GoGo to Deliver In-Flight Broadband Services to Commercial Airliners via SES Satellites

In-flight connectivity company GoGo and world-leading satellite operator SES have collaborated to provide Gogo broadband services aboard commercial airliners travelling to Europe, United States and the North Atlantic Ocean Region

Three SES satellites will be used for the commercial airliners: SES-1 serving continental United States; NSS-703 serving the North Atlantic; and SES-4 serving Europe. All satellites intend to allow the expansion of GoGo’s in-flight coverage. The company’s services via the NSS-703 aim to be changed to the new SES-6 satellite by mid 2014.

SES CCO Ferdinand Kayser said in a statement, “GoGo and SES are proof positive that the sky is no longer the limit, as we strike an important mobility deal that ensures seamless internet access for air passengers travelling some of the busiest routes in the world. GoGo has trusted SES to provide both the capacity and network support to enable its expansion over America and the exciting entry into the crucial North Atlantic Region and Europe. We look forward to playing a key role in this important communications advancement in global airline travel.”

GoGo is expected to commence its international internet services during the first quarter of 2013 on Delta Air Lines.

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Globecomm Systems Inc reaches milestone

One of the world’s leading communications provider Globecomm Systems Inc announced that it has reached a company milestone after delivering a host of connection platforms, VSAT and GSM solutions to over 3500 ships globally. The numbers present a milestone in the maritime sector.

The company, which takes strength from its managed network communications solutions, said that half of its customers are connect through Inmarsat platforms. Globecomm also provide software products to meet the fast-changing demands of clients.

Some of the core products supplied by the company include Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband, which enjoys a wide range of Ku band coverage, plus a network of 1,800 active Inmarsat terminals. Globecomm have also installed internet from satellite services and wi-fi networks in over 300 ships through a combination of GSM and VSAT technology.

Broken Hill site of teleport facility for NBN’s satellite service

NBN Co has chosen Broken Hill in New South Wales as the site of a satellite ground station to be built in support of the broadband project’s longer term satellite service. Already, NBN’s interim satellite offering has been servicing over 17,000 premises down under, with download speeds of 6mbps being sold wholesale to several Internet by satellite providers.

Broken Hill is considered the capital of the outback, and the new satellite ground facility will be built 9 kilometers away from the city, which is also connected via fibre to the nationwide broadband network. The facility will join the nine others being constructed across Australia that will uplink to the Ka band satellites also being built by NBN, and slated for a 2015 launch

Around 20 to 30 construction workers will be employed during the construction of the ground station in Broken Hill. Accordingly around 300 will be employed for the building of all ten satellite ground stations. Last month, NBN Co announced that it had already awarded contracts to two companies for the project.

Inmarsat picks L-3 as Global Xpress launch partners

British satellite communications company Inmarsat announced yesterday that it had chosen L-3 Global Communications Solutions as its launch partner for the land satellite terminals of the Global Xpress service. The new broadband service from Inmarsat aims to improved network activity as well as extended coverage. Global Xpress will be the first Ka band satellite service that will offer global mobile broadband coverage. It will deliver high speed internet on satellite solutions through smaller and more affordable ground terminals. According to Inmarsat the GX service will be delivered using three satellites the company operates.

L-3 GCS was chosen by Inmarsat because they are one of the leading suppliers of VSAT systems in the world. Since the GX technology will run on Ka band, L-3 provides the expertise and cutting-edge equipment that will be combined with Inmarsat’s own global managed services. The US-based company which deploys specializes satellite communications solutions will be providing the L-3 GCS' Panther, and Hawkeye terminals for the Global Xpress. Both companies expressed excitement in the delivery of the high-speed technology which has been designed to be reliable, especially with the transportable terminals which can be used for all sorts of missions.

Site for eight satellite ground station, chosen by NBN Co

The town of Roma in Queensland has been picked as the site for the eight satellite ground station to be built and operated by the NBN for its satellite services. Previously, three towns were chosen in Western Australia to go along sites picked in New South Wales and Tasmania. A total of ten teleports will be built to support to nationwide broadband project.

According the NBN Co’s spokesman Matt Dawson, Roma was chosen as the new site because of its ideal location and favorable weather conditions. The town is also close to critical infrastructure including the NBN’s terrestrial fibre network. The network operator plans to have ten teleports geographically spread out across Australia.

Mr. Dawson also explained that the project in Roma will create between 20 to 30 construction jobs. Aside from the three WA sites, NBN Co has also picked the town of Geeveston in Tasmania; Bourke and Wolumla in the state of New South Wales; and Ceduna in SA.

The satellite ground stations will support the internet service by the NBN while it readies long-term satellite service expected to start operations by 2015. Two ka band satellites are slated for launch on the same year to provide bandwidth capacity for the satellite internet services.

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New Avanti HYLAS 2 satellite to deliver broadband access across Africa

Avanti Communications’ recent launch of the HYLAS 2 communications satellite may revolutionize the way broadband access is delivered at present in Africa. Many of the nations in the continent rely on terrestrial fibre networks and undersea cables. Unfortunately, the terrestrial networks are not enough to cover regions that are remote, and the undersea fibre-optic systems connecting the continent to Asia and Europe are prone to damages from shipping vessels, disrupting the services, leaving many citizens without Internet access and causing losses for businesses.

 

Satellite coverage of the Hylas 2

But the recent launch of the Avanti satellite may change all that, especially for Southern and Eastern Africa. The HYLAS 2 satellite, which was launched last August from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana in South America, has already completed orbital testing last month, and will soon be ready for commercial services.

 

Operators are looking at the vessel to transmit capacity for wireless broadband access, which will diversify sources of Internet access in Africa. Residents, businesses, and other organizations with satellite dishes can received up to 20 mbps from the HYLAS 2. This development comes after a study by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation in Africa looking at the more crucial role satellite communications is playing in rolling out broadband access in the continent.

 

According to the report, increase in broadband availability is one of the driving forces for economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. At present, 40% of the region is cut off from broadband access. Satellite internet may be the only choice for many residents, as well as small businesses, requiring remote connectivity. Avanti Communications is already looking into tapping into this growing demand. The second HYLAS satellite is slated for a 2015 launch, and combined with the HYLAS 2, will bring over 100 GB of capacity to the continent.

 

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