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.

XipLink optimizes Vitacom VSAT satellite service networks in Africa, Latin America

Various customers in Africa and Latin America will be able to enjoy improved VSAT satellite services after XipLink successfully installed XA appliances on Vitacom's production networks.

Vitacom recently optimized satellite services use SCPS TCP Acceleration and integrated X1/X2 streaming compression to deliver greater capacity to Vitacom and improving the quality-of-experience of the end users by way of faster refresh rates.

The XipLink technical solution was certified in advance. Romantis had extensively tested the TDMA network while Datum Systems had done the same for the SCPC devices. The advanced certification allowed the XipLink appliances to be quickly integrated into the production networks and deliver positive results almost immediately.

With XipLink technology, Vitacom will be better able to deliver world class VSAT services. It also gains higher effective bandwidth without needing to purchase expensive additional capacity, and its services' response times will have been vastly increased. 

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Costa Rica grants VSAT license to Datzap after three year negotiations

After years of intense negotiations involving the Costa Rican government and Ohio Senator Rob Portman (the US Trade Representative,) Datzap has finally received a license to offer VSAT services and systems in Costa Rica.

According to Mike Kister, President of VSAT Systems, the Akron, Ohio-based Datzap is the first American company to enter the Costa Rican marketplace, which the local government had monopolized for many years. He calls the decision of the Costa Rican government to grant Datzap its license the herald of a great day for VSAT and US business in general.

The satellite uplink facility and infrastructure of VSAT Systems, Datzap's parent company, is now at the service of Costa Rica. From there, customers can directly access to the U.S. Internet backbone, whose performance and security are better than those provided by local resellers of the Costa Rican national satellite system.

Datzat is actively recruiting Costa Rican resellers into its fold by offering hardware and service incentives worth $200,000.

VSAT Systems operates three of the most sought-after geostationary satellites in the Western Hemisphere. This satellite fleet will be leveraged by Datzap to provide Internet-by-satellite and satellite communications service anywhere in Central America and the Caribbean region. Datzap plans to offer its VSAT services to diverse markets such as agriculture, banking, cellular backhaul, disaster response, and the retail grocery and restaurant trade.