Mobile OnAir, Internet OnAir will join Dassault Falcon 7X linefit options in 2014

OnAir recently announced that its Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir in-flight connectivity services will become a linefit option for all Falcon 7X business jets that Dassault Aviation will build from 2014 onwards.

OnAir will leverage the GSMConneX airborne system to provide connectivity for its in-flight services. Designed and produced by TriaGnoSys, GSMConneX can link up with any satellite communications system compatible with the SwiftBroadband network. The system's small size, light weight, and unrestricted mounting options make installation extremely easy while ensuring the Falcon 7X receives the most comprehensive commercially-available hardware for in-flight connectivity.

Mobile OnAir allows owners, passengers, and crew of business jets to use their mobile phones to surf the Internet, place and receive calls, send and receive SMS, and access their email. Internet OnAir, on the other hand, creates a Wi-Fi network in the aircraft. Any Wi-Fi device will be able to access the Internet using the network.

The Falcon 7X is the premier business jet of Dassault Aviation.

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O3b Networks, Harris CapRock form strategic satellite communications alliance

A strategic marketing alliance will be formed by O3b Networks and Harris CapRock Communications. The two companies will be focusing on an array of ultra high-speed, low latency, exploration, and production capabilities for satellite communications services.

Harris CapRock will also add O3bEnergy to its portfolio of satellite services for the energy market. The O3b solution has the advantages of fiber broadband connectivity without the disadvantages of huge upfront CAPEX investments, outage concerns, immobility, and lengthy ramp-up times. O3bEnergy is also easy to integrated into existing enterprise systems and operational budgets.

With O3bEnergy, oil and gas companies and systems integrators will be able to enjoy latencies under 150 milliseconds, unlimited and affordable bandwidth, and big operational savings. The high capacity, low latency satellite offering can enable real-time seismic surveys of oil reserves beneath the ocean floor thanks to its speedy data transfers of up to 2 Terabytes per day.

Harris CapRock and O3b Networks have teamed up earlier to boost the Internet experience aboard Oasis of the Seas. The flagship of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and the largest cruise ship in the world is one of the many ships in the the maritime service that derives satellite Internet connectivity from O3b’s Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite fleet with equipment integrated by Harris CapRock.

O3bEnergy will enter commercial service in the third quarter of 2013. The newest addition to Harris CapRock's satellite communications portfolio is targeted at oil and gas companies and systems integrators who operate oil and gas rigs and seismic survey ships in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Angola, Asia and other key maritime regions.

ViaSat wins deal with US government for airborne satellite broadband services

ViaSat Inc. will be providing satellite broadband services in support of enroute military aircraft as part of its multi-million dollar contract with the US government. The Company will provide an all-IP service plan that allows NIPR, SIPR, ViaSat's Yonder commercial satellite Internet, and VoIP and VTC sessions during transcontinental and transoceanic flights.

The initial one-year agreement between ViaSat and the US government can be renewed for multiple years. It also provides options for the US government to add other aircraft to the satellite broadband service deal, as well as to request additional missions and supplemental service from ViaSat to supply.

ViaSat will also provide tiered service plans for senior leadership, VIP, and other broadband requirements. Its service plans cover a range of networking and performance levels, and most of them complemented their high-priority regional services with of higher priority.

ViaSat will use its proprietary ArcLight technology for the airborne and terrestrial satellite terminals that it will supply, install, and support on US aircraft. ArcLight terminals have already served more than 500,000 flight hours on over 300 government-operated aircraft.

The first military organization to use ViaSat's patented ArcLight technology was the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM.) Thanks to the advanced ViaSat terminals, the USSOCOM's fleet of C-130 aircraft not only gained a Ku-band communications network, but they also became the first in a line of US military aircraft that could perform advanced ISR missions using ultra-small antennas with apertures smaller than 12 inches in diameter.

There are now more than 1,750 ViaSat mobile broadband installations. The satellite communications terminals accomplish various government missions and accomplish numerous commercial applications for customers in the general aviation, maritime, and high-speed rail industries.

ViaSat weans off US defense contracts, switches to satellite Internet services

Faced with a “fiscal cliff” that threatens to cut off its main source of revenue -its many lucrative defense contracts with the U.S. government,- ViaSat Inc. is placing its bets on its growing satellite Internet services.

If U.S. lawmakers are unable to agree on a method to make up for the budget deficit, they will implement a series of automatic tax hikes and cuts in government spending in 2013. The "fiscal cliff" will save the government some $600 billion, and a good amount of that will come out of contracts with companies like ViaSat.

It’s an uphill battle for the satellite communications provider. Defense contracts with the U.S. government currently take up 45% of Viasat’s revenue. Worse, company shares have yet to recover from the drubbing they received when ViaSat first launched its Exede Internet-by-satellite service back in January.

Eight months ago, the value of ViaSat’s stock hovered near $50. The company currently trades around $35 a share.

According to Timothy Quillin, an analyst for Stephens, Inc., investors have expressed their disappointment in the slow pace of subscriber growth in ViaSat’s satellite services segment, especially its Exede service.

Still, ViaSat remains positive that it made the right choice in rolling out Exede. According to the Company, it had added 20,000 new subscribers during the first quarter of 2012, and 40 percent of them had switched to the high-speed Exede satellite Internet service.

ViaSat further revealed that its satellite services segment received 31% more orders during the same quarter. Chief Executive Mark Dankberg said that one particular contract during the first quarter was almost equal to the normal order flow.

Mr. Dankberg co-founded ViaSat in 1986. According to him, the home Internet service will continue to contribute more and more revenue during the next few years.

He also announced that ViaSat will trim down its government sales from 45% down to 35% within five years in order to better diversify company revenue. Mr. Dankberg also took care to clarify that the Company’s government segment will not grow smaller. “It will be that it doesn't grow as fast as other parts of our business grow," he explained.

Investors are concerned that ViaSat is taking too much time in its migration. Non-government sales of satellite equipment and services currently take up a quarter of the Company’s sales. This includes all revenue from its Exede Internet-by-satellite service.

Shapiro talks about NewSat's Year End results

Adam Shapiro, Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of NewSat, which is to date, Australia’s largest satellite communications provider, spoke to Boardroom Radio about the company’s 2012 Year End results, NewSat’s best financial result to date, as a corporate office primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation.

Shapiro discusses NewSat’s financial and operational highlights, including a 29% increase in revenue, a positive EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) up 111% and 306 new teleport business contracts, or agreements entered into voluntarily by NewSat and other parties with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing, although contacts can be made orally. He also provided an outlook for shareholders, or individuals or institutions (including corporations) that legally owns any part of a share of stock in a public or private corporation. NewSat continues to win new business through contacts both from: teleports (telecommunications ports), 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; and Jabiru, Australia’s first independently owned satellite operator to manage a fleet of commercial Ku band and Ka band satellites  ~US$380 million secured in funding and a strong sales pipeline.

See: NewSat's Satellite Internet Services

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.