NewSat's CEO reacts on their teleport revenue

As reported by the Australian Stock Exchange, 25 July 2012, NewSat’s teleport revenue increases by 24% to US$3.1 million per year.

The monthly recurring revenue of teleport business is now at US$3.1 million per month which means there is a 24% growth from the end of the 2011 financial year. There is also a US$12.68 million from 306 new teleport contracts won over on the financial year 2012 and is incremental to existing contract base. There is also growth generated domestically and internationally from military, oil, gas, mining, maritime, construction and other government agency contacts.

Adrian Ballintine, NewSat’s founder and CEO talks about the incredible FY 2012 teleport sales. He said that NewSat’s internationally acclaimed teleport business continues its stellar global growth, as their blue chip customers continue to demand high quality communications to support their mission critical business activities. “The US $12.68 million in new teleport contracts is incremental to our existing revenue base and has increased our monthly recurring revenues by 24% to US $ 3.1 million per month.”

Ballintine added: “ In addition to the commendable sales result for FY 2012, the NewSat teleports were rated Top 3 in the world at the World Teleport Awards in March 2012, which reinforces their status as the best teleports in the Australasia region. FY 2013 exhibits all the signs of being another exciting growth year for NewSat, as our teleport sales pipeline remains very solid.” According to him, this continued growth potential is being driven by ongoing demand from Australasia, South Asia and the Middle East. he also stated that “last week’s signing of the Wheatstone Project for a multi-million dollar contract was a great kick to the cret financial year.”  

See: Mobile Satellite Communication Trailer

NewSat's Approach on USG Market

On a Milsatmagazine (MSM) interview, they asked NewSat on their approach on the United States Government (USG) market. NewSat’s Senior Director-Americas Diego Paldao answered that it is through partnerships with their partners, prime contractors, resellers and integrators.

“As a satellite operator we can certainly evaluate what USG contract vehicles are a fit with our business. However, we are primarily interested in approaching the USG market by working closely with our partners, not by competing with them. We will provide our part-satellite capacity, so our partners can provide the complete end-to-end solution,” said Paldao.

He also said that hosted payloads are certainly a topic of key interest and discussion today towards all satellite operators. There is a strong military and diplomatic relationship between Australia and the United States which is a logical start for discussion about the hosted payloads on the NewSat fleet. They will surely depend heavily on the guidance of their partners who have been in their area for so long. It is through direct solicitation from the USG that NewSat will be able to guarantee their satellites designed to support future missions in projected areas of operation.

See: CASBAA: The Growth of Ka Band Satellites

ITT Exelis will provide satcom systems for US Army in Korea

Through a new Rapid Equipping Force contract, ITT Exelis will be supplying Mission Command On the Move (MCOTM) systems to the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Division deployed in South Korea. The contract award is the result of a 2nd Infantry Division operational needs statement that requested a MCOTM system to support contingency missions. 

ITT Exelis' Global Network on the Move-Active Distribution (GNOMAD) solution integrates a number of commercial-off-the-shelf products in order to deliver mobile satellite broadband connectivity. The GNOMAD system is combat-proven, modular, and reliable. Its reduced size, weight and power make it a viable solution for integration into multiple U.S. Army ground platforms, and it will provide even the lowest battlefield echelon with critical network connectivity.

The GNOMAD satellite communications system will be installed in Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) All-Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV), M1(V) Abrams main battle tanks, M2 Bradleys infantry fighting vehicles, and Stryker combat vehicles. Its Viasat Linkway S2 modem will allow for mission command applications such as Digital Video Broadcast SATCOM Second Generation.

Satellite communications company IT Exelis had previously supplied GNOMAD systems for the 4th Infantry Division during that unit's 2011 deployment in Iraq. The systems slated for delivery to the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea will have the same configuration as those used in Network Integration Exercise (NEI) 12.1. Held at Fort Bliss, Texas, and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, NEI 12.1 hosted new mission command applications such as Command Post of the Future.

Israeli attorneys: Inmarsat provides VSAT services to Iran

An Israeli legal group is accusing VSAT provider Inmarsat of continuing to provide prohibited mobile satellite communications gears to Iranian government-controlled oil tankers and other ships despite US-initiated sanctions.

The U.S. government has imposed a series of commercial sanctions with Iran. The sanctions included satellite communications systems such as the mini-VSATs manufactured by Inmarsat. These satcom systems are reportedly used by Iranian ships to evade the US sanctions.

On July 12, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury Department released a list of vessels that are reputedly acting directly or indirectly on behalf of Iranian government and commercial interests. A good number of the Iranian OFAC-blacklisted vessels are registered in other countries to hide their links with their home country. Twenty-eight ships on the OFAC list are specified to be equipping Inmarsat communications gear.

The Shurat HaDin-Israel Law Center sent a letter to Inmarsat on July 25. The Israeli legal group claims that Inmarsat continues to sell mobile satellite links to Iranian-owned or -controlled vessels.

A day later, Israel Law Center Director Nitsana Darshan-Leitner and Inmarsat spokesman Christopher McLaughlin had an interview. Director Darshan-Leitner claimed that Iranian-operated, foreign-flagged vessels use Inmarsat communications gear to help them slip through the embargo’s net.

“The evidence is very clear,” Darshan-Leitner declared, “Despite the sanctions, Inmarsat continues to provide satcom services. They are not supposed to deliver any service at all under the sanctions, not even emergency services.”

Spokesperson McLaughlin responded that Inmarsat had thoroughly analyzed the ships listed in the OFAC update. According to him, none of those ships are using the new Inmarsat mini-VSAT systems.

McLaughlin explained that Inmarsat's newer services allow the satellite communications company to identify users through their subscriber identity module (SIM) card numbers. This allows Inmarsat to gain a direct insight into their customer base while remaining true as a wholesale provider.

The Inmarsat spokesperson admitted some of the listed ships are apparently using older Inmarsat gear. However, McLaughlin also established that Inmarsat is an international treaty organization. Inmarsat is thus not obliged to find out the identity of the customers.

In addition, Inmarsat is also duty-bound to provide the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) service to every ship in the world. GMDSS are low-throughput signals designed to provide ship-to-shore emergency calls.

Director Darshan-Leitner apparently agreed that GMDSS service was an exception to the rule imposed by the sanctions. However, she pointed out that the embargo also includes Inmarsat mini-M and Fleet communications assets, and that the Iranians' use of these older VSAT units count as a violation of the bio.

McLaughlin called the mini-M and Fleet systems in questions “heritage services.” He explained that the heritage systems were contracted and installed during the time that Inmarsat did not require its distribution partners to identify all customers. Even after Inmarsat modified its business model, it remained unable to precisely identify what SIM card is activated where.

“For mini-M, Fleet, Inmarsat B and our other older services,” McLaughlin stated, “We cannot get that far down into the service provider structure. But I can tell you we have been through the whole list of ships,” he assured Darshan-Leither, “and none of them are carrying our broadband services.”

Eutelsat almost ready for HD satellite coverage of London Olympic Games

Eutelsat Communications is entering the last leg of its preparations to handle the huge demand for satellite communications that will be generated by the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The London Olympic Games is the biggest international multi-sport events in the world. It is expected to generate over 2,000 hours of satellite transmissions, which will be handled by a large number of satellite communications companies such as Eutelsat.

The European Broadcasting Union and its counterparts from the Middle East, Asia, and South America have booked capacity on four Eutelsat Ku-band satellites for the event. The satellites will transmit live high-definition (HD) coverage of official ceremonies, interviews, and breaking news regarding the Games' 300 events in 36 sports.

In addition, Eutelsat and its fellow satellite communications companies have taken efforts to assure the highest signal quality during the Games. Of particular note is their introduction of Carrier ID, a stamp on uplink signals that satellite communications operators can use to speed up the process of identifying transmissions to their satellites.

Two Eutelsat satellites will provide capacity for more than 70 EBU members. The rights-holding member countries of Europe's leading broadcasting association will be able to access 12 HD multilateral signals through the Eurovision network, which will leverage Eutelsat's speedy satellite services.

According to Jean-François Leprince-Ringuet, Commercial Director for Eutelsat, the London Olympic Games will usher in a new HD era for the Eurovision network.

"2012 is a stellar year for satellite delivery of sports and news events," Director Leprince-Ringuet said, "with Eutelsat coordinating a record volume of transmissions, peaking on June 17 to serve broadcasters and news agencies covering elections in France, Greece and Egypt as well as UEFA Euro 2012 games in the Ukraine."

Australia Satellite Communications Company: NewSat Limited

Despite the growth of fibre and cable, satellite communications companies remain indispensable in a technology-reliant society. The rise of smartphones and other high-tech mobile devices mean that individuals are looking access to digital and online technologies anytime and anywhere.

Ka band satellites

In Australia, one of the major players is the independent satellite communications specialist, NewSat. The company currently delivers various services like satellite broadband, video conferencing via VSAT systems, backhauling solutions, as well as teleport services. In fact, NewSat's teleport facilities, one in Perth and another in Adelaide, are some of the world's best, not bad for an independent company. The telecommunications ports handled by the Australian company are recognized and approved by major defence organizations. 

You might wonder, why should such communications facilities need certifications from defence organizations?

Well, NewSat services both enterprise and government customers. Many US Government agencies rely on the satellite communications provided by NewSat through their teleports. In particular, these government personnel are located in the Middle East, and Australia's location actually present the best look-angles into the region. The country's climate also present minimal rain fade interference to the teleport facilities which transmit highly-secure data to the agencies in the Middle East. This is why they need to be certified by many defence organizations. 

NewSat's Adelaide Teleport

NewSat’s teleports were recently recognized as a top 3 Finalist at the 2012 World teleport Awards as well, so despite being an independent company, they are able to deliver world-class services to complement their 75% global coverage.

Presently, NewSat is working on launching what is to be Australia's first independently-owned commercial satellites, the Jabiru-1 and the Jabiru-2. The company partnered with Lockheed Martin for the construction of the vessels, and their launches slated in 2014 and later 2013 respectively. 

The company already has rights to seven premium orbital slots, and with the high-powered Ka band satellites ready for launch in two years, Australia's satellite industry as well as space quest, will get a boost.