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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