Inmarsat showing off satellite communications solutions at UAE showcase

Inmarsat will show off its ever-expanding portfolio of business voice and data services at the upcoming Gulfcomms event in Dubai, UAE. Its preview will include future commercial satellite services that will leverage Inmarsat's next-generation Global Xpress Ka-band satellite network.

The Company will display both its wide array of voice and data services, and its equally diverse assembly of portable, fixed, and vehicular terminals, on a daily basis at Gulfcomm.

In addition, Inmarsat will present an overview of the path preceding the deployment of its Global Xpress satellite system. It will also discuss how it will merge its L-band services with the new GX-enabled Ka-band satellite services.

The Alphasat I-XL L-band satellite will be part of Inmarsat's display. The planned Inmarsat satellite will improve service outreach and throughput of the Company's L-band services across Middle East and Africa, which will in turn speed up streaming performance and refresh capacity.

Furthermore, Inmarsat will also debut an improved BGAN streaming rate service. Set for commercial distribution in 2013, the new service will deliver higher streaming rates for customers.

Inmarsat is performing changes to its L-band portfolio in preparation for its future Ka-band services, which will be delivered by its planned Global Xpress satellite network. The GX-enabled services will cover the EMEA region in 2013 and go global before 2014 is out.

Global Xpress will be the first Ka-band network that can support support mobile and fixed communication services on a global basis. Its exceptional speeds will raise the measuring bar for Virtual Private Networks, Internet Protocol, rural cellular backhaul, and other applications.

A wide variety of sectors benefit from the voice, satellite broadband, and M2M (Machine-to-Machine) solutions that the Company offers. Inmarsat assures its customers of a 99.9% network reliability thanks to its global satellite communications network, which is considered to be one of the most reliable in the world.

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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.

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."