ThinKom Announces New Tactical Communications for Military Users

Torrance, CA, March 11th, 2013 ThinKom Solutions, Inc. (ThinKom) a global leader in broadband satellite communication solutions today announced that it successfully demonstrated a low-profile X/Ka-band SATCOM-on-the-Move (SOTM) system at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) in Aberdeen, MD.  The test was performed in conjunction with The Space & Terrestrial Communications Directorate (S&TCD) of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC).  The system, mounted on a Humvee, displayed data rates of 3MBps on receive (downlink) and 1.5Mbps on transmit (uplink) on XTAR-LANT while on the move. 

Thinkom announces VMES FCC Approval of ThinSAT® 300

Torrance, CA, March 12, 2013--ThinKom Solutions, Inc. (ThinKom) a global leader in broadband satellite communication solutions, announced today that the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has granted the first low-profile Vehicle Mounted Earth Station (VMES) license (44 C.F.R. 25.226) for its ThinSAT® 300 on-the-move antenna product.

The license provides ALSAT approval allowing operation on any of the authorized domestic satellites without further license additions or modifications. The license also authorizes the highest uplink Power Spectral Density (PSD) limits approved for such terminals, supporting 18.4 dB/4KHz. This level of spectral efficiency uniquely obviating the need to use costly spread spectrum waveforms.

Satellite broadcast community gears up to deliver the highest quality of satellite transmissions for the London 2012 Olympic Games

Final preparations underway for implementation of Carrier ID to assure quality of satellite TV services

Luxembourg, Paris, 17 July 2012
Significant strides forward have been made since the announcement at IBC in September 2011 of the introduction of Carrier ID in advance of the London 2012 Olympic Games in order to assure quality DVB satellite transmissions of the world’s most-watched sporting event, expected to generate over 2,000 hours of satellite coverage.

Carrier ID is a stamp on uplink signals that will enable satellite operators to more efficiently identify transmissions to their satellites and thereby accelerate coordination with earth station operators in the event of signal interference.

Quality assurance of DVB satellite transmissions has engaged the satellite community at large, including satellite operators, encoder and modulator manufacturers, broadcasters and uplink providers. The effort is also supported by three international associations: the World Broadcasting Unions-International Satellite Operations Group (WBU-ISOG), the GVF (Global VSAT Forum) and sIRG (satellite Interference Reduction Group).

Satellite operators, led by Eutelsat, Intelsat and SES whose combined orbital assets represent almost 60% of global commercial satellite capacity, have completed the process of adapting their earth station information tables to include Carrier ID information so they can read, extract and interpret data.

Modulator and encoder manufacturers, accounting for the vast majority of satellite transmission equipment used by broadcasters and service providers, have developed new models and system upgrades for Carrier ID use. They include Adtec Digital, Comtech EF Data, Ericsson, Fujitsu, IDC, Newtec and Vislink. Leading broadcasters, agencies and service providers have also updated their systems to be Carrier ID ready.

In a joint statement on this collective initiative David Bair, CTO of Eutelsat, Thierry Guillemin, CTO of Intelsat, and Stewart Sanders, SVP, Customer Service Delivery at SES, said: “This is the first phase of a long-term collaborative undertaking to implement Carrier ID in order to further raise the bar of quality to our broadcast customers. It underscores our constant quest to improve technologies and procedures to deliver the highest standards of service.”

Martin Coleman, Executive Director of the satellite Interference Reduction Group, David Hartshorn, Secretary General of the Global VSAT Forum, and Dick Tauber, Chairman of WBU-ISOG and VP Transmission Systems and New Technology at the CNN News Group, said: “The satellite communications and broadcasting industries are to be commended for this breakthrough. Never before have broadcasters, satellite operators, uplinkers, and manufacturers collaborated to implement an initiative with the sole objective of improving the quality of satellite television services for millions of viewers.”

About SES

SES is a world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of 51 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.

SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the broadcasting industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.

SES (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) holds participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico, as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. Further information under: www.ses.com.

Yves Feltes, VP Corporate Media Relations, yves.feltes@ses.com, tel +352 710 725 311

About Intelsat

Intelsat is the leading provider of satellite services worldwide. For over 45 years, Intelsat has been delivering information and entertainment for many of the world’s leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet Service Providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat’s satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video, data and voice services. From the globalization of content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular networks and broadband access, with Intelsat, advanced communications anywhere in the world are closer, by far.

www.intelsat.com

For media inquiries, please call +1 202 944 7044

About Eutelsat

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A. With capacity commercialised on 28 satellites that provide coverage across Europe, as well as the Middle East, Africa and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world’s three leading satellite operators. As of 31 March 2012 Eutelsat’s satellites were broadcasting more than 4,250 television channels to over 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Group’s satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat’s broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates high speed Internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve consumers, enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ just over 750 commercial, technical and operational professionals. This culturally diverse staff comprises employees from 30 countries.

www.eutelsat.com

For further information

Vanessa O’Connor
Tel.. + 33 1 53 98 37 91
voconnor@eutelsat.fr

Frederique Gautier
Tel.. + 33 1 53 98 37 91
fgautier@eutelsat.fr

Marie-Sophie Ecuer
Tel.. + 33 1 53 98 37 91
mecuer@eutelsat.fr

Investors & Analysts

Lisa Finas
Tel.. +33 1 53 98 35 30
investors@eutelsat-communications.com

Leonard Wapler
Tel.. +33 1 53 98 31 07
investors@eutelsat-communications.com

ACCELERATING GLOBAL DEMAND FOR SATELLITE-BASED BROADBAND ACCESS BRINGS CALLS FOR ROUNDTABLE ASSEMBLY ON ‘HIGH THROUGHPUT’ SATELLITE TECHNOLOGIES & MARKET APPLICATIONS

ACCELERATING GLOBAL DEMAND FOR SATELLITE-BASED BROADBAND ACCESS BRINGS CALLS FOR ROUNDTABLE ASSEMBLY ON ‘HIGH THROUGHPUT’ SATELLITE TECHNOLOGIES & MARKET APPLICATIONS

International Discussion Forum Organised by GVF-EMP Called For by Satellite Industry and End-User Markets

Monday, 30th July 2012

LONDON & WASHINGTON DC – Broadband is the hot topic all around the world and the global satellite industry is responding to accelerating demand for frequency spectrum to satisfy the requirements for increasing Internet bandwidth from a wide range of end-users. Key end-users include the Corporate, Enterprise, Government, NGO, and Internet Service Provision sectors, as well as the satellite news gathering (SNG) segment, and the consumer sector. As of November 2011, new satellites with ‘High Throughput’ capability already numbered around 30 in geosynchronous (GEO) orbit alone, and satellite operators have announced plans for additional ‘High  Throughput’  systems  that  will  see  around  40  more  satellites  in  GEO,  together  with constellations of other systems in medium earth orbit (MEO) and low earth orbit (LEO).

Already orbited ‘High Throughput’ systems use both satellite Ku band and Ka band frequency ranges to bring access to the types of communications services and solutions demanded across the private and public sectors, services that should, according to the United Nations, be comprehensively available by 2015, by which time ‘ALL countries should have a national broadband plan or strategy’.

“Providers of advanced – or ‘High Throughput’ – satellite systems have clearly been responding to the increasing demand for more-and-more spectrum, at lower-and-lower cost, in order to facilitate expanded broadband access, by developing ever more efficient, powerful, and cost- effective space and ground segments. ‘High Throughput Satellites’ employing the satellite Ku band

– and offering up to 45 Gbps of throughput – have been in service for a number of years, and now the satellite market has further responded to the demand for bandwidth by developing and deploying brand-new state-of-the-art systems using Ka band (and Ku band) to bring in excess of 1.3 Tbps of aggregate capacity to support fixed (FSS), mobile (MSS), and broadcasting (BSS) services”, noted Martin Jarrold, Chief of International Programme Development with the GVF.

“With the demand for spectrum never abating, the satellite industry is taking a concerted lead in using frequency re-use and multiple spot beam technologies to provision for more, and now, in response to a similarly high-level of demand – from both the satellite industry and satellite communications end-user markets – a dedicated satellite high throughput/Ka band forum is being organised by the GVF-EMP Conference Partnership.”

The event, entitled The Ka Roundtable Assembly 2012: Satellite Service Provision Game- Changer in Action, will take place in London on 5th & 6th December 2012.

“The title Roundtable has been chosen to reflect the organisers’ intention to hold ‘an assembly where parties meet on equal terms for discussion’, a format designed to facilitate a multi-faceted dialogue with as many perspectives represented as possible,” said Paul Stahl, Managing Partner of EMP. He added, “We intend to bring together a diversity of specialists, including end-users from key vertical markets (oil & gas, maritime, disaster management (NGOs) and broadcast), satellite operators, services and equipment providers, OEMs and hardware manufacturers, researchers and legal/regulatory specialists, together with re-sellers and value added re-sellers (VARs).”

With higher throughput having become of the utmost strategic importance to the satellite industry, and to a multitude of satellite service users, a range of key subject areas have so far been identified for inclusion in the Roundtable programme coverage, including the following:

Satellite Operator Forum

-       Global Operators & Encompassing the Global Ka Space

-       Regional Operator Ka Initiatives

-       Ka: New Opportunities from Revolution (or Evolution?)

-       Defining “HTS” (High Throughput Satellites)

-       C band, Ku band... What & Where Now?

User Verticals Focus

-       Enterprise Services

-       Government Services

-       Maritime Sector

-       Oil & Gas Sector

-       NGOs in Disaster Recovery & Development

-       Internet Service Providers

-       Satellite News Gathering

-       Airline Operators/Rail Operators

OEM Forum

-       Equipment Design & Technical Innovation

-       Equipment Manufacture & Economies of Scale

Hardware/Antennas Focus

-       Antenna Technologies

-       Application/Market Specific Antenna Design

-       Antenna Installation Training

Networking Applications Forum

-       National & Multi-National Networks

-       New Mobile Terrestrial BWA Backhaul: beyond GSM & 3G to LTE & 4G

-       Rural Telecommunications

-       PSTN infrastructure Extension/Telco Trunking

-       Broadband Internet Access

-       Utilities & M2M

-       Advanced Format TV Broadcast/IPTV/Edgecasting

Regulatory & Licensing Focus

-       Regulating for Ka band

-       The Ka band Licensing Environment

The Ka Roundtable Assembly 2012: Satellite Service Provision Game-Changer in Action will have  the  support  of  various  expert  consultants,  including  Elisabeth  Tweedie  of Definitive Direction. Further Roundtable Assembly Consultants will be announced in due course.

More information about the event, including a detailed overview and mission statement, can be obtained         on         the         event’s         dedicated         web         pages         at  www.uk- emp.co.uk/Ka.Roundtable.Ldn.2012/and  also  from  the  organisers:  Martin  Jarrold  of  GVF at martin.jarrold@gvf.org and Paul Stahl of EMP at paul.stahl@uk-emp.co.uk.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The GVF-EMP Conference Series Organisers

GVF

www.gvf.org

GVF is the single and unified voice of the global satellite industry.  Founded in 1997, it brings together organisations engaged in the delivery of advanced broadband and narrowband satellite services to consumers, and commercial and government enterprises worldwide.  Headquartered in London, GVF is an independent,  non-partisan  and  non-profit  organisation  with  200+  members  from  more  than  100 countries.  The broad-based membership represents every major world region and every sector of the satellite industry, including fixed and mobile satellite operators, satellite network operators, teleports, satellite earth station manufacturers, system integrators, value added and enhanced service providers, telecom carriers, consultants, law firms, and users.  Contact  martin.jarrold@gvf.org in the UK office, or in the US office please contact  david.hartshorn@gvf.org or liz.grimm@gvf.org.

UK EMP

 www.uk-emp.co.uk

EMP was launched in 2004 to develop and manage a niche portfolio of highly specialised conferences analysing the mission-critical communications needs of major corporate and government end-users, particularly in remote locations where connectivity is a major challenge.

EMP events are focused on rapidly developing as well as developed regional markets.  EMP works very closely with key industry and government bodies as well as commercial entities with shared interests, to ensure that all events are stakeholder driven, and that critical industry objectives are analysed in depth and from a variety of perspectives.  Contact paul.stahl@uk-emp.co.uk.

Ka Roundtable Assembly 2012 Consultants

Definitive Direction is an independent, international, strategic marketing consultancy serving the satellite and telecommunications industries.  Sectors covered include: Broadband and Ka band in particular, S band and Mobile, and wireless. Clients benefit from rigorous, impartial, customized research and analysis designed to meet their precise needs.  With over 20 years experience in the industry we understand what factors drive the different markets, know what questions to ask and most importantly how to interpret the results to produce actionable business plans. Clients include major manufacturers, operators and infrastructure providers around the world.

Web: www.definitivedirection.com; email:info@definitivedirection.com; phone: +44 (0)7768 610574 or

+1 310 292 0755.

Orange Business Services Expands GVF Training Integration into Corporate Training Program

Washington D.C. – Global VSAT Forum (GVF) announced today the expansion of its training relationship with Orange Business Services, a leading global integrator of communications solutions for multinational corporations. The expanded training program includes GVF marine terminal installation courses, designed for technicians who install and commission Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) systems on marine vessels.

GVF White Paper on Licensing Satellites in Ka Band

The demand for spectrum never abates.  Over the years satellite systems have responded to this increasing demand by developing ever-more efficient and powerful space and ground segments.  Now the satellite market has responded to the demand for spectrum by developing brand-new state-of-the-art systems that can use the Ka band. The rapidly increasing use of the Ka band for these new satellites, services and applications, may require a review of the allocations and authorisation conditions applied by various National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs).  This paper aims to anticipate concerns, answer questions, and supply strong arguments in favor of open market access to this spectrum for satellite systems.

International VSAT Policy Declaration

This document was prepared by the Global VSAT Forum (GVF), an association of organizations engaged in the delivery of advanced digital fixed satellite services via Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) to consumers, and commercial and government enterprises worldwide. The term “VSAT” refers to fixed small-aperture terminals that provide interactive or receive-only telecommunications to an end-user premises via either geostationary or non-geostationary satellites. Headquartered in London, the GVF is an independent, non-partisan and non-profit organization with 69 members. The broad-based membership represents every major world region and every sector of the satellite industry, including satellite operators, VSAT network operators, VSAT manufacturers, system integrators, value added and enhanced service providers, telecom carriers, and users. The Regulatory Working Group (RWG) of the GVF brings together regulatory experts from across the globe to share first-hand experience with international VSAT regulatory and licensing policies (Annex A: GVF and RWG Membership). On behalf of the GVF, the RWG has analyzed and compared a wide variety of regulatory frameworks, legal structures and licensing procedures to arrive at this recommendation of the most effective and proven approaches for the benefit of regulatory administrations, industry and the end-user community.

This document consists of the following:

• 
  
• • The International VSAT Policy Declaration, stating the key priorities and regulatory principles advocated by the GVF.
• 
  
• • Section I addresses the essential role VSATs play in fulfilling telecommunication needs and calls attention to the link between telecom connectivity and economic strength.
• 
  
• • Section II identifies regulatory barriers that slow or prevent effective provision of VSAT-based services and establishes corresponding regulatory solutions.
• 
  
• • Section III introduces a VSAT licensing guideline and offers ongoing support for regulatory programs that seek to facilitate the provision of VSAT-based telecommunication solutions.

GVF 101 “Mutual Recognition of Performance Measurement Guidelines and Procedures for Satellite System Operator Type Approvals”

This document provides an executive summary of the type approval program maintained by the GVF. Readers are invited to refer to the main document GVF-101 for more detailed information.

The GVF Satellite Policy Guidelines 2009

This document was prepared by GVF, an association of organisations engaged in the delivery of advanced broadband and narrowband satellite services to consumers, and commercial and government enterprises worldwide.  Headquartered in London, GVF is an independent, non-partisan and non-profit organisation with 160 members from more than 50 countries.  The broad-based membership represents every major world region and every sector of the satellite industry, including fixed and mobile satellite operators, satellite network operators, teleports, satellite earth station manufacturers, system integrators, value added and enhanced service providers, telecom carriers, consultants, law firms, and users.  GVF provides a unified voice for the global satellite industry. GVF’s Regulatory Working Group (RWG) plays an instrumental role in this by bringing together regulatory experts from across the globe to share first-hand experience with international satellite communications policy and regulation (Appendix A: GVF and RWG Membership). On behalf of GVF, the RWG has analysed and compared a wide variety of policy and regulatory frameworks, legal structures and licensing procedures to arrive at this recommendation of the most effective and proven approaches for the benefit of policy makers, regulatory administrations, industry and the end-user community. This document consists of the following:Section 1 includes the International Satellite Policy Declaration, stating the key priorities and regulatory principles advocated by GVF.Section 2 addresses the essential role satellite communications play in fulfilling national, regional and global policy objectives and, in particular, calls attention to the link between telecom connectivity and economic strength.Section 3 provides a guideline that aims to facilitate administrations’ efforts to develop communications policies that promote access to satellite systems and services. Section 4 examines key regulatory and licensing trends relevant to the satellite communications sector worldwide.Section 5 identifies regulatory barriers that slow or prevent effective provision of satellite-based services and identifies corresponding regulatory solutions.Section 6 offers ongoing support for regulatory programs that seek to facilitate the provision of satellite-based communication solutions.

Bourbon and Orange Business Services : Bringing VSAT Benefits Onboard

Bourbon Partners with iDirect and Orange Business Services to Modernize Fleet Communications

Australian Satellite Communications : Going the Extra Mile with Distance Learning

Australia’s Northern Territory Government Partners with Australian Satellite Communications and iDirect to Expand Educational Reach in the Outback

SatCom in the SNG Market

Developments in the Satellite News Gathering (SNG) industry over the last 20 years havebeen dramatic. They have changed the way we consume news and view world events. No longer is“reporting the news” enough — consumers want to become “part of the news.” This expectation translates into having Live News available for every major story. Innovations in satellite and Internet technologies have enabled much of this advancement.

Hughes CEO Reveals Economics Behind Next-Generation Satellite

Hughes CEO Reveals Economics Behind Next-Generation Satellite