Leveraging outer space for National Security

VVVolVolVolVol ol.6 ol.6 66 No.NoNo. No77 No. No. 55 5 811 December 2018 2018

AFRICA

The future of Ultra High Definition Television viewing BROADCASTING Next-generation Understandingtechnologies driving questBy Marcelnew Dischinger businessfor new space model

C O N T E N T S Vol. 7 No. 11

The future of Nigeria’s space assets Konnect Africa launches satellite internet access offers in DRC Editor in-chief Aliyu Bello Building business leaders and entrepreneurs Executive Manager Tonia Gerrald SA to the editor in-Chief Ngozi Okey Es'hailSat's second satellite successfully launched Head, Application Services M. Yakubu One of Africa's largest public broadcasters selects Editorial/ICT Services John Daniel Globecast and Spacecom's AMOS-7 for SNG services Usman Bello NigeriaSat-2 delivers imagery beyond end of life cycle Alozie Nwankwo Juliet Nnamdi Avanti signs African master service deal with Logical Wireless Client Relations Sunday Tache Lookman Bello Again, AfricaCom 2018 achieves all round results Safiya Thani Advancing digital connectivity in Africa Marketing Offy Pat Tunde Nathaniel In Satcom industry, no single strand fits all Wasiu Olatunde France-IX reaches new milestones with presence in Africa Media Relations Favour Madu Khadijat Yakubu Intelsat reports strong profitability in Q3 2018 Zacheous Felicia Leveraging outer space for National Security Finance Folarin Tunde Study: Eutelsat leads DTH market across Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast Space Watch Magazine is a publication of Next generation technologies driving Communication Science, Inc. All correspondence should new business model be addressed to editor, space Watch Magazine. Speedcast expands global connectivity Abuja office: Plot 2009, Awka Street, UTC Building, GF 11, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, for Schlumberger Nigeria Tel: 234 80336471114, 07084706167, email: [email protected]

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1

EDITORIAL

The future of Nigeria’s space assets

Outer space is the expanse that exists through the simultaneous use of both assembling satellites that are beyond the Earth and between celestial t h e o r b i t a l l o c a t i o n a n d t h e specifically built and oriented to cash in bodies. Contrary to common knowledge electromagnetic spectrum. Nigeria, on this part of the world. They are doing and opinion, it is not completely empty having taken its position in the orbits what we failed to do and we could but a special and interesting vacuum should be a space-flourishing nation. surrender a sizeable portion of the comprising a low density of particles, We do have the outer space capacity $50billion industry we failed to harness. plasma of Hydrogen and Helium as well and assets to like most space nations; Nigerians could still be paying for space- as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic deploy space technology to transform based services while the country fields, neutrinos, dust, cosmics. Though, our lives and solve many problems. possesses arguably the biggest space it could be commonly agreed as a matter industry in Africa. of convention to take the Karman line defined at an altitude of 100 km (62 miles) Space technology remains crucial in our above sea level as the level where the “With our space lives as we explore suitable solutions to outer space starts to have effect. assets generating the emerging non-conventional and multi-faceted challenges we face today Satellites are launched into space for less than N1billion in both our environment and the society. specific tasks and are usually designed Today, we have climate change which specifically to fulfill these roles. Of the yearly, and knowing has shown early warning signs just as over one thousand one hundred active we pray they don't begin to show their satellites orbiting the earth today are of that each satellite in obvious impacts and effects. nine types namely; Communication orbit have a fixed Satellite, Remote Sensing satellite, Things are not as it used to be as we Navigational satellite, Low Earth Orbiting life span, a lot of have too much or too little of what we are Satellites, Medium Earth Orbiting used to. Excessive rainfalls leading to Satellites, Global Positioning Systems, awareness on the flooding, too little rains, too much Geostationary Satellites, Drone sunshine and diurnal temperatures, Satellites, and Polar Satellites.The part of government non-seasonability of rainfall are signs Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) is the most that climate change is a reality. In our sought after orbital slots to place satellites and private sector is society today, we are faced with social due to its position in relation to the Earth needed to ramp up problems that threaten our security and and its rotation. existence as a nation. Bokoharam in the the benefits from North, Kidnapping and pipeline vandalism in the south are disturbing Nigeria's space program was inaugurated our space assets”. social threats that have often defied in the country in 2001 by President conventional approaches and solutions. Obasanjo, and since then, the country However, we must realize that what we had launched five Nigerian satellites into failed to do, others might do it or are Therefore, a new concept and scientific the orbit namely: NigeriaSat1¸ already doing it and the ideas and approach must be probed and NigeriaSat2, NigeriaSat X, NigComSat-1, opportunities we failed to plug, others harnessed that can also be deployed in and NigComSat-1R which is a would implement them right in our the total collaborative efforts to replacement of NigComSAT-1 due to the corridors for which we would also be combating these challenges. So far, mishap of NigComSAT-1.The space required to pay for the services in one scientific and technical advancements opportunity in Nigeria in terms of business way or the other. made in space technology makes it the ecosystem is valued about $50billion obvious choice and the way to go as far yearly which includes the asset on ground The trend and scope of space activities as looking for alternative solutions are and in space, which remains largely by the developed nations indicate that concerned. untapped. space policies have become very significant for these groups of countries HRH Engr. Otis Anyaeji, FAEng, FNSE both for economic enhancement and As at the time Nigeria launched itself into other uses. Inmarsat, with their global space, most African nations were still far satellite network and strength would behind and it was both an outstanding sooner than later, begin to acquire decision by the Nigerian government and significant market share in our satellite its people that put the future correctly in and space industry. Iconic information focus. The orbit location spectrum and Communications (ICT) companies resource is the bone of contention for the such as Google and Facebook whose growing outer space industry because of traditional strengths are extensive its dual context nature; that is, a resource server farms are also launching whose value can only be realized themselves into space connectivity by

5 LEADERS

Ausso Leadership Training Academy Building business leaders and entrepreneurs

Source: Airbus Defence and Space We have always known you to be a career in technology and excel. I felt I could a big player in the ICT market in replicate the concept in Leadership Mentorship, albeit adopting it for Nigeria, what informed your entrepreneurial businesses in growth mode, switch from ICT to leadership and high achieving business executives (or training? Intrapreneurs).

CWG Plc is today the largest security listed in the ICT sector of the Nigerian Stock What is The AUSSO Leadership Exchange. When we started CWG in 1992, it Academy all about and what was more of a profitable impact investment vacuum is it coming to fill in initiative. We wanted to deploy technology to solve problems and enable growth for Nigeria's economy? corporates through efficiency, and optimization. The advent of the internet, the The Ausso Leadership academy was set up u b i q u i t y o f b r o a d b a n d a n d t h e to mentor Entrepreneurs to Institutionalize pervasiveness of smartphones opened the and Scale their businesses geometrically. Austen Okere gateway to business models that levelled the The vision is to maximize the jobs created by playing field and the opportunity to expand Entrepreneurs in order to enable shared our solutions to small and medium prosperity. I was inspired to set up the Ausso spot. The facilitator is not just a teacher businesses through cloud computing. They Leadership Academy to provide the advice I but a business or entrepreneurial no longer had to acquire expensive systems would have provided my younger self when I champion with a proven track record, and scarce technology personnel. We could was starting my business; and also be the who borrows deep from his experience just deploy the technology for them on a pay- mentor I wish I had. to inspire the class. This is what the as-you-use basis. The idea is that creating more jobs will Ausso Leadership Academy provides to ultimately enable shared prosperity. A complement what is taught at Business This gave rise to our CWG2.0 initiative which common prosperity that will ensure that our Schools. was focused on enabling inclusiveness and young ones; including those on whom we Unlike many training instructions, business transformation with new have spent so much money to educate in delegates to the Ausso leadership technology such as big data, artificial foreign lands will find a job that will bring Academy come prepared to dissect their intelligence and mobile banking and them back, so that they can contribute to our businesses and harden their Business payments. Today, about 65% of financial development with the knowledge and Playbook. All case studies are on their transactions in the banking sector is exposure they have acquired. They may Own Business and not an esoteric case processed through the Finacle banking even go on to Found their own businesses study of another company operating in a application, and CWG presently supports thereafter, and help in accelerating very different environment. All concepts about 30 percent of the ATM base and has economic growth. treated apply to their businesses in the 450 support hubs across Nigeria, as well as In terms of vacuum, there is a huge context of our local operating being a strong player in the Fintech space. leadership gap between the visionary environment. All Playbooks generated The innovative journey to achieving the entrepreneur cadre and the next are granular and execution-ready. All CWG vision involving learning, unlearning management layer required for the journey Faculty and Champions are Business and re-learning; and how attendant risks of a sustainable business in Africa. The and Entrepreneurial Leaders with a were surmounted has attracted institutions Ausso Leadership Academy fills this huge Proven Track Record. such as the Goldman Sachs Foundation, the vacuum by making practical and Chazen Institute, and the Centre for democratizing entrepreneurial and business AUSSO is already about one International Business Education and mentorship through experiential skill year old, how is the journey so Research (CIBER) to sponsor Case Studies transfer, emphasizing what has worked and far? the pitfalls to avoid. The huge success of the to be developed on the company for teaching The impact that the Ausso leadership technology entrepreneurial ecosystem in purposes. Today, institutions such as academy has had, makes it seem that it Silicon Valley, London and Beijing is largely Columbia Business School in New York, MIT has been here for a longer time that it has due to such deep mentorship regimes. in Boston, LBS in Nigeria and many other actually been. The Academy was institutions of higher learning have launched on April 12, 2018 by none other developed case studies in CWG Plc. There are a lot of other formal and than Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, considered the informal training institutes in father of modern telecoms in Nigeria. For me personally, having achieved my Nigeria, what difference will The Academy has recorded remarkable dream of building a leading African success with the graduation of two Technology Company that can provide ASSUSO make? The Ausso Leadership Academy is different Cohorts, and positive feedback of solutions for African businesses and delegates' outstanding performances entrepreneurs to grow, I thought it was time in that it is based on the inverted classroom model. Instead of having a professor stand upon returning to their companies and to move to another passion; and that was entrepreneurial businesses. There are leadership training, so I retired from the in front of the class pouring out theoretical knowledge, there are facilitators who two more cohorts planned for headship of CWG to Found the Ausso September and November. L e a d e r s h i p A c a d e m y ( # A L A ) f o r mentors the class to achieve deep self- Entrepreneurial and Business Leadership learning by agitating their innovative Mentorship. I saw the opportunity, having mindset. There is a co-inspired network What height do you intend to witnessed how the Technology Academy we leaning environment, where other delegates take AUSSO to? challenge your proposed business model had set up at CWG had empowered young Unlike a purely commercial venture, the and the underlining assumptions, helping graduates and middle management to make Ausso Leadership Academy was you to cover all angles, especially your blind LEADERS

conceived as a sustainable social impact investment rather than a profit-oriented APPOINTMENTS investment; so the idea is to charge sufficient fees to ensure that the Academy runs at the high quality standard it has set, sustainably Facebook appoints Managing over the long term, developing Business Leaders who will power Nigeria through rapid Director in MENA economic growth and shared prosperity. .Facebook has announced the appointment of Ramez T Shehadi as its Training is a professional field that new managing director in the MENA requires a lot of experience, how region. In his new position, Shehadi will equipped are you for this lead the commercial growth and impact of Facebook and its expanding portfolio assignment. of apps, services and businesses #ALA is more of a mentorship academy than a across the region. training institution. I believe I am eminently "The ever-evolving Mena region qualified for the role, based on my track record in entrepreneurship and my roles in Business continues to be a key market for education across the globe. I have been Facebook, with over 181 million people adequately prepared with an MBA from IESE using the platform every month,” said Ari Business School, and over 30 years industry Kesisoglu, vice president of Middle Barbara Bergmeier experience, covering roles in Visioning & East, Turkey and Africa at Facebook. Strategy, Relationship Management, “Driven by a mobile-first strategy, Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Leadership Training, Corporate Management, Facebook's family of apps and services Space. Barbara Bergmeier joins Airbus Sales & Marketing, and Systems Analysis; with help people to explore new ways of Defence and Space from Vilsbiburg, 23 of those years as Founder and CEO of CWG digital storytelling and support brands to Germany-based Dräxlmaier Group, Plc, the largest security in the ICT sector of the reach the right audiences. Ramez's where she has been Chief Operating Nigerian Stock Exchange. depth of global experience in industry Officer and an Executive Board Member and technology strategy will help us since 2014. In that capacity, she has I am also an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at further drive impact amongst been in charge of 50 production sites in Columbia Business School, New York, where I i n d i v i d u a l s , c o m m u n i t i e s a n d received special commendation for my 20 countries and has been instrumental institutions in the region; while in expanding the company's industrial mentorship role in innovation and maintaining a focus on our mission to entrepreneurship. I was appointed to the footprint in Asia and in the Americas. bring people together and build Advisory Board of the Global Business School Network in Washington DC in recognition of my community. Eutelsat appoints Gary Shehadi brings extensive expertise in major contribution to the development of Donnan as Chief Innovation business education and knowledge transfer in establishing, scaling and running Africa. I have keynote addressed and lectured regional and global lines of business Officer at many Business Schools, including United and cross-industry portfolios for top-tier Gary Donnan has joined Eutelsat States International University (USIU) in global consulting firms, most notably as Communications as Chief Innovation Kenya, Imperial College of London, China and senior partner and managing director of Officer, reporting to Chief Executive European International Business School the Mena portfolio of Booz Allen Officer Rodolphe Belmer. In his role, (CEIBS), I.E. Business School of Madrid, Hamilton, lead partner of the Mena Gary is tasked with defining Eutelsat’s Lagos Business School, Columbia Business Digital Business and Technology i n n o v a t i v e r o a d m a p a n d t h e School and MIT. practice of Booz & Company and Global identification and cross functional co-lead of Booz Digital, among others. development of innovation initiatives It is this rich repertoire of experience that I bring across the group. He will also focus on to bear at the Ausso Leadership Academy. In forging stronger links between Eutelsat addition, there is a complement of faculty Barbara Bergmeier appointed Head of Operations and the external innovation ecosystem consisting of business leaders and to step up the roll out of emerging Airbus Defence and Space has entrepreneurs with practical experience and technology throughout the country. proven track record, imparting knowledge appointed Barbara Bergmeier, 50, as Gary Donnan brings significant through experiential learning. They have a Head of Operations and Member of the experience in cross functional and shared motivation and a burning desire to Executive Committee. She succeeds collaborative management. impart their knowledge and experience in André-Hubert Roussel, 53, who will He joins Eutelsat after eleven years at building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. become Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Technicolor where he conducted large - of ArianeGroup, a 50-50 joint venture scale transformation projects and held They are complemented by Champions of between Airbus and Safran, effective 1 several key positions in the fields of Business and Entrepreneurship, who come to January 2019. technology, research and innovation, share the stories of their journeys, and how “I am happy that Barbara Bergmeier they overcame adversities in building their gaining expertise in the broadcasting joins us at this exciting time for Airbus businesses. We believe that within our local industry. As a member of Technicolor's Defence and Space. Barbara is a context the delegates will relate better to our Executive Committee, he was seasoned leader in complex industrial own Heroes; more importantly, we believe that successively Executive Vice President ecosystems. She brings extensive this will serve to rightfully recognize and (EVP) for Research and Innovation, e x p e r i e n c e i n M a n u f a c t u r i n g - acknowledge our Champions and document then EVP for technology and standards. Operations, Digital Transformation, their legacies for posterity and future Prior to joining Technicolor, Gary held Supply Chain Management, Production generations. Some of the Champions who similar research and innovation Restructuring, Design and Set-up of have been to share their valuable experiences positions at Alcatel, including research are Dr. Okey Enelama, Honourable Minister of assembly lines and a strong and development for the deployment of Industries, Trade and Investments; Oscar international background – all assets fibre, cable, radio and satellite networks Onyema, Chief Executive Office of the Nigerian which are of paramount importance for in various parts of the world. He is Stock Exchange, Austin Avuru, CEO of Seplat, the further implementation of our growth therefore well versed in telecom Ndidi Nwuneli and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede strategy in the coming years,” said Dirk technologies as a whole. IN THE NEWS

Konnect Africa launches 'Pint sized' Scottish satellites launched into orbit satellite internet access Tw o G l a s g o w b u i l t UK to thrive in the satellites deployed in space offers in DRC satellites, funded by the commercial space age. with a complementary global U K S p a c e A g e n c y T h r o u g h o u r £ 4 m ground station network. Konnect Africa announced the launch of its designed to monitor development funding in The satellites were launched weather and help combat E S A ' s A R T E S Internet access offers throughout the from Sriharikota, India, but global climate change has p r o g r a m m e , t h e Congolese territory. Internet offers from 5 GB from the 2020s, these home- been launched into orbit. government's Industrial to unlimited data plans. The ICT grown spacecraft could be They were 'first of a kind' Strategy and by working Development Index published annually by launched from the proposed 5kg satellites designed c l o s e l y w i t h o u r the International Telecommunication Union spaceport in Sutherland, and built by Spire Global international partners, we to date shows that less than 3% of Congolese Scotland. The UK Space are unique due to their are helping Scottish households have Internet access. According Agency is also supporting a function, tiny size, low cost businesses transform to the ITU, less than 1% of the Congolese space incubation centre in and quick build time. This t h e i r i d e a s i n t o population currently have access to the Glasgow and has provided style of satellite could commercial realities, support over several years Internet via terrestrial networks. The lack of revolutionise work in resulting in jobs, growth to the Scottish Centre of connectivity is a major obstacle to the s p a c e , w h i c h h a s and innovation. Experts Excellence in Satellite economic development of this country. traditionally been slow and can use the satellite's Applications, based at the expensive for business measurements to glean University of Strathclyde By relying on the latest satellite technology, and science to access. temperature, pressure Konnect Africa is now providing a concrete and humidity information and working across the whole of Scotland. response to the digital divide by launching a Both satellites, which were for weather forecasting The Centre's role is to raise range of eight Internet access offers for developed under the and climate change awareness of the potential of European Space Agency's monitoring. individuals and businesses. satellite services and data to (ESA's) ARTES Pioneer ESA is always looking to be used in new and programme of which UK is champion innovation in Accessible at affordable prices, these improved products and the largest funder to the space industry, and subscription offers are suitable for all services in other “space ARTES, aim to prove the the idea of Pioneer is that consumer profiles, offering packages of up to e n a b l e d ” m a r k e t s – value of 'nanosats' in these Space Mission 5 GB of data, and which can be unlimited for including, for example, weather monitoring, by Providers can help this by professionals. These packages are being offshore renewable energy using them to measure being a one-stop-shop for proposed as prepaid in order to meet the and aquaculture. The UK refracted radio signals in-orbit demonstration and needs of the market. The broadband speeds Space Agency is driving the passing through the therefore reduce the growth of the space sector offered will be up to 20 Mbit/s download and Earth's atmosphere. barriers and complexity as part of the Government's up to 3 Mbit/s upload. For the launch, Graham Turnock, Chief that can stifle new ideas. Industrial Strategy with Konnect Africa is also introducing a Executive, UK Space Peter Platzer, CEO of major initiatives including promotion on this new range. Agency said: These Spire Global said: Spire the £99m National Space incredibly clever pint-sized has been focused on Test Facility at Harwell, and By working hand in hand with a large network satellites built in Glasgow developing unique data the UK continues to be a of local partners specialised in various fields could slash the complexity s o u r c e s w i t h h i g h leading member of ESA, ranging from the distribution of telecom and and cost of access to frequency updates for the which is independent of the television services to financial services, space, presenting an entire Earth and has over 6 0 L E M U R - 2 c l a s s EU. Konnect Africa has ensured that it has exciting opportunity for the covered the Congolese territory as widely as possible. These Internet access offers are now available in six major cities of the One of Africa's largest public broadcasters selects Democratic Republic of Congo through a network of eight resellers totalling nearly 500 Globecast and Spacecom's AMOS-7 for SNG services stores and retail points. These offers will soon be supplemented by Spacecom, operator of the satellite partners around an optimal solution for the arrival of a Wi-Fi hotspot service, called AMOS satellite fleet, and the world, providing the broadcasters seeking Konnect Wifi, which will provide broadband Globecast, the global m o s t a p p r o p r i a t e efficient and reliable internet access at traffic points such as in solutions provider for capacity for each and satellite transmission hospitals, schools and universities, stores, media, announced a e v e r y c u s t o m e r b y service. etc. partnership to provide working closely with them T h e s a t e l l i t e ' s On the occasion of the introduction of satellite capacity for to understand their capabilities allow this Konnect Africa's services in the Democratic permanent Satellite News precise capacity and broadcaster to uplink Republic of Congo, Jean-Claude Tshipama, Gathering services for one service requirements. HD-on-the-move all CEO of Konnect Africa, stated: "In a country of Africa's largest public within one beam that which constitutes one of the main African b r o a d c a s t e r s . V i a We are pleased that our covers all of Southern markets for internet via satellite, today we are Spacecom's AMOS-7 p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h Africa. Our new contract able to offer the Congolese people powerful Africa KU-band beam, Spacecom has been as the satellite operator connectivity solutions thanks to this Globecast is providing a selected as the most for permanent SNG technology. long-term solution for the appropriate in this services is another As a key success factor to meet the broadcaster. Provision of instance.” business development specificities of a country, we rely on world- the service began in step as we prepare for class local partners to distribute our turnkey September 2018. According to Spacecom's the upcoming 2019 offers. Currently being deployed in some 20 Sr. VP Sales, Jacob launch and beginning of countries in Africa, our Konnect Africa service Alan Hird, Managing K e r e t , " A M O S - 7 ' s services for our AMOS- responds to the need to develop digital Director of Globecast in unmatchable power 17 satellite." inclusion on this continent." Africa, said, “We work with together with excellent elevation angle provides IN THE NEWS

UAE Space Agency, Avanti signs African master service deal with Yahsat showcases space Logical Wireless projects at the Bahrain Avanti Communications o r n o n - e x i s t e n t is another milestone in our International Airshow Group plc has signed a connectivity. mission to help liberate the M a s t e r S e r v i c e The Avanti partnership potential of people and The UAE Space Agency and Al Yah Satellite Agreement on Avanti's will also enable Logical businesses wherever they Communications Company (YahSat) HYLAS 4 satellite with Wireless to deliver high are located. announced their participation in the fifth Logical Wireless, a South capacity sites for carriers edition of the Bahrain International Airshow. African Satellite integrator. and telecom providers to Logical Wireless, managing The show will be held under the patronage of The deal aims to provide directly access cloud director, Gavin Behr, added, His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d and content platforms in “Connectivity is critical for King of Bahrain in November. The UAE Space connectivity services to A f r i c a ' s l a r g e s t all businesses. It becomes Agency and Yahsat will participate jointly and enterprises and end- Datacentre, making problematic in remote areas will highlight the UAE's space projects and consumers located in services more efficient where no forms of terrestrial strategic initiatives of both organisations. remote areas across and cost-effective. connectivity are available. Africa. Avanti country manager The partnership with Avanti The UAE Space Agency's participation will Under the new Master and sales director for enables us to deploy demonstrate a number of key space projects S e r v i c e A g r e e m e n t , S o u t h e r n A f r i c a , s a t e l l i t e b r o a d b a n d launched by the UAE over the past few years. Logical Wireless will use Brenden Pronk, said “ services that can be The projects include the Hope Probe, the first Avanti's new satellite, We're delighted to installed anywhere and Arab mission to explore Mars, which is being HYLAS 4, to complete its s t r e n g t h e n o u r developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid p r o v i d e a c o m p l e t e coverage of Sub-Saharan relationship with Logical c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d Space Centre with funding and supervision Africa and provide cost- from the UAE Space Agency. Wireless and support the connectivity solution to effective and reliable delivery of high-speed allow individuals and satellite internet services The Agency will also showcase the strategic satellite communication companies to conduct into regions across Africa ties in the space industry between the UAE services throughout business as if they were in a and Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by that suffer from unreliable Africa. This partnership city.” National Space Science Agency (NSSA). The ties include efforts of sharing knowledge, expertise, and local competencies, as well as NigeriaSat-2 delivers imagery beyond end cooperation on research projects related to space regulations. The cooperation is based of life cycle on an MoU signed in 2015, on the sidelines of the previous edition of the Airshow. The MoU The technology industry project. The satellite has includes oil spill detection, outlines the cooperation between the two discards as fast as it the capacity to interface extent and location (2.5m or organisations in the exploration and peaceful produces. In Nigeria, the with existing Agency’s 5.0 m), Pipeline monitoring, use of space. lifespan of NigeriaSat 2 d a t a c o l l e c t i o n , Structure mapping a the satellite launched into d i s s e m i n a t i o n a n d terrain analysis, Urban H.E Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, orbit by Ukrainian Dnepr analysis infrastructure. It m a p p i n g ( 2 . 5 m Director General of the UAE Space Agency rocket from a military is imbued with a powerful panchromatic), Land use stressed that the agency's participation base in Russia on 17 and flexible payload. The change in rural urban areas comes in line with its strategic plans to ensure August 2011, may have satellite is camera-based (5.0m), Hydrology (irrigation, its presence in major aerospace industry ended last August, the and has 2.5 m GSD fadama project, etc), Crop shows; including the Bahrain International satellite has continues to panchromatic sensor, 5.0 production and forest Airshow, which is reportedly one of the fastest output imageries of the monitoring, Detection of such growing events in the region. m GSD in 4 spectral earth, according to Dr. band, 32m GSD in 4 thing as illegal mining, fire, Haliru Shaba, Director, spectral bands and 300 x Road/railway development Al Ahbabi emphasised that the Agency's and maintenance, and second participation follows the success of S t r a t e g i c s p a c e 3000km (32 GSD) and Security monitoring. the first in January 2015. H.E. added that this A p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e 200 x 200 km (2.5 and 5.0 According to the Director of year will help highlight the strategic N a t i o n a l S p a c e GSD. relationship between the two countries and R e s e a r c h a n d The 32m resolution Strategic space application, organisations, which led to signing an MoU to Development Agency. i m a g e r y e n s u r e Dr Shaba, over 170 projects boost the knowledge and capabilities of both With a lifespan of seven compatibility with the have been conducted so far countries in the space industry. years, NigeriaSat-2 is Nigeriasat-1 imagery. using the Nigerian earth Commenting on the company's participation, Nigeria's third built as The high resolution 2.5m observation satellites. Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, Chief Executive high-resolution earth a n d 5 . 0 m G r o u n d Officer of Yahsat, said: “The participation in observation satellites by Sampling Distance, with The first picture released the Bahrain International Airshow will enable S u r r e y S p a c e improved geo-location f r o m t h e N i g e r i a n us to connect with major aerospace Technology Limited a c c u r a c y s u p p o r t s p a i r ( N i g e r i a S a t - 2 a n d companies to discuss ways to cooperate in (SSTL) for Disaster several new high/very NigeriaSat-X) is of New providing satellite communication services, Monitoring Constellation h i g h r e s o l u t i o n Zealand's biggest city, Yahsat currently provides satellite (DMC) system. applications including Auckland.It was acquired by communication services to clients in those in the National NigeriaSat-X, and reveals the government and commercial sectors, Nigeriasat-2 is a high G e o s p a t i a l D a t a buildings and the landscape including healthcare, and education in more r e s o l u t i o n A f r i c a n Infrastructure project. It surrounding this major urban than 55 countries. Yahsat will also resource management has a push broom stereo centre. It is possible to see demonstrate its capabilities in providing constellation (ARMC) the wakes of ships passing secure satellite communications services to image of selected areas. satellite. It support under the harbour bridge that government sectors.” National Geospatial Data The application areas of joins downtown Auckland Infrastructure (NGDI) the Nigeriasat-2 satellite with North Shore City. IN THE NEWS

market opportunities for 5G-based will ensure full service continuity over the Panasonic to provide connectivity services. Additionally, VT o p e r a t i o n a l 1 0 2 K u - b a n d TRT World Live iDirect will be leading the research and transponders/frequencies, secure development of an end-to-end system deployment and capacity redundancy at the broadcast to support multi-orbit geostationary HOTBIRD position. The HOTBIRD fleet equatorial orbit (GEO) and non-GEO forms one of the largest broadcasting TRT World, the international news satellite integration as part of the 5G systems in Europe, broadcasting 1,000 platform launched in 2015 and architecture with focus on both television channels to more than 135 million headquartered in Istanbul, offers an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) homes in Europe, North Africa and the alternative viewpoint on global and a n d m a s s i v e M a c h i n e Ty p e Middle East. domestic events, challenging perceived Communications (mMTC) Internet of The new spacecraft will be based on the narratives and providing a new Things (mIoT) usage scenarios. Eurostar Neo platform, Airbus' new perspective on news has signed an geostationary telecommunications satellite agreement with Panasonic to extend its The SATis5 consortium members, VT standard design, a significant evolution of reach to passengers on airlines around iDirect, SES and Fraunhofer FOKUS, the highly reliable and successful Eurostar the world. recently partnered to showcase a live series with an entire range of major Satellite-5G test bed at the FOKUS innovations. Eurostar Neo combines Panasonic Avionics Corporation, the FUSECO Forum 2018 event in Berlin, increased payload capacity and more world leader in inflight entertainment and Germany on Nov. 15-16. The efficient power and thermal control systems connectivity (IFEC) provides in-flight companies showed how satellite with reduced production time and optimized connectivity and infotainment content for connectivity could integrate into a 3rd costs. over 80 connectivity customers around Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) the world. This partnership enables network architecture, comprising a The satellites combine electric power of 22 Panasonic to extend TRT World's live Software-Defined Networking (SDN), kW with a launch mass of only 4,500 kg, broadcast to many of the world's leading Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), thanks to the EOR (Electric Orbit Raising) international carriers, including Turkish and Multi-access Edge Computing version of the Eurostar Neo platform. Due Airlines. (MEC)-enabled 5G testbed. The for launch in 2021, they will be the ninth and “It is important to stay informed and up- successful test leveraged iDirect 10th high power all electric Eurostar to-date on world events. Passengers modems, satellite hub and 3GPP- satellites, harnessing multiple electric tune in to different outlets for news and enabled core network, with SES's propulsion thrusters for faster orbit raising it's vital to have variety in your sources to geostationary satellite Astra 2F. The and on-station manoeuvres. have a more well-rounded view of current Consortium also showcased efficient Nicolas Chamussy, Head of Space events. Thanks to Panasonic for making edge delivery and network slicing of Systems at Airbus said: “The continuing this challenge a lot easier during flight” eMBB and mMTC over satellite building confidence of Eutelsat in our products said Fatih Er, Director of News and upon the Fraunhofer FOKUS' Open5G means that they are now the launch Programmes, TRT World “Partnering Core network as a Proof-of-Concept for customer for Eurostar Neo which will be our with Panasonic to deliver our content in- their integration into a full 5G new flagship telecommunications satellite. flight is a major achievement to fulfill our architecture. They have been our key partner for most of promise to offer our service everywhere, “The goal of SATis5 is to foster industry our firsts, including Eurostar E2000+ and whatever platform our audience prefer to collaboration in using satellite Eurostar E3000, as well as electric orbit receive it.” technology for the future 5G connected raising.” Julie Lichty, Head of Digital Solutions world,” said Richard Lord, Vice Eutelsat CEO Rodolphe Belmer said: “We and Services at Panasonic Avionics said, President, Engineering, Strategic are delighted to sign this contract with our “Panasonic is proud to offer the world's Initiatives, VT iDirect. “SATis5 is helping long term partner Airbus. It marks another only truly global inflight live television to drive major milestones and milestone in our objectives to provide services. Whether it's the best in current deliverables led by key innovators customers with premium satellite affairs, sports and entertainment from a across the satellite and telecom technology with the highest level of selection of the world's premier media industries. This is critically important performance, and to expand reliability and brands, our mission is to keep work that will help service providers service security at the 13 degrees position, passengers informed and entertained extend their global reach, penetrate which has been our leading neighbourhood with quality programming. We believe significant new markets, and shape the for over 20 years, serving Europe, the that TRT World is a significant future of how the world connects.” Middle East and North Africa.” enhancement to our portfolio, and will be a tremendous enhancement to our airline Airbus builds new Nicolas Chamussy continued: “Eurostar customers' passenger experience.” Neo combines innovation with tried-and- generation broadcast tested technologies, resulting in a product satellites to renew line that will be as reliable as ever while VT iDirect joins ESA delivering the best performance in the Eutelsat HOTBIRD fleet market. Eurostar Neo will be produced Consortium to drive within the digital factory 4.0, a completely new way of manufacturing which will integration of Eutelsat, one of the world's leading guarantee end-to-end data continuity up to 5G/satellite networks satellites operators, has selected Airbus the final in-orbit test results.” VT iDirect, a company of VT Systems, to build two HOTBIRD new generation announced it has joined SATis5, a telecommunication satellites that will The development of Airbus' Eurostar Neo consortium funded by the European replace the current spacecraft and platform has been supported by the Space Agency (ESA) to promote the enhance capacity at Eutelsat's premium European Space Agency (ESA) and space cost-effective integration of satellite broadcasting position 13° East. agencies across Europe in the framework of technology into 5G networks. Together The two satellites will deliver improved the ARTES-14 programme line led by ESA with the consortium members, VT performances over the European and and CNES, and strongly supported by the iDirect's solutions group, will drive Middle-Eastern footprint, reinforced by UK Space Agency. technology innovation aimed at opening a powerful European Superbeam. They IN THE NEWS

and African Society. And this year's IoT lack of connectivity, poverty etc are some of World Africa proved it. By bringing together a the challenges faced on a daily basis. cross-section of the most innovative and However, there is also huge opportunity. forward-thinking enterprises and vendors, The #AfricaComChallenge is therefore for this year's event – a first at AfricaCom - corporate Africa to identify and mentor at provided a platform for the burgeoning IoT least one start-up that can feed into the ecosystem to get together and share their great digital ecosystem that can overcome e x p e r t i s e , i n d u s t r y i n s i g h t s a n d these challenges and with a view to even transformation stories. From enthralling presenting these solutions at the AHUB panel discussions on the importance of next year. reformulating business' operating structure The #AfricaComChallenge sets the scene to enable IoT across all lines of business, for a robust AfricaCom 2019 and in through to the creation of Africa-Centric reinforcing the new era of dynamism and Again, AfricaCom 2018 business models that made by African action that was born at AfricaCom 2018 - achieves all round results Business, for African Business. none of us are as smart as all of us. Also disrupting and changing the status quo In addition, the AfricaCom Awards show, As a reflection of its growing influence and is the increasing prevalence of Artificial supported by Founding Awards Sponsor, importance of the entire digital ecosystem on Intelligence (AI). AfricaCom 2018 played PCCW Global, was a colourful and festive everyday life across the planet, the 21st edition host to the first staging of the AI World Mardi Gras themed event last night. Held of AfricaCom held in Cape Town 13 – 15 Summit in Cape Town. While machine in Cape Town during AfricaCom, guests November 2018, attracted close to 14 000 learning and AI have been around in various celebrated and acknowledged those record-breaking attendees this year with the guises for a number of years, it is now taking trailblazers who are leading digital most diverse and informed, audience ever. an upfront presence in many enterprise inclusion, connectivity and digital conversations, as evidenced by the number development on the African Continent. Commenting on the success of this year's of ongoing conversations throughout the “AfricaCom continues to grow and with it event, Tom Cuthell, Event Director at Summit and the event as a whole. the Awards,” commented Tom Cuthell, KNect365, organiser of AfricaCom, said: “The Event Director of AfricaCom. “I would like to buzz around the entire AfricaCom precinct was Networking and the sharing of ideas are thank everyone involved, our judging panel tangible this week, as those attending and fundamental features of the world's largest who rigorously vetted the entries, sponsors participating in shaping Africa's digital future Africa-Focused technology, media and and partners for their ongoing support and appear to agree the time has now come for less telecommunications event. 2018 was also all the companies who continue to show talk and more action in order to get things done. the year for a number of large how dedicated they are to ensuring that As organisers, we are pleased to have announcements. One of these was from Africa advances into the digital ecosphere.” facilitated these conversations, presentations Rob Shuter, Group President and CEO, and exhibits and to play a role in Africa's MTN Group who had earlier spoken at the ongoing digital democracy.” Africacom headliners, on the fact that once Here are the AfricaCom Africans have access to the Internet, they This actionable desire reflected throughout the cannot afford to actually use it. To counter Awards stars for 2018: more than 16 conference tracks with many this, MTN announced a partnership with Best Network Improvement - Liquid speakers calling on regulators and policy KaiOS Technologies, China Mobile and Telecom - Completion of the Cape to Cairo makers to stop worrying about controlling what UNISOC to launch Africa's First SG Smart fibre route; Delivering Excellence in was already happening on the ground, and to Feature Phone which will be available for a C u s t o m e r E x p e r i e n c e - H u a w e i create policy for what might be. competitive price. Technologies - Customer Experience Management (CEM) for Ghana; Fintech “Africa has room for inclusive growth, and while AfricaCom has evolved over the years to Innovation Award - Econet Wireless there have been some development results address both the B2B and B2C audiences (Cassava Fintech) and Mahindra Comviva they have not been optimal” said Olabiyi and at this year's event, there were a greater - EcoCash Merchant Payments powered D u r o j a i y e , C h a i r m a n a t N i g e r i a n number of representatives from enterprises by mobiquity Money; Most Innovative use Communications Commission, further as well as decision makers – with a number of AI Technology - Huawei Technologies - commenting that African countries needed to of business agreements being concluded on Huawei PowerStar; Most Innovative collaborate to cut down on the red tape to speed the show floor throughout the event. In Service – Orange - Rural Electrification; up exchange of ideas and progression. The so- 2018, there was also much discussion Changing Lives Award - Ericsson and Wot- called 'developed' world is not going to wait for around the role of TMT and business in if? Trust - eHUB Diepsloot South Africa; Africa to get on the bus – the continent is driving social impact. Best Sustainable Power Solution - Huawei approximately 10 years behind – so Africa Technologies - Huawei PowerCube 1000; needs an aggressive infrastructure build up to “Through AfricaCom, we want to give others IoT Product / Service of the year - Yego catch-up and even surpass its counterparts. the ability and inspiration to change the Innovision Limited – Yegomoto; Digital Don't imitate but innovate. African continent. Because, when people Entertainment Solution - Kwesé iflix - Best One of the elements in preventing Africa's rapid get access to the Internet, they get access to Innovation in Digital Entertainment. progression is a critical lack of appropriate education, health care, banking and more, skills. As in 2017, education and access to and can start a business and continue grow Also, winners on the night of two very learning platforms – especially in the early existing operations. There are many special peer-voted awards were: Abdikarim childhood development phase - were key topics applications and ideas out there that are Mohamed Eid - CEO, Telesom who was across the three days. Africa has a veritable trying to create social innovation. As the acknowledged as the AfricaCom CXO of goldmine of youth. organizers of AfricaCom, we asked the Year and, Priya Thakoor - Chief Digital The importance of this was reflected in the ourselves if we have a role to play in that Officer, Coca-Cola South Africa who was number of E-Learning solutions and change and when we put that question out to recognised for outstanding achievements deployments on display in the Connectivity Hall a vote to the general AfricaCom community - in driving 'Digital Africa' forward and walked and the Technology Arena. As pointed out by #AfricaComChallenge - 85% voted they away with the award for the AfricaCom several speakers, the 4th Industrial revolution is would leave the event more able to deliver Enterprise CXO of the Year. Cuthell now not so much about the technology itself but on this imperative,” said Ben Wielgus, Head concluded by saying: “Congratulations to how to use it to enable advancement. of Sustainability, Informa. all of the award winners. The bar has been The Internet of Things (IoT) will have a The world has big problems – for the people set high and we all look forward to seeing transformative impact on both African Business of Africa, climate change, lack of literacy, what next year holds.” BUSINESS

Advancing digital connectivity in Africa

Newtec, a specialist in the design, begin targeting broadcasting, development and manufacture of backhauling, consumer and enterprise equipment for satellite communications, VSAT or government and defense announced its technology will be used by markets quickly using the same Newtec leading satellite operator NIGCOMSAT Dialog infrastructure. The platform as it expands its enterprise, government therefore enables operators to adapt to and consumer Ka-band broadband any business scenario and provides the services in Nigeria. capability of delivering tailored services.

Newtec Dialog is built to allow flexibility in As a pioneer in the industry, Newtec is the choice of technology and equipment, dedicated to creating new possibilities but also the types of services and for the broadcast, consumer and applications available, ensuring a enterprise VSAT, government, cellular completely flexible focus for the backhaul and trunking and mobility, businesses using it. Newtec Dialog gives offshore and maritime markets. Its Thomas Van den Driessche, CEO at Newtec. service providers optimal efficiency numerous products and technologies enabling them to establish a business can be applied in a wide range of single Africa. case for single or multiple markets using and multiservice applications from DTH one single platform and Operations broadcasting, video contribution and Efficiency Support System / Business Support distribution and disaster recovery and Since 1985, Newtec dedicated team of System (OSS/BSS). backbones for cellular backhauling, to specialists has set industry standards small and medium enterprises, SCADA with the most efficient, scalable and In 2017, Newtec deploys its Dialog® and oil and gas networks, aircrafts and economical technology solutions Newtec multiservice platform for publicly-owned vessels. Dialog enables the most optimal telecommunications specialist Teledata modulation and bandwidth allocation. for hundreds of mobile backhaul (2G, 3G) “ I n N i g e r i a , t h e N i g e r i a n That's efficiency. Newtec's engineers and banking application sites across C o m m u n i c a t i o n s S a t e l l i t e , have invented a new patented return link Mozambique. The Newtec Dialog NIGCOMSAT looks to expand its technology, which combines the best platform, with a HUB 4IF Hub Module at service offering, using Newtec Dialog qualities of SCPC and MF-TDMA. its core, powers Teledata's cellular allowing NIGCOMSAT to seamlessly backhaul network using Newtec Dialog move into new markets,” said Thomas The platform also supports SCPC DVB- S2, and Newtec S2 extensions return link modems (MDM3310 Satellite Modem). AustinVan Okere,den Driessche,Founder, CWG CEO Plc at Newtec. The platform is also connecting hundreds for applications which demand high of ATMs using Newtec's MDM2500 IP Following on from its continued success bandwidth and MF-TDMA 4CPM Satellite Modem at the remote sites, as with Newtec's VSAT platform Newtec technology for highly overbooked well as providing back-up connectivity to Dialog®, NIGCOMSAT will now deploy services, such as Internet access for improve higher reliability for the regional a second hub and thousands of consumers, SME/B2B and SCADA. The bank branches. Newtec's MDM2210 IP Satellite MDM3000 series of Newtec modems, Modems and MDM2510 IP Satellite which run on the Newtec Dialog platform, Pieter-Paul Mooijman, Newtec's Modems. “The ability to run multiple support all three return link technologies Regional Sales Director Africa, said: services over Newtec Dialog, was a key enabling operators to optimize the “Newtec Dialog's multiservice capabilities advantage for us when selecting our service delivered to individual end- and high efficiency have been crucial in technology partner for this expansion as customers the successful commencement of this it means we can install a variety of project, which will deliver significant modems and select the best one via a simple configuration in the NMS. capacity gains to Teledata by migrating its depending on the application being This can be done at any time and with operations onto a single platform. addressed – and all via a single minimal impact. The Newtec Dialog Alongside this, the flexibility provided by platform,” said Abimbola Alale, System is software upgradeable to our Mx-DMA return link technology has Managing Director and Chief support the new DVB-S2X in the return allowed the company to better manage Executiveof NIGCOMSAT. Nigerian link as well. All return link technologies the bandwidth at its cellular backhaul Communications Satellite Ltd. are combined with Newtec's core sites, which will result in significant cost (NIGCOMSAT was incorporated on technology FlexACM®, a highly efficient savings.” April 4, 2006 as a company under the Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) auspices of the Federal Ministry of algorithm using Newtec patent pending Having a platform with these qualities Communication, with a mission “to technology. opens up a multitude of possibilities for manage and exploit the commercial optimizing the usage of infrastructure and viability of the Nigerian Communication With these technologies, Newtec Dialog satellite capacity across different Satellite, NigComSat for the social is able to provide the most optimal markets. For example, a provider with a economic benefit of the nation”. modulation and bandwidth allocation at history of servicing a majority of IP It is charged with the management and any time, for any application and any trunking clients can shift focus easily and operation of the first geostationary satellite, while guaranteeing the highest communications satellite in sub-Sahara efficiency. BUSINESS

In Satcom industry, no single strand fits all

Gagan Agrawal, NSR

The traditional satcom industry can be positioning, increase margins, enter a a bid to go mass market. argued to be entering its third transition limited HTS play specializing towards a phase, after the FSS video boom until vertical Thus, as a must pivot, NSR believes the 2010 and the HTS influenced pricing At the heart of these strategies is the satcom industry will witness a renewed fleet decline more recently. With languishing relative competitiveness of each player, innovation and business strategy to match growth in 2018, alongside declining where irrespective of the service CAPEX spend with long term sustainability. EBITDA margins and backlog, the offering, an ability to bottom out capacity The Break-even metric indicates the risk of operator industry remains uncertain on pricing (at >15% IRR) remains key. This betting on a fixed vertical/geography for 15 video, while debating on the merits of is achieved by having the lowest Break- years, when in the next 5 years – CAPEX going fully downstream in the long term. even fleet wide pricing* (pricing at zero per Gbps thresholds can be broken again, profit margin) in both FSS and HTS rendering the satellite asset toxic. Thus, as Several factors such as high regional fleets – essentially packing more Gbps the CAPEX cycle ends between 2019-2021 competition, video demand absorption at the same cost, alongside reduced for most operators, and free cash flow through higher compression, supply- launch costs. (FCF) increases, both HTS mass market demand mismatch impact on pricing, and FSS consolidation strategy options will p r e s s u r e f r o m O T T , a n d This constant decline of CAPEX cost be on the table. But more importantly, commoditization of capacity have driven has a significant rollover effect on the operators will need to consider launching the market to a stagnation point. entire ecosystem, as older fleets can't flexible payloads catering to most demand However, no trend is bigger than the cope with pricing pressure from verticals and changing beams, frequencies, continuous manufacturing innovation to new/efficient fleets, consequently distribution channels and VAS on the go. pack more Mbps per unit of million reducing planned 15-year IRR margins. Consequently, consolidation becomes key dollars cost. By pushing CAPEX per This, in turn, reduces cash on hand for to succeed in such a strategy. Gbps to ever more efficient levels, longer term replenishment, creating operators are able to undercut higher Net debt to EBITDA than Secondly, reliance on high fill rates, 18% competitors on lease pricing, forcing anticipated and an indecisive 15-year IRR margin, >75% EBITDA margin and many to sell at or below break-even o u t l o o k o n p r i c i n g s t a b i l i t y. 10% ROCE will shift to strategizing high profit margins, creating a zero-sum Metaphorically, this is a circle of doom ARPU, plug and play distribution effect overall. that many operators may not escape in partnerships and cross-vertical selling the long term, even as service offerings between operators or service providers. Industry's 3rd Transition stabilize the market in the short to This divergence from a pure play lease While, indeed, the innovation looks medium term. model to a network and vertical agnostic promising to take the satellite industry user-oriented play can flip the 15-year more mass market in the longer term, In addition, with supply exceeding 4-5x satellite business plan as we witness today. this transition has brought into the times that of demand in 2027 in limelight two clear strategies that combination with potential LEO Bottom Line operators look to execute: constellations, another race to the From higher vertical specialization to Give Broadband to All – direct to home, bottom for pricing is expected to ensue, unbundling, from pure play lease to via backhaul for village Wi-Fi, to air, sea rendering several individual satellite b u n d l i n g n e t w o r k , c o n t e n t a n d and land mobility. Go mass market assets to under-perform. With C-band entertainment services and from through service offerings, with extreme already affected, fixed data and video commoditization to mass market flexibility – efficiencies both on capacity and distribution applications look most the industry is witnessing a key change: modem/antenna/ stressed in the medium term, while accurate prediction of IRR over a 15-year pricing for backhaul and consumer horizon is impossible. Consolidate FSS via regional market verticals declines at low double-digits in Under-performing assets are a liability in space due to tighter replenishment cycles, and without innovation towards fleet flexibility, capital investment in this industry could become riskier. Beam flexibility and a network + application agnostic platform demands plug and play distribution channels, that in turn force partnerships into mergers in the long term – producing clear winners and losers. Coupled with a shorter IRR horizon, the traditional satcom business model is surely transforming. IN THE NEWS Egypt to establish satellite assembly France-IX reaches new milestones and integration centre with presence in Africa

Egypt is one of the most advanced countries in France-IX, the premier Senegal, Parabole Reunion p a r t o f b u i l d i n g a the in Africa and Middle East in terms of space Internet Peering Service based Reunion, Maurice, s u s t a i n a b l e d o m e s t i c technologies capabilities. Its Earth Provider in France, has Madagascar, Mayotte, Internet ecosystem, the Observation Satellites, includes the EgyptSat- s a i d t h a t A f r i c a n C o m o r e s a n d L i q u i d establishment of which is an 1 launched on April 2007 and EgyptSat-2 Telecom operating in important step in fostering launched on April 2014 along with a ground networks peering at France-IX increase by 60 Botswana, DRC, Kenya, Internet-based economic control station in New Cairo, 40 Km north east g r o w t h . T h e s u p p o r t Cairo city, also called the Space city. percent; traffic from L e s o t h o , M a u r i t i u s , African ISPs increase by Rwanda, South Africa, F r a n c e - I X p r o v i d e s According to Prof. Islam Abou El-Magd, Egypt 90% and more than 70% Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, c o m p r i s e s t r a i n i n g , is in the process of establishing an AIT center of African countries with Zimbabwe have connected equipment donation and that could assembly, integrate and test satellite French as first language over the past year, bringing technical assistance. This up to mass of 600+ Kg. The AIT center will able to reach France-IX the total number of African France-IX initiative started assemble and test the first satellite, one of via remote peering members in the France-IX with the creation of CAS-IX EgyptSat series, in the second quarter of 2019. solutions Paris and Marseille peering in Morocco followed by Egypt has also established image receiving Over the past twelve community to 16. This SENIX in Senegal. The station in the south of Egypt at Aswan Its months, the number of growth is partly due to new regional IXP initiative in footprint covers North Africa and southern African networks that connections via France-IX Congo has been supported Europe. Other ground stations also in Egypt have joined France-IX in remote peering partners by France-IX throughout includes a meteorological NOAA receiving with presence in Africa 2018 station installed on the roof of NARSS Paris and Marseille has increased by 60 percent premises in Cairo, a mobile ground receiving “France-IX both contributes station that is in use for specific tasking and and traffic from African AFR-IX, Angola Cables, to and benefits from Internet applications, Magnetic Field Recording ISPs has increased by 90 Telecom Italia Sparkle and Stations at Fayum and Aswan (Part of percent. BICS enable more than 70 bandwidth growth in Africa: MAGDAS Network), Coherent Ionospheric This significant growth percent of African countries 14 percent of our Marseille Doppler Receivers (CIDR), at Space Weather firmly positions France- with French as its official peers are African ISPs and Monitoring Center, Helwan University, IX as the leading choice first language to reach we aim to support the southern Cairo. for African ISPs and France-IX via a remote expansion of Internet mobile operators wishing peering solution. connectivity across Africa by In 2008, the Egyptian satellite company, t o p e e r w i t h i t s Also Africa, which grew at a offering affordable, reliable, commences the process leading to the launch community of several compound annual rate of 45 low-latency Internet peering of its first two satellites Nilesat-101 and hundreds of carriers, percent between 2014 and services from France,” adds Nilesat-102. This led to the launch of its ISPs, content delivery 2018, is experiencing the Delphine Masciopinto; Chief broadcasting communication satellite and its most rapid growth of Commercial Officer at associated services and ground stations. networks and Internet professionals. international Internet France-IX. “Our vision to Since 2010, Nilesat-201 has provided digital support initiatives in French- Direct-to-Home (DTH) television, radio Six new African networks bandwidth. speaking countries has broadcasting and high-speed data services to – Dolphin Telecom France-IX has continued its users in North Africa and the Middle East, o p e r a t i n g G h a n a , programme of supporting already come to reality in including the Gulf region. In addition, the N i g e r i a , S e n e g a l , t h e c r e a t i o n a n d Morocco, Senegal and more ground control station in 6th of October City Ecoband in Ghana, development of new IXPs in recently in Congo. have for several years been serving the Guilab, Guinea, Orange Africa. IXPs are a crucial NileSat communication and broadcasting Satellites and the backup ground control station near Alexandria city for the NileSat Africa's telecom operators select Hughes JUPITER system communication and broadcasting Satellites. In Egypt, the Hijri crescent moon observation is Hughes Network Systems, d e d i c a t e d s a l e s a n d hundreds of remote terminals a satellite with a unique “state of the art” space t h e g l o b a l l e a d e r i n engineering support across connecting businesses and mission, which will unify the Hijri calendar broadband satellite networks the continent to serve homes. worldwide. and services, announced g r o w i n g b r o a d b a n d SatCoNet, the only native At present, Egypt experimental satellites are t h r e e A f r i c a n t e l e c o m demand," said Dharmendra VSAT operator in Tanzania, due for launch. One is the NExSat , which is companies have selected the Singh, regional director, also chose the JUPITER currently under test and will be launched in Hughes JUPITER™ System International at Hughes. System to improve their February 2019.While the other is the to power delivery of satellite "Our JUPITER System service offering for the UniverSat, which has been tested and ready broadband services for their enables service providers to market with improved for launch in December 2018. c u s t o m e r s . B o t s w a n a improve their offerings and p e r f o r m a n c e , b e t t e r Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s deliver a wide range of throughput and a better Egypt—the world's eighth-largest importer of C o r p o r a t i o n , S a t c o m applications supporting e x p e r i e n c e f o r t h e i r gas—is on track to become gas self-sufficient, Networks Africa Limited e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l customers. which is a crucial factor for stabilizing the (SatCoNet) and a leading development across Africa O n e o f t h e l a r g e s t economy and counteracting the impact of E a s t A f r i c a n — helping close the digital t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s reduced fuel, and likely food, subsidies. The t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s divide, which is our global companies in East Africa will offshore Zohr natural gas reserve was company each chose the m i s s i o n . " B o t s w a n a implement the JUPITER discovered in 2015 by the Italian oil company JUPITER System based on Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s System for video and i t s h i g h p e r f o r m a n c e , Eni, who maintains the concession. It is Corporation is using the b r o a d b a n d s e r v i c e i n operational efficiency and estimated to be the largest ever natural gas JUPITER System to expand schools. The technology better customer experience. find in the Mediterranean, far surpassing its high-speed business refresh begins with 1,000 Israel's Leviathan gas field with an estimated broadband service in sites, improving high-speed "Hughes is committed to the Botswana. The first phase of satellite performance and 850 billion cubic meters, estimated to double growth of our operations in Egypt's gas reserves. d e p l o y m e n t i n c l u d e s evolving their solution to Africa, and we have tripled our meet growing demand. BUSINESS

Intelsat reports strong profitability in Q3 2018 Media and network services dominate as one of Africa’s leading satellite operator, Intelsat declares third quarter earnings

Intelsat S.A. operator of the world's first our business goals,” he said Spengler Globalized Network and leader in integrated concluded, “The Comment Phase of the U.S. satellite communications, reported total Federal Communications Commission C- revenue of $536.9 million and net loss band proceeding has ended, a major attributable to Intelsat S.A. of $374.6 million milestone as we continue to advance our for the three months ended September 30, proposal. 2018. The formation of the C-Band Alliance, Intelsat operates the world's first Globalized demonstrates that the continental U.S. C- Network, delivering high-quality, cost- band satellite operators are in full agreement effective video and broadband services on the technical and operational steps anywhere in the world. Intelsat's Globalized necessary to clear 200 MHz of spectrum over Network combines the world's largest satellite the course of the next 18 to 36 months. We backbone with terrestrial infrastructure, will continue to advocate for our m a n a g e d s e r v i c e s a n d a n o p e n , breakthrough, market-based approach that interoperable architecture to enable is the best path to protecting incumbents customers to drive revenue and reach while repurposing spectrum that will through a new generation of network accelerate 5G deployment and innovation in services. the U.S.” VSAT at Isiolo Girls High School Thousands of organizations serving billions of people worldwide rely on Intelsat to provide Business highlights Grant Marais ubiquitous broadband connectivity, During the third Quarter 2018, Intelsat Managing Director, Intelsat Africa multiformat video broadcasting, secure p r o v i d e s c r i t i c a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n s satellite communications and seamless infrastructure to customers in the network wide-beam transponders was 79 percent at mobility services. The end result is an entirely services, media and government sectors. September 30, 2018, compared to 80 new world, one that allows us to envision the Our customers use our services for percent as of June 30, 2018. In addition, at impossible, connect without boundaries and broadband connectivity to deliver fixed and September 30, 2018 Intelsat's fleet included transform the ways in which we live. mobile telecommunications, enterprise, approximately 1,150 36 MHz units of high- Intelsat reported earnings before net interest, video distribution and fixed and mobile throughput Intelsat EpicNG capacity, stable gain on early extinguishment of debt, taxes government applications. as compared to June 30, 2018. and depreciation and amortization, of $411.5 million and Adjusted EBITDA1 of $416.3 In addition, network services revenue was So far, Intelsat successfully launched two million, or 78 percent of revenue, for the three $199.0 million, about 37 percent of Intelsat's satellites on September 25, 2018. Intelsat months ended September 30, 2018. Total total revenue) for the three months ended 38, a satellite jointly built with Azerbaijan's Adjusted EBITDA excluding the effects of September 30, 2018, a decrease of 6 percent commercial satellite operator, Azercosmos, ASC 606 was $390.0 million, or 76 percent of compared to the three months ended will provide media and broadband services revenue, for the three months ended September 30, 2017. in Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, and September 30, 2018. Free cash flow used in Also, media revenue was $233.1 million Asia. operations1 was $15.7 million. approx. 44 percent of Intelsat's total revenue The Horizons 3e satellite, Intelsat's joint Intelsat's Chief Executive Officer, Stephen for the three months ended September 30, venture satellite with Japan's leading Spengler, said, “During the third quarter, 2018, a decrease of 2 percent compared to satellite operator, SKY Perfect JSAT Intelsat made important progress on its the three months ended September 30, Corporation, completes the initial buildout of operational and financial goals. Our stable 2017. Media revenue was $216.4 million for the Intelsat EpicNG global high-throughput financial results reflect a continuation of the three months ended September 30, network, providing service coverage in the recent trends. Operationally, a major 2018, a decrease of 9 percent compared to Asia-Pacific region. Both satellites are milestone was the successful launch of the three months ended September 30, expected to enter service in the first quarter Horizons 3e, completing the global footprint of 2017, a period which benefitted from $13.5 of 2019. our high-throughput satellite fleet. million in revenue related to the partial Intelsat EpicNG allows connectivity among The Intelsat EpicNG fleet powers new termination of a contract. multiple spot beams, including star and services in wireless network extensions, in- However, government revenue was $98.4 mesh, as well as loopback within the same flight passenger broadband connectivity, million about r 18 percent of Intelsat's total user beam. broadband services for maritime fleets and revenue, for the three months ended This guarantees backward compatibility high definition video from small aeronautical September 30, 2018, an increase of 16 with existing networks, and forward surveillance platforms. In the past weeks, we percent compared to the three months ended compatibility with full flexibility to evolve the introduced the Intelsat FlexExecSM managed September 30, 2017. network design and technology as and service for the business jet segment, Excluding the effects of ASC 606, when customers want. The end result: the complementing our previously announced government revenue was $90.1 million for Intelsat EpicNG design increases cost- government and maritime managed service the three months ended September 30, effectiveness of the bandwidth, minimizes platforms that leverage the Intelsat EpicNG 2018, an increase of 7 percent compared to capital expenditures by providing backward network. the three months ended September 30, compatibility with existing networks and “Further, since July 1 we completed $4.2 2017. allows customers full control over the billion in capital markets transactions, Average fill rate topology and management of their network achieving an improved maturity profile for our Intelsat's average fill rate on our and the services they provide to the end capital structure. This, combined with our approximately 1,825 36 MHz station-kept user. operational progress, allows us to advance

6 IN THE NEWS

Canal Digital Nigeria develops strategy to lead ICT launches Netflix hardware exports in Africa service N i g e r i a ' s P r e s i d e n t as well as the need for stakeholders' efforts resulted Muhammadu Buhari has concerted efforts aimed at in ICT emerging as one of the Canal Digital is to offer Netflix to customers said that Nigeria is forging reversing the trend” He said key performers of the second of its OnePlace platform. The Android- strategic partnerships was leveraging on these q u a r t e r o f 2 0 1 8 b y based platform made its debut in March. towards becoming the main gains adding that the recording11.81% growth. Canal Digital will add Netflix to its services export hub for ICT hardware administration will ensure “It is pleasing to note the putting the streaming media service in Sub-Saharan Africa. The that government's ICT efforts by all relevant alongside Google-originated content. president stated this while p r o c u r e m e n t s r e m a i n stakeholders in forging speaking at the flag off of the transparent and align its IT strategic partnerships shared vision and policy. “We have promised our customers to 2018 e-Nigeria international towards ensuring that conference and exhibition Nigeria becomes an export gather the best and most relevant content organised by the National Government efforts will lead hub for ICT hardware in Sub- in our offering. By adding Netflix to our other Information Technology to cost savings through Saharan Africa. content, we are giving our customers D e v e l o p m e n t A g e n c y promotion of shared services Federal government has put access to even more series and films, in (NITDA), in Abuja. by avoiding duplication and in place several policies, addition to all our other content”, says Tone Elated that the country ensuring compatibility of IT including those of NITDA Krohn Clausen, Chief Products & Digital recorded 11.81% growth in s y s t e m s a n d i m p r o v e aimed at reorganizing the Officer, Canal Digital. I n f o r m a t i o n efficiency in government registration and certification The launch of Netflix on OnePlace is to be C o m m u n i c a t i o n s business. Other measures process for OEMs to ensure backed by a major advertising campaign. Technology(ICT) sector of will include re-enforcement adherence to world class “We are thrilled to partner with Canal Digital the economy in the second o f t h e p a t r o n a g e o f standards as well as and give their customers a seamless q u a r t e r o f 2 0 1 8 , t h e indigenous companies guarantee quality and access to their favorite Netflix shows, President declared that the where capacity exists; and durable devices are highly movies, documentaries, stand-ups kids growth had “challenged the uphold the highest standards commendable. programming and more,” says Rene country's reliance on foreign for service delivery. H e s a i d g o v e r n m e n t Rummel-Mergeryan, Director of Business hardware resulting into the Already government in emphasized the need for the August issued a new circular Development for Netflix EMEA. “Since 4K importation of about 80% of public service to be highly as part of its efforts at and HDR are fully supported through Canal ICT hardware through local competitive, innovative and Distributors of Original ensuring full realisation of the digitally-enabled to deliver Digital, this means our award-winning Equipment Manufacturers above objectives. “I am p u b l i c s e r v i c e s a n d content can be enjoyed in the best picture (OEMs) by MDAs and other pleased to note that this has effectively drive government quality.” government establishments been taken seriously and programs Startover capability has recently been added to the OnePlace platform and the Netflix launch will be accompanied by an improvement in the Search functionality. Canal Digital offers both linear TV and holds approximately 30 000 titles in its Türksat tests 8K Super High-Vision channel streaming service, the largest in Norway as measured by the number of titles. Türksat has tested a transmission. resolution of 3840 x 2160 broadcast in the Ultra HD Already millions of Utra pixels, which is four times Canal+ Group is a digital pioneer and a 8K Super High-Vision High Definition Television the resolution of HDTV, pioneer of new television services, format. The test on the has been shipped to which implies that there is particularly video-on-demand, set-top Türksat 4B and Turksat-3A countries in Middle East four times more information boxes and multi-screen distribution. So far, satellites (50 degrees East and Africa However, by just displayed on screen, which the group continued to expand its online and 42 degrees East was listing programs and movie is one of the factors to presence. carried out with the content under Utra High enhance the video quality. Canal+is the leading audiovisual group, a s s i s t a n c e o f K ? z ? l Definition standard, does providing access to more than 200 Elektronik, Vestel and not mean that it is ready to channels, primarily in French, via its Canal+ Socionext. be delivered The ideal size of a UHDTV channels, offering its subscribers the best Images of historical and U H D ' s a d v a n c e d is supposed to be around content and services in terms of exclusivity, natural Istanbul were technology promises to 5 0 t o 8 0 I n c h e s quality, mobility, consumer choice and captured for the ultra high s u r p a s s c o n s u m e r ' s respectively. customization. Canal+ Group's primary definition broadcast, which expectations. By region, its goal is to continue to accelerate its growth was seen on a Vestel household penetration will in the short and medium term, both in display at the Türksat booth reach 33% in North France and Africa. at Globalsatshow Turkey is America, 22% in Western Along with the premium channels, Canal+ one of the first countries in Europe and 18% in Asia Group produces about 20 special-interest the world to transmit Pacific and 5 per cent in pay channels covering major TV segments, broadcasts in the 8K Africa by 2020 including movies with the Ciné+ channels, format. . discovery with Planète+, sports with With a wealth of benefits The human vision is one of Sport+, and children's programming with including four times higher the most complex parts of Piwi+, Télétoon and Télétoon+1. resolution than HD, faster the human body. The eye Canal+ Group produces the Canal+ pay- frame rate, higher dynamic perceives movement, TV channels, which are recognized for the range and a wider colour senses depth, and sees a originality, creativity, and exclusivity of their gamut, television and range of colours greater content. It also distributes Canalsat, a pay- media industry is on the than any current existing TV package featuring over 150 channels. cusp of a revolutionary video technology is able to transformation in video display. UHDTV has a

7 FOR THE RECORD

Leveraging outer space for National Security

In his keynote address at the 2018 Annual General Meeting of Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers, HRH Engr. Otis Anyaeji, FAEng, FNSE, President, West African Federation of Engineering Organizations highlights the role and place of space technology in our lives as well as prospects of providing suitable solutions to the emerging non-conventional and multi-faceted challenges we face today in both our environment and the society.

Man's mission to space could not have distance communication and special been by accident since he was originally applications cannot be over-emphasized. wired by his creator to work and shape his environment to his comfort and taste, in Space research as a scientific process addition to his primary charge of populating has also generated a lot of spin-offs in the earth. Epochs of civilizations have other scientific endeavors and disciplines. revealed man's capacity to reach for the The ultra-sound technology commonly extremes and the desire to attain both used in medical practice today was a excellence and perfection. Man, in his technique developed for space stations. restless nature always want to know what is Space technology has also enabled behind every bend and what is over the Medicare to become accessible in remote next hill with every human being carrying and rural areas by use of satellite-based this tendency like a genetic imprint. telemedicine. Water purification technology, originally developed for the This particular nature of man has made the space station can cater for the displaced HRH Engr. Otis Anyaeji, FAEng, FNSE world better in many ways because we are and vulnerable people in disaster zones. today the beneficiaries of the efforts of the Development of improved vaccines and people who lived and thrived by out- high-quality protein crystals have also than ever before as well as climate achieving the previous generations. If for been largely catalyzed by space change. These, apart from civil unrest and e x a m p l e , t h e I n f o r m a t i o n a n d technology and research as well as the conflicts pose continuous threats to the Communications Technology have not performance of some complex surgery. nation's overall security. evolved the way it did right from the early big electronic modules to their Elements of National Security National space policy and miniaturization/integration and then In today's complex and seriously security digitization, it could still have remained the challenged world, National security can The National Space Policy already same basic technology whose impact could only be seen in a more holistic manner as foresees the impact of space technology not have been as tremendous as it is today. a concept consisting of many factors. and space derived products and services Every generation tries to leave behind its Food security and hunger, drought, which are capable of providing solutions to footprints and landmarks for the next pandemics, climate change are threats to the questions of security. There are including generation of scientists. Mankind national security. In essence, our national already clear roadmaps and signposts for definitely predicted very well the benefits of security could be threatened by economic the development of space-derived space security, food security, environmental products and services in addition, security, political security, energy security, manpower development in this regard exploration though he knew it involved health security as well as community great economic investments, massive risks security. Excerpts from the policy document show and seemingly impossible objectives. The that Satellite and Space technology can be build ups and breakthroughs in this highly The primary responsibility of any applied in Defence, National Security and specialized and advanced area of government is the provision of security Law Enforcement particularly, conflict technology like most scientific endeavors which involves securing lives and prevention through pre-emptive actions and project cycles started as rudimentary property as well as the territorial integrity such as advance communication, early research efforts from star gazing to of the country. In recent times, threats warning system, remote sensing, border development of telescopes and so on have become diverse, non-deterministic, delineation, identification of resources and before other early achievements and asymmetric and multifaceted thereby monitoring of movements of suspected advancements. The modern world today is making them difficult to detect and contain perpetrators of various situations. driven by technology and space technology using conventional means. In Nigeria for is at the cutting edge. Today, we use the instance, Boko haram in the north, Its also relevant in the enhancement of Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) driven kidnapping, child trafficking and hostage Regional Peace Keeping Operations. This by space technology: Very Small Aperture taking in the south are today's realities. is critical to the ability of our armed forces Terminal (VSAT),We watch news and Our rapidly expanding population makes to protect and maintain our strategic entertainment with satellite Television and the issue of food security more topical interests. the role of space technology in long Space Science and Technology is a potent 8 FOR THE RECORD

weapon in the fight against crime respectively. Having done the right Noise Amplifiers, Up and Down especially the deluge of international crime things at the right time, therefore, the converters among others, can start-up that are fall-outs of globalization and it question becomes what should be the companies be encouraged to form plays a crucial role in the command, next level of goals? The question of niches or clusters in the development control, and execution of the tactical and 'how' has been greatly answered by and production of these satellite strategic operation of our armed forces, as the pool of Nigerian space scientists subsystems? Can incentives be given already demonstrated in other areas and engineers and manpower who are like grants to encourage and galvanize around the world. highly trained. It is more a question of that entire ecosystem? Nigeria has been bedeviled in recent times 'when' and 'what?' with external and internal security Even if these venture platforms do not challenges ranging from cross border That is, what is actually holding us have the capabilities of the big players terrorism, armed banditry involving local back from keying into a $50b Industry but are equipped for research, software farmers and nomadic cattle rearers, ethnic and to task ourselves that it is high time development, hardware module design, and religious crisis, pipeline vandalisation we looked at the space industry as I would humbly advocate that such and crude oil theft and so many others. another cash cow, just as telecoms has should be encouraged and their These often tend to overwhelm or become or was transformed to be. capacities honed because space overstretch the capacities of our security Having recognized the fact that we technology is entirely ideas and agencies and the armed forces to their have space assets with geodetic and innovations driven. Once this is done limits and a situation which calls for communication capabilities, the and the technological and business side integration of technology to be able to emphasis should be on the of the space industry is well taken care boost the capacity of our security outfits m e t h o d o l o g i e s f o r a c h i e v i n g of, it becomes easier to deploy space and networks. Space technology with its collaborative goals in the space technology to solve our problems robust architecture and infrastructure can industry. including our security challenges. help information gathering and management, strategic planning and Lastly, we need to evolve a new way of Planning decision making, even down to execution thinking towards using space In this regard, effective planning entails of security plans. innovations for security and this entails setting organizational and team goals. It using the bottom-up approach that also includes setting objectives that are Nigeria has launched five Nigerian brings together broad spectrum of meant to be achieved. Proactiveness satellites into the orbit namely: talents and knowledge organizations. and setting time frames for achieving set NigeriaSat1¸ NigeriaSat2, NigeriaSatX, We need to birth a technology goals is important. Good indicators of NigComSat-1, and NigComSat-1R. ecosystem that can foster community- success should clearly be defined at the NigeriaSat1 is one of the five equally driven innovations around outer space beginning in order to access how well spaced microsatellites called Disaster technologies for providing the needed the objectives are realized. Monitoring Constellation capable of solutions. producing multispectral imaging of any Team work part of the earth on a daily basis. They While taking stock of the capability of Indeed, aligning the interests of each have large swats covering hundreds of our space profile and assets to stakeholder in the Nigerian space kilometers, and each satellite is actually efficiently undertake the onerous task environment is a sure bet for optimal part of a constellation, such that events are of meeting today's challenge, the success. Team building has profound rarely missed or missed events are following processes are important and effects on organizational performance. compensated for by another satellite. It hence, suggested for the stakeholders Good communication platforms, was succeeded by NigeriaSat-2 and in the space industry and the security development of avenues for meetings NigeriaSat-X, with both launched in 2011 agencies: and cooperation which can shape the carrying similar instruments with higher perception of each stakeholder in line resolutions. Shared vision with the shared vision is a good way to This involves obtaining both the buy- go. Space technology teams should Nigcomsat-1R is a super hybrid ins and the commitment of all towards involve high and very frequent inter- geostationary communication satellite a common goal and a generic vision disciplinary collaborations and inter- comprising twenty eight(28) active aimed at solving the challenge in agency cooperation in which case, each t r a n s p o n d e r s w i t h f o u r A c t i v e focus. Shared vision has been noted member must see itself as art of the transponders for C-band, fourteen active as a good predictor of organizational whole. transponders for Ku-band, eight active success. A shared vision is one that transponders for Ka-band and two active team members can adopt, operate and Monitoring and evaluation transponders for L-band. literarily own. The Security Agencies This is concerned with the assessment should see themselves as team of the progress made as compared with These features make the communication members and the outer space as a earlier plans, and how well objectives satellite to have very strong signal shared vision and mission to be have been achieved with the sole aim of characteristics such as strong footprint operated to the benefits and using space technology to meet our and powerful signal strength. The advantage of all. We seem to have built challenges but this last point is capacities are highly impressive with the the skillset and capabilities capability for transponder leasing and predicated on the aforementioned. Though the challenges may be nascent provision of broadband services. Indeed, in the space industry sector to a and daunting but be assured that the much foresight was displayed by Nigeria in reasonable degree but can we begin to capacity and hope offered by space launching its space programs in 2001 also build an entire ecosystem in the technology is huge. having taken spaces and positions in the space industry? Space technology for medium earth Orbit as well as the example, involves the development of Geosynchronous orbits, capable of doing satellite subsystems like the grounding geodetic services and communications system, High Power Amplifiers, Low IN THE NEWS

Es'hailSat's second satellite successfully Speedcast expands global connectivity launched for Schlumberger Es'hailSat announced the successful launch of Es'hail-2 satellite on board a Speedcast International over 10 years in the most communications and IT Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Limited has been awarded challenging remote and solutions provider for the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. The multi-year contracts in harsh environments. Energy market with more satellite was lifted-off aboard Falcon 9 rocket multiple countries to t h a n 3 0 y e a r s ' and satellite separated from the second enhance existing global "We take great pride in e x p e r i e n c e s e r v i n g stage of the Falcon 9 rocket at 00:18 Doha services for Schlumberger, consistently offering customers both onshore time on 16 November and the solar panels the world's leading oilfield e n h a n c e m e n t s a n d and offshore. were fully deployed about 2 hours after liftoff. services provider. e x p a n s i o n s t o t h e Es'hailSat expects to bring the satellite in to services we provide for Speedcast leverages the commercial service at 26°E orbital position The newest improvements Schlumberger," says most robust global by January 2019, upon completion of in Orbit include equipment and K e i t h J o h n s o n , network in the mobile Tests. n e t w o r k u p g r a d e s Speedcast's EVP of satellite industry to Es'hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, is leveraging the latest in Energy. develop solutions for the first satellite company of Qatar. It modem and terminal "We strive to keep all of critical applications provides independent, high quality, critical technologies in countries our customers at the anywhere in the world. capacity that Qatar will need for 2022 and such as Pakistan, China, cutting-edge of available The company's extensive beyond. It also supplying important Australia and New Zealand, t e c h n o l o g i e s a n d infrastructure promotes additional connectivity, services, and adding to an extensive list of services that improve and flexibility and operational redundancy, as Es'hailSat's satellites will be g l o b a l n e t w o r k simplify their critical efficiency, allowing serving as the cornerstone of Qatar's enhancements awarded operations in remote customers to scale their a d v a n c e d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s earlier in 2018 by this environments anywhere networks to current i n d u s t r y — i n c l u d i n g p r o v i d i n g a n customer. in the world. r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d independent access to satellite capacity for Technology upgrades for We are delighted that b usiness needs while Qatar's TV broadcasters, an alternative sites in Latin America as Schlumberger leverages receiving world-class route for essential data connections outside well as secure network our scale to maximize 24/7 support. Speedcast Qatar. upgrades and new services t h e i r o p e r a t i o n a l offers robust telecoms commissioned in the Gulf of efficiencies across the systems integration Ali Al Kuwari, President and CEO of Mexico, Southeast Asia, globe for a wide variety of s e r v i c e s f o r l a r g e Es'hailSat, said: “I want to dedicate the Europe, Middle East and connectivity solutions, integration projects successful launch of our second satellite to Sub-Saharan Africa further from equipment rentals to onshore and offshore that the Emir of Qatar, H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin demonstrate the strength of secure, fully-managed seamlessly integrate Hamad Al-Thani, and the Government and the global partnership networks." connectivity services with people of Qatar. These are exciting times for b e t w e e n t h e t w o Speedcast holds a a variety of networking, Es'hailSat and Qatar. Es'hail-2 is the first companies, which have leadership position as the security, communications fully operated satellite for Qatar and is a been working together for largest, most trusted and IoT systems symbol of Qatar's commitment to free – secure – and independent communication.” SPOT satellite GPS messaging devices surpass Built by Mitsubishi Electric Company (MELCO), based on their DS 2000 satellite 1billion messages, 6,100 rescues worldwide bus, Es'hail-2 has a proven, modular platform with high power capability and Globalstar Europe Satellite of 311 rescues in EMEA, with protection all collapsed flexibility for a broad range of applications. In Services Ltd., a leading 258 in Europe and 53 in within hours, so he addition to offering Ku-band capacity to provider of satellite messaging Africa. France (32), Italy (17), pressed the SOS button support the growing 25.5⁰E / 26.0°E and emergency notification Norway (32), Sweden (27), on his SPOT Gen3. broadcast neighborhood, Es'hail-2 also technologies, announced that Switzerland (25), Spain (32) features multi-transponder Ka-band SPOT has reached a new and the UK (44) are the In April 2018, another capacity with sophisticated anti-jamming milestone, surpassing one busiest rescue locations in user, Markus Huber was capabilities providing business and billion messages transmitted Europe. Adventurers who paragliding with a friend in g o v e r n m e n t s e c t o r s w i t h s e c u r e and more than 6,100 rescue a r e h i k i n g , m o u n t a i n Switzerland when he hit a communications across the MENA region. incidents initiated in 89 climbing and paragliding in patch of turbulent air, The spacecraft has a design life in excess of c o u n t r i e s a n d o n s i x Europe and Africa are most w h i c h c a u s e d h i s continents. likely to request help from the 16 years. paraglider to suddenly A trusted and proven satellite G E O S I n t e r n a t i o n a l collapse on one side. communications family of Emergency Response Co- Markus deployed his Earlier, Es'hailSat 2 arrived safely at the devices, SPOT's fast-growing Ordination Centre (IERCC) reserve parachute, bailed SpaceX launch facility at Kennedy Space base of subscribers includes via SPOT's SOS button. out and seconds later was Center in Florida, USA ahead of the launch lone workers and outdoor hanging 20 metres up in a on 15 November 2018. Es'hail-2 is now enthusiasts who want peace of One rescue last winter in tree. Markus pressed the underwent final preparation at the SpaceX mind, reliable communications Europe was Kjell-Harald SOS button on his SPOT launch facility for launch on board a Falcon 9 and SOS capability through the Myrseth. He was on a 500km to initiate a rescue. rocket. G E O S I n t e r n a t i o n a l trek using skis, sleds and “Thanks to SPOT, in an Launching rockets in to space is an E m e r g e n c y R e s p o n s e dogs inside the Arctic Circle instant, IERCC and both of inherently risky business, but working with Coordination Center (IERCC), in Norway when a deadly my children were notified the extremely competent people at SpaceX, even when there is no mobile storm developed with winds of my incident and had my we are optimistic about the chances of a network coverage. of up to 240km/hr. The snow precise location so they successful launch,” says Ali Al Kuwari, To date there have been a total caves he kept building for could organise a rescue. IN THE NEWS

Yahsat planning Study: Eutelsat leads DTH market across successor for Thuraya Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast fleet A far-reaching in-depth neighbourhood in neighbourhood is a With the acquisition of mobile satellite study, led by Nielsen, of pole position across leading free-to-air operator, Thuraya completed last August, t e l e v i s i o n r e c e p t i o n position reaching a total t h r o u g h o u t N i g e r i a , Cameroon and Ivory of 2.2M households and Yahsat is planning to order two replacement Coast satellites by the end of 2019 to continue Cameroon and Ivory Coast, offers a diverse line-up Thuraya's L-band connectivity service. has positioned Eutelsat as of popular Nigerian Executives from Yahsat and Thuraya said satellite market leader within The study also revealed that channels such as having both UAE operators under the these countries. E u t e l s a t ' s 1 6 ° E a s t CRTV, Channel TV and ownership of the state-owned Mubadala neighborhood is the leading Silverbird TV, local Investment Company gives solid footing for The face-to-face interviews FTA position in Cameroon content specifically Thuraya to jumpstart fleet refresh plans from were conducted with 3,000 and Ivory Coast with a popular to the Hausa 2016 that had stalled out. households in Nigeria, 2,000 combined reach of 1.2M community; My TV in Cameroun and 2,000 in households in those 2 Hausa and Alwilayah Measat-3b “The continuity of service for all of the Ivory Coast, representative countries. In Cameroon, 16° TV Hausa, as well as customers of Thuraya is key and paramount,” of the population of the East is the leading position international channels Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, CEO of Yahsat, geographical area surveyed. and reaches a total of such as Aljazeera, said during a September interview at the World 9 4 0 , 0 0 0 h o u s e h o l d s France 24. Satellite Business Week conference in Paris. Satellite television is representing 73% of the “And the fact that we are well capitalized and high in the rankings DTH installed base. In Ivory E u t e l s a t ' s 7 ° E a s t owned by a shareholder that is very well Coast, it has the largest FTA neighbourhood has a installed base, reaching r e a c h o f 1 . 4 M capitalized and owned by the government in Satellite television reception Abu Dhabi should give a lot of confidence.” 240,000 households (37% households in Nigeria, is the dominant technology in of the DTH installed base. mainly catering to Ivory Coast reaching 68% of Dubai-based Thuraya had announced plans at E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g TV households (1.5 million 16°East position caters for a locals, with Channel TV, World Satellite Business Week two years households) and is also a earlier for a geostationary constellation that wide variety of tastes with TVC News Nigeria and major technology in Nigeria over 160 channels, among international content would replace its two aging L-band satellites by reaching 41% (10.3 million 2020 with more powerful satellites carrying L- which are highly sought such as CNN, Fox, BBC h o u s e h o l d s ) a n d i n after local channels such as World news, Bloomberg u and Ka-band capacity. Funding delays and the C a m e r o o n w i t h 3 8 % February 2017 departure of CEO Samer C R T V , C a n a l 2 TV Africa, CNBC Africa households of over 1.3 International, Trace Africa, and Al Jazeera. Halawi for Intelsat by way of OneWeb clouded million households. that program, known as “Futura.” Novelas TV, RT1 and RT2 a s w e l l a s p o p u l a r High definition in “Eutelsat is pleased to have Mahmood said Thuraya's new satellites “might international channels in high demand e s t a b l i s h e d a s t r o n g French and English. not be exactly the same concept that the presence in the regional According to study previous management team had,” but plans audiovisual landscape, findings, the need for are moving ahead to replace the 10-year-old p r o v i d i n g m i l l i o n s o f A winning HD is rising in Sub- Thuraya-3 and 15-year-old Thuraya-2 households with access to a combination across Saharan Africa with a spacecraft. Thuraya's new CEO, Ali Al wide range of local and Nigeria growing demand for HD Hashemi, said he is confident Mubadala — a international channels. Eutelsat has the highest content specifically in sovereign wealth fund with $45 billion in combined reach across the Pay-TV. revenue and $125 billion in assets — will This study confirms that Nigerian market between its bankroll the new satellites provided Thuraya Eutelsat's 16° East position 3 positions, 36° East, 7° This is coupled with a presents a solid business plan. is the leading position for East and 16° East. Over 5M rise in the affordability of free-to-air broadcasting in households in Nigeria, one equipment such as “Mubadala has a coherent process of how to Cameroon and Ivory Coast out of two DTH households televisions and set-top- get the funding and we think we have a big and that Eutelsat's three point towards a Eutelsat boxes. The number of story to [tell] Mubadala to get the funding for positions, 36° East, 7° East position. H D T V e q u i p p e d the next two satellites,” he said. Hashemi said and 16° East, serve the households is already Yahsat and Thuraya's owner provides more largest combined audience E u t e l s a t ' s 3 6 ° E a s t sizeable: in Nigeria 9.5 than just ready capital. “They have big in the Nigerian market. It is a neighbourhood is Nigeria's million of about 38% investments in artificial intelligence, data testament to our long- leading Pay-TV position, h o u s e h o l d s w e r e centers, [Internet of Things] solutions, standing partnership with reaching 1.3M households. identified to be HDTV aerospace and manufacturing, and many of Africa's leading TV It hosts DSTV, the leading compatible homes, 0.9 semiconductors — all this can be leveraged to channels and bouquets. satellite Pay-TV platform in m i l l i o n ( 1 8 % ) i n enhance our services,” he said. the region and groups Cameroon and 0.5 W e l o o k f o r w a r d t o t o g e t h e r a r o u n d 4 0 0 million (22%) in Ivory The two Boeing-built satellites Thuraya s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e s e channels including 43 Coast. operates today were designed to last at least partnerships to develop our channels in HD accessible 12 years, meaning Thuraya-2 is already three services as these dynamic throughout region and years past its expected end date. markets continue to evolve," includes top most watched Geostationary telecom satellites often last said Nicolas Baravalle, Vice channels in Nigeria such as beyond their design lives, but eventually run President for Sub-Saharan AIT International, CNN out of fuel and are forced to retire. Hashemi Africa at Eutelsat. International, Silverbird TV said discussions are underway with five Eutelsat's 16°East and Zee World. satellite manufacturers for the replacements. E u t e l s a t ' s 1 6 ° E a s t

11 IN THE NEWS

Spacecom and Eutelsat procures replacement satellites for Botswana Telecom Its flagship HOTBIRD Neighbourhood partner in a multi-year Eutelsat Communications redundancy. capex budget. Rodolphe h a s o r d e r e d t w o n e w With a launch mass of 4.5 Belmer, Chief Executive deal satellites from Airbus Defence Spacecom operator of the AMOS satellite tonnes and an electric power Officer of Eutelsat, “We are and Space to replace the of 22 kW, the all-electric fleet, and Botswana Telecommunications delighted to have secured three existing HOTBIRD propulsion satellites will be replacement capacity for our Corporation (BTC) announced an satellites at its 13° East based on Airbus Defence and f l a g s h i p H O T B I R D agreement whereby AMOS-7 is supplying flagship neighbourhood. Space's innovative Eurostar neighbourhood at 13° East, satellite services to BTC's VSAT, Very These all-electric high-power Neo platform which will be which has played a part in Small Aperture Terminal network satellites are set to enter into produced, along with their developing TV broadcasting throughout all of Botswana. Spacecom is service in 2022, serving high-performance payloads, formats since its creation and providing BTC with highest efficiency Europe, the Middle East and in their UK facilities in is a cornerstone of our video satellite capacity alongside migrating the North Africa. The new Stevenage and Portsmouth strategy. These new satellites existing network towards next generation satellites will reinforce and as well as in their French have been specifically VSAT technology. enhance the high quality of facility in Toulouse. designed to enhance the Utilizing the AMOS-7 KU-band Africa b r o a d c a s t i n g s e r v i c e s T h i s s t a t e - o f - t h e - a r t service we offer to our beam, BTC high speed VSAT services will p r o v i d e d t o E u t e l s a t technology enables Eutelsat customers at this key realize increased bandwidth and better customers on HOTBIRD, to replace the current n e i g h b o u r h o o d , w h i l e service availability. Spacecom's new p r o v i d i n g i m p r o v e d c o n s t e l l a t i o n o f t h r e e representing the optimum Vertical Solution Division is leading performances over Western satellites by two, further solution in terms of capex migration and professional services for the E u r o p e a n d P o l a n d . e n h a n c i n g t h e c a p e x efficiency. We are once again VSAT network. Moreover, the satellites will o p t i m i z a t i o n a c h i e v e d entrusting this project to our According to Peter Olyn, GM Technology at offer advanced features in through the application of the long-standing partner Airbus BTC, “Spacecom brings us an inclusive terms of uplink signal design-to-cost policy. This Defence and Space who have solution for our entire VSAT business. protection and resilience, as procurement is fully covered already delivered 23 satellites Spacecom's strong beam enables us to well as exceptional in-orbit by the company's existing for our group.” further an already impressive lineup of services for our growing business and consumer markets to reach throughout Botswana. We look forward to more growth New connectivity solutions introduced with Spacecom as our satellite to oil and gas industry communications partner." “AMOS-7's Africa KU-beam provides us IEC Telecom Group, a corporate link into one solutions, accelerating a with solid opportunities in Sub-Sahara leading global provider of solution. With 360-degree new era of connectivity. Africa with our new contract with BTC m a n a g e d n e t w o r k support for corporate reinforcing the AMOS brand in Southern communication solutions, applications, IEC Welfare is “The developments in Africa, commented Jacob Keret, SVP h a s s h o w c a s e d t h e e q u i p p e d w i t h 2 4 / 7 technologies including Sales of Spacecom. "We are excited to solutions that will facilitate customer support and cloud, social media, and big commence our business relationship with i m p r o v e d c r e w smart budget control tools, data and analytics creates BTC and support their new network in communications, online delivering advanced online immense potential for the Botswana. Spacecom's new business access and seamless reporting on network usage industry,” said Nabil Ben division is proving its worth to our partners operational performance as while controlling the S o u s s i a , M a n a g i n g at BTC. Being able to offer more in this part of a new era of Director, IEC Telecom growing market is an important tool in our allocation of crew credits. connectivity. The latest Middle East. “Connectivity business development and in supporting our clients with additional market growth connectivity solutions have The global IT spending in can gather vital data across opportunities.” been introduced at the Abu the oil and gas industry a w i d e r a n g e o f D h a b i I n t e r n a t i o n a l according to market applications, offering Spacecom established in 1994, launched Petroleum Exhibition and researcher Technavio will c o m p a n i e s a n its first geostationary satellite – AMOS-1 in Conference. be worth US$50 billion by unprecedented opportunity 1996. A dynamic, growing, satellite 2020. This ability to to improve operating operator- Spacecom operates the AMOS IEC Telecom Group, a facilitate improved crew e f f i c i e n c i e s , r e m o v e communications satellite fleet, covering leading global provider of communications, online communication barriers and diverse territories with an International m a n a g e d n e t w o r k access and seamless reduce operation costs.” global expansion growth strategy. communication solutions, operational performance is Spacecom today is an established market h a s s h o w c a s e d t h e driving demand for new leader in Europe, the Middle East with the solutions that will facilitate 4°W orbital slot 'hot spot', has established a i m p r o v e d c r e w significant footprint in Africa and North communications, online America and is now expanding to Asia. access and seamless Spacecom has an excellent reputation in operational performance as the market with an experienced and stable part of a new era of management and strong financial backing. connectivity. Our collective vision is to position IEC Telecom Group and its Spacecom as an international satellite partner Al Yah Satellite services provider — one that operates a Communications Company constellation of advanced satellites at (Yahsat) introduced its IEC multiple orbital locations and maintains its Welfare solution to the personalized attention to its customers exhibition. This combines a over a wider range of territories. 'controlled welfare' feature as well as a secure

18 IN THE NEWS

Yahsat launches MYSAT- Liquid Telecom partners Kymeta to offer 1 CubeSat to the ISS connectivity services in remote areas Yahsat, UAE-based global satellite operator, has announced the successful launch of the The Pan-African telecom moment in the evolution of anywhere", he said. MYSAT-1 CubeSat to the International Space firm Liquid Telecom, in a very small aperture terminal Station (ISS) on board the Northrop Grumman bid to develop connectivity (VSAT) services for the The aims of this partnership Cygnus spacecraft. The launch took place at i n A f r i c a , s i g n e d a African continent. are the same as those of the the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, USA and servicing agreement with agreement signed in May was attended by a group of Khalifa University the American firm Kymeta By pairing the latest Liquid 2018 by thePan-African students and faculty who have participated in Corporation, specialized in VSAT Internet platform with telecom firm with China the development of the nanosatellite. the provision of internet K y m e t a ' s s a t e l l i t e TelecomGlobal: boost its Developed in the Yahsat Space Lab by the connectivity thanks to its terminals, the companies data capacities, expand its students of Khalifa University of Science and n e t w o r k c o m b i n i n g are bringing unrivalled presence in Africa to reach Technology, the miniature satellite (also known s a t e l l i t e a n d c e l l connection quality, speed new clients and generate as a CubeSat) will be used for educational and technologies. research purposes once it is deployed to its and availability to people on new revenues in the data final orbit in the beginning of 2019. The the move and in places that segment. nanosatellite carries two payloads, including a The partnership was have never been connected camera to take images of the UAE from space, s i g n e d d u r i n g t h e b e f o r e " , s a i d S c o t t So far, every BTS can be demonstrating the process of remote sensing, AfricaCom 2018, held in M u m f o r d , m a n a g i n g connected to a VSAT which as well as an innovative lithium-ion battery Cape Town, South Africa. executive of satellite and uses a dedicated IP developed at Khalifa University to be tested in In Africa, building and VSAT at Liquid Telecom. backhaul link back to a the extreme temperatures and radiation in operating commerciallyFarhad Khan, Chief Commercial Officerstate-of-the-art, Yahsat VSAT hub. space sustainable networks in According to Neville T h e V S ATs , s a t e l l i t e Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, executive vice remote areas throws up Meijers, sales manager at backhaul link and hub will be president, Khalifa University of Science and p r o b l e m s i n c l u d i n g Kymeta Corporation, this provided by Liquid Telecom. Technology, said, “The successful launch of transporting kit on poor new partnership offers Both the BTS and VSAT run MYSAT-1, developed and built by students of roads, generating power in unlimited communication on minimal power so they Khalifa University's Master's Concentration in areas with no electricity, possibilities to Liquid can be powered by solar. S p a c e S y s t e m s a n d Te c h n o l o g y, a n d e q u i p m e n t Telecom in Africa. "This The will be able to provide demonstrates that our university possesses maintenance. mass market broadband GPRS and EDGE coverage the academic and scientific rigor required to platform can be deployed to even the most remote transform the UAE's promising students into " T h i s n e w s t r a t e g i c tomorrow's space engineers and scientists. quickly and easily without villages – changing people's partnership between Through our Small Satellite Program and the skilled personnel, delivering lives today and in the future. Master's Concentration, Khalifa University is Liquid Telecom and G i g a b i t c o n n e c t i v i t y proud to play a critical role in the UAE's broader Kymeta marks a disruptive space ambitions. We will continue to develop local talent that will be part of the Emirati space engineers and scientists who will contribute to Regulator grants LeoSat North America the UAE's Hope Mars Mission and the vibrancy market access geostationary orbit (“GSO”) of the country's overall space sector.” satellites, the LeoSat System LeoSat Enterprises, the government customers in the offers numerous advantages Muna AlMheiri, chief human capital officer, dynamic young company United States. Designed as a w i t h r e s p e c t t o h i g h Yahsat said, “MYSAT-1's expedition into space which is launching a unique backbone in space for global throughput, low latency, and marks an exciting accomplishment by the n e w d a t a n e t w o r k business, LeoSat's data full global coverage. These students of Khalifa University. It is also a comprised of a constellation network will enable new advantages, in turn, will allow testimony to the UAE's growing talent pool in of up to 108 low-earth-orbit opportunities for sectors such LeoSat to provide enterprise- STEM education. Yahsat is proud to have communications satellites, as enterprise-to-enterprise grade, highly secure data collaborated with Khalifa University and has been awarded the c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , transmissions with up to 1.2 Northrop Grumman to create the first multi- authority by the U.S. telecommunications, oil & gas G b p s o f f u l l - d u p l e x disciplinary academic space programme in the Federal Communications operations and maritime connectivity per link (and 5.2 UAE which has resulted in the creation and Commission (FCC) to services, delivering premise- Gbps where needed), along successful launch of MYSAT-1.We are provide non-geostationary to-premise high-speed data with low latency of less than committed to developing the national talent satellite orbit services in the (greater than 1 Gbps) with 20 ms. The high-throughput pool through providing talent with unique United States. unmatched security to any satellites will form a mesh opportunities to enhance their capabilities and The increasing demand for location in the world. network interconnected drive innovation.” business connectivity and Moreover, whilst LeoSat's through inter-satellite laser the need to move large core focus is solving essential links, creating an optical The launch of MYSAT-1 to ISS follows the quantities of data quickly business communications b a c k b o n e t h a t i s rigorous testing of the nanosatellite's and securely around the challenges, the unique design approximately 1.5 times engineering model for space environment world, is fast outpacing the of LeoSat's constellation faster than terrestrial fiber conditions as well as the integration of the final infrastructure in place to means capacity will also be networks. launch satellite to NanoRacks' external carry it. Existing networks available to enable a new F o r E n t e r p r i s e a n d Cygnus CubeSat deployer. The Cygnus is an are already carrying more level of connectivity services Government customers, automated cargo resupply spacecraft destined than 1 Zeta Byte of traffic for Internet and cellular LeoSat system fulfil a critical for the International Space Station. globally and this is set to backhaul for remote and communications need by MYSAT-1 is the first Cubesat (or nanosatellite) grow exponentially. underserved communities. giving banks, governments or built at the Yahsat Space Lab at Khalifa The FCC market access Using optical inter-satellite research centers ultra-secure University. The laboratory was launched in grant will allow LeoSat to l i n k s a n d o n - b o a r d networks with global offices, 2017 at Masdar Institute in collaboration with address currently unmet processing and operating in providing significantly more Yahsat and Orbital ATK – part of Northrop demand for high-bandwidth, polar orbits at an altitude five bandwidth for oil & gas and Grumman– to develop and advance low-latency, high-security times closer to the Earth than mining exploration than is technologies within the space sector in line data transmissions from medium earth orbit satellites available today. with the UAE's space ambitions. large commercial and and 25 times closer than

12 SPECIAL REPORT Next generation technologies driving new business model

As a culture in which latest technologies are applied, broadcasting has continually evolved through the application of latest technologies, starting with radio, then, moving from black and white television to color television, onto digital television and HDTV. Along with the on-going digitalization process of television, broadcasting is headed toward a new era to achieve new milestones in the history of broadcasting technology, according to this latest analyses.

In its early history, television broadcast audience simultaneously with the came into the home via electromagnetic Internet's interactive and search signals broadcast over the airwaves to capabilities, enabling broadcasters to rooftop antennas, and later in the 1970, provide more convenient and reliable, consumers had the option of taking down high-quality contents for its viewers. their antennas and getting their TV from signals carried by coaxial cables. A few Ahead of the digital switch over, a growing years later, another possibility opened up number of TV stations are adopting Picture source ADB when Earth orbiting satellites began to integrated newsrooms to cope with beam microwave signals to recurring producing and distributing content for dishes. And, of course, the most recent multi-channels and multi-platforms. addition is the internet. As technology Internet-based service are becoming changes, so changes the world. accessible from personal computers responsible for sending broadcast signals providing information on how to better to the satellites, as well as controlling the satellites themselves. TheCourtesy- transition SpaceX from analog to digital enjoy TV and radio by utilizing video and television began around year 2000, and sound clips, and accepts viewer comments today, most countries have completely in an effort to improve program sites and In this era, broadcasters are taking turned off analog broadcasting. The broadcasts. The service is also being measures to improve poor reception in substitute is a European-based enhanced for the smartphone which is some areas, channel repacking, and consortium standard called Digital Video gaining in popularity. transfer of digital transmission facilities. Broadcasting. The standard describes how digital television should be coded, Broadcasting the same feed worldwide is According to a “broadcast expert, the encrypted and modulated among other rarely the best solution. In that respect, frequency range particularly UHF band details, when transmitted via terrestrial operators have invested in editing suites, used by digital broadcasting is higher than antenna, satellite. playout solutions, ad-insertion capabilities that of analog broadcasting, which makes and even regulatory services to offer digital broadcasting signals prone to Over the next five years, digital channels regionalization of their feeds thus blockage by hills, mountains and technologies will become increasingly maximizing audience and revenues. buildings”. Digital broadcasting also has a widespread across all segments as the signal property, where digital signal digital migration continues to expand Satellite broadcasting reception is suddenly lost when the based on PricewaterhouseCoopers report. intensity of digital broadcast signals Using geostationary satellites 36,000 km decreases to or below a certain level. above the Equator, satellite broadcasting As new technologies steps in, the market Because of this, digital broadcasts may service delivers programs with crisp, clear not be received in some remote or of delivering video content to TV audience pictures and sound to viewers worldwide. has in the last ten years seen tremendous mountainous areas, even when analogue Satellite broadcasting started in 1990s, broadcasts have been received without growth in volume and complexity. The size and today, it enjoys worldwide popularity of different actors has also increased: problem. as a major alternative medium with unique In order to cover these "new pockets of specialised broadcast equipment advantages. providers have been bought over by larger poor reception," Broadcast operators are Broadcast signals sent from the earth taking measures to permanently improve companies, large and international Media stations are received by satellites in Groups have emerged, Telecom operators digital reception, including coverage by geostationary orbits. The signals are then satellite broadcasting, and the provision of with a very high financial power have converted into the allocated channel entered the TV distribution market, technical support for communal reception frequencies, amplified, and sent back to facilities. changing the global ecosystem. the ground station.

So far, advances in next generation Satellites are equipped with large solar Program transmission technologies have brought together the panels and shaped reflector antennas for TV operators are now delivering digital integration of broadcasting and adjusting the signal footprint to efficiently terrestrial broadcasting to households, communications offering free access to a cover the entire area of its foot print in its using the TV circuit network between the wide variety of contents through diverse entirety. Facilities on the ground including main broadcasting centers, and other t e r m i n a l s , t h e r e b y c o m b i n i n g satellite control and operations center are stations. However, digital terrestrial broadcasting's ability to reach a wide television operation delivers not only

19 SPECIAL REPORT

images and sounds, but also services such as data broadcasting related to At the broadcast center, an array of news and weather, EPG, closed facilities such as news-documenting captions, and One-Seg. equipment, television studios, cameras, VTRs, OB vans, program At the operations centre, transmission transmission systems, and others, system converts each of the digital are currently used to produce and signals and transmits the data according transmit news. However, it's not to digital terrestrial broadcasting enough that they are high performing, standards. The signals transmitted from highly-functional, and reliable Broadcast center are relayed via facilities and equipment, and they Measat ground station Satellite to households and stations are also compact, lightweight, across the broadcast footprints. At each energy-efficient, on-site operational, security, application management, of the stations, the transmission system fit for on-site use, and easy to operate and content delivery, and social network selects the relevant program between maintain. application have also emerged to meet the program data received from the The development and maintenance of various needs of viewers. Broadcasting Center and the program facilities takes into account much more Added to these is the Ultra High locally produced. than just technological facts. In addition, a Definition Television UHD, an advanced Indeed, the digital transmission system file-based systems and Ultra High TV system that delivers an unrivaled is a large-scale system that sends Definition Television UHDTV have also sense of presence and enables a terrestrial and digital services to viewers. become part of renew effort to come up viewing experience that is as close to The main transmission system with, develop, and standardize new reality as possible. The latest format automatically processes the images and services that fuse broadcasting and combines ultra high-definition pictures sounds from the News Center, studios communications. These facilities are consisting of 33 million pixels usually and other VTR images according to the activated and operated within large-scale 7,680 horizontal x 4,320 vertical dots set broadcasting schedule. systems like "program production", and a 22.2-channel audio system. In The EPG system converts and transmits "editing", "transmission", and "archives. addition to this standard, broadcast the broadcasting schedule to the digital In order to maintain efficient and highly researchers have also developed terrestrial broadcasting's EPG tables. transparent operations, Broadcasters cameras, displays, recorders, and The broadcasting system gathers and have incorporated advanced information production equipment that support this transmitsCourtesy- news SpaceX and weather information technology (IT) systems to support every format. Audiovisual codec systems, from around the locations. The closed facet of its activities, including production error correction and modulation caption system sends out the prepared and transmission of news and other methods to deliver television content via captions data according to the programs, audience relations, general satellite and terrestrial broadcasting. broadcasting schedule. administration, and accounting. To this efect, the coding scheme as well The Ultra High Definition Television as the multiplexing system encodes the standard, has been developed and IT systems refined to become the next-generation images/sounds into digital signals, Today broadcasters also rely on extensive multiplexes them with EPG, data TV standard, and has also being readied set of IT systems to support every aspect of for practical applications. In 2006, the broadcasting data, captions and so on, their operations. The IT system for before transmitting them to local ITU-R recognized the UHDTV format as broadcasting operations supports an international standard for large stations. The information management everything from news gathering and system controls each of these systems screen imaging. The SMPTE also editing to production, transmission and recognized Ultra High Definition Video so that the systems work together archiving of programs. Also, the election accurately. System, the 22.1 Multichannel Mapping, information system tallies and analyzes and the Physical Layer of Interface as election-related data and quickly and UHDTV standards. The ITU has also Broadcasting technologies accurately reports the results to the moved forward with standardizing and systems audience. imaging formats, including fame In order to ensure that broadcast The IT system for audience relations and frequency and color system to speed up programs can be received clearly by any revenue services facilitates fee-collection preparations to enhanced the practical television set marketed within a activities, and also ensuring that all use of UHDTV. particular country, broadcasters are now viewers and listeners fairly share the costs New advancements also includes pursuing unification of video and audio of broadcasting services. The system is compact camera system, a live switcher, signal specifications. Furthermore, in a also serving to strengthen the ties between a live slow motion system, a renew effort at promoting program the audience and broadcast stations.. compression recorder, down converter, exchange and joint production with Another latest technological advancement color grading device, OB vehicle and a foreign and international broadcasters, in broadcasting is called the Hybridcast. In compact projector, all of which have standardization of the specifications at itself, it's a sharable broadcasting platform enabled live international broadcasting the international level is also important. that fuses reliable, high-quality broadcast over a global IP network, enabling public However, specifications on new transmission with interactive and personal viewing of High Definition Broadcasting broadcasting services and features of broadband streaming for the advancement Television. digital services are attained through of digital broadcasting. Finally, broadcast researchers have also participation in the ITU Radio This platform synchronizes broadband added a full resolution camera that can Communication Sector (ITU-R) and the content with broadcast programs to capture original pixel count, a high frame Society of Motion Picture and Television materialize various new customized rate imaging device, and an 85-inch Engineers (SMPTE) working groups in services for viewers. A wide range of liquid crystal display enriching the o r d e r t o s e c u r e i n t e r n a t i o n a l technologies including synchronizing industry. standardization of technical standards. broadcast and broadband, device linkage,

20

IN THE NEWS ASIA

C-Com receives US$1 completing the company's Ka HTS aperture terminal) for five years. The coverage over all of China, which is JUPITER system brings advancements million of new orders critical for broadband applications such as wideband channels with DVB- from Asia requiring continuous service. S2X/ACM modulation, high-density Gilat's multi-application platform, gateways with lights-out operation, web SkyEdge II-c, has been deployed in acceleration/caching, advanced C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. has China over CS-16 to provide IFC, rural compression and hardware security. received orders of US$1 Million for from broadband, cellular backhaul and Central management by Hughes will various customers across Asia. maritime applications. With the launch of ensure high-speed connectivity and The systems have been purchased by CS-18, Gilat will deliver Ka-band high uptime with 24/7 support and monitoring, reseller partners, in multiple countries, throughput and highly efficient helping relieve the oil majors from network and will be deployed by commercial connectivity across the rest of China. management while giving them data customers in the Telecom and Energy "Gilat is grateful for the long-term access. The system will enable data markets for cellular backhaul, disaster relationship with China Satcom and for transfers, loyalty card administration, management and oil & gas exploration, the continued trust in our technology web-based applications and banking respectively. indicated by the expansion of Gilat's transactions, as well as remote viewing of platform for commercialization of outlets. “In spite of a recent slow down in sales to ChinaSat-18," said Jun Xiang, General the region, C-COM remains a dominant M a n a g e r, G i l a t C h i n a . " T h i s player in the auto-acquire VSAT terminal achievement is another step in Addvalue to provide market in Asia,” commented Drew Klein, materializing Gilat's HTS broadband Director of Business Development for C- strategy worldwide and further supports Broadband Terminals COM. “These significant orders, from both Gilat's continued strategic focus on the and Applications for new and existing resellers, are indicative Chinese market.” that our highly reliable motorized Resilient antennas continue to be in great demand, and of significant value, to even the most India's state-owned oil Communications at Sea demanding customers,” Klein continued. companies select C-COM expects to deliver these orders Addvalue Innovation Pte Ltd has entered over the next few months. Hughes India to enable into a teaming agreement with Shenzhen retail automation Marinesat Network Technology Co., Ltd., The Company offers classic and next a company based in Shenzhen, China, to generation Driveaway, Flyaway, Fixed supply its range of L Band Maritime Motorized, and Backpack systems Hughes Communications India Limited announced that India's leading state- products and applications to supplement (iNetVu®) for any vertical market where M a r i n e s a t ' s V S A T m a r i t i m e communications are challenged due to owned oil companies have selected its JUPITER™ satellite broadband system communications services for its wide disruption or deficiency. C-COM has more customer base counting some of the than 20 different Comm-on-the-Pause to automate retail networking nationwide. Under separate contracts, biggest shipping companies in China antenna models, integrated with all major such as COSCO SHIPPING, Sinotrans, modem manufacturers, approved with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) and Shandong Shipping Corporation, to name most major satellite operators, and is but a few. working closely with more than 500 active Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) will each use the JUPITER dealers in over 100 countries. More than Modern commercial vessels rely heavily 8,000 iNetVu® systems have been sold system to upgrade network connectivity across 19,000 locations collectively to on satellite communications services for a since the brand's inception. w h o l e r a n g e n a v i g a t i o n a n d Working with a renowned research team increase speed of transactions, eliminate manual interference and communications applications. While at the University of Waterloo, the VSAT satellite communications (Ka/Ku Company is also developing an deliver accurate, real-time data across the retail operations. band) are more cost effective to meet the electronically steerable, Comm-on-the- high bandwidth demands on a Move Ka-band flat panel antenna system "We are very proud to have been commercial vessel, the L-band maritime based on phased array technology with communication services are equally the potential to revolutionize satellite's awarded these important projects by Indian Oil majors, IOCL, BPCL and indispensable because of its reliable addressable mobile markets for land, performance under harsh weather airborne and maritime. HPCL," said Partho Banerjee, president and managing director, Hughes India. conditions as compared to VSAT "In addition to driving cost savings, our services. Marinesat's capabilities to Gilat to Provide the Hughes technology and managed provide resilience communications services will help the companies take services at sea will be greatly enhanced Ground Network for control over applications such as through this partnership with Addvalue. China Satcom's monitoring of tank levels at petrol pump As a strategic partner, both companies will outlets, checking and reducing combine their strengths in the field of L- ChinaSat-18 pilferage, and ensuring updated pricing band mobile satellite communications across all retail outlets across the and VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. announced country on a daily basis, enhancing broadband satellite communications, to that Gilat's ground network will be customer satisfaction and achieving develop L/VSAT dual mode satellite provided for China Satcom's ChinaSat-18 transparency in their operations.” communication solutions to meet the (CS-18). The nationwide Ka-band increasingly demanding needs in the coverage, now to be provided by CS-18 The managed network solution the commercial vessels. The L/VSAT dual and ChinaSat-16 (CS-16), will be uniquely companies have chosen from Hughes mode satellite communication solution supported by Gilat's single platform encompasses deployment and will enable the vessels to have cost supporting multiple applications all over management of the JUPITER System, effective high bandwidth communication China.China Satcom's CS-18 Ka-band including rental of VSATs (very small services backed by the resilient L band will be launched in mid-2019, thus communication network to ensure reliable 28 IN THE NEWS ASIA

communication services under all weather conditions. The L-band additional regional Kuband beams. "It's a natural partnership between communication service will be used to The coverage of Telstar 18 VANTAGE DataPath and Clearbox that will deliver support GMDSS applications and a wide reaches across Asia all the way to new value and an enhanced integrated variety of on board IoT solutions as well Hawaii – in both C and Ku-band – user experience for DataPath systems as for VSAT backup. The extent of enabling direct connectivity between employed by the ADF," Majeres said. "The collaboration also includes joint any point in Asia and the Americas. Its partnership also enables us to jointly marketing, project bidding, equipment innovative Ku-band payloads of HTS develop innovative solutions to solve installation, after-sales support, and on- spot beams and focused regional emerging challenges for the ADF in site maintenance. Marinesat has a beams provide customers operating in complex environments," he added. customer base of more than 1100 Southeast Asia, Mongolia, Australia & Jeremy Hallett, Executive Director of commercial vessels and is working with New Zealand, and the North Pacific Clearbox Systems, said, "Our customer, Addvalue on a rollout plan. Ocean with greater choice and flexibility the ADF, is rightly demanding that in deploying high performing broadband companies collaborate in order to bring Mr Josh Suo, Global Marketing & Sales networks. the best technologies together to deliver Director of Marinesat commented that: “Telstar 18 VANTAGE is a state-of-the- improved capability for the warfighter. “In order to realize the vision of Marinesat art spacecraft that combines regional Clearbox Systems and DataPath have Intelligent Marine Service Platform, our beams and high throughput spot beams listened, and this partnership will see us company sticks to the strategy of going to deliver superior performance and bring together and enhance systems we out and cooperate with world-class value to our growing base of Asian each have successfully delivered to the outstanding enterprises like Addvalue to customers,” said Dan Goldberg, ADF over the years to better support the provide reliable, diversified and cost- Telesat's President and CEO. “The ADF's operations.” effective comprehensive solutions for a market's favorable response to Telesat's large number of ship owners.” Mr Telstar VANTAGE satellites confirms "Partnering with DataPath, a significant Edward Fong, SVP, Head of Products that their innovative payloads provide global provider of advanced and secure and Solutions / Managed Services of important advantages to our customers. communications solutions, is a boost for Addvalue remarked: “The partnership With the start of Telstar 18 VANTAGE the future of Clearbox Systems and also with Marinesat is indeed significant service, we are pleased to be bringing shows that the Australian Defence because we now have a partner who these capabilities to the Asia Pacific Industry has a lot to offer on the world truly understands the commercial fleets region.” stage. It has been a pleasure to work with market which will enable us to strengthen DataPath to establish this partnership as and grow our maritime business through we have focused on a shared desire to the bundled sales of our L band maritime DataPath Inc announce exceed our customer's expectations of terminals and air time provisioning. More how we can meet the ADF's future strategic partnership communications challenges," he said. importantly we now have a platform to DataPath, Inc., announced the identify and build bespoke on-board IoT Company has signed a Memorandum of solutions for commercial vessels with Understanding (MOU) with Clearbox Australian company to Marinesat to further expand our Systems Pty Ltd of New South Wales, services.” A u s t r a l i a t o d e v e l o p p r o d u c t launch commercial compatibility for each company's CubeSats Telesat's new Telstar 18 capabilities in support of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). In addition, the US orbital launch provider Rocket Lab has VANTAGE satellite now MOU will allow the companies to pursue signed a contract with fast-growing operational over Asia innovation and joint business Internet of Things (IoT) start-up Fleet Pacific opportunities where their combined Space Technologies to launch two strengths in advanced satellite satellites that will form the foundation of a communications, product and systems global IoT communications constellation. Telesat announced that its new Telstar integration and network management The two Proxima satellites are the first of a 18 VANTAGE high throughput satellite software will create winning solutions. fleet of small, low-cost satellites that will (HTS) is fully operational at 138 degrees provide internet connectivity for millions of East and has entered commercial In announcing the MOU, DataPath's sensor devices based in remote locations service. Telstar 18 VANTAGE was Chief Operating Officer, Brad Majeres, on Earth. launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket said, "A partnership between DataPath The satellites have been added to the from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in and Clearbox Systems offers a powerful manifest for Rocket Lab's upcoming Florida on September 10 and will serve source of advanced communications mission, 'It's Business Time', scheduled growing demand for mobility, enterprise technology and proven systems for both for launch in November from Rocket Lab's and telecom services across the Asia military and commercial applications." Launch Complex-1 on New Zealand's Pacific region. "Clearbox, with its leading software Māhia Peninsula. The payloads were solutions for the Australia Department of manifested quickly, with just weeks Built by SSL, a Maxar Technologies Defence market is providing significant passing between signing the agreement company, Telstar 18 VANTAGE is the value for the ADF particularly in and the satellites completing integration latest in a new generation of Telesat management of SATCOM resources. for launch next month. This rapid satellites with capacity optimized to DataPath is an established and trusted manifesting process is crucial to small serve the types of bandwidth intensive name in the SATCOM industry for satellite customers, offering flexible and applications increasingly in demand by ground terminal products, systems frequent launch opportunities. users worldwide. It replaces and integration, network management and expands on Telesat's Telstar 18 satellite field support and is also providing a The Fleet satellites will be launched inside through extensive C-band capacity over range of complex communication Rocket Lab's in-house designed and built Asia, Ku-band HTS spot beams over solutions to the ADF for combat Maxwell dispenser. They join the current Indonesia and Malaysia, and five operations." It's Business Time payloads of two Spire

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Global Lemur-2 satellites, the Irvine The Australian Communications and Media two in three (69%) stated that they CubeSat STEM Program (ICSP) Authority (ACMA) has licensed Fleet to cancelled all or some of their subscription IRVINE01 educational CubeSat, perform satellite telemetry, tracking, and to legal pay TV services. Specifically, NABEO, a drag sail technology command, and payload data reception 24% asserted that they cancelled their demonstrator designed and built by High across S-band and L-band frequencies. subscriptions to a Thai-based online Performance Space Structure Systems The launches of Proxima I and II also allows video service as a direct consequence of GmBH and a GeoOptics Inc. satellite, Fleet to test longwave and shortwave band owning an ISD. International subscription built by Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems. frequencies. services, which include pan-Asia online \ offerings, were impacted the most – The Proxima I and II satellites are a pair The pathfinding payloads on Proxima I and nearly one in three (30%) Thai users have of identical 1.5 U CubeSats designed II are scheduled to launch in advance of abandoned subscriptions in favour of ISD and built by Fleet. The satellites will mark Fleet's larger Centauri satellites, which are purchases. the first commercial tests of Fleet's set to be launched aboard other launch Cancelling legitimate subscription software-defined radios, enabling it to vehicles in late 2018. services and paying less for access to transmit data efficiently across both S- When combined with Fleet's ground pirated content is fraught with risks, as band and L-band frequencies in space. terminal, the Portal, Fleet's constellation Neil Gane, the General Manager of The satellites will ultimately help form the will enable satellite connectivity in remote AVIA's Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), beginning of a constellation of more than industries where cellular networks are not comments, “The damage that piracy does 100 nanosatellites that, together, will act present. to the creative industries is without as a dedicated Internet of Things (IoT) dispute. However, the damage done to space network for enterprises across the The Portal enables businesses to connect consumers themselves, because of the world. up to a thousand devices to private, secure nexus between content piracy and Low Power Wide Area Networks anywhere malware, is only beginning to be Rocket Lab Chief Executive, Peter Beck, around the world, at a fraction of the cost of recognised. Piracy websites and said Fleet Space Technologies is one of traditional satellite systems. Unlike other applications typically have a “click happy” the key leaders in Australia's emerging IoT gateways, the Portal goes beyond user base, and, as such, are being used commercial space industry. “We're simple data collection and uses embedded more and more as clickbait to distribute thrilled to add Fleet's Proxima satellites edge computing-based software to analyse malware. Unfortunately the appetite for to the It's Business Time manifest. and select key, targeted data for secure “free” or cheap subscription pirated Fleet's planned constellation of more transmission over an array of satellite content blinkers users from the very real than 100 satellites will enable greater service options, including Fleet's own risks of malware infection”. connectivity across the globe and satellites. This revolutionary approach Of those consumers who own an ISD, provide better access to data about our means the use of IoT in remote industries is about half of respondents (47%) claim to planet.” now achievable, enabling data-driven have purchased their ISD from two of the decisions that improve productivity and l a r g e s t S o u t h e a s t A s i a - b a s e d “We're proud to offer a rapid and agile efficiency across a range of industries, ecommerce stores. Close to one-third approach to launching small satellites – including mining, logistics and agriculture. (31%) of ISD owners say they acquired one that sees customers like Fleet join a their devices via one of the world's most manifest and be integrated into the Thailand's subscription popular social media platforms. Electron vehicle ready for launch in just In addition to the short-term problem of weeks, not months or years. This video industry faces new cancelled subscriptions is a longer term approach supports commercial threat as consumers' problem – namely, many of the people companies and governments alike to using ISDs are young. The survey found rapidly deploy space-based assets and viewing habits shift to that ISDs are particularly favoured among get them operational faster.” 18-24 year-olds, with more than three in pirated TV boxes four (77%) cancelling legitimate Fleet Space Technologies Chief subscription services as a result of Executive, Flavia Tata Nardini, who A recent study of the content viewing owning ISDs, especially international founded Fleet to enable a more efficient behaviour of Thai consumers has revealed online subscriptions (40%). world through connectivity, said the rapid that 45% of consumers use a TV box which The Department of Intellectual Property manifesting and integration time is a key can be used to stream pirated television (DIP), Ministry of Commerce, who attraction to Rocket Lab's Electron and video content. These TV boxes, also oversees the Copyright Act, commented launch vehicle. known as Illicit Streaming Devices (ISDs), that “to enhance the efficiency of “We decided to build and launch two allow users to access hundreds of pirated enforcement action, the DIP has more satellites over the past fewChina months launched television two satellite channelsfor its GPSsystem and video-on-demand(Source: China Daily proposed the amendment of the and Rocket Lab has moved at the speed content, usually with a low annual fee. TV Copyright Act by adding provisions on the of light to incorporate them in this boxes often come pre-loaded with pirated manufacture, sale, import, or traffic into mission, assist us with licensing and applications allowing 'plug-and-play' the country of devices or any parts or complete integration in record time. We access to pirated content. The survey found components of a device, for the purpose will be in space less than few months that Mango TV, HD Playbox and U Play are of circumventing a technological after making the decision to join the among the most popular pirate applications measure. These amendments were mission. This rapid turnaround time is amongst Thai consumers. approved by the Cabinet on 16 October what the space industry really needs The survey, commissioned by the Asia 2018 and will shortly be presented to the now. Video Industry Association's (AVIA) State Council. The amendments are “To see our first commercial CubeSats Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), and explicitly targeted at the manufacture and launched is an incredibly important conducted by YouGov, also highlights the distribution of pirated TV boxes. This is a milestone for us as a business, and it detrimental effects of streaming piracy on crucial step to address the current piracy sets us on the path to achieving our goal legitimate subscription video services. Of problem”. of connecting Australia, and the world, in the 45% of consumers who purchased a TV “This high rate of piracy is concerning for ways like never before.” box or dongle for free streaming, more than a number of reasons”, says Sompan 30 IN THE NEWS ASIA

Charumilinda, Executive Vice mobility applications such as emergency equitable treatment of shareholders. Chairman at True Visions. “First is the response vehicles and on-the-move news danger to consumers through the use and media cars. Speedcast supports of malware and spyware embedded in these illicit sites and applications. "Our strategic partnership with JSAT is a Digital TV Switchover in Second is that supporting these testament to our joint commitment to criminal enterprises does real damage enable new and improved services Malaysia to legitimate businesses that are including disaster recovery, to address the S p e e d c a s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l L i m i t e d struggling to survive. Third, it also challenges in Japan, for the benefit of the announced it will play a key role in undermines the Thailand 4.0 initiative Japanese people," said Abhay Kumar, Malaysia's effort to switch from analogue and the country's aspiration to become Regional Vice President Asia and North TV to digital TV through a Direct To Home counted among the world leaders in the America. "With our multi-application single (DTH) solution. Speedcast has partnered new digital economy by showing platform, JSAT will be able to support their on the three-year project with MYTV Thailand to have made little progress in growth plans to deliver plentiful, quality Broadcasting Sdn Bhd (MYTV), the terms of its acceptance and tacit and affordable satellite-based broadband common integrated infrastructure provider approval of these criminal networks. communication to their fixed and mobility providing free digital terrestrial television in Consumers should care about piracy customers across Japan.” Malaysia personally because of the harmful MYTV will be responsible for operating the effects of malware and spyware, and Second ASEAN CG infrastructure and network facilities for also because of the damage that it does Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) services to our country. As a leading media awards honours throughout the country and will work with company in Thailand we are happy to Speedcast to extend its coverage via DTH work with the Department of Intellectual Thaicom's achievements satellite services. Speedcast expects this Property, CAP and all relevant contract to contribute to its Enterprise & stakeholders to help continue to Emerging Markets Division revenue from Thaicom Public Company Limited, led by mid-November 2018 educate the public about these Prasert Bunsumpun, Chairman of the dangers.” Board of Directors, received the ASEAN The shift from analogue to digital in AVIA's Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) Corporate Governance Awards for the includes leading video content creators Malaysia is in line with a larger digital shift in Top 50 ASEAN publicly listed companies the ASEAN region to bring the latest digital and distributors in Asia. Members category for the second consecutive include: beIN Sports, Discovery, The content to people around the region. The time. Malaysian Ministry of Communications and Walt Disney Company, FOX Networks The ASEAN CG Awards reflects Thaicom's Group, HBO Asia, NBCUniversal, Multimedia commissioned the project, outstanding score in terms of corporate which will be supervised by the Malaysian Netflix, Premier League, Turner Asia- governance practices based on Pacific, A&E Networks, Astro, BBC Communications and Multimedia assessment using the ASEAN Corporate Commission Worldwide, CANAL+, Cignal, La Liga, Governance Scorecard (ACGS). This Media Partners Asia, National ranking will help to elevate the level of Basketball Association, PCCW Media, "Migrating an entire country from analogue corporate governance quality among Thai to digital TV is no small task," says Pierre- Singtel, Sony Pictures Television listed companies in ASEAN. The ASEAN Networks Asia, TVB, True Visions, Jean Beylier, CEO, Speedcast. "We're Corporate Governance Awards is initiated looking forward to working with MYTV on TV5MONDE, and Viacom International by the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum Media Networks. this project to bring high-quality digital TV (ACMF) with the support of the Asian services to Malaysians throughout the Development Bank (ADB) to establish a country. For this project Speedcast will use JSAT Awards Gilat common governance framework across technology from the partnership with In Aria the region and to raise the profile of mobility and fixed Networks announced in September. ASEAN PLCs within the global investment Speedcast sees significant growth potential broadband services community. in the media business globally and the The award also recognized Thaicom's project with MYTV is another proof point of project in Japan achievements toward sustainable our increasing relevance in this fast- development by adhering to corporate g r o w i n g m a r k e t s e g m e n t . " SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (JSAT) governance (CG) principles and raising awarded Gilat a multi-million US dollar the bar for CG practices that promote "We look forward to the partnership with project for its new mobility and fixed transparency and consistently create Speedcast to deliver this key national broadband service in Japan. The new shared value for all stakeholders. Digital TV project," says Michael Chan, set of services enabled by Gilat will Thaicom has been recognized by leading CEO, MYTV Broadcast Sdn Bhd. "Now that support JSAT's growth plans. organizations in Thailand for its sustained DTH is switched on, MYTV's service is good corporate governance, earning itself available to 100% of the Malaysian Incorporating multiple applications over excellent governance ratings for last six population." a single network, the project is based consecutive years. The company has also on Gilat's SkyEdge II-c, which provides been selected for the 2018 Thailand a single platform for a variety of fixed Sustainability Investment (THSI) list based New SSC ground station and mobility services and will provide on the Stock Exchange of Thailand's (SET) established in Thailand new levels of speeds and performance. annual sustainability assessment. The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) has The solution also incorporates Thaicom also received the certificate of full established a new multi-mission ground redundant primary and secondary sites membership of Thailand's private sector station at the GISTDA Space Krenovation to deliver the high availability and “Collective Action Coalition Against Park in Sri Racha,Thailand. This is an reliability necessary for critical needs. Corruption” (CAC) from the Thai Institute of Directors Association (IOD) for two important addition to the already large SSC global network of ground stations, making Multiple use cases are supported consecutive years. The company has access to information easier and quicker for including services for government, continuously raised the standard of good SSC's customers. utilities, banks and hospitals, as well as corporate governance, transparent "The establishment in Sri Racha is an broadband connectivity for several disclosures to shareholders, and the 31 IN THE NEWS ASIA

important step for us and our partner to include: government will continue to open meet the global space development. The * Science & Exploration: China wants to different parts of the space industry. number of satellites is increasing rapidly cultivate its international leadership in Indeed, with the state-owned giants and thanks to this new ground station, we space and the country has started a long- more recently focusing on grander strengthen our total capacity to transfer term manned space program with the ambitions, such as China's space data between our customers and their Moon as a priority for space exploration station, the Chang'e moon mission, satellites", says Leif Österbo, President and other exploration programs including and eventually human missions to the Satellite Management Services at SSC. a Mars mission to be confirmed. On the Moon and Mars, it is possible that "We are very happy for SSC's increased space science front, it has not been much of what is considered traditional presence in Thailand. The establishment considered a main strategic priority area commercial space, and even new of this ground station makes a major by China but the country is seeking to space, will become more open to the contribution to the Thai space industry in ramp-up its activities. private sector as the state sets its general and especially to the Space Park in sights on bigger targets.” Sriracha", says Dr. Damrongrit Niammuad, * Satellite Communications: Capacity Director of Space Krenovation Park at leased by GEO satellite operators has GISTDA. remained largely stable in China in recent Bangladesh's first Through SSC's global ground station years, with demand for regular capacity 'smart school' begins network, many different actors and stake- dominant today. Historically the market holders can get quick access to important has been dominated by China Satcom, its journey information. A good example is information the state-owned satellite operator, but an used to observe important phenomena on increasing number of Chinese Bangladesh-based teaching institution earth, such as changes in the environment companies are considering making a have announced plans to prepare or the climate. move into the satellite operator sphere, children for the Information Age and generally with the intention of providing make learning easier and more Euroconsult: Chinese services outside of China, including e n j o y a b l e u s i n g i n f o r m a t i o n Huaxun Fangzhou (CCT Satcom) and communication and space technology. companies proliferating Tatwah Group. Beyond this, several The school's organizers said the across broad swath of private constellation projects may also initiative was taken to ensure an come to fruition (e.g. Commsat, OK effective teaching and learning the value chain Space. environment is available for students—so that they can cope with According to Euroconsult's latest report, * Satellite Navigation: Given the strategic future challenges as global citizens, China Space Industry 2018, the China importance of satellite navigation to a reports UNB. They explained that space value chain had an estimated size of variety of industries, China has for some smart schools use technology as a tool more than $16 billion in 2017, with the time made it a goal of reducing its reliance for teaching in the classroom and for downstream market accounting for just on foreign navigation systems, thus the taking attendance. over 85%. Satellite Navigation, one of the implementation of the Beidou program. key satellite applications in China, was the The latter system is expected to achieve According to the report, Tk5 lakh was main revenue generator in 2017, ahead of global coverage by 2021 with coverage of spent on the school. Its activities Satellite Communications and Earth Belt and Road countries by YE 2018. started on November 15 after being Observation. inaugurated by district Deputy * Earth Observation: One of the most Commissioner Gopal Das. Noting that This premier edition of the report provides established private space industries in previously, the school had been in bad a deep-dive analysis of the current China, with the first nominally shape, a guardian named Afsar Uddin Chinese space ecosystem and future commercial/private Earth observation said: “Its teachers were not very expected evolutions, from upstream to satellites having been procured in the careful …the attendance of students downstream, and covers each of the key early 2000s. Integration is continuing was also very poor. satellite applications in China: Satellite towards value-added services (VAS) Manufacturing, Launch, Satellite development, even if still in the planning "Now, things have changed as the Communications, Earth Observation, phase. Development of constellation school has been renovated and the Satellite Navigation and Space fleets in both spectral and spatial compound decorated with vibrant Exploration. For each of the markets, key resolutions is an opportunity to foster new colours. The students are now going to current and potential future players services development. Several EO t h e s c h o o l s p o n t a n e o u s l y, expected to have an impact on the companies are quite well established cheerfully.”Abdur Jabbar, president of ecosystem are profiled, including details (21at, Charming Globe, Space View, smart school governing body, said: on their strategies, funding, technological etc.), in parallel with several newcomers “Not only the students, but also their competencies and potential future plans. having the ability to design and operate guardians are very happy after EO satellites (Qian Sheng, etc.). becoming a part of the school.” He "China's space industry is rapidly evolving, added the pupils have become more with an increasing number of nominally "The current changes in the space attentive students. private companies competing in different ecosystem are being brought about using parts of the space industry in both China different strategies, such as the opening Two of the school's students – and abroad, and with the Chinese space of some markets to private enterprises Sumaiya and Robin – said they are industry starting to play a bigger role in and greater competition among very proud to be students of cutting-edge technology," said Dimitri incumbents, all of which are aimed at Bangladesh's first smart school. The Buchs, Senior Consultant at Euroconsult fostering greater innovation among school's head teacher, Jannatul and editor of the report. "Changes are companies within China," said Blaine Ferdous, said attendance at the school occurring at a rapid pace across the value Curcio, Senior Affiliate Consultant at has increased remarkably following its chain, for both upstream and downstream Euroconsult and expert on the China digital transformation. activities and for all application domains." commercial space market. "Moving Key highlights per application domain forward, it is expected that the Chinese She said their target is to help expose the students to digital learning and

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build them as human resources. Local The research consortium aims to co- enhance businesses and communities. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Washimul develop intellectual property and Bari, one of the school's organizers, said specialist industry expertise that will CGWIC and China Siwei four “Rongin” (colourful) schools were spawn new businesses, create economic established in the upazila earlier. value and generate new high-tech jobs in signed Superview-1 Australia. Other economic benefits He said: “The plan to launch a smart include applying advanced space Satellite Data Overseas school came from the concept of Rongin technologies and space related data to marketing contract’ schools—by bringing both the students diverse areas of society and the economy, and teachers into the digital attendance from agriculture and the environment to China Great Wall Industry Corporation system. “Alongside bringing it into the healthcare and disaster detection and and China Siwei Surveying and Mapping electricity network, the school has also management. Technology Co.Ltd. has signed the been brought under the surveillance of Contract of Superview-1 Satellite Data closed-circuit cameras.” He said the The 67-member SmartSat CRC Overseas Marketing. Since the launch of multimedia system and internet have been consortium also includes blue-chip Superview-1 in2016, CGWIC and China put in place in the school classrooms. industry leaders Harris Corporation, Siwei have been jointly working on the ladesh's first “smart school,” designed to Thales Australia, BAE Systems, Dassault international market development of the lower and end school dropout rates, has Systems and other space engineering Superview-1 satellites. Both sides have opened in Pirpur village of Chuadanga companies as well as partnerships with taken fully use of their respective Sadar Upazila. The government NASA, JAXA and UK Catapult and advantages and have achieved great introduced the school – a technology University College London (UCL). progress.

Goonhilly partners Professor Andy Koronios, Dean of The Superview satellite data allows Industry and Enterprise at UniSA, said: extensive application in the urban Airbus, other in “With its technological and commercial planning, agricultural crop estimation, proposed SmartSat CRC expertise, as well as its expanding land resources exploration, and etc. This capabilities and resources, we are contract was the second one between to drive Australia's confident that Goonhilly will make a both sides about the Superview satellite space sector significant contribution to the SmartSat data overseas marketing. CRC.” The Superview satellite constellation has Satellite communications innovator and Dr Bob Gough, Head of Business already accomplished four satellites in space gateway Goonhilly Earth Station Development, Australia & Asia-Pacific at orbit as of today, with the resolution of has joined the consortium backing the Goonhilly, commented, “The space 0.5m PAN/ 2m MS. It is the first Chinese SmartSat CRC co-operative research industry is a global one and Goonhilly is commercial satellite constellation with centre, for a proposed space research well poised to support Australian high agility and multi-mode imaging initiative which plans to drive the organisations as they look to extend their capabilities. It could acquire the multi- Australian space industry through satellite reach. At our UK site we offer world-class point and multi-band mosaic data, as well technologies and analytics. satellite capacity with visibility spanning as conduct the stereo imaging. The 145° West to 135° East. enabling our Sperview satellite constellation has Led by the University of South Australia customers to reach millions of people and realized one-day revisit of any spot in the (UniSA), Airbus Defence and Space and receive sites in a single satellite hop. This world. It marks the initiation of the Australian defence sector engineering is complemented by our connectivity with completely autonomous commercial specialist Nova Systems, in partnership bundles of subsea cables and fibre, and operation of the Chinese remote sensing with the South Australian Space Industry our new multi-million-dollar datacentre.” satellites. Centre, the proposed plan for the establishment of the SmartSat CRC was “Establishing a technical and operational developed starting early in 2018 and has presence in Australia is essential for High Court grants been submitted to the Australian Goonhilly as we fulfil our goal to create a orders to block access government for ratification. The first stage worldwide deep space network; joining of the application process with the Federal t h e S m a r t S a t C R C p e r f e c t l y to illegal applications Government has been successfully complements this objective. We are on TV boxes completed and the consortium is now bringing our business model of preparing the final stage application, and cooperation and collaboration which has working on next steps outlining the been so successful in the UK, and we will A High Court in Singapore has ordered organisation's parameters and discussing use this proven approach in our Singapore's internet service providers to funding. numerous SmartSat CRC projects.” blocked access to popular illegal applications that are frequently sold pre- The SmartSat CRC consortium aims to “With the global industry leaders and loaded on android TV boxes. Such TV enhance connectivity, navigation and world-class university researchers in boxes are also known as illicit streaming monitoring capability for the benefit of SmartSat CRC, there is huge potential to devices (ISDs). These apps, which Australia, helping to maximise its develop new space industry opportunities flagrantly infringe copyright by acting as resources by solving major satellite that benefit all of Australia and the broader gateways to websites streaming pirated system and advanced communications Asia Pacific,” Gough added. content, are preloaded on TV boxes challenges. The goal is to catapult which are overtly sold in retail outlets Australia's space industry into a SmartSat CRC is determined to such as Sim Lim Square, IT exhibitions leadership position in several areas accelerate the nation's space industry and on popular e-markets. including intelligent satellite systems, momentum following the July 1st advanced communications, and earth establishment of the Australian Space The application and illicit streaming observation driven data analytics. Agency, which was the launchpad for device (ISD) ecosystem is impacting all developing space-based opportunities to businesses involved in the production

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and distribution of legitimate content. infection such as spyware, ransomware products into China and across other Configuring TV boxes with applications to and malware mining.” regions. stream audio-visual content from illegal streaming servers allows consumers to AVIA's Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) "As a leading maritime satellite access unauthorised premium TV includes leading video content creators communications provider in China, it is channels, live sports channels and and distributors in Asia. Members constructive for both GTMaritime and movies for the one-off price of the TV box include: beIN Sports, Discovery, The Marinesat to reach this strategic and (often) a yearly subscription to Walt Disney Company, FOX Networks cooperation,” says Josh Suo, Vice GM of access the content – with the revenue G r o u p , H B O A s i a , L a L i g a , Marinesat. “Marinesat is open and going into the pockets of criminal NBCUniversal, Netflix, Premier League, welcomes cooperation with outstanding syndicates and individuals all benefiting Turner Asia-Pacific, A&E Networks, companies like GTMaritime. Together we from the spoils of such a crime. Astro, BBC Worldwide, CANAL+, can provide more integrated maritime Cignal, Media Partners Asia, National solutions for ship owners worldwide, thus Louis Boswell, CEO of AVIA, commented Basketball Association, PCCW Media, realising our vision of the Intelligent “AVIA welcomes the court's decision to Singtel, Sony Pictures Television Ocean Service Platform.” block access to such popular ISD Networks Asia, TVB, True Visions, applications. We have always TV5MONDE, and Viacom International maintained that illicit streaming devices Media Networks. CGWIC offers new are illegal in Singapore. The ISD electric propulsion ecosystem is impacting all businesses involved in the production and GTMaritime signs VAR small communication distribution of legitimate content. agreement with Configuring TV boxes in this way allows satellite platform for unauthorised access to TV channels and Marinesat customers video-on-demand content with the revenue going into the pockets of criminal syndicates and individuals who benefit GTMaritime has signed Marinesat as a China Great Wall Industry Corporation, a from the spoils of such a crime”. value-added reseller to deliver its subsidiary company of China Aerospace maritime-optimised communication Science and Technology Corporation, “Singapore has been considered a solutions to vessels in China and other and APT Mobile SatCom (HK) Limited and bastion of Intellectual Property rights markets. The agreement with Marinesat APT Satellite Company Limited has across the region, and the court's is GTMaritime's first partnership within formally held the Signing Ceremony of decision to block access to popular illegal t h e C h i n e s e m a r k e t . “Letter of Intent in APSTAR SMALL GEO applications preloaded onto ISDs and C o m m u n i c a t i o n S a t e l l i t e s sold in Singapore reaffirms this GTMaritime provides a range of System”(“Letter of Intent”). President of contention” said Neil Gane, the General technology solutions to the maritime APSATCOM Mr. Li Jie, Vice President of Manager of AVIA's Coalition Against industry that serve to enable effective APT (HK) Mr. Chen Xun and Vice Piracy (CAP). “The content industry will communications over satellite, including President of CGWIC Mr. Fu Zhiheng make every effort to prevent and disrupt maritime-optimised products for email, completed the Letter of Intent signing. the illegal feeds of live sports, TV anti-virus protection and data transfer. channels and VOD content which are The three parties will develop The monetised by crime syndicates. In addition to providing IT solutions, APSTAR SMALL GEO Communication Consumers who buy ISDs are not only GTMaritime also provides services that Satellites System based on Dong Fang funding crime groups, but also wasting help ensure business operability 365 Hong-4 Full-electric SMALL GEO their money when the channels stop days a year, as well as keeping crew in Platform (“DFH-4F SMALL GEO working. ISDs do not come with a 'service touch with friends and family whilst at Platform”) with all electric propulsion, a guarantee', no matter what the seller may sea. This is backed up by a market- general communication satellite platform claim.” leading infrastructure and unrivalled 24- designed by China Academy of Space hour customer support, every day of the Technology (CAST) suitable for small- The commercial damage that such year size payload with mature technology and content theft does to the creative high-qualified research & development industries is without dispute. However, Marinesat has already begun to provide process, cost-efficient launch services the damage done to consumers GTMaritime's products as part of its and high-efficiency ground delivery themselves, as a result of the nexus offering with the first vessels coming on schedule according to analysis by between online piracy and pernicious board in Japan from October 2018. The CGWIC of current domestic and malware such as spyware and roll-out will continue into the Chinese international space market trend. ransomware, is only beginning to be market, across Asia and further afield. recognised. Cancelling legitimate With the lift-off mass of 1000kg (maximum subscription services and paying cheap Marinesat is the largest broadband of 1300kg) and full electric propulsion application subscriptions for access to satellite communication provider in design, the platform is capable to carry pirated content is fraught with risks. China and specialises in broadband 300kg (maximum of 450kg), an equivalent access and value-added service; it to 15-25 active transponders or to be Neil Gane, CAP's General Manager, also currently provides VSAT services to designed as a high-throughput satellite aired concerns about risks that 1,600 vessels in China alone. (HTS) payload, achieving an end-of-life consumers face when accessing pirated payload power of 3kW(maximum of content. “The more mainstream the "We are delighted to have Marinesat as 4.5kW). The design operation life of small piracy ecosystem becomes, the greater our first partner in China,” says Robert GEO satellite can meet the basic the risks of malware proliferation. The K e n w o r t h y, C E O G T M a r i t i m e . requirements of minimum 15 years in appetite for free or paying cheap “GTMaritime has 20+ years' experience consistent with large and medium-sized subscription rates for pirated applications in delivering maritime communication communications satellites. found on ISDs, blinkers some consumers solutions and Marinesat is the ideal from the real risks of malicious malware partner for us to work with to deploy our The satellite designed by DFH-4F SMALL

34 IN THE NEWS ASIA

GEO Platform can be compatible with development training at Huawei's state of total, and 65 participated in Huawei's medium capacity launch vehicles of Long the art labs, R&D centers and facilities. roadshow. 950 students additionally March Family with high-efficiency and National winners from each participating passed the Huawei HCNA certification high-reliability, and its ground control country receive a trip to global ICT exam. system is highly commercialized, company's headquarters in Shenzhen, [Charles Yang, president of HUAWEI combined with high-quality satellite certification and cash prizes, in addition Middle East] said: “We are committed to support services and competitive launch to employment opportunities at Huawei supporting the region's journey of digital and in-orbit insurance arrangements. As to select candidates. transformation and align with the supplier and prime contractor, CGWIC government targets to take advantage of is devoted to provide quality in-orbit The ICT Competition was made possible ICT in driving the socioeconomic growth delivery comprehensive solution to through strong partnerships between and achieve the national visions targets. domestic and international customers Huawei and many government entities Huawei ICT Competition increases based on DFH-4F SMALL GEO Platform. from the Middle East, from Lebanon, national ICT competitiveness and APSATCOM, APT (HK) and CGWIC have Jordan, Saudi, United Arab Emirates, encourages local communities to conducted several rounds of technical Pakistan, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq contribute to achieving the country's communication on the first satellite of the as well as the support from over 226 national vision for digital transformation APSTAR small satellite communication universities in the region. The generation and economic growth. The future of ICT system and preliminarily agreed that the of students involved is expected to lead progress lays in the hands of our first satellite will be designed as a Ku-band the region's ICT industry into the future by students, and by developing platforms multi-beam high-throughput satellite. As embracing digital transformation. The and programs that allow them to grow one of the APSTAR Global high- ICT Competition is designed to prepare and mature into experts, we can better throughput satellite communications them for such a responsibility. equip the next generation of technology systems, it will provide satellite broadband leaders.” communication services for both fixed and Over 14,748 students registered for the mobile application. competition from the region. Out of the The procurement contract of first satellite 4,915 students who attended, 214 were Thailand to introduce will be signed after the completion of the selected for the national final. Ultimately, IoT regulations next technical and business coordination. 39 students were chosen for the international final, from 13 universities. year The winners of the international final Thailand's National Broadcasting and Students from 10 MENA competition in Shenzhen will receive Telecommunications Commission Huawei Certificate Vouchers, trophies, announced plans to introduce a series of countries head for and prizes. In addition to awarding the regulations governing the Internet of most outstanding team with $30,000 Things next year, ahead of the international final of USD in cash, the next five teams will commercial arrival of 5G. Earlier this Huawei's ICT claim second place and three teams will year, the regulator established a be awarded third place. The next seven committee to draft a regulatory Competition 2018 teams will receive Excellence Prizes, framework for IoT and connected while 6 tutors and 11 academies will also devices, the Bangkok Post reported. Huawei has announced the end of the be recognized with the Excellent Tutor This committee has been exploring initial second edition of it's ICT Competition 2018 and Excellent Academy Prizes. regulatory conditions across five aimed at preparing the next generation of categories, covering numbering and ICT leaders based on Huawei new vision After doing the final exams, competitors identification, spectrum and technical of bringing digital to every person, home as well as representatives from their standards, transmission and competition and organization for a fully connected and respective embassies will attend permissions, security and privacy, as intelligent world. Combining the Huawei's ICT Talent Cultivation Summit w e l l a s d a t a c o l l e c t i o n a n d company's CSR goal of nurturing local ICT and Award Ceremony along with interoperability. talent in collaboration with government members of UNESCO and China's top But the report noted that the design of the authorities, colleges and universities in the universities and government entities. regulation will depend on the final shape Middle East with its mandate to build the The students will also experience of the planned Personal Data Protection ICT ecosystem, Huawei aims to equip China's rich heritage through cultural Law, which will be used to determine countries in the Middle East to pursue their visits and have the opportunity to visit the what kind of data can be collected and national agendas for digital transformation campus of Huawei's prestigious used for the purpose of furthering the and achieve their national visions. Southern University of Science and public interest. Technology (SUST). The NBTC board recently approved the Aimed at universities and students, the use of IoT devices in the 400-MHz competition seeks to recognize and The trip to China will conclude the 2018 spectrum range, specifically for smart nurture the region's finest ICT talent, edition of Huawei ICT Competition, which meter connectivity in the utilities sector. increase national ICT competitiveness by so far has gone through two rounds of Last year, the regulator also assigned the promoting innovation and creativity among rigorous examination at the local and 920-MHz to 925-MHz spectrum range for ICT students and encourage them to national level. In total, 14,748 students unlicensed IoT connectivity. actively contribute to achieving their across the Middle East applied for the In terms of numbering, an NBTC countries vision for digital transformation competition, from which 4,915 were committee recently agreed in principle to and sustainable socioeconomic growth selected to take part in the preliminary use a 15-digit numbering scheme, in line and developments. The program attempts rounds. 214 students passed on to the with standards developed by the ITU. to bridge the gap between the classroom final round, and 39 in total from 13 teams Regulations governing numbering and and the workplace, thus enhancing will be traveling to China to compete identification will cover numbering fees, students' future employment opportunities internationally. The ICT Competition was registration for usage, number portability in the ICT sector through knowledge made possible through the cooperation and other related matters, the report sharing on latest ICT developments, of 17 ministries across 10 countries. 226 states. international trends, and hands-on skills colleges and universities took part in IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

C-Band Alliance module research and design, mmWave testing and biometric sensing, and will Comtech increases FCC proposal be part of a previously announced Demonstrates New for spectrum operations centre scheduled to open in early 2019. The Centre for Operations, Blue Force Tracking-2 repurposing Manufacturing Engineering and Testing High Capacity (COMET) will serve as Qualcomm's The C-Band Alliance (CBA) has operations hub in Asia Pacific. Comtech announced that during its first announced that up to 200 MHz of mid- DigiTimes quoted Roawen Chen, SVP quarter of fiscal 2019, its Maryland- band (C-band downlink) spectrum could of manufacturing technology and based subsidiary, Comtech Mobile be cleared, dependent upon demand, operations at Qualcomm, as saying the Datacom Corporation, which is part of under its updated proposal to the US 5G module research and design centre Comtech's Government Solutions Federal Communications Commission will develop plug-and-play solutions to segment, demonstrated the first leg of its (FCC) opening new spectrum to support lower the barriers to enable small- and Blue-Force Tracking-2 High Capacity 5G wireless deployment while protecting medium-size enterprises to enter the 5G (“BFT-2 HC”) multimode solution at current users, the company said. market without the need for huge Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. investments. Qualcomm also said it This new multimode solution was This updated commitment will be reflected plans to establish a multimedia R&D d e s i g n e d b y C o m t e c h a n d in comment filings due October 29 under centre and a mobile artificial intelligence demonstrated that its BFT-2 HC mobile the FCC Notice of Proposed Rule Making facility in Taiwan in 2019. satellite transceivers can provide for (NPRM) proceeding. The proposal alternative communication paths to increases by 80% the amount of spectrum Earth to Sky improve resiliency and communications. that could be made available for 5G The demonstration showed the terrestrial use as compared to the initial announces exchange of BFT data between both proposal made by Intelsat and SES. participation in the Joint Battle Command-Platform (“JBC- P”) and Joint Capabilities Release The CBA, the entity that will be able to DARPA launch (“JCR”) and Comtech's BFT-2 HC facilitate safe and efficient clearing and challenge mobile satellite transceivers, operating repurposing of C-band downlink over a geostationary satellite, and a spectrum, was formed by Intelsat, SES, dismount application, operating over a Earth to Sky formally announced their Eutelsat and Telesat, the continental US low earth orbit satellite constellation. participation in the DARPA Launch satellite services operators. The group´s The data exchange included position Challenge. “Earth to Sky was formed in proposal is the only one that balances the information as well as a variety of Huntsville, Alabama in 2008 as an needs to protect the C-band user Command and Control (“C2”) message aerospace engineering services community, which includes television and types. company. Currently, we provide subject radio programming distribution to over 100 Fred Kornberg, President and Chief matter expertise in rocket systems to million US homes, as well as private Executive Officer of Comtech federal government agencies such as commercial and government media and Telecommunications Corp., said, "I MDA and NASA, but we have a 25-year data networks with the strong public believe integrating both geostationary pedigree of commercial launch interest need for rapid 5G network satellites and low earth orbit satellites vehicles,” said Chris Barker, President deployment across the US into our BFT network, greatly improves at Earth to Sky. b o t h n e t w o r k r e s i l i e n c y a n d The C-Band Alliance, or CBA, was geographical coverage as well as offers Earth to Sky currently offers a series of established by Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat and reduced operating costs. Comtech is low cost, small launch vehicles branded Telesat to implement the safe and efficient committed to continuing to evolve our Sleek Eagle. We have entered the clearing and repurposing of C-band BFT capabilities in order to deliver DARPA Launch Challenge with our spectrum, supporting the United States in cutting edge solutions to address small vehicle configuration capable of its goal of leadership in 5G deployment emerging threats.” lofting over 800 kg to Low Earth Orbit. and innovation. While implementing the Comtech currently provides sustaining “We have a unique business model that breakthrough, market-based proposal to support for the BFT-1 system and allows any customer the 'right to drive',” clear spectrum, the CBA will also protect previously shipped over 100,000 BFT-1 said Mr. Barker “The 'right to drive' is a the quality and reliability of existing C- mobile satellite transceivers. As product offering that allows any payload band services, providing current users previously announced, Comtech position to determine the mission certainty and operational integrity. received an initial $11.7 million order for destination and secure its commitment.” its next generation mobile satellite transceivers in support of the U.S. Qualcomm plans 5G Currently, the small satellite market is Army's BFT-2 system. Deliveries of such underserved in availability of affordable centre at Taiwan orders began during Comtech's fourth launch vehicle options. “We are poised quarter of fiscal 2018.. operations hub to unlock this backlog by providing US-based Qualcomm plans to set up unprecedented flexibility in access to three development facilities focused on space,” said Mr. Barker. Ligado Networks and 5G and other mobile technologies at a As a US launch site based option, the new operations hub in northern Taiwan. Sleek Eagle family will be an FAA Partners to Develop 5G The chipmaker in August settled a case licensed launch vehicle allowing US Technologies in L-Band with the country's antitrust regulator for government missions ready access for TWD2.73 billion ($88.8 million) and launching small satellites. We will be agreed to invest in a number of opening manifest positions in early 2020 Ligado Networks announced plans to commercial initiatives covering the mobile following the DARPA Launch Challenge begin developing 5G technology in the and semiconductor sectors over the next L-Band for mobile services in North five years. America. The announcement is an Its new facilities in Hsinchu will cover 5G important milestone in a multi-year

36 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

strategic plan to deploy a satellite and airlines around the world. to a range of standard internet use cases terrestrial mobile network that will utilize GX Aviation is the world's first and only such as web browsing, online banking 40 MHz of mid-band spectrum to provide global, high-speed inflight broadband and software updates. 5G solutions for critical industries and service, delivered through a wholly- The enhancements have effectively been advance the next generation of American owned and operated network of Global endorsed by the defacto Sky Muster infrastructure. Xpress (GX) High-Throughput Satellites users group, Better Internet For Rural, Ecosystem partners Ericsson and (HTS). This award-winning solution Regional And Remote Australia, whose Sequans have been selected to work on allows passengers to seamlessly browse convener Kristy Sparrow played a part in the technical development efforts to the internet, stream videos, check social the oficial announcement in Canberra develop this new 5G technology for the media and more during flights, with yesterday alongside government and satellite component of the Ligado network. onboard connectivity comparable to the NBN representatives. By utilizing existing LTE-M and NB-IoT mobile broadband services they receive According to NBN Co, “use of other web technologies, the satellite adaptation of on the ground. trafic, however, including streaming video this 3GPP standards-based technology As part of the agreement, Honeywell will and online gaming, will continue to be will support a new category of emerging now market GX Aviation to airlines subject to monthly data allowances, with devices and evolve as part of the 5G worldwide through its rapidly growing speeds being shaped if data limits are specifications. Implementing satellite GoDirect retail services business. This exceeded.” More intriguing, the new Sky connectivity on a mainstream terrestrial increases the company's focus on end Muster Plus service - as it will be known - chipset allows Ligado to take advantage of users, allowing it to tailor smart appears to be a full Layer 3 managed the broad ecosystem that is developing connectivity solutions directly to individual service, with NBN Co providing backhaul, around LTE-M and NB-IoT specifications. customers – whether in the airline or IP transit and its virtual connectivity circuit The companies aim to conduct several 5G business aviation space. It addition, (CVC) construct in the new offer. demonstrations in the near future. Honeywell will continue to manufacture Such a practice is common place in the Creating a device ecosystem in L-Band for and sell the JetWave hardware to airline mainstream satellite sector, where 5G also advances the path to enable and business aviation customers. retailers often fulil little more than network equipment from 5G suppliers that Philip Balaam, President of Inmarsat marketing and billing functions, but is will utilize Ligado's terrestrial spectrum Aviation, said: “Inmarsat and Honeywell alien to the NBN, which is conceived as a and be 3GPP 5G NR compliant. Ligado have an extremely successful track Layer 2 provider in the main and requires Networks is awaiting FCC review of its record of working together in the fast- retailers to buy their own backhaul. terrestrial authorizations in L-Band and is growing inflight connectivity market. We CONSULTING: NBN Co is also currently working with equipment vendors to select are delighted to now extend this consulting on offering a high priority 5G suppliers. partnership. Honeywell's unique depth of capability for VOIP, a multicast capacity “We are proud to announce this exciting experience in this field and their close for education providers and an extension effort with key partners and believe it will relationships with airlines make them a of unmetered data to students for their accelerate the development of the L-Band perfect fit as a value-added reseller of GX e d u c a t i o n n e e d s . C o m m s D a y ecosystem for 5G in North America,” said Aviation. understands that an extensive Doug Smith, Ligado Chief Executive “This agreement also builds on our consultation document was sent to RSPs Officer. “Making this further investment in exceptional go-to-market strategy. It yesterday. the transition of mid-band spectrum for comes soon after a new strategic The proposed relaxed data limits are terrestrial use represents a big stride collaboration with Panasonic Avionics and broadly in line with what both Sky Muster forward for the country's efforts to deliver our continued success with existing users and retailers have sought for next-generation services and win the race value-added resellers, which have done months although the move up the layer to 5G.” an outstanding job in selling GX Aviation stack may not be popular with providers “Ericsson is committed to help provide to leading airlines across the world. Our who use their trafic management policies global connectivity by leveraging distribution network is now truly the best of as a marketing point of difference. NBN innovative technology and supporting new the best.” Co clariied the proposed product business models,” said Kevin Zvokel, Ben Driggs, President of Services and construct as speciic only to Sky Muster. Head of Networks, Ericsson North Connectivity, Honeywell Aerospace, said: “Sky Muster Plus will allow NBN Co to America. “We are excited to work with “A shift is underway in the aviation monitor data heavy applications versus Ligado Networks on this 5G opportunity.” industry, focused on higher margin non data heavy applications for Sky opportunities in software, services and Muster users. That means homes and Honeywell Aerospace predictive data analytics. Today's businesses in the bush will have access to announcement gives us the ability to unmetered data applications including becomes global reseller market our multitude of GoDirect web browsing, email and software of GX Aviation inflight Connected Aircraft services in addition to updates. We don't operate our other hardware directly to future airline technologies this way as they don't have broadband solution customers . limited data capacity plans and don't have existing plans to do so,” a spokesperson Inmarsat has expanded its global network NBN Co to boost Sky said. of Value Added Resellers (VARs) for its GX There is a distinct technical advantage for Aviation inflight broadband solution with Muster with unmetered NBN Co in moving its heavier satellite the addition of Honeywell Aerospace. users from a Layer 2 to a Layer 3 service The agreement builds on Inmarsat's long- content, speed bursts– in terms of allowing more data usage: it standing partnership with Honeywell, who and Layer 3 removes the need to set lowest common already manufactures the JetWave denominator usage restrictions based on hardware for GX Aviation and sells management the busiest beams or service providers. Inmarsat's Jet ConneX inflight wi-fi service LAYER 3 ADVANTAGES: In a submission for the business aviation market, through NBN Co and the Federal Government to the Federal parliamentary NBN its GoDirect retail services business. In have unveiled plans to offer a premium committee earlier this year, NBN Co addition, it is further endorsement of Sky Muster service next year which will partner Viasat explained how it used Inmarsat's commitment to operate the allow speed bursts over the nominal Layer 3 management control in the US to reference inflight connectivity network for 25Mbps limit and extend unmetered data offer higher-usage plans. “The trafic

37 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

management techniques to create these throughput. Under the terms of the agreements, SAS plan options include ... rate limiting, Intellian's solution, when combined with will collaborate with the respective application awareness, device-type SES Networks' satellite-based services, companies to explore and test how SAS' awareness, time of day policy modiication, provides truly global, tri-band, multi-orbit proprietary connectivity network can be media compression and zerorating. coverage that delivers connectivity incorporated into Inovsat and AltaRede's These are only available with a Layer 3 scaling from 100 Mbps through to multiple service offering to increase its reliability, network.” Last year, NBN Co doubled the Gbps of dedicated capacity to a single accessibility and affordability. Testing maximum monthly wholesale data limits on vessel. has commenced using the 3 Diamonds Sky Muster satellite services from 150GB to “At SES Networks, we are very focused nano-satellites and is expected to 300GB per month and also increased the on solutions that optimize the user complete Q1 2019. average peak data allowance that phone experience. As the only satellite operator The Company expects both MoU and internet providers can offer to users by offering communications services that agreements to be transformed into 50 per cent from 30GB to 45GB. leverage GEO and MEO satellites, we definitive agreements with commercial NBN CO CEO Stephen Rue said: “The new strongly believe that a multi-orbit, multi- terms following the launch of the first product is designed to give regional and band maritime solution delivers the batch of Peals in 2019. rural Australians peace of mind knowing optimal combination of performance, Meanwhile, management continues to that essential internet services, like reliability and, ultimately, user experience focus its resources on building and emailing loved ones or accessing internet at sea,” said Stewart Sanders, Executive maintaining its relationships in the South banking, should not slow down if their Vice President of Technology at SES American region to ensure SAS has the monthly data limit has been exceeded. Networks. ability to leverage its local knowledge Our team is also continuing to consult with “The capabilities of Intellian's new and secure further agreements of this industry on a number of additional antennas contribute to a frictionless user k i n d . wholesale product updates on the Sky experience and they have the potential to Muster satellite service, including a regional enable our customers and their end users The signing of these agreements enterprise service as well as additional to fully benefit from our unique multi-orbit represents a significant landmark for the applications to enable remote telehealth approach.” Company as the Brazilian market and distance education.” Federal Minister Eric Sung, CEO of Intellian, commented, equates to 200 million people, all located for Regional Services Senator Bridget “I'm proud that we have managed to within the equatorial region and with McKenzie added “The Sky Muster Plus deliver the world's first tri-band and multi- limited access to affordable connectivity product will allow families to select from a orbit antenna to the industry. The services. This represents a significant greater range of broadband plans to meet collaboration with SES Networks has revenue generating opportunity for SAS. their individual needs. With regional enabled Intellian to connect vessels with Additionally, securing these agreements Australia responsible for around 70 per cent an innovative and powerful solution that supports the business model of of Australia's exports from only 30 percent delivers record-breaking connectivity supplying easily accessible, reliable and of the population, we need to be doing more speeds across all satellite frequency affordable connectivity to the equatorial to build on this success.” bands with the introduction of the v240MT region and becoming a leading player in Both the Federal Opposition and the system.” the nano-satellites market with a global R e g i o n a l , R u r a l a n d R e m o t e Intellian v240MT systems have already footprint. Commenting on the above Communications Coalition also welcomed been installed globally on a number of agreements, Sky and Space Global's the announcement yesterday. Grahame vessels and are now available for CEO, Mr. Meir Moalem said: Lynch, Commsday. shipment from Intellian's worldwide “Having signed a further two binding logistics centers. MoU agreements in South America we Intellian's Tri-band, Multi- are seeing the results of our hard work. Sky and Space Global We are working extremely hard to build orbit Antenna Endorsed our global presence and our goal is to by SES Networks signed MoU with have a foot in the door in every country Brazilian telecoms within the equatorial region.” Intellian, announced that SES Networks has endorsed the world's first and only tri- providers Satellite ground band, multi-orbit, 2.4-meter antenna, the segment to generate v240MT, for use on its Ku, Ka and C-band Sky and Space Global Ltd has increased satellites. its exposure within the South American $162 billion in next Intellian's 2.4m multi-band, Medium Earth region by signing binding MoU Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit decade agreements with two Brazilian telecom NSR's Commercial Satellite Ground (GEO) broadband antennas provide providers. seamless access to virtually any satellite Segment, 3rd Edition report, released In a milestone achievement, SAS has today, forecasts annual global revenues constellation within seconds. These formally signed two binding MoU frequency-agile and orbit-agnostic for the Commercial Satellite Ground agreements with AltaRede Corporation Segment will grow to $15.71 billion by capabilities, enabled by Intellian's (AltaRede) and Inovsat Telecom innovative antennas and its new Intelligent 2027. Set top boxes (STBs) and (Inovsat), both telecom and connectivity antennas capture the largest share of Mediator Solution, ensure that the providers based in Rio de Janeiro. equipment's capabilities are future-proof for revenues, leveraging the volumes of S a t e l l i t e T V . customers seeking the fastest and most AltaRede and Inovsat Telecom provide reliable broadband connectivity. communication and connectivity The Ground Segment is a key enabler in The new Intellian v240MT solution provides services, via satellite to commercial the unique capability of switching between the return to growth for the satellite customers in remote regions with little or industry. As the focus shifts from different satellite frequency bands (C, Ku, no telecommunications infrastructure. and Ka) as needed without any user “satellites” to “networks”, VSAT They collectively serve the industrial, platforms are more strategic than ever. intervention required. This then ensures the government, construction, mining and best solution for the geographic location Antennas have a critical role to play, healthcare industries both on and off unlocking verticals like Mobility or and flexibility in achieving the highest shore. 38 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

enabling new architectures like MEO by Port-IT and protects desktop components and system solutions for optical and LEO constellations. With new computers and other systems connected a n d e l e c t r i c a l c o n n e c t i v i t y , bands growing in popularity, and to a vessel's network HUBER+SUHNER, has announced the throughputs skyrocketing, RF Chains launch of its new railway roof top antenna to need to evolve rapidly. Smallsat EO Fleet Secure Endpoint has been combat data bandwidth issues, the constellations are also building up developed to remove infections and thwart SENCITY® Rail MIMO 5 Port. demand for the EO Ground Segment. hackers before damage occurs to onboard endpoints and connected systems. The With consumer needs for on-board “Terminals are to Satcom what picks solution will be available for commercial connectivity changing the landscape of rail and shovels were to the gold rush. use from January 2019 and is compatible across the world, HUBER+SUHNER has During the HTS rush, it is a good time to across Inmarsat's maritime portfolio of developed the five-port antenna to aid be in the Ground Segment business,” services, including Fleet Xpress, passenger experience and enable them to states Lluc Palerm, NSR Senior FleetBroadband and Fleet One. It also work, play and communicate seamlessly. The Analyst and report author. “From complements the resilience of Inmarsat's offering also benefits operators, allowing them infrastructure use cases, like Earth own satellite and ground network enabling to boost their data transmission by using fewer Stations or Baseband Equipment, to consistent cybersecurity standards to be antennas, while also enhancing the flexibility emerging mass markets like Consumer maintained. of installation with a configurable setting. Broadband; or high-end applications like Aero connectivity, HTS is the Peter Broadhurst, SVP of Safety and “Operators can often feel the pinch when it common denominator driving growth,” Security for Inmarsat Maritime said: “It is a comes to installing data transmission tools on- a c c o r d i n g t o P a l e r m . priority for every fleet operator and ship board railways. They must invest in solutions manager - shore-side and at sea - to that are future-proof, low weight, space-saving The entire satellite industry is in the ensure their systems are properly and do not need to be ripped out every three midst of a profound transformation, and protected. As this enhancement to Fleet years with the launch of each successive the Ground Segment is no different. Secure demonstrates, Inmarsat is cellular generation. Our SENCITY Rail MIMO New technological requirements constantly monitoring the ever changing 5 Port combats all of these issues head on,” (networking, higher throughputs, cyber security landscape and devising said Daniel Montagnese, Product Manager, sophisticated traffic manipulation new tools and approaches for addressing Antennas at HUBER+SUHNER. tools), new architectures (FPAs, V- potential problems; ensuring that ships HTS, Non-GEOs) and evolving and their crew remain safe –physically and With low installation costs, the advantage of business models (“infrastructure-as-a- virtually. five ports mean that less antennas are needed, service”, risk sharing schemes, fewer- crucially saving space and allowing the larger deals) will shape the future of the Inmarsat has also launched a training app operator to save on installation costs. G r o u n d S e g m e n t . for mobile devices, Fleet Secure Cyber Designed for 2G/3G/4G cellular applications, Awareness. This enables seafarers to the antenna meets the EN 50155 railway Multiple actors proposing revolutionary educate themselves on the tactics that standards, is fire retardant and works on non- satellite systems often fail to recognize cyber criminals might employ in metallic surfaces. Able to operate in the importance of the Ground attempting to infiltrate a company's IT temperatures of between -40 and 85°C, the Segment. While committing billions to infrastructure. antenna is fit for the harsh railway develop Space-segment technologies, environment. they wrongly evaluate the state of Addressing the human element is development of the ground. The truth is essential to maintaining a strong security Additional features include the fact that it is that today, critical ground segment posture, says Mr Broadhurst: “Many protected against high voltage and high technologies are not ready for next- attempts to gain unauthorised access to IT currents; has a common mounting scheme generation HTS systems (FPAs, infrastructure require some sort of which allows for easy antenna upgrade and is SDN/NFV), and there will be a time lag activation by an end-user in order to infect also embedded with GPS-LNA to save extra while these technologies develop. a system and cause further damage. installation effort. These attacks are often heavily disguised Inmarsat enhances so as to trick and manipulate end-users “Digital transformation is among us, with train into unwittingly granting permission. companies already collaborating to design, cyber security offering phase and realise the benefits of the for maritime industry “However, there are nearly always tell-tale connected railway. The high scale signs that, if spotted in time, would prevent Mobile training app for crew and performance of the antenna will allow escalation. Crew education is therefore an intelligent endpoint security for consumers to have an improved mobile indispensable component in realising a onboard computers strengthen experience, along with having a faster, more well-rounded security strategy and the Inmarsat's Fleet Secure portfolio of comfortable journey. There is a strong market reason behind teaming up with Stapleton products. 15 November 2018: Inmarsat need for our solutions and we look forward to International and Marine Learning Alliance has introduced two new components to seeing new digital rail technology realised with to launch our Fleet Secure Cyber its maritime cyber security service, the help of HUBER+SUHNER,” added Awareness module.” Fleet Secure, as it continues to develop Montagnese. solutions that combat ever-increasing cyber threats faced by ship owners and HUBER+SUHNER New report from SSPI ship managers. streamline passenger shows how to recruit high- Vessel operators will benefit from a experience with launch potential workers as powerful, multi-layered endpoint security solution, Fleet Secure of 5 Port railway roof drivers of innovation and Endpoint, which is based on industry top antenna success leading technology from ESET, a world Space and Satellite Professionals leader in digital security, and powered Leading international manufacturer of International (SSPI) has released Identifying

39 IN THE NEWS a n d E n g a g i n g H i g h - P o t e n t i a l Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, Elbit Systems from space,” said Don Brown, Telesat's Employees, the newest report in the President & CEO, commented: “The General Manager, Government Making Leaders series. The brief, synergy between the capabilities of the Services. “DARPA is exploring a 'pivot to readable report shares insights from two companies and the global LEO' for future DoD space missions and experts in talent management on how to positioning of Elbit Systems will enable we expect that Blackjack will confirm the spot high-potential employees, what to us to offer an enhanced portfolio and to economy, resiliency and power of these do with them, and how to know you are realize the potential of the technologies new space architectures. This project doing it right. of IMI in the international arena, making has significant implications for improving Companies need a few influential, high- this acquisition significant to our long- global security while reducing costs to performing employees who lead others term growth strategy.” Machlis added: DoD and US taxpayers. Telesat looks to success. In the talent business, they “Elbit Systems has a proven track record forward to supporting DARPA as it works are known as “high potentials,” and of successfully performing major to achieve these goals.” companies in space and satellite can't acquisitions, and I am convinced that Telesat's LEO constellation will offer get enough of them, in small and midsize this acquisition will be beneficial for economies of scale that have previously companies as well as large ones. The Israel's economy, for both companies' b e e n u n a v a i l a b l e f o r D o D ' s report offers specific guidance for the employees and customers and for our communications needs, along with small to midsize company on using shareholders." superior capacity, speed, security and limited resources to get the biggest resiliency with latency as good or better impact. DARPA selects than the most advanced terrestrial They are not alone. In a 2011 study, networks. Telesat LEO will serve the McKinsey & Company compared the Telesat's LEO system entire globe and become a core growth of 700 companies with to support DARPA's component in satisfying many of the independent performance appraisals of w o r l d ' s m o s t c h a l l e n g i n g more than 100,000 executives. They Blackjack Program communications requirements, including found that leadership quality is critical to DARPA, the Defense Advanced the provision of a highly robust and growth – but that most companies don't Research Projects Agency has awarded secure broadband infrastructure that can have enough high-quality executives. a contract to Telesat under which Telesat support future defense operations. In Every manager has the chance to will undertake investigations that could August, Telesat announced it has identify, engage and help retain high- lead to the Department of Defense selected two contractor teams to further potential employees, and doing it should (DoD) making greater use of commercial develop system designs for its LEO be part of every manager's job. In this low earth orbit satellite constellations, constellation. One of the teams is a report, SSPI offers advice not just for such as Telesat's LEO system, for DoD's consortium of Thales Alenia Space and large corporations but for the small-to- future space-based communications. Maxar Technologies, owner of SSL. The midsize companies that are the The investigations will include other team is led by Airbus Defence and backbone of the industry. evaluating the advantages of DoD using Space. “High-potential employees are the core the same spacecraft buses as those of the leadership succession plan,” said Telesat will use in its LEO constellation Rocket Lab reaches executive director and report author and having these future DoD spacecraft Robert Bell. “They are also the people in link to Telesat's LEO constellation via orbit again, deploys your organization who make you think laser-based communications. The result differently and can move the business of these investigations could lead to DoD more satellites forward if they are identified and properly using Telesat's LEO system for its global Rocket Lab has continued the success developed. As one of our eight broadband connectivity needs. of its 2018 orbital launch program with contributors put it, 'The technology the launch of seven payloads to orbit industries are going to have a lot more The award to Telesat was made by today. The mission, named 'It's turnover because tech workers are DARPA's Tactical Technology Office Business Time,' marks Rocket Lab's valuable and know it, and they see the (TTO) under its Blackjack program. second successful orbital launch and explosive changes taking place all B l a c k j a c k i s a n a r c h i t e c t u r e deployment of customer satellites. around the demonstration of a proliferated small Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle m.'” satellite constellation in Low Earth Orbit lifted-off from Launch Complex 1 on New Identifying and Engaging High-Potential to provide global persistence, low Zealand's Māhia Peninsula at 16:50 on Employees is available for free to SSPI latency communications, and rapid 11 November NZDT (03:50 UTC). After members and for purchase by others. technology refresh. This will be first reaching orbit on Electron's second The Making Leaders series of reports, accomplished by leveraging commercial stage, the Curie kick stage successfully video interviews and podcasts focus on s p a c e t e c h n o l o g i e s i n c l u d i n g separated and circularized its orbit before guiding the industry through a period of commoditized spacecraft buses, ground deploying six satellites for customers major change in how it identifies, attracts infrastructure, and user segments at Spire Global, Tyvak Nano-Satellite and manages talent to drive innovation. unprecedented costs. Systems, Fleet Space Technologies and Telesat will work with its sub-contractor the Irvine CubeSat Stem Program. Curie Elbit Systems Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) to complete also carried NABEO, a drag sail required deliverables under Telesat's technology demonstrator, designed and completes the DARPA contract. Telesat will leverage built by High Performance Space acquisition of IMI Leidos's experience working with Structure Systems GmbH, to passively government customers in creating de-orbit inactive small satellites and Elbit Systems Ltd. announced today reduce space junk. that it completed the acquisition of IMI cutting-edge emerging technologies and transition programs from R&D to fielding, Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Systems Ltd. for a purchase price of Peter Beck says the mission marks a new approximately $495 million (NIS 1.8 including numerous programs with DARPA. era in access to space. billion), with an additional payment of “The world is waking up to the new approximately $27 million (NIS 100 “Telesat is developing its LEO normal. With the Electron launch vehicle, million) contingent upon IMI meeting rapid and reliable access to space is now agreed performance goals. constellation to make revolutionary advances in broadband performance a reality for small satellites,” says Beck. “We're thrilled to be leading the small IN THE NEWS

satellite launch industry by reaching orbit a customers and their end users to fully NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, second time and deploying more payloads. benefit from our unique multi-orbit USA. Launch Complex 2 can support The team carried out a flawless flight with approach.” monthly orbital launches from US soil, incredibly precise orbital insertion. ” he Eric Sung, CEO of Intellian, and is designed specifically to serve the says. commented, “I'm proud that we have responsive space needs of government Rocket Lab is poised for high-frequency managed to deliver the world's first tri- customers. Between the two Rocket Lab launches in 2019 thanks to production band and multi-orbit antenna to the launch complexes, the company can facilities that enable rapid mass Electron industry. The collaboration with SES support up to 130 orbital missions per production, as well as a private launch Networks has enabled Intellian to year. complex licensed to launch up to 120 times connect vessels with an innovative and Sven Strohband – Partner and Chief per year. powerful solution that delivers record- Technology Officer (CTO), Khosla “With two orbital launches down for 2018, breaking connectivity speeds across all Ventures say,“Rocket Lab is a truly we're not resting on our laurels. We have a satellite frequency bands with the remarkable company. We were burgeoning customer manifest, so we're introduction of the v240MT system.” fortunate enough to follow Rocket Lab's moving onto the next mission within a few Intellian v240MT systems have already journey from their initial engine program weeks – the incredibly exciting ELaNa 19 been installed globally on a number of to the first launch, the factory scale-up mission for NASA in December.” vessels and are now available for and now the start of commercial shipment from Intellian's worldwide operations, all of which happened in Intellian's tri-band, multi- logistics centers. record time,” said Sven Strohband, Partner and CTO of Khosla Ventures orbit antenna endorsed Rocket Lab announces and Rocket Lab Board member. “We are by SES Networks proud to continue to support Peter and $140 million in new the amazing Rocket Lab team in their funding journey to open space for all and are Intellian, announced that SES Networks excited about the next chapter.” has endorsed the world's first and only tri- US orbital launch provider, Rocket Lab, band, multi-orbit, 2.4-meter antenna, the Also, Matt Ocko – Managing Partner, v240MT, for use on its Ku, Ka and C-band has closed a Series E financing round of $140 million (USD). The funding DCVC (Data Collective) said,“We were satellites. privileged to lead Rocket Lab's prior Intellian's 2.4m multi-band, Medium Earth round closed last month, prior to the launch of the successful mission 'It's round, and continue to be committed Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit strongly to this superb team in this round (GEO) broadband antennas provide Business Time,' and was led by existing investor Future Fund, with strong and beyond,” said Matt Ocko, Managing seamless access to virtually any satellite Partner of DCVC (Data Collective) and constellation within seconds. These participation from current investors including Greenspring Associates, Rocket Lab board member. “We saw frequency-agile and orbit-agnostic proof of Rocket Lab's transformative capabilities, enabled by Intellian's Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, DCVC (Data Collective), cost and frequency of launch just in the innovative antennas and its new Intelligent number of DCVC's own next-gen 'scale- Mediator Solution, ensure that the Promus Ventures and K1W1. New investor ACC also contributed to the out space' companies enabled by equipment's capabilities are future-proof for Rocket Lab, let alone the hundreds customers seeking the fastest and most round. The Series E round close brings total Rocket Lab funding to date to more more lined up for this disruptive orbital reliable broadband connectivity. access capability.” The new Intellian v240MT solution provides than $288 million (USD), with the the unique capability of switching between company now soaring past its previous $1 billion-plus (USD) valuation. According to Mike Collett – Founder and different satellite frequency bands (C, Ku, Managing Partner, Promus Ventures, and Ka) as needed without any user “There are few companies that have set intervention required. This then ensures the “It has been a big year for Rocket Lab with two successful missions to orbit out to achieve something as big as the best solution for the geographic location Rocket Lab team and accomplished and flexibility in achieving the highest and another about to roll out to the pad, but it's even more significant for the their goal as quickly as they have. The throughput. exciting part of the story is there is so Intellian's solution, when combined with global small satellite industry that now has a fully commercial, dedicated ride much more left to write. Promus SES Networks' satellite-based services, Ventures is privileged to be able to back provides truly global, tri-band, multi-orbit to space,” said Rocket Lab CEO and founder Peter Beck. “This funding also Rocket Lab and its talented global team coverage that delivers connectivity scaling and platform.” from 100 Mbps through to multiple Gbps of enables the continued aggressive scale-up of Electron production to dedicated capacity to a single vessel. However, David Cowan – Partner, “At SES Networks, we are very focused on support our targeted weekly flight rate. It will also see us build additional launch Bessemer Ventures Partners believes solutions that optimize the user experience. that, “We see hundreds of start-ups As the only satellite operator offering pads and begin work on three major new R&D programs.” gearing up to replace billion-dollar communications services that leverage mainframes in Geosynchronous Orbit GEO and MEO satellites, we strongly The round also follows the opening of with constellations of cheaper, faster, believe that a multi-orbit, multi-band better micro-sats,” said David Cowan of maritime solution delivers the optimal Rocket Lab's new mass production facility for the Electron vehicle last Bessemer Venture Partners, who combination of performance, reliability and, serves on Rocket Lab's board. “Rocket ultimately, user experience at sea,” said month, as well as the announcement confirming the location of Rocket Lab's Lab alone now provides the predictable, Stewart Sanders, Executive Vice President frequent and affordable launch of Technology at SES Networks. second orbital launch site. Construction has now begun on Rocket Lab Launch capability critical for this new “The capabilities of Intellian's new antennas ecosystem.” contribute to a frictionless user experience Complex 2, which is based within the and they have the potential to enable our Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at

Editorial Calendar 2018 Editorial Calendar 2017 2018 schedule of publications Please find below the schedule of publication, and themes, for the rest of your 2018 media planning The publication is sold monthly on a subscription basis, to readers in Africa, Europe, and North America as well as Middle East. But it is also distributed widely, free, to participants at selected conferences. Below please find the schedule of releases.

Vol 6 No 9 January 2018 can stay connected to family and friends, and receive the latest entertainment. Once considered a luxury, broadband Benefits of aviation weather services. connectivity is now viewed as a must-have for maritime Aviation operations are highly sensitive to weather vessels. Correspondingly, Maritime Satellite conditions. Information on weather conditions helps Communications are available across the globe. This diti6n meteorologists, pilots, navigators, airline companies and will focus on Maritime Satellite Communications businesses to ensure safe flights and save money by reducing some of the stringent requirements related to carrying extra fuel loads. This edition will feature the benefits Vol 7 No 3 May 2018 of weather information to the aviation sector as the industry is Digital oilfield known to be both very weather-sensitive and weather- Over the past five years, nearly 50 new deep offshore plays information-sensitive have been discovered off the coast of West Africa, ] cementing the region's reputation as a vast resource of Vol 6 No 10 February 2018 untapped potential. In fact, about one-third of new Satellite Broadcasting Services discoveries worldwide since 2010 have occurred in West Africa, most of these offshore. This boom in activity has The satellite broadcast services sector is undergoing and drawn dozens of E&P operators, including supermajors facing substantial change. The article suggests some key and large independents, and has created thousands of new areas driving change. It focuses on vertical integration of jobs and a growing need for service providers and services The continuous addition of TV channels broadcast infrastructure. As offshore activity in West Africa continues by satellite pay-TV platforms, boosted by the launch of new to increase, so does the demand for reliable platforms in recent years, has resulted in a strong increase in communications, and a critical element of operational capacity usage for satellite operators. Transponders used by performance is an unfailing real-time connection. This satellite TV platforms worldwide are estimated to have issue will focus on current trends and technologies in the Oil almost doubled. This edition will feature special report on the and Gas Industry. performance of the satellite pay-TV market. Vol 7 No 1 March 2018 Vol 7 No 4 June 2018 Enterprise Connectivity Satellite supply and demand in Africa This issue of spacewatchafrica will focuses on satellite One of the most significant trends in enterprise connectivity supply and demand in Africa. So far, the demand for high is the need for faster bandwidth. It's a development that's speed connectivity is rising. Consumers, businesses, and evident across virtually every market – corporate, maritime, governments want more bandwidth for a variety of oil and gas, cellular backhaul, utilities and many others. It's purposes. In Africa, much of the population remain driven by end users who want to run a broader range of unconnected or underserved. In business, internet access business applications over a satellite network and who need is critical not optional. And in military, fast, secure internet is to expand their network to new sites and new users. The vital to safeguard valuable lives and equipment. Specific overall market for enterprise connectivity is surging. This s e c t o r s s u c h a s D T H , v i d e o d i s t r i b u t i o n , edition will report the role of Satellite in driving enterprise telecommunications, maritime and O&G also require connectivity connectivity. Vol 7 No 2 April 2018 Vol 7 No 5 July 2018 Maritime Connectivity Strategies for Choosing the right satellite Maritime Satellite Communications play a vital role in the global economy. With up to 80,000 merchant, cruise, and solution government vessels at sea at any given time and more than ICT professionals are often faced with the dilemma of 1400 offshore oil-rigs, there is a pressing need for the choosing an efficient and reliable satellite service, connectivity and benefits that satellite provides. With consistent with their networking requirements and Maritime Communications, ship headquarters can company objectives. The dilemma is reinforced by many communicate with their fleet enabling real-time ship providers offering limited, 'off the shelf' satellite connectivity monitoring, navigation, and surveillance. Oil-rigs can receive packages. This edition will explore some benefits of these and transmit real-time operational data. Crew and passengers considerations as well as assist in choosing the optimal satellite service provider. AFRICA

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