Monday, 26 September 2016 11:36
World’s largest telescope in China begins testing phase
Located in Guizhou Province in southwest China, the world’s largest telescope, an ambitious project for the National Astronomical Observatories of China, is beginning an intensive testing phase. It measures 500m across and is said to be nearing completion, having received its first signals from space. It will now take a further three years to calibrate the dish to make it fully operational. The telescope’s facility was opened on Sunday, September 25. It marks China’s move to become a science powerhouse,…
Sunday, 25 September 2016 07:11
Tata Communications, Formula One and Sky test UHD broadcasting at 2016 Singapore Grand Prix
Tata Communications, the official connectivity provider of Formula 1, Formula One Management, and Sky have tested in action live Ultra High Definition (UHD) broadcasting at the 2016 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix. Following this first ever end-to-end broadcast of an F1 race in UHD, Sky will show all races of the 2017 season in UHD. The successful proof of concept involved the installation of multiple state-of-the-art UHD cameras at the Singapore circuit. The footage from these was mixed…
Wednesday, 07 September 2016 10:08
NorthTelecom awards antenna contract to ASC Signal Division of CPI for Asia Pacific region
The ASC Signal Division of Communications and Power Industries LLC (CPI) has been awarded a contract for four 7.6m C and Ku-band capable antenna from NorthTelecom. The antenna will be installed at one of the company’s teleports with an emphasis on enhancing its offerings to a range of vertical sectors in the Asia-Pacific region. According to ASC Signal, the four antennas will incorporate ASC’s Next Generation Controller (NGC). The award includes training services for the NGC controller. Dubai-based NorthTelecom operates…
Monday, 05 September 2016 07:19
Zuckerberg ‘deeply disappointed’ by SpaceX’s failed launch which destroyed Facebook satellite
On September 1, numerous eyewitnesses began reporting that a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket had exploded during a test on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The SpaceX rocket was supposed to launch on September 3 on a mission to deliver Facebook’s first satellite into orbit to connect Africa. Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who was traveling through Africa when the news broke, said he was “deeply disappointed” by the incident. The SpaceX rocket that blew up was scheduled to launch…
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Thursday, 25 August 2016 05:42
SES announced record satellite capacity at the Rio Olympics
SES announced a record uptake of its satellite capacity for the Olympics as compared to previous Games. “This record demand illustrates how broadcasters continue to view satellite as an ideal and cost-effective way to broadcast excellent image quality of sporting events live to millions of viewers around the world.” A total of 23,000 hours of capacity has been booked on four SES satellites -- NSS-806, SES-4, NSS-7 and SES-3 -- to enable transmission of the Games to broadcasters in The…
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Tuesday, 16 August 2016 12:03
Yahlive renews BBC partnership to extend reach of its Arabic, Persian and Afghan services
Yahlive, the Abu Dhabi-based satellite joint venture between the world leading satellite operator SES and UAE satellite company Yahsat, announced on August 16 that it has signed a contract renewal with the BBC World Service. As part of the ongoing agreement, the BBC will continue the broadcast of its Persian and Arabic television channels as well as the radio programming from its Arabic and Afghan services to audiences across Yahlive’s wide and culturally diverse footprint. Commenting on the strength of…
Thursday, 11 August 2016 05:42
Dataxis predicts Pay TV subscribers in Africa will reach 20 million by 2021
According to a recent report by Dataxis, a global firm specialized in telecom, TV and media businesses, the number of Pay TV subscribers in Africa will reach the threshold of 30 million by 2021, compared with a total of 16 million subscribers last year. The report says 20 million subscribers for digital satellite Pay TV is expected in 2021, while 8 million is expected for digital terrestrial Pay TV subscribers. The number of TV households in Africa was at 114…
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Tuesday, 09 August 2016 06:57
SpeedCast purchases Eutelsat’s WINS further consolidating maritime satellite communications
On August 8, French satellite operator Eutelsat announced that it had sold its 70 percent stake in maritime satellite communications provider WINS Ltd to SpeedCast International, a Hong Kong-based global network and satellite communications provider. SpeedCast will reportedly pay 60 million euros ($66.9 million) in cash for the entire WINS business. It’s the latest in the expected consolidation of the maritime satellite communications market. The acquisition comes just a week after Apax Partners-owned Marlink announced the acquisition of Telemar in…
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Monday, 01 August 2016 07:12
Brazil to roll out its largest broadcasting operation ever for Rio Olympics
Brazil’s telecom authority, Anatel, announced that airing the 2016 Rio Olympics will be the largest broadcasting operation ever carried out in the South American country. Anatel, which holds the responsibility of managing the radio-electric spectrum for the 2016 Olympics, claims that over 20,000 frequency slots and 77,000 broadcasting stations will exclusively cover the event. The massive broadcasting operation, according to a Rapid TV News report, includes satellite and terrestrial coverage for TV and video signals, as well as mobile communications.…
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Thursday, 28 July 2016 07:45
TV is still popular with millennials according to U.S. study
Millennials are technology natives, and have a sea of options when it comes to viewing digital content. But even though streaming content online has taken the world by storm, a U.S. study says more adults aged 18-34 watch TV now than they did at the start of the millennium, suggesting that TV isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The study, conducted by the Video Advertising Bureau, says branded TV content, accessed across screens, is still its most popular form of digital…
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Tuesday, 26 July 2016 05:20
NBN to launch Ka-band satellite in October for remote parts of Australia
The National Broadband Network (NBN) is planning to launch its second Ka-band satellite on October 5 this year, to expand its Internet services to rural and regional Australia. The satellite, called Sky Muster II, will launch 36,000 kilometers into orbit from French Guiana Space Centre in South America. Sky Muster II will, according to NBN, complete Australia’s network, which will be able to provide access to 400,000 homes and businesses. Satellite architect Julia Dickinson said so far 10,000 Australian homes…
Wednesday, 20 July 2016 11:58
Uber is partnering with DigitalGlobe to use satellite images for its maps
American multinational online transportation network company Uber recently partnered with satellite imaging company DigitalGlobe – which provides high-resolution aerial imagery to companies like Apple and Google – to enable Uber the ability to use satellite images for its mapping ambitions. Colorado-based DigitalGlobe posted a blog post announcing the deal, explaining how its imagery would help “improve the Uber experience for riders and drivers,” and that Uber would be using DigitalGlobe’s technology to “identify and improve pick-up and drop-off locations,” as…
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