South Africa: How space is impacting our society

VVVolVolVolVol o6 o6 66l l. .No. NoNo. No78 N N 55 oo5.. 8 August 2018 2020

AFRICA

Nigeria SPECIAL REPORT Why airports SPECIALare prioritizing REPORT newer technologies

C O N T E N T S Vol. 8 No. 8

COVID-19, aviation and the satellite industry Editor in-chief Aliyu Bello Communications releases full year 2019-20 results Executive Manager Tonia Gerrald Eutelsat 8 West B selected by Strong Roots for new DTH SA to the editor in-Chief Ngozi Okey platform in Ethiopia and the Middle East Head, Application Services M. Yakubu First UAE Mars mission to inspire new Editorial/ICT Services John Daniel generation of scientists Usman Bello SES launches free-to-air satellite channel to fight spread Alozie Nwankwo of COVID-19 Juliet Nnamdi World Bank grants Niger US$100 million for Client Relations Sunday Tache digital push Lookman Bello Military applications use of Satellite Navigation Safiya Thani Multichoice delivers best in television Marketing Offy Pat entertainment in Nigeria Tunde Nathaniel Liquid Telecom provides VSAT connectivity to new ISP in Malawi Wasiu Olatunde Media Relations Favour Madu Kenya's new milestone in space science Khadijat Yakubu Why airports are prioritizing newer Zacheous Felicia technologies Finance Folarin Tunde Covid-19: Konnect Africa offers broadband internet connection to isolation centers in Nigeria How space is impacting our society Space Watch Magazine is a publication of The state of broadband internet in Africa Communication Science, Inc. All correspondence should be addressed to editor, space Watch Magazine. Abuja office: Plot 2009, Awka Street, UTC Building, GF 11, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria Tel: 234 80336471114, 07084706167, email: [email protected]

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Editorial

COVID-19, aviation and the satellite industry

The commercial aviation industry's rebound vast majority of aviation professionals below. This indicates that citizens in this from COVID-19 is underway, with the expecting digital technologies to help area heeded to the call for national lockdown number of airline flights starting to gradually drive a stronger return towards profitable with the exception of the few essential increase, but widespread recovery may take growth.” workers. several years. This is the consensus from a In it 6th edition of its latest research titled During the month of April 2020, extremely major industry poll conducted as part of “Prospects for the Small Satellite Market,” low to no vehicle presence is observed. FlightPlan: Charting a Course into the Euroconsult forecasts that two mega- Most of the vehicles are observed in the Future, an online broadcast by Inmarsat and constellations will account for half of the same location on multiple satellite imagery the Airline Passenger Experience smallsats to be launched between 2020 leading us to conclude that these were Association (APEX). Despite bracing for a and 2029, yet only account for one fifth of parked and not moving during the month of slow recovery, the poll reveals a sense of the total smallsat market value due to April 2020. optimism for the industry's future, with economies of scale, mass manufacturing At the beginning of May 2020, an digitisation expected to drive the return to and batch launches. The report also announcement was made for some of the profitable growth. addresses the impact of COVID-19 on the lockdown restrictions to be relaxed and the small satellite industry and provides country adopted level 4 state of lockdown. The poll – completed by more than 500 updated analysis of the ongoing During this period, inter-province professionals from across the global uncertainties related to the pandemic, movements were allowed from 1-7 May aviation industry between April and June smallsat constellations and the OneWeb 2020. During this period, an increase in 2020 – shows that more than half of bankruptcy, despite its recent acquisition. vehicle presence is observed on the road in respondents (60%) expect a recovery “The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to the area.Upon the expiry of the inter- period between 18 months to three years. have a significant impact on the industry. provincial movement allowance, the Level 4 Only 13 per cent said they believe the This impact will however vary depending lockdown continued, however there seem to industry was prepared for a crisis like on the size and nature of stakeholders. not be any change in the presence of COVID-19. The results also offer deep While many early-stage commercial new vehicles in the area insight into industry sentiment on the shape entrants will fail to raise funding and of recovery, what passenger journeys could deploy their constellations, the two Millions of households across Africa, look like post-pandemic, and the impact of market leaders, SpaceX and Amazon, Europe, and Asia-Pacific will be able to the crisis on aviation sustainability goals. have been strengthened by the access a free-to-air TV channel via SES pandemic.” said Alexandre Najjar, Senior satellites dedicated to delivering reliable, Interestingly, despite bailouts from many Consultant at Euroconsult. “While the informative content about COVID-19. The governments, only 7 per cent of commercial sector (Starlink and Kuiper channel – Fight COVID-19 – broadcasts respondents believe governments have excepted) will decrease compared to content that is aimed at providing uniformly done enough to support the previous years due to a COVID-19- underserved and rural communities with industry, suggesting that whilst the crisis is induced market rationalization, growth in critical information about how to limit the global, the response actions at a national government smallsat projects is spread of the virus. level have been varied. accelerating as nations now recognize the potential and cost savings enabled by The content is provided by trusted At the heart of bailout discussions is an the smallsat form, both for civilian and organisations such as UNIeCEF and AFP as international debate on the future of military use cases.” well as global EdTech social enterprise sustainable aviation. In recent weeks, Potential.com. The content aims to several European air transport associations “In South African, the National Space impartially inform TV viewers about came together in a call for the prioritisation of Agency, SANSA has been utilising identifying COVID-19 symptoms, the specific decarbonisation initiatives in the remote sensing satellite imagery to recovery process, and how to manage the allocation of funding to help airlines recover assess vehicle presence on the roads effects of a global pandemic and social collaborate with UNICEF, AFP from COVID-19. With a global recession and at shopping centres. During distancing, such as managing a household, and Potential.com who are willing potentially threatening investment in green lockdown, human mobility is expected to children or mental health. SES welcomes to contribute their content for this technology, there was little consensus in the be minimised and the correlation of additional content providers from good cause. Together, we hope to poll about the impact of COVID-19 on human mobility was measured against international and regional organisations to reach a wide group of audiences aviation's path to sustainability, with 36 per vehicle presence on the roads and contribute to the COVID-19 channel. with reliable and trustworthy cent believing the crisis will accelerate shopping centres. content and do our part in helping progress and 47 per cent thinking it will delay President Cyril Ramaphosa declared The channel is broadcast free-to-air from slow the spread of COVID-19.” progress. South Africa a state of national disaster SES's satellite fleet and is available in on 15 March 2020. After the declaration, ASTRA 4A at 5 degrees East for Sub- Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat human mobility remained high as Saharan Africa and Ukraine, ASTRA 2F at Aviation, said: “The immediate priority for indicated by the presence of vehicles on 28.2 degrees East for West Africa, NSS-12 airlines and the wider aviation industry is the road as per images below. at 57 degrees East for Ethiopia and adjacent clearly surviving the unprecedented impact countries and SES-9 at 108.2 degrees East of COVID-19. Aviation is taking its first steps Upon the declaration on the 23 March for the Philippines towards a recovery and it is encouraging 2020 of the Level 5 national lockdown to that many in this industry have been take effect on the 26 March 2020 at 2h59. “Our lives have been disrupted by COVID- proactive in adapting and planning for the High volumes of vehicles continued to be 19 in the last few months, and unfortunately, future. These survey results, together with visible on the roads, with much higher it doesn't seem to be going away anytime the numerous discussions and debates volumes visible from 25-26 March 2020. soon. Through the global reach of satellite, during FlightPlan, indicate that the COVID- On the 27 March, first day of the level 5 we are in a position to contribute our 19 crisis may prove a decisive moment for national lockdown, huge reduction in the resources wisely to help provide important digital transformation in an industry that's visibility of vehicles on the road is information to vulnerable communities,” historically been behind the curve, with the observed from the satellite imagery said Steve Collar, CEO of SES. “We have been really fortunate to be able to 5 APPOINTMENTS

our industry and nation out at the final This is a worldwide National Aeronautics Yahsat names Andrew frontier.” and Space Administration (NASA) Cole as new Chief supported students, teachers and scientist's collaborative program on inquiry Financial Officer Astronaut Tim Peake based investigations of the environment joins Skyrora's and the Earth System in study and research Al Yah Satellite Communications about the dynamics of the Earth's Company, Yahsat, the leading UAE- advisory board environment. He is also the Kenyan based global satellite operator, representative to the Technical Committee announced that its Board of Directors has Space rocket company Skyrora has of the African Resource and environment appointed Andrew Cole as Chief Financial announced that British astronaut, Tim Management satellite Constellation Officer (CFO). Peake will be joinieng its advisory board as (ARMC) initiative. Andrew joins Yahsat soon after the a member. The experience Tim has gained company boosted its leadership with four as a European Space Agency astronaut, Emirati executive appointments to lead its former International Space Station (ISS) government, commercial, operational and crew member, and British Army Air Corps SIG Appoints Kratos' technical business units. officer will be invaluable to Skyrora as the Bob Potter as Director Andrew has 25 years of cross-sector company continues its development of the The Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) has experience in senior finance, operational Skyrora XL rocket for providing orbital announced that Bob Potter of Kratos and advisory roles. From 2015 to 2019, he launches by 2023. Skyrora has already Defense and Security Solutions has been was the Group Financial Controller at shown themselves as a leader within the UK appointed a Director of the group. Bob joins SES, a company with a constellation of space race with a recent full ground test of existing directors Andreas Voigt of Eutelsat Geostationary and Medium Earth Orbit its second largest launch vehicle, making and Mark Steel of Inmarsat, led by recently Satellites. His primary functions covered the UK effectively launch ready. appointed Managing Director, Helen all aspects of Finance including Financial Volodymyr Levykin, chief executive officer Weedon. Bob has been heavily involved Planning, Governance, Risk including at Skyrora said: “I couldn't be more excited with SIG for many years, during which time satellite insurance and Compliance, with Tim joining our advisory board. Tim's he has spoken regularly at the group's Accounting and Global Controlling knowledge, insight, and vast experience in events and conferences. operations. He has also worked for EY the space industry will boost Skyrora's His experience in RF systems design and and KPMG London as an external auditor efforts to become the UK's premier and measurement techniques extends back and business advisor to many global principal company for commercial rocket more than 25 years. Bob has held several enterprises. His experience during his launches. “Tim has been at the forefront of senior-level and executive positions from years in an external advisory role includes the space industry for years. His level of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to M&A and Financing, Corporate expertise will help us to gain more insight President over the years. Currently Bob is Restructuring, Commercial Planning, Tax, into the rapidly evolving UK space industry Vice President, Signals and Ground Treasury, Audit & Accounting as well as and sustain our rapid growth and System Technology for Kratos, Bob has Risk Management. development. “As the UK space industry pioneered the company's creation of next- continues to grow rapidly, we must all work generation RF network management Nick Shave appointed together and combine our multidisciplinary solutions, helping to make the company efforts to achieve capturing 10 percent of one of the premier providers of satellite Chair of UK space the global space market by 2030, as measurement and interference mitigation targeted by the UK government”. solutions. His expertise lies in radio Nick Shave has been appointed the chair communications and hardware/firmware of UK space, the trade association of the Dr John Kimani leads design, with a focus on delivering UK space industry. dedicated to raising customer-focused solutions. the profile of the UK's space industry. Kenya's Space Agency Nick, has been the Vice President for Strategic Programmes at Inmarsat, The Kenya Space Agency bid farewell to the assumes the role from Graham Peters acting Director-General Dr John Kimani on Globecast announces who was in the post since March 2018. Friday 19 June 2020, the farewell was new appointments presided over by the incoming Director- “I'm very much looking forward to starting Globecast has announced that Denis my role on behalf of the whole UK space General, Major General Thomas Chepkuto. Genevois and Olivier Zankel are moving industry, representing the full value chain Dr John Kimani has been part of the team into new marketing roles. Genevois, who including services, manufacturing, which shaped the Agency, since 2018. The joined Globecast in 2001, is now VP applications providers and SMEs, as we Kenyan space Agency was established to Marketing Group and Zankel, who joined deliver growth for the future of our sector coordinate and regulate space-related G l o b e c a s t i n 2 0 11 , i s n o w V P nationally and internationally. Working activities in the country and implement the Communications Group. They will both together, we can enable the UK to become Kenya space policy and other related report to Philippe Bernard, CEO, a modern space power.” programs. Globecast, with the two also now sitting on The space sector is ready to work John Njoroge Kimani is the Lead Scientist the Executive Committee. They replace alongside the UK Space Agency, the and the National Coordinator of the Kenya Juliet Walker who has moved to take up a Ministry of Defence, other Government National Space Secretariat, which is the role at parent company Orange Business Departments, and academia to deliver the precursor to the Kenya Space Agency. His Services. capability and services needed to grow main role has been to guide the As VP Marketing Group, Genevois is now the sector towards the prosperity goal development of a Space Policy and overseeing the defining of service shared by industry and Government of Strategy for the Kenyan Space Program. strategies and the way that services work 10% of the global space market by 2030. His duties have also included the with, or alongside, one another as well Nick Shave has vast experience of coordination of the implementation of the reporting sales performance. operating on both the global and national provisions of the Luigi Broglio– Malindi He is also in charge of defining sales stage at Inmarsat, and indeed within Space Centre Agreement between Kenya strategies by market and region. Since UKspace. He will now be able to build on and Italy and the negotiations of the renewal 2018, Genevois has been in charge of the key role that Graham Peters has of its term. He is the Country Coordinator for marketing and business development for played in kicking off the sector's response the Global Learning and Observations to broadcasters handling international pre- to Covid-19 and help build a strategy for Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) initiative. sales activity at Globecast. IN THE NEWS

Eutelsat 8 West B Eutelsat Communications releases full selected by Strong year 2019-20 results Roots for new DTH platform in Ethiopia The Board of Directors of a retail pillar to our improving trends in the Eutelsat Communications, distribution strategy with the other verticals enable us to and the Middle East c h a i r e d b y D o m i n i q u e acquisition of the European r e i n s t a t e f i n a n c i a l D'Hinnin, reviewed the satellite broadband activities objectives. As a measure financial results for the year of Bigblu Broadband, the Eutelsat Communications and Strong Roots of financial prudence, and e n d e d 3 0 J u n e 2 0 2 0 . leading distributor of satellite Ethiopia Broadcasting Service PLC have as previously announced, Rodolphe Belmer, Chief Broadband in Europe. In concluded a Master Service Agreement for a Ku we are recommending a Executive Officer of Eutelsat Africa the Schoolap project capacity on a 36 MHz transponder on Eutelsat's 30% reduction in dividend C o m m u n i c a t i o n s , s a i d : in DRC highlights the EUTELSAT 8 West B satellite. The capacity will for FY 2019-20. We are “Eutelsat has produced a o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n t h e enable Strong Roots to launch a new free to air committing to a return to robust set of results for business-to-government DTH platform covering Ethiopia as well as our policy of a stable to Financial Year 2019-20 in the vertical. Ethiopian diaspora in zones within the satellite's progressive dividend in f a c e o f t h e C o v i d - 1 9 As a result, the coming year footprint, notably the Middle East. respect of FY 2020- headwinds, with a record level is expected to mark a turning Part of the Ethiopian-owned Strong Roots 21,based on the rebased of Discretionary Free Cash p o i n t f o r o u r F i x e d Group, Strong Roots Ethiopia Broadcasting dividend.” Flow and an EBITDA margin Broadband vertical, with the Services PLC is an upcoming player in the Eutelsat recently begun that remains industry leading. ramp-up of EUTELSAT Ethiopian broadcast market. Its new DTH what it describes as its Our core Broadcast business KONNECT, to be followed in Platform will distribute high quality content on “bold ambitions” for r e m a i n s r e s i l i e n t , a s subsequent years by further news, entertainment, education, kids, broadband in sub-Sahara demonstrated by the securing incremental Connectivity documentary, movies and sport in SD or HD. Africa with the launch of its of a number of new contracts capacity, namely KONNECT Eutelsat 8 West B is a state-of-the-art satellite much-vaunted Konnect in Sub-Saharan Africa, notably VHTS and EUTELSAT 10B, with dedicated coverage of Ethiopia on its East Africa initiative. On 6 June, with Canal+ Ethiopia. adding traction to our return beam, and is part of the 7/8° West video the company launched to growth strategy. s e r v i c e s i n B e n i n , neighborhood, one of the most dynamic in the W e h a v e a l s o m a d e global satellite TV market. C a m e r o o n , K e n y a , significant headway in our We continue to experience Commenting on the deal, Tsegaye Alemayehu, Lesotho, Nigeria, South Fixed Broadband strategy the effects of the global Chairman of Strong Roots said: “We are A f r i c a , S w a z i l a n d , ahead of entry into service of health crisis most notably in delighted to be supported by Eutelsat in our Tanzania and Uganda. EUTELSAT KONNECT. In the Mobile Connectivity quest to provide a high-quality broadcast This followed an earlier Europe, a major wholesale vertical and to a lesser experience to viewers across Ethiopia and announcement confirming agreement has been signed extent in Professional Video. beyond. As indicated by its name, Strong Roots that the Konnect Africa with Orange for the entire N e v e r t h e l e s s o u r is striving to put down solid foundations in the initiative was back on track French capacity of EUTELSAT confidence in the resilience broadcast industry in Ethiopia, building its thanks to a partnership KONNECT and we are adding of core Broadcast and reputation based on quality of service and broad with Yahsat coverage with heartfelt Ethiopian Hospitality”. Philippe Oliva, Chief Commercial Officer of Eutelsat to acquire European satellite Eutelsat added: “We are proud to add Strong Roots to our line-up, highlighting the dynamic broadband activities of Bigblu Broadband broadcast landscape in Ethiopia and confirming the unparalleled coverage of Eutelsat's in-orbit Eutelsat Communications has the entry into service of agreements with telecom assets for the African continent”. reached an agreement with EUTELSAT KONNECT, due operators, such as the Bigblu Broadband to acquire to start gradually from fall recent deal with Orange in RodolpheBelmer Chief Executive Officer of i t s E u r o p e a n s a t e l l i t e 2020 with operation at full France, will favour an Eutelsat Communications, said: “On the broadband activities. Bigblu capacity expected from early accelerated ramp-up of operational front, the past year was notable Broadband is the largest 2021, bringing capacity in upcoming capacity and the once again for the resilience of core Broadcast, d i s t r i b u t o r o f s a t e l l i t e h i g h - d e m a n d a r e a s , maximization of customer supported by rising channel count and HD broadband packages in i m p r o v e d e n d - u s e r value over time. penetration, he said. The new deal sealed Europe with a proven track experience and unparalleled Commenting, Rodolphe between Eutelsdat and Strong Root Group will record, as evidenced by its economics and flexibility. Belmer of Eutelsat said: bring incremental capacity to the dynamic success as the main Gold “We are delighted to African market. member of Euro Broadband With its scalable platform for integrate the activities of Founded in 1977, Eutelsat Communications is Infrastructure's Preferred direct sales including digital BBBEurope which will one of the world's leading satellite operators. Partnership Programme since marketing platforms, multi- g r e a t l y e n h a n c e o u r With a global fleet of satellites and associated 2019. Bigblu Broadband has lingual call centers, billing and E u r o p e a n b r o a d b a n d developed a well-established ground infrastructure, Eutelsat enables clients CRM systems, the integration distribution network as we p l a t f o r m f o r s a t e l l i t e across Video, Data, Government, Fixed and of BBB Europe will enable progressively bring into broadband, relying on a Mobile Broadband markets to communicate Eutelsat to overcome the service next-generation unique network of installers limitations of its existing capacity in the form of effectively to their customers, irrespective of and resellers. indirect model by offering EUTELSAT KONNECT and their location. Over 6,600 television channels The activities to be acquired by enhanced access to the end- KONNECT VHTS, capable operated by leading media groups are Eutelsat (BBB Europe) user, direct control over of bringing fiber-like high broadcast by Eutelsat to one billion viewers currently count around 50,000 product definition and price speed internet connection equipped for DTH reception or connected to s u b s c r i b e r s a c r o s s a n for faster alignment with to the many areas in Europe terrestrial networks. Headquartered in Paris, expanding pan-European market needs, and increased that remain unserved or with offices and teleports around the globe, footprint which includes control of distribution levers under-served by terrestrial Eutelsat assembles 1,000 men and women from operations in the UK, Ireland, i n c l u d i n g s a l e s f o r c e infrastructure. This deal 32 countries who are dedicated to delivering the France, Germany, Italy, Spain, incentives, communication represents an important highest quality of service. Eutelsat Portugal, Poland, Hungary and promotions. The addition s t e p i n o u r b r o a d e r Communications is listed on the Euronext Paris and Greece. of this retail channel as a Broadband strategy.” Stock Exchange.. The agreement coincides with complement to wholesale IN THE NEWS

Africa Mobile Networks SES delivers video services for BBC studios passes milestone of 1 billion phone calls per BBC Studios (BBCS) and its branded services business. ever changing audience subsidiary UKTV have UKTV is a wholly owned demands. By selecting year selected SES to manage subsidiary of BBCS. It has SES, we believe we have the playout and distribution been at the forefront of UK found a partner that is Africa Mobile Networks, AMN has announce that of over 50 linear channels, branded television for over committed to delivering it now processes more than 1 billion phone calls and their associated video 25 years and its channels innovation and can meet annually for subscribers in previously on demand (VOD) services, s p a n c o m e d y , our business needs going unconnected rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa. according to SES . entertainment, natural into the future,” said In June 2020, AMN processed 91,623,222 voice SES will provide playout, history, factual and drama. Marcus Arthur, President calls, representing an annualised rate of 1.1 c o n t e n t p r o c e s s i n g , The broadcaster is a UK, Ireland BBC Studios & billion calls per annum, plus also nearly 6 distribution, and VOD significant investor in British CEO UKTV. terabytes (6,000 GB) of data. These services are services, delivering BBCS creativity and is committed “We are truly excited to be provided to rural users in Sub-Saharan Africa and UKTV content to a to working with new and delivering a complete set of who previously were mostly unconnected before network of affiliates globally e s t a b l i s h e d w r i t e r s , video services to BBCS,” AMN's investment in the mobile network and in the UK. These directors and programme- said Steve Collar, CEO of infrastructure. AMN now owns and operates services will be based on makers. SES. “Our London and approximately 1,200 base stations serving a SES's European global SES has been awarded the Munich service delivery population of 4 million people in 8 countries: delivery services with multi-year contract after approach is specially Nigeria, DRC, Cameroon, Guinea, Zambia, t e c h n i c a l p l a y o u t responding to a BBCS and c r a f t e d s o t h a t Bissau, Liberia and Congo. infrastructure provided from UKTV RFP where its service b r o a d c a s t e r s a n d SES's new Stockley Park offering aligned with the production houses like The 2G/3G/4G mobile network services are facility in London and with B B C S a n d U K T V BBCS and UKTV can focus provided by AMN on behalf of tier-1 licensed SES's Munich playout performance, business and on producing great content mobile network operators in each country.AMN is f a c i l i t y o v e r s e e i n g commercial requirements. while we take care of the installing new base stations at a rate of about 200 operational management. The new deal also builds on c o n t e n t p r e p a r a t i o n , per month and by the end of 2020 will have nearly BBCS is the commercial BBCS and UKTV's desire for playout and delivery. This 2,000 base stations. AMN ultimately aims to production and distribution cloud innovation in the dual facility approach is deliver mobile network services to over 60 million arm of the BBC, crafting media industry. f u n d a m e n t a l t o o u r people in up to 30 countries with more than over 2,500 hours of content “ O u r U K a n d g l o b a l success in ensuring that 20,000 base stations. On a global scale, the every year. BBCS is audiences and advertisers we have always-on fully Mobile networks have experienced a rapid focused on promoting the expect seamlessly delivered backed-up content delivery technological breakthrough and growth in the last creative talent of the BBC high-quality services, and in services and will enable us two decades. In 1985 the situation was quite and the UK internationally the transforming world of to provide the highest silent compared to today. and operates a global broadcast we need flexibility quality of service for Nowadays, mobile networks and mobile phones content distribution and and responsiveness to meet BBCS.” have spread worldwide and without them everyday life may become difficult in countries/economies that are so dependent on COVID-19: Satellites tracking vehicular internet and mobile services AMN's solutions are 100% ubiquitous, without restrictions due to movements power or backhaul connectivity, and can be deployed at any location throughout the The South African National below. At the beginning of May continent with no exceptions.AMN's success has Space Agency, SANSA has Upon the declaration on the 2020, an announcement was been built on ultra-low capex and opex solutions, been utilising remote 23 March 2020 of the Level 5 made for some of the and an innovative, fully-turnkey Network-as-a- sensing satellite imagery to national lockdown to take lockdown restrictions to be Service (NaaS) commercial model, which assess vehicle presence on effect on the 26 March 2020 relaxed and the country enables AMN to deliver mobile network services the roads and at shopping at 2h59. High volumes of adopted level 4 state of economically to smaller communities than has centres. During lockdown, vehicles continued to be lockdown. During this period, ever been possible before. AMN is now able to human mobility is expected visible on the roads, with inter-province movements serve communities as small as 500 people with to be minimised and the much higher volumes visible were allowed from 1-7 May long-term economic sustainability. correlation of human mobility from 25-26 March 2020. 2020. During this period, an was measured against On the 27 March, first day of increase in vehicle presence All of the major pan-African tier-1 operators vehicle presence on the the level 5 national lockdown, is observed on the road in the partner with AMN to extend their network roads and shopping centres. huge reduction in the visibility area. coverage deep into rural Africa. AMN offers the During this period, human of vehicles on the road is Upon the expiry of the inter- turnkey NaaS model with both revenue-share mobility was not hindered in observed from the satellite p r o v i n c i a l m o v e m e n t and opex commercial models for the operator, any form, therefore high i m a g e r y b e l o w. T h i s allowance, the Level 4 where revenue-share means no opex risk as well visibility of vehicles was indicates that citizens in this l o c k d o w n c o n t i n u e d , as no capex investment for the operator and the observed on the roads and at area heeded to the call for however there seem to not be opex model enables sites to be built at any Kenilworth shopping centre national lockdown with the any change in the presence location specified by the operator. parking lot and surrounding exception of the few of vehicles in the area (08-26 Moreover, mobile networks have become an areas. This translated into essential workers. May 2020). The presence of important part of many economies and mobile high human mobility within During the month of April vehicles observed seem phone usage an important part of current lifestyle this area of Kenilworth, Cape 2020, extremely low to no s i m i l a r t o d u r i n g t h e for many people. For many developing Town, Western Cape. v e h i c l e p r e s e n c e i s lockdown interprovincial economies, mobile networks revenue, President Cyril Ramaphosa observed. Most of the movement break. The declared South Africa a state employments, innovations and services vehicles are observed in the o b s e r v a t i o n r e m a i n e d of national disaster on 15 contribute hugely to their economy, prosperity same location on multiple relatively similar until 24 May March 2020. After the and development. While traditional services like satellite imagery leading us 2020, a date on which the declaration, human mobility voice and SMS remain popular, services such as to conclude that these were latest satellite imagery remained high as indicated parked and not moving accessing the internet have become common acquired over the area is by the presence of vehicles during the month of April available. on the road as per images 2020. MIDDLE EAST REPORT

First UAE Mars mission to inspire new generation of scientists

The Emirates Mars Mission ?is the United Arab Emirates' ?first mission to Mars designed to ?orbit Mars and study the dynamics in ?the Martian atmosphere on a global scale, and on both diurnal and seasonal time scales, according to report.

In 2004, the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced its intention to develop and launch a robotic spacecraft to Mars orbit . The plan marks an ambitious expansion of UAE's space activities, which has previously focused on remote sensing and co9munications and coincided with the establishment of United Arab Emirate space agency. The UAE's commitment to a scientific Mars exploration project encompasses many of the typical goals and driver that are found in government space agencies. Last month, the United Arab Emirates launched its first mission to Mars, the Arab world's first. The Hope Probe blasted off from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center for a seven-month journey to the red planet, where it will orbit and send back data about the atmosphere. The Emirates Mars Mission ?is the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) ?first mission to Mars. EMM is designed to ?orbit Mars and study the dynamics in ?the Martian atmosphere on a spacecraft will be symbolically important. heaters to prevent the fuel from freezing. It global scale, and on both diurnal and The mission was also named “Hope” with will then deploy the solar array panels and seasonal timescales. Using three scientific the explicit purpose of sending a use the sun sensors to find the sun and instruments on board of the spacecraft, EMM massage of optimismBuilt by the United manoeuvre in such a way that the solar will provide a set of measurements Arab Emirates, the mission will orbit Mars arrays begin to charge the onboard battery. fundamental to an improved understanding of and study the dynamics of the martian With the power switched on, the Hope ?circulation and weather in the Martian lower atmosphere and its interaction with outer Probe will start transmitting to Earth, with and middle atmosphere. Combining such space and the solar wind. The primary the NASA Deep Space Network ground data with the monitoring of the upper layers of scientific objectives are to search for the station in Madrid ready to pick up on the the atmosphere, EMM measurements will connection between current martian signals. Once the signal is received on the reveal the mechanisms behind the upward weather and the ancient climate of Mars, ground station, the EMM Operations Team transport of energy and particles, and the study the loss mechanisms of Mars' will begin their checks on the spacecraft. subsequent escape of atmospheric particles atmosphere to space by tracking the After the communications system is from the gravity of Mars behavior and escape of hydrogen and checked out, the control system will ensure The mission was initially due to launch on July oxygen, investigate how the lower and that the spacecraft is pointed in the right 14, but was delayed by bad weather. Just over upper levels of the martian atmosphere direction. The propulsion system onboard an hour after launch, the probe deployed solar areProf. connected, Umaru Danbatta and create a global will ensure detailed manoeuvres to refine panels to power its systems and established picture of how the martian atmosphere the Hope Probe's trajectory towards Mars. radio communication with the mission on varies throughout the day and year. earth. There are currently eight active The mission launched from Tanegashima During the Mars Orbit Insertion phase, the missions exploring Mars; some orbit the Space Center in Japan at 21:58:14 UT on Ground and Space Segments are kept to a planet and some have landed on its surface. 19 July 2020 (July 20 1:58 a.m. UAE time, minimum while the team focuses on safely China and the United States each plan to 6:58 a.m. Japan time) on a Mitsubishi H- entering a capture orbit at Mars. Nearly half send another this year. IIA booster. After a 200 day cruise to of the fuel is spent to slow the Hope Probe Mars, Hope will enter an elliptical, roughly down enough to capture Mars' orbit. The The Emirates Mars Mission has cost $200m, 22000 x 44000 km orbit with a period of fuel burn (firing the Delta V thrusters) will according to Minister for Advanced Sciences 55 hours and a 25 degree inclination. The last approximately 30 mins and reduces the Sarah Amiri. It aims to provide a complete periapse is near the equator. Two years of speed of the spacecraft from over 121,000 picture of the planet's atmosphere for the first science operations are planned, km/h to approximately 18,000 km/h. time, studying daily and seasonal changes. beginning in May 2021, with a possibility Emirati officials have described three key of a two-year extension to do more As radio signals from Mars takes 13 to 26 motivations for the project: symbolism and science into 2025. minutes to travel to Earth, the team will not inspiration; acting as a catalyst for knowledge Once the Hope Probe separates from the be able to intervene with the Hope Probe. and skill development; and providing an upper stage, an automated sequence will The whole operation is completed 100% anchor project for the domestic space begin to awaken the probe. The central autonomously. Once the Mars Orbit industry in the UAE. The launch of the computer will boot up and turn on the Insertion is completed, the Hope Probe will MIDDLE EAST REPORT

resolution imaging of Mars. The low focal ratio makes it possible to use very short exposure times to capture stable images during periapsis, while fitting both lens systems into a compact package. The image sensor is a 12-megapixel 12-bit monochrome CMOS array 4:3 imager. On- chip binning and region of interest windowing of the pixel array can be used to tailor image size and resolution as needed, minimizing the data rate. At full resolution, the sensor is capable of capturing 180 frames per second, enabling the possibility of 4K movie mode if desired. The use of discrete filters gives improved resolution in each colour compared with that using an RGB Bayer array. In addition, it provides m o r e p r e c i s e i n s t r u m e n t a l characterization, i.e., lower radiometric uncertainty of scientific imaging (needed for high accuracy retrievals of cloud optical depth). For the UV lens system, short- 'go dark' – eclipsed by Mars. Only when the above Mars' surface and as far as 49,380 wavelength UV-C (245 – 275 nm) and long- spacecraft emerges from the dark side of Mars km away from it. wavelength UV-A (305 – 335 nm) will be will communication be re-established, and the In the Capture Orbit, the first image of Mars cover ed. As for the VIS lens system, it will team will only then be certain that the will be taken and transmitted to the MOC. cover the bands; Red (625 – 645 nm), manoeuvre has succeeded. The first contact Daily contact is then scheduled with the Green (506 - 586 nm) and Blue (405 – 469 with the observatory after MOI will likely come team back on Earth, enabling a quick turn- nm). from the ground station in Spain. around of command sequence uploads The Hope Probe is constantly monitored by and telemetry receipt. After a period of the Operations Team back on Earth, as it makes its way to Mars. The trajectory to Spacecraft and Subsystems testing and validation, spanning nearly 6 weeks from the Mars Orbit Insertion Mars is further refined by the team by phase, the Hope Probe will move into the performing a series of Trajectory Correction The Emirates Mars Mission has a total mass, Maneuvers over the next several months. including fuel, of 1500 kg. It is a hexagonal Science Orbit. The Hope Probe will have an elliptical During this period, the instruments are prism, 2.37 m wide by 2.90 m tall, constructed turned on and checked out to ensure that of honeycomb aluminum panels with Science Orbit ranging between 20,000–43,000 km, with one complete they are operating correctly. The composite facesheets, with three solar panel instruments are calibrated using stars to wings affixed to the top platform. The solar orbit taking 55 hours. The mission's highly innovative orbit is unique and will allow the ensure they are ready to operate once they panels provide 600 W at Mars, charging arrive in Mars' orbit. batteries to run the spacecraft. Hope Probe to complete the first ever planet-wide, 24x7 picture of Mars' The Hope Probe approaches Mars with The spacecraft requirement is 477 W. such a velocity that it will slingshot around it Communications are X-band, through a 1.5 m atmospheric dynamics and weather. The contact period with the MOC is limited to 6- and continue into deep space if it isn't diameter high-gain directional dish antenna slowed down to the level that it can be mounted on the top deck of the spacecraft. It 8 hours, twice a week. During this time, it is expected that Hope Probe will transfer captured by Mars' gravity. will allow communication rates of 1.6 Mbps at Named by ancient Romans for their God of the minimum Earth-Mars distance to 250 kbps over 1 TB of novel data on Mars' atmosphere and its dynamics. War because of its reddish colour that at its furthest point. There are also three low- resembled blood, Mars is the fourth planet gain antennas. from the Sun. A cold, dusty and desert Propulsion is provided by four to six 120-N Instruments planet, Mars has a very thin atmosphere. It thrusters mounted on the bottom of the The Emirates Mars Mission “Hope Probe” has seasonal variations, polar ice caps, spacecraft, using monopropellant hydrazine is tasked to provide the first ever complete weather, canyons, mountains, extinct and a GHepressurant tank, with maneuvering picture of the Martian atmosphere. Three volcanoes, and other features that can be and attitude control via 8 to 12 5-N reaction stat-of-the-art science instruments have found in our own planet. control system thrusters and a set of reaction been designed to study the different Mars is also the most explored extra- wheels. Positional and orientation knowledge aspects of the Martian Atmosphere. terrestrial body in our solar system. is provided by star trackers and coarse Sun The EXI instrument is a multi-wavelength Humans have sent orbiters, probes, and sensors. radiation tolerant camera, EXI is capable landers to demystify the secrets of the It will carry three scientific instruments of taking 12-megapixel images while red planet. While we have learnt a great mounted on one side of the spacecraft. The maintaining the radiometric calibration deal from our past missions, there is a lot Emirates eXploration Imager (EXI) is a high needed for detailed scientific analysis. The resolution multiband (visible and UV) camera, more to be learnt about the history, instrument is being developed jointly by present and the future of Mars. the Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space (EMUS), a far-UV imaging spectrograph, and So far, our search has provided us with Physics (LASP) and Mohammed Bin ample evidence that Mars was once a the Emirates Mars InfraRed Spectrometer Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). The much warmer and wetter planet, with a (EMIRS), and FTIR scanning spectrometer. f l e x i b l e r e a d o u t m o d e s a l l o w customization of resolution, regions of thicker, more substantial atmosphere. Transition phase interest and frame rate to meet the needs So, what happened over billions of years The next stage in the Hope Probe's journey is of the user and available memory and that led to Mars turning into an arid the transition from the Capture Orbit to an bandwidth. The lens system is a double world? Studying, in-depth, the acceptable Science Orbit in preparation for its lens assembly with a separate UV and VIS atmosphere of Mars is the only way to primary science operations. The Capture optical paths. The type of lens used is a uncover the story, which could not only Orbit – an elliptical orbit lasting 40 hours, will double Gauss variant, a compound type help humans go to Mars, but also better take the Hope Probe as close as 1,000 km lens used to provide low distortion high understand our planet and its future. IN THE NEWS

Egypt's CIT, Higher Vodafone launches platform to help SMBs Education Ministry to develop digital skills equip space information system Vodafone has announced small businesses felt they decades at Vodafone, but the launch of a new support needed to make better use never has the pace of centre platform that will help small of digital tools to grow their change been so rapid and businesses develop their business, while 82% so vital to staying afloat. The Ministry of Communication and Information digital capabilities in the indicated that they needed We are here to help you and Technology and the Egyptian Space Agency face of the coronavirus to expand their online navigate these changes, have signed a cooperation protocol to equip a p a n d e m i c a n d t h e presence. and make the most of new computer centre and integrated information subsequent financial crisis. 40% of respondents felt opportunities.” system for the Egyptian Space Agency. The Named V-Hub, the platform that lack of online sales Entrepreneur and former protocol's signing was witnessed, via will provide SMBs with one- knowledge had had a Dragons' Den investor videoconferencing, by Minister of Higher to-one support from a team negative effect on their Piers Linney, who will act Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel of advisers who will share business during the as an adviser as part of the Ghaffar and Minister of Communication and tips on how to be more course of the lockdown, V-Hub's 1-1 guidance Information Technology Amr Talaat. effective and secure online. while one in four felt they s e r v i c e , c a l l e d t h e The protocol, which will last over three years, will Customers will be able to didn't know enough about platform “an excellent see the preparation of infrastructure and a data find out how to build an online security threats. resource for any small centre to connect the centre up with all buildings online presence during the business looking for tips under the space agency. It will also provide COVID-19 pandemic, Vodafone UK director and solutions to improve computing equipment, software, information which has forced many Anne Sheehan said that “it their digital operations”. network and security devices, servers and small businesses to remain is so important to the UK “ A s t h e e c o n o m y storage units for the agency. closed for months, by that the small business continues to steer itself learning how to conduct community makes it through the COVID-19 An agency online portal will also be made sales online and use web through this crisis”. “We've crisis, businesses will be available and put into operation, to provide design and marketing to made broadband and more reliant than ever on electronic services and external link lines to the their benefit. Microsoft 365 free for six being online – many small agency. There will be cooperation agreements for V-Hub will also provide months, and now we're businesses need to training between the agency and institutions training on online security, providing free access to upskill, not just to make affiliated to the Ministry of Communications and due to the significant rise in guidance that can help the most of being online, Information Technology. cyber attacks during the businesses build their but to do it safely and Abdel Ghaffar said the Egyptian Space Agency's pandemic, as well as how online presence, or get securely. Digital skills in establishment in 2019 was the culmination of to successfully work from online for the first time. the current climate could significant efforts and the fruition of a dream that home. Vodafone decided to " W e ' v e h e l p e d o u r prove essential to their has been in place for 40 years. He indicated that launch V-Hub after its customers through plenty survival,” he said. Egypt has now become part of the global space research found that 77% of of change over three system. The minister pointed out that the establishment of Egypt's first satellite centre is a qualitative leap in Envistacom, NOVELSAT to deliver waveform this field, and stressed that Egypt has become the permanent headquarters of the African Space for satellite connectivity Agency. This has increased the pressures and tasks placed on Egypt, and emphasises the country's aspiration for developing integrated centres and information systems. Envistacom, LLC, a processing applications to capabilities to achieve the For his part, Talaat said the protocol is an technology enterprise reside in common off-the- best results, and easier important step in the cooperation between the which delivers advanced shelf (COTS) hardware. s u s t a i n m e n t a n d ministries of Communications and Information communications, cyber T h e enhanc ement efforts Technology, and Higher Education and Scientific and other related services Envistacom/NOVELSAT p r o v i d i n g p o r t a b i l i t y Research. He emphasised the synergy of all state to customers in the p a r t n e r s h i p a l l o w s b e t w e e n h a r d w a r e sectors to create a knowledge-based society aerospace, defense, and c o m m e r c i a l a n d generations without re- based on scientific research. intelligence communities, Department of Defense e n g i n e e r i n g l e g a c y has announced that customers to benefit from technology. The minister noted that the cooperation protocol NOVELSAT, a provider of the ability to download aims to support the Egyptian Space Agency's content connectivity via N O V E L S AT ´ s M u l t i - T h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f information systems infrastructure. This comes as satellite, will incorporate its Access Waveform as an N O V E L S AT s y s t e m s part of the state's interest in both developing high-performance satellite application to be operated w a v e f o r m s w i t h Egypt's space industry and achieving regional access waveforms into on non-proprietary COTS E n v i s t a c o m ´ s leadership in this field. Envistacom´s Transport H i g h - P e r f o r m a n c e virtualization ecosystem Egypt occupies 1,001,450 square kilometers of Virtualization Ecosystem Computers (HPCs) acting will provide resilient, high- Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean and (TVE), the company said. as a Virtual Modem in p e r f o r m a n c e , a n d the Red Seas, Libya, the Gaza Strip, Israel and Envistacom´s Transport ubiquitous connectivity for Sudan. The terrain is mostly vast desert plateau Envistacom will deliver an Virtualization Ecosystem. m i s s i o n - c r i t i c a l interrupted by the Nile valley and delta. Three o p e n - a r c h i t e c t u r e Envistacom´s ecosystem applications. NOVELSAT percent of the land is arable, and about 3.2% of ecosystem which will (TVE) will provide DoD is a provider of next- the total land area is under irrigation. Egypt e n a b l e v i r t u a l i z e d customers with greater g e n e r a t i o n c o n t e n t controls the Sinai Peninsula, which is the only applications such as cost savings through the connectivity solutions for land bridge between Africa and Asia. Additionally, a d v a n c e d use of COTS hardware, satellite communications. it controls the Suez Canal, which is a sea canal c o m m u n i c a t i o n s faster time to market For more information visit linking the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean waveforms, encryption, ( T T M ) , m o r e www.novelsat.com Sea. data analytics, and other configurable/adaptable real-time continuous solutions, mix and match IN THE NEWS

SES launches free- Ground station receives the first images to-air satellite from Ofek 16 satellite channel to fight Following the successful Israel Ministry of Defense, to Unit 9900 of the IDF's launch of the Ofek 16 satellite Amnon Harari: "This is the Intelligence Cops, after which spread of COVID-19 into space, the engineering most significant milestone the satellite will be declared t e a m s o f t h e S p a c e since the launch of the Ofek operational. Millions of households across Africa, A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n t h e 16 satellite. The images we The Space Administration in Europe, and Asia-Pacific will be able to Directorate of Defense received from the satellite the Israel Ministry of Defense access a free-to-air TV channel via SES Research and Development, are of excellent quality. We has led the development and satellites dedicated to delivering reliable, of the Israel Ministry of will continue the orderly production of the satellite and informative content about COVID-19. The D e f e n s e , a n d I s r a e l process of transferring the its launcher. IAI is the prime channel – Fight COVID-19 – broadcasts Aerospace Industries, have satellite to operational use, contractor, having assigned the content that is aimed at providing operated the satellite's anticipating that over the program to its Systems, underserved and rural communities with observation camera for the years, the system will Missiles and Space Group, critical information about how to limit the first time. The high-quality provide great intelligence together with the MLM division, spread of the virus. images were received over t o t h e d e f e n s e which is responsible for the The content is provided by trusted night, at an IAI control station establishment." Under the development of the launcher. organisations such as UNIeCEF and AFP as in the city of Yehud, central leadership of the Ministry of The satellite's payload was well as global EdTech social enterprise Israel. Defense, IAI will continue developed by Elbit Systems. Potential.com. The content aims to Since the launch, Israel to advance Israel's space The launch engines were impartially inform TV viewers about Ministry of Defense, and program towards further developed by Rafael Advanced identifying COVID-19 symptoms, the Israel Aerospace Industries o p e r a t i o n a l S y s t e m s a n d To m e r, a recovery process, and how to manage the teams have conducted a achievements." government-owned defense effects of a global pandemic and social series of pre-planned tests The Ofek 16 satellite is an c o m p a n y . A d d i t i o n a l distancing, such as managing a household, during which all of the electro-optical observation companies have participated in children or mental health. SES welcomes satellite's systems and satellite with advanced this program, including Rokar additional content providers from subsystems were activated in capabilities. It is equipped and Cielo. Lastly, various IDF international and regional organisations to a gradual and controlled with a high-quality camera officials, primarily from the contribute to the COVID-19 channel. manner. Upon completion of d e v e l o p e d a n d Intelligence Corps and Air The channel is broadcast free-to-air from the process, the satellite's manufactured by Elbit Force have also been deeply SES's satellite fleet and is available in camera was also activated Systems. In the coming involved in the satellite ASTRA 4A at 5 degrees East for Sub- successfully. In the coming weeks, following the development process. Saharan Africa and Ukraine, ASTRA 2F at completion of the 'in orbit 28.2 degrees East for West Africa, NSS-12 at weeks, engineering teams will testing' process conducted 57 degrees East for Ethiopia and adjacent complete the rigorous tests, countries and SES-9 at 108.2 degrees East and prepare the satellite for by the DDR&D, IAI and the for the Philippines operational use. IDF, the Ministry of Defense “Our lives have been disrupted by COVID-19 Head of the Space and will transfer responsibilities in the last few months, and unfortunately, it Satellite Administration in the doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. Through the global reach of satellite, we are in a position to contribute our World Bank grants Niger US$100 million for resources wisely to help provide important information to vulnerable communities,” said digital push Steve Collar, CEO of SES. “We have been really fortunate to be able to collaborate with Niger is set to receive Development Specialist at ranking 45th out of Africa's UNICEF, AFP and Potential.com who are funding of US$100 million the World Bank, stated: 57 countries by this metric at willing to contribute their content for this good from the World Bank in order ' T h e [ C O V I D - 1 9 ] the end of March 2020. cause. Together, we hope to reach a wide t o p u s h d i g i t a l pandemic has revealed group of audiences with reliable and transformation initiatives. As t h e u r g e n c y o f trustworthy content and do our part in helping slow the spread of COVID-19.” r e p o r t e d b y accelerating the digital SES was founded in Luxembourg in 1985 as Ecofinagency.com, the transformation to enable Europe's first satellite operator. Today, we World Bank's International countries like Niger to keep are one of the leading satellite operators with Development Association the private sector active offices in 17 countries and teleports around (IDA) has approved a loan and save lives and jobs. By the world. We reach 258 million homes and a grant – each worth ensuring that all citizens worldwide and facilitate the broadcasting of US$50 million – to help have access to quality and 6,200 TV and radio channels including 1,200 Niger improve access to vital a f f o r d a b l e i n t e r n e t in High Definition. Our global fleet covers social services in the connection, that online 99% of the world's population and delivers country's poorest regions, public services are easily reliable and secure connectivity. SES as well as augmenting accessible, and that the features a record availability of its satellite infrastructure nationwide. digital economy drives capacity, consistently exceeding 99.9% over the years. Our vast satellite footprint enables According to report, part of growth, innovation, and job operators to deliver thousands of hours of the funding will be used for creation, this new project the latest digital television content every day Niger's Smart Villages will help Niger harness its and allows companies to provide broadband project, which seeks to p o t e n t i a l f o r d i g i t a l networks in remote locations and boost rural broadband and development.” governments to connect their sites. mobile connectivity. In turn, Niger has a mobile SES is the only satellite operator in the world this will increase access to penetration rate of less able to offer its customers global coverage mobile financial services in than 55% according to from geostationary satellites in combination the most remote areas of T e l e G e o g r a p h y ' s with high-speed, low latency, fibre-like Niger. GlobalComms Database, connectivity through O3b. Tim Kelly, Senior Digital AFRICA REPORT

Military applications use of Satellite Navigation by Commodore WO Kayoda

The use of satellite systems for air navigation brings important advantages to aviation as military and civilian users that require precise time or position information and are now equipped with suitable GPS receivers, while also reducing travel routes, saving fuel and diminishing greenhouse gas emissions.

Satellite navigation is a leading-edge warning can allow people to take action technology which allows anyone with a that can save lives and reduce the cost of receiver to determine their position very an event. The monitoring of Satellites now accurately at any time by picking up signals provides a range of crucial services, from a constellation of several satellites. The i n c l u d i n g w e a t h e r f o r e c a s t s , United States Global Positioning System c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , a n d l a n d - u s e (GPS) which is the first generation of Global monitoring. By simply including a Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). GPS is a GNSS/GPS receiver on any satellite, it is satellite based all weather, continuous, global possible to determine when that satellite radio navigation and time transfer system, is in its orbit. When the highest accuracy designed, financed, deployed and operated by is required, it the U.S. Department of Defense. The system uses 24 operational satellites to provide a Weather has also been a significant, and receiver with at least six satellites in view at all sometimes decisive, factor in military times. A minimum of four satellites in view are operations throughout history. It is part of needed to allow the receiver to compute its the intelligence information required by current latitude, longitude, altitude and time. commanders to plan and conduct combat Commodore WO Kayoda With this information the user's receiver can operations. Therefore, Commanders Director, Navigation Positioni ng and Timing also calculate other parameters such as its must consider favorable and unfavorable Defense Space Administration velocity and acceleration. weather conditions to determine the best Nigeria course of action to accomplish a mission. Security situation in Nigeria Furthermore, as weapon systems have Another example is the US army Forward The current and prevailing threats in Nigeria become more complex and costly, Observer Uniform that used the DAGR to include: Terrorism, armed banditry, armed a c c u r a t e w e a t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n direct artillery fire to targets in Afghanistan in robbery, cattle rustling, herdsmen/farmers (climatological data, observations, and 2010. Currently, the mapping of major cities in crisis, communal and ethno-religious crisis, forecasts) has become increasingly Nigeria is being conducted by the Office of the ethnic militia and militancy. Other current important for their effective and efficient Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGOF) threats are kidnapping, illegal oil bunkering employment. This high accuracy can be and the AFN in utilizing satellite navigation and pipeline vandalism, sea piracy and achieved through the integration of applications to route major cities that will help robbery, proliferation of small and light satellite imagery with other GPS codified threats and localized identification weapons, climate change as well as other application for effective planning. is geo-referencing by mapping. related internal threats. Some of these threats necessary to supplement GNSS/GPS are widespread across the country while some data with information from the global The ability to determine the position of fixed are dominant in particular geo-political zones. geodetic infrastructure, including the and mobile assets such as buildings, pipelines Some of these security challenges are International GNSS Service network and and structures, aircrafts, vehicles, vessels will discussed in subsequent sub-paragraphs the International Terrestrial Reference lead to more effective utilization of such assets. In addition, Terrorism became very visible with Frame (ITRF). The existing geodetic Prime examples of the management of mobile the emergence of Boko Haram (BH) in 2003. infrastructure makes it possible to assets include fleet management which covers BH started in Borno State as a religious accurately position satellites for a wide the management and control of military campaign to Islamize northern Nigeria under range of applications. vehicles (trucks, tanks, APCs. Aircrafts, Ships, the leadership of Mohammed Yusuf. The group GPS is an important article of the emergency vehicles (patrol, ambulance, became more violent with the demise of their surveyor's 'toolkit', providing a capability firefighting, and VIP movement. Another leader and the ascension of Mallam Abubakar for establishing high accuracy control for application is the tracking of high caliber Shekau as their leader in 2009. Presently BH mobile mapping (from vehicles, airborne weaponry and equipment. The tracking, and has been weakened and its command and and marine platforms). With navigation even guidance, of such vehicles/equipment is control structure degraded. Between 2009 and satellites, troops would not have to go already a reality in many countries taking date, over 5000 persons including security through the pains of working with cognizance of the improvements in GNSS personnel have died while several others are outdated maps. These maps could also receiver and wireless communications wounded and dislocated from their natural be used for operational briefings in place technology on one hand, and road map abode. of sand models and give the personnel going on an offensive a better picture of databases on the other. Aircraft dropping Military applications of Satellite the terrain and the target. In the beginning supplies by parachute have to fly at Navigation of 2004, Rockwell Collins made a small dangerously low altitudes to avoid materials For many centuries, human have strived to handheld military GPS receiver. The missing their intended target and falling into provide warning of nature's most violent and Defence Advanced GPS Receiver enemy hands. The USA's Joint Precision Air hazardous events. Some of these events (DAGR), pronounced “daggar” integrates Drop System (JPADS) parachute and include; earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and a map graphic with two channels of GPS guidance Unit dropped cargo from higher tsunamis caused by deformation of the Earth's signals coded specifically for the military altitude to a programmed landing zone with crust. Their early detection can aid in early and map graphics. Previous versions improved accuracy. The USAF made its first warning and response. Even a few seconds of only showed words and numbers. operational/combat use of the system in Afghanistan in 2006. NIGERIA

Multichoice delivers best in television entertainment in Nigeria

MultiChoice is the first pay-TV digital satellite broadcasters outside of the United States with the size and complexity of its satellite network rivalling the best in the world. Today it is the leading multichannel and multiplatform digital television operator across the African continent.

MultiChoice is Nigeria's pioneer pay TV How we create social value emerging and passionate film talent through service provider having launched the first Directly employing over a thousand experiential filmmaking. Through this social digital satellite broadcasting service in individuals, we operate from offices and investment programme, MultiChoice will 1993. It is joint venture between branches across Nigeria. Our supply value develop emerging TV and film talent whilst MultiChoice Africa and Nigerian chain includes more than 12000 dealers, simultaneously promoting the growth of local businessman and Senior Advocate of retailers, installers, sales agents and content in key markets. Nigeria (SAN), Adewunmi Ogunsanya. sabimen. 2019 Socio-Economic Impact From small beginnings of about 30 Report from AccentureTMestimates that MultiChoice Resource Centre employees, we have grown to over 1000 from 2016 – 2019alone, Since 2004, MultiChoice Nigeria has funded, employees while indirectly supporting over MultiChoice Nigeria contributed operated and installed more than 493 20,000 more jobs. We offer premium N363billiondirectly to Nigeria's GDP, MultiChoice Resource Centres (MRCs) in 33 entertainment comprising general impacted the livelihood of Nigerians to the states in the country. These facilities deliver entertainment, news, information, sports tune of N2.8billionand created economic world class video educational material via and education channels through our DStv value of N57.1 billionthrough new satellite, to tens of thousands of learners and and GOtv platforms. b u s i n e s s e s , t h e r e f o r e c r e a t i n g educators in secure, state-of-the-art facilities incremental spend in the economy. In across all geo-political zones in Nigeria and Today, more than 70% of Nigerians enjoy addition, the business paid N39.6 billionin are presented and sustained in close co- content in their mother tongues through our taxes and fees and spent N49.5 billionon operation with federal, state and local Africa Magic Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa content and local production facilities with authorities. channels while interacting with MultiChoice 177,459hours of content commissioned. Through the MRC, rural and disadvantaged Nigeria through multiple touch points communities are seeing other lands, cultures through our Value Chain comprising and even parts of their own countries for the Dealers, Retailers, Installers and Sabimen. Investing in local sports We actively develop sports in Nigeria. first time. Science, nature, history, geography In servicing our customers and serving and outer space are brought to life in their needs for great content, our business These include GOtv Boxing Night which revived boxing in Nigeria with better classrooms and exposing learners to new has directly and indirectly contributed experiences that otherwise, may be N636.4 billion to the Nigerian economy. organization and funding leading to better remuneration for boxers and greater impossible. engagement of people involved in boxing- Growing Nigeria's creative related economic activities. GOtv Next DStv Eutelsat Star Awards industries Gen search established to build a crop of In 2010, MultiChoice Africa and Eutelsat Through M-Net and Africa Magic, we young boxers by discovering and combined expertise to initiate an annual pan- commission series, reality shows and light harnessing their raw talent and giving them African student competition called the DStv entertainment programmes and films in the a chance to go professional through the Eutelsat Star Awards aimed at inculcating Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and English platform. In addition, sponsorship and innovative thinking amongst secondary languages creating 177,459hours of broadcasting of the Nigerian Professional school students between the ages of 14 – 19 original local content, pumping economic Football League and DStv Basketball years, creating awareness of how science value of N32.6 billiondirectly into the which promoted players, administrators, and technology can be applied to everyday creative industry and providing 9,955 jobs clubs, leagues and perhaps most life and showing the many ways that satellites in adjacent industries. importantly, youth development. impact development on the African continent. From one channel in 2003, Africa Magic has expanded to eight, fuelling an The DStv Eutelsat Star Awards represent a Multichoice Talent Factory fantastic opportunity for inspired young insatiable demand for more top-quality In a rapidly evolving entertainment programming premium content such as Nigerians to showcase their talents and their industry, we recognize that there is a brilliant ideas on a continental stage. In 2017, The Voice Nigeria,Big Brother Naija and critical role to play in developing future film the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards 18-year-old Emmanuel Ochenjele from talent who will be responsible for positively Christian Discipleship Mission International (AMVCA), all of which have captivated shaping Africa's creative industries. millions of viewers across the continent. Academy in Gboko, Benue State, won the Therefore, in May 2018, we launched a poster category, earning him a trip to France One of the most popular Africa Magic Creating Shared Value (CSV) programme series, Tinsel, has clocked more than to see how satellites are built plus DStv called the MultiChoice Talent Factory electronic products for his school. 2000episodes while employing 1200 staff (MTF), to develop and train young, and crew. IN THE NEWS

Liquid Telecom COVID-19: Digital Earth Africa releases provides VSAT analysis-ready satellite data connectivity to new ISP in Malawi African nations can now Lewis. “We are pleased to Mlisa, said that not only is access high-resolution announce the availability this an important milestone satellite images in the Digital of this new data within the for the program but it Leading pan-African telecoms group Liquid Earth Africa (DE Africa) DE Africa platform. It is the comes at an important Telecom has announced that it is providing its platform that will enable first analysis-ready data at time. m u l t i - a w a r d - w i n n i n g m a n a g e d V S AT countries to monitor changes the continental scale for “We are already seeing connectivity services to mbora, a pioneering new that relate to people and the Africa, meaning it is made data play a key role in social enterprise in Malawi. environment due to the available shortly after building systems and

impacts of COVID-19 and images are captured and solutions for the response mbora provides people living and working in rural other critical challenges. provided in a familiar and recovery of COVID-19 areas with free connectivity at a community hub. DE Africa has made available image file format.” in Africa, and now access It has also built a super app to help increase vast amounts of data “Optimising the availability t o D E A f r i c a ' s f i r s t digital inclusion by providing access to useful and captured by Europe's a n d a c c e s s i b i l i ty o f operational satellite data relevant information and services online Sentinel-2 satellites in a satellite data places Africa means we can use it to including finance and healthcare. Content and f o r m a t t h a t m a k e s i t in a better position to drive support decision making service organisations are able to use the app as a accessible and suitable for decisions across the much more easier than marketplace to reach important food-producing general use. Satellite images continent. It addresses the before.” farming and fishing communities in rural Sub- captured by Sentinel-2 are key problem of making “DE Africa will provide Saharan Africa. particularly important for vast amounts of data being these satellite images not Liquid Telecom is providing mbora with its own Africa because they offer ten- captured by satellites only directly to users but VSAT network. Each mbora hub is serviced with metre resolution and are a v a i l a b l e , f i n d a b l e , will also integrate with broadband speeds of up to 36mbps, which in turn captured every five days, so accessible and suitable, other information platforms enables mbora and its content partners to land and water can be providing an opportunity and solutions already digitally deliver their services to mbora users over analysed in unprecedented for a larger range of non- supporting the COVID-19 a free internet connection. Liquid Telecom is detail. specialist people to use the response in Africa.” using the latest High-Throughput-Satellite of its Satellite imagery can be valuable information,” Dr “Whether that is finding the long-term partner Intelsat and providing an used to address many Lewis said. Managing right water sources for uncapped data service to mbora. challenges faced by the Director Earth Observation handwashing to stop the The first community hub is now live in a lake African continent as it at the South African spread of the virus or shore village near Mangochi, Malawi, a four-hour enables countries to actively National Space Agency addressing feared food drive from the country's capital, Lilongwe. mbora monitor and manage natural and Co-chair of the DE security shortages through is aiming to build 150 hubs encircling Lake resources and respond to Africa Technical Advisory the ability to map food Malawi and to expand across the region. mbora crises, said DE Africa Committee, Ms Andiswa crops.” chose Liquid Telecom after evaluating all of its Managing Director, Dr Adam connectivity options from both domestic and pan- African operators. Adrian Raisbeck, Founder and CEO of mbora, said “Malawi is one of the world's least developed Advantech supports operators migrating and poorest countries and yet it is blessed with great soils and the third largest body of water on from low C-band due to roll out of 5G the African continent. Rural communities in Malawi should be living wealthy and resilient A d v a n t e c h W i r e l e s s separation from interfering u n p r e d i c t a b l e a n d livelihoods. Technologies Inc. is 5G traffic. The units are irregular is an expensive Fast and cost-effective connectivity is vital to supplying its Insat C-band designed to support higher challenge for network mbora's ability to provide Malawi with an 1000W Redundant, GaN- modulation and error operators. alternative effective approach to rural based Solid State System correcting codes, which “As an expert in satellite development. We need to work with an operator (SSPB) Solution to a Major will allow more users in backhaul solutions, at that we trust and Liquid Telecom's reputation is less spectrum. second to none. Its VSAT team are an N e t w o r k p r o v i d e r i n A d v a n t e c h w e a r e extraordinary group of individuals who bought LATAM. constantly aware of the into our vision of launching rural economies with The System includes an That in exchange will c h a l l e n g e s n e t w o r k mbora Hubs acting as connected marketplaces on-line Taurus SSPA with a g e n e r a t e i n c r e a s e d operators face and know and wealth creation platforms. dedicated backup amplifier revenue for satellite how critical it is to connect Liquid Telecom Satellite's CEO Scott Mumford t o e n s u r e m a x i m u m operators, in parallel with remote communities,” immediately recognised the importance of our availability. Packaged for OPEX reduction for users. said Cristi Damian, VP work and he and his team have bent over outdoor applications, The tremendous backhaul Business Development. backwards to customise their offering to exactly Taurus optimizes useable capacity that 5G will “In remote areas where meet our needs. The uncapped service is output power by eliminating require, will need as high traditional terrestrial fantastic and will enable us to quickly expand our IFL insertion loss, making it as possible power and backhaul networks can be service across the region”. the ideal solution for both linearity, and that is what cost-prohibitive, satellite With a population of 19 million as at 2020, and a m o b i l e a n d f i x e d these units provide. backhaul is the best gross national income per capita per year of just Communication terminals. option. of $360 (World Bank, 2018), land-locked Malawi In today's world, it is Our high power solid state currently has two mobile network operators and Specifically designed for crucial to be permanently power amplifier solutions one fixed-line operator. However, internet high power and high connected and able to help network operators penetration is low at 14.2% with rural areas communicate via voice outside the main towns and cities either not linearity in 6.725-7.025 achieve their reach by and data on every device. covered, unreliably covered, or unaffordably GHz, these 1,000W units directing resources using covered by any kind of network. are perfect for migrating to Providing such network cellular backhaul over the upper end of the C- coverage in areas where satellites.” band spectrum for better u s a g e c a n b e AVIATION

Kenya's new milestone in space science

Though wealthier and more stable than most African countries, Kenya has recently joined the space race to address growing challenges of resource management, illiteracy, and economic opportunity for her rural population, according to this report.

Kenya space agency, the successor to the among Kenyans on the relevance and National Space Secretariat, was established benefits of space science and technology. by President Uhuru Kenyatta through a Its board is headed by Kenya Defence March 2017 gazette notice. Though, space Forces' Major General (Rtd) James Aruasa. activities in the country began in the 1960s, He was appointed as the chairperson by with the establishment of a Satellite President Uhuru Kenyatta on July 20 last Launching and Tracking Base in Malindi in year. collaboration with Italy, and so far over 20 sounding rockets and nine satellites having Appointment of been launched from the facility over the years, Kenya is perhaps the fourth country in John Njoroge Kimani Africa to have a space agency after Algeria, John Njoroge Kimani, a Kenyan Lead Nigeria and South Africa. Scientist and National Coordinator of the In Kenya, the space agency is mandated to Kenya National Space Secretariat, the coordinate and regulate space-related precursor to the Kenya Space Agency has activities in the country. John Njoroge, the been appointed as the new chief executive Kenya Space Agency acting director general, of the space agenct. said, “It is our mandate to implement the His main role has been to guide the Kenya space policy and any related development of a Space Policy and programmes and recommend and advise the Strategy for the Kenyan Space Program. government on the development of relevant His duties have also included the legislation to facilitate the successful coordination of the implementation of the implementation of the Kenya space provisions of the Luigi Broglio– Malindi lectured in Physics at various institutions programme.” Space Centre Agreement between Kenya which include; Kenya Defence Forces and Italy and the negotiations of the renewal Technical College, National Defence He further said their mandate also includes of its term. He is the Country Coordinator for College, Defence Staff College, University of advising the government on the legislative the Global Learning and Observations to Nairobi, Catholic university, Jomo Kenyatta and other measures necessary for the Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) initiative. University of Agriculture and Technology, implementation of the relevant conventions, This is a worldwide National Aeronautics Gretsa University among others. treaties and agreements that Kenya is a party and Space Administration (NASA) to. “We are supposed to recommend national supported students, teachers and scientist's space policies, strategies and programmes, collaborative program on inquiry based Track wild animals at Kenya promote capacity building in space science investigations of the environment and the national parks and technology and its applications and Earth System in study and research about Kenya will be benefitting from proposed establish centres of excellence in space the dynamics of the Earth's environment. SIMBA satellite, designed by the Sapienza science,” he said. University of Rome to track wild animals He is also the Kenyan representative to the around the Kenyan national parks, and has Njoroge said they look forward to entering Technical Committee of the African been scheduled for launch in October- into mutually beneficial bilateral and Resource and environment Management N o v e m b e r 2 0 2 0 f r o m B a i k o n u r multilateral agreements with persons, satellite Constellation (ARMC) initiative. Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. The SIMBA agencies, governments or bodies in This program brings together the four satellite project was selected as the winner furtherance of their mandate. “We are also countries of Nigeria, Algeria, Kenya and of the competition during the Global supposed to identify, prepare and facilitate South Africa in establishing a satellite Conference on Space for Emerging the implementation of inventions and constellation for mapping of Africa's Countries which held in Marrakech, Morocco innovations in space technologies, provide resources more effectively for the citizens. last year. leadership in coordinating and supporting ARMC's membership is open to all African The SIMBA satellite will be launched into research in space science and technology, Countries. Dr. Kimani holds a PhD and an orbit together with Tunisia's first satellite built liaise with the relevant institutions and MSc in Physics from the University of by TELNET on Soyuz-2 rocket. SIMBA, an government agencies to ensure funding and Nairobi. He also holds a Post graduate acronym for System for Improving implementation of space programmes,” he Diploma in Education from Kenyatta Monitoring of the Behavior of Wild Animals said. University and a BSc in Physics from the will track the behaviour of animals of Kenya KSA is also expected to promote awareness University of Nairobi. He previously National Park in their natural habitat. INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Abuja‘s Air Traffic Tower Why airports are prioritizing newer technologies

Despite the ongoing pandemic and the that in order to accommodate the travel demand in recent years has general slowdown in air traffic, global f o r e c a s t g r o w t h - d r a s t i c pushed the Nigerian airports to its limits, aviation authorities are rather implementing improvements and efficiencies for but it is the inability of the system of Air Traffic Control tower upgrade and airports and air traffic management operation to expand accordingly that runway ehnhacement to promote guidance will need to be found. For this the has caused delay. Indeed, with the and safety of air traffic in the proximity of industry needs innovation. system operation so close to its their respective airports. In Nigeria, the Nnamdi Azikiwe maximum capacity it is not usual for a International airport is the main airport relatively small local thunderstorm to Sadeeq Omeiza No matter which growth scenario comes to near Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria. cause wide spread delays far beyond pass, aviation faces an infrastructure crisis. The airport has one runway with a the area affected by the weather. Governments allover the world are working length of 3600 meters. The height of closely with the industry, to be more the current Air Traffic Control tower is So far, the biggest airport is Lagos with ambitious in developing efficient 50 meters and handles approximately 15 million passengers and 117,383 flight infrastructure, fit for purpose, and offering 60.500 air traffic movements per year. movements.Lagos has two parallel value for money. “The world stands to The annual passenger's number for runways with operations dependent on benefit greatly from better connectivity. Abuja's airport for 2012 was 6.2 million each other. Kano is the second biggest However, at this rate, airports and air traffic passengers. At this moment, the airport in Nigeria, with 10085 ATMs and control will not be able to handle demand. government of Nigeria is currently 1502634 passengers. Presently, Abuja enlarging the airport activity by has become an airport with growing hub Governments and infrastructure operators Ayotunde Coker are therefore strategically planing for the constructing a new runway parallel to functions as it was Kano airport and future. Decisions made now will have an the existing runway, located left on the ranked second after Lagos. Recent impact on the value created by aviation for airport domain. Between the two report revealed that Abuja had a traffic their regions,” said de Juniac. runways, a new terminal building volume of 1091760 passengers and World wide, 51% of the population lives arises. Experts have argued that the 13381 ATMs. A great deals of the within 100 km of an International Airport – current Air Traffic Control tower is too passengers are using the airport for and 74% live within 100 km of any kind of low to meet the new visibility business flights, primarily into populated airport. So airspace is quickly becoming requirements and should be replaced. areas. congested and air traffic is slated to double The increase of air traffic for the over the next two decades. In addition to air upcoming years is projected with an The catchment area of Lagos airport is space we have to consider airports increase of 20 %, resulting in 72.600 the Lagos, Ibadan and Abeokuta themselves. Airports are already built up movements. metropolis with people, predominantly around population centres and are already living in urban areas, which it has to operating at high capacity. The reality is However, the steady increase in air share with other airports, in particular INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Ibadan which presently handles domestic handled by Lagos alone, and almost classification of the current capacity of the traffic only. Unlike Lagos ,it has one two-thirds of the total is served by the Air Trafffic Control tower is determined as functional runway though contract for the three airports at Lagos, Abuja and Port major second runway has been awarded so that Harcourt. The estimated future capacity of Narita flight operations are independent. airport is 300.000 air movements per Anotherr Nigerian city, Port Harcourt has In Europe, the Amsterdam Schiphol year; this is an increase of 60% of the two runways crossing each other which airport is the main port of the current capacity. In order to be able to handled 514808 passengers and 8121 Netherlands with 450.000 air traffic handle this new amount an extra runway flight movements. In North West Nigeria, movements per year. According to latest is being constructed with a length of the Sokoto international airport handled report, the total air traffic movement in 3200m. The height of the current tower is roughly half of Port Harcourt traffic and the Netherlands is expected to increase sufficient, because the new runway is rely on a single runway. A great part of to 580.000 per year, whereby 510.000 within the current sight boundaries. these movements may be suppressed are allocated to Schiphol, resulting in a and diverted to other airports if lack of large increase in movements for Tokyo Narita airport will be extended with runway capacity would become a Schiphol within a short period of time. To 1 runway. The current Air Traffic Control problem for scheduled and non- handle this increase, Schiphol needs, tower does not have enough capacity and scheduled commercial operations. next to an own airport expansion, a will be replaced by a new tower with the different approach in order to sustain same height but a larger control cab in All other international airports have single one of the most important an order to meet the future growth. The runways for the traffic with scheduled and economical hubs of Europe. In the first location of the new tower is on the charter flights. They are located in Yola, phase 10.000 non-main port related air landside of the airport domain. Calabar, Ilorin, Maiduguri and Kaduna, movements will be moved from with traffic volumes ranging from 19178 in Schiphol to Lelystad, making it an In China, Nanjing Lukou international Ilorin and 111163 in Yola. Akwa Ibom has airport for mainly holiday related flights. airport is the main airport of the city of been added to the category of L e l y s t a d a i r p o r t i s l o c a t e d Nanjing and serving the Yangtze River international airports only recently when it approximately 40 km from Amsterdam Delta area. The airport has one runway was supplied with a runway long enough near the city of Lelystad. The airport is with a length of 3600 meters. The airport to handle flights with aircraft types currently used by only charter, private handles approximately 135.000 air traffic typically operated in scheduled and and educational aircrafts making it a movements per year and the annual charter traffic, that is, the B 737 and A 320 very small airport, without any passenger's number for Nanjing airport family. In addition to the network of commercial facilities or purposes. The for 2013 was 15 million. Industry players international airports there are 25 current length of the runway is 1250 forecasted an increase to 30 million domestic airports which serve to some meters. passengers in the year 2020 and 70 degree the same task; that is, to provide million in the year 2040. This access to the national and international Also, the Narita International is located necessitated the construction of a whole services in scheduled and charter traffic. approximately 60 km from Tokyo and is new terminal building and 4 parallel Altogether these airports handled the primary international airport of the positioned runways. 1088505 movements, which carried 42 greater Tokyo area. Narita handles the According to reports, Nanjing airport will million passengers, about 69% of the total majority of international passenger be heavily extended with 3 runways and air traffic volume of Nigeria. traffic of Japan and is the major link the old Air Traffic Control tower will be between Asia and America. It is the replaced with by a new tower with a So far, Nigeria has substantial number of second-busiest airport of Japan. The minimum height of 96 meters and a major domestically distributed airports- almost airport has two runways with a length of Air Traffic Control capacity. 30 airports with nearly 40 runways 4000 m and 2200 m. The height of the In Indonesia, the Soekarno - Hatta serving the public air transport system of current Air Traffic Control tower is 86 international airport located near Jakarta a population of over 150 million people- meters and handles approximately is the main airport serving the greater but with the traffic heavily concentrated at 190.000 air traffic movements per year. Jakarta area on the island of Java. The a few airports, which are more or less The annual passenger's number for airport has two runways both with a length working at capacity level. More than one Tokyo Narita International airport for of 3600 meters. The airport handles third of the Nigerian passenger traffic is 2012 was 31.4 million. The design approximately 370.000 air traffic INDUSTRY INSIGHT

day air travel. While the current technology is well established, it is not necessarily interoperable, reducing the efficiency of moving passengers fast and reliable through their airport journey. In Africa and other parts of the world, airports are prioritizing the introduction of newer technologies differently, achieving v a r i o u s r e s u l t s w i t h e a c h implementation.

With various checkpoints and security measures to put in place, efficient passenger processing has proven, many times, difficult to achieve. Therefore, biometrics technologies when combined with t h e s e c u r r e n t s e l f - s e r v i c e Abu Dhabi tower technologies is helping to meet the challenges of sustaining security while efficiently and quickly processing an increasing number of movements per year and the annual worldwide, is expected to rapidly climb in travelers. passenger's number for Jakarta airport for the country rankings, reaching the fourth 2013 was 57.8 million. According to report, position by 2036. Based on a recent report, by using a the Jakarta airport is currently been single token ID linked to biometrics, extended with 1 runway and the new Air Emerging and developing economies passenger processing at airports can Traffic Control, tower that requires a will account for almost 60 per cent of all be expedited. The single token ID minimum height of 115 meters with a major passenger traffic by 2040. Of the works as such. Once a customer capacity and is located on the airside of the countries that handled more than 50 books a flight, they are issued a airport domain. million passengers in 2018, Vietnam, biometric single token ID. Token ID India, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and allows passengers to complete the Indonesia are projected to be the fastest check-in, bag drop, security, The future of international air outbound immigration and boarding traffic growing from 2018 to 2040. In 2040, an estimated 21 per cent of all air cargo will processes using facial recognition The International Air Transport Association be handled in the United States. China technology, instead of having to (IATA) has revealed that present trends in air and the United Arab Emirates, predicted present their passport and boarding transport suggest passenger numbers could to be the second and third largest pass at every checkpoint. The double to 8.2 billion in 2037. Over the next markets, will together handle another biometric token then serves as their two decades, the forecast anticipates a 3.5% fifth of the 200.5 million tonnes of global passport. compound annual growth rate, leading to a air cargo volumes. \ doubling in passenger numbers from today's In order to further the attainment of levels. “Aviation is growing, and that is biometric system at the airports, TSA generating huge benefits for the world. A Biometric solutions was created to oversee security for doubling of air passengers in the next 20 Passenger processing technologies all transportation systems. Soon years could support 100 million jobs globally. have a great impact on a passengers' after it introduction, it became part of experience as they transit through an the Department of Homeland Global passenger traffic was over 8.8 billion airport. Often times, passengers go Security to ensure the security and in 2018 and is expected to double by 2037. through a cumbersome process of safety of the travelling public. To Over the long term, it is projected to grow at planning and scheduling, check-in expedite screening process at the an annualized rate of 3.7 per cent, reaching steps, baggage management, and airport, TSA was deployed for 19.7 billion by 2040. Asia-Pacific's airports security clearance, which, many times, a u t o m a t e d e m p l o y m e n t are predicted to account for half of all reduces the overall level of satisfaction verifications, immunization tracking, worldwide passenger traffic growth from of the air travelers. exclusion and sanction screening, 2018 to 2040. Indeed, China is projected to health and drug testing, license become the largest passenger market in Ultimately, due to the cumbersome visa monitoring, and background checks. 2031 and will dominate passenger rankings processes, long queues as well as According to report, the program in 2040 with just over 3.5 billion passengers overreliance on paper documents requires passengers to pre-screen which equates to an 18 per cent share of the makes traveling unfriendly. Airports themselves at a certified U.S. global passenger traffic market. around the world are designing an location and undergo a background innovative technology to enhance check. TSA identifies and assigns The United States and India will follow, with passengers' journeys. passengers a risk category: high risk, 2.9 and 1.3 billion passengers respectively. However, current technologies such as low risk, or unknown risk. Together, the three countries will handle self-service kiosk check-ins, kiosk bag almost 40 per cent of global passenger tagging, airport mobile apps, self- traffic. Indonesia, currently the 10th largest boarding gates, and baggage tracking, market in terms of total passenger traffic all now play an integral part in modern IN THE NEWS

Covid-19: Konnect Africa offers Internet, video, and voice services now broadband internet available for helicopters connection to MOST announced the helicopter is moving over Data rates of about 2Mbps isolation centers in commercial availability of longer distances and thirdly, uplink and 2Mbps downlink internet, video, and voice cellular can be unreliable or have been achieved on Nigeria service for helicopters which unavailable outside urban regular basis. Now, each s o l v e s a l o n g - t e r m areas and especially in helicopter equipped with Konnect, a subsidiary of Eutelsat challenge for the industry. mountain, desert and sea MOST MKu30H antenna Communications, pursues its ambition to Broadband coverage under situations where helicopters and modem connects connect the entire African continent to very the blades is now available. are often deployed in internet, video, and voice to high speed Internet, and more particularly For helicopter crews, the emergency situations. any standard satellite in this context of the current health crisis. use of internet, video, and ground HUB station around Konnect has recently proposed to offer voice service is vital for Likewise, low data rate the globe. broadband internet connection to isolation sharing information about satellite services are only centers to fight against Covid-19 in what is happening on the able to provide low- MOST CEO Zack Berejik Sokoto, a north-western state in Nigeria, ground and other airborne bandwidths to any kind of where it will enable the real-time said, “We have cracked a vehicles, for example in moving vehicle - and for connection of centers, leading to an long-term problem for the effective coordination of medical services areas of conflict and natural helicopters there is the industry; how to provide and improved the care offer thanks to disasters. added problem that such GEO connectivity under the telemedicine low data rate satellite blades. Now we are able to With this offer, Konnect joins the fight of Previously helicopters used antennas see the sky with provide economical cost, several African governments to combat a mixture of cellular and low reduced data rate because high-speed service that Covid-19 by allowing access to care for data rate satellites to of the helicopter blades enables internet and video in the greatest number of people. Each communicate with people acting as a ceiling and real-time. This will be isolation center will benefit from free on-the-ground and other chopping the satellite important for instance in broadband connectivity. This deployment airborne vehicles, however, signal. is made possible through the partnership e m e r g e n c y m e d i c a l neither technology is well- situations where the use of with Coollink, a foremost ISP in Nigeria. suited for high-altitude After extensive work by the Commenting on the agreement, Jean- internet and video whilst an helicopters and fixed wing R&D teams at MOST, in Claude Tshipama, CEO of Konnect Africa, injured person is on a said: aircrafts. Cellular has three June 20 the company helicopter, it can be a life- drawbacks: signals can only completed comprehensive saver”. “This operation demonstrates our ability to reach about 500m above tests of the new MKu30H meet as quickly as possible the ground level; devices are system. MKu30H provides connectivity needs of institutional and often required to roam over exceptional data speeds at commercial structures, even in complex different networks whilst the very economical expense. times like these. We want Sokoto State to benefit from our expertise and the quality of our broadband services by providing FREE connectivity to all isolation centers." Rwanda aiming for full school connectivity Shahin Nouri, CEO of Coollink, added: “Helping the Sokoto State Government to by 2024 provide free satellite internet services to isolation centers is very important to us. It The government of Rwanda government as a channel to agriculture and government. shows our engagement to deliver high- plans to invest RWF4.8 billion drive other key sectors which In Rwanda, the difference in speed Internet anywhere in Nigeria and to (US$5 million) to connect are being implemented. The access to and use of help communities in crisis. Eutelsat every secondary school in the contribution of ICT to the i n f o r m a t i o n a n d Konnect has been a very important country to the internet by the overall country development communication technologies partner for us, and with such initiatives, is end of 2024. A report from is as well remarkable factor (ICTs) - the digital divide- has showing its commitment to the Nigerian AgenceEcofin says that which must be taken into long been a significant market. around 52% of schools consideration. concern of governments. Sokoto State Government Commissioner currently have internet As countries go online, they Over time, its nature has for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Inname connections, with authorities realize efficiencies in the changed. The gap in access said: “Konnect has shown great concern aiming to raise this figure to delivery of public services and to basic telephone services, towards the good people of Sokoto state 62% by the end of this year. the operations of large once very substantial, is now by providing internet connectivity to three Out of 1,459 public secondary businesses as well as Small significantly diminished and Covid-19 Isolation centers in the state. and Medium Enterprises expected to shrink in the next This gesture will go a long way in schools, 724 are already (SMEs) alike. In Rwanda, the few years to come. In its place facilitating the management of Covid-19 connected to the internet, 678 benefits of internet-driven has come a gap in access to patients in the state. of which are connected via productivity gains are not the internet and particularly, in Konnect, in partnership with Coollink, has 4G. l i m i t e d t o w e b - b a s e d been operating in Nigeria since 2017, with According to the Ministry of a c c e s s t o b r o a d b a n d companies: among SMEs, the ambition of offering broadband youth and ICT, the national services. The digital divide in 75% of the economic impact of connectivity to all segments of the ICT strategy was redesigned broadband capacity and the internet has risen to population, in particular those located in into a special framework quality leads in turn to a divide unserved or underserved areas. called “Smart Rwanda”. companies that are not pure between rural and urban Konnect offers an affordable and flexible The ICT industry in Rwanda is internet players. The internet areas in the extent to which solution, available everywhere. Konnect a growing field since last 10 has generated economic individuals, businesses, will see its in-orbit resources increase years. Policies which have g r o w t h a n d s o c i a l economies and societies are tenfold with the entry into service of the been put in place give it a transformation in some key able to take advantage of new EUTELSAT KONNECT satellite major target by the Rwandan sectors: financial services, I C T i n n o v a t i o n s a n d education, health, retail, applications. INDUSTRY REPORT

The future of wireless communications in Africa

Africa remains the least wired continent in the world in terms of robust telecommunications infrastructure and systems to cater for its more than one billion people. Dr. Lasisi Salam Lawal examines and identifies the growing need for wireless communications in Africa which is the cornerstone for rapid implementation of ICT infrastructure to complement the sparsely distributed terrestrial networks in the hinterlands.

Historically, there has been a disconnection in robust passive infrastructure buildout in and most African nations. Initiatives at both the access to basic infrastructure between around Africa to address this large un-met regional and national levels have been developed and developing nations as well as demand for information and communication taken with appropriate policies and those who live in urban and rural areas. services. frameworks relating to ICT network Internet. The imbalance as it concerns access infrastructures and ICT related projects to ICT infrastructure is more evident and The growing needs and reasons including a campaign of pilot projects to pronounced in Africa because of the showcase its benefits to the people. Mobile increasing role of ICT applications in the for wireless communications in subscription through wireless networks has developed nations and international socio- Africa in recent times increased the accessibility economic activity. When the international The African continent is akin to a big and penetration of ICT services and community met at the Millennium Summit, community, we love to keep in touch with one applications. Recent findings by the 2010 they adopted the Millennium Declaration, another. It is not uncommon to see traditional International Telecommunication Union which recognizes the wide consensus that weddings take place in villages, on such (ITU) report show that mobile broadband information and communication technologies occasions city dwellers will travel to their roots subscriptions and penetration between (ICT) are central to the creation of the to rejoice and felicitate with their loved ones 2000 and 2009 was increasing more rapidly emerging global knowledge-based economy back home, at such times we always need to than fixed broadband subscriptions, this is a and can play an important role in accelerating keep in touch with those that have migrated to particular trend in the developing nations of g r o w t h , i n p r o m o t i n g s u s t a i n a b l e the cities. Wireless systems such as variants Africa. development and eradicating poverty in of CDMA, GSM, developing countries as well as countries with Regional and continental economies in transition and in facilitating their WIMAX and WIFI has enabled sustenance of effective integration into the global economy. such enlarged communal life and culture, satellite communication even to areas with little or no terrestrial infrastructure African leaders have recognized the inherent network using Communication Satellites as In the quest for regionalMs. Asthma and continental Ibrahim infrastructural challenges and justifiably they backhaul and backbone in the remotest part of passive wireless infrastructure, African have chosen ICT as one of the priority the African village. African Leaders through leaders have relentlessly pursued programmes of the New Partnership for institutional frameworks have recognized the ambitions of installing enduring ICT Africa's Development.Because of their role ICT infrastructure and its multiplier effect infrastructure to address the national and crosscutting nature, ICTs are seen as crucial has on other development sectors. They also regional needs of Africa. for the speedy implementation of all understand the damage that shortfalls in ICT development projects and programmes that infrastructure has on development, are meant to have a visible positive effect on environment, technologies, financial and Nigerian Communication the lives of ordinary Africans. NEPAD, which is human resources. a pledge by African leaders to halt the Satellite Ltd marginalization of Africa in the globalization Areas with good ICT facilities and applications The Federal Government of Nigeria took processes, has been enthusiastically has empowered individuals, businesses the bull by the horns by approving the received and endorsed internationally as especially SMEs, local and community groups commencement of the design and Africa's principal agenda for development, and given women increasing participation in manufacture of the first Nigerian within the institutional framework of the economic and human development activities Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT-1) African Union (AU). Existing infrastructure in including job creation. Various e-business as a national priority project. This was the African hinterlands are grossly applications and projects of government, eventually launched on the 13th of May, inadequate, thus the need to develop public sector, banks and corporate bodies 2007. national, sub-regional and regional carrier of have stretched capacity, capability and Unfortunately the communication satellite carriers and digital links with cross-border performance of existing ICT infrastructures suffered an onboard power subsystem inter-connectivity. with setbacks in efficiency, user experience challenge and it had to be deorbited on the and speed of transactions and operations. 10th of November, 2008. All broadcast, Though, the continent has adequate capacity telecommunication services being offered on submarine fibre optic cable along the As a means of closing up on the infrastructural by the satellite including strategic shores of the African coast, it lacks adequate gap, communications via satellite and navigational systems were disrupted. infrastructure within African countries terrestrial wireless systems has had N I G C O M S AT- 1 R ; t h e i n s u r a n c e including cross-border connectivity. The significant success in facilitating information replacement of the NIGCOMSAT-1 demand projections suggest the need for a technology policies and infrastructures for satellite, is ongoing and due for launch by INDUSTRY REPORT

December as the high-powered, quad band between Intelsat and a South African (Communication Satellites, 3G-GSM, (Ku, C, Ka and L Band) geostationary Investor group to help expand Africa's CDMA) to complement the present sparsely satellite with a life span of 15 years was Communications Infrastructure carries distributed terrestrial links and radio link designed to provide strong foot prints 28 C-band and 24 Ku band channels to extension across African cities, hamlets and across the sub-sahara region of Africa, Part meet the growing satellite – based villages. These will rapidly accelerate of Europe and Asia to meet the applications in Africa. However, the West economic growth and enhance the telecommunication and broadcast needs of Antenna Reflector could not be deployed affordability of telecommunication services. Africa including Navigational requirements. rendering the C-band transponder Present estimates and IDI assessments of Plans are underway to build more satellites capacity of the New dawn Satellite African nations show a requirement for to guarantee business continuity, backup unusable. deployment of several more access points, and full African coverage. hot spots, community tele-centres etc to Angola Communication achieve the required goal of universal Regional African Satellite access. These requirements are formidable Satellite Project tasks but at the same time offer a great future Communications Organization The first Angolan satellite project and business opportunity for use of wireless RASCOMee (Angosat) will planned to help the country communication systems (Communication and other African regions to overcome Satellite, 3G, CDMA, WIFI, LTS, RASCOM is Africa's response to an difficulties of telecommunication through WIMAX etc) for prompt realization of the bulk increasing awareness of the roles of VSAT communication technologies. of the African ICT infrastructure objectives. telecommunications as the engine room for A n g o s a t 1 i s A n g o l a ' s f i r s t Wireless Systems such as Satellite economic development and the enhanced communications satellite, the product of communications and terrestrial radio productivity and effectiveness of all other an inter-governmental agreement signed technologies hold great promise for Africa in sectors of the economy; including improved between the Angolan and Russian ensuring that its nations are not isolated from quality of life and integration of the African governments in 2009. Built by RSC the global economy and world-wide continent. After several consultations and Energia, a major Russian aerospace communications network growth. comprehensive feasibility studies African contractor, Angosat 1 is designed for a Widespread availability of ICT infrastructure leaders decided to implement a continental 15-year mission providing television is the corner stone for guaranteeing telecommunications satellite tailored to broadcast, Internet, radio and other universal access. Continuous proliferation of well-defined specifications as the best telecommunications services to Angola, wireless and radio technologies urgently technological choice to satisfy Africa's the rest of Africa and parts of Europe. r e q u i r e s p e r i o d i c r e v i e w o f t h e telecommunications needs. This approach The ongoing satellite project will support communications act, policies and that of optimally combines the efforts to provide the expansion of broadband Internet spectrum management in tandem with new continent with a telecommunications services, international access, television technologies, innovations in spectrum infrastructure capable of ensuring the and radio network services. The project is management techniques, consumer required sustainable development of presently being executed by a Russian demands for new services, regional and telecommunications on the continent. consortium led by Rosoboron export international developments. There is also a RASCOM (Regional African Satellite The satellite carries 16 C-band and six need for a strong central institutional Communications Organization) is the inter- Ku-band transponders, and controllers framework and governmental agency created to will position it along the equator at 13 coordination centre to handle regional commercially run the satellite business. Its degrees east longitude to start its regulatory and interference issues, s e c o n d P a n A f r i c a n S a t e l l i t e mission. Airbus Defense and Space manpower training requirements for (RASCOMSTAR-QAF1R) was launched on reportedly supplied the communications effective national spectrum management 4th August 2010 after partial failure of the payload for the Angosat 1 satellite. and canvassing support for additional first satellite (RASCOMSTAR-QAF1). Russian engineers also helped construct satellite position filings with the ITU and Positioned at 2.85 degrees east, RQ1R is a and activate a satellite control center spectrum availability for global satellite dual band satellite (Ku and C Band) near the Angolan capital of Luanda on the operations within the African continent.. designed with a 15 years life span and southwest coast of Africa, where officials predominantly servicing Africa, part of will oversee Angosat 1 operations. Europe and the Middle East. Other Continental Satellite Egyptian Owned Service Providers Communication Satellite T h e y a r e t h e f o r e m o s t telecommunication service providers and Series the continued large un-met demand for Egyptian owned Communication Satellite information and communication services series (Nilesat 101, Nilesat 102, Nilesate in Africa has resulted in an international 104 and Nilesat 201) with coverage scramble by foreign satellite operators to predominantly over Northern African and service Africa. The boom in African ICT Arab soil. Nilesat 201 is Nilesat's second requirements provides excellent generation satellite meant to replace Nilesat business opportunities and investment 101 in 2013. It was launched on 4th August, for the satellite industries and 2010 and carries 24 Ku-band and 4 Ka band international partners, such as transponders covering MENA region, Gulf INTELSAT, SES, Arabsat, , Eutelsat region including Sudan and East of Africa . Conclusion First African Private Sector Africa will be one of the most important Communication Telecom (Voice & Data) markets in the South Africa recently pioneered the first world in the near future. The success of African private sector communication our information technology policy and satellite for Africa by Africa. Intelsat's New infrastructure will depend largely on Dawn Satellite which was a joint venture wireless communication systems IN THE NEWS

Airtel Africa extends SystemOne, Telecom26 partner for health network with testing across Africa WorldRemit, to offer SystemOne is using SIMs diagnostic data software is primary network has poor or instant money from Telecom 26 to enable reliable connectivity; swift no service. r e a l - t i m e t e s t r e s u l t diagnosis and treatment can Te l e c o m 2 6 h a s b e e n transfers across c o m m u n i c a t i o n , t i m e l y be the difference between life providing its global SIM cards containment and treatment a n d d e a t h w i t h m a n y to SystemOne's operations Africa actions for infectious disease i n f e c t i o u s d i s e a s e s . across both Africa and Asia for p r o g r a m s i n G h a n a , Unreliable bandwidth and the past two years. The Airtel Africa, a leading provider of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. patchy connectivity are contract has been extended to telecommunications and mobile money The testing programs are problems encountered by provide connectivity to services in 14 countries across sub- b e i n g i m p l e m e n t e d i n ehealthprogrammes across SystemOne's new projects in Saharan Africa, is scaling up its operations c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h e a c h the world. Ghana, Mozambique and with WorldRemit, the global digital money country's Ministry of Health The traditional route is to buy Zimbabwe. In addition, SystemOne is transfer service that operates in over 50 and build upon SystemOne's local SIMs to provide device trialling Telecom26's multi- send countries to over 150 receive existing work across Africa connectivity. Unfortunately, tackling numerous diseases SIM routers in Mozambique countries. Building on the successful this limits users to one mobile including TB, HIV, Ebola and and Zimbabwe. These enable connection to Airtel Money services in network operator (MNO) - and now COVID-19. adds juggling multiple SIMs SystemOne's diagnostics DRC, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi SystemOne's Aspect software across devices to find the devices to access connectivity and Niger, customers can now also send to enables connected diagnostic strongest local network to a and automatically switch Airtel Money in Rwanda via WorldRemit. data in real-time, which helps long list of headaches. between multiple cellular countries respond more Telecom26's Multi-IMSI networks - and any Wi-Fi or WorldRemit will enable customers from effectively to outbreaks of global SIM cards were LANs - so that they always use across the globe to receive money into i n f e c t i o u s d i s e a s e b y developed with the specific t h e b e s t p e r f o r m i n g Airtel Money wallets. Users can visit identifying positive cases goal of improving connectivity connected network. WorldRemit.com or download the free faster, reducing loss-to-follow- in remote areas. They enable Brad Cunningham, COO at up, and allowing a big-picture devices to automatically SystemOne, said “We need a mobile App; choose Mobile Money and reliable connectivity supplier Airtel as the operator, then follow the view of disease spread across access and switch between a region. Aspect is compatible so that we can concentrate all prompts. The diaspora living in more than multiple networks both with multiple diagnostic domestically and across our efforts on enabling timely 50 countries around the world can quickly d e v i c e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e borders, removing the need to disease identification and and easily send money transfers at any GeneXpert and the Abbott worry about the coverage of a t r e a t m e n t . Te l e c o m 2 6 time via WorldRemit to Airtel Money m2000, both of which are single MNO, or the presence provides the best connectivity customers back home. widely used for multiple of roaming alliances. Multiple- service enabling our software diseases, including COVID-19 IMSI profiles are pre-loaded to operate on multiple devices Andrew Stewart, Managing Director for testing. on every SIM allowing for and networks with a single Middle East & Africa, WorldRemit, said: Key to the success of simple reconfiguration if the SIM under a single contract.” “The connection to more Mobile Money S y s t e m O n e ' s r e a l - t i m e accounts through Airtel Africa allows us to expand our payout network and options IEC Telecom enables VSAT-like connectivity available to customers across the continent. It is really exciting and important for small vessels to us that we continue to increase financial inclusion for our customers in Africa whilst As the pandemic brought VSAT, smaller vessels v e s s e l s s u c h a s delivering a fast, affordable and secure the world to a standstill, it such as those used in the videoconferencing and service.” quickly became apparent oil and gas sector and remote maintenance. that digitalised and VSAT- fishing industry are hardly In addition, Orion Edge RaghunathMandava, CEO, Airtel Africa, enabled vessels had a reachable. provides crew with a said: “We are committed to enhancing distinct advantage in IEC Telecom, a recognised d e d i c a t e d n e t w o r k financial inclusion in the countries we e n s u r i n g b u s i n e s s international provider of supporting web browsing, operate through building a huge continuity and supporting satcom products and social media, VoIP calls and infrastructure of cashing in and cashing out crew welfare. The maritime services, challenges those email software — all locations in the markets and increasing our sector has been impacted limitations with its state-of- accessible via individual distribution. This means that our by travel restrictions, port t h e - a r t O r i o n E d g e crew vouchers — while the customers can now receive fast digital closures, and mandatory solution. Powered by digital dashboard gives the payments via WorldRemit from around the quarantine periods. With Thuraya's Orion IP MSS captain and vessel operator world directly to their mobile phones, as crew changeovers at a terminal and equipped with the opportunity to keep tabs well as access their funds at our exclusive standstill and contracts IEC Telecom's OneGate on usage. kiosks and branches at their convenience.” extended for months, the C o m p a c t n e t w o r k It offers budget benefits too. demand for products that management system, Orion Edge is equipped with Airtel Money enables mobile money users offer secure data over Orion Edge offers high an advanced filtration toolkit to send local and international money robust communication bandwidth for corporate w h i c h c a n d e c r e a s e transfers, make utility payments, pay systems has increased and crew welfare needs. u n e s s e n t i a l d a t a merchants, save money in their mobile tremendously. With Orion Edge, IEC consumption, reducing wallets, purchase airtime and access a While large vessels are Telecom can provide small satcom costs by 30 per cent. range of mobile financial products. equipped with multiple boats with the connectivity channels of communication, they need to compete in including circuit-switch today's world, including t e r m i n a l s a n d Vo I P f e a t u r e s p r e v i o u s l y applications powered by reserved only for large

7 IN THE NEWS

Air Tanzania selects Orange partners Eutelsat to provide Panasonic Avionics broadband via satellite throughout France for its A220 IFE and Orange has purchased from demonstrated more than the new satellite. Launched in connectivity Europe’s leading operator, e v e r t h e n e e d f o r January 2020, EUTELSAT Eutelsat Communications, all connectivity throughout KONNECT has total capacity available capacity on the France. With this agreement of 75 Gbps and is able to Air Tanzania has selected Panasonic Avionics' E U T E L S AT K O N N E C T with Eutelsat, Orange is assure full or partial coverage inflight entertainment (IFE) and connectivity satellite to cover the entire proud to continue to fight of up to 15 countries in Europe systems to enhance the passenger French territory. It will enable against the digital divide by and 40 in Africa, offering experience onboard its Airbus A220 aircraft. Orange's consumer customer offering very high-speed speeds of up to 100 Mbps to The airline has equipped two of its A220s with base, even those living in the fixed broadband throughout b o t h c o m p a n i e s a n d Panasonic's eX1 IFE solution which is most isolated areas, to benefit the country”. individuals in the digital divide specifically designed for narrowbody aircraft. from very high-speed fixed RodolpheBelmer, CEO of at competitive monthly rates. Each seat will feature elegant full HD seatback broadband via satellite from Eutelsat said: “We are monitors, complete with touch displays and January 2021. pleased to reinforce and Eutelsat KONNECT is the handsets, and an intuitive, personalized The agreement comes b r i n g f o r w a r d o u r n e x t - g e n e r a t i o n V H T S interface. Passengers will have access to USB against the backdrop the collaboration with Orange to satellite system designed to and laptop charging power points at every 'Plan France Haut / Très Haut leverage our dedicated support the development of its seat. Débit', adopted by the French Connectivity capacity to European fixed broadband Air Tanzania's A220s will also be fitted with government with the aim of deliver high speed internet and in-flight connectivity Panasonic's inflight Wi-Fi service. r o l l i n g - o u t h i g h - s p e e d to 100% of households in businesses. The satellite, Panasonic's next generation connectivity broadband of at least 30 France. This agreement which is due to enter into enables fast internet to video streaming, all mbps to the entire French secures the ramp-up of our service in 2021, will be built by powered by its new satellite modem featuring territory by 2022. The service EUTELSAT KONNECT Thales Alenia Space which will bandwidth up to twenty times greater than will be distributed by Orange's satellite, and perfectly develop a satellite and ground previously available. Nordnet subsidiary, the i l l u s t r a t e s t h e segment solution that is the The announcement marks the extension of leading French distributor of complementarity between most competitive on the Panasonic's relationship with Air Tanzania satellite Internet services satellite and telecoms market today. With a weight of following the airline's selection of its inflight since 2008, enabling it to offer operators in ensuring 6.3 ton and a Ka-band entertainment and connectivity solutions for unlimited very high-speed ubiquitous coverage of the capacity of 500 Gbps, two of its Boeing 787 aircraft and two Airbus Internet access to individuals territory.” The agreement will KONNECT VHTS will embark A220s in 2018. throughout France. apply until the entry into the most powerful on-board Panasonic's high-performance connectivity is C o m m e n t i n g o n t h e service of the KONNECT digital processor ever put in a powerful way for airlines to build brand agreement, Michel Jumeau, VHTS very high-speed orbit, offering capacity loyalty by delivering new and personalized Executive Vice President, s a t e l l i t e , i n c l u d i n g a allocation flexibility, optimal content to passengers inflight. Orange France, said: "The transition period during s p e c t r u m u s e , a n d “By selecting Panasonic's inflight period of lockdown we have which the installed base will progressive ground network entertainment and connectivity systems, Air j u s t e x p e r i e n c e d h a s be gradually transferred to deployment. Tanzania can deliver personalized, immersive entertainment to every passenger, no matter where in the cabin they are seated,” said Ken ATEME provides MOVISTAR+ video headend Sain, Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation. “These inflight for live DTH/OTT distribution experiences will help Air Tanzania encourage brand loyalty, keeping their valued customers ATEME, the leader in video can run on any COTS or coming back time and time again.” Pesier, Sales Director, delivery solutions for virtualized server leveraging The flag carrier of Tanzania was the first ATEME. “Throughout the broadcast, cable TV, DTH, t h e b r o a d s u p p o r t o f African airline to take delivery of the A220 in execution of the project and IPTV and OTT, announced inputs/output formats and November 2018 and January 2019. It b e y o n d , w e p r o v i d e d t h a t M o v i s t a r + , t h e enabling customers to quickly operates a fleet consisting of the Dash 8- Movistar+ with the highest audiovisual entertainment deploy high quality live Q400, Airbus A220 and Boeing 787-8 efficiency transcoding arm of Spanish media c h a n n e l s . T I TA N a l s o Dreamliner. solution and the best leader, the Telefónica Group, provides Movistar+ with “Operating our new A220 equipped with possible support. We are has chosen to implement outstanding bandwidth Panasonic's IFE and Wi-Fi service brings proud to have contributed to ATEME's TITAN solution, a savings in MPEG-2 and together the right culture, values, and providing Movistar+'s end future-proof converged H.264, resulting in significant expertise to fulfil our goal of satisfying our users with top video quality software headend, for satellite transponder usage, customers—which is part of our vision.” said premium content delivery.” distribution of its live as well as delivering the Eng. LadislausMatindi, CEO & Managing Eugenio Lojo, Head of DTH/OTT services. By highest video quality at the Director of Air Tanzania. T r a n s m i s s i o n a n d choosing ATEME's powerful lowest possible bitrate which “The installation of Panasonic's systems allow C o n d i t i o n a l A c c e s s , transcoding technology, is crucial to get the best user ATCL operations to adjust to the new market Movistar+, commented, Movistar+ is enhancing its experience. realities. With highly-standardized facilities, “ATEME has consistently video quality and user “After so many years of Air Tanzania will expand its geographic reach proven itself to be an experience, reinforcing its working with the Telefónica by merging with other partners—especially innovative and reliable position as the leading Group worldwide, we are very foreign ones. This will also further strengthen partner to Telefónica Group platform in the Spanish proud that Movistar+ has our operations through more innovative and so was the natural market. chosen to deploy our strategies and allow us to remain competitive choice for this project. ATEME's TITAN solution c o n v e r g e d D T H / O T T in today's emerging markets.”The new aircraft ATEME's TITAN solution will provides Movistar+ with a headend in Spain. This will be equipped with state-of-the-art inflight ensure we're able to deliver number of benefits, including certainly reinforces our entertainment systems including WiFi high quality video to our vast simple migration to the position within the Group and connectivity for the first time, reflecting the customer base so they can virtual video headend. This is shows how committed company's ambition to provide customers with enjoy our lineup of original due to TITAN being a pure ATEME is towards its key the best products the industry has to offer.” content and the excellent software-based encoder that customers,” said Cedric service they expect from us.”

8 IN THE NEWS

Thuraya users to Liquid Telecom delivers VSAT connectivity benefit from network to mbora in Malawi modernisation Liquid Telecom is providing The first community hub is of just of $360, land-locked UAE-based mobile satellite services operator i t s m a n a g e d V S A T now live in a lakeshore Malawi currently has two Thuraya has signed an agreement with connectivity services to village near Mangochi, mobile network operators Ericsson for a core network modernisation and mbora, a pioneering social Malawi, a four-hour drive and one fixed-line operator. upgrade to a 4G and 5G ready infrastructure. enterprise in Malawi. mbora from the country's capital, H o w e v e r , i n t e r n e t Ericsson will modernise and optimise provides rural populations Lilongwe. penetration is low at 14.2% Thuraya's network to a virtualised core that with free connectivity at a mbora is aiming to build 150 with rural areas outside the supports existing and new features and community hub. It has also hubs encircling Lake Malawi main towns and cities either services in the future. The deal will ensure that built an app to help increase and to expand across the not covered, unreliably Thuraya can continue to offer its users the best digital inclusion by providing region. covered, or unaffordably possible user experience in the most efficient access to information and Adrian Raisbeck, Founder covered by any kind of way. services online including and CEO of mbora, said: network. Ericsson will also migrate the existing Thuraya finance and healthcare. “Malawi is one of the world's Scott Mumford, CEO of users to the new platform and oversee its C o n t e n t a n d s e r v i c e leastMeasat-3b developed and poorest Liquid Telecom Satellite integration with existing systems. The organisations are able to use countries and yet it is Services, said “mbora is our operator's mobile-data users, especially those the app as a marketplace to blessed with great soils and first partner in Malawi, and in remote locations or areas where traffic is r e a c h f o o d - p r o d u c i n g the third largest body of also authorised to resell our dense, will benefit from higher availability and f a r m i n g a n d f i s h i n g water on the African VSAT services. We share reliability. As a result, Thuraya can provide communities in rural Sub- c o n t i n e n t . R u r a l mbora's beliefs that online consumers more flexible and easy-to-use Saharan Africa. communities in Malawi connectivity is a basic communication services integrated with should be living wealthy and human right and that digital various terminals, which will work seamlessly Liquid Telecom is providing resilient livelihoods.” and financial inclusion are when they move between different access mbora with its VSAT network. “Fast and cost-effective vital to future economic points. Each mbora hub is serviced connectivity is vital to growth. Adnan Al Muhairi, Deputy Chief Technical with broadband speeds of up mbora's ability to provide ”“Liquid Telecom is enabling Officer of Thuraya stated: "By modernising to 36Mbps, which in turn Malawi with an alternative cellular services to remote Thuraya's core network, we are looking to build enables mbora and its effective approach to rural areas where it has always its resilience and enhance overall performance. content partners to deliver d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e been extremely difficult for This would also improve other key aspects like their services to users u n c a p p e d s e r v i c e i s operators to make the guaranteeing more flexible, reliable and digitally over a free internet fantastic and will enable us business model work. Liquid u effective services. Our strategy is to make connection. Liquid Telecom to quickly expand our has built a reliable and cost- optimum use of existing assets and invest in is using the latest High- service across the region”, effective VSAT link and, in infrastructure upgrades so that the network is Throughput-Satellite of its he added. the process, has helped ready to accommodate Thuraya's Next long-term partner Intelsat With a population of 19 change the lives of many Generation System. We have a longstanding and providing an uncapped million and a gross national people in Zimbabwe for the partnership with Ericsson and acknowledge data service to mbora. income per capita per year better.” them as a leader in deploying new technologies to enable high-quality mobile broadband solutions.” Access to reliable IoT connectivity would By selecting Ericsson for the modernisation of its existing mobile-core, Thuraya extends its transform mining sector existing partnership, in which Ericsson has been the sole vendor for its circuit-switched Organisations across the their data producers were. mining sector is undergoing core network. mining industry are struggling Although the mining sector an upswing in IoT adoption, Wojciech Bajda, Head of Ericsson Gulf Council to take full advantage of has increased its adoption of reliable network connectivity Countries says: “Ericsson and Thuraya have Internet of Things (IoT)- IoT in recent years with 65% is still clearly a sticking point enjoyed many years of successful cooperation, enabled applications due to a o f r e s p o n d e n t s f u l l y that Inmarsat can help and we are committed to support in further lack of reliable connectivity, deploying a project, 33% alleviate. To gain value from strengthening our partner's position and with only 15% of mining have still only trialled or are IoT-enabled projects, the right support them to introduce 4G and 5G ready organisations consistently currently trialling a project data must be where it needs core, allowing its users to enjoy the benefits of having access to reliable and 2% have not trialled or to be at the right time, 4G and 5G technology in the future. Thuraya's connectivity for their IoT- deployed at all, proving that otherwise insights and return upgrade to a virtualised core, will certainly enabled projects. connectivity is impeding on investment cannot be provide a higher-quality experience for end These latest results have miners' abilities to harness delivered. users while streamlining their network emerged from the 2020 the benefits of IoT. “The research points to a operations.” edition of Inmarsat's research Commenting on the findings, clear correlation between The upgrade will include deployment of virtual programme into IoT trends, Joe Carr, Director of Mining, connectivity and those Evolved Packet Core Network, using network The Rise of IoT in Mining. The Inmarsat, said: “Inmarsat's respondents who have fully functions virtualisation, including Ericsson report found that 45% of highly reliable L-band BGAN deployed IoT projects. From Cloud Packet Core, Cloud Unified Data respondents struggled to connectivity is helping our work in the industry, we Management and Ericsson NFVI. The Virtual access connectivity across organisations across all see that poor connectivity can Evolved Packet Core will provide the capacity mine sites so that it hinders stages of their IoT journey to hamper getting a project fully and flexibility to cope with network evolution their ability to gather data. A get the reliable connectivity deployed from a proof of challenges. For the network management further 40% indicated they needed, to ensure they can concept into mainstream aspects, Ericsson Network Manager is could access connectivity but generate, analyse and action b u s i n e s s o p e r a t i o n s . deployed to manage the virtual network that it was often unreliable the necessary data and However, we also see from functions which will secure the automation and causing them to struggle to improve the way they the research that for many provide operational efficiency when managing collect data. Just 15% operate. who have fully deployed IoT the network. reported they could access “Although our research has p r o j e c t s c o n n e c t i v i t y reliable connectivity wherever indicated that the global continues to be a challenge.

11 IN THE NEWS

Microsoft equip Airtel Africa partners Mukuru to facilitate South Africans with cross-border money transfers digital skills needed Airtel Africa plc, a leading customers receive the funds, exemplifies the collaborative p r o v i d e r o f they can be used to pay utility spirit in which Mukuru is for economic telecommunications and bills, goods and services, engaging with other industry mobile money services in 14 transferred to family or can leaders to provide universal recovery countries across sub- be cashed out at any of Airtel access to cash and digital Saharan Africa and Mukuru, Africa's exclusive branches, financial services across the Microsoft South Africa is announcing details one of Africa's largest kiosks and agents. continent. The enablement of of the local programme aligned to the remittance organisations, digital money transfers recently launched Global Skills Initiative, announced a partnership Raghunath Mandava, CEO, between Mukuru and Airtel aimed at bringing more digital skills to 25 which will enable Mukuru Airtel Africa, commented Africa customers means we million people worldwide by the end of the customers to instantly send “This partnership empowers can offer greater choice to the year. The initiative is a response to the cross-border transfers those without a bank account hardworking diaspora when economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 directly to Airtel Money to be included in the formal providing for their families pandemic. Unemployment is an ongoing customer wallets in 12 African financial ecosystem and to back home. The freedom to challenge in South Africa, with statistics countries. move money conveniently, choose the solution best showing that it increased to 3-.1% in the first seamlessly and securely. At a befitting your personal quarter of the year, and economists warning This partnership will be time when intra-Africa cross- circumstances is pivotal to that it is likely to continue rising because of particularly beneficial for border payments are of true economic empowerment” the impact of the pandemic. customers making intra- strategic importance, we are “Expanded access to digital skills is an A f r i c a p a y m e n t s f r o m pleased to be working The partnership, subject to important step in accelerating economic Southern Africa where together on cross-country local regulatory approvals, will recovery, especially for the people hardest hit Mukuru has a leading mobile money transfers, initially launch in Malawi, by job losses. There was already a shift to presence. Customers also while also supporting local Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, digital technologies and increasing demand benefit from no longer having economies.” Kenya and the Democratic for people with digital skills even before the to physically go to an Agent to Republic of the Congo. It will pandemic struck, but it has accelerated the r e c e i v e c r o s s - b o r d e r Andy Jury, CEO, Mukuru, then roll out to subsequent need for these types of skills,” says Siya payments. Once Airtel Money confirms, “This partnership Airtel Money markets. Madyibi, Legal and Corporate Affairs Director at Microsoft South Africa.

This is a comprehensive technology initiative Euroconsult: Pandemic won't stop smallsat that will build on data and digital technology. It starts with data on jobs and skills from the market takeoff LinkedIn Economic Graph. It provides free access to content in LinkedIn Learning, In it 6th edition of its latest of which $33 billion for provider, challenging both Microsoft Learn and the GitHub Learning research titled “Prospects for manufacturing and $18 billion c o m m e r c i a l s a t e l l i t e Lab, and couples those with Microsoft the Small Satellite Market,” for launch. This is more than integrators and launch Certifications and LinkedIn job seeking tools. Euroconsult forecasts that two four times the market size of providers which see more of All of these resources are available at a mega-constellations will the previous decade. their target customers now central location, opportunity.linkedin.com. account for half of the “The COVID-19 pandemic is competing with their own While these resources are broadly available smallsats to be launched expected to have a significant services.” online to South Africans, vulnerable job between 2020 and 2029, yet impact on the industry. This seekers from poorer and more remote areas only account for one fifth of the impact will however vary “The Asian market, 72% of will need additional support on their journey. total smallsat market value depending on the size and which is government-driven, This is why Microsoft is backing the effort by due to economies of scale, nature of stakeholders. While will account for 1,600 partnering with strategic long-term partner mass manufacturing and many early-stage commercial smallsats over the next non-profits like AfrikaTakkun to drive the batch launches. The report new entrants will fail to raise decade, competing with US programme and assist the people who need also addresses the impact of funding and deploy their companies to provide it most. COVID-19 on the small constellations, the two market connectivity services to satellite industry and provides leaders, SpaceX and Amazon, foreign countries. The AfrikaTikkun helps young people from updated analysis of the have been strengthened by regional market is largely underprivileged South African communities driven by, but not limited to through skills development and work ongoing uncertainties related the pandemic.” said Alexandre China.” readiness programmes – while also helping to the pandemic, smallsat Najjar, Senior Consultant at In the coming decade, meet their nutrition, health and social needs. c o n s t e l l a t i o n s a n d t h e Euroconsult. “While the smallsat market growth will The grant will allow AfrikaTikkun to work with OneWeb bankruptcy, despite commercial sector (Starlink b e d o m i n a t e d b y unemployed South Africans to identify the its recent acquisition. and Kuiper excepted) will communication satellites best learning paths to follow based on their decrease compared to with nearly 5,700 units existing skillset and the most in-demand The 2020s are predicted to be previous years due to a forecasted for launch. In skills and jobs in South Africa identified the decade of small satellites COVID-19-induced market through data and analytics. This will help the with an annual average of rationalization, growth in contrast, Earth Observation unemployed focus on equipping themselves 1 ,00 0 sma llsats to be government smallsat projects satellites will decrease in with the skills needed to compete for jobs in a launched. By comparison, is accelerating as nations now market share but will more digital economy. 2019 had the highest number recognize the potential and nonetheless triple in terms of Microsoft is also partnering with corporate of smallsats to date, with 385 cost savings enabled by the units, with 1,520 anticipated. companies and customers, who have smallsats launched. These smallsat form, both for civilian Nonetheless, high levels of committed to make training labs with spacecraft generated $2.8 and military use cases.” uncertainty remain as the connectivity available to jobseekers, co-fund billion of market value in 2019, “Vertical integration is smallsat market is, by some Microsoft certifications and market the of which 70 percent for increasing in the smallsat definition, very volatile. The programme on their social media channels to manufacturing and 30 percent industry. Significant future failure (or market entry) of a raise awareness. for launch. From 2020 to 2029, market shares are now captive single constellation may the smallsat market value is of a region, of a country or of represent hundreds of projected to reach $51 billion, an integrator and/or launch satellites of variation.

12 IN THE NEWS

Infinet Wireless Comtech receives US$1.3 million to support strengthens West cellular LTE backhaul in Middle East African presence with new Cameroon HQ Comtech EF Data Corp., The CDM-760 Advanced i m p r o v e d b a c k h a u l has received $1.3 million in High-Speed Trunking and capabilities provided with and localised training orders for advanced Broadcast Modem is the our solutions. We are satellite modems, WAN most widely deployed high- honored and excited that programmes o p t i m i z a t i o n a n d speed trunking modem in the this service provider redundancy switches. The industry, and supports GEO, selected our CDM-760 equipment will be utilized to MEO and LEO operation at m o d e m s a n d W A N Infinet Wireless, the global leader in fixed support cellular LTE up to 1.4 Gbps per second. o p t i m i z a t i o n t o n o w broadband wireless connectivity, has opened a backhaul for a service The service provider will support 2 Gbps of LTE new regional office in Cameroon as the provider in the Middle East. utilize the CDM-760 and the backhaul traffic and to company expands its operations in one of the FX WAN optimizers to prepare for a future roll out world's fastest growing economic regions. Comtech EF Data Corp. is a support its LTE traffic. This of 5G services.” This new presence will be initially managed by l e a d i n g s u p p l i e r o f integrated and unique Ludovic Thierry Takam, a Yaounde native and c o m m u n i c a t i o n s solution automatically The high-performance Technical Engineer, who has been with Infinet equipment with a focus on adapts in real-time to satellite communications Wireless since 2013. Thierry will oversee the s a t e l l i t e b a n d w i d t h changing end user demands ground equipment is establishment of a new platform to enable e f f i c i e n c y a n d l i n k on the ground and to link deployed globally to mutually beneficial exchanges of technology optimization. conditions over the satellite. support mission-critical expertise between the Infinet Wireless a n d d e m a n d i n g management teams and their African “I am pleased that Comtech Richard Swardh, Senior Vice a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r counterparts. This will include setting up was selected to provide our President of Comtech EF g o v e r n m e n t , m o b i l e technological programs and qualifications in award-winning, turnkey Data's Premium Enterprise b a c k h a u l , p r e m i u m several universities as part of the Infinet h i g h - s p e e d t r u n k i n g and Mobile Operators enterprise and mobility. Wireless Academy solutions to a customer in vertical commented on the Service providers, satellite This presence will also be used to deliver Infinet the Middle East,” said Fred project, “Comtech EF Data operators, governments Wireless' latest technological breakthroughs, Kornberg, Chairman of the continues to extend the lead and commercial users supporting its customer base with all their Board and Chief Executive in capacity deployed over w a n t i n g t o o p t i m i z e current and future wireless projects involving O f f i c e r o f C o m t e c h satellite in support of 2G, 3G communications, increase the company's solutions. Specific focus will be Telecommunications Corp. and LTE backhaul. throughput and delight given to verticals such as new infrastructures for “As COVID-19 is affecting To meet an ever-growing customers, are leveraging service providers of all types, homeland the way we work, live and consumer demand for higher the performance and security, mobile connectivity, energy and mining play, providing high quality, speed and better Quality of flexibility of the Comtech applications, as well as solutions for smart high-speed broadband E x p e r i e n c e , M o b i l e brand. cities. everywhere is essential “Infinet Wireless' cost effective and market Networks Operators are T h e s o l u t i o n s a r e and Comtech EF Data adapting by deploying the facilitating fixed and mobile leading solutions can make a significant solutions are well equipped contribution to the economic development of latest generation wireless networks in 160+ countries to meet the challenge.” the sub-Sahara region. Our presence much s t a n d a r d s a l o n g w i t h and across every ocean. closer to the end users represents a win-win partnership for all stakeholders in the region, allowing us to react much quicker to market WTA renews Tier 4 certification of Eutelsat's demands but also to make available our technological know-how and innovative Rambouillet Teleport solutions in the delivery of wireless infrastructures. Africa is a rapidly developing World Teleport Association Certification is issued at a o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d c o n t i n e n t , b o t h e c o n o m i c a l l y a n d (WTA) has renewed the Tier 4 Tier number from 1 through operational procedures. technologically, and we are committed and certification of Eutelsat 4, of which 4 represents the The WTA certification excited to be a part of a history in the making,” C o m m u n i c a t i o n s ' h i g h e s t d e g r e e o f program launched in 2015 said Kamal Mokrani, Infinet's Global Vice Rambouillet Teleport in excellence, and remains in has become the most President. France under WTA's Teleport effect for 3 years. important instrument of the Takam will also assist the company's African Certification Program, Association to raise the partners more closely by supporting their following an audit of the José Sanchez, Eutelsat's standards of the industry. design and deployment efforts often needed for facility by the association. D i r e c t o r o f S e r v i c e B y r e n e w i n g o u r large-scale projects. This was initially WTA's Teleport Certification Operations said: “We are certification we exemplify discussed at a forum held in the city of Sochi, Program serves both teleport delighted at the renewal of o u r c o m m i t m e n t t o Russia, in October 2019, as part of the first o p e r a t o r s a n d t h e i r Tier-4 WTA certification. We excellence.” Russia-Africa Economic Forum and Summit, customers by creating an were the first ever satellite “Our program, launched in during which the company's credentials were objective, transparent, and operator to obtain in it 2016 2015, is achieving maturity shared with many high level African decision internationally accepted and the first ever teleport to with the first wave of makers. method for teleport operators certify Tier-4. To consistently renewals of certifications “Our African partners will particularly be able to to document the quality of achieve this highest level of providing independent, take advantage of our global experience and t h e i r o p e r a t i o n s f o r certification testifies to the s t a n d a r d s - b a s e d latest technological achievements, thanks to customers and strategic commitment of our teams to evaluation and validation of our brand new Software Defined Radio (SDR) partners. It also provides a providing the highest quality facilities, technology and family of products in the 5, 6, 28 and 70Ghz means for customers to of service to our customers, operating procedures,” frequency bands. As an example, our new select teleport vendors as well as the remarkable said executive director Quanta family is highly suited to the d e l i v e r i n g t h e p r i c e - performance of our facilities Robert Bell. “Eutelsat is environment of the African market, delivering performance level that is at the Paris-Rambouillet representative of the maximum capacity, requiring a much lower a p p r o p r i a t e f o r t h e i r t e l e p o r t i n t e r m s o f e x c e l l e n c e f o u n d power consumption. a p p l i c a t i o n s . F u l l infrastructure, security, throughout our sector.”

18 SPECIAL REPORT SANSA How space is impacting our society

Picture source ADB

Picture source: ITU

Source: SANSA

Courtesy- SpaceX In South Africa, the South African National South Africa's contribution is the Hermanus most widely distributed images were from Space Agency, SANSA has been Magnetic Observatory. The Observatory the Airhigh Vice resolution Marshall SPOTTommy satellite. Udoh SPOT contributing to the safety and security of the participate in international projects imagery was extensively used for nation through the high frequency involving satellites missions, and forms agriculture, water and environmental propagation service that is provided to the part of a network of geomagnetic survey planning and management, as well as South African National defense Forces from station spread across Southern Africa. developing an understanding of the the SANSA’s space weather centre. SANSA, These station studies pattern of magnetic characteristics and dynamics of human according to its report, built a customized tool flow over south Africa and the influence of settlements. Major users included the for HF predictions called IOCAP Frequency the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly, a departments of water and sanitation, Demonstrator to ensure the services and region where the earth's magnetic field is agriculture, forestry and fisheries, human solution offered to the SANDEF are utilized to 25% weaker compared to other region of settlements, Statistic South Africa, Eskom effectively. similar latitude around the globe. and provincial government and municipalities. The tool has been designed to assist the In South Africa, all aircraft of the South SANDEF in communication planning and African Air Force (SAAF) are required by The acquisition of high resolution SPOT consist of a central core with modules law to have a magnetic compass as an 6/7 imagery for South Africa has been customized to the needs of the Army, Air important back-up to the integrated completed and validated for quality and force, and the Navy. navigation system. As a result, magnetic accuracy. The satellite imagery is now The service is important because it allows compass swings are conducted available at no cost to all government the defense frces to prepare for operations periodically for all aircraft, to ensure the departments, research and academic and communicate optimally with the3 troops calibration of these lifesaving navigational institutions. The imagery supports a and other military personnel on the ground. tools. SANSA is the only organisation number of Government services such as performing compass swings in South Africa flood risk mapping (City of Ekurhuleni), According to the space agency report, - making this an invaluable service to the geospatial reference framework (Stats Protecting South Africa's magnetically clean nation and ensuring the safety of SA), electricity generation planning environment for a better world SANSA's thousands of planes on an annual basis. (ESKOM), irrigation monitoring (DWS) latest geomagnetic and magnetic clean and many more. environment helps monitor the invisible magnetic shield around the earth and keeps Providing data for socio- In a recent report released by SANSA, it delicate systems protected so that we can says the Chapter 14 of the National Water use services such as Global Positioning economic development Act outlines the regulations with regards Systems. SANSA has distributed more than 60,000 water use in the country including The earth is continually battered by charged satellite images to entities in government, monitoring of water resources and limiting particles from the sun and other sources in science councils and universities. The w a te r u se . Ea rth o b se rva ti o n s outer space, but the earth's magnetic field distributed images covered a range of complements the current monitoring protects us from the majority of these. sensors and provided end users with a systems which are faced with challenges SANSA is the current torch bearer for a long wide choice of spatial and spectral such as vandalism, ageing infrastructure line of researchers that monitored the ever resolutions for the decision support and high maintenance costs. The changing geomagnetic field; at the centre of applications. The vast majority and the Department of Water and Sanitation

19 SPECIAL REPORT

(DWS) is benefiting from the national water The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), the Our presence at Teraco will provide SANSA body dataset developed by SANSA for water State Space Corporation “Roscosmos” with easy access to over 40 local and licensing and inventory purposes. In addition, (ROSCOSMOS), the Indian Space international carriers, content providers, the mapping of irrigated and non-irrigated Research Organisation (ISRO), the China ISP's and managed services providers. All areas provide the Department with a reliable National Space Administration (CNSA) undersea cables are accessible from the means of verifying water usage in various and SANSA jointly established the BRICS data centres, thereby improving latency water catchment areas. Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation on requirements and connecting Africa to the the basis of equality and mutually rest of the world. So far, tSouth Africa Understanding urban expansion and human beneficial cooperation. aspires to become a leading player in settlement growth is critical for improved space technology on the continent and planning on service delivery and addressing The cooperation aims to establish a remote although South Africa has invested in social-economic issues. The high resolution sensing data sharing mechanism amongst space over the past few decades, the satellite imagery and the human settlement the BRICS nations and avail space country's competiveness remains slow dataset derived by SANSA was used by the technologies to meet the challenges faced across the space value chain, according to Department of Human Settlements, Housing by humankind, such as global climate SANSA report. In order to pollinate the D e v e l o p m e n t A g e n c y, M u n i c i p a l change, natural disasters, technological fledgling space industry, SANSA has set for Demarcation Board, Statistics South Africa, challenges, and environmental protection. itself a local industry contractual targets Eskom, National Lotteries Commission and South Africa is the current Chair of the during the recent development of EO- municipalities, such as the City of Ekurhuleni BRICS Space cooperation for 2018. The Sat=1, a low cost nanosatellite. who use the dataset to assess human BRICS Space authorities will expand and settlement growth within the municipality and d e e p e n s p a c e c o o p e r a t i o n a n d The local industry is being developed verification on whether the housing collaboration in the emerging markets of through the satellite programme which development projects were approved or not space products and services, and further employs 47 people. The development of by the authorities. enhance the partnership amongst the the satellite has resulted in unique nations, with United Nations Office for intellectual property which the country can SANSA said, “The new, internationally Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and with leverage through commercialisation of accepted, Landsat 8 and Landsat 5 other international space organisations. these technologies and creation of new processing software developed by SANSA market opportunities. The consortium of scientists will significantly cut down on Dark fibre for improved Cape Peninsula University of Technology software purchasing and licensing costs. This (CPUT), Stone Three and Clyde Space are will help support Near Real Time Landsat telecomms involved in the development of a South applications and fast track delivery of Landsat The South Africa National Space Agency, African constellation of low cost image products to South African community”. SANSA has successfully completed the nanosatellites to facilitate South African installation of an end-to-end dark fibre Marine Domain Awareness, as required by solution between SANSA and Teraco Data Operation Phakisa which is an initiative by Environments will be used for the the Government to address issues within Striving towards service provisioning of a multiple wavelength excellence the NDP, by supporting international transport network of approximately maritime communications, ranging from The Independent Communication Authority of 100Gbps per wavelength. Teraco has three the current Automated Identification South Africa, ICASA has approved SANSA's state-of-the-art co-location data centres Service (AIS) standard to the future VHF application for an individual electronic based in Cape Town, Durban and Data Exchange System (VDES) standard. communications network license and an Johannesburg. individual electronic services license, According to SANSA, the South Africa's according to the South Africa National Space The dark fibre installed by the South Africa technology demonstrator satellite, Agency, SANSA. The ICASA license approval National Space Agency, SANSA spans a SumbandilaSat launched eleveen years is a great milestone for SANSA space distance of approximately 1118km and ago has provided the much needed operations as this completes the dark fibre provides an advantage for SANSA and knowledge on satellite development and connection project. This license allows South Africa by allowing transfer of near paved the way towards understanding the SANSA to construct, operate and maintain an real time and reliable earth observation mission for the development of the Earth electronic communications network within and telemetry data to stakeholders The observation satellite, EO-Sat1. Based on and across the provinces of South Africa. network will also enable SANS to provide the agency’s report, the limited number of Further more, it will also allows SANSA to reliable high bandwidth and low latency spectral bands on SumbandilaSat will be lease electronic communication facilities to space data transmission in real time or increased on EO-Sat1 and the ground third parties. near real time to back-up ground stations sampling distance advanced from about locally or internationally for conducting 6.25m to 2.5m indicating a big shift in the SANSA will be building their very own square nominal or emergency satellite operations. payload design. SumbandilaSat suffered kilometers array out in the Karoo, but rather The fibre connection will also enable the damage from solar emissions two years than the radio waves the now famous SKA will p r o v i s i o n o f s p a c e o p e r a t i o n s , into operation and, as a result the on-board collect from outer space, this one will collect housekeeping or life sycle support for the computer on EO-Sat1 will be upgraded electrical field measurements from Highveld space programme. The project was using radiation tolerant components. thunderstorms. These electrical field completed and the fibre went life at the end measurements will help scientists better of April 2019. The torque/volume ratio of the reaction understand the elusive phenomenon known wheels will be doubled and the angular as sprites. Sprites are brief, beautiful flashes The construction of the fibre route build momentum increased by a factor of five as of light in the upper atmosphere, above commenced in November 2017 and the an added advantage. The data thunderstorms, triggered by the huge project was completed in March 2018. The transmission rate will be tripled allowing for electrical fields created when lightening total distance from SANSA to Teraco is more efficient data downloads that strikes the ground. 117.68km. SANSA to Bryanston is influences the effectiveness for users. 72.05km and Bryanston to Teraco is BRICS remote sensing satellite 45.63km. Teraco is Africa's only vendor Constellation neutral data centre co-location operator. PROFILE

NIGERIA The state of broadband internet in Africa

According to recent statistics, population that can only be reached by satellite in Nigeria is 127.9 million, who are beyond 10km reach of fiber network. Therefore, increased investment is currently improving the country’s broadband networks and higher levels of broadband availability.

Imagine a major research university with tens recognizes the urgent need to increase demand side factors. The government of thousands of students trying to access the access to, and usage of, Internet and also understands how important Internet through a single U.S. household broadband in Nigeria. As part of its increased affordabilityThe NILESA is forT creating 201 satellite the connection. That has been the present overarching national development plan, necessary virtuous cycle of benefit siSource:tuation NASRDAin most African universities. Vision 20:2020, which outlines the Federal needed to improve the ecosystem. This Students there theoretically have access to Government's aim to make Nigeria a top 20 ecosystem is made up of four critical Science through several journal archives for global economy, ICTs have been given a parts: Investment, Availability, the developing world. In practice, most could central role. In order torationalize the work Relevance and Affordability. never download it. Sub-Saharan Africa is the towards achieving Vision 20:2020, the Increased investment will lead to most digitally isolated region in the world, with Government of Nigeria has developed the enhanced broadband networks and a bandwidth per capita that is only 1% of the Approved ICT Policy 2012, which details therefore, higher levels of broadband world average and 0.2% of that in the United how Nigeria will leverage ICTs to become a availability. Services will need to be more States. Not surprisingly, sub-Saharan Africa knowledge-based, globally competitive relevant to stimulate demand and lead also has among the highest connectivity costs society people to take advantage of the in the world. Its universities pay some 50 additional network availability. In turn, times more for bandwidth than do similar The Approved ICT Policy 2012 placed great these more relevant services must be institutions in the United States, and emphasis on the development of Internet more affordable in order eto drive connectivity cost per gross domestic product and broadband, making it one of 16 policy demand and generate the return on is almost 2000 times higher than in the United focus areas. Unlike the 2000 NTP, it sets investment necessary to stimulate more States. The resulting isolation of Africa's specific targets for broadband penetration, investment. Understandably, activities students from the remainder of the world is a seeking to increase it from 6% in 2013 to aimed at improving Angkieaffordability Yudistia have serious impediment to both education and 30% by then end of 2018. Strategies to been given high priority in the 2013-2018 economic development. achieve this ambitious target include Broadband Plan. For instance, greater monitoring and evaluation of immediate strategic priorities for the Africa's isolation is the result of both lack of broadband penetration so that evidenced- Nigerian government are to remove infrastructure and lack of competition in based actions are taken; utilizing Nigeria's import taxes on mobile devices and to telecommunications. The country of Senegal, universal service frameworks; and encourage home of one of Africa's foremost universities, promoting supply- and demand-side manufacturers of mobile handsets to has a total available fiber bandwidth of 1.2 policies that incentivize broadband produce smartphones that cost less than gigabits per second, one-tenth that of Harvard backbone and access network deployment. $30, so that the cost of getting online is University or the University of Chicago, and In 2013, the Government of Nigeria began reduced. Infrastructure sharing will be that capacity is further shared with four the implementation of the Broadband Plan encouraged by offering financial neighboring countries. East Africa is 2013 – 2018 that further articulates how incentives to operators. Also, the completely unconnected other than by Nigeria will achieve the objectives of the government worked with the National expensive satellite links. 2012 Approved ICT Policy. Describing Communications Commission (NCC), to broadband as an “Internet experience define an open access regime that In recent years, African governments are where the user can access in real time at a should, among other things, encourage realizing that connectivity is important for minimum of 1.5 Mb/second”, the 2013 – the competitive and innovative use of economic development, Internet use by 2018 Plan outlines how Nigeria will work broadband infrastructure, as well as use African consumers is growing explosively, towards its vision of Nigeria becoming “a transparent and non-discriminatory and industry is recognizing potential markets. society of connected communities with pricing for capacity. The result is a boom in the construction of high-speed Internet and broadband access national fiber networks and new international that facilitate faster socioeconomic Mobile technologies and telecom submarine cables for East and South Africa advancement of the nation and its people”. infrastructure are central to the and a fledging space program with the launch Broadband Plan and achieving the aims of communication satellites. The plan takes the view that Nigeria's of the 2012 ICT Policy. The plan says that broadband ecosystem must be improved all mobile base stations should provide The Federal Government of Nigeria crucially with a focus on both supply and 3G and all state capitals and metro cities REPORT

should have fibre by 2015. Indeed, it notes the broadband coverage gap, in remote stakeholders, articulate and publicize the that the “strategy that supports the areas, where other wireless technologies industry position on the negative impact objectives and targets of this National on their own cannot be used”. Not only do of multiple taxation, and develop Broadband Plan is anchored on the satellite communications provide full strategies for addressing and managing pervasive rolling out of wireless broadband reach, they also provide broadband the threat posed by multiple taxation to networks nationwide based on 3G and 4G speeds comparable to terrestrial the growth of the ICT industry. access technologies as the paramount connections. Due to innovative encodings objective” and new satellite architecture, broadband Lobbying is a major part the IWG's work connectivity with up to 30 Mbit/s is now and it appears its efforts are already The roles of satellite available. having some impact. In Lagos, the state “The choice of a satellite-based network government has signed a Memorandum communications was premised on a number of factors. First, of Understanding with the Association of “In Nigeria, a survey conducted in 2008 by a satellite-based network was considered to Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria development finance organization, the be the technology that would provide a and the Ministry of Communication Enhancing Financial Innovation and more reliable network than a terrestrial Technology. The MoU will see the Lagos Access revealed that about 53.0% of adults network in our environment”. Generally, a state government collaborate with were excluded from financial services”. So terrestrial network is always susceptible to o p e r a t o r s a n d m i n i s t r y o f far, the global pursuit of financial inclusion some environmental and infrastructural communications to eradicate the rights of as a vehicle for economic development had effect which causes network outages. way issues, multiple taxation and a positive effect in Nigeria as the exclusion “Most of the environmental factors such as vandalism that stifle operators' rate reduced from 53.0 % in 2008 to 46.3 % physical fibre cuts, power outages and investment in infrastructure. The signing in 2010. Encouraged by the positive equipment failure at one or more repeater of the MoU has subsequently been met development, the Central Bank of Nigeria in stations among others are eliminated in a with positive statements of intent from collaboration with stakeholders launched satellite-based network, which uses space operators. After the signing of the the National Financial Inclusion Strategy on as medium of connecting any two end agreement, the Chief Executive Officer 23rd October, 2012 aimed at further points (nodes).’ and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria reducing the exclusion rate to 20% by 2020. Segun Ogunsanya told reporters: “Lagos Specifically, the goal is to increase the In addition, a satellite-based network has can be the perfect example of number of adult Nigerians with access to unlimited reachability as long as the collaboration for others to emulate. If they payment services from 21.6% in 2010 to satellite being used has a footprint within can take a cue from Lagos State and 70% in 2020, while those with access to the network region. The effect of this is support the operators to service the savings should increase from 24.0% to easy connectivity to remote locations by consumers, that would be good for the 60%; and Credit from 2% to 40%, Insurance sim;ply installing an earth station. operators, the industry, our customers from1% to 40% and Pensions from 5% to However, two main downsides of VSAT are and government itself…I am happy about 40%, within the same period. its high bandwidth cost and its slowness in what has happened. We are going to transmission when compared with a land- reciprocate the good gesture with According to Godwin Emefiele, financial based network. This is due to the inherent additional services.” inclusion has continued to assume long distance that signals have to cover increasing recognition across the globe from an earth station to another earth Developing a sustainable among policy makers, researchers and station via the satellite transponder that is development oriented agencies. Its in orbit. This factor is outside the control of open access model importance derives from the promise it any provider. The Government of Nigeria has begun holds as a tool for economic development, developing an open access framework, particularly in the areas of poverty “The VSAT was designed to integrate with which it believes will fill the gaps in fibre reduction, employment generation, wealth the existing Private Automatic Branch optic and last mile wireless broadband creation and improving welfare and general Exchange (PABX) machine to enable inter- infrastructure left by the private sector. In standard of living. branch voice communications through the July 2012, the NCC began consulting bank's VSAT network, thereby saving cost stakeholders about the framework. By “According to recent statistics, population on trunk calls for the Bank”. Before the November 2013, it had developed a that can only be reached by satellite in implementation of the VSAT WAN, the proposed framework for stakeholders to Nigeria is 127.9 million, who are beyond installed PABX in each of the Bank's consider. 10km reach of fiber network”. The Bank is b r a n c h e s w a s u s e d f o r i n t e r - Nigeria has seen some impressive ICT therefore relying on the deployment of the communication (intercom) between staff developments in recent years, however, wireless hotspots through satellite within a branch only while inter-branch broadband penetration rates remain technology in every local government of the calls were through the costly public disappointingly low, and prices remain country to actualize the implementation of telephone network PSTN lines. The VSAT too high for the vast majority of Nigerians this vision. “Deployment of relevant internet was therefore as an added advantage for to enjoy the socio-economic benefits that technologies in the rural areas with the CBN because in addition to the data broadband access can deliver. Nigeria's sponsorship from the Bank will reduce the transmission, inter- branch voice Broadband Plan is a step in the right capital expenditures of mobile money communication was made possible at no direction. It articulates exactly how operators, ATM service providers, E- cost. Nigeria intends to increase broadband payment/E-channel operators, settlement penetration five-fold to 30% within the providers and other financial services next five years, and presents a time- providers to enhance the availability cum Multiple taxation and bound plan for implementation.While the provision of these financial services to the regulatory matters onus is on industry to drive broadband entire federation and especially the rural To tackle multiple taxation and regulation, a penetration across Nigeria, the Nigeria's populace”. major complaint from operators, the government, under the auspices of the Universal Service Provision Fund appears “Given the ubiquitous coverage of satellites NCC, established the Industry Working to be better placed than ever to support and the current availability of satellite based Group on Taxation (IWG) in January of such efforts. broadband Internet access, satellite 2012. The IWG will review recent cases of communications can immediately bridge multiple taxation, enlist the support of all

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Hughes looking to start Some of the Hughes clients operating in Dash's large base of migrant workers by cinema and film distribution have been helping them stay connected to their retailing satellite impacted due to the restriction imposed family overseas with the additional by the government and needs airtime. This is our way of showing broadband services in handholding, he said. appreciation to the migrant community India which has contributed to building Singtel's Dash and Singapore.” Broadband technology company Hughes Mr Allan Green, founder of Ezra says, “As is looking to foray into retail satellite- Ezra collaborate to the mobile phone has become a based broadband services in India boost international ubiquitous part of the daily lives of billions, following the ongoing reforms in the it is the ultimate tool to enable inclusion. country's space policy, a senior company airtime top ups for During these times of crisis, remaining official said. connected with loved ones is vitally The government in June allowed the migrant workers' important. As such, we share a goal with private sector to carry out space activities families Singtel's Dash to enable the foreign like building of rockets, satellites and worker community in Singapore to stay providing launch services. Singtel's Dash and Ezra are connected to home for longer. Ezra is "The lesson for us is we need to get into collaborating to enable more migrant humbled and proud that Singtel welcomes the HughesNet consumer service in India workers in Singapore to stay connected us as a partner.” quickly. Hughes is relatively buffered in to their families back home through this whole thing, we should definitely international airtime top ups with the quickly get that. I would say that that's Dash app. Dash is the first Asia-Pacific Gilat awarded cellular learning that somehow we have to get partner of Ezra, a global aid initiative into the satellite consumer broadband launched in June that aims to tap on the backhaul project for segment in India," ShivajiChatterjee, strength of its partnerships with Kcell, Kazakhstan's senior VP and business head- Enterprise, organisations including mobile Hughes Communications India told PTI. operators, financial institutions and largest MNO He said that the government has started NGOs to help vulnerable migrant reforms in the space sector which offers communities through digital and Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. announces big opportunities for satellite companies. financial inclusion. the award of a cellular backhaul project for "Globally in the satellite market there are Kcell, Kazakhstan's largest Mobile a lot of capacities available, and a lot of Migrant workers in Singapore, many of Network Operator (MNO). Gilat will markets are also restricted like China and whom are in the construction and provide connectivity starting with Russia etc. So a lot of operators are ready process industries and are domestic hundreds of rural villages, in partnership to relocate capacity to India," Chatterjee workers, have been the hardest hit by with Kazakhstan's recognized service said. the COVID-19 pandemic. It is on this provider, TelService LTD, to satisfy the premise that Dash and Ezra have “Digital Kazakhstan” government He said that the company is closely launched a campaign with the aim of program. working with the Indian Space Research making digital tools and services more “We are pleased to be utilizing Gilat's Organisation (ISRO) for the retail affordable and accessible to migrant globally recognized cellular backhaul broadband project where ISRO is workers and to accelerate digital solution over satellite, to provide rural launching a new satellite GSAT-20 which adoption. coverage to the villages which require is expected to be launched by the end of voice and data services,” said Chief this month. The campaign, running from 22 July to Te c h n i c a l O f f i c e r , M r . A s k a r 23 August, offers credit of up to two Yesserkegenov at Kcell. “We are honored GSAT-20 is expected to have about 60 to times the value of top-ups to migrant to be part of the 'Digital Kazakhstan' 70 gigabits of capacity and is considered workers who use Dash to purchase government program and support the 10 times more powerful than any satellite international mobile airtime for their goal of accelerating the economic growth ISRO has launched. friends and family back home. The and enhancing the living conditions of the "We are very actively looking at ISRO to international mobile airtime is enabled rural population.” give us by the end of this year, that kind of by Ezra's partner DT One, an extensive capacity," Chatterjee said. global network for mobile top-ups, and “TelService LTD chose to provide the Talking about impact of coronavirus on the international mobile top-ups are expansion of Kcell's coverage program the business, Chatterjee said that the available to multiple destinations with Gilat's platform for cellular backhaul, company did not experience much including Bangladesh, China, India, due to the high quality, performance and adverse impact on the business because Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, spectral- efficiency of Gilat's solution,” around two-thirds of its customer base fall Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. said General Director, Mr. Vyacheslav into essential services categories like Peretyatko at TelService LTD. “We are petrol pumps, bank ATMs etc and some of Mr Gilbert Chuah, Head of Mobile pleased to expand our relationship with the clients modified their work according F i n a n c i a l S e r v i c e s , S i n g t e l ' s Gilat and are excited to leverage Gilat's to the pandemic rules. International Group says, “We share a future-ready platform for increased common goal with Ezra to advance business in the region.” "People have not come back saying they financial and digital inclusion and we don't want the service. They are all paying want to support migrant workers who “Gilat is most pleased with its partner, the bills. In fact one of the biggest have to provide for their families back Telservice LTD, its competent engineers surprises we have had is, during the home. Through this initiative, we hope to and its ability to quickly roll-out the project, period we moved completely to e- help ease the economic burden of overcoming tough restrictions imposed by invoicing and we're getting our money COVID-19 and bring some relief to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Barak much faster," Chatterjee said. Lerer, Regional Vice President EMEA at 28 IN THE NEWS ASIA

Gilat. “We are honored to include Kcell among the leading global MNOs who are Speedcast executes Dawn Aerospace unveils using Gilat's solution to provide high- new bandwidth their new spaceplane; quality connectivity to people in the most remote areas of the world.” agreement with Intelsat the Dawn Mk-II Aurora

Speedcast International Limited (ASX: A New Zealand-based aerospace company Reaching new heights SDA) today announced that it has is on the path to revolutionising space with Australian Space signed a new contract with Intelsat S.A., transportation. Dawn Aerospace, operator of the world's largest integrated headquartered in Christchurch, unveiled its Agency MoU\ satellite and terrestrial network. Under suborbital spaceplane, the “Mk-II Aurora”, the new multi-year contract, Speedcast ahead of an intensive 12 month flight test The Territory is another step closer to will leverage the unparalleled reach and campaign. \ being a key player in the trillion dollar reliability of Intelsat's global connectivity space industry with the signing of a infrastructure and innovative service The Mk-II Aurora is the latest development Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) offerings to support Speedcast's in a series of test vehicles that will one day with the Australian Space Agency. The customer operations across the energy, launch satellites into space. It is the second MoU, which builds on the Territory maritime, cruise, mining, enterprise, rocket-powered aircraft or “spaceplane” Governments Territory Space Industry media, humanitarian, and government produced by Dawn Aerospace. It will be 2020 Plan will drive the creation of local sectors. Intelsat's advanced global fleet capable of flights to above 100km altitude, high-tech jobs and see the Territory includes more than 50 satellites that the border to space, before returning to land contributing to the economic growth of operate seamlessly with the IntelsatOne at an airport. Upon landing it can be Australia. ground network, offering the world's refuelled and flown again within hours. It will With technology shifts driving growth in most extensive, flexible, reliable, and be the first vehicle to ever be capable of the commercial space industry, Australia secure communications network. such a feat multiple times per day. has the potential to capture a greater share of this global industry and the “This new agreement will offer us the “The Aurora represents a massive step Northern Territory is firmly positioned to flexibility and global scale we need to forward in space transportation,” said be at the front of this pack. best support our customers,” said Peter Stefan Powell, Chief Technology Officer of Shaper, Chief Executive Officer at Dawn Aerospace. “Using the same vehicle Our geographic location and sparsely Speedcast. “As we navigate the near- hundreds or even thousands of times populated areas makes it an appealing term headwinds stemming from the means we don't need a factory to produce destination for space companies and global COVID-19 pandemic and work rockets. We can operate a fleet of vehicles agencies from around the world to invest toward finalizing our recapitalization to access space daily. And we don't have to here specifically for launch facilities – process, it is critical that we find pollute the ocean with rocket debris as we both rocket and stratospheric ballooning, opportunities to reassess our overall do it.” ground station systems, technology bandwidth purchasing to better support development and testing infrastructure. our network, while also allowing us to The Mk-II Aurora will demonstrate the core Our local industry now is starting to take help our customers through these technology for daily access to space in a off, with construction commencing on the unprecedented times. We look forward subscale vehicle. It has a modest payload Arnhem Space Centre, outside of to expanding our use of the Intelsat capacity, enough to bring scientific Nhulunbuy, earlier this year and NASA network, and further transforming our experiments to space, but too little for an announcing they have selected Arnhem business.” orbital second stage. The later generation Space Centre to host Australia's Mk-III will be based on the Mk-II design, but sounding rocket campaign in 2021. Head This agreement marks a significant with a larger payload capacity. This will of the Australian Space Agency Dr milestone for Speedcast as the allow a 50-100kg satellite to be delivered to Megan Clark AC said this agreement will company looks towards emergence orbit. The Mk-III will deliver satellites into build on the existing assets in the from its chapter 11 proceeding and orbit using an expendable second stage. Northern Territory. seeks to cement renewed relationships After releasing a satellite, the second stage with key suppliers. It will provide burns up in the atmosphere and accounts “Existing infrastructure from ground increased capacity to assist customers for about 6 percent of the whole vehicle, stations such as the indigenous, owned with critical short-term requirements as making the whole system 94% reusable. and operated, Centre for Appropriate the industry continues to adapt to the Technology, and the Alice Springs current environment. The agreement Current rockets have to fly out of special Balloon Launching Facility show the was approved by the U.S. courts launch sites and secure, exclusive capability that exists within the Northern overseeing the financial restructuring airspace. This means they have to shut Territory,” Dr Clark said. “Growing the cases for both Speedcast and Intelsat. down busy travel routes, such as around Northern Territory's space sector Speedcast maintains long-standing Cape Canaveral in Florida, or travel to far- improves other parts of the local partnerships with more than 20 satellite flung places where air and sea traffic is low. economy through the application of fleet operators, including Intelsat, to Dawn Aerospace will fly its spaceplanes space technologies to areas like remote ensure seamless managed network from existing airports under aircraft laws. health, bushfire tracking, emergency services for customer operations, They are working closely with the NZ Space management, and agriculture.” utilizing C-, Ku-, Ka-, L-, and X-band Agency (NZSA) and Civil Aviation Authority capacity. Speedcast's comprehensive (CAA) to make that happen. The Australian Federal Government is global network portfolio includes access investing close to $700 million into the to 200+ beams across more than 100 “The challenge of getting to space is equal space sector to triple its size to $12 billion satellites, totaling 16GHz of satellite parts the vehicle, the launch infrastructure and add up to 20,000 additional jobs by capacity. and the regulation,” said James Powell, 2030. General Manager and CFO. “Building a 29 IN THE NEWS ASIA

cheaper rocket, as many are trying to do, network access evaluations, according to a IMSO has now selected a Group of only helps with the first part. Dawn's statement from China's Satellite Navigation Experts for the process who will spaceplane addresses all three factors. System Management Office. imminently start to assess BDMSS The CAA and NZSA have established Launched from the Xichang Satellite compliance with the criteria set out in IMO the best regulatory system in the world, Launch Center on June 23, the satellite is a resolution A 1001(25) on Criteria for the which makes this possible. We are geostationary earth orbit satellite of the provision of the satellite Communication privileged to be working with them.” BDS-3 system, which has been offering Systems in the Global Maritime Distress Dawn signed an MOU with Waitaki basic navigation services to countries and and safety System (GMDSS), taking into District Council earlier this year for regions along the Belt and Road, as well as account the guidance laid down in suborbital flights out of Oamaru Airport. the world, since December 2018. MSC.1/Circ. 1414. IMSO will then submit The company is also in talks with other a report on this process to the NCSR Sub- airports around New Zealand. According to the office, the satellite will offer Committee for consideration. users positioning, navigation and timing Dawn Aerospace acquired seed funding services. It was developed by the China BeiDou is the second new satellite of 3.3million NZD in December 2018, as Academy of Space Technology. service provider to undergo this well as funding for the project through Named after the Chinese term for the Big assessment process, following last year's Callaghan Innovation. They were Dipper constellation, BeiDou is one of the integration of Iridium satellite system. If awarded a grant of $500,000 from NZSA four space-based navigation networks successful, it (BeiDou) would become the for development of non-toxic satellite operating globally, along with the US GPS, third provider of satellite services for propulsion. The company also has a Russia's GLONASS and the European GMDSS, alongside Inmarsat and Iridium, major facility in Delft, The Netherlands. Union's Galileo networks. following the transition of the system to a Test flights of the Mk-II Aurora will start in multi-provider environment. late 2020. For preliminary testing, it will IMSO signs agreement to be powered by two jet engines and will fly Gilat's Airborne the first scientific experiments in 2021. assess BeiDou message The paint scheme was designed by the Technology enables winner of the “Paint our plane service system ? competition”, Prague-based company, opening-up of the LOOP Studios. The International Mobile Satellite Chinese Ka-Band IFEC Organization has signed an agreement with The first scientific experiment will fly on the China Transport Telecommunication market and driving a the Aurora in 2021 and will be built by the and Information Group Co. (CTTIC) to multi-million dollar Centaurus High School Physics Club perform a technical and operational from Denver, Colorado. The experiment assessment of the BeiDou Message market opportunity will measure airborne pollutants in the Service System (BDMSS).\ mesosphere, which is too high to be Gilat's aero modem, Taurus, is powering measured by any other means, such as This follows on from the invitation by the In-flight Entertainment and Connectivity a balloon. seventh session of the International (IFEC) service to China's Qingdao Maritime Organization's (IMO) Sub- Airlines. The service is provided by China Although primarily a technology C o m m i t t e e o n N a v i g a t i o n , Satcom, over CS-16 Ka-HTS satellite demonstrator for the Mk-III, the Aurora Communications and Search and Rescue together with its partner China TDT LINK will also be extraordinarily useful for (NCSR) to IMSO to conduct the a contents/service provider to scientific research. It will be capable of assessment, two years after CTTIC passengers. The whole Ka-band IFEC accessing parts of the atmosphere too submitted the application to the 99th system was integrated by FTS, a leading high for regular aircraft or balloons, but session of the IMO's Maritime Safety Chinese system integrator, who received too low for satellites. Committee (MSC). The assessment the STC/VSTC for this IFEC early this “We know very little about these parts of process will evaluate the technical and year. This milestone of opening-up of the the atmosphere,” said Stefan Powell. In operational capability of BDMSS to provide Chinese Ka-band IFEC market is the some cases we have less data to go on mobile satellite communication services, in driver for a multi-million-dollar market than we have on Jupiter or Saturn, yet particular, the Global Maritime Distress and opportunity. we know that these high layers in the Safety System (GMDSS). Earth's atmosphere have a profound The Qingdao Airlines' A320 aircraft has effect on weather down on the surface After receiving the go ahead from NCSR 7, started to provide the Ka band satcom and long-term climate models.China launchedThe IMSO two satellite hosted for its introductoryGPSsystem (Source: meetings China Dailywith based IFEC commercial service, after a Aurora could allow us to get 1000x the representatives from CTTIC at the IMSO very successful flight from Qingdao to data within a year which will dramatically Headquarters, London in January 2020. Chengdu on July 7, 2020, with its IFEC improve climate models. That's very Here the process was outlined and the system formally open to the passengers exciting for the scientific community.” discussions of the details of the for the first time. As of today, there are assessment began. Taking into account the more than 3,500 commercial aircraft agreed effective date of the Agreement to operating in China and this aircraft is the Last BeiDou satellite be 17 January 2020, the date of the first first one retrofitted with a Ka band IFEC starts operation in meeting, while preparing for the signing of system. this agreement, IMSO has simultaneously “Gilat is proud to have been selected by network started the work on the assessment: our long-term partners China Satcom and selecting the Group of Experts and FTS, and most pleased with the joint The 55th and last satellite of the BeiDou Observers, outlining the assessment plan effort of integrating our proven IFC Navigation Satellite System has and timeline for the accomplishment of the modem, Taurus, to enable opening of the commenced operation in the network tasks. C h i n e s e s k i e s f o r b r o a d b a n d after completing in-orbit tests and connectivity,” said Yuan Si, China

30 IN THE NEWS ASIA

Country Manager for Gilat. “Gilat views S o u t h e r n L a u n c h r u n n i n g a n for a contingency and how to bulletproof China as a strategic focus area, and this oversubscribed seed funding round at the or future-proof their current IT success marks yet another important end of 2019 with a larger Series A round to operations." "The cloud presents itself as landmark in Gilat's vision of enabling be finalised in coming months. an attractive and flexible option for plentiful quality affordable broadband organisations to accelerate the connectivity everywhere. We look forward With a highly skilled team drawing on standardisation and automation required to continued collaboration with our strategic previous experience with the Australian enabling business continuity, while partners, to jointly reap the benefits of this Department of Defence, commercial planning ahead," he added. multi-million-dollar China IFC market.” l a u n c h p r o v i d e r s , a n d g l o b a l infrastructure companies, the Southern For business users, Mr Varghese said, Launch team offers unique capabilities to Oracle offers a complete suite of Southern launch enable safe, secure, and efficient launch software as a service (SaaS) or cloud- prepares for lift off in operations. based application services. These services are ready-to-use technologies South Australia Southern Launch have signed a number that enable users to automate sales and of agreements with launch service marketing activities, human resources The development of small satellite p r o v i d e r s a n d l a u n c h v e h i c l e operations, enterprise planning, financial technologies (SmallSats) has ushered in an manufacturers from around the world, m a n a g e m e n t , s u p p l y c h a i n era of dynamic and responsive space including companies based in South management and such. systems. Hundreds, and soon thousands, Korea, Singapore, Germany, USA, of these small platforms will be launched Canada, Poland and the Netherlands. into Low Earth Orbits (LEO) every year. While some launch service providers are LEO are ideal for Earth Observation looking for a launch site for their maiden Optus Satellite's Foxtel missions and other near-earth activities, (test) flights, looking further ahead, all partnership extended to including internet with global coverage. customers have recognized the incredible Approximately half of these SmallSats are potential of the Whalers Way location for 2031 projected to be launched into Polar Orbits regular commercial launches, and the with the other half orbiting around the cost effective and efficient services equator. Optus has extended its longstanding offered them by Southern Launch's partnership with media company Foxtel, complete launch service solution. According to recent estimates by an SSTL with an extension for the provision of study, close to 1000 SmallSats will be satellite services until 2031. Optus launched annually from 2025 onwards. Bangladesh becoming a Satellite owns and operates Australia These satellites will be inserted into new promising market for IT and New Zealand's largest fleet of and existing LEO constellations, offering spacecraft with five satellites currently in innovative new services to the world while geostationary orbit that service our Bangladesh is a promising market for the broadcast, corporate, and government actively limiting the proliferation of space latest global innovations on information debris in orbits. SmallSats in LEO remain customers. The contract extension, technology, Oracle ASEAN and SAGE along with efficiencies agreed with there for less than 3 years before burning up regional managing director Cherian in the Earth's atmosphere. Foxtel, reaffirms Optus Satellite's leading Varghese said. "Seeing the prospects position in the ANZ satellite market. here, we've invested heavily in Historically, launch sites have been Bangladesh over the past two decades “As we look to the future of the satellite constructed closer to the equator to support opening a full-blown office," he added. large satellites launches into equatorial business, this expanded services Mr Varghese was addressing a virtual agreement builds on our legacy of orbit. However, direct launch to polar orbit is media briefing for the ASEAN and South achieved most efficiently from launch sites delivering world-class satellite services Asian Growing Economies (SAGE) on and further strengthens Optus' position nearer the poles, which have minimal Tuesday. interference from aviation and maritime as Australia and New Zealand's leading provider of satellite services,” said Ben traffic. He said the uptake of cloud services is Southern Launch, founded in 2017, is White, Optus Managing Director, accelerating and as economies reopen, Wholesale, Satellite and Strategy. developing a multi-user launch complex at migration to the cloud could be the 'new the tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Foxtel has partnered with Optus since normal' solution for an organisation of 1998 to deliver their premium live sport, Australia, offering a turn-key launch service cloud computing. The past few months solution to polar and sun-synchronous movies, drama, news and entertainment have shown how organisations with low to content – including Australia's only orbit. In addition to providing the complete zero digital business models are taking launch infrastructure, Southern Launch has dedicated, live 4K broadcast channel – to the hit, especially for companies in the both regional and metropolitan areas the ability to undertake flight and range consumer-facing sectors, he added. safety, vehicle design, avionics across two Optus satellites in orbit over Now, the organisations must reconcile Australia. componentry and assist with launch with workforce changes and find new permitting and other support services. The ways to engage with customers, year-round temperate weather coupled “Our collaboration provides resilience for suggested Mr Varghese. Governments existing services and an opportunity for with the highly skilled local workforce and a and businesses alike are finding ways to robust logistics supply network enables a future expansion as Australians continue address the economic impact and to embrace 4K viewing and see 8K video launch site that offers high cadence launch mitigate supply-chain volatility and risks, operations at cost competitive prices. on the horizon. This commitment he said. provides Foxtel a proven and reliable The growing global demand for launch platform for the delivery of high-quality "As a result of the current situation, video images watched on the large services and a world class launch location customers we're speaking to come to us has attracted several early investors, with screens in homes and other venues over with two things in their mind-how to plan the next 11 years,” added Mr White. 31 IN THE NEWS ASIA

modern enabling environment that variety of equipment remotely, offering “We are pleased to continue our multi- encourages innovation, investment, and savings of millions of dollars to the layered relationship with Foxtel into the job creation.” industry, while also reducing its carbon next decade and to demonstrate that footprint and improving safety. satellite remains one of the best ways for “Tuvalu has demonstrated real vision in Foxtel to provide a rich viewing making this commitment,” said Christian For reliable satellite connectivity the experience to their customers. Optus is Patouraux, CEO and founder of Kacific. solution will use Inmarsat's IsatData Pro proud of the role we play to connect “It will enable the Government of Tuvalu (IDP) service, a two-way messaging millions of viewers with Foxtel's essential to adopt a holistic approach to ensure service provided in a compact, robust content, and we look forward to that all its people, whether remote or housing which is ideal for the tough continuing to grow our long-term urban, have equal access to high-speed conditions found in remote areas in relationship.” internet. This approach will improve Australia. Inmarsat's global connectivity domestic and international connectivity, services are underpinned by the world's Tuvalu Government reduce disparities and vulnerability, and most reliable satellite communications ease the burden on those living on network. signs agreement with remote islands. It will make a significant The agreement between the companies Kacific for wide-ranging difference to education, health, business also recognises the potential for Farmbot and democratic participation throughout to leverage Inmarsat's satellite suite of connectivity the nation.” connectivity and expertise to help provide services remote and precision agricultural IoT solution is boost for monitoring for the global agricultural industry. Kacific Broadband Satellites Group has Australian farmers signed a five-year agreement with the Global awareness Steven Tompkins, Director of Sector Government of Tuvalu to provide the A new alliance between Inmarsat, Development at Inmarsat, said: “There is Pacific Island nation with high-speed Farmbot Monitoring Solutions and an increasing global awareness of the broadband internet connectivity via mobile satellite services provider Pivotel need to better manage our water supplies satellite. The bandwidth, supplied by is set to offer Australian farmers to achieve more sustainable outcomes. Kacific's high-throughput satellite enhanced visibility, efficiency and Already operating in 2,800 locations Kacific1, will connect agencies, sustainability of their water supplies. across Australia, and growing at around businesses, and communities across The agreement will ensure that farmers 200 per month, Farmbot is leading the way Tuvalu's nine islands with high-quality anywhere on the continent are able to in deploying innovative technologies to internet. Under the agreement, Tuvalu, use the next generation of Farmbot's help solve these issues for a more through the Ministry of Justice, solutions to remotely monitor water sustainable and productive future for the Communication and Foreign Affairs, will tanks, dams and reservoirs and activate agriculture sector. With our 40 years of take all available capacity – a total pumps and other machinery in real time, heritage and expertise in providing critical commitment of 150MHz – from the as and when required, resulting in a more connectivity services across different dedicated high-throughput beam Kacific sustainable and productive future for the industries, we are excited to bring this has positioned over Tuvalu's Exclusive sector. Pivotel has been working with experience and help Farmbot develop Economic Zone. This will give Tuvalu Farmbot since 2015 and will continue to real-time, IoT-based water monitoring unprecedented volume and flexibility for provide support. solutions for Australian farmers. communications and create an 2019 was the driest year on record in immediate step change in internet much of Australia and the management availability and affordability for the of water is an increasingly important nation's citizens. issue. Australia has over 430,000 rural China successfully water tanks storing water critical to Kacific will also provide installation agriculture and over one million dams, launches first Mars services for the 4.5 metre antenna as well reservoirs and other bodies of water, very mission as training and technical support. With few of which are monitored in real time. Kacific's services, the capital and Outer Most water storage facilities have pumps Islands of Tuvalu will all have access to a moving water to troughs and other China launched a Mars probe on h i g h - q u a l i t y c o m m u n i c a t i o n s locations for irrigation, but without real- Thursday, aiming to complete orbiting, infrastructure. time visibility and analytics the landing and roving in one mission, and “Tuvalu's agreement with Kacific is a management of water is time-consuming taking the first step in its planetary game-changing project that will transform and inefficient. The cost of managing exploration of the solar system. the lives of many Tuvaluans,” said water is also growing, with many farmers A Long March-5 rocket, China's largest Tu v a l u ' s M i n i s t e r f o r J u s t i c e , having to travel hundreds of miles a day launch vehicle, carrying the spacecraft Communication and Foreign Affairs to manually monitor water storage with a mass of about 5 tonnes, soared into Honourable Simon Kofe. “Through this facilities. the sky from the Wenchang Spacecraft type of agreement, the Government is Launch Site on the coast of southern currently working to majorly reform The alliance will provide greater China's island province. About 36 minutes Tuvalu's telecom sector in order to functionality to Farmbot's customers, later, the spacecraft, including an orbiter provide the widest possible range of leading to cost savings, a reduction in and a rover, was sent into the Earth-Mars efficient, reliable, and affordable unnecessary travel and a more transfer orbit, embarking on an almost telecommunications and information sustainable approach to water seven-month journey to the red planet, services to all of Tuvalu. It is hoped that management. The Farmbot platform will according to the China National Space these reforms will promote socio- also gain the ability to activate Administration (CNSA). economic development and create a machinery, cameras, gates and a wide China's first Mars mission is named

32 IN THE NEWS ASIA

Tianwen-1, which means Questions to Telecom, which runs Thailand's Heaven and comes from a poem written by international telecommunications "Optus 11 will add capacity and resilience Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), one of the infrastructure, have announced a joint to our satellite fleet and its unique greatest poets of ancient China. The name satellite business venture. The two capabilities will give our broadcast s i g n i f i e s t h e C h i n e s e n a t i o n ' s companies are partnering to form a joint customers the option to tailor their dynamic perseverance in pursuing truth and venture company that will be called video delivery via IP streaming, and our science and exploring nature and the Nation Space and Technology Company broadband customers can benefit from universe, said the CNSA. Limited. better performance and higher individual throughputs," Optus managing director of "The successful launch is only the first step The aim of the venture, according to the wholesale, satellite, and strategy Ben of China's Mars mission, and we hope partners, is to help strengthen Thailand's White said. each of the many key steps of the long telecommunications infrastructure and to journey is completed successfully," said support the growth of the digital economy "In addition, it will support the Optus mobile Geng Yan, an official at the Lunar industry and satellite industry. The joint network using satellite backhaul and the Exploration and Space Program Center of venture has a registered capital of government's Mobile Black Spot the CNSA. approximately $323,667. The majority Programs. The spacecraft's ground- shareholder is Thaicom, with a 75 percent breaking design is a very exciting The key steps include slowing down close stake. CAT holds the remaining 25 development and software-defined to Mars, orbiting, separating the landing percent. satellites will become the future of this platform and the rover from the orbiter, industry.” landing softly and roving. Although there is so far very little concrete The craft is expected to reach Mars around detail about strategy and investment, The telco has already signed Sky New February 2021. After it enters Mars orbit, it CAT president Colonel Sanpachai Zealand as a customer and added that the will spend two to three months surveying Huvanandana, quoted in regional press satellite's footprint, once in the sky, would potential landing sites using a high- reports, has said that the new company reach from Antarctica to the Cocos Islands, resolution camera to prepare for the will help boost the opportunity to develop and a "vast majority" of the Pacific. landing in May. telecom services via low-earth orbit "It will have the ability to cover oceans (LEO) systems in order to meet previously out of reach to Optus and Chinese researchers Thailand's communication needs in the provide tracking spot beams coverage to future. planes and vessels anywhere within the explore satellite data- In an apparent reference to changing Optus 11 footprint," White said. priorities encouraged by the ongoing driven oceanic forecast coronavirus pandemic, reports suggest Elsewhere on Thursday, Vodafone that the development of technological Australia said it would begin offering a Chinese researchers have achieved services via LEO satellites could benefit 250Mbps NBN plan, as well as a plan progress in intelligent oceanic forecasting people by giving them access to high- labelled Ultra that might offer up to 1Gbps driven by satellite data, according to the speed 5G internet services, IoT and speeds. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). A machine-to-machine technology as well Both plans will have unlimited data, with joint team of researchers developed the as helping in the development of such the 250Mbps plan costing AU$135 each purely satellite data-driven deep learning applications as drone technology and month, and the Ultra AU$155 a month. model for forecasting the evolution of sea remote surgery. Upload speeds for the plans are 25Mbps surface temperature associated with the and 50Mbps, respectively, and are tropical instability wave, said the CAS. Optus signs contract available on NBN's cable and full fibre networks. The team, led by Li Xiaofeng, a researcher for Ku-band sixth of the Institute of Oceanology under the CAS, was composed of professionals from satellite to launch in Bangladeshi startup multiple institutions related to marine 2023 Dataful receives Amazon scientific research. Their study was inspired by available satellite remote Australian telco Optus announced that it grant sensing data and advancements in deep has signed a deal with Airbus Defence learning technology. They have explored and Space for a new OneSat satellite, Bangladeshi startup Dataful, participating key marine data and established a deep that will be known as Optus 11, which is in the final round of the Startup Istanbul learning model to conduct oceanic set to cover Australasia when it is Acceleration Progamme, has received forecasts. launched in 2023. Optus touted the Ku- 5,000 US dollars in a grant from Amazon, band satellite as software-defined, which UNB reports. The grant will be used to The study demonstrates the strong would allow it to be "fully configurable" develop infrastructures of Dataful, potential of the satellite data-driven deep once launched. according to a press release received on learning model as an alternative to "Its location, coverage, bandwidth, and Saturday. traditional numerical models for capacity can be changed in orbit as forecasting oceanic phenomena. The customer demands evolve -- where Amazon also provides this grant when an research result was published in the traditional satellites are limited by on- entrepreneur who has not received any journal Science Advances. ground configurations that cannot be institutional grant applies for it. In that Thai JV to leverage LEO altered after launch," the telco said. case, the amount of the financial grant is Optus 11 will sit in a geostationary orbit, worth 1,000 US dollars in a year. Dataful, satcoms for new and will be the sixth Optus owns. The the country's the first data journalism services company said the new addition would initiative, was recently selected for the final make the size of its satellite fleet the acceleration programme at the Startup Istanbul. Asian satellite operator Thaicom and CAT largest in Australia's history. 33 IN THE NEWS ASIA

An expert jury board, comprising its or website operators may claim.”\ c o n s u m e r s , s p a c e r e s e a r c h members from Europe, the Americas and organisations, leading and emerging the Middle East, had selected eight other A new study on the online content technology companies, venture startups, as well as Dataful, for the final viewing behaviour in Singapore, found capitalists and space agencies from round, out of 54 that participated in the that 17% of Singapore consumers and around the world, it promotes and creates event started from June 24. Dataful was nearly a third (32%) of 18 – 24 year old's, opportunities for accelerating innovation second on the final list. Dataful plans to access streaming piracy websites or and talent development. develop web and mobile apps based on torrent sites. The survey, commissioned open data, easing people's access to by the Asia Video Industry Association's information about services for all sectors. Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and Southern Launch Startup Istanbul received 160,916 conducted by YouGov, also found that prepares for lift off in applications from 166 countries this year. 10% of consumers use an ISD to stream Of them, five, including Dataful's, were pirated content. South Australia from Bangladesh. Despite the unhealthy appetite for The development of small satellite accessing piracy services, the YouGov technologies (SmallSats) has ushered in Singapore High Court survey also found that overwhelming an era of dynamic and responsive space blocks popular piracy majority (86%) of those surveyed systems. Hundreds, and soon recognised that online piracy had thousands, of these small platforms will streaming websites and negative consequences. Other results be launched into Low Earth Orbits (LEO) illicit streaming device showed 53% of online consumers were every year. LEO are ideal for Earth of the view that online piracy increases Observation missions and other near- applications the risk of malware infections on earth activities, including internet with computers and devices, 52% recognised global coverage. Approximately half of The Singapore High Court has granted an that crime groups financially benefit from these SmallSats are projected to be order sought by BBC Studios, Discovery, the stolen content, and 42% were launched into Polar Orbits with the other the Premier League, La Liga and TVB for concerned that piracy puts the livelihood half orbiting around the equator. Singapore's internet service providers to of those who work in the creative industry block access to seventeen (17) domains at risk. According to recent estimates by an associated with popular piracy streaming SSTL study, close to 1000 SmallSats will sites and forty one (41) domains be launched annually from 2025 associated with popular illicit streaming onwards. These satellites will be inserted device (ISD) applications. These apps, Equatorial Space joins into new and existing LEO constellations, which flagrantly infringe copyright by SSTL accelerator offering innovative new services to the acting as gateways to websites or content world while actively limiting the servers streaming pirated content, are programme proliferation of space debris in orbits. preloaded on ISDs, which are overtly sold SmallSats in LEO remain there for less in retail outlets such as Sim Lim Square Singapore's answer to the global small than 3 years before burning up in the and on popular e-markets. launch vehicle movement, Equatorial Earth's atmosphere. Space Systems, joins Singapore Space Piracy streaming websites and the illicit & Technology Ltd (SSTL)'s Space-based Historically, launch sites have been streaming device (ISD) ecosystem Accelerator Programme. The is set to constructed closer to the equator to impacts all businesses involved in the provide regional space and deep tech support large satellites launches into production and distribution of legitimate startups with insights, skill sets and equatorial orbit. However, direct launch content. Configuring ISDs with resources to become commercially to polar orbit is achieved most efficiently applications to stream content from illegal viable, and leverages SSTL's deep from launch sites nearer the poles, which content servers allows consumers to space industry network to assist startups have minimal interference from aviation access unauthorised premium TV with high-growth potential. But for the and maritime traffic. channels, live sports channels and movies Founder and CEO of Equatorial Space, for the one-off price of the ISD and (often) Simon Gwozdz, this is more than Southern Launch, founded in 2017, is a yearly subscription to access the business - it's personal. developing a multi-user launch complex content. The retail sale of the ISD and the at the tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South advertising revenue from piracy websites “I remember attending the presentation Australia, offering a turn-key launch goes into the pockets of criminal day of the Singapore Space Challenge service solution to polar and sun- syndicates and individuals who all benefit back in 2015. I was looking for a way into synchronous orbit. In addition to from the spoils of such a crime. the ecosystem and SSC looked like a providing the complete launch good place to start. Some of the SSTL's infrastructure, Southern Launch has the Neil Gane, the General Manager of AVIA's staff had a chat with me, and decided to ability to undertake flight and range Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) “The give me a shot at volunteering at their safety, vehicle design, avionics content industry will make every effort to events. That's how I got the insights and componentry and assist with launch prevent and disrupt the illegal feeds of live contacts essential to starting Equatorial permitting and other support services. sports, TV channels and VOD content Space,” he says. The year-round temperate weather which are being monetised by crime SSTL is active in the space industry, coupled with the highly skilled local syndicates. Consumers who buy ISDs or spearheading the adoption of space- workforce and a robust logistics supply access piracy streaming sites are not only related technologies, and fostering network enables a launch site that offers funding crime groups, but also wasting p a r t n e r s h i p s b e t w e e n v a r i o u s high cadence launch operations at cost their time and money when the channels stakeholders to promote and grow the competitive prices. and websites stop working. Piracy regional space ecosystem. Through services do not come with a 'service hosting global meets that involve The growing global demand for launch guarantee', no matter what the ISD seller services and a world class launch

34 IN THE NEWS ASIA

location has attracted several early APSAT incorporated in Shenzhen, has investors, with Southern Launch running Pacific been involved in orbital spectrum an oversubscribed seed funding round at resources, payload design, manufacture the end of 2019 with a larger Series A Av-Comm, in partnership with Intelsat, supervision, and overseas gateways round to be finalised in coming months. has restored critical communications to construction works for APSTAR-6D. With a highly skilled team drawing on remote communities as part of the United previous experience with the Australian N a t i o n s E m e r g e n c y Department of Defence, commercial Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) l a u n c h p r o v i d e r s , a n d g l o b a l responding to the April 2020 landfall of Thaicom and CAT infrastructure companies, the Southern Tropical Cyclone Harold on the Solomon announce satellite Launch team offers unique capabilities to Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga. enable safe, secure, and efficient launch business JV operations. With extensive damage to primary infrastructure, the many unique Thaicom Public Company Limited and Southern Launch have signed a number communities throughout the region were CAT Telecom Public Company Limited of agreements with launch service disconnected from vital communications announced a satellite business joint p r o v i d e r s a n d l a u n c h v e h i c l e when telephone, internet, television, and venture in order to strengthen Thailand's manufacturers from around the world, broadcast radio networks were cut off, telecommunications infrastructure and to including companies based in South leaving more than 300,000 people support the growth of the digital economy Korea, Singapore, Germany, USA, disconnected from vital emergency and satellite industries. Canada, Poland and the Netherlands. information. The two companies are partnering to form While some launch service providers are A v - C o m m p r o v i d e d t e l e p o r t a joint venture company called 'Nation looking for a launch site for their maiden infrastructure and services for a network Space and Technology Company (test) flights, looking further ahead, all of VSAT terminals deployed close to Limited'. The joint venture has a customers have recognized the heavily affected areas in Santo, Malekula registered capital of Baht 10 million. incredible potential of the Whalers Way and Pentecost, to assist the United Thaicom holds a 75 percent stake, location for regular commercial launches, Nations and NGO teams in the recovery whereas CAT holds a 25 percent stake in and the cost effective and efficient and rebuilding of critical community the joint venture. services offered them by Southern infrastructure. Launch's complete launch service Anant Kaewruamvongs, Thaicom Chief solution. Successful launch of Executive Officer, commented: “The announcement of a new joint venture APSTAR-6D satellite company, Nation Space and Technology Co., Ltd., will enhance the strategic Chinese tracking ship APSTAR-6D satellite has been partnership between the two companies. Yuanwang-6 sets sail successfully launched on the CZ-3B/E Thaicom has long experience and rocket at Xichang Satellite Launch expertise in the satellite industry. on monitoring missions Center. After half hour flight, APSTAR-6D Together with CAT's extensive know-how separated from the rocket's 3rd stage, in providing digital solutions, the two China's space tracking ship Yuanwang-6 completed the first deployment of the companies will leverage advanced departed from a port in east China's solar array, and entered into transfer satellite services and solutions for various Jiangsu Province Monday for multiple orbit. In the following days, the satellite applications and the digital industry. We spacecraft monitoring missions. will conduct multiple orbit raises, solar believe this strategic alliance between Yuanwang-6, the third-generation array second deployment and antenna Thaicom and CAT will lay the foundation Yuanwang space tracking ship, will carry deployment. After completing the in-orbit for a long-term partnership and a out missions in the Pacific Ocean, the test, it will commission service at the sustainable growth of the country's Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. It orbital slot of 134°E. telecommunication services.” will complete a one-way voyage of more APT Mobile Satcom Limited (“APSAT”) than 10,000 nautical miles and operate at owns and operates APSTAR-6D satellite, Colonel Sanpachai Huvanandana, sea for 100 days. which is the first satellite of “Global High- president of CAT Telecom, commented: This is the first time for a Yuanwang ship throughput Broadband Satellite “In today's world, where satellite to perform missions in the three oceans Communication System”, as envisaged communications become increasingly during a single voyage. Yang Bianjiao, by APSAT. Based on the DFH-4E necessary, we must continue to push captain of Yuanwang-6, said crew p l a t f o r m , A P S T A R - 6 D w a s forward the development of satellite members had conducted drills, devised manufactured by China Academy of technology. As the country's leading action plans and inspected facilities Space Technology. The satellite has digital and telecommunications service before the voyage. The ship has totally 90 Ku-band service spot-beams provider, CAT is well prepared to meet the completed an overhaul, maritime with single beam capacity of more than needs of consumers. The establishment calibration tests, equipment precision 1Gbps, and total capacity of 50Gbps. of this joint venture company will help to appraisals and two satellite maritime APSTAR-6D satellite is capable of increase the opportunity to develop monitoring missions this year. Nearly 70 providing hundreds of Mbps broadband telecom services via Low Earth Orbit percent of the crew have been working on services for airlines, or thousands of satellite systems in order to meet all kinds the ship for over 160 days. Mbps broadband services for maritime of future communications throughout ships and cruise ships, so that it can meet Thailand.” Restoring a l l t y p e s o f m o b i l e s a t e l l i t e Thaicom and CAT realize that the COVID- communication, as well as satellite 19 pandemic is resulting in drastic communications broadband connection needs in the Asia- changes in people's lifestyles. Both public lifelines to the South Pacific region. and private organizations are increasingly APT Satellite, as the co-founder of adapting to digital technology, which is IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

Maxar renews four supporting advanced workflows for extensive trials by Airbus and GRC remote editing and news production together with the customer, ensuring multi-million dollar teams. terminals were robust enough and able to provide the required Committed International defense “Every improvement Dalet has made Information Rate (CIR) to the user, on a and intelligence has the end-user in mind to help with high-throughput service using Ka-band agility and efficiency with remote satellite capability. contracts production. This is critical when a Incorporating GRC's mag-mount journalist is working against the clock, system, the Microsat can be securely Maxar Technologies announced it where every keystroke counts while mounted as a walk-on-fit, without renewed four contracts and expanded a working from their home office or any permanent vehicle modifications, fifth contract in the second quarter of remote location,” states Bea Alonso, allowing users to be connected within 2020–together valued at more than $120 director of product marketing, Dalet. minutes and be moved between million–with international defense and “Our digital-first product strategy vehicles as required. intelligence customers for uninterrupted focuses on mobility and flexibility. Dalet access to Maxar's current satellite On-the-Go and remote news production Richard Budd, Head of the UK & US constellation. These contracts, including a solutions, like Dalet Galaxy xCloud, Secure Communications business at one-year agreement and four multi-year empower journalists, reporters and chief Airbus said: “Providing this high- agreements, will allow the customers to editors with the technology they need to throughput SatCom on the Move continue serving their countries' national pivot, remain productive and keep telling capability is an exciting and innovative security and domestic missions, natural vital stories.” development. This capability will ensure disaster responses and maritime that users can enjoy hi-speed data rates surveillance. One customer has also Available from Apple's App Store and while on the move. Our experts work contracted Maxar to upgrade its satellite Google Play, the latest release of Dalet together with the end-users to ensure ground station and antenna. “Maxar is On-the-Go connects journalists, requirements are fully met reinforcing committed to serving our strategic reporters and chief editors to the our long running services partnerships.” international defense and intelligence newsroom enabling them to manage Airbus and GRC will also deliver a full customers with access to mission-critical assignments, story development, training package to users in addition to satellite imagery through the Direct review and approval, rundowns, ongoing 24/7 support offered through its Access Program” planning, status and contact search, all experienced and trusted engineering remotely. Users can easily access their teams. Dalet announces key Dalet Galaxy five catalog of video, Steve Slater, Managing Director at GRC audio, scripts and wires. Advanced said “This contract means a lot to GRC mobility advancements content contribution capabilities and and its staff who as an SME are for ne+- templates let users record media and delighted to be delivering a significant craft stories quickly mixing local media and much needed capability. The ws operations together with remote content stored terminals being delivered are also within the Dalet Galaxy five system. suitable for maritime use and therefore Dalet, a leading provider of solutions and Dalet's smart upload features guard are able to fit wider needs.” \ services for broadcasters and content a g a i n s t c o n n e c t i v i t y i s s u e s , professionals, announced major mobility reconnecting to the upload exactly Donald Walker, Director of Government enhancements for the management, where it left off when necessary. A Sales at Avanti: “We've worked hard with performance and user experience of feature-rich teleprompter supports on- GRC and Get SAT to prove that Avanti's remote newsroom operations. Meeting the the-fly reporting while tickers, wires and high throughput Ka-band satellites and needs of the growing number of journalists chat messages keep staff connected to these very small terminals can deliver and news producers working remotely, information and late-breaking news. genuine capability enhancements to Dalet has made major usability critical end user groups. We're delighted improvements to its Dalet On-the-Go to add this Land and Maritime “Satellite mobile app for smartphones and tablets, Airbus, GRC, Avanti on The Move” capability into our boosting the collaborative experience and Get SAT to provide portfolio.” between remote journalists and the high-speed, secure newsroom with advanced content Northrop Grumman contribution and remote planning satcom-on-the-move capabilities through a brand new, modern delivers three GEM 63 UI. connectivity Advancements to the underlying Dalet rocket motors for ULA Galaxy five news production and Airbus Defence and Space, GRC Ltd., Atlas V distribution platform bring powerful remote Avanti Communications Group plc and editing features like cloud-based “edit Get SAT Ltd. have signed a significant Northrop Grumman Corporation has while record” and support for modern contract to deliver high-speed, secure delivered three of its 63-inch-diameter open-source communications frameworks satcom-on-the-move connectivity to a Graphite Epoxy Motors (GEM 63) for to accelerate secure content exchange UK customer. GRC have partnered with United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Atlas V across multisite and distributed Airbus to deliver hardware, training and rocket. The three motors were shipped newsrooms operations. Dalet Galaxy support for GetSatMicrosat terminals on from the Northrop Grumman facility in xCloud, the dedicated, cloud-hosted Avanti airtime, allowing users to access Magna to Cape Canaveral Air Force system managed by Dalet as a full SaaS high-speed voice and data in some of Station in Florida, and will be used as service, also benefits from these the most challenging environments on strap-on boosters to augment thrust on enhancements and connects securely the planet. Atlas V. with your existing on-premises system, The solution was selected following 36 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

The GEM 63 rocket motors were “Micro, small and medium sized led our partner to provide an 18-month developed under a cooperative businesses are the heart and soul of extension to the managed service agreement with ULA for the Atlas V Mexico's local communities,” said Marcos contract.” vehicle. Each motor contributes a Duarte, director of sales and operations, maximum thrust of 373,000 pounds to the Hughes Mexico. “These doctors, dentists, launch with up to five GEM 63 motors architects, veterinarians, lawyers, BlackSky awarded U.S. being able to support a single Atlas V accountants, farms, hotels, shops and Air Force contract to launch. restaurants need to be connected in “Designing a drop-in solution for an today's world, and HughesNet for track global COVID-19 existing vehicle is no easy feat,” said Business meets that need with speed and impact on military Charlie Precourt, vice president, reliability.” propulsion systems, Northrop Grumman. With speeds of 25 Mbps down and 3 readiness “As ULA's largest legacy supplier, we have Mbps up, HughesNet for Business is been providing rocket propulsion to ULA suitable for web surfing, social media BlackSky has been awarded a U.S. Air and its heritage companies since 1964 marketing, online banking, sending and Force contract through AFWERX and the and we are pleased to continue our receiving email and more. In addition, the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to partnership with this new generation service comes with built-in Wi-Fi to monitor the efficacy of COVID-19 motor.” connect multiple devices to the Internet. mitigation efforts worldwide. The number-one satellite Internet service A series of motor ground tests beginning in in the world, HughesNet arrived in Mexico The contract calls for BlackSky to monitor September 2018 satisfied requirements in October 2019, and serves the needs of overseas U.S. military bases and help for certification by the United States Air millions of consumers and business in the maintain secure supply chains using its Force and ULA. The first flight of Atlas V U.S., Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador Spectra artificial intelligence and machine that will utilize three GEM 63 rocket motors and Peru. learning platform. Near-real time global is expected to launch later this year. monitoring capabilities will track the The GEM family of strap-on motors was spread of COVID-19 to ensure the developed starting in the early 1980s with Gilat selected to extend protection of deployed personnel, and the GEM 40, supporting 132 Delta II and expand managed secure critical nodes of the supply chain. launches. The company also developed BlackSky's Spectra platform will leverage the GEM 46, which used 54 motors to service cellular state-of-the-art image exploitation support six successful missions of the backhaul project by a techniques to automatically analyze Delta II Heavy. Northrop Grumman later anomalies and monitor the application of developed the GEM 60, which retired with leading mobile operator social distancing. These measurements 100 percent success in August 2019 with in Mexico will then be correlated against the 86 motors flown over 26 Delta IV launches. reported infection numbers coming from Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., a worldwide local governments and integrated into the Hughes launches high- leader in satellite networking technology, latest epidemiology models to predict the solutions and services, announces that risk to deployed U.S. Air Force personnel speed satellite internet Gilat received an extension for an 18- and the surrounding communities. service for micro, small month managed service cellular backhaul project from a leading Mobile Network “BlackSky is giving decision makers the and medium-sized Operator (MNO) in Mexico. crucial information they need to protect enterprises in Mexico U.S. interests at home and overseas amid The leading MNO will provide 3G and 4G today's rapidly shifting threat landscape,” Hughes Network Systems, LLC, the world services over Gilat's satellite backhaul to said Brian O'Toole, CEO of BlackSky. “By leader in broadband satellite technology remote regions where terrestrial means combining global geospatial data sources and services, has announced the launch such as fiber and microwave are not with satellite remote sensing data, of HughesNet® for Business in Mexico. A available. In addition, Gilat's satellite Spectra provides a near-real time look at high-speed, satellite Internet service platform will allow the mobile operator to the evolving pandemic and provides designed for micro, small and medium- use transportable VSATs, for disaster critical insights to inform national sized enterprises (MSMEs), the recovery, thus ensuring connectivity security.” HughesNet for Business service is now anywhere in Mexico at all times. The available to 97% of Mexico, including capacity increase of 40% will enable Gilat The major economies of the world have places where fiber and cable Internet are to provide a superior end-to-end solution experienced the impact of the rapid onset not available. for the operator to expand its service into of the coronavirus. BlackSky will help remote villages cost-effectively. critical components of the defense The National Institute of Statistics and industrial supply chain recover by Geography (INEGI) measures Internet "We are pleased to strengthen our monitoring logistics depots, maintenance penetration in rural communities at only relationship with our partner and to facilities, petroleum reserves, and airport 23%, compared to 65% in urban areas – continue to provide quality end-to-end facilities. BlackSky will provide alerts and putting MSMEs in remote areas at a service and high performance with our notifications when changes in activity competitive disadvantage. Add to that the leading technology, providing excellent level or other anomalies are observed. demand for connectivity across Mexico spectral efficiency," said Tobias Dezordi, “It is imperative to have transparency into has risen dramatically due to the COVID- Regional Vice President Latin America at the status of critical nodes of the supply 19 pandemic, with more business owners Gilat. chain for planning purposes. With turning to the Internet to conduct “This project is a testament not only to BlackSky's global monitoring capability, marketing, sales, customer service and Gilat's ongoing technological leadership the U.S. Air Force can maintain a watchful daily operations like accounting and but also to Gilat's local presence and eye over its supply chain,” said O'Toole. payroll. expertise in delivering a highly reliable “Spectra will provide the Air Force an easy service, meeting rigorous SLAs, that has to use outbreak monitoring and decision

37 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

support tool. The platform will help us the contract is more than £500 million. Government focused subsidiary of combat the spread of COVID-19, manage Richard Franklin, Airbus Defence and Network Innovations has successfully risk and ensure the protection of personnel Space UK Managing Director said: introduced the HORNET Ku VSAT into around the globe.” “Airbus is extremely proud to be awarded their customer base as a fully-integrated Rocket Lab mission fails this critical UK defence contract MAVERICK flyaway system with continuing our long tradition as the UK embedded modem for ease of transport to reach orbit national milsatcom end-to-end services and use. Following a successful lift-off, first stage provider. Satellite manufacturing, linked The fully scalable MAVERICK VSAT burn, and stage separation, Rocket Lab to support services, is a critical service provides efficient and flexible experienced an anomaly during its 13th component of the Government-industry services to VSATs, running on multiple Electron mission. The issue occurred UK space strategy and this contract satellites and supporting different approximately four minutes into the flight on underpins the UK MOD's and industry's frequencies and path beams. July 4, 2020 and resulted in the safe loss of lead position in this sector. Building this This network is ideally suited to the the vehicle. As a result, the payloads military satellite will, like Skynet 5, lead to Paradigm HORNETKu, Paradigm's onboard Electron were not deployed to significant export opportunities in the rugged portable PIM (Paradigm orbit. Electron remained within the years ahead, growing high value Interface Module) -based VSAT predicted launch corridors and caused no manufacturing jobs and supporting a terminal. The field proven HORNETKu harm to personnel or the launch site. diverse supply chain in this increasingly provides a single satcom solution for Rocket Lab is working closely with the FAA important sector. m a n y d i f f e r e n t o p e r a t i o n a l to investigate the anomaly and identify its requirements. The HORNETKu is root cause to correct the issue to move “This contract for 6A demonstrates the environmentally rugged, yet still forward. strong working partnership we have with lightweight and crucially, even the UK MOD, built on the success we have largest 100cm variant can be packed “We are deeply sorry to our customers jointly achieved on the Skynet 5 system into a single airline-friendly case. Spaceflight Inc., Canon Electronics Inc., since 2003. Airbus is fully committed to The HORNETKu integrates the easy-to- Planet, and In-Space Missions for the loss d e l i v e r i n g w o r l d - c l a s s m i l i t a r y use and field-proven PIM, which allows of their payloads. We know many people communications services to our Armed any non-skilled user to point the antenna poured their hearts and souls into those Forces across the globe, and look in just a few minutes. spacecraft. Today's anomaly is a reminder forward to delivering this step change in that space launch can be unforgiving, but capability to the MOD,” he continued. The PIM controller provides the modem, we will identify the issue, rectify it, and be Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “A baseband switching, assisted pointing safely back on the pad as soon as possible,” new, more advanced satellite capability and setup functions for the HORNET said Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and will provide continued communications and comes with a built-in visual crosshair CEO. “The launch team operated with support to the UK deployed forces for and audio pointing device. As well as professionalism and expertise to implement many years. British defence must making pointing straightforward for any systems and procedures that ensured the continue to innovate and transform, user, the PIM supports Power over anomaly was managed safely. I'm proud of particularly in cyber and space. Ethernet devices and provides a the way they have responded to a tough Investment in first-class equipment like multitude of services to the end user - day. We're working together as a team to this new Skynet satellite will keep us safe from VLAN setup and management to comb through the data, learn from today, from the threats we face both now and in smart auto-selecting of AC and DC and prepare for our next mission.” the future.” power interfaces. Today's anomaly occurred after 11 MAVERICK provides flexibility of consecutive successful orbital launches of The Skynet 5 programme, managed by service, bandwidth on demand and state the Electron launch vehicle. Rocket Lab Airbus, has provided the UK MOD with a of the art coding and modulation to currently has more than eight Electron suite of highly robust, reliable and secure ensure customers enjoy the benefits of vehicles in production, ready for a rapid military communications services, increased link stability. With true return to flight as soon as investigations are supporting global operations since 2003. dynamic bandwidth allocation, complete and any required corrective Airbus has been involved in all Skynet MAVERICK services can be shared actions are in place. phases since 1974 and this phase builds across fleets of HORNETKu terminals, on a strong UK commitment to space adding and deploying to new sites as manufacturing in the UK. The recent needed. Airbus signs contract programme commenced by using the with UK Ministry of legacy Skynet 4 satellites and then Starlink satellite Defence for Skynet 6A augmenting them with a fully refurbished ground network before launching the internet beta imminent satellite Skynet 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D satellites between 2007 and 2012. as Elon Musk confirms Airbus Defence and Space has signed a dish details contract with the UK Ministry of Defence Paradigm's Hornetku (MOD) to extend and enhance the Skynet New details about SpaceX'sStarlink fleet. This will involve the development, now approved on satellite internet service have emerged, manufacture, cyber protection, assembly, Maverick with the company confirming that a integration, test and launch, of a military private beta program is set to kick off this communications satellite, Skynet 6A, Paradigm is pleased to announce that summer. planned for launch in 2025. The contract their tough, portable and compact Bypassing traditional wireline internet also covers technology development HORNETKu VSAT is now approved and providers, Starlink will instead use a programmes, new secure telemetry, fully qualified for use on the Network network of satellites that SpaceX has tracking and command systems, launch, in- Innovations Group's MAVERICK VSAT been gradually deploying. So far, around orbit testing and ground segment updates service. NIC4, the U.S. 600 are in orbit. to the current Skynet 5 system. The value of Beyond internal testing, though,

38 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

Starlink's actual service hasn't been several countries in Latin America, operational orbit," said Tonya Ladwig, available to the public. Potential including Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, and Lockheed Martin's Acting Vice President for customers have been able to register Chile, among others. Navigation Systems. "Once it arrives, we'll their details by entering their ZIP code HISPASAT and Syntelix provide send the satellite commands to deploy its for some time now, but actual paid comprehensive end-to-end connectivity solar arrays and antennas, and prepare the service hasn't gone live. services to all types of boats: yachts, satellite for handover to Space Operations Now, Starlink looks to be one step closer fishing boats, cruise ships, merchant and Command.” to that happening. In an email to passenger ferries, and river transport registered potential customers, the boats, all segments with high potential for After on-orbit testing, GPS III SV03 is company has requested address details growth due to their emerging and expected to join the GPS constellation – beyond just ZIP code, Engadget reports. unstoppable digitalisation. Thanks to this including GPS III SV01 and SV02, which According to the message, a private satellite connectivity, the crews and were declared operational in January and beta will launch this summer, followed passengers on these boats can access the April – in providing positioning, navigation by a public beta. Internet, be in contact with their families, and timing signals for more than four billion Exactly who can take part in either of and enjoy TV and onboard entertainment military, civil and commercial users. those stages – and the equipment they'll services, while the solution also reinforces Lockheed Martin designed GPS III to help use – has been unearthed separately, emergency, security and corporate the Space Force modernize the GPS however. Reddit users Bubby4j and services communications to optimise fleet constellation with new technology and lgats went digging through the management. capabilities. The new GPS IIIs provide three Starlinksite, and managed to extract not times better accuracy and up to eight times only an FAQ shedding more detail on Diego Lopez, the Strategic Sales Manager improved anti-jamming capabilities over any how the betas will run, but images of the at HISPASAT, has ensured that “the previous GPS satellite. They also offer a new Starlink antenna. mobility market, and in particular the L1C civil signal, which is compatible with maritime sector, will continue growing at a other international global navigation satellite Initially only those in the Northern United good pace in upcoming years, and is systems, like Europe's Galileo, to improve States and Lower Canada, along with undoubtedly a priority market for Hispasat. civilian user connectivity. those in rural or remote communities in Collaboration agreements like the one we the Washington State area, will be able are renewing and expanding with Syntelix GPS III also continues the Space Force's to take part. That's because of where are essential in order to offer high-quality plan to field M-Code, a more-secure, harder- Starlink's satellites are positioned. Beta communications services in our areas of to-jam and spoof GPS signal for our military members will also need to guarantee a coverage". forces. GPS III SV03 brings the number of clear view of the northern sky, “between On behalf of Syntelix, Carlos Derqui, the M-Code enabled satellites to 22 in the 31- 44 and 52 degrees north latitude,” company's co-founder and CEO, added satellite GPS constellation. Starlink explains. that “we have been partners with Hispasat "As a nation, we use GPS signals every day - for seven years during which we have - they time-stamp all our financial provided continual and efficient growth, transactions, they make aviation safe, they HISPASAT expands the serving hundreds different types of boats. make precision farming possible, and so agreement with We have an exciting journey together much more. GPS has become a critical part ahead of us”. of our national infrastructure. In fact, the U.S. SYNTELIX to offer economic benefit of GPS is estimated to be satellite connectivity to over $300 billion per year and $1.4 trillion Third Lockheed Martin- since its inception," added Ladwig. the maritime sector in Built GPS III Satellite "Continued investment in modernizing GPS – updating technology, improving its the Mediterranean and Now Climbing To Orbit capabilities – is well worth it.” Latin America On Its Own Power Lockheed Martin is proud to be a part of the HISPASAT and Syntelix have extended Lockheed Martin built GPS III satellite is GPS III team led by the Space Production their agreement until 2022 to strengthen now headed to orbit under its own Corps Medium Earth Orbit Division, at the their growth in the European and propulsion. The satellite has separated Space Force's Space and Missile Systems American maritime market. The from its rocket and is using onboard power Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base. The agreement allows Syntelix to expand its to climb to its operational orbit, GPS Operational Control Segment multiregional capacity over the approximately 12,550 miles above the sustainment is managed by the Enterprise American coverage of the H30W-6 Earth. Corps, GPS Sustainment Division at satellite, located in the 30º West orbital GPS III Space Vehicle 03 (GPS III SV03) is Peterson Air Force Base. The 2nd Space position, in order to attend to the responding to commands from U.S. Space Operations Squadron, at Schriever Air Force growing demand in the region, Force and Lockheed Martin engineers in Base, manages and operates the GPS principally coming from the fishing and the Launch & Checkout Center at the constellation for both civil and military users. coastal merchant sector (freight ferries) company's Denver facility. There, they that operates throughout the Southern declared rocket booster separation and Skydweller announces Cone, as well as yachts that sail in the satellite control about 90 minutes after the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. satellite's 4:10 p.m. EST launch aboard a Oklahoma City as U.S. SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Corporate Headquarters The agreement also reinforces the Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. cooperation between the two Skydweller Aero Inc., a U.S.-Spanish companies by implementing a shared "In the coming days, GPS III SV03's aerospace company developing renewably action plan in order to build and develop onboard liquid apogee engines will powered aircraft for defense and specialised distribution channels in continue to propel the satellite towards its commercial industries, announced the maritime connectivity services in

39 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

establishment of their corporate ViasatInc.nannounced its high-speed leading industries with WAN, LAN, Point headquarters and engineering ViasatKa-band in-flight connectivity (IFC) to Point microwave and VoIP over operations in Oklahoma City and testing business aviation service will be satellite; including PBX services, Firewall and integration in Ardmore, Oklahoma. available aboard new and in-service and managed services, all integrated Skydweller plans to increase operations Bombardier Challenger 350 aircraft, as through their Network Operations Center to 120 aerospace engineering and field well as on in-service Challenger 300 and Teleport in Mississauga, ON. technician jobs in Oklahoma by 2024. aircraft. The Viasat service will provide an “Since embedding Xiplink's virtual "It has been my pleasure to work closely enhanced internet experience over the software into our servers, our customers with the leadership team at Skydweller, most heavily traveled flight routes and are seeing increases of 30% more uplink and I am thrilled they have decided to regions. Viasat service packages offer the capacity, plus 3 times faster downloads” locate their new headquarters in fastest available download speeds in the states James Derwinsky, COO of Galaxy Oklahoma. Our state's commitment to super mid-size business jet segment, Broadband Communications. “We are aviation and aerospace makes enabling passengers and crew to impressed with the affordability and Oklahoma City an ideal choice for a simultaneously enjoy data-rich, business- p e r f o r m a n c e i m p r o v e m e n t o u r c u t t i n g - e d g e c o m p a n y w i t h a critical productivity and entertainment customers are experiencing. Our ability commitment to advancing the industry. At apps from video-conferencing and to integrate XipLink software into current a time when job creation and economic accessing VPN/cloud content to email, solutions dramatically contributes to the growth are so vital, we are excited that high-definition streaming services, live TV ROI for our clients using Accelerator Skydweller will be hiring our bright and more. ProService. Integrating the Xiplink engineers and helping to enrich our Viasat recently announced it removed technology into our networks is a game state's economy," said Governor Kevin internet speed limits delivered to the changer” comments Derwinsky. Stitt. aircraft across all of its business aviation Xiplink compliments and enhances Founded in 2017, Skydweller recently Ka-band service plans. The move G a l a x y ' s a l r e a d y s u p e r i o r closed a Series A funding round in represents an industry-first and provides communication services with WAN September 2019. The company currently an entirely new premium IFC experience acceleration and optimization to provide has offices in the Washington, D.C. area, for its Ka-band business jet customers. their customers in remote, sometimes, Madrid and Valdepeñas, Spain. This The new service plans offer uncapped extreme remote locations, the same rapidly growing multi-national startup will speeds made possible by the world's voice and data service they have come to be recruiting top-tier aerospace and highest-capacity satellite network expect in their home or office. “Xiplink is software engineering talent to further the combined with Viasat's compact and excite d about this new relationship that development and deployment of their lightweight hardware. In recent speed will expand our distribution, exposure ultra-persistent, unmanned aircraft in tests, and customer base across Canada,” both locations over the coming years. says Jack Waters, CEO, XipLink. “XipOS Viasat customers have seen 40 Mbps and offers multi - layer compression, "Skydweller was founded to develop higher download speeds across the new a c c e l e r a t i o n a n d Q o S f o r a l l ultra-persistent aircraft to enable the next service plans, allowing for a more enriched HTTP/TCP/UDP or any IP traffic type so generation of connectivity and global in-flight connectivity experience. will benefit all of Galaxy 's customers that insights," said CEO Dr. Robert Miller. "Our goal is to give passengers flying on align perfectly to our core markets.” "We are honored to be moving our Bombardier Challenger aircraft an Waters added. corporate headquarters to Oklahoma, enhanced connectivity experience following in the footsteps of Oklahoma through all phases of flight," said Claudio aviation titans like Wiley Post. D'Amico, business area director, Business VSE Aviation Oklahoma's inspired and dedicated Aviation, Viasat. "We're confident our new announces distribution engineering talent will help make our Ka-band service offerings will deliver a no- vision a reality." compromise, premium, home-like agreement with "Skydweller has chosen the right state for connectivity experience for Bombardier's Honeywell Aerospace their new headquarters and testing super mid-size business jets.” facility," US Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) said. "Because of our state's remarkable VSE Aviation subsidiary has entered into skilled workforce, Skydweller will be an XipLink, Galaxy an exclusive, two-year distribution excellent addition to our aerospace broadband agreement with Honeywell Aerospace. industry, producing cutting edge Under the terms of the agreement, VSE unmanned aviation technology for our communications partner will be the exclusive distributor of military. I am confident that this facility will to bring enhanced Honeywell's LASEREF IV Inertial benefit our economy and our military Reference System, in addition to its next- both now, and in the future.” Customers services g e n e r a t i o n J e t W a v e s a t e l l i t e communications hardware in both the Xiplink announced an exciting partnership Americas and Asia Pacific regions. VSE with Galaxy Broadband Communications. expects to sell system units under both Viasat brings enhanced These two market leaders have combined programs beginning in the third quarter forces to provide unapparelled 2020. cabin connectivity to performance, customer experience and Bombardier Challenger reliability by integrating XiplinkXipOS The Honeywell Aerospace LASEREF IV optimization software into the Galaxy Multi inertial reference system is a navigation 300 and Challenger 350 - Satellite, Microwave and LTE Hybrid device supporting key business and Business Jets Neetworks. general aviation platforms. LASEREF IV Galaxy is Canada's premier remote is an all-digital ring laser gyro-based communications specialist supplying inertial reference system providing IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

ARINC 429 and aircraft standard investment builds on an existing set of technology. communication outputs. The LASEREF space achievements by Costa Rica, in GuardStack software suite is an end-to- IV uses the industry standard GG1320 human space flight as well as in end encrypted mobile communication digital gyro across a wide range of aircraft satellites, and opens up opportunities for system and self-controlled digital service platforms for Bombardier, Hawker, our nation in the growing new space platform including all components, from Dassault, Cessna and Gulfstream. sector," continued President Alvarado. Android applications to 4G and 5G ready m o b i l e n e t w o r k c o m m u n i c a t i o n H o n e y w e l l ' s J e t Wa v e S a t e l l i t e The story of LeoLabs' decision to locate infrastructure with legacy and tactical Communications terminals provide in- its next radar in Costa Rica is also the radio interworking. GuardStackMeshFlow flight Ka-band global broadband service. result of a longstanding relationship provides seamless service mobility even Operating on the Inmarsat Global between two former NASA astronauts, during handover and backbone Express network, the JetWave system is LeoLabs executive and co-founder, Dr. connection loss in MANET scenarios. designed to provide seamless, Edward Lu, and Ad Astra CEO and co- The GuardStack Platform integrates broadband-class data connectivity founder, Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz, both of various transmission and radio access worldwide. The hardware and network whom went on to found innovative technologies while leveraging a vendor are optimized for mobility, providing an technology businesses. In the Spring of and technology agnostic secure outstanding passenger connectivity 2019, Dr. Lu reached out to his longtime middleware. In addition, the GuardStack experience. As a distributor of JetWave colleague, Dr. Chang Diaz, to discuss the Platform dynamically adapts the ever- equipment, VSE Aviation supplies Boeing advantages of building a radar in Costa changing network topology according to and Airbus business jets in the Americas Rica. "From our mutual experience in the mission situation—without requiring and Asia Pacific with antennas, antenna space, Dr. Lu and I were both excited user intervention. Services are controllers, modems and router about the opportunity to address the automatically calibrated according to components hardware. threat to human spaceflight posed by availability and bandwidth capacity. “VSE has served as a trusted supplier of space debris," said Dr. Chang Diaz. "The With an emphasis on interoperability, Honeywell systems and components for project in Costa Rica offered us the operation, and security, GuardStack has more than 20 years,” stated John Cuomo, chance to increase safety of flight in been engineered to fulfill the unique and President and CEO of VSE Corporation. space and enable responsible stringent requirements of the First “ T h i s a g r e e m e n t r e p r e s e n t s a stewardship to drive our mission of Responder, Homeland Security, Defense, continuation of our long-term partnership, preserving critical ecosystems." Private 4G/5G and Intelligence one that ensures that our customers have "We are very appreciative of the Communities. Through IMPRES, access to the leading inertial reference partnership with Ad Astra in making this GuardStack is now available to procure in systems and in-flight connectivity happen," said Dr. Lu. "One of the the United States. As an extension of our technology available in the market. We priorities for LeoLabs is to locate its next corporate partnership, IMPRES offers are pleased to support the distribution of radar in an environment where there is a post-sale support, warranty, and these innovative technologies to our national and strategic commitment to the maintenance services for the entire global business and general aviation space industry. We were especially GuardStack software suite. customers.” encouraged by the knowledge and "GuardStack is the only solution that support from the government of Costa provides for a secure, portable, fully Rica through its Ministry of Science and i n d e p e n d e n t I T n e t w o r k a n d LeoLabs selects Costa Technology and Ministry of Energy and communications platform that combines Environment." cellular data networks with legacy radio Rica as site for next "Today's announcement is a significant and satellite signals to deliver a generation space radar step for LeoLabs, as this initiative in decentralized, tactical networking Costa Rica will integrate into a growing solution," said Robert Osborne, CTO of network of radars and nations around the IMPRES. "Our partnership enables "We are delighted to be working with an globe committed to space sustainability" IMPRES to bring to market the most robust incredible team in Costa Rica, and proud said Dan Ceperley, CEO and co-founder solution available to an audience of US to bring the first commercial phased-array of LeoLabs. "We are grateful for the Government IT customers with both radar to the equatorial region," said Mike opportunity and look forward to diverse and intricate needs.” Nicolls, LeoLabs Chief Technology implementing this vision.” Officer and co-founder. "This improves our coverage of equatorial and low Comtech IMPRES Technology inclination orbits, filling a critical gap for Telecommunications tracking satellites and space debris." Solutions, Inc. and LeoLabs' Costa Rica radar will be Corp. awarded $1.5 Blackned GmbH Unveil capable of tracking small debris down to million of orders from 2cm and work in concert with LeoLabs' GuardStark Software other radars. international space and Suite This announcement also reflects the communications priorities of the Costa Rican government. IMPRES Technology Solutions, Inc., a customer "We welcome LeoLabs to Costa Rica," certified HUBZone Small Business and stated Costa Rican President, Carlos premier government IT solution provider Alvarado Quesada. "The vision of a in the federal space, announced the Comtech Telecommunications Corp. LeoLabs space radar in Costa Rica takes availability of the GuardStack Platform, announced that during its fourth quarter of our national tradition of environmental in partnership with blackned GmbH, a fiscal 2020, Comtech's Government responsibility and extends it to space, leading developer of software and Solutions segment, was awarded in offering our nation a way to contribute to hardware products, services and excess of $1.5 million in new orders by an preserving the LEO ecosystem for customer specific solutions for mission international space and communications generations to come. In addition, this critical IT and communication customer. The orders consolidate IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

requirements for high reliability electrical, providing value-added services, current agreement between the companies electronic and electromechanical (EEE) including extended demarcation points by three-and-a-half years through to parts and engineering services in support to enable software-defined network December 2023. exactEarth estimates that of several Japanese spacecraft missions, operations (SD-WAN) and cloud this Amended Agreement will generate two of which are the Quasi-Zenith services. By enabling more data additional incremental revenues of S a t e l l i t e S y s t e m ( Q Z S S ) a n d handling and processing at remote approximately $7.0 million, or $2.0 million Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite locations, traffic can be prioritised, and per year on an annualized basis. Under the (GOSAT-3). bandwidth can be more optimally terms of the Amended Agreement, the utilised for faster application Partner is able to deploy exactEarth's “These awards further illustrate that our performance. Marlink's global Service exactViewTM RT advanced real-time customers continue to recognize the Operations Centres enable proactive Satellite-AIS data services into their full unique value of Comtech's space level network monitoring with on-site range of advanced maritime analytics e l e c t r o n i c p a r t s s u p p l y c h a i n maintenance and training of personnel, products, derived services and international management and engineering services as well as regional location of spare data customers. The agreement also expertise in their most important satellite parts for prompt service and support. provides both Parties with expanded programs,” said Fred Kornberg, reseller rights which enable further sales Chairman of the Board and Chief Comtech potential over the term of the agreement. E x e c u t i v e O ff i c e r o f C o m t e c h Telecommunications Corp. Telecommunications “We are pleased to significantly expand our Corp. awarded a $1.5 relationship with this Partner, who is a Marlink marks leading information and data analytics million contract for provider,” said Peter Mabson, President & humanitarian milestone new Ka-band gateway CEO of exactEarth. “Expanding and supporting aid building on key channel partner TWTAs relationships is an important part of our organisations in 140 growth strategy which we believe will help countries Comtech Telecommunications Corp. us increase our market leadership and achieve our key financial objectives such as Marlink has reached another milestone in has announced that during its fourth continued revenue growth, positive providing smart network solutions for quarter of fiscal 2020, its Santa Clara, Adjusted EBITDA and positive cash flow.” global humanitarian organisations. The California-based subsidiary, Comtech company now connects world's leading Xicom Technology, Inc., which is part of providers of humanitarian aid, Comtech's Commercial Solutions Colt Technology e m e r g e n c y r e l i e f , a n d segment, received a contract valued at investment/infrastructure in over 140 more than $1.5 million for 500W Ka- Services names Paula countries. Since most relief organisations band traveling wave tube amplifiers Cogan new Chief operate in very remote locations where (TWTAs) for a Tracking, Telemetry, and there is no or insufficient connectivity Command (TT&C) application. These Commercial Officer infrastructure, they fully depend on smart amplifiers will ship later this calendar network solutions from a reliable partner. year and will be deployed globally by a Colt Technology Services has announced major satellite service provider for a new the appointment of Paula Cogan as its new At a time when national governments are Ka-band network. Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Cogan beginning to shape their post- replaces Keri Gilder who formerly held the C o r o n a v i r u s o p e r a t i o n s , t h e s e “We are proud to be a part of this new role before becoming Chief Executive organisations provide a lifeline for build out. TT&C is critical to maintaining Officer (CEO) earlier this year. medicine and healthcare logistics as well the day-to-day operations of any Joining Colt four years ago, Cogan has as access to critical data and information satellite network,” said Fred Kornberg, played an influential role in Colt's success that can be used to support remote Chairman of the Board and Chief as its Vice President for Enterprise and populations Executive Officer of Comtech Capital Market Sales. In her new elevated Telecommunications Corp. “Comtech role as CCO, Cogan will be responsible for As part of its smart network solutions, continues to supply critical RF amplifiers driving Colt's commercial strategy, leading Marlink delivers and manages an that our customers can rely on in this global teams across sales, presales and optimized hybrid network solution very competitive marketspace.” marketing, as well as working closely with combining satellite (VSAT), fibre and the wider organisation to ensure Colt cellular connectivity to hundreds of exactEarth announces delivers on its vision of transforming the way remote and local offices or to the world works through the power of interconnect specific sites. This extends $7.0 million expansion connectivity. the range of available digitally managed of channel partner services such as VoIP and video Speaking of Cogan's appointment, Keri conferencing, enterprise resource agreement Gilder, CEO, said: “In her time with Colt, planning and other office applications to Paula's achievements have been ensure secure access to corporate data exactEarth Ltd., a leading provider of underpinned by her ability to foster strong centres, cloud services platforms and Satellite-AIS data services announces relationships with customers and partners, headquarters to further streamline an expanded alliance agreement with while remaining focused on leading and mission-critical operations for help one of its existing channel partners. All transforming our teams to deliver sales organisations. financial figures are in Canadian dollars excellence. Having worked closely with unless otherwise stated. Paula throughout my time within the CCO In addition, Marlink supports the digital function, I know she will continue to deliver enablement of organisations by The Amended Agreement extends the excellent results and further support the IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

team as they continue to deliver for our secure data transfer services at a rate in rainy conditions. Marlink will fulfil the customers.”“I am also thrilled to be able to fill of 1.8 Gbit/s in near-real time. contract with fully managed services this position internally. It speaks to the Its satellites can connect to low-orbiting across the territory with 24×7 immeasurable talent we have at Colt, and I observation satellites at a distance of installations support and maintenance know there's no better fit for this role than up to 45,000 km, to intelligence UAVs or for SPLANG backed by a customer help Paula,” Gilder added. to mission aircraft via laser. From its desk. Cogan hasn't just influenced the sales position in geostationary orbit, the Over the three years of partnership with environment during her time at Colt; she was SpaceDataHighway system relays in CTG which is the main owner of also the founding member of Colt's Women's near real-time to Earth the collected SPLANG, Marlink has built a strong Network – Network 25 – believing strongly in data, a process that would normally track record of delivering and managing the equal representation of women in take several hours. It therefore enables smart network solutions and managed telecommunications. the quantity of image and video data services, with an average service transmitted by observation satellites to availability of over 99.8% under a very be greatly increased and their mission demanding service level agreement. plan can be re-programmed at any time Airbus expands its and in just a few minutes. In a country where 200mm of rain can SpaceDataHighway with fall in 24hrs compared to 600mm in average per year in Europe, it's second satellite imperative to provide a quality network Marlink connects solution robust and reliable enough to The EDRS-C satellite, the second node of people of remote deliver redundancy and uptime to more Airbus' SpaceDataHighway constellation, than several tens of thousands people completed its commissioning tests on 15th villages in French living in the most remote locations, says July 2020 and is now ready to start Alexandre de Luca, President operational services. Following its Guiana to the Internet Marlink has been awarded a contract Enterprise, Marlink. With support from successful launch in August 2019 and across the organisation, our dedicated manoeuvring to its geostationary orbital slot with Société Publique Locale pour l'Aménagement Numérique de la site teams were able to carry out a at 31 degrees east, in-orbit testing has been complex and demanding deployment in executed and laser communication links Guyane (SPLANG) to provide Internet access to the inhabitants of remote record time to support SPLANG's have been established to the Copernicus customers in French Guiana. programme's Sentinel Earth observation villages in French Guiana. The satellites. contract covers the provision of hiSky reveals its Internet access via satellite to Smartellite™ Dynamic EDRS-C doubles transmission capacity and subscribers of SPLANG's Wi-Fi the constellation is now able to relay the data service and the complete Ku-band terminal, f r o m t w o o b s e r v a t i o n s a t e l l i t e s management of the network solution. simultaneously. It further strengthens Airbus' Marlink signed the first contract with based on phased array commitment to serve the existing SPLANG in 2017 to provide high speed antenna technology Copernicus programme as well as future Ku-band connectivity to deliver Internet Sentinel missions. The additional capacity a c c e s s t o e d u c a t i o n a l a n d will also enable Airbus to accommodate governmental institutions and the hiSky Ltd. announced the start of Early further customer needs. By 2030, about 15 general public in French Guiana. The Field Trials (EFT) of its Ku-band satellite satellites should use the very high bandwidth new contract extends Marlink's scope terminal; another milestone in the data connectivity of the SpaceDataHighway. to a C-band VSAT network solution. expansion of the company's portfolio of From 2021 onwards, Pléiades Neo – Airbus' The contract required rapid migration products and services. most advanced optical Earth observation without service interruption of Developed over the past year, the new constellation with four identical 30 cm SPLANG's VSAT network, executed SmartelliteTM Dynamic Ku-band resolution satellites – will be the next within two weeks under very terminal complements hiSky's ability to s a t e l l i t e s t o b e n e f i t f r o m t h e challenging conditions, including provide global coverage of its services, SpaceDataHighway's infrastructure. As an COVID-19 travel restrictions and a both onshore and offshore, and in integral part of Pleiades Neo's full end to end heavy rainy season. territories where the Ku frequency offers service, SpaceDataHighway will further Using its own field engineers located in a significant advantage, or where Ka optimise mission reactivity providing for real Cayenne with support from Marlink's frequencies are simply not available. time tasking and very high throughput data Network Operations Centre and Enabling a low and medium data rate for offload. satellite network operator Eutelsat, IoT applications, the new terminal meets EDRS-C has joined the EDRS-A satellite Marlink was able to migrate all 17 a growing demand across a range of which daily transmits images of Earth remote VSAT stations – repointing industries, including fisheries, fleet acquired by the Copernicus programme's a n t e n n a s , u p d a t i n g m o d e m management, agriculture, oil & gas and four Sentinel observation satellites. Since parameters and reporting performance more. 2017, EDRS-A has achieved more than – in just one week, using helicopter 35,000 laser connections. These successful transport between the sites. B a s e d o n h i S k y ' s i n n o v a t i v e connections have downloaded nearly two SmartelliteTM Dynamic Ka-band petabytes of data with an availability of 99.5 Marlink will deploy its smart network as terminal, the Ku-band terminal offers the percent. a service to provide connectivity up to same advantages in terms of on-the- The SpaceDataHighway is the world's first 60 Mbps, which can increase to 100 move capabilities, weight, size and laser communication geostationary Mbps over the next four years. C-band price. It also uses the same building constellation. It represents a game changer was chosen to take advantage of the blocks, such as a built-in modem and in the speed of space communications, using existing SPLANG infrastructure and C- phased array antenna technology, and cutting-edge laser technology to deliver band's better resilience and availability connects to hiSky's comprehensive IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

Network Management System (NMS), care for the low-income patient hiSky360 managing both Ka and Ku-band population, provide access to Ryan Health West 97th Street in New terminals on the same network. specialists, educate patients about self- York, New York, was awarded $749,766 management practices, and monitor for network upgrades, desktop and Able to communicate with both GEO and patient health remotely. The remote laptop computers, videoconferencing LEO satellites, the system also has future monitoring equipment and platform equipment, telehealth platform customization capabilities that will enable it include devices that measure and subscriptions, and remote monitoring to work with up-and-coming LEO wirelessly transmit information such as equipment and software to expand constellations, such as Starlink by SpaceX blood pressure, blood glucose and lung telehealth services to reduce close and Amazon's Kuiper, to achieve a high function to providers. contact and avoid risk of community data rate transmission. spread of COVID-19 among patients, Having successfully carried out laboratory Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, staff and providers, as well as begin experiments based on the original design, New York, was awarded $98,435 for remote patient monitoring to increase hiSky is now embarking on EFT on Ku laptop computers, tablets, and access to primary care and subspecialty satellites, with strategic partners and a videoconferencing equipment and health services. number of prospective clients around the software to enhance virtual emergency world. department capabilities and telephone and video visits in multiple outpatient Amazon's Kuiper “The development of the Ku terminal is p r i m a r y a n d s p e c i a l t y c a r e Satellite plan wins another milestone in our company's growth departments. process and product portfolio,” says Shahar Long Island FQHC in Westbury, New backing of FCC Kravitz, Co-Founder and CEO of hiSky. “It's York, was awarded $636,834 for important for us to be at the forefront of remote diagnostic and examination Amazon.com's plan for a fleet of 3,236 technological advancement and to adapt equipment and a platform subscription, communications satellites won the our services to the demands of the current tablets, laptop computers and desktop b a c k i n g o f t h e U . S . F e d e r a l market. There's no doubt that the launch of computers to enable telehealth C o m m u n i c a t i o n s C o m m i s s i o n this Ku terminal will bring added value to the services for patients across all sites for chairman, who said he had asked fellow company and strengthen our position in COVID-19 care and non-COVID-19- commissioners to approve the venture. today's global satellite arena. This is just related routine care, to conduct remote “Satellite constellations like this aim to one of the exciting developments we have monitoring of vital measures to help provide high-speed broadband service been working on recently – we'll be monitor COVID-19 symptoms using to consumers in the U.S. and around the announcing more in the near future!” devices, and to offer patients loaner world,” Ajit Pai said in a tweet on Friday. smart devices to effectively engage in Pai added that he had called for telehealth services. conditions on the proposed service by FCC approves 13th and Amazon subsidiary Kuiper Systems 14th sets of COVID-19 Metropolitan Center for Mental Health without specifying them. telehealth program in New York, New York, was awarded Pai's request is likely to result in approval $22,708 for videoconferencing in closed-door voting at the agency, applications equipment and software to support where he leads a Republican majority. voice and video consultations and other Amazon founder Jeff Bezos wants to COVID-19 telehealth program applications, diagnostic services used to continue launch the small satellites in low orbits to expending the total $200 million in funds licensed psychiatric services and provide internet coverage. Separately, provided by the CARES Act. Since the first maintain critical treatment for the Space Exploration Technologies Corp., set of awards were announced on April 16, patient population. or SpaceX, has launched more than 480 2020, the applications of 536 providers in Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, of a planned 12,000 satellites; in October 47 states plus Washington, D.C., and New York, was awarded $1 million for a 2019, the company founded by Elon Guam were approved. Specifically, 74 New telehealth platform, telehealth intensive Musk sought permission for 30,000 York State organizations were awarded a care monitoring equipment, telehealth more. total of $32.5 million. workstations, laptop computers, tablets Amazon last year called Kuiper “a long- The recent awards for New York and videoconferencing equipment to be term project that envisions serving tens organizations are: Association to Benefit able to triage patients concerned with of millions of people who lack basic Children—Children's Mobile Mental Health symptoms related to COVID-19, to access to broadband internet.” Clinic in New York, New York, was awarded assist physicians from multiple “There are still too many communities $174,270 for laptop computers, tablets, specialties in treatment of patients with where internet access is unreliable or smartphones, and videoconferencing COVID-19, and to consult with and treat prohibitively expensive” and Project equipment and software for the remote non-COVID-19 patients remotely and Kuiper will help close that gap, Dave treatment of mental health conditions, monitor chronic diseases. Limp, Amazon senior vice president for including a range of pediatric conditions, devices and services, said in an emailed such as anxiety and depressive disorders in Oak Orchard Health Center in message. “We appreciate that Chairman at-risk children. Brockport, New York, was awarded Pai shares our commitment to the issue.” $454,916 for laptop computers, BMS Family Health and Wellness Centers desktop computers, videoconferencing in Brooklyn, New York, was awarded $1 equipment and remote monitoring Millennium Space million for desktop and laptop computers, equipment to increase access to smartphones and data plans for patients, healthcare providers via telehealth that Systems and Tethers remote monitoring equipment, a remote will improve quality care outcomes for Unlimited to test space m o n i t o r i n g p l a t f o r m , a n d primary, dental, vision, pediatric and videoconferencing equipment to provide behavioral healthcare services. tether solution IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

T environment. most notably China. wo Millennium Space Systems-built DRAGRACER small satellites are being “The space community understands Seven out of 10 respondents expect point- prepared for a first-of-its kind, controlled tether systems can expedite reentry, but to-point travel will bounce back quicker flight experiment later this year to mature this is our first opportunity to truly than hub and spoke routes, with low-cost future deorbit tether systems for low Earth quantify performance directly and more carriers (LCCs) expected to recover more orbiting satellites. effectively calibrate models developed quickly than full service carriers (55% vs The DRAGRACER mission uses the over the last 50 years,” said Dr. Robert 45% respectively). Whilst commentators scientific method to compare deorbit Hoyt, founder and CEO, Tethers initially suggested that the rise of remote performance with two identical satellites: Unlimited. “Predictions suggest the working would be detrimental to business one in a naturally decaying orbit and one tethered spacecraft will deorbit in travel, 69 per cent of respondents expect a deploying a tether to expedite de-orbit. By approximately 45 days, while the swifter recovery for business travel than flying this DRAGRACER experiment, untethered spacecraft remains in orbit leisure travel. These predictions reflect Millennium plans to empirically compare for approximately 7 to 9 years.” industry concerns around the level of the satellite hosting the 70-meter-long public appetite for leisure travel abroad Terminator Tape provided by Tethers Aviation rebound from and spending time in transport hubs. Unlimited to the control satellite, while calibrating predictive models with radar COVID-19 is underway Interestingly, despite bailouts from many tracking data. governments, only 7 per cent of but full recovery may respondents believe governments have “The LEO satellite community will be able to take three years, uniformly done enough to support the quantify the value of space tethers to help industry, suggesting that whilst the crisis is mitigate the ever-growing orbit debris Flightplan industry poll global, the response actions at a national problem – following the guidance from the finds level have been varied. Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination (IADC) committee for satellites to re-enter The commercial aviation industry's At the heart of bailout discussions is an the earth's atmosphere within 25 years of rebound from COVID-19 is underway, international debate on the future of being decommissioned,” said Stan Dubyn, with the number of airline flights starting sustainable aviation. In recent weeks, founder and CEO, Millennium Space to gradually increase, but widespread several European air transport Systems. “This scientific method recovery could take several years. This associations came together in a call for the experiment will demonstrate Millennium's is the consensus from a major industry prioritisation of specific decarbonisation ability to field and fly a low-cost and poll conducted as part of FlightPlan: initiatives in the allocation of funding to straightforward orbital debris mitigation Charting a Course into the Future, an help airlines recover from COVID-19. With solution that doesn't require added mass, online broadcast by Inmarsat and the a global recession potentially threatening volume, cost and complexity of propulsion Airline Passenger Experience investment in green technology, there was system to deorbit a satellite in low Earth Association (APEX). Despite bracing for little consensus in the poll about the impact orbit. This could also be used to augment a slow recovery, the poll reveals a sense of COVID-19 on aviation's path to LEO missions requiring higher accuracy re- of optimism for the industry's future, with sustainability, with 36 per cent believing entry impact points, whereby the tether digitisation expected to drive the return the crisis will accelerate progress and 47 would allow a course de-orbit to a VLEO to profitable growth. per cent thinking it will delay progress. point where a smaller and lighter propulsion system would then engage providing the The poll – completed by more than 500 Dominic Walters, Vice President of higher accuracy end-game re-entry,” professionals from across the global Inmarsat Aviation, said of the survey: “The Dubyn said. aviation industry between April and FlightPlan survey is a first in terms of scale The satellites are scheduled to ship in June 2020 – shows that more than half and breadth to shine a light on opinions September to TriSept Corp, the mission of respondents (60%) expect a recovery about the COVID-19 recovery phase and launch service provider, for integration onto period between 18 months to three includes the views from more than 500 a Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle. Once years. Only 13 per cent said they professionals across the aviation industry. launched, the DRAGRACER mission believe the industry was prepared for a Even in a period of unrivalled uncertainty begins when the two satellites, named crisis like COVID-19. The results also and volatility, there is a true sense of ALCHEMY and AUGURY, eject from the offer deep insight into industry optimism about the shape of the industry in r o c k e t . A f t e r d e p l o y m e n t , t h e sentiment on the shape of recovery, this new world. The results show a strong DRAGRACER payload separates into two what passenger journeys could look like desire to accelerate recovery, an optimistic 6U Millennium RAPTOR satellites with post-pandemic, and the impact of the outlook for investment in passenger identical stowed mass properties and drag crisis on aviation sustainability goals. experience and sustainability initiatives, coefficients. ALCHEMY will house the 70 and a commitment to rebuild an industry fit meter tether while AUGURY will provide a The shape of airline industry recovery for the future.” baseline deorbit trajectory. Domestic travel is expected to bounce back quickest from the current crisis, Funded entirely with internal research and with almost nine in 10 (85%) predicting it development funding and similar to a HawkEye 360 completes will recover quicker than international concept car in the auto industry, the travel, which is still impacted by factors milestone in preparation RAPTOR satellite line is Millennium's such as border restrictions and internal concept platform for hosting new to launch second cluster quarantines. This supports recent a n d p r o m i s i n g n e x t - g e n e r a t i o n guidance by the International Air technologies. These missions launch in HawkEye 360 Inc., has successfully Transport Association (IATA) that rising less than 12 months from inception and completed environmental testing of its flight volumes have been driven by quantify and characterize technical second cluster of three satellites. This recovery in some domestic markets, performance and behavior in the space significant milestone for HawkEye Cluster IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

2 clears the way to prepare for launch, Sherpa-FX will transport multiple hosted known by the public, space weather which is scheduled for late 2020. HawkEye payloads including one for Celestis Inc., poses a significant threat to electrical Cluster 2 will join the company's first cluster as well as several that will demonstrate grid health. The ASTRA, LLC-led and of satellites that were launched in technologies designed to identify and National Science Foundation (NSF)- December 2018, doubling the size of track spacecraft once deployed. By funded Convergence Hub for the HawkEye 360's constellation. This is the demonstrating these tracking systems Exploration of Space Science (CHESS) first cluster in a series of next generation on orbit, Spaceflight customers will have project brings together critical cross- satellites that will improve revisit rates and access to flight-proven technologies that disciplinary knowledge and tools to bring increasingly robust RF data insights to can mitigate space congestion and address this challenge and enhance the US and international customers to inform provide the foundation of effective and grid's resilience to space weather their decision-making processes. responsible space traffic management. events. Technologies onboard Sherpa-FX A new data integration, discovery, and HawkEye 360 has five more clusters of include payloads by NearSpace Launch, decision-support system to mitigate satellites fully financed and under Keplerian Technologies and their space weather impact. development for launch in 2021 and early hardware partner Tiger Innovations, and 2022. This growing constellation identifies Space Domain Awareness Inc. These "The CHESS program is designed to and precisely geolocates a broad set of RF innovative payloads will provide change how we monitor, protect, and signals from emitters such as VHF marine spacecraft developers an independent make decisions about the power grid we radios, UHF push-to-talk radios, maritime capability to identify and track their rely on in our daily lives," says Bill Baker, radar systems, AIS beacons, L-band spacecraft without drawing on the host ASTRA Senior Vice President of Data satellite devices, emergency beacons and spacecraft resources. Solutions. more. HawkEye 360 processes and analyzes this data using proprietary “Spaceflight is committed to providing CHESS provides expertise, tools, and algorithms and machine-learning tools to unmatched launch flexibility for information from the space weather, deliver actionable insights to customers. customers -- whether that's re- geoscience, power utility, and data manifesting on a different vehicle due to science communities to support "HawkEye 360's investment to advance the delays, deployments to exotic or special decisions related to space-weather field of space-based RF geoanalytics isn't orbits, or the ability to fly and operate threats to the nation's power grid. just about defense and intelligence hosted payloads,” said Grant Bonin, CHESS connects these communities, missions, but it's also about protecting our senior vice president of business providing information to support utility global commons by identifying and tracking development for Spaceflight Inc. “In- managers' decision making, and illicit activities such as illegal fishing, human space transportation is essential to enabling space weather researchers to trafficking, and animal poaching," said meeting our customer's specific needs to better explore space weather events HawkEye 360's Chief Executive, Officer get their spacecraft delivered to orbit triggering of power outages. In John Serafini. "In just 18 months, our first exactly when and where they want it. If collaboration with the Electric Power cluster has tracked 20 million geolocations you think of typical rideshare as sharing a Research Institute (EPRI), Georgia and signals of interest to feed growing seat on a train headed to a popular Institute of Technology, and UCLA, and a demand from civil service and defense destination, our next-generation Sherpa broad community of stakeholders, clients around the world. The successful program enables us to provide a more ASTRA has designed and developed the environmental testing of our HawkEye complete 'door-to-door transportation CHESS platform and will start to Cluster 2 satellites brings us one step closer service'.” implement technology and knowledge to our goal of a fully operational Spaceflight's Sherpa-FX is the first sharing with various power utilities constellation that will transform invisible innovative orbital transfer vehicle to across North America. signals into insights that make the world a debut in the company's Sherpa-NG (next "CHESS is like Google Maps with safer place." generation) program. The vehicle is predictive intelligence for the power grid, Spaceflight Inc. unveils capable of executing multiple putting the power of awareness and deployments, providing independent and prediction into the hands of those who Next-Gen Orbital transfer detailed deployment telemetry, and need to keep the lights on for society," vehicle to fly aboard next flexible interfaces, all at a low cost. The says Dr. Ryan McGranaghan, Principle SpaceX rideshare company's Sherpa-NG program is a Data Scientist at ASTRA and CHESS family of space vehicles, continuing the principal investigator. mission tradition of the company's first orbital free "ASTRA is proud to be chosen by NSF to . flyer on the historic SSO-A mission, develop an intelligent data solution that Spaceflight Inc., announced it will be flying which successfully delivered 64 unique could enhance forecasting of disruptive its next generation orbital transfer vehicle, spacecraft on orbit aboard a Falcon 9. events to the Earth's power grid, with Sherpa-FX, on a fully dedicated rideshare potential for significant impact on human mission with SpaceX. The mission, called life," McGranaghan says. SXRS-3 by Spaceflight, is scheduled to ASTRA Program launch on a Falcon 9 no earlier than supports a more Viasat launches December 2020. Spaceflight has contracted 16 spacecraft for this mission resilient U.S. power residential broadband from organizations including iQPS, Loft grid Orbital, HawkEye 360, NASA's Small service in Brazil Spacecraft Technology program, Astrocast, Given the U.S. power grid's complexity and the University of South Florida Institute and interconnection challenges, Viasat has launched high-speed internet of Applied Engineering ensuring continuous electrical power service for residential customers in generation and delivery to the nation Brazil. Viasat said in a Tuesday release it In addition to the customer spacecraft, demands diverse expertise. Not widely expects to be the only satellite Internet IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

Service Provider (ISP) that will be capable between the two companies and builds President for Finance of making high-speed internet available in on their heritage of providing the maritime 100% of the country, upon completion of i n d u s t r y w i t h a n i n v a l u a b l e and Business the residential launch rollout. Brazilian communication lifeline that is unaffected residents across the initial launch states by inclement weather. Operations can now subscribe to a home satellite internet service with speeds up to 20 Mbps “This contract reaffirms Inmarsat's Astroscale U.S. Inc., announced that and data packages that go up to 80 GB of commitment to utilizing COMSAT's Santa Becky Yoder, an experienced and highly data per month. Paula and Southbury teleports to provide respected space industry professional, this vital service for the international has joined the Astroscale U.S. Viasat's new residential internet service maritime community,” said David management team. Ms. Yoder is serving for Brazil uses bandwidth from the Greenhill, COMSAT CEO. “As the as Senior Vice President for Finance and Telebras SGDC-1 satellite to deliver original providers of Marisat operations Business Operations as of June 2020. satellite internet services. The service which launched in 1976, COMSAT has a launched Tuesday across eight states long and strong heritage of providing life- Yoder joins Astroscale with more than 25 including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, saving satellite communication services years of experience in business, finance Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, Paraná, Rio at sea. Technology has changed and operational management. Most Grande do Sul, Federal District, and significantly since the original recently, she was Director of Operations Amazonas. The service will be rolled out constellation was launched but what for the Orbital Technologies group at across the country, with an expected hasn't changed is our commitment to General Atomics Electromagnetic completion date before the end of 2020. providing a global service that keeps the Systems. Prior to that, Yoder held seafaring community connected at all leadership roles in financial and times no matter the weather or where business operations as CEO and CFO “Now, Brazilian homes will have access to they are in the world. We are proud to for Surrey Satellite Technology US. a reliable, high-speed satellite-based continue to work with Inmarsat for the Throughout her career, she has focused internet service, unlike any satellite benefit of the seafaring community.” on creating and leading strong internet service they've used before,” said organizations. Bruno Soares Henriques, commercial Yoder will help expand and enhance director of Viasat Brazil. “We are proud to Spirent Federal Astroscale U.S.' business and finance deliver a high-quality internet service, with awarded $1.8 million for operations as it engages with partners, features like unlimited chat and web customers and other groups in the browsing, across the country. Our fast, major U.S. military commercial and government space and data-rich residential plans will meet the program technology communities. needs and interests of the millions of “Logistical flexibility and sustainability Brazilians we can potentially service — Spirent Federal Systems, satellite enabling us to distinguish the Viasat are recognized as growing needs in systems (GNSS) testing solutions, was space operations, and Astroscale U.S. is internet servce from others on the recently awarded another multi-million market.” leading the development of this new dollar contract supporting a major military market,” said Ron Lopez, President and program. The Spirent Simulator provides Managing Director of Astroscale U.S. C O M S A T b o l s t e r s multiple outputs for CRPA and FRPA “Becky adds tremendous leadership and Inmarsat network with applications, including inertial sensor business experience as we grow to meet outputs (SimINERTIAL). It includes GPS demand for on-orbit services and increased C-band and L- L1/L2, interference signals, Y-code & logistics in the U.S., and her operations SAASM, and M-code signals. and finance savvy will help ensure that band capabilities our customers and partners always get COMSAT is extending the life of The customer stated that Spirent Federal maximum value from working with us.” Inmarsat's existing satellites through the was selected because they have a team Since its establishment in April 2019, leasing of an additional antenna at that can be counted on for support before Astroscale U.S. has made key additions COMSAT's Santa Paula, CA. Teleport. and after the sale. They offer years of to its management team including Dr. The newly leased 12.8m antenna is experience in selecting the right solution. Clare Martin, Executive Vice President transmitting and receiving in both C-band “When you test with Spirent solutions, of Program and Operations, Charity and L-band frequencies, bolstering you know you are using the best in the Weeden, Vice President of Global capacity for the Tracking, Telemetry and industry. Spirent Federal Systems is the Space Policy, Dave Fischer, Vice Command (TT&C) and traffic operations trusted partner of major defense President of Business Development and of the Inmarsat satellite network. The organizations and has reliably and Advanced Systems and Dave Hebert, Santa Paula teleport hosts Inmarsat's consistently delivered robust PNT Director of Communications. The Standard C equipment, supporting solutions for critical systems, for over 30 management team brings decades of Inmarsat in delivering the most reliable years. Customer support is at the heart of experience in business development, global-standard maritime safety service. what we do and we will help you operations, policy and communications whenever you need it. You can count on in the aerospace industry. This expertise The additional C-band and L-band Spirent Federal,” said Ellen Hall, positions Astroscale U.S. to work with capacity is a key part of Inmarsat's global President and CEO. satellite operators, government, and network, providing robust, reliable life and regulatory and legislative bodies to meet safety communications for more than 1.6 Astroscale U.S. the challenges of orbital logistics and million seafarers worldwide. The renewal sustainability. of the existing agreement strengthens the appoints Becky Yoder long-standing business relationship as Senior Vice Airbus Defence and IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

Spanish company and is the second new corridors and passengers having become Space proposals for the generation infra-red instrument more accustomed to using bandwidth- Copernicus project entrusted to Airbus this year. CRISTAL intensive applications like video- will leverage Airbus' success on the telephony and subscription-based selected by European Sentinel-6 ocean-monitoring satellite, streaming services during lockdown," Space Agency launching later this year and the ROSE-L states Craig Foster of Valour Consultancy. payload confirms our world leadership in "Viasat's decision to remove speed caps The European Space Agency (ESA) has space radar technology. - Jean-Marc entirely means that it will be poised to announced the selection of Airbus Nasr, Head of Space at Airbus support the increase in demand and an Defence and Space for major Copernicus overall improved passenger experience.” environment missions. Viasat eliminates Ka- Copernicus is the biggest provider of The new Ka-band service plans offer Earth observation data in the world – and band speed limits for uncapped speeds made possible by the while the EU is at the helm of this Business Aviation in- world's highest-capacity satellite network environmental monitoring programme, combined with Viasat's compact and ESA develops, builds and launches the flight connectivity lightweight hardware. Together they satellites. It also operates some of the deliver the global bandwidth required to missions and ensures the availability of meet the increasing demand for faster data from third party missions. Viasat Inc. announced it has removed connectivity speeds to use data-rich internet speed limits delivered to the applications while in-flight. As a result of Airbus Defence and Space in Spain will aircraft across all of its business aviation Viasat's recent Ka-band speed tests, serve as prime contractor for the Land Ka-band service plans. Additionally, the customers have seen 40 Mbps and higher Surface Temperature Monitoring mission company has doubled its minimum across the new service plans, allowing (LSTM), with an order value of €375m. committed internet speed to the aircraft passengers to access more data at higher Airbus Defence and Space in France will for the same Ka-band service plans. The speeds across more devices. also be responsible for the InfraRed move, an industry-first, demonstrates instrument. the Company's leadership in the "Today's offering delivers a completely business aviation market by unleashing new and premium in-flight experience The LSTM mission will carry a high an entirely new premium in-flight made possible by Viasat's innovative spatial-temporal resolution thermal connectivity (IFC) experience for its Ka- technology," said Claudio D'Amico, infrared sensor to provide observations of band business jet customers. business area director, Business Aviation, land-surface temperature for sustainable Viasat. "We believe this key differentiator agriculture and to predict drought. A recent report by Euroconsult, is expected to dramatically change the Airbus Defence and Space in Germany Prospects for In-Flight Entertainment & onboard connectivity experience for will lead the development of the Polar Ice Connectivity, 2019, found that the Viasat's business aviation Ka-band and Snow Topographic Mission growing demand for applications customers. By removing speed limits, we (CRISTAL), with an order value of €300m including video-conferencing and high- are creating a home-like connectivity and Thales Alenia Space will supply the definition video streaming, which are experience for mid-cabin to large- and altimeter instrument. expected to drive IFC terminal demand, long-range business jets.” The CRISTAL mission will measure and require faster high-speed connectivity. monitor sea-ice thickness and overlying Comtech receives $10.8 snow depth. Viasat's elimination of Ka-band speed maximums enables an even better million in funding from In addition to the LSTM infra-red experience for passengers and crew to U.S. Army instrument, Airbus Defence and Space simultaneously use business-critical will also be responsible for the L-band productivity and entertainment apps such as video-conferencing, accessing Comtech's Government Solutions Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload segment, received additional funding of for ROSE-L with Thales Alenia Space VPN/cloud content, email, high- definition streaming services, live TV and $10.8 million on its previously announced Italia as prime contractor. $98.6 million contract to provide the U.S. The L-band SAR will enable ROSE-L to more - through all phases of flight - across the world's most heavily traveled Army with global field support services for see through materials such as vegetation, military satellite communication support forest management and monitor flight routes. Ka-band customers also have the option to subscribe to Viasat (“SATCOM") terminals around the world. subsidence and soil moisture. The contract has been funded $35.2 The total order volume resulting from the Unlimited Streaming, which allows passengers to access online media million to date (of which $8.9 million was recent bid decisions, including payloads received in Comtech's fourth quarter of and critical equipment supply, is expected services without impacting monthly data allowances. fiscal 2020). to be around €1.1 billion. Final contract “We are pleased to continue supporting negotiations will start shortly and contract "Over the last few years, business aviation service plans have evolved to the needs of the U.S. Army. This funding signatures are expected in the coming demonstrates the continued commitment weeks. include bigger data allowances and higher Maximum Information Rates Comtech provides for global field support (MIR) and Committed Information Rates services in locations across the globe,” Onboard all Copernicus Sentinel said Fred Kornberg, Chairman of the satellites to date, Airbus is delighted that (CIR) as service providers react to ever increasing data requirements. As we Board and Chief Executive Officer of ESA is again entrusting us with such key Comtech Telecommunications Corp. European environmental missions, under emerge from COVID-19, these the world's most ambitious Earth requirements will go up another notch with corporations transporting more of The Army's mission-critical ground observation programme. LSTM is the first SATCOM terminals provide inter and Copernicus mission awarded to a their employees through so-called health IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

intra-theater network communications new JUPITER system with worldwide reach back capability. The Marlink to deliver field support contract covers diverse to power higher engineering and technical skills to support upgraded and efficiencies and these SATCOM terminals, including optimised connectivity logisticians, help desk, network performance engineering, security engineering, RF and services to Stolt satellite system engineering and support. Hughes Network Systems, LLC Tankers announced the release of the newest set The Mission-Critical Technologies group of features for the JUPITER™ System, is focused on ensuring its customers are Marlink has signed a major new service the company's Very Small Aperture able to successfully carry out their agreement with Stolt Tankers. The Terminal (VSAT) platform for broadband mission, whether that be communicating contract cements the ongoing and satellite services. Already the most in an austere environment on land or at substantial enhancements that Stolt widely used VSAT system in the world, sea, launching or tracking a satellite, or Tankers has enjoyed since joining the JUPITER platform is the system of protecting the cyber security posture of forces with Marlink to improve business choice for network operators, their network. and crew communications in 2011. governments, mobile networks, and Under the new agreement Marlink will aeronautical and maritime service Satellite for US Air provide Stolt Tankers' fleet of chemical providers. Packaged into Release 7.4 and parcel tankers with a bandwidth are the company's latest improvements Force successfully upgrade, enabling even greater in return channel performance and launches as part of digitalization of its operations focusing efficiency as well as new functionality on quality, safety, security and client s u p p o r t i n g L a y e r 2 n e t w o r k L3Harris' responsive satisfaction. The package includes implementations. constellation contract version 5.0 of Marlink'sXChange "More and more mobile network communications management system, operators, governments, mobility service which will deliver greater efficiency in IT providers and satellite operators around L3Harris Technologies launched the latest management processes as well as the world are coming to us for technology in a demonstration series of end-to-end reinforced cyber security. solutions to extend network reach, fulfill small satellites as part of a U.S. Air Force Universal Service Obligations and help constellation the company is responsible Marlink's new 4G connectivity option will connect the unconnected," said Bhanu for developing. also be added to Stolt Tankers' service Durvasula, vice president, International As the prime contractor for the firm fixed- package, contributing even more division, Hughes. "That's why our latest price development space mission, resilience and availability of service with innovations boost the efficiency and L3Harris is designing, developing, cost-effective, low-latency and high- performance of the JUPITER System in building, testing and deploying the bandwidth services in coastal regions. A transporting ever increasing amounts of satellites. The company will task, new VPN to shoreside operation broadband while interoperating command and control the satellite system, c e n t e r s w i l l e n a b l e f u r t h e r seamlessly with terrestrial networks." as well as perform on-board processing of improvements in business and Some of the enhancements now data to deliver imagery products directly to operational efficiency by securely available in JUPITER System Release warfighters on tactical timelines. streamlining data sharing. 7.4 include: The agreement reflects the requirement Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) “L3Harris has developed and supported of specialist vessel operators for flexible on Time Division Multiple Access various aspects of satellite missions over connectivity solutions that combine (TDMA) return channels. For many the last several decades as a component intelligent, hybrid networks with smarter years, satellite operators have enjoyed supplier or hosted payload,” said Ed data handling to enable digitalization significant efficiencies through the Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne and support critical communications. By implementation of ACM on the DVB-S2X Systems, L3Harris. “In collaboration with providing managed services, Marlink forward channel. Now, with ACM on the the U.S. Air Force, we pulled the pieces can enable data processing at the TDMA return channel, operators can together to successfully plan, develop and network's edge and proactive realize similar efficiencies – up to 30% execute an affordable, high-performance monitoring and support to onboard bandwidth savings, in some cases. space mission, which is part of a systems, providing the maximum Dynamic Return Channel Switching. responsive constellation contract.” possible uptime and quality of service. Another new feature is the ability to The Evolved Expendable Launch switch return channels automatically, Vehicles Secondary Payload Adapter, or It's a real acknowledgement to have based on traffic characteristics, ESPA-class, satellite system will use been selected to remain as Stolt processing MF-TDMA (with ACM) and L3Harris' fully reprogrammable payload Tankers' global satellite service provider DVB-S2X transmissions. platform — allowing operators to and to take their data communications New Functionality for Layer 2 Transport reconfigure smallsat payloads on orbit to framework into tomorrow, adds Tore Support. These advances enable higher changing missions. The company's High Morten Olsen, President Maritime, e f f i c i e n c y t h r o u g h e x t e n d e d Compaction Ratio unfurlable X-band Marlink. Stolt is an operator with the very implementation of acceleration of higher reflector is also on board to enable high- highest standards of safety and level protocols within the Layer 2 speed data communication. L3Harris is an transparency and our services will transport scheme. end-to-end solutions provider for continue to provide the foundations of its Creating one of the largest Layer 2 affordable, responsive smallsat systems business strategy for years to come. satellite backhaul networks in the world, that deliver high value for the most JUPITER System technology has been challenging Department of Defense and installed at more than 1,500 cellular base Intelligence Community missions. Hughes announces stations providing universal services to IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

citizens throughout Indonesia. The project, the quarter and six financial instruments in 2020 compared to which was announced last year, involves gains in 2019. multiple service providers, including Pasifik months ended June 30, Satelit Nusantara (PSN), deploying cellular For the six-month period ended June 30, backhaul and Internet access sites 2020 2020, Telesat reported consolidated throughout the country. revenue of $417 million, a decrease of 8% "We are pleased with the performance of the Telesat has announced its financial ($37 million) compared to the same period Hughes JUPITER System in supporting results for the three and six-month in 2019. Revenue decreases were Layer 2 backhaul connectivity," said Adi periods ended June 30, 2020. All primarily due to a reduction of service for Rahman Adiwoso, chief executive officer at amounts are in Canadian dollars and one of Telesat's North American DTH PSN. "Layer 2 is an important capability for reported under International Financial customers and lower revenue due to the deploying cellular backhaul over satellite as it Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) unless completion of the term for prepaid services greatly simplifies network planning.” otherwise noted. in a customer agreement that was accounted for as having a significant Ghgsat's C2 Satellite For the quarter ended June 30, 2020, financing component. In addition, revenue Telesat reported consolidated revenue associated with short-term services “Hugo” completes of $208 million, a decrease of 10% ($23 provided to another satellite operator in the successful payload million) compared to the same period in second quarter of 2019 did not recur in 2019. When adjusted for changes in 2020. These revenue decreases were assembly with Abb foreign exchange rates, revenue partially offset by higher equipment sales declined 11% ($25 million) compared to and new services provided to users GHGSat announced that their satellite 2019. Revenue decreases were impacted by a failure of a competitor's GHGSat-C2 or “Hugo” has successfully primarily due to a reduction of service for satellite in April 2019. completed payload assembly with partner one of Telesat's North American DTH and leading global engineering firm ABB. customers and lower revenue due to the Operating expenses for the six-month Hugo is the company's third satellite and completion of the term for prepaid period were $92 million, an increase of $14 marks a significant milestone in their fast- services in a customer agreement that million from 2019. Approximately 40% of paced constellation programme to put 10 was accounted for as having a the increase in operating expenses was greenhouse gas emissions monitoring significant financing component. In the result of a provision for bad debt satellites into orbit within the next two years. addition, revenue associated with short- primarily related to customers in the Orbiting 500kms above the Earth, the term services provided to another mobility sector whose business is under satellites will hunt for emissions using the satellite operator in the second quarter pressure from COVID-19. Other increased highest resolution methane sensor in space, of 2019 did not recur in 2020. expenses include compensation capable of generating imagery with a associated with the LEO program, resolution 100 times higher than any other Operating expenses for the quarter professional fees, and in-orbit insurance. satellite system in orbit. This world-leading were $46 million, an increase of $8 technology enables methane measures from million from 2019. When adjusted for Adjusted EBITDA was $330 million, a specific sources, such as coal mines, oil and changes in foreign exchange rates, decrease of 14% ($54 million) or, when gas installations and landfills, to be detected operating expenses increased by $7 adjusted for foreign exchange rates, a and measured from orbit for the first time. million from 2019. Approximately 50% of decrease of $53 million. The Adjusted The GHGSat-C2 payload has made the the increase in operating expenses was EBITDA margin for the first six months of journey safely from ABB's facility in Quebec the result of a provision for bad debt 2020 was 79.3%, compared to 84.7% in City to GHGSat's partner Space Flight primarily related to customers in the 2019. Laboratory (SFL) in Toronto where it will mobility sector whose business is under begin integration with the spacecraft. pressure from COVID-19. Other For the six months ended June 30, 2020, Marc-Andre Soucy, Director, Space and i n c r e a s e d e x p e n s e s i n c l u d e the net loss was $116 million, compared to Defense Systems at ABB Measurement & compensation associated with the Low net income of $307 million for 2019. The Analytics Business Unit, said: “ABB is very Earth Orbit (“LEO”) program, negative variation for the period was proud of its involvement in the development professional fees, and in-orbit principally the result of non-cash foreign of GHGSat-C2. The payload successfully insurance. exchange losses in 2020, arising from the completed its qualification testing and is translation of Telesat's U.S. dollar ready for spacecraft integration. In addition Adjusted EBITDA was $164 million, a denominated debt into Canadian dollars to GHGSat-C2, ABB has provided decrease of 17% ($33 million) or, when compared to foreign exchange gains in technologies to several high profile space adjusted for foreign exchange rates, a 2019, and non-cash losses on financial missions like JPSS, GOSAT, NPP, Meteosat, decrease of $34 million. The Adjusted instruments in 2020 compared to gains in IASI, SciSat, MetImage and more. All these EBITDA margin for the second quarter of 2019. contribute to a better understanding of our 2020 was 79.1%, compared to 85.2% in planet and help overcome climate change 2019. “Our second quarter results reflect certain challenges.” For the quarter ended June 30, 2020, factors that we anticipated, namely the Hugo is scheduled to be in orbit in December. net income was $162 million, compared non-renewal late last year of a contract GHGSat's second satellite Iris is scheduled to net income of $135 million for 2019. with a North American DTH customer and for launch mid-August, and Claire, their The positive variation for the quarter was the end of the revenue amortization period technology demonstrator, successfully principally the result of higher non-cash of a contract with another customer, as well launched in 2016 and has delivered over foreign exchange gains in 2020, arising as certain factors that we had not 60,000 measurements of individual industrial from the translation of Telesat's U.S. anticipated, namely the COVID-19 sites to date. dollar denominated debt into Canadian pandemic and a paucity of opportunities dollars and lower interest expense, this year to provide short-term satellite Telesat reports results for partially offset by non-cash losses on services to other satellite operators,”

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