Displaying items by tag: Intelsat

A rocket that blasted off from French Guiana successfully placed two communications satellites into orbit Saturday, launch firm Arianespace said.

The Ariane 5 rocket took off at 2204 GMT from Kourou, the European Space Agency's space center in the South American territory, the company said in a statement.

Two satellites on board, belonging to the intergovernmental provider Intelsat and Japan's Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation, were later successfully placed into orbit, Arianespace said.  

The satellite will be used for direct-to-home services and will serve as a backup to another ultra-high definition satellite launched in 2017, called BSAT-4a.

A servicing vehicle that will dock with other satellites in orbit was also deployed, it added.

The launch, the first for Arianespace since activities at Kourou were halted in March due to the coronavirus, had originally been scheduled for July 28 but was delayed to allow for more "technical inspections".

Another delay followed due to "the unexpected behavior of one sensor" for a liquid hydrogen tank.

The launch was delayed for a third time due to unfavorable wind conditions.

Arianespace also launched the Galaxy 30 satellite for Intelsat as part of a larger bid to replace the aging North American Galaxy set of satellites for broadcast services.

Galaxy 30 and other satellites of its group will provide services such as ultra-high definition broadcasts, over-the-top service to allow consumers to directly stream from the satellite, and a range of other services for broadband, mobile and enterprise.

Satellite operator Intelsat and Etisalat have announced plans to expand the distribution of Intelsat EpicNG services in the Middle East. Under a multiyear expansion, Etisalat will upgrade its network to deliver higher performance to customers in the region using the Intelsat 33e high-throughput satellite. Concurrently, Intelsat will leverage Etisalat’s teleport in Dubai as an expansion node of the IntelsatOne Flex service.

The teleport acts as an extension to Etisalat’s Smart Hub services. Equipped with the latest technologies and platforms, it serves as one of the globe’s major satellite hubs, hosting more than 40 antennas. This will expand options in the region to benefit from Intelsat EpicNG high-throughput services.

Intelsat EpicNG, according to Intelsat, is a high performance, next generation satellite platform that delivers global high-throughput technology without sacrificing user control of service elements and hardware.

“This agreement with Intelsat will introduce a new level of cooperation to our long-term relationship,” said Ali Amiri, Group Chief Carrier & Wholesale Officer, Etisalat. “Leveraging the innovative Intelsat EpicNG platform and IntelsatOne Flex managed services, we will be able to deliver new, more powerful applications to our current customers as well as address new verticals.”

Kurt Riegelman, Intelsat’s Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, said, “Intelsat sought to build upon its already strong relationship with Etisalat as we developed our global footprint for the IntelsatOneFlex managed broadband service.”

Riegelman added, “Etisalat will be an important distributor of Intelsat EpicNG services and capabilities for customers throughout the Middle East and into Africa and Asia. Intelsat’s innovations, including Intelsat EpicNG, are unlocking new opportunities for our customers and distributors. Our expanded relationship with Etisalat will result in new applications as well as better services for customers throughout the region.”

Satellite communications giant Intelsat said it will provide communications solutions for maritime customers in Latin America under an agreement with Brazil’s Mareste, a privately held firm based in Rio de Janeiro.

Under the agreement, Mareste will provide Ku-band communications services delivered by the Galaxy 28 satellite for the leisure, fishing and coastal sectors in Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.

Mareste will package the satellite services with its Ello product, which includes antennas and hardware, to provide a cost-effective satellite communication system designed to serve smaller coastal and regional vessels, where physical space for onboard equipment and budgets can be scarce or limited.

“With access to Intelsat’s satellite fleet and services, Mareste will be able to rapidly grow into a market that has traditionally been underserved,” said Márcio Esteves, Mareste’s President. “These leisure, fishing and coastal sectors traditionally have been forced to settle for low-speed, expensive connections.”

Esteves added, “With faster, more affordable broadband connectivity, Ello will solve the communications challenges for these customers, delivering a cost-effective satellite system that can be easily and rapidly deployed on smaller vessels.”

Carmen González-Sanfeliu, Intelsat’s Managing Director, Latin America & Caribbean, Sales, said, “Satellites are delivering next generation broadband services to the maritime sector.  Intelsat is focused on simplifying the process of acquiring the services and integrating them into existing operations.”

Carmen added, “Intelsat makes it easier to access connectivity from across the Intelsat fleet, including the Intelsat EpicNG platform and IntelsatOne Flex for Maritime service. For network operators and service providers, Intelsat delivers accelerated time to market, ensured availability and secure delivery of bandwidth.”

Luxembourg-based satellite company Intelsat recently announced a managed services solution that will provide 2G services in remote locations of Africa.  The solution leverages contributions of services provider BCom and technology provider Newtec for core components of the solution.

IntelsatOne Mobile Reach Solar 2G is a turnkey package designed for mobile network operators (MNOs) seeking to expand voice services in a simple, cost-efficient manner to remote populations throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The solution includes all satellite, cellular and power components, allowing MNOs to deploy and connect with their subscribers virtually anywhere.

While some countries and regions are transitioning to 4G and even looking at 5G, it is important to remember that 4 billion people throughout the world are without Internet connectivity, Intelsat said in a release.  2G still represents a large amount of existing wireless infrastructure. In Africa, more than 672 million people rely on 2G services, and those networks need to be upgraded and expanded to meet growing connectivity demands throughout the continent, Intelsat claims.

Furthermore, half of the continent is unconnected, resulting in a dire need to provide a connectivity solution to regions not served by current mobile network service territories.  IntelsatOne Mobile Reach Solar 2G was developed specifically for MNOs to be able to extend their coverage to serve these populations with a cost-effective, easily deployable and efficient cell site that is solar-powered.

The managed service, which will be marketed by Intelsat initially in the sub-Saharan Africa region, integrates satellite services from Intelsat’s globalized network with Newtec’s advanced Newtec Dialog multiservice platform, and BCom’s backhaul terminal solution and network deployment expertise. Through this partnership, IntelsatOne Mobile Reach Solar 2G delivers a product that can be rapidly deployed and is easily scalable to serve regions and populations of all sizes.

“Satellite is fundamental to improving connectivity coverage in rural areas, especially relevant for the African continent,” said Jean-Philippe Gillet, Intelsat’s Vice President and General Manager, Broadband. “Now that smaller, more portable kits can be used with our high power Intelsat Epic platform, connecting those communities will become easier and more cost-effective.

Gillet added, “The experience of implementing HTS (high throughput satellite) into our customers’ networks has affirmed our beliefs about its potential, and in every region, Intelsat is focused on making access to satellite solutions easier than ever for commercial connectivity providers. This is another example of Intelsat Epic expanding the market for satellite-based solutions.”

Patrick Elias, Sales & Operations Director at BCom, a satellite services provider and solution designer, said: “Our goal is to design a solution that is easy to deploy, that fits each community with basic 2G GSM services and cover a larger area or population in a very cost-effective way based on a pay-as-you-grow model. With each community having its own specificity in terms of landscape and population density, the BCom backhaul terminal solution is designed to be flexible, scalable and resilient.”

Thaicom Public Company Limited, a leading Asian satellite operator, and Intersat Limited, a VSAT provider of cost-effective, end-to-end satellite communications solutions, announced the launch of Managed Satellite Network Services for Intersat and Thaicom enterprise and government customers over the iDirect satellite hub platform. The companies recently signed a multi-year deal for capacity on the THAICOM 6/AFRICOM 1 satellite.

The service will provide a secure network on the THAICOM 6/AFRICOM 1 satellite which is located at 78.5 degrees east, and an Intersat-owned, collocated iDirect hub at the company's Kenya-based teleport. Intersat will manage the end-to-end service from its Network Operations Center (NOC) in Nairobi, Kenya. The platform provides a fully managed, customized turnkey service, utilizing state-of-the-art Evolution hub technology by iDirect which, when combined with THAICOM 6/AFRICOM 1's powerful beams over Africa, leverages high degrees of efficiency to deliver cost-effective and competitive managed services to its customers.

"We have been working hard to stay ahead of the curve by offering flexible, cost-effective, end-to-end satellite services to our customers in Africa," said Thaicom Chief Commercial Officer Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri. "We are delighted that Intersat has made Thaicom their partner of choice in an otherwise very contested market, which reaffirms our reputation as an experienced and trusted partner for the delivery of cost-effective IP-based satellite services to enterprises and governments in Africa."

Intersat Chief Executive, Hanif Kassam, added, "Intersat's proven managed service platform has taken a leap forward by taking advantage of Thaicom's experience as an end-to-end satellite provider and the company's powerful C-band coverage across the African continent."

Subrata Roy, Chief Technical Officer at Intersat added, "Thaicom's understanding of the market and customer-centric approach makes the company a natural choice for Intersat to grow our managed service platform in the pan-African region."

Luxembourg satellite company Intelsat announced plans recently to merge with OneWeb satellite constellation. The companies are working towards their ambitious "internet in the sky" plan with the help of a $1.7 billion investment from Japan's SoftBank.

In a joint statement, Intelsat and OneWeb said the deal aims "to create a financially stronger company with the flexibility to aggressively pursue new growth opportunities resulting from the explosion in demand for broadband connectivity for people and devices everywhere."

The merger and new cash infusion aims to accelerate OneWeb's plans for a network of low-Earth orbit satellites to deliver internet to remote areas of the globe. The OneWeb network, which is expected to begin operating in 2022, would be combined with Intelsat's geostationary orbit satellites, aiming to support "an extensive set of mass-market applications, including for consumer broadband, connected cars," and other data services, according to the statement.

SoftBank announced in December plans to invest $1 billion in OneWeb, and has now agreed to add $1.7 billion to the combined company, giving it a 39.9 percent voting stake plus additional nonvoting shares. The new company will be based in Intelsat's home nation of Luxembourg, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with manufacturing and other facilities in the United States.

"With SoftBank's support we will build the world's first truly global broadband company, accelerating our mission of bridging the digital divide by connecting the four billion people without access today," said OneWeb founder Greg Wyler, who will be executive chairman of the new joint company.

Stephen Spengler, Intelsat's chief executive, will keep the title of CEO at the new company. He said the combination "will create an industry leader unique in its ability to provide affordable broadband anywhere in the world."

SoftBank last year announced its first investment in OneWeb after its chief executive Masayoshi Son met US President Donald Trump and pledged to invest $50 billion in the US economy and create 50,000 jobs. OneWeb intends to launch 684 low-orbit satellites, to cover the entire planet and deliver internet to areas where conventional land systems are not economical.

OneWeb's idea dates back to the 1990s, when Teledesic, a project backed by Microsoft's Bill Gates and Saudi royal family investors, failed before it went into service. Another venture, called SkyBridge, also failed, and its assets were eventually acquired by OneWeb.

Intelsat, operator of the world’s first Globalized Network, powered by its leading satellite backbone, announced that Office des Postes et Telecommunications of French Polynesia (OPT) signed a new and expanded contract for Ku-band satellite solutions on Intelsat 18, located at 180° East.

In 2008, Intelsat designed a Ku-band beam on Intelsat 18 for OPT to provide coverage to all of French Polynesia, including the Cook Islands. The new multi-year agreement will enable OPT to further expand its wireless infrastructure to meet the fast growing mobile broadband and internet needs of businesses and communities in the more remote islands of the archipelagos located in the South Pacific.

“Intelsat’s satellite solutions have enabled OPT to scale our network as the demands for internet and mobile broadband connectivity continue to rise,” said Jean-François Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer, OPT.

“The optimized performance of Intelsat 18 provides a complement to our terrestrial infrastructure which will enable OPT to further extend its network, increase its business and, more importantly, provide reliable internet connectivity to the citizens of French Polynesia, reducing the digital divide between Tahiti and the remote islands.”

Terry Bleakley, Regional Vice President, Asia Pacific, Intelsat, said: “Access to fast, reliable internet connectivity is vital to driving economic growth and improving the quality of life for all communities. Given the terrain of French Polynesia, satellite is the only way to connect remote islands to the mainland, and help telecom providers scale their networks to meet growing business demands.”

He added: “We look forward to working closely with OPT and its subsidiaries to expand their networks so that more people across French Polynesia can receive mobile and internet connectivity although the islands are spread out in the Pacific Ocean.”

Intelsat, operator of the world’s first Globalized Network, powered by its satellite backbone, announced that Saudi Telecommunication Company (STC), a provider of integrated mobile, fixed and broadband communications services, has expanded its relationship with Intelsat and entered into a new contract for satellite services on Intelsat 15 located at 85.15degrees east.

The additional connectivity from Intelsat will enable STC, the largest telecom operator in Saudi Arabia, to grow VSAT services for corporate networks in the banking, government, and oil & gas sectors operating in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“As the largest telecommunications company in Saudi Arabia, STC knows the importance of keeping our corporate customers connected with the latest and most reliable communications technologies,” said Walid Al Wabel, General Manager, Operations Management, STC.

“Throughout our long-term relationship, Intelsat has demonstrated they understand our needs and allow us to advance our business with growth capacity that seamlessly integrates with our expansive network. Together, this has enabled STC’s customers to upgrade and expand the reach of their networks in response to growing end user demand throughout Saudi Arabia.”

The agreement further expands Intelsat’s long-standing relationship with STC. Currently, STC uses four additional satellites from Intelsat’s Globalized Network to ensure that corporate customers have access to high quality and reliable connectivity at all times.

“We value our customer relationship and are committed to introducing new and innovative satellite technology to help our customers solve their communications challenges,” said Shahrokh Amiri, Intelsat’s Director of Sales, Middle East and North Africa.

“Our solutions will enable STC to meet current broadband demands, provide the scale necessary to expand its subscriber base and ultimately, drive growth for its business. We will continue to work closely with STC to ensure that more customers throughout Saudi Arabia have access to the most reliable and high quality broadband connectivity available in the marketplace.”

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat) and KBZ Gateway Company (KBZ) have forged a partnership to provide satellite-based networks serving Myanmar with high speed data connectivity services. And the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) of Myanmar is to use services on two Intelsat satellites to advance the deployment of the country’s wireless communications infrastructure, and expand broadband access for businesses.

KBZ will use C-band and Ku-band capacity on AsiaSat 4 and AsiaSat 7 satellites to establish high speed data networks across Myanmar and, following the launch of AsiaSat 9 in late 2016/early 2017, KBZ will be able to deliver increased power and enhanced coverage. AsiaSat 9 will have a dedicated Ku-band beam for Myanmar that, AsiaSat says, will provide excellent downlink power, allowing for smaller and less costly antennas for VSAT broadband and DTH services across the country.

Also, Hughes Network Systems announced that KBZ had selected its  Jupiter ground control gateways and remote terminals for the new service. KBZ CEO, Stephane Lamoureux, said: “The Jupiter system gives us a powerful solution today and a seamless growth path to next-generation, high-throughput satellite services as they become available in Myanmar."

The underlying technology of Jupiter is a system on a chip (SoC), a custom–designed microprocessor employing a multi-core architecture and enabling 100Mbps of throughput on every terminal in the Jupiter family.

KBZ is a subsidiary of the Kanbawza group, one of the largest privately-owned diversified companies in Myanmar. It is active in mining, banking, aviation, insurance, manufacturing, agriculture, real estate, trading, healthcare, tourism, hospitality and now technology. It was founded by Aung Ko Win in 1994 and has more than 80,000 employees.

KBZ aims to be the “provider of providers” for Myanmar, becoming an enabler for its partners to help them increase their service quality and options available to the community. Its ecosystem of partners provides an end to end service ranging from international and national connectivity, supported by next generation VSAT capability, mobile rooftop antennas, carrier neutral PoPs and data centers and a full range of professional services as an Oracle Gold partner.

MOTC will use C-band satellite services on Intelsat 902 located at 62° East, and Ku-band services on Intelsat 906 located at 64° East for VSAT network and cellular backhaul services. By 2018 it will move to the high power services on the recently announced Intelsat 39 satellite, the replacement spacecraft at the 62E orbital location.

Intelsat says that, by integrating satellite solutions into its own mobile networks, MOTC will be able to dramatically increase overall network bandwidth and reliability as it expands 2G and 3G services into the more remote areas of Myanmar.

• Com & Com selects Newtec for enterprise satellite services
Satellite equipment maker Newtec says its Dialog platform has been selected to facilitate the launch of C-band enterprise services for Com & Com, a joint venture between the service provider Terabit and Newtec’s certified business partner OSB to provides satellite services to enterprises in Myanmar.

“With network congestion in the Burmese cities and optical fiber backbones mostly restricted to the center of the country, satellite gives Com & Com a fast way to provide high-quality service connectivity in both cities and hard-to-reach areas in Myanmar,” Newtec says.

The C-band service will initially serve corporates, SMEs and banks. Com & Com will later expand the service to Ku-band and consumer broadband. Newtec will supply Com & Com with a 4IF Newtec Dialog Hub, supporting MF-TDMA as well as Mx-DMA return link technology, and hundreds of Newtec MDM2200 and MDM3100 satellite modems. Within two years, the parties expect to provide several hundred more VSAT terminals.

The platform will provide fast and cost-effective connectivity to the country. The C-band service will initially serve corporates, SMEs and banks. Com & Com will later expand the service to Ku-band and consumer broadband.

Intelsat, operator of the world’s first Globalized Network, powered by its leading satellite backbone, recently announced that the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) of Myanmar will utilize services on two Intelsat satellites to advance the deployment of the country’s wireless communications infrastructure, and expand broadband access for businesses.

The multi-year, multi-transponder agreement awarded under the authority of the MOTC will allow the Government of Myanmar to significantly enhance the Myanmar government’s network as well as other mobile operators’ networks, hastening the expansion of high-speed broadband and internet connectivity to businesses and communities throughout Myanmar. 

“Over the past few years, Myanmar has made significant strides in expanding access to faster and more reliable broadband connectivity throughout the country,” said Khin Maung Thet, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Communications.

“With the help of Intelsat’s Globalized Network, we will leverage their satellite solutions to extend 2G and 3G communications services beyond urban centers and ensure that all of our citizens have access to higher bandwidth, superior quality and more affordable mobile broadband connectivity. Today’s announcement further underscores our commitment to building a more digitally inclusive society.”

MOTC will use C-band satellite services on Intelsat 902located at 62° East, and Ku-band services on Intelsat 906 located at 64° East for VSAT network and cellular backhaul services. By 2018, MOTC will move to the new, high power services on the recently announced Intelsat 39 satellite, the replacement spacecraft at the 62E orbital location. 

By integrating satellite solutions into its own mobile networks, MOTC will be able to dramatically increase overall network bandwidth and reliability as it expands 2G and 3G services into the more remote areas of Myanmar.

“Access to affordable broadband connectivity is essential to the exchange of data and ideas that support economic growth of individuals, communities and countries, and it is rewarding to be part of such an important project in Myanmar”, said Stephen Spengler, Chief Executive Officer, Intelsat. 

“Our services will help enrich the lives of the communities it serves by improving medical and educational access, providing a lifeline during times of crisis and enabling Myanmar to foster strong relationships within and outside of the country.”