NewSat and the 2012 APSCC Satellite Conference and Exhibition by Brandon Lee

The APSCC 2012 Satellite Conference & Exhibition is an international gathering for the executives in the satellite and the space-related industries held at the COEX Convention Centre, Seoul Special City, South Korea, September 5-27.

The 15th installment to the flagship event of the APSCC is back in Seoul, the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea, a sovereign state in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, and is a key opportunity to discuss strategic partnerships and generate new business opportunities.

David Ball, Chief Technology/Technical Officer (CTO) of NewSat, to date, Australia’s largest satellite communications provider, is joining the other satellite operators on the “Leading the Satellite Evolution” panel, discussing the following:

First, they want to know where in the continent of Asia, the world’s largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres, in which regions, or for which types of capacity is the issue of oversupply or growing demand most important. They also want to know the pricing trends expected. Second, they want to know how will the competitive dynamic between global and regional operators play out. Third, they want to see know if partnerships are the most effective route for growing regional operator supply. Fourth, they are seeing the bright spots and trouble spots for satellite operators in Asia in the next few years. Lastly, they want to know how will new the high throughput satellites (HTS), a classification for communications satellites that provide at least twice, though usually by a factor of 20 or more, the total throughput of a classic FSS satellite for the same amount of allocated orbital spectrum thus significantly reducing cost-per-bit, affect the market in Asia.

Ball is in an executive-level position in NewSat focusing on scientific and technological issues within an organization; that is, satellite communications/communications satellite (COMSAT), an artificial satellite sent to space for the purpose of telecommunications.

NewSat, although located in the “Commonwealth of Australia,” a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, provides coverage to 75% of the Earth’s surface, through its satellites, VSAT, and teleports--a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) is a two-way satellite ground station or a stabilized maritime VSAT antenna with a dish antenna that is smaller than three meters, while a telecommunication port, or more commonly, teleport, is a satellite ground station with multiple parabolic antennas (i.e., an antenna farm) that functions as a hub connecting a satellite or geocentric orbital network with a terrestrial telecommunications network.  

See: Astrium provides for NewSat under Lockheed Martin Contract

Asian satellite conferences solidifies region's leadership in the industry

The China Satellite Conference 2012 is one of the most anticipated events of the satellite industry in the Asia Pacific Region. In recent years, Asia itself, has emerged as the leading region when its comes to satellite communications technology, and the positive growth will continue with increased demand for direct-to-home services in rising economic powerhouses like India, the Middle East, and even Southeast Asia. 

This year, the China Satellite Conference will be held at the Hotel Nikko New Century in Beijing, from the 19th of September to the 21st. The three-day event is expected to draw not just key organizations from Asia, but also international operators. Attendees will get the chance to meet with suppliers, hardware manufacturers, engineers, satellite service providers and operators, along with business leaders and Chinese policy makers.

The following week, South Korea will be host to the annual Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council Conference & Exhibition, or the APSCC 2012. From September 25 to 27, delegates will converge at the COEX Convention Centre in the capital Seoul, to discuss Asia's leading position in the industry. 

A special panel discussion, entitled "Leading The Satellite Evolution", will be led by key leaders from satellite operators. The forum will look into the expected pricing trends in Asia, the specific demand in specific Asian regions, how partnerships are affecting regional operators supplies, and the emerging technologies as well as challenges faced by the satellite sector in general. 

Both events emphasize Asia as the forefront of collaboration initiatives with satellite operators from across the globe. At the same time, the event brings to light important issues which satellite communications companies have to resolve, including the delivery of smarter technologies to a region with growing demand.

No single player can meet all of the demand, and the conferences in China and South Korea will be a key opportunity for operators to discuss business strategies and potential joint ventures. 

Done reading? You might also want to take a look at the events in Europe. The IBC 2012 in Amsterdam will draw thousands of delegates from the electronic media and entertainment content industry. 

NewSat and the 2012 APSCC Satellite Conference & Exhibition

The APSCC 2012 Satellite Conference & Exhibition is an international gathering for the executives in the satellite and the space-related industries held at the COEX Convention Centre, Seoul Special City, South Korea, September 5-27.

The 15th installment to the flagship event of the APSCC is back in Seoul, the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea, a sovereign state in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, and is a key opportunity to discuss strategic partnerships and generate new business opportunities.

David Ball, Chief Technology/Technical Officer (CTO) of NewSat, to date, Australia’s largest satellite communications provider, is joining the other satellite operators on the “Leading the Satellite Evolution” panel, discussing the following:

First, they want to know where in the continent of Asia, the world’s largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres, in which regions, or for which types of capacity is the issue of oversupply or growing demand most important. They also want to know the pricing trends expected. Second, they want to know how will the competitive dynamic between global and regional operators play out. Third, they want to see know if partnerships are the most effective route for growing regional operator supply. Fourth, they are seeing the bright spots and trouble spots for satellite operators in Asia in the next few years. Lastly, they want to know how will new the high throughput satellites (HTS), a classification for communications satellites that provide at least twice, though usually by a factor of 20 or more, the total throughput of a classic FSS satellite for the same amount of allocated orbital spectrum thus significantly reducing cost-per-bit, affect the market in Asia.

Ball is in an executive-level position in NewSat focusing on scientific and technological issues within an organization; that is, satellite communications/communications satellite (COMSAT), an artificial satellite sent to space for the purpose of telecommunications.

NewSat, although located in the “Commonwealth of Australia,” a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, provides coverage to 75% of the Earth’s surface, through its satellites, VSAT, and teleports--a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) is a two-way satellite ground station or a stabilized maritime VSAT antenna with a dish antenna that is smaller than three meters, while a telecommunication port, or more commonly, teleport, is a satellite ground station with multiple parabolic antennas (i.e., an antenna farm) that functions as a hub connecting a satellite or geocentric orbital network with a terrestrial telecommunications network.

See: Astrium provides for NewSat under Lockheed Martin

Norsat: A good, good, second quarter

Norsat International reported positive financial results for the second quarter. According to the CEO of the Canadian satellite communications company, its second quarter revenue, gross profit dollars, EBITDA and net earnings all experienced positive results thanks to the excellent performance of its three business units: Sinclair Technologies, Satellite Solutions, and Microwave Products.

“Our financial results continued to strengthen in the second quarter of 2012," said Dr. Amiee Chan, Norsat’s President and CEO. According to her, the revenue growth in Sinclair Technologies and  Microwave Products drove the company's improved performance. “This represents our 23nd straight quarter of positive EBITDA," Dr. Chan said.

Dr. Chan went on to report that Norsat's Sinclair division continued to perform above historical norms. Continuous demand from the public safety and transportation markets constantly drove sales across Sinclair's diverse product lines, especially for satellite antenna and RF conditioning products.

Norsat's Microwave Products segment also made significant gains during the second quarter. According to Dr. Chan, there is an increasing demand for products such as Norsat's customized Ka-band receivers. In particular, a customer requested products that can be used for airborne applications. And Dr. Chan was pleased to say Norsat was able to tap a new market by fulfilling that request.

In addition, Norsat's custom-designed dual Ku-band and X-band portable satellite communications terminals received Final Acceptance from NATO Communications and Information Agency. “A highlight of the quarter was successfully meeting NATO’s stringent in-field testing criteria for our custom-designed dual Ku and X-band portable satellite terminals," Dr. Chan announced. "Having gained Final Acceptance from our customer, we were able to recognize revenues on our contract during the period.”

Other achievements of note were the release of a Satellite Locator application for iPhone and Norsat’s cutting-edge video streaming technologies. The latter was used in tandem with Ku-band portable satellite terminals to broadcast live footage of U.S. President Obama’s surprise visit and address to U.S. service members in Bagram, Afghanistan on May 1, 2012.

Dr. Chan said that Norsat will further diversify its customer base by providing new products and services to the military, commercial, resource, transportation, and public safety markets. The Norsat Power Solutions business unit is a move in that direction, while the existing Satellite Solutions segment is already considering numerous proposals to better whet the appetite of a growing number of customers who require unique satellite communications needs.

SkyVision will provide VPN, satellite services to Broadlink telecom

Telecom / infrastructure company Broadlink signed a contract with SkyVision Networks for the latter to provide Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Internet connectivity services to Broadlink's South African enterprise customers.

SkyVision made the announcement on Aug. 15. Specializing in hybrid connectivity, SkyVision will provide Broadlink with end-to-end business connectivity through the use of VSAT services.

“Broadlink has made great strides in the South African business market," Broadlink Managing Director Mike Brown said. "However, we have seen an increased demand from our customers for communication solutions catering to business sites and branches across our borders."

In response, Broadlink will use SkyVision’s satellite services, local hubs, and teleports to expand the former company's range of terrestrial and wireless communication solutions in the African market.

"By partnering with SkyVision," Director Brown explained, "we can now accommodate their requirements for connectivity solutions across the African continent, allowing us to expand our reach exponentially.” 

Orbital Science: HYLAS 2 Ka-band satellite successfully makes orbit

Orbital Sciences Corporation announced this August 14, 2012 that the HYLAS 2 broadband communications satellite it built for Avanti Communications Group PLC has successfully reached orbit.

The launch mission for the Orbital Sciences-built, Avanti-operated started on Thursday, August 2, 2012. An Ariane 5 rocket lifted off from Kourou, French Guiana a few minutes before 5:00 PM local time. The HYLAS 2 satellite successfully separated from the rocket’s final stage slightly over half an hour after liftoff.

“The HYLAS 2 mission is going very well so far following another successful launch by Arianespace," Mr. Christopher Richmond, Orbital’s Senior Vice President of Communications Satellites, said in an announcement. "Over the next several weeks," he added, "we will work with the engineering team from Avanti to conduct in-orbit testing to verify the spacecraft’s systems before it enters commercial service.”

According to Orbital Science, the HYLAS 2 satellite project proceed just as planned from design phase to its early in-orbit activation and verification processes. "We have worked closely with Avanti every step of the way," SVP Richmond elaborated, "following our model of superior customer involvement throughout the program to ensure our customer’s needs are fully met. We are pleased to be a part of Avanti’s team, bringing exciting new applications and services to these fast-growing markets.”

The Orbital Science-designed and -built HYLAS 2 platform is a high-throughput Ka-Band satellite. It will allow satellite communications company Avanti to provide broadband dat and video services to customers in Eastern and Southern Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and across the Caucasus.

SkyVision acquires Afinis VSAT company, extends African presence

UK-based SkyVision Global Networks Ltd. continues to strengthen its position in the African market through its recent purchase of local VSAT operator Afinis.

Originally owned by Monaco Telecom, Afinis has local offices and licensing in Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Senegal. The African satellite communications company provides a wide plethora of VSAT products and services for the financial, mining, and oil and gas sectors.

Its new owner intends to leverage Afinis' extensive knowledge of the local sectors in accordance with SkyVision's overall strategy in Africa. SkyVision intends to become one of the biggest satellite communications companies in the African continent.

To that end, SkyVision is expanding its operations and services throughout the African continent. Afinis' firm presence in Africa's French-speaking countries, its significant grasp of the corporate market, and its value added services will help cement SkyVision's position as a significant satellite communications provider in Nigeria, East, Central and Southern Africa.

In turn, Afinis' current and potential customer base will benefit from the increased scale and strong customer service of the combined businesses. SkyVision possesses strong global reach and is increasing its activity and presence in Africa by bringing world-class services to the rapidly-developing local markets.

“We look forward to welcoming the Afinis team into SkyVision," said Doron Ben-Sira, CEO, SkyVision Global Networks, "and to continue offering customers the superior service they are accustomed to.”

SkyVision had earlier established a subsidiary satellite communications company, SkyVision South Africa.  It also signed a multiyear contract with satellite service provider Telesat. SkyVision will be tapping Telesat's Telstar 11N satellite for Ku-band capacity in the African region.