Satellite Networks

As part of a government initiative to connect 100 percent of Colombia for which it has already deployed a large number of Wi-Fi zones, SES has announced a deployment of 300 additional free community Wi-Fi zones in the country, enabled by high-speed broadband over satellite.

Russian operator MegaFon has announced plans for a project through which low earth orbit (LEO) satellites will provide data access to users on the ground.

Satellite telecommunications solutions provider Axess Networks, which is providing backhaul connectivity services for connectivity supplier Altán Redes in Mexico, has been assigned further participation in the Shared Network project developed and operated by Altán Redes.

The past few days have brought more news of the HyperActive programme, expected to launch in mid-2021, whose primary aim is a flight demonstration of hyperspectral imaging and communication payloads.

Comtech EF Data Corp, a supplier of communications equipment with a focus on satellite bandwidth efficiency and link optimisation, has announced that it has received a $1 million order for satellite ground station equipment from what it describes as the largest telecommunications company in Africa.

Global mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat and radio and satellite communications solutions provider Cobham SATCOM have been awarded a contract to connect 732 fishing vessels active in the Maldives Economic Exclusion Zone to Inmarsat’s Fleet One maritime broadband services.

Hughes India has said that it has been selected by infrastructure provider Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) and Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) to provide high-speed satellite connectivity to 5,000 remote Indian gram panchayats (roughly translated as village councils).

Ignite Power, a pan-African developer of infrastructure projects, and Spacecom, the operator of the AMOS satellites fleet, have announced a strategic cooperation agreement involving e-health.

Two connectivity deals have been announced in Oman in the past few days, both relating to the extension of communications services to remote parts of the country.

According to a number of Indian press reports, Nelco, a local satellite communication service provider, is to partner with Canadian satellite operator Telesat to offer low earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity in India.

A new agreement has been announced that aims to allow satellite service providers to access Spanish-speaking markets throughout South America.

There’s been a further boost for Brazilian connectivity with the announcement from global communications company Viasat of the expansion of its residential internet service to 14 additional states in Brazil.

The Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) and Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) began broadcasting a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) signal, providing a major boost to satellite and aviation navigation tools used in African and Indian ocean regions.

The start of work on building the new Satellite of the Republic of Indonesia (SATRIA) is reported to be imminent.

The government of Colombia has chosen Speedcast International for a project to provide high-speed internet to 250 sites across rural Colombia.

Satellite connectivity company Eutelsat Communications inked a multi-year distribution agreement with Paratus to bring high quality network connectivity to South Africa, meeting growing demand in the country’s underserved areas.

The recent news of a deal between leading aerospace industry company Airbus and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company, a leading global satellite operator in the UAE, has been quickly followed by another contract announcement – this time involving L3Harris Technologies.

iSAT Africa, a leading data, video and internet service provider, has signed an agreement with Azercosmos, a leading satellite operator in the South Caucasus.

Recent satellite news from Latin America includes a backhaul contract for Gilat and an extended partnership involving SES and COMNET.

Africa Mobile Networks has extended its satellite cellular backhaul contract with Gilat Satellite Networks.

Remote connectivity is a continuing focus in African telecommunications, and a recent announcement from Telecom Namibia underlines the relevance of satellites and VSATs to this drive.

Kazakhstan’s largest operator Kcell has tapped Gilat Satellite Networks for a cellular backhaul project that will provide connectivity to hundreds of rural villages.

Kacific has signed a five-year agreement with the Government of Tuvalu to provide the Pacific Island nation with high-speed broadband internet connectivity via satellite.

A premium residential internet service has been launched in Brazil, courtesy of global communications company Viasat.

Liquid Telecom is providing its managed VSAT connectivity services to mbora, a pioneering social enterprise in Malawi.

Asian satellite operator Thaicom and CAT Telecom, which runs Thailand’s international telecommunications infrastructure, have announced a joint satellite business venture.

Intelsat and Liquid Telecom are extending their partnership to connect more than 2000 additional VSAT terminals across Africa.

At a time when the future of energy – not just oil and gas but renewables – is again a hot topic, Inmarsat, which owns and operates a global portfolio of mobile telecommunications satellite networks, plans to expands its presence in the Middle East by joining the Energy Industry Council.

Globalstar, a provider of mobile satellite voice and data services, has announced the deployment of a new ground station with second-generation technology in Córdoba, Argentina.

Colombian services provider SkyNet and satellite operator SES Networks have announced that they have extended their partnership and increased network capacity in the country to support coronavirus mitigation efforts.

Gilat Telecom has extended the reach of its VSAT services to every African country.

Mexico’s rural areas will receive a coverage boost after a recent deal involving satellite backhaul. 

Continuing evidence of the importance of wireless telecommunications during the health crisis comes from the UAE, where satellite services are playing a part in the UAE’s efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic – in this case through Dubai’s ambulance services.