Satellite Networks

MEASAT-3d, described by Malaysian operator MEASAT as its latest and most advanced satellite, has now entered commercial service, after its handover by Airbus Defence and Space.

Africa’s Phase3 Telecom, an independent aerial fibre optic network infrastructure and telecommunications service provider, has partnered with satellite broadband service YahClick to offer high-speed, low-latency satellite broadband services.

Satellite communications company ST Engineering iDirect has announced that Malaysian satellite operator MEASAT is significantly expanding its iDirect Evolution-based satellite network to deliver a wide range of services to enterprises and communities located in rural and ultra-rural areas across Malaysia.

Satellite connectivity provider OneWeb entered the Brazilian market after being awarded a 15-year landing rights license by regulator Anatel, as part of long-term plans to expand in South America.

Kacific has partnered with Indonesian operator Teleglobal to provide a large-scale deployment of mobile backhaul services to the archipelago’s major telecommunications operators.

Satellite operator Inmarsat, satellite communication solutions companies Global Beam Telecom and Cobham, and global two-way radio manufacturing company Hytera have announced the launch of a new seamless push-to-talk (PTT) communications solution aimed at the Middle East market.

Two telecommunications satellites – one Indian and one Malaysian – have been successfully placed into geostationary orbit by the Ariane 5 launcher, operated by satellite launch company Arianespace.

Zimbabwe is the latest African country planning to set to launch its first satellite into orbit. Next month, or possibly in August, ZimSat-1, a nanosatellite, will be launched from the Japanese KIBO Module – Japan's science module for the International Space Station (ISS).

Mexico tapped into satellite technology to deliver ubiquitous coverage for its citizens, as part of a major scheme to connect those in extremely remote areas.

Satellite technology company Hughes Network Systems has announced a number of major deals that aim to bring connectivity to rural and hard-to-reach areas in Mexico.

Neptune Communications has received authorisation from Jamaica’s Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to launch satellite broadband in the market.

Satellite operator and connectivity provider SES has been in the news recently with backhaul deals in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Peru and Chile aimed at supporting remote connectivity.

Satellite broadband and related services in India are being promised a boost after a new deal involving Indian media and communications company NXT Digital (NDL) and Thailand’s Thaicom, a leading Asian satellite operator.

The Philippines regulator the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) late last week announced its approval of the registration of Starlink Internet Services Philippines Inc. as a value-added service (VAS) provider, according to local press reports.

This week saw a significant announcement in the field of satellite communications by the BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It’s the launch of what is called The Joint Committee on Space Cooperation.

Following the demonstration of low earth orbit (LEO) satellite support for 5G backhaul in Latin America, reported yesterday, there’s now news of medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite applications for 3G and 4G in Kazakhstan.

Brazil can claim its first 5G backhaul demonstration over low earth orbit (LEO) satellite, according to satellite operator Telesat and international service provider Telefónica, which have together announced the successful completion of the demonstration in Brazil and Latin America.

Egypt and MEA-focused digital solutions and ICT infrastructure provider Benya Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, relating to satellite coverage in MEA.

Avanti Communications has signed a five-year partnership agreement with Free which will see the latter firm build and host a new satellite gateway in Senegal for Avanti’s HYLAS 4 state-of-the-art Ka-band satellite.

Hard on the heels of an agreement with Telefonica aimed at rural and remote parts of both Latin America and Europe, low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company OneWeb has announced another, this time involving Uzbekistan.

African internet provider InterSAT has renewed its agreement with SES for capacity on the latter’s satellite.

Rural and remote parts of both Latin America and Europe are set to benefit from a deal involving low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company OneWeb and global telecommunications company Telefonica.

Satellite operator SES and Central American telecommunications company COMNET have extended their long-term partnership, with the aim of jointly delivering high-performance, next-generation broadband services across Central America by satellite.

Arabsat, a leading regional satellite operator in the Middle East and Africa, and satcoms solutions provider Thales Alenia Space have signed a contract to build Arabsat-7A, a fully flexible software-defined satellite (SDS) based on the Space Inspire (INstant SPace In-orbit REconfiguration) platform by Thales Alenia Space.

Satellite operator Azercosmos and teleport and data centre facility Signalhorn have entered into a partnership agreement to provide what are describe as uninterrupted, secure and high-quality satellite services throughout Africa via the C Band capacity on Azerspace-1 satellite.

Satellite networking technology, solutions, and services company Gilat Satellite Networks has been selected in a multimillion-dollar deal with satellite operator Intelsat to provide a satellite cellular backhaul solution in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Satellite technology company Hughes Network Systems has announced that its satellite internet service and equipment will be deployed by Colombian information and communication technology company SDT Ingenieria to connect 670 schools in Colombia.

Broadband internet via satellite is coming to 500 rural communities in Mexico thanks to Spanish telecommunications satellite operator Hispasat and Mexican internet service provider GlobalSat.

Global communications company Viasat and Batelco, the leading digital solutions provider in Bahrain, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to engage in several regional business-to-business (B2B) service opportunities.

Next-generation broadband satellite operator, Kacific says it has introduced Asia-Pacific’s first HTS (high throughout satellite) Ka-band enterprise backup service, which is described as a service that protects organisations against outages that, it says, happen all too frequently.

Satellite operator Intelsat has been part of two very different deals recently, both underlining the diverse uses of satellite communications. One involves extending video connectivity in Brazil. The other aims to improve maritime connectivity across an area that includes Africa and the Middle East.

Satellite operator Thaicom has penned an agreement with satellite and solutions provider Globalstar, to deploy commercial low earth orbit (LEO) and provide commercial services to boost Thailand’s tourism and maritime industries.

Orange is planning to use satellites to plug coverage gaps in one of its African markets, with a successful trial resulting potentially in a full rollout of the technology across its footprint.