from Xi Chang.

Source : NASASpaceFlight.com

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LAGOS, Nigeria - 20 July, 2010: Gateway Business, a Vodacom Group company and leading supplier of African telecommunications services, has selected Cisco for its multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa. This deployment means that Cisco technology solutions will drive an IP next generation network (NGN) for Gateway Business, employing intelligent MPLS technologies.

By utilizing Cisco technology, Gateway Business is able to use MPLS at the core of its pan-African network and a blend of fiber, wireless or satellite at the access level. Gateway Business is one of the largest independent providers of secure, high speed, reliable bandwidth services in Africa. Over 1,500 multi-national corporations rely on Gateway to deliver business critical information between head quarters and branch offices from simple voice solutions, to private MPLS virtual private networks (VPNs) and internet access.


In Nigeria, Gateway Business is deploying a national MPLS network, rolling out wireless broadband services across 36 different states in 2010 and 2011.

Gateway Communications, the group’s Carrier Services and Wholesale division, is also an investor in the West Africa Cable System (WACS), which will bring additional capacity in to Nigeria by June 2011. Through this agreement with Cisco Gateway will be able to immediately deploy a range of new services for customers in Nigeria, West Africa, and across the African continent.

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London, June 22, 2010 – Gateway Business, a subsidiary of Vodacom, has announced continued investment in its networks across East and West Africa. Gateway Business selected ECI Telecom, a global provider of networking infrastructure solutions, for the network upgrade on both national and pan-African networks.

ECI’s next generation XDM® multi-service provisioning platform will enable Gateway Business to deliver better node-to-node connection on Gateway’s pan-African network. The platform’s integrated management tools will also be able to carry out easy provisioning, better network protection, monitoring and maintenance for enterprise and wholesale customers.


ECI’s solution is also being used to carry Gateway’s international capacity on SAT3 that currently services the West coast of Africa. This investment is in anticipation of the West Africa Cable System (WACS) due in Nigeria in June 2011. Gateway Business, through its parent Vodacom, is a significant investor in the WACS cable with the right to land its own international capacity in Nigeria.

For SEACOM landing stations, Gateway Business has deployed ECI’s solution to carry the full capacity of its SEACOM network servicing the East coast of Africa. The network upgrade also includes a bond between Gateway’s East and West African networks through its European Backbone, effectively creating a submarine fibre ring network around the African continent.

In Nigeria, Gateway Business is currently upgrading the backbone network for inter-city, inter-state as well as the nationwide protected fibre rings. The investment further supports Gateway’s vision of providing Broadband Wireless Access and Managed Network Services throughout Nigeria. ECI supports Gateway’s vision of promoting advanced telecom solutions in Nigeria and across Africa, through the company’s 1Net framework for network optimisation and migration. With extensive experience in developing markets, ECI is in the premier position to partner with Gateway Business in these projects.

“We are seeing increasing demand for capacity between East and West Africa as carriers respond to business demand,” said Guy Clarke, Managing Director, Gateway Business Nigeria. “As a pan-African business services provider, we continue to make significant investments in our entire network to meet both current and future demand. Nigeria is without doubt Africa’s largest telecoms market and we continue to invest in infrastructure in Nigeria as we build-out our national terrestrial network allowing more business and enterprise customers access to terrestrial services both nationally and internationally. The construction of this network is the first step in realising our vision of being a significant provider of managed network services in the country.”

Source from : africapractice.com

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With iDirect and Hughes HX 50 Satellite Internet Systems can provide lightening fast, reliable and affordable internet in Afghanistan, Iraq , Middle East and Africa.

Lack of poor communication infrastructure poses lots of problems to communicate back home to their families and anywhere in the globe. Satellite Internet are committed to provide high speed internet services to cater the needs of communicating them back home with their respective families

Satellite Internet at WAFA understand the needs and have taken it a step further whereby and provide Free Satellite Internet Systems for the military troops, soldiers, marines in Afghanistan , Iraq and Middle East [ * with most of the service packages ]

The Hughes HX 50 Satellite Internet System is a simple yet sophisticated Plug and Play system in the VSAT world. The Hughes HX 50 provides full satellite broadband anywhere and every where in Afghanistan, Iraq , Middle East.

Please check all details on http://www.wafa.ae

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Gateway re-routes over SAT-3 Cable to keep ISPs operational

London April 28 Gateway Communications, the leading supplier of African telecommunications services, today announced that it is the only carrier on SEACOM currently operational in many East and Southern African countries following an outage on the sub-sea cable.

The cable, that runs from Europe, along the East Coast of Africa to South Africa, was launched last year and hailed as the provider of high-speed African connectivity. However, last week it announced that it was experiencing an interruption in its network on the Mediterranean section of the SEA-ME-WE 4 submarine cable system, which SEACOM currently utilises to connect to London.


Scheduled repair work over the weekend meant that all Internet Service Providers on the SEACOM cable would experience disconnections, as well as the many mobile phone operators who use the cable for their IP capacity. Although repairs were expected to be concluded quickly, as of Tuesday many customers in Eastern and Southern Africa are still experiencing problems.

Gateway Communications has a fully redundant MPLS network on SEACOM and is the only company able to offer MPLS services at any point or end-to-end on the cable. By Friday last week Gateway had already re-routed all IP transits and connections through the SAT-3 cable which travels from South Africa along the Western side of Africa up to Europe. As a result, Gateway customers have experienced no disruption and Gateway is one of the few carriers operational in South Africa and the only carrier that uses SEACOM operational in Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Commenting on the situation, Silvio do Carmo, Gateway Communications’ Business Development Director, Wholesale said, “When such an outage occurs, the cost to businesses and inconvenience to customers is great and as such, we decided to re-route our connections at our own cost. Although many other operators decided to claim ‘unavoidable outage’, connecting Africa is what we do, even when the chips are down.”

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Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, 28th January 2010. Newtec announced today that its unique award winning FlexACM technology – which on average doubles satellite link capacity – is the system behind Gateway Communications’ flagship continent-wide internet backbone service, Africa IPJetDirect.

Gateway Communications, which has the largest pan-African communications network with customers in 40 countries, successfully launched IPJetDirect last year using C band and Ku band satellites to deliver IP services to mobile phone operators in Africa. Newtec’s DVB-S2 VCM and DVB-S2 FlexACM technologies have been deployed on several platforms across the African continent to ensure maximum bandwidth efficiency and allow Gateway to make best use of the scarce satellite capacity over Africa.


“Gateway has always been a pioneer of high quality, cost effective voice and data connectivity across Africa. By using FlexACM it can now reach out even further to satisfy Internet demand – and without unnecessary further satellite capacity investment,” said Newtec CEO Serge Van Herck. “FlexACM’s unique ability to dynamically optimize an end-to-end satellite transmission is ideal in this situation and we are delighted to be playing a part in supporting Gateway’s drive to deliver truly world class communications solutions across Africa”, Herck added.

FlexACM combines a range of cutting edge technologies for implementing Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM), traffic shaping, payload compression and IP acceleration in a highly efficient way for IP trunking and IP backbone satellite links. In addition to doubling the capacity of an existing link, on average, it also guarantees 100 per cent availability of link reception, even when all other systems are down due to heavy rain fade. FlexACM can be used in point-to-point and point-to-multipoint systems, in one way (with terrestrial return channels) as well as two way configurations (with the return channel also over satellite). It can be used to upgrade existing satellite links without changing other elements of the transmission chain, such as the antenna or HPA.

“Newtec’s technology gives us a highly efficient method of delivering large quantities of data into small antennas and the Variable Coding and Modulation (VCM) functionality allows the same platform to address many different sized antennas in the same footprint,” explained Gateway CTO Chris Young.

“FlexACM is optimising the transmission dynamically and automatically. It is helping us in our drive towards easy and cost-effective Internet access and to make sure Africa leads the way global communications are moving”.

FlexACM is available on Newtec’s Elevation product family, which consists of DVB-S2 IP Satellite Modulators, Demodulators, Modems and Satellite IP appliances.

source : www.africapractice.com

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December 21, 2009 – Lagos, Nigeria - Gateway Communications has announced the acquisition of a 10.5Ghz spectrum licence for 10 states in Nigeria. The states are Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Delta, Abuja, Edo, Oyo, Anambra, Abia and Enugu. The acquisition follows Gateway’s successful roll out of the AirlinkTM and MetroLinkTM 10.5Ghz spectrum solutions in Lagos and furthers Gateway’s drive to build a pan-African connectivity network that covers every major African city based on satellite, submarine cable and terrestrial (fibre) infrastructure.

Gateway will roll out services across the ten states in 2010, with Port Harcourt and Abuja scheduled to go live in February 2010 and the company has committed to roll out the solutions to a further 14 states in 2011. The acquisition continues Gateway’s strategic expansion in Nigeria and investment in infrastructure.

“We are delighted that we are rolling out the highly successful AirlinkTM and MetrolinkTM products across 10 new states in 2010. This is a pure broadband 10mb solution with an MPLS backbone and with the flexibility to customise the solutions we provide to individual client needs” said John Dindlebeck, Managing Director for Gateway West Africa. “This expansion demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing world class connectivity solutions in Nigeria and is a major investment. We have already seen significant interest in the service in roll out states from our existing clients in Lagos.”

The AirLinkTM and MetroLinkTM solutions are targeted at fast growing medium sized businesses looking for a reliable and customised connectivity solution to help drive growth and operational capacity. Clients already using the system in Lagos reacted to the announcement by saying:

“At Telnet Nigeria Ltd, we appreciate the level of consistency and the high performance of the broadband service that Gateway has provided us with. In fact as soon as Airlink is rolled out to Abuja and Port Harcourt we will be utilising the service in those branches too. We look forward to working with Gateway in the future and having the best quality Internet service provision from them.”

CIG, Telnet Nigeria, Lagos

“Our Internet connection has the speed and reliability we need to run our business effectively and we give Gateway credit for their immediate response to and resolution of issues at all times. We are currently working on opening a branch in Abuja and will be delighted to use Airlink once it has been rolled out in the region.”

Network Administrator, Camac/ Allied Energy
“Gateway has recently upgraded our service from VSAT technology to Gateway’s new Airlink Broadband service. We have recommended Airlink to our other companies in Enugu, Onitsha and Warri where we hope that the service can be rolled out soon.”
Head of IT, Nigerite

About Gateway Communications
Gateway Communications owns and operates the largest and most advanced pan-African telecommunications network. Our scale, reach and resources are unparalleled.
Gateway connects over 583 million people in over 40 African countries, working in partnership with the continents leading mobile phone operators.

Our business experts are creating prosperity across Africa by working closely with multinational corporations; in banking and finance, oil and gas, mining and construction, retail and distribution, airlines and other important sectors.

With more than 45 transponders of satellite capacity over Africa we manage more connectivity over the continent than any other operator. And with 24 dedicated teleports, access to multiple SAT-3 and SEACOM landing ports, 17 African offices and 450 local experts, we’ve got more on the ground support than any other operator.

Gateway is committed to developing long term communications solutions and investing for the long term in the communities where we operate.

We continue to be recognised for setting the standards for tomorrow’s communications in Africa.

Enquiries
Gateway Communications
Tom Tudor - Marketing Director
tom.tudor@gatewaycomms.com
Tel: +44 20 7173 1700

africapractice (London)
Jo Crawshaw
jcrawshaw@africapractice.com
Tel: +44 207 209 7507

africapractice (Johannesburg)
Ali Merifield
amerifield@africapractice.com
Tel: + 27 11 782 6468

Jo Crawshaw | Consultant | africapractice
Direct: +44(0)207 209 7507 | Mobile: +44 (0)7875 400 616
www.africapractice.com


africapractice provides strategic communications, corporate citizenship and environmental consulting services, delivered from regional hub offices across Africa and a coordinating office in London.

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Technology developed by European researchers promises to dramatically lower the costs of satellite bandwidth, potentially bridging the digital divide and enabling satellites to deliver TV, internet and telephony services via satellite. The technical problems are solved, now the research team is working hard on the business case.

Service providers could start offering satellite TV, broadband and voice services for less than €50 thanks to satellite technology innovations by European researchers.

Eurostat estimates that 10% of the European population, or 30m people, are too isolated to be covered by landline broadband services and, so far, no viable solution has presented itself.


Experts hoped that WiMax – a long-range version of the WiFi wireless technology – would fill the gap, but large WiMax networks are expensive to deploy, and the technology is just beginning to mature.

Satellite services could fill the gap, but in this case, the bandwidth costs are very high. A basic internet service via satellite can cost €150 to €200, way out of reach for the vast majority of users.

But those costs could drop dramatically thanks to the work of European researchers from the IMOSAN project working on integrated multi-layer optimisation in broadband DVB-S2 satellite networks. IMOSAN took advantage of new standards to squeeze more bandwidth from satellite transmissions.
The team also developed components that could offer ‘triple-play’ services – TV, internet and telephony. Finally, they developed optimisation software that could help ensure the best possible service quality in bad weather or during high-demand periods.



Impressive technical hurdles

The EU-funded IMOSAN solved many of the technical hurdles facing widespread satellite adoption for triple-play services. But an equally important element of their task was to prove the business case to make these services viable.

“We had to study the market and examine all possible business models to try and establish a competitive offering for satellite triple-play services,” explains Natassa Anastasiadou, a researcher at IMOSAN responsible for market studies and director of the department of funded programmes at OTEplus.

“The technical advances made by the IMOSAN project mean that satellite bandwidth is 30% more efficient, but we had to see how that translated into real-world costs for real-world business scenarios,” she relates.

Anastasiadou and colleagues whittled the possible offerings to three scenarios for rural and remote regions.

They first covered residential users in isolated areas, served by a purely two-way satellite solution, enjoying high-end services, including high-definition TV channels. IMOSAN calls this the ‘gold scenario’.

The ‘business scenario’, meanwhile, looked towards isolated areas served by a hybrid satellite-WiFi solution, where the emphasis is put on fast internet access.

Finally, for the ‘basic scenario’ the team looked at delivery to scattered residential users, served by a hybrid satellite-WiMax solution, where a standard triple-play package is provided – similar to common packages provided in urban areas by ADSL technology

“Obviously, the lowest price the IMOSAN provider could charge the end-user for the triple-play service package provided depends strongly on the maximum number of users it can serve with a given investment,” notes Anastasiadou.
Going for gold

The gold service package was designed to fulfil the requirements of residential users in isolated areas and included fast internet access of 1 Mbps download, VoIP services and 13 TV channels (10 standard and 3 high definition).

The analysis showed that this package should be priced monthly at €147.60 (at least) for the investment to be depreciated over ten years. At that rate, the terminal had to be provided to end-users for free, whereas if the end-user paid for it, the monthly rate came down to €87.50. But an IMOSAN terminal would cost €1,500 against €350 for standard satellite terminals.

The business scenario fared better. The service package envisaged fast internet access of 2 Mbps download, VoIP services and five standard-definition TV channels. It required a monthly rate to be charged to the user/business of €181.30, again over ten years. It included the terminal, and would be competitive with existing services, especially given the very high quality and service standards, as well as the triple-play offer.

The basic package was tied into WiMax technology. WiMax is a long-range, high-speed wireless networking standard that is just beginning to experience large-scale deployment in the USA and the EU. The satellite transmits directly to the WiMax transmitter, which then delivers service to individual customers.

“It is much more cost-effective to offer the service this way,” reveals Anastasiadou. “Every single end-user does not have to get a satellite receiver, which costs over €1,000, but shares the cost of a WiMax station instead which, although currently costing about €10,000, can serve about 300 end-users effectively.”

And as they continue deployment, WiMax receiver prices will probably drop dramatically, making the basic scenario even more cost competitive over time.
Europe’s broadband losers

The IMOSAN basic scenario consisted of seven standard TV channels, 1Mbs internet and VoIP targeted at the largest group still without ADSL access: scattered residential users in rural areas.

It was the most successful scenario studied by IMOSAN, costing €57.20 with a contention ratio of 30:1. The contention ratio indicates how many users can access a single channel at one time.

At a ratio of 50:1, which is reasonable for residential services, monthly costs would drop to €37 month, which is very competitive with alternatives like standard satellite to individuals.

The work has generated considerable excitement among service providers and satellite operators, with one company currently considering a basic service deployment in Greece, and many others interested.

Through its technical advances, IMOSAN will have an impact on satellite services generally, but its greatest impact could be ensuring that all Europe’s citizens have economic access to the internet – one of the most essential services of the information age.
This is part two of a two-part feature on the IMOSAN project funded by the ICT strand of the EU’s Sixth Framework Programme for research.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided ICT Results is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you do republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the ICT Results site (http://cordis.europa.eu/ictresults). Let us know if you republish so as to help us provide you with a better service. If you want further contact information on any of the projects cited in this story please contact us.

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RaySat Antenna Systems’ President, Ilan Kaplan, has been invited to speak about the mobile VSAT market at the ComSys VSAT 2009 global industry conference. With 20 years of experience in the SATCOM market, Kaplan will share the insights he has gained with RaySat Antenna Systems regarding the demands and extraordinary applications of mobile VSAT in a presentation called “Pinning Down a Moving Target”.

Scheduled to speak on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 16th, at 16:20, during the technology focus day, Kaplan will focus on market and service revenue opportunities, technology choices and costs and present case studies of mobile VSAT applications. With SOTM applications expanding from being a solely military technology, Kaplan will discuss the growing demands for on-the-move satellite communication in new market sectors. The 11th Annual Global Industry COMSYS VSAT 2009 Conference will take place September 15-18, 2009, at the Waldorf Hilton Hotel in London.
Source : http://www.satprnews.com

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Sep 07, 2009 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) --

The Broadband World Forum Europe 2009 conference and exhibition will display products, services, and applications from the world's top equipment suppliers this 7-9 September at the CNIT La Defense.

The industry's foremost content provider companies, including Orange serving as the official host sponsor, are pre-registered to learn of these broadband innovations and forge new business relationships.

"The collaboration of these service provider and supplier companies at the World Forum is essential in judging the health of the global economy and how our industry fits in to the overall recovery that lies ahead," commented IEC President John Janowiak.

"The Broadband World Forum is a great platform to share our vision and belief with all the people who are the enablers of economic recovery," explained Adolfo Hernandez, President of Alcatel-Lucent's business in Europe, Middle East, Africa. "For Alcatel-Lucent, it's great as an ICT player and vibrant believer of the broadband business to have the opportunity to be there, sharing our thought-leadership, exchanging with customers, and trying to build a sustainable ecosystem."

To date, carrier and content provider companies that have registered for the World Forum include: Belgacom, Bouygues Telecom, China Telecom, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, KPN, NBC Universal, NTT Communications, Orange, PCCW, Sony Europe, Sprint-Nextel, Swisscom, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, Telenor, TeliaSonera, Telstra Corp., TELUS, Verizon, Viaccess, Virgin Media, Vodafone, and more. For the entire list visit: www.iec.org/events/2009/bbwf/press/carrier_content_provider. asp.

Other top sponsors of the event include Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia Siemens Networks, Ericsson, Huawei, ZTE Corp., ADVA Optical Networking, AVM, Motorola, NEC, Thomson and more.

Information:
www.iec.org/events/2009/bbwf/exhibitors/exhibitor_list.asp
((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))
Copyright Close-Up Media, Inc. 2009. All Rights reserved
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Sep 08, 2009 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) --

An executive briefing on the telecommunications industry for Sept 8, 2009, prepared by Asia Pulse (http:/ www.asiapulse.com), the real-time, asia-based wire with exclusive news, commercial intelligence and business opportunities.
AUSTRALIAN TELCO OPTUS CALLS FOR SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRY REFORMS

SYDNEY - Telstra (ASX:TLS) chief executive David Thodey may be nice to deal with but the telco giant's behaviour will not change while industry regulation remains unchanged, Optus says.

The director of government and corporate affairs at Australia's number two telco, Maha Krishnapillai, on Tuesday reaffirmed Optus' call for significant legislative change as part of the federal government's implementation of a national broadband network (NBN).

SALES OF SAMSUNG'S 'HAPTIC' SMARTPHONE TOP 3 MLN IN S. KOREA

SEOUL - Samsung Electronics Co. (KSE:005930), the world's second-largest handset maker, said Tuesday that sales of its "Haptic" smartphone in South Korea have surpassed the three million mark.

Sales of Haptic mobile phones have totaled some three million units since first going on sale in South Korea in March 2008, the company said in a statement.

INDIA'S TECH MAHINDRA WINS US$411.8 MLN IT DEAL FROM ETISALAT DB

NEW DELHI - Telecom service provider Etisalat DB, which is in the process of starting mobile services in 15 circles across India, on Monday said it has outsourced its IT applications to software firm Tech Mahindra (BSE:532755) in a deal valued at Rs 20 billion (US$411.8 million).

The pact between Etisalat DB Telecom, a joint venture between India's Swan Telecom and UAE-based Etisalat, and Tech Mahindra is intended to be spread over a period of 10 years, the telco said in a statement.

INDIAN CAB SEC CALLS MEETING WITH DOT, DEFENCE ON SPECTRUM RELEASE

NEW DELHI - With the Indian government firm on auctioning 3G spectrum before this year end, Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar has called a meeting on September 11 with Department of Telecom and Defence Ministry secretaries to expedite release of radio waves for sale.

"Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar will chair a meeting with the secretaries of both the ministries to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding between them in May this year for release of spectrum", a senior DoT official said.

HARVARD INTRODUCES SK TELECOM'S SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT

SEOUL - SK Telecom (KSE:017670), South Korea's No. 1 mobile carrier, said Monday that its sustainability management policy has been made the focus of a case study at Harvard Business School.

The company said it is the first Korean enterprise to be published in a Harvard Business School case study in the field of corporate social responsibility.

CHINA UNICOM,TELEFONICA AGREE ON US$1 BLN SHARES SWAP

BEIJING - China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. Said Sunday that it signed a deal with Telefonica, the Spanish telecom operator, to enhance their alliance by spending US$1 billion each on share purchase.

China Unicom would acquire shares equal to about between 0.885 per cent to 0.892 per cent of stake in Telefonica, according to the company's statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

JAPAN CO SOFTBANK'S SECURITIZED RECEIVABLES TO MAKE US$644M IN Q3

TOKYO - Softbank Corp. (TSE:9984) is likely to raise some 60 billion yen (US$643.92 million) by securitizing the receivables of its cellular phone service business in the July-September quarter.

This is down roughly 10 billion yen, or 15 per cent, from the amount generated in the April-June period because of its reduced funding needs after issuing bonds.

JAPAN'S NTT EAST TO SELL I'NET SERVICES VIA REAL ESTATE BROKERS

TOKYO - Nippon Telegraph & Telephone East Corp. plans to enlist real estate brokers to sell its Flet's fiber-optic communications services.

The Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (TSE:9432) unit has up to now marketed its broadband services directly to customers or via electronics retailers and Internet service providers.

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These types of telecommunication products are mainly used by the companies that execute contracts in the Near East and Asia, as well as by the soldiers that are stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Purchased bands give us unlimited possibilities of configuration and setting any telecommunication connections from the Near East region and South-Western Asia.

New TS2 Satellite Technologies offer is a broadband internet access and corporate networks based on satellites. The operator's broadband services enable bidirectional data transfer within the network and simultaneous Internet access. The company provides all dedicated VSAT services for demanding customers.

TS2 satellite services are used by: U.S. Department of State, United States Marine Corps (USMC), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Australian Defence Force (ADF), Command of Polish Navy, Air Force Institute of Technology, Lockheed Martin Information Technology, Halliburton Energy Services, KBR, General Dynamics Information Technology, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace and US Naval Research Laboratory, among others.

'We provide secure and encrypted satellite connections particularly for the military sector, for any military units, literally in any part of the world, on the national firing ground and during all international trainings.' - said Frąckiewicz. He also added: 'We have mobile and stationary solutions dedicated to work in difficult conditions'.

The TS2 staff is monitoring the performance of satellite network 24 hours a day, in order to enable the immediate help in case of breakdown or receipt of alert. Due to technical conditions and favourable weather, the Teleport is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Therefore the signal from the headend aerial is not disturbed by the weather conditions and all connection users of TS2 receive services of the highest availability. The Teleport configuration is fully redundant and the services are also available on the national market.

For more information, visit : http://www.ts2.pl

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WARSAW, Poland, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- TS2 Satellite Technologies company is introducing new satellite Inlink products to the international market. These types of telecommunication products are mainly used by the companies that execute contracts in the Near East and Asia, as well as by the soldiers that are stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Purchased bands give us unlimited possibilities of configuration and setting any telecommunication connections from the Near East region and South-Western Asia. We can now build networks of any size on such satellites as Intelsat 10-02, Intelsat 901, ABS-1, ArabSat Badr-4 and NSS-6," said Marcin Frackiewicz, the President of TS2.

The new TS2 Satellite Technologies offer is broadband Internet access and corporate networks based on satellites. The operator's broadband services enable bidirectional data transfer within the network and simultaneous Internet access. The company provides all dedicated VSAT services for demanding customers.

TS2 satellite services are used by: U.S. Department of State, United States Marine Corps (USMC), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Australian Defence Force (ADF), Command of Polish Navy, Air Force Institute of Technology, Lockheed Martin Information Technology, Halliburton Energy Services, KBR, General Dynamics Information Technology, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace, and U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, among others.

"We provide secure and encrypted satellite connections particularly for the military sector, for any military units, literally in any part of the world, on the national firing ground and during all international trainings," said Frackiewicz. He also added: "We have mobile and stationary solutions dedicated to work in difficult conditions."

TS2 Satellite Technologies is mainly investing in technology of American company VT iDirect. All modems from the iDirect iNFINITI series are able to make connections of 18 Mbps (downlink) and 4.2 Mbps (uplink). The networks based on iDirect iNFINITI enable connecting hundreds of computers working on the same satellite link.

The TS2 staff is monitoring the performance of satellite network 24 hours a day, in order to enable the immediate help in case of breakdown or receipt of alert. Due to technical conditions and favorable weather, the Teleport is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Therefore the signal from the headend aerial is not disturbed by the weather conditions and all connection users of TS2 receive services of the highest availability. The Teleport configuration is fully redundant and the services are also available on the national market.

Contact:
Marcin Frackiewicz
TS2 Satellite Technologies
phone +48 22 630 70 70
fax +48 22 630 70 71
http://www.ts2.pl

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.
SOURCE TS2 Satellite Technologies

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Longtime Asian Satellite Operator Has Now Assumed Full Commercial Control of Telstar 10/Apstar 2R

OTTAWA and HONG KONG, July 9, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telesat Canada, the world's fourth largest fixed satellite services operator, and APT Satellite Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of APT Satellite Holdings Limited, announced today that they have closed a transaction pursuant to which Telesat has transferred its leasehold interests in Telstar 10 to APT, along with certain customer contracts related to the satellite. As announced on June 1, 2009, the total price was approximately US$69 million.

"The transfer of our interests in Telstar 10 to APT makes strong strategic sense for a number of reasons, including APT's long-standing responsibility for the satellite's operation, the complex regulatory environment associated with the satellite, and the upcoming requirement to replace Telstar 10," said Dan Goldberg, President and CEO of Telesat.

APT and Telesat have assured current users of Telstar 10 that they will continue to receive the same high quality services they have enjoyed to date, and both companies will endeavor to ensure a seamless and smooth transition for their customers.

"The satellite, also known as Apstar 2R, is one of the leading satellites in the Asian market," said Cheng Guangren, Executive Director and President of APT. "This agreement is the right strategic move for our company given APT's growth plans and the attractive base of customers who rely on Apstar 2R. We look forward to serving them in the years to come and working with them to expand our presence in Asia and other satellite service markets."

About Telesat (www.telesat.com)
Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with offices and facilities around the world, Telesat is the fourth-largest fixed satellite services operator. The company provides reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers. Telesat has a global state-of-the-art fleet of 11 satellites with another satellite under construction, and manages the operations of 13 additional satellites for third parties. Telesat is privately held. Its principal shareholders are Canada's Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Loral Space & Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:LORL).

As announced previously, Telesat continues to be in discussions regarding the potential sale of its interests in another of its international satellites. However, Telesat cannot at this time assess the probability of concluding any further transaction under discussion or under what terms, including price, the satellite may be sold.

About APT (www.apstar.com)
APT Satellite Holdings Limited (the "Group") is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Having started its operation in 1992, the Group provides high-quality services in satellite transponders, satellite communications and broadcasting services for the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors in Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States. The Group currently operates the APSTAR systems, including Apstar 5, Apstar 6, and Apstar 2R, through its own Satellite Control Center in Tai Po, Hong Kong. In line with its business development strategies, the Group also provides satellite broadcasting services and telecommunications services to customers. (Stock code: 1045)

Telesat Safe Harbour Statement
This news release contains statements that are not based on historical fact and are "forward-looking statements". Actual results may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Detailed information about some of the known risks and uncertainties is included in the "Risk Factors" section of Telesat's final prospectus filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 29, 2009. Readers are specifically referred to that document, as well as Telesat's other filings with the SEC which can be obtained on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Known risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: (1) financial risks, including economic downturns, restrictions imposed by covenants contained in the agreements governing Telesat's debt, Telesat's leverage, volatility in exchange rates, and Telesat's dependence on a few large customers for a significant proportion of its revenue; (2) risks associated with operating satellites and providing satellite services, including satellite construction or launch delays, launch failures, in-orbit failures or impaired satellite performance, the ability to obtain or renew satellite insurance at all or on reasonable terms, and competition from other providers of telecommunications services; (3) risks associated with domestic and foreign government regulation; and (4) other risks, including potential conflicts of interest with Telesat's significant shareholders, litigation, and market risks. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. The information contained in this news release reflects Telesat's beliefs, assumptions, intentions, plans and expectations as of the date of this news release. Telesat disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise the information herein.

APT Forward-looking Statement

This news release may contain statements that are not based on historical fact and are "forward-looking statements". Statements in this release concerning the beliefs, expectations, intentions, future events, future performance, business prospects and business strategy, including statements regarding projections for 2009 and beyond, are based on several assumptions.

If any of these assumptions are not satisfied or prove to be incorrect, actual results could differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, depending on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, APT's ability to implement its business strategy and competition in the market. The information presented in this release reflects APT's expectations as of the date of this release. APT undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information herein.

CONTACT: Telesat Holdings Inc.
Vanessa Brule
+1 613 748-8700 ext. 2407
vbrule@telesat.com

APT Satellite Holdings Limited
Dr. Brian Lo
+ 852 2600 2100
brianlo@apstar.com

Source :http://www.globenewswire.com

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KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI) expects their mini-VSAT Broadband coverage for the Australia and New Zealand region to go live in August 2009, following the successful completion of service testing on the Intelsat IS-2 satellite.

The new coverage area will provide the first significant support for mini-VSAT Broadband service in the southern hemisphere. This is the latest milestone in the KVH and ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) joint effort to provide affordable mobile broadband connections around the globe. In addition to providing service for the KVH TracPhone® V7, the KVH and ViaSat joint effort also expands network coverage to the ViaSat Yonder mobile network for in-flight broadband to business and commercial aircraft. The mini-VSAT Broadband service, along with the KVH TracPhone V7 antenna, comprise the first end-to-end 24-inch VSAT hardware, service, and support package available for maritime communications. Together, KVH and ViaSat are already offering Voice over IP phone service and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) at fixed monthly rates to mariners throughout North America, the Caribbean, the North Atlantic, Europe, the Northern Pacific, and the Persian Gulf.

“Together with our recently announced coverage for Asian waters and the Indian Ocean, the anticipated addition of service for Australia and New Zealand represents a significant expansion of our increasingly popular mini-VSAT Broadband Internet and voice service to a major commercial and recreational maritime region,” explained Brent C. Bruun, KVH’s vice president of sales and business development.

“We believe that our seamless mini-VSAT Broadband network, together with our compact 24-inch (60 cm) commercial-grade antenna and fixed-rate monthly airtime pricing, offers unique benefits to commercial and leisure mariners with regard to hardware and service costs as well as the value that comes with an affordable broadband data connection for crew morale, shipboard operation, regulatory compliance, and more.”

Source : http://www.satnews.com

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There is a new tool available for commercial maritime operators that can add an additional dedicated VoIP telephone line specifically for crew calling on KVH’s maritime VoIP services. The mini-VSAT Broadband Crew Calling System from KVH Industries

“In the highly competitive commercial maritime industry, offering affordable communications is an easy and effective step to help attract new crew members, improve crew efficiency and satisfaction, and reduce the costs incurred by crew turnover,” explained Brent C. Bruun, KVH’s vice president of sales and business development. “In a recent survey by ShipTalk, Ltd., professional mariners ranked access to a telephone as the second most important facility to have on board a vessel. By adding our crew calling option to a new or existing TracPhone V7 system, vessel owners and operators will take full advantage of their mini-VSAT Broadband service connection while enjoying the benefits to crew morale and retention rates that come when crew members are able to stay in touch with friends and family anywhere on the globe.”

According to KVH:
Adding the crew calling option is a simple process. A dedicated Crew Calling Gateway is connected to the TracPhone V7, thereby establishing a link for a dedicated crew calling phone. Crew members will be able to purchase a calling card from the ship’s captain or buy minutes directly from KVH via credit card. They will then be able to place calls anywhere in the world via this dedicated phone while the ship’s business is handled via the two enhanced VoIP lines that come standard with mini-VSAT Broadband service.

Together with the KVH TracPhone V7, the mini-VSAT Broadband service comprises the first end-to-end 24-inch VSAT hardware, service, and support package available for maritime communications. The mini-VSAT Broadband service currently offers Voice over IP telephone and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) at fixed monthly rates to mariners throughout North America, the Caribbean, the North Atlantic, Europe, the Northern Pacific, and the Persian Gulf. KVH also recently announced an agreement with SP-JSAT to expand mini-VSAT Broadband coverage into Asia Pacific waters and the Indian Ocean.
Source: http://www.voip-news.com

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SATELLITE 2010 will create a forum for the thousands of attendees to learn best practices, experience the newest technology and collaborate with colleagues from all sectors of the satellite community.

The SATELLITE 2010 Conference not only focuses on opportunities in our main vertical markets--military, broadcast, enterprise, mobile, telcos and commercial--but also digs deeper than ever before, providing fresh data, keen market intelligence and the strategies you need to achieve new levels of excellence and business development.


EXPERIENCE conference content that is on the leading edge of innovation, led by the sharpest minds in the marketplace.

DISCOVER solutions designed for your organization with more than 300 companies showcasing the latest products and cutting edge technology.

COLLABORATE with individuals in the satellite community who can help propel your organization to new heights!

Registration for SATELLITE 2010 will be available in August 2009.
For more information and Joining please visit : http://www.satellitetoday.com/satellite2010/

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The Strategy Analytics GaAs and Compound Semiconductor Technologies (GaAs) service report, “GaAs Device Opportunities from the Satcom/VSAT Market: 2008-2013,” concludes that long design cycles and pent-up demand driven by the consumer sector will allow the very small aperture terminals (VSAT) market to weather the current economic storm better than most communications markets, translating into steady demand for GaAs devices.

GaAs semiconductor technology is used extensively in VSAT satellite communications systems for both the space and ground segments of the market. Strategy Analytics forecasts that GaAs device demand will grow at a compound annual average growth rate (CAAGR) of over 4 percent from 2008 to 2013. MMICs will dominate the volume and represent 57 percent of total GaAs revenues.

“The VSAT industry has had to learn some tough lessons over the past decade, but the result is a model focused on value-added services which is now being augmented by growth prospects in the broadband access arena,” noted Asif Anwar at Strategy Analytics. “Advances in technology and economies of scale have combined to increase data rates while simultaneously reducing prices, opening up the opportunities for satellite communications to compete against other wireless and wired broadband technologies.”

Anwar concluded, “We believe the demand for broadband services will fuel the rollout of VSAT systems through 2013, creating steady demand for GaAs semiconductors. The largest opportunities are for Ku- and Ka-band power amplifiers, where despite some threats from alternative technologies, GaAs will remain dominant the dominant solution.”

Source: Strategy Analytics, Microwave Journal

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Top Defense Department and Government Accountability Office officials told lawmakers at a Senate hearing on May 20 that, new communication satellites needed to support U.S. forces deployed globally. Especially combat troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, continue to experience delays of launching satellites.

Programs behind schedule include the Advanced Extremely High Frequency system, which Lockheed Martin Corp. is developing. The launch of the first broadband satellite in the system has been delayed almost two years, from November 2008 to September 2010, Cristina Chaplain, GAO’s director of acquisition and sourcing management, told the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.

President Obama endorsed the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite in his fiscal 2010 budget proposal as an example of a technology that uses mature systems that have a stable design.

Chaplain said that the reason of the launch delays is purely technical, but she did not tell any details. In March, GAO reported the Air Force had located six components with workmanship or design problems, which will require contractors to remove five components from the spacecraft to repair. The sixth problem can be resolved by using software methods.

Lockheed has fixed and replaced the problem parts, and the company expects to deliver the first satellite to the Air Force late this year or in early 2010, said Steve Tatum, a Lockheed spokesman.

The Air Force estimated the fourth Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite could cost more than twice the price of the third satellite because Lockheed said it would have to rebuild its production line to make key components, Chaplain said.

Gary Payton, Air Force deputy undersecretary for space programs, said at a news briefing in September 2008 that the first two satellites cost $6.3 billion, which included 10 years of engineering work. The third satellite cost $939 million, and the fourth will cost more than $2 billion.

The Defense Department requested $2.3 billion for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite program in its fiscal 2010 budget to cover the launch of the first satellite, the assembly and integration of the second and third satellites, and procurement of the fourth satellite.

The Office of Management and Budget portrayed the program as a relative bargain compared with the canceled Transformational Satellite Communications System, which it will replace. OMB estimated the cost of the Transformational Satellite project at $19.3 billion and said Defense will save $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion through 2015 by procuring additional Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites instead of continuing with the Transformational Satellite project.

Payton said the Air Force has plans to buy six satellites in the Advanced Extremely High Frequency program that can transmit data at speeds up to 1 megabit per second, or about one-seventh the speed of an average home high-speed Internet connection.

The Navy manages development of next-generation, low data-rate satellites, which send data at 64 kilobits per second, a rate only slightly higher than a dial-up Internet connection. Those satellites serve small ships and tactical ground forces equipped with man-pack satellite terminals, and the program has experienced delays.

Vice Adm. Harry Harris, deputy chief of naval operations for communication networks, said the new $3.2 billion low data-rate satellite system called the Mobile User Objective System, which Lockheed also is developing, “is critical to satisfying demand for tactical satellite communications.”

But the launch of the mobile user satellite has slipped from March 2010 to February 2011 because of spacecraft design complexities and weight issues, GAO reported. Lockheed’s Tatum said the company encountered technical problems with one of the satellite’s antennas, “however we expect resolution this summer to support satellite integration and test later this fall.”

The first mobile user satellite was scheduled for launch in 2008. The latest delay presents potential problems for naval and tactical satellite users because the current system has started to fail, Harris told the Senate panel.

The UItra High Frequency Follow-On system, “will reach an unacceptable level of availability in May 2010,” Harris said. Two out of the nine satellites have failed, which could create a gap in communications until the launch of the first mobile user satellite.

He told the committee that the Navy has leased capacity on commercial satellites to help plug the gap and said the Ultra High Frequency Follow-On system continues to function beyond its design life. Today, those satellites support 600 users worldwide, Harris said.

source http://www.satprnews.com/

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This launch of the Tactical Satellite-3 from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallop’s Island, Va., is a crucial step forward in demonstrating the Defense Department’s Operationally Responsive Space Office concept of rapid response, low-cost satellites to support U.S commanders. AIA has been a staunch supporter of the ORS Office and led early efforts to ensure both the Department and Congress recognized the benefits of these capabilities.

With federal budgets facing constraints at a time of increased national security challenges, the officials believe that the ORS concept has the potential to become an important model to fulfill affordable, on-demand space support for military operations.

Blakey strongly recommends Congress to continue funding this crucial capability, which fills a wide variety of national security requirements including U.S. diplomatic, information, military, and economic needs. This launch proves with no doubt that the ORS initiatives ability to provide responsive, flexible and affordable space systems that support the U.S. troops is a crucial aim that must be achieved.
source http://www.satprnews.com/

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