Azerbaijan telecom satellite meant for VSAT services, not ISP consumers

Internet service providers (ISPs) might be disappointed with Azerspace/Africasat-1, the first national telecommunications satellite of Azerbaijan, due to its lack of Ka-band transponders necessary for satellite broadband Internet services. The same, however, will not apply to VSAT service consumers.

Azerspace's owner-operator, Azercosmos, designed the satellite to provide VSAT technology services to large commercial customers. The Azerbaijani satellite is thus equipped with a payload of Ku-band and C-band transponders. The nature and service orientation of Azerspace makes it more expensive to deliver Internet from satellite services- perhaps too expensive for the tastes of ISPs.

At the same time, Azerbaijan does host a significant number of VSAT service consumers. Oil companies can use Azerspace-powered satellite communications solutions to stay in touch with their maritime assets and remotely run their pipeline infrastructure. Both Azerbaijan State Caspian Shipping Company (CASPAR) and the State Maritime Administration (ARDDA) can leverage the new satellite to control maritime vessels. Azercosmos also predicted the possibility of reeling in commercial banks as customers.

The United States accounts for half of the global VSAT market. However, Russia currently enjoys the fastest-growing demand for such services. The agencies of the Russian federal government is currently implementing universal communication service and education throughout the country. In addition, large corporations, small and medium regional business, and private users all use satellite services.

Azerspace/Africasat-1a was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation and launched by Arianespace from Kourou, French Guiana on February 7, 2013. Designed for an operational lifespan of 15 years, its 24 C-band transponders and 12 Ku-band transponders can deliver services to VSAT users in Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Spacecom nabs contract with Southern African ISP for Ku-band VSAT services

One of the biggest Internet Communications Service Providers (ISPs) in Africa has awarded a $6.5 million contract to Spacecom for the provision of Ku-band VSAT satellite services for the next three years.

Spacecom will leverage the Ku-band beam that the AMOS-5 satellite dedicates to coverage of Southern Africa for the contract. The satellite capacity will power VSAT services that the the African ISP offers to customers in Southern Africa's commercial, enterprise, and public sector markets

Here comes the New Millenium VSAT hub series from Advantech Wireless

Here comes the New Millennium... The series of VSAT Hubs for HTS, that is, which are considered to be the most powerful Next Generation Satellite Communications products from Advantech Wireless Inc.

The New Millenium VSAT Hub takes a cue from the earlier Discovery Series of DVB-RCS Hubs. The Advantech product raises the bar when it comes to capacity, capability, and efficiency. A single New Millenium rack can support up to 20,000 remote terminals; provide 775Mbps of traffic to the remotes; spread the aforementioned traffic over 5 separate transponders/satellites and 480 TDMA carriers; and receive up to 240Mbps of IP traffic generated by the remote terminal population.

Designed to operate with C-band, X-band, Ku-band, and Ka-Band satellite frequencies, the New Millennium VSAT Hub supports Advantech's very own Satellite Interactive Terminals family of remote terminals. It also supports Star, star/mesh hybrid, and high-capacity SCPC.

Of note is the suitability of the New Millenium for the needs of Network Operators and Service Providers. Its scalability allows CAPEX expenditures to match network growth, its VNO capability lets its support large numbers of virtual operators, and its VPN capability establishes communications security for sensitive information transfers.

Recommended additional reading:

• KVH doubles capacity of maritime mini-VSAT satellite broadband network 

Gilat reveals its new SkyEdge 2-c VSAT solution supports Ka-band connectivity

Gilat Satellite Networks recently unveiled its new SkyEdge 2-c Internet connectivity solution, a VSAT system which supports Ka-band and Ku-band Internet from satellite services for both consumer and enterprise applications.

The SkyEdge 2-c system employs an array of new features and capabilities, including self-installation of its Ka-band VSAT kit. Its operators can start small and grow their services to match increasing demand thanks to scalable architecture. In addition to delivering business flexibility, the Gilat solution also allows operators to customize Internet broadband services while ensuring prices remain competitive.

Gilat has recently been reinvesting in its business segments and its initiatives in Ka-band and satellite-on-the-move. The Company won its first Ka-band VSAT order in September 2012. Following the successful launch of SES's Astra-2F satellite and the resulting consumer rollout of SES Broadband Services (SBBS) Ka-band satellite broadband, a larger European ISP had ordered several thousand self-installed customer premise equipment modeled on the SkyEdge 2 Aries unit. With these VSAT systems, European households will be able to access Internet from satellite, video, and Voice-over-IP services.

Gazprom taps Newtec for new VSAT platform leveraging Yamal-402 Ku-band satellite

Newtec has secured a number of contracts with Gazprom Space Systems (GSS) for the delivery of a new, complete VSAT platform that will leverage the newest Yamal satellite, Yamal-402. The Company is GSS' preferred partner of choice for the hub, modems, antennas, and other SATCOM equipment that comprise the new VSAT platform.

Until recently, the only VSAT installations in Russia were expensive and professional installations in limited hot spots in the Moscow and Saint Petersburg regions. Meanwhile, remote areas of the country were unable to access affordable and essential Internet access.

GSS intends to change that by offering satellite broadband access services to local Internet Service Providers, who in turn will supply services to consumers and enterprise customers. Capacity will be provided by Yamal-402.

The Yamal 402 Ku-band satellite had been launched in December 2012. Located at 55 degrees East, its 46 Ku-band transponders, four fixed beams, and one steerable beam can serve any location in Russia.

Newtec began offering its new high-speed Ka-band VSAT broadband technology in 2012.

The terminals it will provide to the GSS VSAT network will first use Ku-band and can later be upgraded to access higher throughput Ka Band frequencies without needing to adapt hardware.

Hermes presents new mobile VSAT unit with WiFi access to satellite Internet

A new mobile wireless VSAT solution has emerged from the development labs of Hermes Datacomms. The Company's new wireless mobile VSAT unit will supplement its existing services for customers in dangerous and extreme environments.

Mounted on a trailer, the self-contained system can deploy within four minutes at the push of a button. It will provide instant WiFi access to satellite Internet even in hot, dusty, or wet environments.

Hermes is reportedly highly enthused about the new VSAT system, which it describes to be even simpler and more reliable than the mobile systems the Company currently operates in Ethiopia and Kenya.

Both new and old Hermes Datacomms VSAT systems leverage the high-power C-band beams and regional Ku-band beams of the AMOS-5 satellite.

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.

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.