The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) President’s Report is a weekly executive summary covering current satellite industry news and events.
SIA Activities
SIA Co-Hosts 4th Annual DoD Commercial Satcom Users Workshop, December 9-11, 2008 at the Bethesda Marriott, Bethesda, MD.This annual event brings together leaders from DoD Combatant Commands, Services and Agencies with satellite operators, service providers, resellers, ground equipment suppliers, and manufacturers. Link to additional information
VIA SATELLITE WEBINAR - Digital Switchover: What it Means for Broadcasting – Tuesday, December 16, 2008 – 1:00 – 2:00 pm: Brad Gillen from EchoStar, will be participating on behalf of SIA in the Via Satellite Webinar on the upcoming digital switch-over and its effects. To register to watch the webinar: Link to additional information
MemberNews
DataPath, Inc. was awarded $4.8 million to continue providing on-site personnel to operate and maintain U.S. Army satellite communications systems. This award provides 12 months of funding for DataPath® technical personnel based in various locations in the United States supporting Satellite Transportable Terminals, Master Reference Terminals and Unit Hub SATCOM Trucks used in the U.S. Army’s Joint Network Node /Warfighter Information Network-Tactical program. Link to additional information
The Boeing Company has received a $3.7 million contract from Northrop Grumman Corp. to evaluate communications security enhancements and replacements for data-storage media for the U.S. Air Force's Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile system. This contract is the second phase of risk-reduction work being done in preparation for the ICBM modification program planned for 2010. Under this phase of the Master Code Cartridge Conversion program, Boeing will continue to develop hardware and software for a proof-of-concept demonstration and to draft the program's requirements documentation. Link to additional information
Hughes Network Systems, LLC announced that its Brazilian operating entity, Hughes do Brasil, has won a public tender for a 36-month contract with PRODAM - Data Processing Company of the State of Amazonas, to deploy a turnkey broadband network solution that combines WiMAX and WiFi access technologies with satellite backhaul. Using this novel solution, PRODAM will provide high-speed wireless Internet access service to customers throughout all 61 municipalities of Amazonas, including government agencies, small businesses, and the public at large. Link to additional information
Integral Systems Europe announced that it has signed a yearly renewable contract to support the Polar Mission Control System (MCS) over the next 15 years with the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). Integral Systems Europe delivered the MCS as a subcontract to Thales Alenia Space. The MCS includes four systems at two different sites and has been in operation since October 2005. Link to additional information
Mobile Satellite Ventures LP announced that the United States Federal Communications Commission has granted communications licenses for the two new MSV gateways in the U.S.built to support the company’s next-generation integrated satellite-terrestrial communication network for North America. MSV is constructing a network with four new gateways located in Napa, California and Dallas, Texas, along with similar facilities in Ottawa, Ontario and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in Canada. MSV also has an operating license for the Ottawa facility and has been granted authorization to use the Saskatoonfacility by Industry Canada. Link to additional information
The NASA's Earth Observer-1 has reached its eighth anniversary on orbit. The EO-1 satellite, launched on November 21, 2000 had an initial design and mission life of one year, but has continued successful operations for more than 7 years past the initial mission. ATK served as the Prime Contractor, Mission Integrator and Bus Developer for the EO-1 mission. The Earth Observing-1 mission developed and validated a number of instrument and spacecraft bus breakthrough technologies designed to enable the development of future earth imaging observatories. Link to additional information
SES - NEW SKIES, announced that Arrowhead Global Solutions has concluded a multi-year agreement for 90MHz of capacity on the upcoming NSS-12 satellite. Arrowhead will use the capacity to support U.S. government needs over the Middle East and East Africa. As CapRock Communications’ government and military division, Arrowhead supports the mission-critical needs of more than thirty government agency customers and thousands of associated end-users. Link to additional information
Spacecom, the operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, announced that Hungary’s newest DTH (Direct-to-Home) service, T-Home SatTV, has commenced operations using AMOS-3, Spacecom’s newest satellite launched early this year. T-Home SatTV, boasting a large channel bouquet including four HD channels, is the third DTH platform using the AMOS constellation, joining Romania’s BOOM and Israel’s YES. Link to additional information
Spacenet Inc. announced that its Channel Partner Orbital Data Net recently deployed Spacenet’s high-performance Connexstar satellite services in support of emergency networks for government agencies to help bring vital communications online during severe weather conditions. The services enable rapid deployment of completely converged communications to support voice, video and broadband data via satellite for emergency response teams. Link to additional information
Upcoming Meetings and Events
2008:
December 9-11 – SIA Co-Sponsored DoD Commercial SATCOM User’s Workshop, Bethesda Marriott, Bethesda, MD
December 16 – Via Satellite Webinar Digital Switchover: What it means to broadcasting.
2009:
January 18-21– Pacific Telecom Council PTC ’09, HiltonHawaiianVillage, Honolulu, HI
March 24-27–Satellite 2009 Conference & Exhibition, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
August 18-20–LandWarNet 2009, Fort Lauderdale, FL
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