SIS LIVE aims to wow SATCOM, VSAT customers at IBC2012 exhibition

SIS LIVE will be unveiling its latest satellite and broadcast products -such as the DriveForce vehicle mounted antenna, the PlexSIS fibre system, and the ManPak compact VSAT terminal- at IBC 2012 this September.

A DriveForce antenna will be installed on a Mercedes Sprinter stationed in SIS Live's outside exhibition area. The dish will transmit 20-minute IBC TV News daily broadcasts to Europe and North America during the course of IBC2012.

DriveForce is a vehicle mounted antenna system designed in the light of increasing demand for high bandwidth HD transmissions. Many existing systems simply install a larger reflector on mounts developed for small aperture antennas. This slapshod construction compromises the antenna's design and wind load performance.

In comparison, DriveForce's ultra-high performance carbon fibre antenna is installed upon a dedicated mount. It is fully automated, can operate in wind speeds of up to 60mph, and uses SIS LIVE's differential antenna control technology to find and track any satellite in just moments.

The outside exhibition area will also show off SIS LIVE's other products. Among the items to watch out for are the PlexSIS fiber  optic transport system, which can transport up to 16 SDI signals over a single optical fibre; the ManPak portable VSAT, which weighs all of 12kg and has no removable parts; the uPak 60 automated lightweight VSAT unit; the Tr-uPod tripod satellite uplink system; and the RouteCase 4 channel HD/SDI production unit.

SIS LIVE will also be demonstrating the capabilities NewTek’s MINI LiveMan vehicle. A compact mobile production unit with a uPod satellite uplink system, the MINI LiveMan is the first HD Live Production vehicle ever integrated in a compact SUV. The NewTek vehicle's uPod uplink works through SIS LIVE’s dedicated iDirect multi-satellite hub to instantly access to satellites high bandwidth streaming capabilities.

iDirect satellite router board modems support USSOCOM mobile VSAT terminals

iDirect Government Technologies will be supporting U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) operations through the SATCOM L-3 GCS Hawkeye III Lite 1.2M and Hawkeye III 2.0M VSAT terminals.

Designed by L-3 GCS, Hawkeye VSAT units support the Special Operations Forces Deployable Node-Family of Terminals (SDN-Lite FoT) secure satellite communications program. Both models use iDirect-designed iConnex e800 satellite router boards, which are smaller and lighter than their competitors.

The iGT iConnex satellite router board modems support data, voice, and video connectivity. Their high-speed data transmission, increased bandwidth capacity, and higher network availability greatly contribute to highly mobile military applications, such as the mobile VSAT platforms deployed by troops at the battlefront.

“We are pleased to partner with L-3 GCS on the SDN-Lite FoT program,” said John Ratigan, iGT President, regarding IDirect's hand in providing American warfighters some of the most advanced and secure satellite communications networks in the market.

“iGT and L-3 GCS continue to have a winning relationship and a common goal of developing high-quality, leading-edge satellite communications technologies for our troops,” agreed Bob Jacobson, President of L-3 GCS.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of VT iDirect, Inc., iDirect Government Technologies provides secure satellite-based voice, video, and data applications for military and government users. Its satellite IP solutions ensure critical satellite communications for a wide variety of military missions such as force protection, logistics and situational awareness, disaster recovery, and emergency response.

NewSat News: VSAT 2012 is pushing through

VSAT 2012 is pushing through despite the VSAT industry’s major changes as it is planned to be held on the Lancaster London Hotel in London, the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures, September 11-14.

After years of scarcity of spacecraft bringing terabytes of bandwidth at vastly reduced costs--perhaps one tenth of current levels, or even lower--are now coming into service. These new satellite systems and ever growing fibre networks bring plentiful bandwidth, but at least, initially, restricted accessed.

The COMSYS VSAT Conference is where the pivotal players in the VSAT industry meet for partnerships, plans, business strategies and decisions to be made. On their meeting, they are all under the objective of the conference which is to focus on issues, latest developments and strongest areas of opportunity in the global marketplace by bringing together the major-decision makers and most successful exponents in the industry.

NewSat, Australia’s largest independent satellite communications provider--communications satellite (COMSAT), an artificial satellite sent to space for the purpose of telecommunications--to date, will be attending VSAT 2012 also for discussion in the Jabiru-1 satellite, scheduled to take off in 2012.  It will provide high-powered Ka band capacity over the Middle East, Africa (MENA Region) and Asia. It will also provide “new” capacity ro these regions, offering a range of multi-sport regional and steerable beams, delivering “raw” capacity and flexible payloads. It will also cater to mobile communications carrier and private and public organizations in the said regions. NewSat-owned Jabiru is Australia’s first independently owned satellite operator to manage a fleet of commercial Ku band and Ka band satellites.

A very small aperture terminal (VSAT) is a two-way satellite ground station or a stabilized maritime VSAT antenna with a dish antenna that is smaller than three meters.

See: Astrium and NewSat for Lockheed Martin

Hughes Communications commands 52% of the Indian VSAT industry

According to a report by Voice and Data Magazine, Hughes Communications India currently leads the VSAT industry in India, having reportedly achieved a 52% market share in FY12.

The Voice and Data report stated that Hughes registered an 18.4% year-over-year revenue growth for FY12. The company's VSAT services achieved Rs 167 crore of total revenue. In comparison, during FY11, Hughes earned Rs 141 crore in total revenue.

Hughes also deployed 25.4% more VSAT terminals compared to last year. Voice and Data Magazine noted that Hughes installed 11,303 VSATs installations during FY12. That accounts for 52% of the total VSAT systems in India.

Hughes secured a number of large contracts with Indian companies this FY12. It will be creating 2,000 site network for State Bank of India, provide broadband satellite services to link 825 locations for Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam in Rajasthan, and will deploy a network of 713 sites on behalf of a quintet of Karnatakan utility companies. The Rajasthan contract will take place over 3 years, while the Karnataka agreement will be for 5 years.

In addition, Hughes also got an order from ‘Brown Label’ to set up around 5,000 satellite terminals at ATM service providers across the Indian subcontinent.

“The Voice and Data report is testimony to Hughes overall leadership in the Indian VSAT industry,” said Partho Banerjee, president and managing director of HCIL. “Our growth has been led by significant business wins across the banking and financial services industries and government projects. We are very proud to be the flag bearers of the Indian VSAT industry," he continued, "and look forward to maintaining this lead in the future.”

The Voice and Data Magazine report stated that VSAT deployments increased by nearly 6% in FY12, leading to market growth of 6.2%. That raised the industry's overall revenue to INR 500 crore.

The VSAT industry also experienced several highlights in FY 12. The Ka-band spectrum (18-28 Ghz) was used for the first time to provide high-capacity, high-speed bandwidth- and just in time, as on-the-move mobility applications for voice and video that could take advantage of the new frequencies became available.

White label and managed service providers also began wide-scale adoption of VSAT terminals for use with ATMs. Enhanced VSAT CPEs were developed for security and routing and dual hubs were now used to generate multi-service integration business continuity.

CA Clase debuts new KVH V11 mini-VSAT

CA Clase (UK) Ltd recently launched the TracPhone V11, the latest dual-mode C-band/Ku-band very-small-aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite communications system from KVH

The V11 is a compact 1m satellite antenna that provides high-capacity offshore connectivity anywhere in the world save the polar regions. The unit is smaller and/or lighter than similarly-sized Ku-band maritime VSAT systems. It is also 85% smaller and lighter than competing C-band SATCOM systems. 

KVH’s HD11 mechanism served as the basis for a unique 4-axis gyro stabilised pedestal that mounts the V11's finely-tuned carbon-fiber dish. The HD11-derived robotic drive gives a single V11 antenna greater reliability than multiple antenna systems.

The new KVH satellite communications system taps into a satellite broadband network of high-capacity Ku-band satellite transponders when traversing the world’s most populated areas. The V11 VSAT automatically switches to legacy C-band transponders if geography or weather disrupts the Ku-band. Transmissions on both bands are channeled through a military-grade modem to ensure that on-board applications run smoothly

CA Clase is the biggest marine electronics distributor in the UK's commercial and leisure marine markets.

It is a licensed distributor of KVH's world-leading on-board satellite communications systems, which now includes and features the brand new V11 dual-band mini-VSAT system.

All set for COMSYS VSAT2012 in London this September

Come September, London will be the place to go for very-small-aperture terminal (VSAT) operators and end-users. That's because COMSYS will be holding its VSAT2012 Conference at the Lancaster Hotel from September 12 to 14.

VSAT2012 will have the theme of “VSAT Vertical Value." The COMSYS conference will focus in on the VSAT industry as it undergoes a series of significant changes.

During the past few years, the VSAT industry had to put up with grossly insufficient bandwidth to meet increasing demands. But now there are plans to deploy new satellites that will provide Terabits of new bandwidth by tapping the Ka band. Such a tremendous influx of new bandwidth will potentially drive costs down to perhaps a tenth of the current prices, which will turn the industry upside-down.

At COMSYS VSAT2012, VSAT operators and end-users will learn about the complex changes taking place and the timescales for these changes. They will be able to identify the possible threats and potential opportunities that they might encounter in the new business environment.

In addition, COMSYS will offer a choice of one-day workshops on the day before the main conference. The workshops will tackle VSAT Market & Technology Essentials and Satellite Communications Fundamentals.

Inmarsat: Maritime satphone customers okay with satphone service price hike

Inmarsat may have raised prices on handheld satellite telephone services, but its customers reportedly remain loyal and its maritime VSAT rivals were supposedly mistaken about the effect of its new pricing policy.

The London-based satcom company reported that it currently controls a 10 percent share of the handheld satphone market. 65,000 customers are active Inmarsat subscribers.

Rival mobile satcom service providers Iridium Communications and KVH Industries have alleged that Inmarsat is losing customers because of price hikes and the failure of a new Inmarsat L- and Ku-band product to win market favor. But Inmarsat declared that its decision to raise prices on certain services did not have any negative impact on its core maritime customer base.

In the last few years, Inmarsat has broadened its business scope in reaction to two separate threats. The first threat were the satellite telephone handsets produced by Iridium, Globalstar, and Thuraya, which took land-mobile communications business away from Inmarsat.

Inmarsat counterattacked with the introduction of its IsatPhone Pro in 2010. IsatPhone Pro was a lower-cost alternative to competing satphones, and Inmarsat intended to take a 10 percent share of the satphone market with it.

In an Aug. 3 conference call, Inmarsat Chief Executive Rupert Pearce said that the company's 10 percent goal had been reached with the sale and activation of 65,000 IsatPhone Pro handsets. “We have successfully reinserted ourselves into the satellite-phone sector,” Pearce said.

The second threat was directed at Inmarsat’s key maritime market. Iridium and other companies were selling Ku-band VSATs that offer far higher throughput than Inmarsat’s L-band satellite network, for lower per-megabit cost.

Inmarsat initially responded with its $1.2 billion, three-satellite Global Xpress program. The company then introduced its Xpress Link dual package to entice customers to subscribe to Inmarsat while waiting for Global Xpress.

In mid-2011, Inmarsat purchased maritime VSAT provider ShipEquip. It combined a ShipEquip Ku-band VSAT antenna with a separate, smaller antenna for Inmarsat’s Fleet Broadband L-band maritime service to create the Xpress Link package.

Customers who purchased Xpress Link will get Global Xpress hardware once the latter system is operational. Inmarsat also increased the prices of earlier-generation Inmarsat B and Fleet products to encourage customers to migrate to Xpress Link.

Inmarsat also modified its Fleet Broadband pricing policy so that customers will pay a fee for Fleet Broadband even if they never use it.The new pricing aimed to discourage ship owners from using the Inmarsat product as a rarely-used emergency backup to a VSAT antenna produced by a rival company.

Iridium and KVH sought to turn Inmarsat's new pricing policy against it. Iridium Chief Executive Matt Desch cited Inmarsat as one the main reasons Iridium’s maritime VSAT business is growing. “Inmarsat’s helping a lot with their price changes,” Mr. Desch said in an Aug. 2 conference call, claiming that their rival company was “competing with their customers and a little confusion as to their strategy.”

Similarly, KVH Industries claimed Inmarsat’s Xpress Link service has failed to challenge KVH’s TracPhone V-series of Ku-band antenna. KVH reportedly shipped over 2,500 maritime VSAT systems. Later in 2012, it plans to offer a new C-band product with a 90-kilogram antenna with dual Ku-/C-band links and a global reach.

In comparison, Inmarsat’s Xpress Link is comprised of a 1.7-meter-diameter global VSAT Ku-band antenna that weighs twice that of the planned KVH product. And that's not including the 60-centimeter Fleet Broadband antenna. Or the refrigerator-sized assembly that both antenna are attached to.

KVH Chief Executive Martin Kits van Heyningen opined that Inmarsat's Xpress Link was “not an elegant solution.” He also claimed “that doesn’t seem to be getting a lot of traction in the market right now.”

Mr. Pearce rejected both assessments by Inmarsat's rivals. “We are not seeing a material erosion of any kind in the maritime market,” Pearce declared in the Aug. 3 conference call. He pointed out that more than 30,000 Fleet Broadband terminals had been installed by now. Those terminals included the nearly 2,300 units installed during April, May, and June. “The VSAT incursion,” he dismissed, “which was never particularly material, has slowed considerably.”

Mr. Pearce also made an issue of how KVH’s C-band product would encounter regulatory issues when used in certain regions less than 200 nautical miles from shore. Inmarsat spokesman Christopher McLaughlin expanded on Mr. Pearce's declaration by explaining that terrestrial wireless operators in certain regions generate interference over the C-band.

Inmarsat installing XpressLink VSAT-wireless on MISC Berhad tankers

Maritime communications provider Inmarsat reported that it will be providing its XpressLink wireless/satellite communications solution to 46 chemical and LNG tankers operated by Malaysian shipping conglomerate MISC Berhad, with an option to provide additional bandwidth in the future.

Inmarsat's XpressLink maritime communications solution combines high-bandwidth Ku-band VSAT satellite communications and versatile FleetBroadband wireless communications. The integrated satcom/wireless package ensures seamless communications and unlimited data availability between ship and shore anytime and anywhere in the world.

In addition, the XpressLink solution's dual communications systems ensure excellent redundancy in any situation. XpressLink users can expect 99.9 percent uptime compared to standalone VSAT or wireless communications systems.

MISC Berhad further signed up for an option to double its available bandwidth at a pre-determined monthly rate. The Malaysian company expects its bandwidth usage to increase in the future, and it intends to take advantage of Inmarsat's Global Xpress constellation when the latter activates in 2014.

"It is important for us to have ample bandwidth to manage our ship and shore operational systems and meet the communication needs of our seafarers at sea," said Captain S Rajalingam, Vice President Fleet Management System at MISC Berhad. "During our sea trials, we compared XpressLink with a number of competitive offerings and XpressLink impressed us with its performance."

Captain Rajalingam stated that "Inmarsat XpressLink offered the best value proposition delivering reliable, unlimited data usage on both the VSAT and FleetBroadband services."

"Inmarsat already has a strong relationship with MISC Berhad," Frank Coles, President of Inmarsat Maritime, commented, "and this latest endorsement in the form of a new commitment for XpressLink is very gratifying."