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.

HISPASAT orders extra Gilat SkyEdge II VSAT hub for Avanza national broadband network

An announcement by Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. revealed that it will be providing another SkyEdge II VSAT hub platform to Spanish satellite operator HISPASAT. The additional Gilat VSAT system will expand the existing broadband network and support thousands of new consumers who dwell in areas unreached or under-served by terrestrial broadband.

SkyEdge II will maximize space segment efficiency on the network through a combination of 32APSK Adaptive Coding and Modulation transmissions and the beam capabilities of HISPASAT-operated 1E satellite. This enables each 36 MHz transponder to reach speeds of up to 100 Mbps, allowing the Gilat VSAT hub system to ensure its high-speed Internet on satellite services are of high quality while also being affordable enough as an alternative to terrestrial networks.

Gilat and HISPASAT have been collaborating on the Spanish national broadband initiative Avanza. Spain is currently embarked on the third segment of its project to provide both terrestrial and satellite broadband connectivity to the entire country.

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.

Astrium renews satellite capacity agreement with Intelsat

Astrium Services and Intelsat S.A. have renewed a multi-year agreement for C-band satellite capacity used by Astrium's customers in the business and maritime VSAT sectors.

Intelsat will draw C-band capacity from its Intelsat 907 satellite to ensure data connectivity and voice communication for passengers and operational purposes. This satellite capacity will be used by Astrium's new Business Communications unit to deliver high bandwidth to C-band customized VSAT users, as well as providing satellite broadband and expanded capabilities to customers in the cruise, ferry, and offshore markets.

The renewed capacity allows maritime customers to keep on integrating new services aboard their vessels and improve the efficiency of their operations through the addition of new technology. It will also allow cruise and ferry operators to offer Wi-Fi connectivity throughout their vessel for the simultaneous use of multiple passengers.

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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.

HME outsources Broadband at Sea platform to Outsource-IT Management

Holland Marine Equipment (HME) has turned over executing duties at Platform Broadband at Sea to Ron Vollenga of Outsource-IT Management.

While HME retains ownership of Platform, Outsource's Vollenga will now coordinate the activities and events on behalf of HME.

Broadband at Sea promotes transparency in the maritime broadband market. It also promotes the use of fleet and satellite VSAT-provided broadband at sea. The platform organizes meetings that discuss market developments and issues regarding maritime broadband communication.

HME started the Broadband at Sea initiative in 2007 as a subsidized project limited to Dutch shipping companies and suppliers. The project's successful project led to its transformation into a Platform where international shipping companies and suppliers share the solutions reaped by their Dutch counterparts.

Outsource-IT Management had been active in Broadband at Sea ever since the project phase. Outsource-IT provides consultancy services in the field of maritime ICT for maritime companies. It is an expect on topics that cover fleet and satellite broadband connection, project management services, and other related services

KVH picks MVS Group as mini-VSAT service provider

KVH Industries, Inc. recently agreed to a service provider agreement with mobile satellite service distributor MVS Group.

MVS will be allowed to offer KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband service and TracPhone V-series satellite communications systems to MVS' global customer base. By bundling KVH’s service within MVS' billing and airtime management system and full suite of value-added services, MVS will be able to provide one-stop shopping services for its global customer base.

Brent Bruun, senior vice president of global sales and business development for KVH, expressed glowing admiration for KVH's newest service provider. “The MVS Group is a market leader that has won a solid following of loyal customers throughout the world," he noted, "By providing outstanding customer support and offering satellite services enhanced with its comprehensive, value-added services.”

VP Bruun expressed delight on behalf of KVH “to enter into this cooperation to offer [MVH's] customers next-generation VSAT services delivered by our mini-VSAT Broadband network and our award-winning TracPhone V-series product line.”

Founded in 1995, the MVS Group is dedicated to providing mobile applications access to L-band MSS services to its customers wherever they are. The company's excellent support, high-quality billing systems, and full range of value-added services made it a leader in the mobile satellite communications market. MVS Group is now the third largest Inmarsat Distribution Partner in the world. It is also a global Service Provider for Iridium. With corporate headquarters in the United States, and regional offices in Cyprus, Russia, and the Netherlands, MVS Group closely cooperate with their customers to realize business objectives through efficent use of satellite communications services.

On MVS Group's part, Deborah Deffaa, executive director of the MVS, explained that “Broadband connectivity offshore is becoming an important requirement in the commercial maritime industry.” According to her, MVS's customers are employing new applications to save fuel, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance effiency, and boost crew morale. These applications need faster and cheaper satellite communications service for maximum efficency.

"KVH has developed a remarkable new maritime broadband network," Director Deffaa observed, "That takes advantage of advanced, spread spectrum technology to dramatically reduce the size and cost of the antennas needed to receive the service onboard the vessels." KVH's advanced systems make it "easier than ever before to deploy affordable broadband service at sea.”

KVH designs are considered to be the fastest-growing and most widely-used maritime VSAT solution in the world. More than 2,000 Mini-VSAT Broadband system terminals have been sold.

The KVH network employs ArcLight spread spectrum technology. Created by KVH’s technology partner, ViaSat, Inc. with a specific eye for mobile use, ArcLight possesses a unique and desirable combination of fast speed, low latency, efficient reuse of satellite channels, and ability to support very small antennas that provide reliable service even in inclement weather.

Maritime vessels equipped with mini-VSAT Broadband service have access to some of the highest data rates available today. Download speeds can go as fast as 4 Mbps while upload speeds can hit 1 Mbps. The KVH satellite broadband service also provides Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone lines with optimized service and prioritization of applications.

KVH manufactures several onboard antennas for its mini-VSAT Broadband network. Its 24" diameter TracPhone V7 is an award-winning and highly popular option, while the 14.5" diameter TracPhone V3 is the world’s most affordable and compact maritime VSAT antenna. In addition, KVH will soon release the new dual-mode TracPhone V11, with the ability to accept both C and Ku-band satellite signals from KVH’s global network, giving the V11 95% coverage of the globe

Gilat to upgrade Panama VSAT broadband network

Cable and Wireless Panama intends to expand its existing VSAT broadband network with the help of satellite service provider Gilat Satellite Networks.

The two partner companies will install a Gilat Sky-Edge II satellite broadband network to provide broadband Internet and telephony connectivity to all of Panama. Panamanians will be able to access Internet applications and telephony services through this new network.

Under the current network expansion,  Cable and Wireless Panama will deploy solar-powered Sky Edge II VSATs across the country. Gilat will install, maintain, and operate the hub equipment and VoIP gateways. Telesat's TelStar 11N satellite will provide the  Cable and Wireless Panama-Gilat broadband solution with new outbound capacity.

SkyEdge II is a Gilat multi-service platform that uses DVB-S2 and DVB-RCS to deliver high-quality voice, broadband data, and video services for many types of environments. Cellular backhaul, enterprises, government network applications, and rural networks will all benefit from the planned upgraded speed and quality.

Cable and Wireless Panama has been using Gilat's SkyEdge and SkyEdge II products to provide satellite-based services since 2005. The two companies jointly operate over 1,300 sites in Panama, which make the Latin American country's satellite network very robust.

NigComSat partners with iDirect for VSAT upgrade

Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NigComSat) signed a contract with satellite communications company iDirect to improve the African satellite network operator's VSAT systems.

According to Satellite Toda, iDirect announced on July 9 that it would deploy both its new Series 15100 Universal Satellite hub and an Evolution-based service in Nigeria for NigComSat.

NigComSat’s current VSAT solutions handles the needs of both military and government customers. iDirect's Evolution platform will open new and profitable markets in enterprise and education in addition to improving the efficiency and bandwidth of existing VSAT customers.

In addition, Evolution provides NigComSat with a scalable platform that can easily switch between TDMA and SCPC return channels. NigComSat will have the ability to adjust its service levels depending on the current dynamic applications and changing traffic patterns. This ability will allow NigComSat to better tailor its services to customers, which saves money and increases the effectiveness of their satellite broadband service.

According to CEO T. Ahmed-Rufai, NigComSat believed that high-speed Internet would transform the Nigerian economy. NigComSat partnered with iDirect to implement an affordable satellite communications network that can easily accomodate the increasing broadband penetration in West Africa. Thanks to iDirect's Evolution platform, NigComSat will be able to provide a satellite broadband service capable to matching the often-contrasting requirements of numerous -and different- customers.