Focus - Combat Technology - May - week 4 The networked battlefield Once a vision of a distant future to come, the electronically-networked battlefield has now finally become a reality. John Balding, Correspondent of Satellite Evolution Global, takes a look at the rationale behind the programmes that are aiming to connect every single man and vehicle in a theatre of war. Click here for the full story

SES Astra increases shareholding in ND Satcom to 100 percent
SES ASTRA has announced today that it raises its stake in the satellite communications supplier ND SatCom from 25.1 to 100 per cent by acquiring the 74.9 per cent share from the German-based high-tech group AUGUSTA Technologie AG. SES ASTRA acquires the majority stake for a consideration of EUR 35.6 million. The transaction is subject to the necessary regulatory approvals. The purchase agreement also foresees a contingent additional consideration dependent on the award and value of a significant government contract opportunity. This additional consideration cannot exceed approximately 36 per cent of the definitive purchase price of EUR 35.6 million...

Irdeto CryptoWorks selected by Arena to secure Bundesliga broadcasts
Asia Pacific ­May 24, 2006 ­ Irdeto, a world leader in content security and a subsidiary of multinational media group Naspers has announced that German Arena has selected the Irdeto cryptoWorks conditional access solution to protect its newly-obtained German Bundesliga soccer broadcasting rights for 2006 to 2009. The satellite broadcast service plans to go live in June 2006. Arena is part of Unity Media which is also the parent company of cable providers iesy, ish and Tele Columbus...

IPSTAR gateway inaugurated in Beijing
NExecutives from Shin Satellite Public Company Limited and China Satellite Communications Corporation (China Satcom) declared the IPSTAR Gateway in Beijing, China, officially open. The gateway, the first true broadband satellite gateway in the country is able to provide services to the northern part of China. Two more gateways, at Shanghai and Guangzhou, will be constructed this year to allow China Satcom to provide high speed communications services to the whole country...

Gilat Satellite Networks to present at the Cowen 34th Annual Technology Conference
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. will participate in the Cowen Co. 34th Annual Technology Conference to be held on May 31-June 2, 2006 in New York...

FTMSC launches BGAN service commercially in the United States
France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications (FTMSC) has been granted initial licensing approval through a US-based affiliate to commercially operate BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) mobile terminals in the United States...

Government and military remains key component of commercial satellite revenues
NSR has released its newest market survey and forecast report: "Government and Military Demand on Commercial Satellites, 3rd Edition." The report provides an in-depth overview of demand trends for commercial satellite communications services in the globe over a 10-year period by tracking government and military needs, as well as trends in governmental program development to address the shortfall in internal bandwidth communications capabilities...


XTAR's Curtin receives prestigious AIAA award
Dr. Denis Curtin, chief operating officer of XTAR, LLC, has been named the 2006 recipient of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aerospace Communications Award. This award is presented for outstanding contributions in the field of aerospace communications...

GSM and broadband now available at sea for passengers and crew
Grandi Navi Veloci, a leading company in passenger and goods transport throughout the Mediterranean, and WINS, a joint venture set up by Skylogic Italia (Eutelsat's broadband affiliate) and Maltasat International, today launched a satellite-based communications network on the first two of eight luxury cruise-ferries sailing in the Western Mediterranean...


Content Services, Inc. and Intelsat sign agreement to deliver Wholesale video content nationwide
Content Services, Inc. (CSI) and Intelsat jointly announced that CSI has signed a distribution agreement for AmpiageSM, Intelsat’s satellite-based, open-architecture, video transport platform. Under the agreement, CSI will be the first Ampiage distributor to focus on delivering wholesale video, voice and data services to retail providers in the multi-dwelling unit, hospitality, municipality, university and master planned community markets...


Americom Government Services supports Harris Corporation on FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) Program
AMERICOM GOVERNMENT SERVICES, Inc. (AGS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES AMERICOM, announced it is partnering with prime contractor Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) to support the FTI Satellite (FTI-SAT) program on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration. AGS will be providing Ku-band and C-band connectivity under a multi-year contract to the FTI-SAT program, combined with redundant teleport facilities...

Telenor Satellite Services wins initial approval to launch BGAN service in the US
Telenor Satellite Services, a subsidiary of Telenor of Norway (Oslo Stock Exchange: TEL and NASDAQ: TELN), has received initial licensing approval to offer Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service throughout the United States...

Intelsat announces appointments to Senior Finance Team
Intelsat announced senior management appointments to Intelsat's finance organization made by Jeff Freimark, Intelsat's Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President Finance and Information Technology...

CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum, 19 June 2006, Singapore
The CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2006, Asia's premier satellite event, will be held in Singapore on Monday, 19 June, one day before the CommunicAsia trade show in Singapore. The Forum will address the impact on satellite markets of mobile TV, IPTV services and the roll-out of HDTV while navigating a complex regulatory environment. DTH operators from some of the fastest growing markets in the world - India, Indonesia, Korea and Malaysia - will share their insights. For further information on speakers or regsitration please click here

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