CommsXpressSatellite
East African Internet Cable Expected to Lower Prices
TMC.Net New submarine cable is bringing high speed Internet access to East Africa. One month after its launch, there is some evidence of prices dropping, analysts say, but that will likely take years to fully take effect. Topics: Africa, telecom, VoIP, satellite
New System Predicts Solar Storms – But ESA Says Satellites Are Safe
TG Daily The next major solar storms are expected in 2012 and 2013 as part of the sun’s 11-year weather cycle. A 2008 US National Academy of Sciences report estimated that modern reliance on electronics and satellite communications means a major storm could cause twenty times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina. Topics: broadband, satellite
Globecomm Expands Global Network
TMC.Net Globecomm Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: GCOM), a leading global provider of satellite-based communications infrastructure solutions and services, has quadrupled its points-of-presence (PoP) and teleport facilities, enabling telecommunications service providers to enhance and simplify connectivity requirements around the globe. Topics: telecom, Globecomm Systems, telecommunications, satellite
Construction Begins On Eastern Ontario’s Broadband Mega-Network
TMC.Net Ontario’s largest rural broadband network is ready to begin construction. The high-speed Internet infrastructure project will connect with local delivery systems to expand service to an estimated one million residents and businesses in Eastern Ontario. Topics: Canada, broadband, satellite, construction, telecom
Will Satellite Broadband Crash?
Business Spectator With rural policy now front and centre in determining the country’s political future, the most overlooked element of broadband policy – satellite broadband – needs a rethink to win the support of the three independents seeking a better deal for those in the bush. It seems that the roles of both commercial operators [...]
Spacenet Ges $7.5 Million Grant to Bring Broadband Service to Alaska, Hawaii
TMC.Net The federal grant will allow Spacenet to provide broadband service to rural unserved markets in Alaska and Hawaii through its “StarBand Open Skies” initiative. Spacenet will offer its StarBand broadband-over-satellite service to these regions for $0 down, including equipment and standard installation, and an entry-level monthly service fee of $50. Topics: satellite, Spacenet, broadband
Iridium Receives Commitments for $1.8 Billion Credit Facility for Construction of Iridium NEXT
TMC.Net Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) announced today that it has received in excess of $1.8 billion of commitments from a syndicate of preeminent international banks in connection with the credit facility that will be used to finance the construction of the company’s next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT. Topics: Iridium, construction, telecom, satellite
Two Satellites Launched in French Guiana to Serve Mideast, Africa
TMC.Net Two telecommunication satellites were launched into space Wednesday in French Guiana to provide services for the Middle East and Africa, local media reported. The RASCOM-QAF1R, weighing some 3,000 kg, was designed to provide telecommunications in Africa for the pan-African operator RascomStar-QAF. Topics: satellite, Africa, telecom, launch
ICO Loses Judicial Review Against Ofcom; May Lose Spectrum Assignments
Satellite Today ICO Global Communications has lost its judicial review action against the U.K. Office of Communications regulator Ofcom, which the company filed in 2009 after Ofcom announced its intent to request that the ITU remove ICO’s global medium-Earth orbit satellite system from the… Topics: U.K., telecom, broadband, satellite, orbit
FCC Responds to Comcast
Satellite Today Where there is a will there is a way… or a “third way” in U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) lingo. In its June 17 open meeting, the FCC released a Notice of Inquiry in order to re-examine the regulatory classification of broadband Internet. Topics: telecom, satellite, Comcast, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, broadband
New Satellite Service For Middle East and Southwest Asia
TMCnet Custom voice, video and data communications services will now be provided to clients in the Middle East and Southwest Asia by Star Satellite Communications Company PrJsc. Star Satellite Communications is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yahsat. Topics: broadband, government, launch, satellite
Frontier Phone Service Switch Begins
TMC.Net The move makes Connecticut-based Frontier this state’s third-largest landline telephone provider, after AT&T (formerly BellSouth) and CenturyLink (formerly Embarq and before that, Sprint). Frontier now has 7 million customers in 27 states, where it has carved out a niche in providing rural telephone, Internet and satellite television service. The switch did not require approval [...]
Broadpoint, T-Mobile USA Launch Wireless Service in Gulf of Mexico
TMC.Net Broadpoint today announced with T-Mobile USA, Inc. that T-Mobile customers are now able to use voice and messaging services in the Gulf of Mexico using Broadpoint’s network. The companies plan to extend the offshore roaming agreement to include data service in the Gulf for T-Mobile customers in the fall of 2010. Topics: telecom, satellite, [...]
Spacenet Introduces New Emergency Communications Service via Satellite
TMC.Net Spacenet Inc. announced today that it has introduced its new Emergency Communications Service (ECS). The new service offering is designed to provide a more cost-effective and flexible satellite solution, leveraging an always on pay-as-you-use service plan with dedicated satellite bandwidth for readily available and reliable emergency communications. Topics: telecom, satellite
Vizada Activates VoIP Connection to Cut FleetBroadband Costs
Satellite Today Vizada has activated a voice-over-IP (VoIP) connection on its network to offer reduced cost of shore-ship communications via Inmarsat FleetBroadband terminals to its shipping customers. Topics: VoIP, satellite, telecom, broadband
Ariane 5 Set to Launch Arab and South Korean Satellites
Spaceflight Now Arabsat 5A multi-mission satellite will provide additional capacity at 30.5 degrees East for a large range of satellite communications services such as television backhauling and broadcasting, telephony, business communications, Internet trunking and the provision of VSAT and other interactive services, over the whole continent of Africa, Central Asia and Middle East region. Topics: [...]
Verizon Announces One-Month Free FiOS Service to Existing Customers
TMCnet Verizon Communications announced it will offer free one month FiOS Internet and television subscription to its customers, meaning the company will not charge any fees if customers terminate their services after a month. The new offer is one of the company’s strategies to hold its customers back, given the uncertainty surrounding the economy, finds [...]
Thaicom: ‘Won’t Hurt Singapore Ties’
Bangkok Post The plan to buy back Thaicom Plc from Singapore’s Temasek Holdings would not hurt relations between Thailand and Singapore, Information and Communications Technology Minister Juti Krairiksh said on Tuesday morning. “There’s no problem with getting a budget to buy back Thaicom, and the ties between the two countries won’t be affected as they [...]
Asia’s Top Satellite Leaders Assess Broadband Prospects
Satellite Today Satellite broadband generally has been a hot topic at satellite events throughout the past several years. In the United States, Hughes and WildBlue (now owned by ViaSat) have close to 1 million subscribers, and SES Astra and Eutelsat also are targeting a better performance in… Topics: telecom, Asia, Hughes, United States, satellite, broadband
Broadpoint Announces Merger With Cellular One
TMC.Net Broadpoint, a leading provider of offshore telecommunications and network services, today announced its completed agreement to merge with MTPCS, LLC, d.b.a. Cellular One, a provider of nationwide GSM/EDGE voice and data communications services. Topics: Mexico, telecom, cellular, satellite, merger
