Nancy Matimu appointed new Multichoice Kenya CEO

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AFRICA

Nigeria AFRICA Has local content policy any impact on the Space sector? Africa Magic Channels Aand ne wthe le ariseder aofn dNollywood player in the aerospace industry

C O N T E N T S Vol. 8 No. 2

Streamlining licensing procedures for small satellites Enabel partners SES to connect foreign aid projects in Editor in-chief Aliyu Bello Africa via satellite Executive Manager Tonia Gerrald Ethiopia joins Africa’s space race SA to the editor in-Chief Ngozi Okey NTA plans infrastructural upgrade Head, Application Services M. Yakubu Editorial/ICT Services John Daniel MultiChoice in Zambian economy Usman Bello Reviewing US ban of Indian PSLV Alozie Nwankwo Viasat visits Nigeria on readiness to deploy broadband services Juliet Nnamdi Client Relations Sunday Tache Globalstar announces 2019 fourth quarter Lookman Bello annual results Safiya Thani Nancy Matimu appointed new Multichoice Kenya CEO Marketing Offy Pat Meteorologists to learn satellite monitoring skills Tunde Nathaniel Wasiu Olatunde Google announces US$1 million African Media Relations Favour Madu internet safety fund Khadijat Yakubu Intelsat announces fourth quarter and full-year 2019 results Zacheous Felicia Has local content policy any impact Finance Folarin Tunde on the Space sector? Egypt and the "space race” Space Watch Magazine is a publication of Communication Science, Inc. All correspondence should be addressed to editor, space Watch Magazine. Abuja office: Plot 2009, Awka Street, UTC Building, GF 11, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria Tel: 234 80336471114, 07084706167, email: [email protected]

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Editorial

Streamlining licensing procedures for small satellites

Today we are at the beginning of a new milliseconds, fast enough to support smallsats, so these draft regulations Space Race, this time the race involves voice and other critical services. And really only apply to a subset of this new advanced launch capabilities, small because they don't have the same sector, they also don't apply to satellite satellites, and the possibility of innovative economic constraints with deploying to constellations, such as those from new services, including the provision of rural areas as terrestrial providers, they OneWeb or Amazon, says Steve Nixon, broadband to billions of people around the can focus on the people most likely to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's world. Unfortunately, while regulatory need their service – those in rural parts president. reform efforts are underway, many of our of the US and around the world. Here are three things that the FCC can do current satellite rules still date from the to accomplish these goals. First, we need dawn of the space age. Today's order is a This new era of spaceflight is still to encourage all operators to develop good start, but the FCC must continue to unfolding, and many questions remain. more spectrally efficient systems. As update its policies to encourage American But the FCC cannot afford to fall behind launch has become more frequent, we're leadership in this new golden age of these developments, the risk is too trying to cram more satellites into fewer space exploration. high. The potential benefits of these and fewer frequencies. To relieve this innovative broadband services should increasing pressure we must drive all American space companies are cause us to reexamine our satellite operators—old and new, to utilize i n n o v a t i n g i n d r a m a t i c w a y s . rules to determine whether they help or advanced technologies to use spectrum Improvements in technology and the use hinder our goal of ensuring broadband efficiently. of reusable launch vehicles have access to rural America. We must The FCC has repeatedly recognized that, changed the nature of the launch industry. adopt policies that both encourage because spectrum is a limited resource, After years where the number of investment in the networks we've parties must utilize it as efficiently as American launches barely cracked the already authorized, while leaving room possible. In the satellite context, new mid-teens, last year we saw over 30 US for new players who will provide new technologies like phased array antennas launches, with the promise of far greater competition and new services. By and adaptive beam-forming will permit increases to come. While some of these doing so, we will strengthen American satellites to target narrow coverage areas launches involve traditional, large leadership in the new Space Race and more precisely and reuse spectrum many geostationary satellites in high orbits, an establish the US regulatory approach times over to maximize throughput.\] increasing number represent a wave of as a model for other nations. smaller next-generation satellites that will While many people may not be aware of it, go into low orbits and cost only a fraction As industry continues to deploy the the FCC has a critical role in authorizing of their larger counterparts, using faster next generation of communications commercial launches. Commercial and smaller state-of-the art processors. technologies in our urban centers, at operators currently use spectrum . The demand for small satellites has least 21 million Americans currently do licensed to Federal users to communicate experienced a six-fold increase since not have access to home broadband, a with and track their launch vehicles. 2012 and licensing requests are expected necessity in our modern world. This Because of the Federal allocation of this to accelerate, according to Dr. Bhavya Lal persistent digital divide has real-world spectrum, operators must work with at the Institute for Defense Analysis. The c o n s e q u e n c e s i n t e r m s o f Commission staff to obtain a Special projected surge in activity raises several opportunities for employment, Temporary Authorization for each launch. salient points about the sustainability of education and civic engagement, and this sector in low-earth orbit. is hardening into a state of internet Third and finally, the Commission should inequality. We must address this proceed with its orbital debris rulemaking. ]These satellites will provide a wide- problem before it gets worse. As this item recognizes, the issue of variety of services, ranging from national “Right now, if you want to apply for an orbital debris is a critical one, particularly security missions, to position, navigation FCC application for a geosynchronous given the growing potential for thousands and timing, to weather and environmental bird which might be a half a billion of small satellites in low-earth orbit. sensing. But the area that I'm most dollar asset that application fee is Because of their numbers, small size and excited about is the potential for these $130,000,” Nixon said. “If you want to low orbit, these satellites present satellites to help address one of our do something in low-earth orbit with a fundamentally different risks than toughest problems, improving rural small satellite, right now the application traditional satellites, yet our rules have not America's access to broadband. fee for that is about $450,000 and that been updated since 2004. Last year the satellite might only cost that much, so Commission issued a Notice of Proposed It's certainly true that traditional there is a little bit of a discrepancy Rulemaking on this issue. We need to geostationary satellite operators have there.” While these proposed move forward with final orbital debris rules and will continue to offer valuable streamlined procedures are a to protect satellite safety and provide services to these remote areas. A new necessary step, there will be questions certainty to the rapidly growing satellite generation of operators promise high- from industry. For example, the 180 kg industry. speed service via constellations of limit does not line up with smallsat thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit. categories from the FAA. The FAA By Geoffrey Starks T h e s e n e w p r o v i d e r s p r o m i s e defines a micro satellite by weight of 11 widespread high speed coverage while to 200 kg. The industry has traditionally reducing latency to the tens of treated satellites below 600 kg as

5 APPOINTMENTS

WorldStream expands was also the CFO & Company Secretary for was among the company's founding Ispat Alloys Ltd from 1993 to 1999. m a n a g e m e n t t e a m . S p a c e c o m leadership team, hires Sandeep is a Commerce Graduate from established in 1994, launched its first Finance Director from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), geostationary satellite – AMOS-1 in Chartered Accountant (equivalent to CPA) 1996. A dynamic, growing, satellite and Company Secretary from the operator- Spacecom operates the AMOS EY respective Institutes in India. He has also completed an Executive Education communications satellite fleet, covering W o r l d S t r e a m , a f a s t - g r o w i n g Programme on Leadership at the London diverse territories with an International Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) hosting Business School and an Executive global expansion growth strategy. provider with 15,000 dedicated servers Education program on Strategic Finance at under management and company-owned IMD, Lausanne. data centers in the Netherlands, announces it has further expanded its Enrico Palermo leadership team to include Mark Chandler Speedcast PJ resigns appointed Virgin as Finance Director. Previously, Mr. Chandler worked in a variety of as CEO Galactic's COO management roles worldwide for one of the Big Four global audit and consulting Speedcast International Limited advises giants, EY. that the Board has accepted the resignation Virgin Galactic Holdings has announced Founded in 2006, Worldstream has seen of PJ Beylier as CEO, effective from 1 the appointment of Enrico Palermo as Chief significant growth lately, especially since February 2020. While the preliminary view Operating Officer (COO), effective 2016 when the company started offering of the FY19 result is a little greater than 10% immediately. In this newly created role, unmetered dedicated servers with flat below the Company's previous guidance, Enrico will be responsible for helping bandwidth rates to its global clientele. As a that result includes a number of items (such maintain efficiency and peak performance result, Worldstream's global network as procurement savings and sale of minor across the enterprise as it develops as a backbone has currently grown to the surplus assets) that do not directly public company, and will lead the execution enormous bandwidth capacity of more contribute to ongoing earnings. In light of of specific company strategies and than 10Tbps. Next to that, Worldstream the disappointing preliminary FY19 result, initiatives. Enrico currently serves as started construction on its new data hall in the Board accepted PJ Beylier's resignation President of The Spaceship Company its flagship facility last summer, doubling from his role. He remains available to (TSC), the wholly-owned aerospace data center capacity at this location. support the management team and the manufacturing and development subsidiary According to Worldstream, this significant interim leadership over the next three of VG. In this role, Enrico leads over 500 business growth brings along new months. employees at the company's facilities in responsibilities with regard to financial Commenting on his resignation, PJ Beylier Mojave, California. He joined Virgin control operations. In the newly created said "2019 was a challenging year for Galactic in 2006 as one of its first leadership role, Mark Chandler (41) will be Speedcast. The quality of the financial employees. Enrico will maintain his responsible for Worldstream's global result is not in line with the Board and capacity of TSC President. Enrico brings a financial control operations and financial management's expectations, which I take wealth of experience including operations processes. Prior to joining Worldstream, responsibility for and have therefore leadership, engineering and technology Mr. Chandler worked as Senior Manager decided to resign. I want to thank all our knowledge, financial analysis and business Transaction Advisory Services for EY in employees for their amazing passion and planning proficiency. Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In this role, hard work over the past 20 years that has he was responsible for helping EY's made it possible to build together the global international client base realizing their service leader that Speedcast has become. Comtech promotes growth ambitions by seizing M&A I remain excited about Speedcast's future; Michael Porcelain to opportunities and better managing as the company continues to execute on its capital. operational improvement plans, it will be President able to leverage the unique platform it has built and generate growth.” Comtech Telecommunications announced SES names Sandeep A global search for Speedcast's new CEO that its Senior Vice President and Chief Jalan as new Chief has commenced with Russell Reynolds, Operating Officer (COO) Michael Porcelain with a particular focus on Europe and the has been promoted and will assume the Financial Officer US for candidates. In the interim, existing additional role of President. Porcelain has Board Directors Peter Shaper and Joe been with Comtech since 2002. From SES, the leader in global content Spytek have agreed to act as co-CEOs of March 2006 through October 2018, he connectivity solutions, has announced the the Company. Peter and Joe will also served as Senior Vice President and CFO. Board of Directors has appointed continue as Directors. From February 2002 through March 2006, Sandeep Jalan as Chief Financial Officer he was Vice President of Finance and (CFO) of SES. He will assume the position Internal Audit. Prior to joining Comtech, from 6 May 2020. Sandeep has 30 years Itzhak Shnaiberg now Porcelain was Director of Corporate Profit of experience in financial and operational AMOS Spacecom's and Business Planning for Symbol leadership roles across Asia and Europe. Technologies, a mobile wireless He is most recently the CFO of Aperam, a CEO following David information solutions company, where he global leader in the stainless, electrical was employed from 1998 to 2002. and specialty steel industry, a role he has Pollack's retirement Previously, he spent five years in public held since 2014. accounting holding various positions, Previously, he worked for the ArcelorMittal Itzhak Shnaiberg has been appointed including Manager in the Transaction Group since 1999 where he held various Acting CEO of Spacecom by the A d v i s o r y S e r v i c e s G r o u p o f roles including the CFO of ArcelorMittal company's Board of Directors, following PricewaterhouseCoopers. Long Carbon Europe and was part of the the retirement of former CEO David M&A team responsible for numerous Pollack on 1 January 2020. Shnaiberg, acquisitions in both steel and mining. He Spacecom's Deputy CEO since 2008, IN THE NEWS

Enabel partners SES Nokia selected by Orange France to evolve to connect foreign Europe's 5G network aid projects in Africa Building on its existing market network to 5G through the development of new use- via satellite share and long history with s o f t w a r e u p g r a d e s , cases and new services, and Orange, Nokia will provide streamlining the initial will provide an enriched Orange, for a broad part of steps to build 5G. It will also experience for our customers - The Belgian development agency Enabel France, with a range of introduce 5G New Radio both in the consumer and and SES, a leader in global content products and services from its (5G NR)-based AirScale business segments. Through connectivity solutions, will deliver satellite- end-to-end 5G portfolio, hardware, and software for this agreement, Orange based communications for the development including Single Radio the new 5G frequency reaffirms its ambition to being and foreign aid projects spearheaded by the Access Network (RAN) bands. network leader.” Belgian and other European governments. t e c h n o l o g y, a d v a n c e d Nokia served as my “Nokia is thrilled to bring 5G to Under the multi-year framework contract automation tools, a state-of- ambassador to the wireless France with Orange, a key awarded following a public tender, SES will the-art network management world, letting millions European operator,” said bring managed end-to-end connectivity solution and associated experience for the first time TommiUitto, President of infrastructure and services to over 130 sites professional services. what it truly meant to be Mobile Networks at Nokia. to support Enabel and development projects unfettered from landlines “Nokia has exactly the right in 20 countries across Africa. The infrastructure investment and payphones. Nokia's technology for this project, The end-to-end connectivity solution will allow Orange France to headquarters in Espoo, given our excellence in SRAN, delivered by SES will be supporting Enabel s i g n i f i c a n t l y i m p r o v e Finland, is known as Nokia 5G and end-to-end network in its goal of providing partners with the right customer experience, boost H o u s e , a n d i s t h e infrastructure leadership. This digital solutions and latest technologies. The network capacity, enable centerpiece of an industrial deal builds on our long- connectivity will power Enabel's projects and further automation and create park on the bay. standing trusted relationship activities, further reinforcing the agency's new innovative services that FabienneDulac, Deputy with Orange and will deliver a commitment to the 'Digital for Development' require ultra-high bandwidth Chief Executive Officer and superior experience for policy (D4D) of the Belgian Development and low latency. CEO of Orange France, businesses and consumers Cooperation and of the European stated: “For Orange, the alike.” Commission, the Principles for Digital The new network will provide d e p l o y m e n t o f 5 G Beyond mobile devices, the Development and the UN Sustainable improved mobile broadband r e p r e s e n t s a h u g e c o m p a n y ' s t e l e c o m Development Goals. services as well as allow challenge and is one of the infrastructure business, SES was founded in Luxembourg in 1985 as Orange to provide ultra-low main priorities of our m a p p i n g s e r v i c e s , a n d Europe's first satellite operator. Today, we latency applications in areas Engage 2025 strategic advanced technology division are one of the leading satellite operators with such as industrial IoT, health, plan. We are delighted to have continue operating under offices in 17 countries and teleports around public safety among others. be pursuing our partnership the Nokia brand. It's the latest the world. Nokia will initially support with Nokia, a key long-term incarnation of a 150-year-old Orange's 5G commercial partner, in order to develop business that can trace its As part of the solution, SES will provide launch by enabling the rollout a powerful and innovative origins back to making rubber antennae, installation, satellite bandwidth of its state-of-the-art SRAN 5G network. 5G will enable galoshes. and end-to-end services to allow Enabel and its partners to upgrade the skills of African professionals, elevate the healthcare system and improve the people's living conditions. Speedcast Government connects UN Agency “At Enabel, we believe that digitalisation and the benefits it brings serve as a catalyst for Speedcast Government is A n d a l t h o u g h g l o b a l minimum capital outlay and development. Access to high-bandwidth supporting a UN Agency and o p p o r t u n i t y a b o u n d s , management. Operators must connectivity is essential for our projects in an independent national developing financially viable also continually remote locations as it allows us to deploy electoral committee in Niger, solutions based on diverse optimize network traffic to critically important tools. We are delighted to Africa in their mission to market requirements and reach ever-higher levels of find in SES a reliable partner who shares ensure that no electoral fraud distinct skillsets presents a efficiency for heavier and these values and has the right expertise,” takes place. In preparation of steep challenge for mobile heavier data payloads. said Jean Van Wetter, Managing Director of the upcoming national operators. Enabel. “SES's ability to quickly deploy a elections, The first challenge is It is critical that the solution be high-performance communications securing the right type of both cost-effective and deliver infrastructure and service, and their track Speedcast Government has satellite capacity at the a high-quality end-user record of working with governments around been asked to provide optimal price, given the experience. The balance is so the world, make them the best fitting partner satellite internet services, diverse choices across critical that even a slight gain to support the nations in achieving e q u i p m e n t , l i f e - c y c l e satellite operators, orbits can be the difference between Sustainable Development Goals.” operation, installation, and bands. Then, mobile a w i d e o p e n m a r k e t maintenance and logistics operators need to review a opportunity and a venture “Many countries in Africa are characterised support for eight regional m y r i a d o f g r o u n d fraught with risk. According to by vast or landlocked territories, making it electoral sites. The project is infrastructure vendors. Plus, the NSR report, mobile difficult to deploy extensive terrestrial divided in two phases and there's the challenge of network operators are no communications infrastructure,” said Nicole expected to be completed financing and installing longer interested in deploying Robinson, Senior Vice President of Global b e f o r e l e g i s l a t i v e a n d infrastructure in remote their own and developing Government at SES Networks, the data- presidential elections take areas and the need to satellite networking skills. centric business unit of SES. “We are place in 2020-2021. configure and manage N S R m a i n t a i n s t h a t a incredibly proud and humbled to provide hybrid networks. managed service model is Enabel with connectivity so that training According to Speedcast, critical for mobile network programmes and various critical satellite connectivity is now Operators must leverage operators to successfully applications can be deployed, and quality of becoming an affordable the right technologies to adopt cellular backhaul life in remote locations can be improved.” option for extending coverage automate network functions solutions and capture market into remote and rural areas. and scale operations with opportunity ANALYSIS

Ethiopia joins Africa’s space race

Ethiopia has joined seven other African countries, including South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria, Morocco, and neighboring Kenya that have built and launched satellites into orbit over the past two decades to address her developmental challenges, according to this report.

Recently, the Ministry of Innovation and communities identify where to go and Addis Ababa. The astronomical observatory Technology of Ethiopia announced that potentially reduce cattle loss and founded in Ethiopia by a private company in Ethiopia's first Remote Sensing Satellite improve food security. The satellite- August of 2015 was the first step toward a "ETRSS-1" launched on 17 December 2019 assisted pastoral resource management space program in East Africa, and other with the help of China. This satellite was program run by Project Concern countries like Nigeria and South Africa have designed, developed and manufactured by provides pastoralists with maps that launched satellites within the last two Ethiopia and China, and is used for mobile show which areas are better than others. decades. phone data related to water, agriculture, Community leaders consult the maps climate change and environmental and then dispatch scouts to the areas for Ethiopia announced plans to launch its first protection. The satellite will be launched from confirmation. It saves time and helps earth observatory satellite in September China, and the control and command station leaders make better decisions. 2019, joining a list of few African countries that will be located in Ethiopia. According to the have put the devices into orbit. “The satellite Ministry of Commerce, Ethiopia 's Minister of Ethiopian capacity to build its own will be launched from China while the control Innovation and Technology, Getahon, the satellites is increasing, thanks in part to and command station will be in Ethiopia,” said Ethiopia's first satellite is a multi-spectral partnerships with foreign governments Dr Solomon Belay Tessema, the director remote sensing satellite ETRSS-1. and companies, said Wondwosen general of the Ethiopian Space Science and Andualem, spokesman for the Ethiopian Technology Institute at the Addis Ababa The African nation's first satellite, designed Ministry of Science and Technology. The University November 3, 2018. He added that and built by Chinese engineers, was Ethiopian government said it plans to “most preliminary and critical design is done launched by a Chinese rocket on 20 build both the satellites and launch by our scientists.” December 2019. The Ethiopian Remote rockets locally with minimum reliance on Sensing Satellite-1, or ETRSS-1, was sent foreign partners. In November 2015, the Already, China has provided training and $6 into space by a Long March 4B carrier rocket Mekele Institute of Technology in million for the project, according to Dr from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Ethiopia launched a rocket called Alpha Solomon. He said the design, development North China's Shanxi province. Meles 30 kilometers into space. The and manufacturing of the satellite, done in rocket cost an estimated U.S.$2.3 collaboration with the Chinese, cost $8 The satellite lifted off from China and million to develop, build, and launch. million. “Our main goals for launching this first monitored and controlled by the Ntoto There have been no reports of satellite are two. The first is to build Observatory on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. subsequent launches. technology application capacity and skills of The satellite will be used to monitor climate our engineers through collaborations with and weather change data and serve Ministry Public Relations Director different countries' space scientists and Ethiopia's agriculture, forestry and Wondwosen Andualem said a prototype institutions,” said Dr Solomon. environmental protection. Earlier in his visit to of the carrier rocket was prepared as a China in April 2019, Prime Minister Ethiopia launch pad for the actual work. Both the “This is a day we became one of the 70 inspected the 70-kilogram satellite at the satellite and its carrier rocket would be countries in the world that operate a satellite China Academy of Space Technology. locally manufactured according to the from space,” said Ahmedin Mohammed, an Director, who indicated its significance official with Ethiopia's Innovation and In addition, Ethiopia also planned a civilian for security, weather forecast and other Technology Ministry. “The next step is to satellite launch into orbit in three to five years services. “Efforts are ongoing to launch launch a communication satellite and also set to better predict weather conditions and for into space a medium sized rocket within up a space materials assembly and remote sensing activities inside the country. the coming three years,” Andualem said. manufacturing facility here in Ethiopia.” The Ethiopian Ministry of Science and Ethiopia's efforts to manufacture the Ethiopian space officials stated both Technology said the country less likely to satellite and its carrier rocket locally will Ethiopian and Chinese engineers took part in launch the satellite from a facility in China. It is allow the country to compete with other the construction of the 72 kilogram (159 not clear how much the project will cost and countries seeking to launch satellites at pound) satellite that took three years. The whether it will have military uses. Ethiopia the equator, Andualem said. total cost of the satellite was $8 million, of aimed to be a space science hub and has a which $6 million was covered by China, said Space Science Council chaired by the prime The government has created the Space Ethiopian officials. Ethiopia hopes to save up minister. Science Council and the Ethiopian to $11 million a year by using their own Space Science and Technology satellite data. The announcement came after a severe Institute, both headed by the Ethiopian drought left more than 10 million people Prime Minister HailemariamDesalegn. hungry and killed several thousands of The Ethiopian Space Science Society, animals in the past two years. In early 2016 a launched in 2004 by three aspiring program was being tested that provided astronomers, has recruited 10,000 satellite maps of land traditionally grazed by members. It opened East Africa's only cattle owned by pastoralist groups. They help space observatory on the 10,500-foot summit of Mount Entoto, overlooking MARKEY ANALYSIS

Nigeria NTA plans infrastructural upgrade

The Nigerian Television Authority is seeking credit facility aimed at establishing NTA’s media and culture industry centre, digitising its stations, and to construct integrated television services for effective signal distribution, according to Lai Mohammed, Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture.

The Nigerian Television Authority, NTA Is in our people in the music, fashion and film calls. With new advancements in the world of the process of implementing one of the industries. convergence of IP and TV in a satellite most advanced network in the world of Modern cameras even capture sounds equipment, mobile unit can also be fully part broadcasting. It plans to deploy multi media and images directly on an onboard hard of the tapeless production environment. exchange network over the entire Africa, disk or memory card. Access to years of Europe Middle East and North America, archives is made instantaneous and is ITS, Nigeria's top signal promising to integrated its platform with a assisted by sophisticated metadata, and combination of broadband IP network and a voice recognition search engines. Archives distributor multi channel television and radio can be access over the internet and As the TV backbone infrastructure, ITS helps exchange network. The resulting exchanged with other broadcasters, and to deliver uninterrupted services, robust and architecture enables IP based as well as content can be contributed and distributed reliable packages in the form of TV services, MPEG based video exchange session via the internet and wireless networks. EPG and in the future, broadband services, either in real time or file transfer mode. The Regional offices are virtually integrated outdoor Digital Billboard advertising etc. its television and radio exchange capabilities into the editing infrastructure of the main role is clearly to multiplex, transfer service, re- are boundless seamlessly with various TV studios. Video sequences can be multiplex and transmitter network service. In archiving, voice over IP (VoIP) internet and edited and previewed simultaneously and signal distribution, the transmission network intranet services. changes and voice over can be added up t o p o l o g y c o n s i s t s o f M u l t i p l e x e r, for the very latest minutes before the final Transmission link and transmission systems. Recently, the Minister of Information and play out. Culture, Lai Mohammed, has pledged to ITS was tasked with rolling out of DTT turn around the Nigerian Television infrastructure network that would allow the Authority (NTA) to enable it compete with “With convergence of country to migrate from analogue to digital the likes of Cable News Network (CNN) if television to meet the requirements of the the $500m loan the ministry requested is IP and TV in a terms of Article 12.6 of the ITU GE06 approved. He stated this when he Agreement. The Company has recently appeared before Senate Committee on satellite equipment, implemented network rollout at some old Local and Foreign Loans to defend the NTA’s mobile unit can analogue transmitter sites, thus bringing the $500m loan the ministry applied for from population and geographic coverage of the President Muhammadu Buhari's $29.96b also be fully part of digital terrestrial network to that parts of the loan for funding critical infrastructure in the country. country. the tapeless ITS is currently operational in 4 states, In today's TV studios and broadcast production namely , Jos, Enugu , Ilorin and Osogbo with centres, what was previously a bulky a coverage level of between 55-65% in each combination of expensive tape deck, environment”.. of these states. With the assistance of its analogue editing desks, large library of partners, the company plans to deploy in 16 video tapes and webs of coax cables, is This technological revolution radically states and the other grey areas of states presently a slick IT environment where all changes the ways reporters are working, where we are operational. Though it currently content is stored as a computer files on the challenges of the TV production have equipment deployed for take-off of DTT compact hard disk servers, exchanged in industry is to extend this greater flexibility in Lagos and Port Harcourt, however, the IP format over standard Ethernet cabling and productivity also to mobile units, such paucity of funds for operational expenses has and edited on regular desk top Pcs. as digital news gathering trucks or fly away remained its utmost challenges. satellite transmission stations. According to the company, ITS currently has The minister explained that if the fund was the capacity to transmit 2 Multiplexes and in approved, the NTA could be upgraded to Presently, most digital satellites future 4 Multiplexes using the standard enable it to send out signals that would be newsgathering (DSNG), uplink were DVBT2 in a 2+1 Transmitter configuration. at par with CNN, “because we have the operated as a real-time TV transmission “In 2014, we made $23m from music alone manpower and the technology.”He often requiring tape recording at the uplink and about $53m in 2019 and we are looking explained that the creative industry was not and or at the down link sites. The editing forward to making $83m in 2025. You can just about Television alone, but film, music, capabilities in the truck were limited, and imagine the kind of growth we will have if only fashion and photography, adding that there the edited content could not be transmitted we digitise all the NTA stations in the country, was no better platform to showcase as a file to the studios. This implies that the says Lai Mohammed” Nigeria's talents than having a digital satellites capacity must always be He said the project for which the ministry system. reserved for at least the duration of the planned to borrow the $500m was about He said the creative industry employs no video sequence, with enough bandwidth to employment and revenue generation, saying fewer than one million young persons sustain the required video quality, the industry contributes 1.492 to the nation's directly and indirectly, noting, “If this project interactivity with the studio was limited and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). is approved, there will be more visibility for often based on extensive wireless roaming IN THE NEWS

Yahsat wins best PanAccess' Nigerian broadcast bouquet company award from now on AMOS-17 Ku-band Spacecom, operator of the market and we will dynamic, growing, satellite Tawteen A M O S s a t e l l i t e f l e e t continue to add more o p e r a t o r - S p a c e c o m announced that it is providing channels for these o p e r a t e s t h e A M O S Al Yah Satellite Communications Company Ku-band capacity from its customers”. communications satellite (Yahsat) has announced that it has won the AMOS-17 communication Spacecom VP Sales, fleet, covering diverse prestigious Emiratisation Award from the UAE satellite to PanAccess, a E y a l A l t s h u l e r t e r r i t o r i e s w i t h a n Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation leading German broadcast commented, "Working in I n t e r n a t i o n a l g l o b a l (Tawteen) in three categories. services company, for tandem with PanAccess, expansion growth strategy. Yahsat was conferred the coveted prize for Best broadcasting to Nigeria we succeeded in bringing Spacecom today is an Company of the Year in the Establishments . their bouquet onto the air established market leader category, while two of its talented employees P a n A c c e s s ' g r o w i n g in less than 48 hours after in Europe, the Middle East collected awards for Best New Emirati Employee b r o a d c a s t b o u q u e t , we began designing their with the 4°W orbital slot 'hot and Best Emirati in a Supervisor Role. originating in Germany, solution. spot', has established a Field Operations Engineer, Abdullah Essa Ahmed consists of dozens of AMOS-17 is an exciting significant footprint in Africa Sharif, won the Best New Emirati Employee channels and is broadcast satellite with its Ku, Ka and North America and is award, which recognizes talented Emiratis who free-to-air from the satellite a n d H T S C - B a n d now expanding to Asia. have taken up employment shortly after located at the 17°E orbital capabilities. The Nigerian graduation. Yahsat's newly appointed Deputy position over Africa m a r k e t i s n o w Spacecom has an excellent Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Adnan Al Muhairi, PanAccess specializes in experiencing services reputation in the market with was selected as the Best Emirati in a Supervisor providing high-end one-way and communications an experienced and stable Role. This award honours brilliant Emirati or two-way CAS and DRM from the most powerful, management and strong managers and section heads who are active in the security solutions around the technically advanced financial backing. Our private sector. All winners received their awards globe. It offers a seamless satellite serving the collective vision is to from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid s e r v i c e p o r t f o l i o f o r r e g i o n . S i n c e t h e position Spacecom as an Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice President and Prime consumers using any device. beginning of commercial international satellite Minister, and the ruler of Dubai. A c c o r d i n g t o R o l a n d operations in late 2019, services provider — one Schlichting, PanAccess the satellite is already t h a t o p e r a t e s a The annual honour is bestowed on exceptional CEO, “We are thrilled with boosting our business constellation of advanced Emiratis and Emirati companies across a number Spacecom's response speed around the continent. satellites at multiple orbital of categories. The Emiratisation Award that enabled us to be on-air locations and maintains its acknowledges the achievements of private sector quickly and efficiently. Spacecom established in personalized attention to its companies that champion Emiratisation in PanAccess views the growth 1994, launched its first customers over a wider support of UAE Vision 2021. The categories of our broadcast base in geostationary satellite – range of territories. include Establishments, Best Emiratisation Nigeria as an important AMOS-1 in 1996. A Supporting Entity, Emiratisation Pioneer, Best New Emirati Employee and Best Emirati in a Supervisor Role. Tunisia launches the Internet Universality Yahsat won the award for the Best Company of the Year that recognizes Emirati companies on Indicators assessment multiple fronts, including their work in innovation and community development, employment and Recently, the Internet development in the country”, a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f t h e talent development, leadership and strategy as Universality Indicators (IUIs) said Ms. Golda El-Khoury, indicators. well as engagement and work environment. assessment was officially Director & Representative – After the presentation, a launched in Tunisia, breaking UNESCO Cluster office for discussion was held during Yahsat's Chief Human Capital Officer, Muna Al ground by making Tunisia the the Maghreb. which board members Muhairi said, “We are honored and humbled by first country in the Arab region UNESCO staff NejibMokni expressed their views on the recognition. I warmly congratulate our winners to initiate this assessment at presented an overview of the topic presented and and the entire Yahsat family that have made these national level. The launch U N E S C O ' s . M s . shared some of their own awards possible through their commitment and was convened on the KarimaMahmoudi, Director reports and statistics. By hard work. We are inspired by our youth, and we occasion of the first meeting at INTT and Ms. Wafa Ben participating in the meeting aim to make Yahsat a place where our children of Tunisian Multi-stakeholder Hassine presented the and helping with the dream of working and a company that our young Advisory Board (MAB), a s s e s s m e n t p r o c e s s process from data collection generations are proud of.” participated by 11 prominent conducted by the National to methodology, members members of the Board. Telecom Regulator of Tunisia have shown interest and The Best New Emirati Employee award winner, (INTT) who is the leading enthusiasm in the process. Abdullah Essa Ahmed Sharif graduated as a “The Tunisian MAB endorsed national organize, the data Mechanical Engineer from the American the use of UNESCO's collection, and methodology The Internet Universality University of Sharjah, with a Minor in Engineering I n t e r n e t U n i v e r s a l i t y in Tunisia. They discussed R O A M - X I n d i c a t o r s Management. In 2018, he obtained an MSc in Indicators and the proposed the methodology suggested framework is a set of 303 Engineering Systems and Management from m e t h o d o l o g y f o r t h e for the assessment of the indicators that aims to Khalifa University, with a specialization in space assessment in Tunisia and IUIs in Tunisia, which was the assess how well national systems and technology. Abdullah was part of the e n c o u r a g e d a l l o t h e r main objective of this first stakeholders including concerned stakeholders, on a team that conceptualized and built the UAE's first meeting. governments, companies voluntary basis, to support and civil society perform in nano satellite with remote sensing capabilities – the national assessment of In their presentation on the adhering to the ROAM MYSAT-1 - at Yahsat Space Lab on Khalifa Internet development in progress of IUIs in Tunisia, standards of Rights, University premises. After the successful closure Tunisia with the Internet they also described the Openness, Accessiblity, of the project, he wanted to have a broader Universality Indicators. Such process, and explored some M u l t i - s t a k e h o l d e r understanding of the space industry, which led engagement is crucial to of the challenges faced participation. Developed him to take up his current role at Yahsat as a Field f o r m u l a t i n g a n d including “some data which over a three-year process of Operations Engineer. With a distinguished record implementing UNESCO availability was still unclear,” g l o b a l a n d i n c l u s i v e in the space industry, Adnan Al Muhairi has recommendations that can and policies in development c o n s u l t a t i o n s w i t h worked at Yahsat for 10 years. h e l p i m p r o v e In te r n e t t h a t m a y a f f e c t t h e stakeholder. Pay TV

MultiChoice in Zambian economy

MultiChoice Pay TV Group's services were first received in Zambia in 1995 as an analogue only service, but transformed into the first digital television service received in the country two years later through its DStv service, significantly expanding the content offering available in the market, according to this report.

In over 20 years of operation in Zambia, over and imported more than 660,000 DTT MultiChoice Pay TV Group's service in set-top boxes into the country. Zambia has transformed from an analogue MultiChoice Pay TV Group has maintained only service into the first digital television a mutually beneficial partnership with service received in the country, now offering ZNBC, the Zambian public broadcaster. It a breadth of packages across its satellite contributes funds, technical facilities and under the DStv brand and Digital Terrestrial skill transfer that help support and expand Television (DTT) services under the GOtv the public broadcasting mandate in the brand and its innovations such as High country, thereby furthering MultiChoice Pay Definition Television (HDTV), Personal Video TV Group's impacts on Zambian Recording (PVR) (the Explora decoder) and broadcasting beyond its direct activities. Pay per View (BoxOffice) offers. MultiChoice Pay TV Group supplies 67 of MultiChoice Pay TV Group has thereby ZNBC's 69 analogue transmitter sites with catered for the diverse needs of Zambian signal by rebroadcasting ZNBC's channels consumers and grown its penetration in the using its own satellite network. The dividend market. MultiChoice Pay TV Group has been payments earned from MultiChoice Zambia a feature of the Zambian broadcasting make up around 20-23% of ZNBC ZNBC for broadcasting to the benefit of the landscape since it set up its operations in the revenues. Similarly, MultiChoice Pay TV wider public. This has resulted in a series of country in 1994, impacting the Zambian Group provides the general public with knock-on effects for the league and clubs economy through its own operations, while content of public interest, such as news, from title sponsorship, ticket sales and stimulating economic activity in a wide range factual programming, lifestyle and culture jersey sponsors. Almost all of the 16 teams in of industries, and through wider spillover and children's programming, equivalent to the league now have jersey sponsors and effects on consumers and others in the over 41 channels. Recognising the regularly attract crowds of up to 30,000 country. educational value of the content provided to spectators per match. subscribers, MultiChoice Zambia has SuperSport has further supported the MultiChoice Zambia Limited was set up as a invested almost $60,000 in education from development of stakeholders in the industry joint venture with Zambian National 2011/12 to 2014/15 through its MultiChoice by setting professional standards for league Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) to import Resource Centre Initiative, providing 327 and club management and standards for and distribute television hardware as well as schools with decoders to record employment contracts, thereby formalizing to provide subscriber management services. programmes for use in class. MultiChoice and promoting employment in the sector. Further, GOtv Zambia Limited (GOtv Pay TV Group is supporting the Zambian Zambia), also a joint venture with ZNBC was government's objective of having more MultiChoice Zambia has developed a wide established to provide DTT service in locally produced TV content shown by distribution network, consisting of over 950 Zambia. Through these entities, MultiChoice broadcasting locally produced shows on its agencies, retailers and direct sales Zambia Group's presence in Zambia has channels. representatives. These agents earn grown over this period. Locally, it now commission payments for the various employs over 190 employees and supports a Promoting Zambian sports services carried out on behalf of MultiChoice large distribution network of over 950 MultiChoice Pay TV Group, through its Pay TV Group, thereby supporting the agencies, sales representatives and retail sports content entity SuperSport, has growth of local businesses in Zambia. outlets. The entities in Zambia have further invested over $5.3m over the last four years interactions with entities outside of Zambia, on licence fee payments and production MultiChoice Pay TV Group is supporting the including MultiChoice Africa, SuperSport and expenses. Further, SuperSport has enabled Zambian government's objective of having M-NET. sports to be visible on television, allowing more locally produced TV content shown by stakeholders to benefit from other forms of licensing and commissioning locally revenue and investment such as produced shows, and broadcasting these on Supporting digitalisation and sponsorship payments, gate collections and its dedicated Zambezi Magic channel and digital switchover government funds in addition to previously its Africa Magic channels across MultiChoice Pay TV Group has contributed to distributions of SuperSport's licence fee Africa. It thereby contributes to the visibility the process of digitalisation through its payments. These funds could be utilised to and recognition of Zambian culture and service innovations and had a fourfold upgrade infrastructure and invest in sports supports the local content production subscriber increase over the period. The talent as well as growing related industry. This is further supported by GOtv service is provided using the DTT professional skills such as club MultiChoice Pay TV Group's investment in network which was rolled out in partnership management. SuperSport has supported cultural initiatives such as the Africa Magic with ZNBC across 10 locations in Zambia this by giving Zambian football significant Viewers' Choice Awards (“AMVCAs”) and with further locations planned for the near visibility on-air. It showed more than 162 the CNN MultiChoice Africa Journalist future. In order to encourage take-up further, hours of football in a total of 48 countries, Awards which recognise talent in the African it has provided subsidies to its customers doubling the number of matches on its content production industry and journalism worth $10.5m over the period of digital switch channels. Some games are also provided to respectively. INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Reviewing US ban of Indian PSLV

US private space companies and industry organizations are opposing Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles being allowed to launch US small satellites which they believe would destroy US small satellite launcher market, as industry players have continued to oppose waivers being given to Indian PSLV, according to this report. Sadeeq Omeiza Over the past five decades, India has respective space agencies: India's which has been hugely important in progressed to create one of the largest Indian Space Research Organisation expanding the use of space assets for national space programs in the world, (ISRO) and the United States' National benefits here on Earth. India has delivering space-based technology to solve Aeronautics and Space Administration developed its own regional satellite the problems of man and society. The Indian (NASA). India's Chandrayaan-1, navigation system which could be used space program has attracted international launched in 2008, carried scientific together with the US' GPS system and attention,as the Polar Satellite Launch instruments built by NASA; this mission other satellite navigation systems, like Vehicles has become the centre of its space helped detect water on the Moon. In Russia's GLONASS, Europe's Galileo, program. One nation that have worked closely September 2014, India and the United and even China's Beidou to expand the with India as the space program progresses in States had spacecraft arrive in Mars satellite navigation network so that the past decades is the United States of orbit within two days of each other, positioning data can become even more America. leading to the creation of the Mars accurate. Working Group. A Memorandum of Understanding was Both India and the United States have over 50 Up till today, work continues on the joint also signed in July 2016 between ISRO years of experience in cooperating on space SAR Mission, a joint effort intended to and the United States Geographical efforts, going as far back as when India build a satellite that will be able to Survey USGS to and formally approved launched a US-built sounding rocket from a observe Earth day and night through by the Indian government; this will allow launch site in southern India in 1963. This cloud cover in order to get a for the exchange of data from the United relationship has been beneficial, both in terms comprehensive mapping picture of land States' LANDSAT-8 satellite and India's of enhancing scientific and technical surface changes, including their causes RESOURCESAT-2 satellite. achievements and also in bolstering the and consequences; it is intended to be relationship between the two democracies. launched by 2021 Another area where the United States is actively looking for international partners is Much of the cooperation between India and One new area for cooperation in space is in sharing weather data. In August 2016, the United States in space has been, satellite navigation. The United States the US Air Force sent its long-term weather reasonably so, via the two countries' has the Global Positioning System GPS, INDUSTRY INSIGHT

satellite data strategy to Congress, where it governing the use of radio spectrum balloons used by professional bodies. The had a strong focus on using international shared with terrestrial broadcasters, while young company is currently developing a partners in order to fill gaps. One such the Federal Aviation Administration small satellite platform with primary focus on partner specifically mentioned was India, authorizes rocket launches. assembly, integration, testing and with the idea that data could be taken from In this case, Swarm, a US company, operation. It signed a collaboration with Indian satellites Insat and Oceansat. sought approval for its satellites to go into B e r l i n S p a c e Te c h n o l o g i e s f o r W i n s t o n B e a u c h a m p , d e p u t y orbit, and the FCC denied it. Not because manufacturing miniaturized satellites in undersecretary of the Air Force for space, of concerns about radio interference; India, and is providing high altitude commented that this would be a good option instead, the FCC was apprehensive that ballooning platform to Indian Institute of for cooperation, as “We have a very robust the unusually small satellites about a Astrophysics for experiments and capability internationally and weather data quarter of the size of the popular 10 cm3 observations. The company has also signed is one of the less sensitive missions when it design used by many small satellites an agreement with AMSAT India – an comes to sharing.” presented a particularly high risk of international Radio Amateur Satellite collision because they could be difficult to Corporation – to build HAMSAT-2, a small Presently, Smallsats are on the rise globally detect with the radar currently used to satellite weighting less than 30 kg and which because of their short time-to-orbit, as track space debris in orbit. Even tiny will act as a valuable communication typical Smallsats project can move from pieces of debris can destroy expensive resource for radio amateur purposes. idea to launch within 18-24 months, with a satellites, or put the lives of astronauts cost of USD 1 million or even lesser. In onboard the International Space Station at With the nascent commercial Smallsat addition, the development and approval risk. Earth Observation market continually processes for a Smallsat are less stringent Despite the FCC denial, Swarm expanding, India's Polar Satellite Launch than the ones required for traditional large contracted with Spaceflight Industries, a Vehicle (PSLV) provide access to a satellites: in the end, reducing dimensions company that brokers ridesharing deals relatively cheap ($33 million/launch) launch makes everything less demanding, as all for smaller satellite operators to launch vehicle that can place smaller satellites at the development process is tailored to a their spacecraft in groups large enough to their selected orbit at will, instead of having small platform. fill an orbital rocket, or for them to find a to wait to be a secondary payload for a .Historically, the vast majority of launch spot on a launch with a single, large larger satellite that may end up having its opportunities for small satellites has been payload. Spaceflight connected Swarm to launch repeatedly delayed. provided by piggybacking as secondary Antrix, the commercial face of India's While the India's Polar Satellite Launch payloads on medium and heavy-lift launch space agency, to purchase space on one Vehicle (PSLV) offers a readily available vehicles. Though, most Smallsats are of its rockets. Established in 1999 and platform for the US smallsats industry, for taking advantage of these opportunities to located in Seattle, Washington, companies working on developing US small get into orbit, recent trends reveals many S p a c e f l i g h t ' s m i s s i o n h o p e t o launch vehicles, the concern is that they will dedicated small-vehicle launchers have revolutionize the business of spaceflight not be able to compete with India's PSLV emerged amongst a number of new players, by delivering a new business model for and thus they will lose out on market shares building a new market in order to meet the access to space. The company has been and even fail to develop as a successful and growing demand of small spacecraft taking advantage of partnerships with autonomous industry themselves. launches. many launch providers worldwide, As the satellite industry grows steeply by the including Indian PLSV and focusing on Despite official US policy preventing US years, there are some geopolitical issues launch capabilities spanning from commercial satellites from being launched becoming increasingly relevant. For CubeSats to 2000 kg microsatellites. via the PSLV, several companies have instance, U.S.-based launch vehicles have gotten waivers in order to do so. In January not been able to address satellites from In June 2016, India's Polar Satellite 2 0 1 6 , t h e U S F e d e r a l Av i a t i o n China and Russian Federation, and with Launch Vehicle, PSLV launched 20 Administration FAA's Commercial Space emerging markets rising and developing satellites at the same time in the same Transportation Advisory Committee their own vehicles, US launchers are facing orbit; from five different countries, 13 of COMSTAC argued that “many dedicated harsh competition for addressing foreign them were of US origin. It was the second small satellite launch vehicles are currently satellites. time the PSLV had launched commercial being developed with private investment. It Lately, Swarm Technologies, a stealthy firm US satellites; the first was in September went on to assert, “India's state-owned and that hopes to provide space-based 2015, when the PSLV launched four controlled launch providers to compete with communications for the “internet of things,” satellites from Spire Global. Again, U.S.- U.S. companies runs counter to many launched four satellites they call based PlanetIQ has also partnered the national policies and undermines the work “SpaceBees” on an Indian rocket last India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle that has been done by government and January. However, Swarm launched their (PSLV) for its smallsat program. PlanetiQ industry to ensure the health of the U.S. experimental satellites after the US satellite was founded in 2012 by Chris McCormick space launch industrial bases.” In a regulator, the Federal Communications to create a commercial constellation of February 2016 decision, the FAA claimed Commission, refused permission for the satellites specifically focused on real-time, that because the Indian government SpaceBees to fly. high-quality weather, climate and space supports its launch industry so closely, The FCC has revoked Swarm's recent weather data. It recently launched a Indian launch services could “distort the application to operate four more satellites as constellation of microsatellites equipped conditions of competition.” it investigates the claims made by the with a GPS radio occultation sensor called At present, it is then increasingly evident company while applying for its original “Pyxis” — a device able to regularly ping that launch market for small satellites license. The scenario reveals how the lowest layers of Earth's atmosphere consists of two main groups of players increasingly capable private companies are where severe weather action takes place. which compete against each other: a group rapidly outgrowing the patchwork of of small vehicle, dedicated launchers and unsophisticated regulations for space Outside of the United States, Dhruva another group of more traditional launchers technology. Space, Indian space firm based smallsat through bigger, heavier vehicles providing Activities in space are broadly regulated company has also been engaged in ridesharing opportunities. There are still no through treaties between national development of small satellite platforms clear winners, but by now it is clear that the governments, who are obliged to ensure with a vision to lead the privatization of Smallsats industry has strongly manifested that spaceflight originating from their satellite industry in India. Dhruva's team a need for small, dedicated launch vehicles: countries follows basic rules of cooperation has been working on student satellite the market is then projected to grow and coordination. In the US, the FCC projects of Indian universities and drones, consistently in the near future. regulates satellite operators, mainly through as well as high-altitude scientific study IN THE NEWS

Viasat visits Nigeria on readiness to EGNOS payload enters service on EUTELSAT deploy broadband 5 West B Eutelsat Communications infrastructure, Eutelsat entry into service of this next satellite services announces that the GEO-3 enables clients across generation technology of payload of the European Video, Data, Government, EGNOS on EUTELSAT 5 For more than 30 years, Viasat has helped Geostationary Navigation F i x e d a n d M o b i l e West B. We are delighted to shape how consumers, businesses, Overlay System, called Broadband markets to host this payload, which will governments and militaries around the EGNOS, a hosted payload communicate effectively to significantly enhance the world communicate. Today, the Company is aboard its EUTELSAT 5 t h e i r c u s t o m e r s , performance of global d e v e l o p i n g t h e u l t i m a t e g l o b a l West B satellite, has irrespective of their location. navigation satellite systems communications network to power high- successfully entered into Over 6,800 television across Europe, notably quality, secure, affordable, fast connections service. channels operated by Galileo, in the coming years.” to impact people's lives anywhere they leading media groups are are—on the ground, in the air or at sea. Last month, Viasat visited the Nigerian EUTELSAT 5 West B is broadcast by Eutelsat to Pascal Claudel, GSA Acting Communications Commission (NCC) to hosting the Eutelsat- o n e b i l l i o n v i e w e r s Executive Director and Chief give an update on its readiness to deploy procured EGNOS payload equipped for DTH reception Operating Officer, declared: satellite broadband services in Nigeria. u n d e r a 1 5 - y e a r or connected to terrestrial “With this new payload in The Viasat team was received by Engr. agreement signed in 2017 networks. Headquartered in service, EGNOS is moving Augustine. Nwalunne, Ph.D.,Director, with the European Global Paris, with offices and towards the transition to its Spectrum Administration at NCC, on behalf N a v i g a t i o n S a t e l l i t e teleports around the globe, new generation. This has of Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Systems Agency (GSA). Eutelsat assembles 1,000 been done thanks to the Chairman of the Commission. According to The contract also includes men and women from 44 constructive collaboration Nwaulune, the meeting with Viasat team technical services and a c o u n t r i e s w h o a r e with Eutelsat. Delivery and was a sequel to an earlier meeting with the E u r o p e a n g r o u n d dedicated to delivering the continuity of satellite services EVC, when Viasat came to discuss its plans infrastructure, including highest quality of service. to get regulatory supports for entry into the are part of our mission as commercial satellite communications two gateways installed at delegated by the European market in Nigeria. Eutelsat's Rambouillet and Yohann Leroy, Eutelsat's Commission. It is essential Viasat's offers high-speed Ka-band for in- Cagliari teleports.e Deputy CEO and Chief that we, at the GSA, ensure flight internet service to large and mid-cabin Technical Officer, said: these services to support business jet customers. Viasat's Ka-band Founded in 1977, Eutelsat "Eutelsat is proud of the economic growth and that the service is proven to support more Communications is one of collaboration with its European Union's citizens p a s s e n g e r s a n d m o r e d e v i c e s the world's leading satellite customer GSA, its partners and companies can benefit simultaneously through all phases of flight, operators. With a global including the European from the latest GNSS when performing bandwidth-intensive fleet of satellites and Space Agency, and its technology.” applications, including accessing virtual a s s o c i a t e d g r o u n d suppliers, culminating in the private networks, or streaming high- definition (HD) video calls, cloud content or live TV entertainment. At the meeting, Viasat sought the Vodacom plans South Africa 5G launch in 2020 Commission's encouragement and approval to reserve and use the 28 GHz KA frequency band in the country to provide Last December, Vodacom, to launch 5G services in South programme so far. cost-effective Internet connectivity and high South Africa's largest operator, A f r i c a t h i s y e a r, ” s a i d Earlier this month, Liquid throughput satellite connectivity through its signed a roaming agreement ShameelJoosub, Vodacom Telecom announced its own 5G incorporated Nigerian subsidiary, Viasat with Liquid Telecom, gaining Group CEO. “This is possible plans for later in the year, but it Nigeria. them access to Liquid's 3.5 thanks to a recent roaming seems that Vodacom may now The company also informed the GHz spectrum. With this highly a g r e e m e n t w i t h L i q u i d pip them to the post for the first Commission of its plan to conduct a Proof of sought-after spectrum band Telecom, as 5G spectrum is national commercially available Concept (PoC) test in Abuja in 2020. now available to them, largely unassigned in South 5G network. Thereafter, Viasat plans to roll out in a Vodacom has announced its Africa.” Vodacom provides satellite and community, and subsequently extend the intentions to launch 5G later Until now, both Vodacom and t e r r e s t r i a l n e t w o r k services across a state and then proceed to this year. MTN have been running 5G i n f r a s t r u c t u r e a n d extend its broadband satellite services Vodacom Group Limited pilots using spectrum which interconnection services for nationwide by 2022. (Vodacom) is an African they are restricted from African and international The Viasat's GTH satellite services is mobile communications commercialising by the t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s targeting homes, governments, schools as company providing voice, regulator. With the finalisation companies. Vodacom also well as micro, small and medium m e s s a g i n g , d a t a a n d of this roaming agreement, provides a range of connectivity enterprises (MSMEs), among others. The converged services to over Vodacom has seized the upper solutions to multinational company expressed confidence that its 57.5 million customers. From hand for now. corporations operating across services will be really beneficial to unserved its roots in South Africa, Vodacom has also announced Africa. For carrier voice and underserved areas of Nigeria. Vodacom has grown its it had revised its roaming services, Vodacom offers operations to include networks agreement with domestic 4G African interconnection to Viasat said it has, over the years, invested in Tanzania, the Democratic provider Rain, which it hopes to international operators for the over $2.2 billion globally on geostationary R e p u b l i c o f C o n g o , use to expand its 4G capacity completion of calls originated satellite services, with footprint in the Mozambique, and Lesotho while they wait for the ongoing internationally, as well as Nigerian space towards bridging extant and provides carrier and spectrum allocation delays to i n t e r n a t i o n a l n e t w o r k digital divide in the country. Originally a b u s i n e s s s e r v i c e s t o resolve. connection for African operators satellite operator but now a satellite customers in over 40 African Rain launched the first f o r t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f operator and satellite services provider, countries commercial fixed-wireless 5G international calls. Carrier voice Viasat declared readiness to effectively “Having been the first network n e t w o r k i n p a r t s o f services include intra-Africa provide cost effective Internet connectivity to commercially launch 5G in Johannesburg and Tshwane in network connectivity for the via satellite and to provide high throughput Africa through Vodacom 2019, but no company has completion of calls between satellite connectivity services in Nigeria. Lesotho, we expect to be able l a u n c h e d a n a t i o n w i d e African operators. INDUSTRY REPORT

Globalstar announces 2019 fourth quarter annual results

Globalstar, Inc. announced financial and the asset, adding to our roster of potential "The Company also continues to expand its operating results for the fourth quarter and ecosystem partners and advancing our consumer efforts and expects to soon begin year ended December 31, 2019. Dave international regulatory efforts. After the initial cross selling products in the auto market, an Kagan, Chief Executive Officer of Globalstar, 3GPP approval in late 2018, Jarvinian opportunity which started as an IoT said: In November, we successfully Advisors and the spectrum team have application but is now expanding to utilize refinanced our capital structure when we continued to make additional progress at other Globalstar services. Globalstar's executed an amendment of our existing 3GPP with respect to 5G and carrier satellite network represents a large in- senior secured credit facility and raised a new aggregation specifications which will further space resource and getting more and more second lien term loan facility led by Thermo align the capabilities of the band with what is IoT services to go over that network will and Echostar. This transaction significantly required from the equipment ecosystem and drive free cash flow. Finally, the Company is improved our balance sheet, provided us with potential partners. We expect both the 5G committed to conveying the most fulsome extended runway and maintained the variant of Band 53 and carrier aggregation to information to our investor base and doing favorable interest rates of our existing credit be completed by the 3rd quarter 2020. It's a so in a cadence that matches fundamental facility. Our capital structure now positions us complicated time in the wireless industry with developments rather than following a strict well to execute our plan for value creation the variables of C-band, CBRS and the quarterly schedule. Going forward we from our spectrum and satellite assets." recently approved T-Mobile and Sprint believe that our investors would be best merger; however, our S-band provides a clear informed of significant business Mr. Kagan continued, "As our 2019 financial and understandable resource in an industry developments through comprehensive performance reflects, we continue to experiencing so much uncertainty. press releases, such as this earnings capitalize on the IoT growth opportunities in release, and periodic business update calls front of us, with a 26% increase in Commercial We are eager to conclude our 3GPP efforts so and investor events when appropriate.” IoT service revenue over 2018 as both that our spectrum can be a part of new subscriber count and average pricing network builds in 5G. While this effort is increased. We have focused our product underway, we are actively working on Revenue profile development efforts around Commercial IoT potential private LTE deployments that can Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2019 devices, particularly modules that can be serve as the proving grounds for our was essentially flat from the fourth quarter integrated into the products of our partners, commercial efforts with the potential to of 2018 due to an increase in subscriber which should broaden our current reach. produce meaningful revenue." We are driving equipment sales offset by a decrease in These modules offer enhanced functionality the ecosystem to have more infrastructure service revenue. in a very small form factor and competitive and industrial devices working on Band 53 Service revenue decreased $0.8 million, or price point, which we think will be attractive to and are actively pursuing a variety of 3%, in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared those needing data reporting capabilities in deployments with partners like Nokia, Airspan to the fourth quarter of 2018. This decrease remote or harsh environments. and Airwavz. We are working through product was primarily driven by fewer Duplex certifications for the first deployments with subscribers as churn was greater than Outside of Commercial IoT, 2019 was a these partners to meet their customer needs gross additions during the last twelve transitional year in many respects. We believe across industries including utilities, months. Although churn was generally we are back on the right track with the updates transportation systems, ports, in-building consistent with average historical levels, that we made to our consumer products wholesale networks, in-building and on- gross additions were lower than the based on the positive trajectory of SPOT campus private LTE networks and fixed and previous twelve-month period due to fewer subscriber additions following the release of mobile wireless services, among others. equipment sales. SPOT X ® with Bluetooth® technology late in While I am eager to see that first dollar come in the third quarter. We also have received from use of our spectrum, I am encouraged by We have various initiatives underway to positive customer responses to our most the progress we have made and confident in drive higher Duplex activations. We recently launched Duplex product, Sat-Fi2® our strategy. released an improved Sat-Fi2® device RAS. In the last 12 months, we have made during September 2019 and a derivative many critical decisions, from how best to We are closer than ever to realizing our long- product, the Sat-Fi2® Remote Antenna improve our capital structure to determining held belief that 5G networks will require Station, during October 2019 in response to appropriate consumer service pricing. All of greater density thus leading to increased customer demand and to expand the use these decisions are founded on positioning small cell deployments where our spectrum is cases for the Sat-Fi2® device. Further Globalstar for growth, and we have the team, well-suited. We are also closer than ever to development efforts are underway to products and network advantages to be realizing the potential for a single company to launch additional derivatives of this device. successful.” Jay Monroe, Executive have an internationally harmonized spectrum SPOT service revenue was down slightly Chairman of Globalstar, added, "Since our band. Our regulatory efforts in major countries from the fourth quarter of 2018. last business update call, we have made continue to ramp up.Mr. Monroe continued, progress on terrestrial spectrum by cultivating This decrease was due particularly to a 5% INDUSTRY REPORT

decline in average subscribers, even quarter of 2019. This decrease was due expenses, offset partially by a $1.6 million though the majority of the churn was primarily to a decrease in operating increase in total revenue. The increase in involuntary as we deactivated nearly 10,000 expenses resulting from lower MG&A operating expenses was due primarily to the non-revenue-generating subscribers in expenses and cost of services, offset $20.5 million reversal of a contract Latin America. Excluding this involuntary partially by higher cost of subscriber termination charge during 2018. An increase churn, SPOT subscribers at the end of 2019 equipment sales and asset impairment in depreciation as well as asset impairment would have been in line with the end of charges of $1.5 million recorded during charges recorded during 2019 also 2018. Offsetting the decline in Duplex 2019. The $3.5 million decrease in MG&A increased operating expenses. The increase service revenue was a 22% increase in expenses was due primarily to the timing in depreciation expense was due to a full Commercial IoT service revenue. This of costs incurred (and the recovery of year of depreciation of the second- increase was driven by growth in our those costs) to defend the securities generation ground infrastructure assets average Commercial IoT subscriber base of claim that was settled during the fourth placed into service during mid-2018. 12% and higher ARPU of 9%. The higher quarter of 2018. These costs did not recur Offsetting these increases was a decrease in subscriber count resulted from Commercial in the fourth quarter of 2019; additionally, MG&A driven primarily by the costs incurred IoT equipment sales during the last twelve we received an insurance recovery to support our efforts associated with the months, primarily of our SmartOne family of during the fourth quarter of 2019 of $1.7 proposed merger and associated litigation products led by our SmartOneSolarTM million, which further reduced expenses. during 2018, which did not recur at the same w h i c h l a u n c h e d i n 2 0 1 8 . T h e The asset impairment charges were due level in 2019. SmartOneSolarTM is a solar-powered IoT primarily to a $1.1 million write-down in asset tracking device (with ATEX and the carrying value of our former gateway Net Income intrinsically safe certifications), proving to site in Nicaragua, which was classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2019. be a cost-effective, low power and secure Net income was $15.3 million for 2019 monitoring solution for a variety of security compared to net loss of $6.5 million for 2018. applications. Net Loss This fluctuation is due primarily to non-cash items, including a $64.0 million increase in Subscriber equipment sales revenue Net loss was $37.7 million for the fourth derivative gains, offset partially by an $18.9 increased $0.7 million, or 14%, in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $96.5 million increase in net interest expense and quarter of 2019 compared to the fourth million for the fourth quarter of 2018. This an $18.2 million increase in operating quarter of 2018. As previously mentioned, decrease resulted primarily from the expenses (as previously discussed). The this growth was due almost entirely to sales change in non-cash derivative valuation anticipated conversion of the Thermo loan of Commercial IoT devices, including adjustments during the respective agreement during the first quarter of 2020 particularly our SmartOneSolarTM device, quarters, which contributed $67.6 million was the primary driver of the higher which contributed $1.0 million to the to the decrease in net loss. This derivative gain during 2019 as the value to increase. Revenue generated from Duplex fluctuation resulted primarily from the holder of the conversion feature within and SPOT equipment sales were flat changes in certain valuation inputs, the loan agreement is lower. quarter over quarter. During the twelve including stock price, stock price volatility months ended December 31, 2019, total and the remaining estimated term of the The increase in interest expense was driven revenue increased $1.6 million to $131.7 instruments. Partially offsetting this primarily by lower capitalized interest of $6.6 million from $130.1 million in 2018. This decrease was higher interest expense million (which increases interest expense) increase was impacted by an out-of-period due primarily to lower capitalized interest, and an increase in interest costs of $12.5 adjustment of $3.9 million during the third higher average interest rates in place million due to a higher average cost of debt quarter of 2019 related to a change in the during 2019 and higher amortization of during 2019 compared to the prior year as calculation of the estimated impact from the deferred financing costs. In connection well as the write-off of a portion of the initial adoption of ASC 606. Excluding this with the refinancing in November 2019, deferred financing costs related to our senior adjustment, total revenue decreased $2.3 which included a partial paydown of our credit facility following the partial paydown of million from 2018. This decrease was due senior credit facility, we wrote off a that debt in November 2019. primarily to a $1.6 million decrease in proportional amount of the remaining service revenue, driven by fewer Duplex deferred financing costs associated with However, adjusted EBITDA decreased by subscribers and lower revenue recognized that debt. 7% to $37.8 million in 2019 due primarily to a from government contracts. Also $1.9 million decrease in total revenue (for contributing to the decrease in service Adjusted EBITDA reasons previously discussed) and a $0.9 revenue was a 3% decline in average SPOT million increase in operating expenses (both Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended subscribers; approximately 10,000 excluding EBITDA adjustments for non-cash December 31, 2019 increased slightly to subscribers were involuntarily deactivated or non-recurring items). The increase in $9.8 million as compared to the prior during 2019 as they were non-revenue- operating expenses during 2019 resulted year's fourth quarter. This increase was generating. primarily from $1.2 million in costs related to due to higher revenue of $0.2 million Excluding this involuntary churn, SPOT tariffs on nearly all of our Chinese- offset partially by a $0.1 million increase subscribers at the end of 2019 would have manufactured products sold since July 2018. in operating expenses (both excluding been higher than at the end of 2018. These The recognition of these costs followed an EBITDA adjustments for non-cash or items were offset by an increase in Duplex unfavorable ruling received from U.S. non-recurring items). ARPU as well as significant growth in our Customs in October 2019. We are pursuing Commercial IoT business, including options to mitigate the impact of these tariffs, The increase in operating expenses subscribers, ARPU and hardware sales. including negotiating lower costs from our during the fourth quarter of 2019 resulted Total revenue generated from subscriber primary manufacturer and suppliers. equipment sales decreased $0.7 million, primarily from higher cost of subscriber which resulted primarily from lower volume equipment sales in line with the higher and pricing of Duplex and SPOT units sold. volume of hardware sales, offset partially by a decrease in cost of services due in Loss from Operations part to lower ground network support costs. Loss from operations increased Loss from operations decreased $1.4 $16.7 million, or 35%, during 2019 due to million, or 7%, to $17.1 million in the fourth an $18.3 million increase in operating REPORT

Nancy Matimu appointed new Multichoice Kenya CEO

MultiChoice Africa appoints Nancy Matimu new Managing Director to play major role in delivering customer experience and new offerings

Brigadier Michael Ogbonna Agu, rtd

MultiChoice Africa has appointed Nancy business and Nancy brings a wealth of Matimu as the MultiChoice Kenya experience to the role”. Managing Director, effective December 2019. The appointment of Nancy to take up The report said,” MultiChoice spent an the company's senior-most leadership role aggregate of $66 million with a variety of in the country is expected to further local content, technology and strengthen the business to provide the best distribution, marketing, buildings and content on DStv and GOtv and to ensure a office and administration suppliers in great customer experience. According to Kenya. Its expenditure with Kenyan MultiChoice Africa Northern Region suppliers has increased almost Director, MaharageChande, this sevenfold from 2011 to 2014”. Spending appointment comes at a critical time for the on technology and distribution in Kenya video entertainment business and has grown most due to spending on the cements MultiChoice's market leadership digital switchover, representing 37% of position as Kenya's most loved storyteller, total expenditure in 2014. c o m m i t t e d t o p r o v i d i n g g r e a t entertainment and investing in the future of Nancy has had an illustrious 15-year o u r p e o p l e b y h a r n e s s i n g t h e career having led and driven growth transformative power of media on society. through transformation of businesses, capacity building in brand, products and (CIM) in Marketing. She is also a graduate “Our strategy is to continuously provide innovation as well as sales & operational of the Advanced Management Program customers with more of their favorite excellence. She has inspired high- (AMP) & Chief Executive Program (CEP) content and thus providing unmatched performance teams to deliver extra- from Strathmore, IESE and Lagos value. This new appointment will play a ordinary results in leading organisations Business Schools. major role in delivering the experience our in financial services and ICT. customers deserve – and we are “I am delighted to join Kenya's leading “I am excited to welcome Nancy on board. determined to put this at the center of our video entertainment company and to be It is our hope that her wealth of experience corporate culture and values,” said the first female managing director of the will complement MultiChoice Kenya's Maharage. business. I'm looking forward to leading current focus on customer satisfaction and this business at what is an exciting time market growth,” said Maharage. According to a recent report, MultiChoice is for the industry and the Multichoice MultiChoice Kenya immediate former estimated to have contributed $151 million Group,” said Nancy. Prior to joining managing director, Eric Odipo left the to Kenyan GDP in 2014. This estimate MultiChoice Kenya, Nancy was the business to pursue other interests, includes the impact of MultiChoice's own Vi c e - P r e s i d e n t , H e a d M a r k e t effective December 2019 activities in Kenya, the impacts from the Development Sub Saharan Africa at procurement of goods and services in its MasterCard. MultiChoice is facilitating and encouraging supply chain, and associated ripple effects the digital migration process in a variety of through the economy: In 2014, MultiChoice She previously served in HFC Bank as ways. It supports Digital Terrestrial made a direct contribution of $30 million to the Chief Digital & Marketing Officer and Television (DTT) rollout through its GDP, measured by the sum of its profits, Safaricom where she held various roles dividend payments to KBC and by wages and taxes paid in Kenya. This direct including Head of Safaricom Home & providing training to KBC engineers. It has impact is largely due to the tax revenue that Content (Emerging Business – Home imported around 1.5 million set top boxes MultiChoice's activities generate for the Fixed Broadband and Content Business to support digital switchover and spent Kenyan government. In 2013/14, Development), Head of Department almost $500,000 on generating public MultiChoice contributed a total of $21.5 Consumer Products & Services, Head of awareness about digital migration. million in taxes - a contribution which has Department Internet & Content, Head of Through these contributions, MultiChoice almost doubled since 2011. MultiChoice Department Enterprise Products & is also facilitating the release of spectrum paid wages to Kenyan employees Innovation. She also worked in Airtel for new uses which contributes to amounting to $7.1 million in 2014, more Africa as the General Manager economic and social development in than three times the amount in 2011. In Marketing & Head of Products & Kenya. MultiChoice has invested in addition to the nearly 630 full time Innovation Revenue Management. producing local content in the form of both employees and contractors it employed at programmes and channels such as the the end of financial year 2013 in Kenya, She holds an MBA in Strategic Kenyan show Comedy Club, and M-Net's MultiChoice indirectly supports the jobs of Management from Strathmore Maisha Magic channel, and broadcast around another 1,000 people. University, a Bachelor's degree in around 9,300 hours of news and Environmental Studies from Kenyatta educational content in 2014. “We are also excited to welcome our first University and a Post Graduate Diploma female managing director to head up our IN THE NEWS

Eutelsat selected by AfricaXP for DTH EUTELSAT delivers industry-leading profitability satellite services across Sub-Saharan The Board of Directors of Eutelsat Communications, Africa chaired by Dominique D'Hinnin, reviewed the Channel network and content distributor financial results for the half- AfricaXP has signed multi-year agreements year ended 31 December with Eutelsat Communications for Ku-band 2019. capacity on two Eutelsat satellites, positioned at 16° East and 7° East. Commenting on the First Half, This capacity will enable AfricaXP to extend the R o d o l p h e B e l m e r C h i e f reach of its DTH free-to-air TV platform, Executive Officer of Eutelsat Premium.Free. Currently broadcast in West Communications, said: “First Africa, the platform will leverage the Half revenues were in line unparalleled coverage of Eutelsat's 7° East with our expectations with an hotspot to roll out a regionally customized offer improvement in trend in the Africa and Europe and leading us to reaffirm our of 23 channels across Eastern and Southern Second Quarter versus the marking a milestone in our revenue target for FY 2019- Africa from mid-February. In addition, AfricaXP First and a stabilization in Connectivity strategy, as well 20 as a whole. All other will launch an inaugural, 10 channel French revenues quarter-on-quarter. as the procurement of elements of the financial language bouquet from Eutelsat's 16° East EUTELSAT 10B with firm outlook are also confirmed, position with its powerful footprint over French- Despite the revenue decline commitments on a third of the notably our FY 2021-22 cash- speaking African countries. we delivered an industry- HTS capacity, highlighting flow target providing ample In advance of the terrestrial offer, satellites led leading level of profitability, robust demand in the mobility dividend cover. Moreover, by the shift to digital transmission and HD content, with an EBITDA margin of market.Looking ahead, the FY 2022-23, the bulk of our permanently evolving in terms of number of TV 78%. In recent months we remainder of the year will capacity renewal cycle will be channels transmitted, quality of images and have made strong progress benefit from several revenue complete, giving us increased audio content, and the user's need to move on the development of our tailwinds, notably the flexibility to support cash towards new and innovative broadcasting future growth levers with the E G N O S p a y l o a d o n generation and attendant applications such as 3DTV broadcast, s u c c e s s f u l l a u n c h o f EUTELSAT 5 West B and the shareholder remuneration interactive TV, Information On Demand: BSS E U T E L S AT K O N N E C T, availability of incremental over the long term. offers real-time access to all types of informa- bringing new resources over capacity on EUTELSAT 7C, tion. These developments in broadcasting services have been possible due to the great improvements in satellite manufacturing, Google announces US$1 million African allowing the production of bigger and more powerful satellites, with higher capacity and internet safety fund performance. In recognition of Safer administered by a third-party cyberbullying, as well as what Craig Kelly, AfricaXP's CEO, said: Internet Day, Google has p a r t n e r o n b e h a l f o f to do when coming across “Premium.Free has been entertaining viewers announced a $1 million Google.org, and we will be questionable content on the in Anglophone West Africa for the past year by (R14.8 million) pan-African s h a r i n g d e t a i l s o n internet. providing a pay-TV quality experience to the Google.org fund to support application criteria and “Children are being exposed to public free-of-charge as an unencrypted innovative ideas around deadlines soon,” says the internet at their most satellite service. Eutelsat's 7º East and 16° privacy, trust and safety for Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, vulnerable age so it's important East positions offer us comprehensive families online across sub- head of public policy and for us, at Google, to ensure that geographic reach in Africa's key Western, Saharan Africa. government relations at they do so as safely as Eastern and Southern markets where they Google Africa. possible. At the same time, serve large audiences. This has ignited a It also launched its landmark teachers and parents can use strong interest from our advertising partners.” c h i l d o n l i n e s a f e t y “ W e a r e e x c i t e d t o these resources in order to programme, Be Internet strengthen the work we have support and guide children as Nicolas Baravalle, Director of the Sub-Saharan Awesome, in South Africa, the been doing with parents and they navigate the Web,” said Africa region at Eutelsat, added: “Eutelsat is Netherlands and Nigeria. Be children in the field of online Mgwili-Sibanda. delighted to be supporting AfricaXP in rolling Internet Awesome seeks to safety, particularly in South out this multichannel Free-to-Air model across help minors explore the Africa. In addition to Family Google has worked hand-in- Sub-Saharan Africa.Moreover, this partnership i n t e r n e t s a f e l y a n d Link, which allows parents to hand with the South African reinforces the strength and desirability of these c o n f i d e n t l y, w h i l e t h e help their families develop Film and Publications Board two orbital hotspots for the Sub-Saharan Google.org grant will provide healthy digital habits, we (FPB) as a key policy partner in region, which are becoming increasingly funding to help develop also launched Password implementing the programme sought after by broadcasters.” further programmes that aim Checkup, exactly one year locally. to do this – for children and ago, to empower users to Eutelsat's satellites provide ubiquitous their families. Funding check and strengthen online “The FPB has a responsibility coverage of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, applications will be requested security settings for their to protect children from Asia-Pacific and the Americas, enabling video, through an open call and the Google Accounts,” he said. exposure to harmful content, d a t a , b r o a d b a n d a n d g o v e r n m e n t fund will be administered by a Be Internet Awesome thus the organisation needs to communications to be established irrespective partner in South Africa. teaches kids important skills play a leading role in creating of a user's location. Headquartered in Paris, for surfing the internet, like awareness around the dangers with offices and teleports around the globe, “Google is committed to a how to recognise potential of the internet, as much as it is Eutelsat represents a workforce of 1,000 men safe internet for children. We online scams, using the incumbent on us to also and women from 37 countries who are experts are also passionate about the internet securely and encourage the use of the digital in their fields and work with clients to deliver the e m p o w e r m e n t o f safeguarding valuable space as an empowering tool,” highest quality of service. organisations who share this information, how to identify said Abongile Mashele, acting commitment. The fund will be a n d r e f r a i n f r o m chief executive of FPB...

7 IN THE NEWS

Meteorologists to Shetland Space Centre receives £2 m learn satellite boost to initiate satellite launch program monitoring skills Meteorologists from across the Middle East have Shetland Space Centre's plan the local authority, Shetland the Cornwall Space Centre, come to Oman to learn to spot weather patterns to build and operate the UK's Islands Council. Critically, ensuring the UK makes the from satellites by learning about techniques such only satellite launch site has the landowner and crofting most of its geography by as remote sensing, tracking weather conditions been given a major boost by a community have recognised having a space footprint at and analysing satellite images £2,050,000 investment from the benefits both locally and both its northern and southern The weather observers are being trained at the Leonne International, the to Scotland and the UK and tips. SSC is also working very Public Authority for Civil Aviation in Muscat as international private equity have agreed to lease the closely with Faroese Telecom part of the 15th Workshop on Satellite firm. The cash injection, which required land to the project a s i t s e e k s t o b u i l d Applications, where they will learn to monitor gives Leonne a 20 per cent and SSC does not anticipate relationships around the Arctic satellites that provide data every five minutes, stake in the business, will be any major environmental economy. leading to faster updates and better used for future growth of the issues. SSC intends to preparedness against adverse weather company, such as the create an international Frank Strang MBE, CEO of conditions development of the launch exemplar by developing a Shetland Space Centre, The event is being carried out by the Directorate site and ground station at the green space centre and comments: “We are delighted General of Meteorology (DGMET) in most northerly tip of Britain – showcasing that space and to have Leonne International collaboration with the European Organisation for the island of Unst in Shetland. its numerous applications as a partner in realising the the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites This was identified in the are a “force for good” as well benefits of space exploration (EUMETSAT) S c e p t r e R e p o r t , a n as creating employment and for the UK, and for Shetland's Practical exercises as part of this training i n d e p e n d e n t r e p o r t attracting new business economy: bringing jobs, programme will include “realistic examples from commissioned for the UK opportunities to Shetland in revitalising the economy, working environments and vivid examples of the Space Agency, as the optimal particular. a t t r a c t i n g v i s i t o r s a n d Indian Ocean region,” said PACA in a statement. location in the UK for For the last two-and-a-half establishing Shetland as a “The World Meteorological Organisation, based launching small satellites into years SSC has been northern hub supporting in Geneva, Switzerland, chose DGMET to host space, a rapidly growing developing its plans and vertical launch and ground the Seventh Centre of Excellence for Satellites sector of the international collaborating with space station activity. Mike Haston Applications in the Sultanate, as it was chosen to economy. industry giants such as and his team at Leonne establish and develop a training centre on the SSC's integrated business Lockheed Martin, Aecom International bring tremendous behaviour of air patterns and environmental model creates revenues from and ArianeGroup and also enthusiasm, drive and belief to satellites to meet the needs of the region and to launch, ground and tourism. w o r k i n g c l o s e l y w i t h the business which will turbo sponsor research in meteorology. DGMET hosts Shetland's space economy l e g i t i m a t e i n d u s t r y charge an already dynamic qualified Omani cadres to deal with satellite should be seen as a unique newcomers such as Rocket and fast moving project. Just information and develop its different applications, and very valuable asset to the Factory Augsburg and as his grandfather Dougal, a besides the distinct role it plays, and its useful UK where it can support the Skyrora, the Edinburgh- thoughtful visionary and one of c o n t r i b u t i o n s , ” a d d e d P A C A work done by the other sector domiciled Scottish Launch Scotland's legendary rock The centre of excellence in Oman was initiatives and clusters in the Provider, Raptor Aerospace, climbers, pioneered Scottish established in February 2006, as a joint project rapidly growing ”New Space“ B2Space and C6 as well as winter climbing and conquered between DGMET and WMO. By the end of the economy. S c o t t i s h E n t e r p r i s e , the world's biggest and most workshop, the number of people trained since the SSC also has support from Strathclyde and Edinburgh dangerous mountains, I have centre was opened will reach 325 from within the Unst and broader u n i v e r s i t i e s a n d t h e no doubt that Mike will lead the meteorological centres, water and agricultural Shetland communities, as Technical University of way into this next frontier and research bodies, universities, and organisations well as a proactive and Munich. SSC has also help us conquer the new space concerned with marine sciences. in the Middle supportive relationship with partnered with Goonhilly and economy for Britain. East. Among the most important missions of EUMETSAT is to invest these satellites in the collection of pictures and new data on weather Cinegy opens Istanbul office and other elements of the environment around the clock and throughout the year, to twenty countries which are members, and ten additional Cinegy GmbH, the premier t e a m o f e x p e r i e n c e d satellite and cable TV countries from Europe, to benefit from air and p r o v i d e r o f m e d i a t e c h n i c a l a n d s a l e s operator in Turkey, was maritime forecasts. technology and production personnel established as a publicly Satellite applications are a relatively modern solutions, has announced . o w n e d a n d p r i v a t e l y science, while remote sensing has been defined the opening of a new office Cinegy GmbH Manager managed company with a as the measurement or collection of data on in Istanbul - CinegyMedya Director Daniella Weigner mission to be the leading objects or phenomena of interest to a device not Aª - in order to provide says: "We decided to open a innovator of satellite based directly related to the phenomenon or object faster and higher quality local office in Turkey as it's services complementing its being studied. The naturally and artificially customer services to its always been at the forefront strong foothold in the public emitted electromagnetic, acoustic or seismic business partners, system of new technologies, IT sector. waves from the objects or those that are reflected integrators and customers in research and practice for us in them are used the local region. and we've helped carry out a Turksat's expertise spans “EUMETSAT satellites are good at covering the number of comprehensive three main business sectors Arabian Peninsula and the Indian Ocean and this C i n e g y ' s e x t e n s i v e and important projects that include: satellite/space data is updated every 15 minutes, while in some customer base in Turkey there. We're proud to have technologies, cable TV and cases, it is updated every five minutes,” includes the area's largest Murat Küçüksaraç heading information technology/e- explained PACA. “The second generation of the media groups, training up CinegyMedya Aª as government services and satellites are known for their ability to show many institutions and corporate Chief Operating Officer who o p e r a t i o n s . T u r k s a t properties of clouds and to provide more customers. In order to is building an innovative and manages and operates four co mp re h e n si ve d e te cti o n o f n a tu ra l respond to the ever- experienced team. We are fully owned satellites and phenomenon such as tropical cyclones, winter changing and developing excited about this new provides all kinds of satellite depressions, fog, and dust. Satellite data has a w o r k f l o w a n d s t r u c t u r i n g a n d t h e communication services secondary role in weather forecasting, as 70 per transformational needs of opportunities it will bring.” through Turksat 2A, 3A, 4A cent of numerical weather predictions are based these customers, Cinegy and 4B. on satellites data.” has put together a local In Turkey, Turksat, the only 8 IN THE NEWS

Intelsat announces Liquid Telecom and Internet Solutions fourth quarter and partner on 5G

full-year 2019 Liquid Telecom partners targeted at delivering that this offers for different Internet Solutions to develop enterprise services to their i n d u s t r i e s s u c h a s results high-speed connectivity for existing and new customer a g r i c u l t u r e , r e t a i l , businesses in order to fuel base. According to the two, manufacturing, logistics, Intelsat S.A. has announced financial results digital transformation. “Local 5G connectivity provides etc. is boundless.” for the three months and full-year ended businesses are adopting operators and internet The news makes Liquid December 31, 2019. Intelsat reported total technologies like SD-WAN, service providers with Telecom the first to launch revenue of $517.0 million and net loss IoT, and cloud computing, faster speeds, lower 5G wholesale network attributable to Intelsat S.A. of $115.0 million for however, these technologies latency and greater services that it says will the three months ended December 31, 2019. need network connectivity c a p a c i t y, e n a b l i n g “accelerate us building For the year ended December 31, 2019, that provides high quality, businesses to deliver Intelsat reported total revenue of $2,061.5 Africa's digital future and increased capacity, and richer experiences to its the acceleration of the million and net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. greater reliability to ensure customers. of $913.6 million. digital revolution in South optimum performance,” said “Internet Solutions has Measat-3b Africa”. Intelsat reported EBITDA1, or earnings before ReshaadSha (pictured), evolved its networking E a r l i e r , V o d a c o m net interest, gain on early extinguishment of CEO of Liquid Telecom model to provide a high- announced its plans to debt, taxes and depreciation and amortization, South Africa. “Providing p e r f o r m a n c e H y b r i d launch 5G services in its of $356.0 million and Adjusted EBITDA1 of Internet Solutions with 5G Network that aggregates home country later this $371.3 million, or 72 percent of revenue, for the wholesale services as an multiple WAN transport year, according to its CEO three months ended December 31, 2019. Free a l t e r n a t i v e t o f i b r e s e r v i c e s , ” s a i d S h a m e e l J o o s u b . cash flow from operations1 was $70.2 million. connectivity, Liquid Telecom D r S e t u m o M o h a p i , Vodacom, which has For the year ended December 31, 2019, South Africa is highlighting managing executive for already launched Africa's Intelsat reported EBITDA of $1,012.8 million how we are delivering on our Internet Solutions. “This first 5G services in and Adjusted EBITDA of $1,481.5 million, or 72 commitment to the market to enables clients to fully L e s o t h o , w i l l u s e percent of revenue. Free cash flow from continue being the Best u t i l i s e a l l a v a i l a b l e wholesale spectrum from operations was $38.8 million. Intelsat's Chief Business Network in South b a n d w i d t h f o r h i g h Liquid Telecom for its Executive Officer, Stephen Spengler, said, “We Africa.” availability and total South African service, delivered on our 2019 plan, exceeding our Through the collaboration, application performance. Joosub says. guidance for full-year revenue and Adjusted t h e t w o w i l l p r o v i d e The innovation, flexibility EBITDA. Our fourth quarter results reflect the wholesale 5G connectivity and range of 5G use cases u contributions of our new satellites as well as growing revenue streams generated by our Flex managed services, benefitting our network services business. SES responds to Intelsat's ex-parte submission Our media business signed a significant new to the FCC direct-to-home television customer contract in Asia, while the government services business SES S.A. has noted the of this proceeding, in aid of 2014, SES geostationary achieved important renewals that will support comments made by Intelsat in a t r a n s p a r e n t a n d fleet counted 54 satellites. its stability in 2020. Spengler concluded, “The its ex-parte submission to the egregious attempt to Additionally, SES' O3b draft order issued by the Federal U.S. Federal Communication capture a greater share of affiliate had achieved the Communications Commission on February 7, Commission (FCC) dated 19 the proposed accelerated feat of launching eight 2020 was a major event in the C-band February 2020. SES reaffirms relocation payments. satellites between June proceeding. Our near-term focus is on its steadfast support for the H a v i n g w o r k e d and December 2014 to improving the draft order proposed by the FCC, Commission's objectives to collaboratively for a long bring the total fleet to twelve obtaining changes that would allow us to ensure global leadership in period of time on this satellites and efficiently quickly clear spectrum to support 5G 5G, and it stands ready, project, this sudden and enter operation. deployments in the U.S. while protecting the willing, and able to play a recent change in direction video services on which nearly 120 million central role in the expedited b y I n t e l s a t i s b o t h SES vast satellite footprint American homes rely.”On November 18, 2019, clearing of a portion of the C- disappointing and not has enables the operators the FCC announced a decision to pursue a band. SES believes that there legally compliant. SES will to deliver thousands of public auction of the C-band spectrum hours of the latest digital currently licensed to Intelsat and other satellite remains an important role for hold Intelsat responsible television content every operators, a change from the private market the C-Band Alliance (CBA), under its commitments. solution for which Intelsat had been advocating a n d t h a t t h e C B A ' s day and allows companies over the past two years. collaborative clearing plan is SES was founded in to provide broadband the most efficient path to clear Luxembourg in 1985 as n e t w o r k s i n r e m o t e Subsequent to year-end 2019, on February 7, the spectrum. Europe's first satellite locations and governments 2020, the FCC issued its draft order in the C- That said, SES is prepared to operator. Today, we are to connect their sites. SES band proceeding. The draft order sets forth act on its own in the clearing one of the leading satellite is working with African proposed acceleration incentive payments to process if necessary, while operators with offices in 17 b r o a d c a s t e r s a n d certain C-band satellite operators of $9.7 protecting its customers. countries and teleports manufacturers to maximize billion, of which Intelsat would receive $4.85 around the world. We television take-up via billion, payable in two tranches. The draft order SES is disappointed by reach 258 million homes satellite and grow local also outlines a cost reimbursement framework Intelsat's eleventh-hour worldwide and facilitate a u d i e n c e s , w h i c h that would apply to the various stakeholders in attempt to renounce its the broadcasting of 6,200 increases the need for a the proceeding, as well as technical commitments made to other TV and radio channels large network of trained specifications and other elements. CBA members and the including 1,200 in High and accredited installers to Commission over the course Definition. By the end of provide local support.

11 IN THE NEWS

NHK WORLD-JAPAN AMOS-17 partners Get SAT to establish joins Ethiosat TV mobile SatCom ISR Spacecom and Get SAT have a transportable 1.2m. Ka- and government markets, platform revealed that using AMOS- band hub and the powerful while opening new markets.” 17's steerable KA-band HTS capabilities of Spacecom's Get SAT offers highly SES announced that NHK WORLD-JAPAN beams and Get SAT's AMOS-17 digital payload, the versatile, mobile solutions for has launched on the Ethiosat TV platform, miniaturized Micro-SAT team created an ideal applications requiring small bringing the total channel count of the bouquet satcom terminals, they have c o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r terminals. Based on its to 43. NHK WORLD-JAPAN, the international successfully tested and Communications On-The- patented InterFLAT panel broadcast service of Japan's public demonstrated full mobile Move applications in the antenna, a miniaturized broadcaster, NHK, provides the latest news, b r o a d b a n d s a t c o m Middle East, Africa, Europe interlaced antenna combining NHK NEWSLINE along with technology, capabilities for Intelligence, and Asia. both receive and transmit lifestyle and entertainment programs such as S u r v e i l l a n c e a n d According to Eran Shapiro, elements on one panel, and great gear, Dining with the Chef, J-Arena, and R e c o n n a i s s a n c e Director of Business and fast-tracking technologies, its Journeys in Japan. In addition, the channel applications. Enabled by Technology Ventures at micronized terminals establish offers an assortment of documentaries and AMOS-17's powerful KA- Spacecom, “The test's a new generation of standards specials including Asia Insight and NHK band HTS beams and amazing results demonstrate for lightweight, small-sized Documentary. extremely small terminals at how AMOS-17's payload and low power consumption both ends, the team created a performance, advanced communication devices for NHK's digital broadcasts provide attractive small footprint, high capacity flexible digital processor on-the-move applications. services that fully exploit the strengths of true tactical solution for platform and optimal location AMOS-17's digital payload digital technologies, including HDTV, high deployed units. at 17°E add value and open capabilities offer extensive C- Farhad Khan, Chief Commercial Officer, Yahsat quality 5.1ch surround sound system, data Get SAT's micronized efficient new opportunities for mobile Band HTS coverage, regional broadcasting useful information, "One-Seg," M i c r o - S A T t e r m i n a l ISR users. Get SAT's Ku-Band and steerable Ka- which can be viewed outside the home, demonstrated a return micronized terminals are band HTS beams that can be electronic program guide (EPG), multicasting, channel of over 10Mbps, c h a n g i n g t h e m o b i l e combined to maximize and viewer participation. hence offering breakthrough broadband communications throughput and efficiency. It's The free-to-view Ethiosat platform, which Size, Weight and Power, landscape. When coupled unique tri-band digital payload already delivers a wide variety of popular local S W a P f o r b r o a d b a n d with AMOS-17, we bring new offers secure and resilient content, was launched in October 2019. It is communications required by vectors of flexibility and satcom solutions over major Ethiopia's first dedicated TV platform, various ISR sensors. By using possibilities to commercial areas of interest. delivering a high-quality viewing experience for viewers across the country. The introduction of NHK WORLD-JAPAN ensures Egyptian Space Agency plans first satellite viewers will have access to quality international programming as part of their assembly centre Ethiosat experience. Egypt has announced plans to said China provided Egypt eligible potential astronaut to 90 years have passed since the start of launch first satellite assembly $72m grant to launch a board the International broadcasting in Japan. In that time, centre in March 2021, CEO of remote-sensing satellite on 8 Space Station. According to technological advances have nurtured and Egyptian Space Agency September 2019. With regard Al-Qousi, everyone can evolved the field of broadcasting. NHK Mohamed Al-Qousi said, to the latest developments in apply to the competition. broadcasting technology always keeps its noting that the agency is the African satellite dedicated Applicants will go through finger on the pulse of the industry's latest currently in the final stages of t o m e a s u r i n g c l i m a t e physical, medical, and technological developments, takes into adjusting the subsystems of variables, Al-Qousi explained p s y c h o l o g i c a l t e s t s consideration global trends in the media, and Tiba 1 satellite to be ready for that specialists from Ghana, supervised by Egyptian contributes to the progress of the operation. Sudan, Uganda, Nigeria, and Space Agency. broadcasting culture with its eye on the future. The assembly centre will be Kenya will participate in the This growing offering of both local and l o c a t e d i n t h e u n d e r - project. Egypt has decided to join the relevant international content has been made construction space and “We are now working on world's space club, and the possible by agreements between the satellite technology city in the procedures to familiarise decisions to form Egypt's Association of Ethiopian Broadcasters (AEB), Fifth Settlement. The space African specialists with Space Agency and to build the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation city, to be built on an area of Egypt's work conditions as EgyptSat-A are significant (EBC) and SES. 1 2 3 f e d d a n , w i l l a l s o they will work under Egypt's steps to achieve this strategic accommodate the African supervision in the African goal. The EgyptSat-A “International news is an important aspect of a Space Agency's headquarters, satellite project,” he pointed satellite aims to support channel package, and NHK WORLD-JAPAN a research and development out. The planned satellite will Egypt's "presence in space," is supporting the success of Ethiosat by centre, Space Academy, be tasked with measuring the to establish the presence of joining the platform,” said AbdikadirAwabdi, S p a c e M u s e u m , a percentage of carbon dioxide Egyptian scientists and Regional Sales Manager, Eastern Africa, at planetarium, a library, a in the atmosphere, he researchers in outer space SES Video. “SES continues to provide on-the- conference centre, and a hotel explained. Carbon dioxide is a n d t o i n c r e a s e n e w ground services to ensure the ongoing for foreign delegations. the main cause of the investment opportunities and success of Ethiosat for viewer satisfaction. greenhouse effect. Al-Qousi enhance developmental Included in these services is the training of “We have started working on pointed out that a meeting will projects. local installers to correctly repoint household the project three years ago. be held to determine each Egypt currently owns two satellite antennas towards the Ethiosat W e c o m p l e t e d t h e country's contribution from the communication satellites, platform.” construction works and the technical and financing NileSat 1 and NileSat 2. Ethiosat is hosted on SES's NSS-12 satellite equipment installation and respect, as well as the Egypt highlighted the civilian at the orbital location of 57 degrees East. To operation would begin in the project's time plan. aspects of the satellite, but view Ethiosat TV channels, Ethiopian second half of the year,” Al- the EgyptSat-2 satellite was households should contact their local satellite Qousi said. Egypt's planned Moreover, Egypt is currently designed to provide high- antenna installer to re-configure the position of satellite assembly centre will completing an action plan to resolution imagery for the be the first of its kind in the their home's antenna. This will allow them to send an Egyptian astronaut to Egyptian military and other region, he added. receive content from SES's NSS-12 satellite. space, where a competition government agencies in the On a different note, Al-Qousi will be held to choose the country.

12 IN THE NEWS

Liquid Telecom partners Internet Orange, SES team up on O3b mPOWER Solutions on 5G Orange, one of the world's comprises ultra-high-capacity, African Republic will leverage l e a d i n g m u l t i - s e r v i c e low-latency, high-power MEO the world's only multi-orbit Liquid Telecom a leading independent data, t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s satellites, each with up to network, utilising SES's MEO voice and IP provider in eastern, central and operators and present in 18 5,000 fully-shapeable and and GEO (Geostationary countries in Africa, will be the steerable beams that can be Earth Orbit) satellites to southern Africa partnereed Internet Solutions to develop high-speed connectivity for first telco to adopt the ground- shifted and scaled in real-time connect and aggregate 2G/3G breaking O3b mPOWER, to meet customers' demands. traffic from remote base businesses in order to fuel digital S E S ' s n e x t - g e n e r a t i o n The system is ideally suited for stations around the country to transformation. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) domestic cellular backhaul the core network in the capital “Local businesses are adopting technologies satellite communications a n d s i m u l t a n e o u s of Bangui. This gives the like SD-WAN, IoT, and cloud computing, system, to exponentially ramp international IP trunking operator a single source for however, these technologies need network up its consumer and business applications. cellular backhaul and core IP connectivity that provides high quality, services, starting in the transit, as well as a consistent increased capacity, and greater reliability to Central African Republic. Orange has been a customer and seamless experience ensure optimum performance,” said and early adopter of SES's between the MEO and GEO ReshaadSha (pictured), CEO of Liquid O3b mPOWER is the world's current generation O3b MEO services. Telecom South Africa. “Providing Internet only fully-funded non- managed services since 2017. Solutions with 5G wholesale services as an geostationary orbit (NGSO) Orange is a strategic partner “We are thrilled to be partners alternative to fibre connectivity, Liquid b r o a d b a n d s y s t e m i n for SES with its large presence and early adopters of this Telecom South Africa is highlighting how we d e v e l o p m e n t t o d a y . in Africa and the Middle East, innovation with SES, and to be are delivering on our commitment to the Positioned at only 8,000 and with satellite gateways in able to offer high-quality market to continue being the Best Business kilometres away from Earth, several countries on the connectivity in the most Network in South Africa.” the system will power low- c o n t i n e n t . W i t h O 3 b remote locations of the Central Through the collaboration, the two will latency high-throughput mPOWER, Orange will African Republic. This provide wholesale 5G connectivity targeted s o l u t i o n s t h a t c a n b e substantially increase its low- longstanding partnership fully at delivering enterprise services to their seamlessly integrated into l a t e n c y M E O - e n a b l e d aligns with our mission of existing and new customer base. According existing terrestrial networks. capabilities to support the building smarter and open to the two, 5G connectivity provides When operational in 2022, growth of its bandwidth networks to bridge the digital operators and internet service providers with O3b mPOWER will provide demand, driven by the ever- divide in Africa, and to faster speeds, lower latency and greater multiple terabits of throughput growing customer base, the increase the speed and capacity, enabling businesses to deliver globally to drive digital new digital uses and financial geographic reach of our richer experiences to its customers. transformation and cloud services. The revolutionary network,” said Jean-Luc “Internet Solutions has evolved its adoption virtually anywhere system will enable Orange to Vuillemin, Executive Vice networking model to provide a high- on the planet. offer high broadband and P r e s i d e n t a t O r a n g e performance Hybrid Network that The highly flexible O3b seamless connectivity, while I n t e r n a t i o n a l N e t w o r k s aggregates multiple WAN transport mPOWER constellation extending geographical reach. Infrastructures and Services. services,” said DrSetumoMohapi, managing In addition, Orange Central executive for Internet Solutions. “This enables clients to fully utilise all available bandwidth for high availability and total BT shakes up UK TV market with new TV packages application performance. The innovation, flexibility and range of 5G use cases that this BT has announced a range of BT TV is the only place offers for different industries such as next.” great new flexible TV where customers can enjoy agriculture, retail, manufacturing, logistics, Marina Storti, Managing packages designed to offer easy, flexible access to BT etc. is boundless.” Director, NOW TV, said: the UK access to the widest Sport, NOW TV, Amazon The news makes Liquid Telecom the first to “There has never been a choice of the very best TV Prime Video and Netflix, with launch 5G wholesale network services that it m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g a n d shows, films and sport easy-to-use search and one says will “accelerate us building Africa's dynamic time for the available. simple bill. digital future and the acceleration of the entertainment industry than The new 24-month flexible TV Marc Allera, CEO of BT's digital revolution in South Africa”. right now and we're so thrilled packages will be launched on Consumer division said: “Life Earlier this month, Vodacom announced its to be able to launch NOW TV 21 February together with a doesn't stand still from month plans to launch 5G services in its home on BT at such an exciting pick of additional content to to month, so we don't believe country later this year, according to its CEO time. With NOW TV's range help customers choose the our customers' TV should ShameelJoosub. Vodacom, which has of passes, BT TV customers right TV line-up that best suits either. Our new range of TV already launched Africa's first 5G services in will be able to enjoy our latest their needs. With package packs bring together the best Lesotho, will use wholesale spectrum from award-winning shows, prices starting at just £10 a premium services, fully Liquid Telecom for its South African service, blockbuster movies and top month, customers have the loaded with a wide range of Joosub says. “Liquid Telecom has enabled quality sports content with f l e x i b i l i t y t o u p g r a d e , award-winning shows, the us to provide cellular services to remote complete flexibility, so that downgrade, and add content best live sports in stunning areas where it has always been extremely customers can pay for to enable their TV to adapt to 4K and the latest must-see difficult for operators to make the business exactly what they want.” changing lifestyles month-to- films – all with the flexibility to model work. Liquid has built a reliable and BT is launching the new month. change packs every month – cost-effective VSAT link and, in the process, flexible TV packages to NOW TV has been fully with quick and easy search has helped change the lives of many people appeal to a variety of tastes integrated with BT TV, to find what you want to i n Z i m b a b w e f o r t h e b e t t e r . ” so customers can choose the meaning that customers can watch. So now with a click of “Liquid's technical expertise, local content they want, with the now watch, pause, rewind and a button you can take out the option to move between each understanding and previous experience r e c o r d p r e m i u m S k y Big Sport package to catch integrating mobile money platforms with package monthly as their Entertainment and Sky Sports the top Premier League needs change. BT's five new financial institutions meant there was content on the BT TV platform. fixtures one month and swap flexible TV packages come simply no partner better placed to help the When combined with the great it for VIP for a rainy school with AMC, exclusive to BT, as complete new solution content from existing partners, holiday with the family the standard and are:

18 AFRICA Has local content policy any impact on the Space sector?

Worldwide, there is a yearning for the development of in-country expertise and competence as countries are beginning to awake to the fact that specialising in areas where they have competitive advantage can only be achieved through the deployment of a country's competencies. Yet Africa have historically had a very small share of the satellite business, and local participation is very low. Spacewatchafrica reports

Picture source ADB

Picture source: ITU Over $1 billion is spent annually servicing the thus depriving Nigerians from reaping Africa’s satellite industry yet only a small However, a signal transmitted from the 32 benefits and acquiring practicable knowledge meter dish could cover the regions, proportion of profit is spent in Africa, with the from the development of the sector depending on the satellite. In addition to majority being repatriated abroad. The major In Nigeria, 40 years after Intelsat ushered the global beam is the hemi-beam. The reason for this is the low local content of the in the era of satellite transmission, Courtesy- SpaceX Nigerian Television Authority, NTA once African satellite and space sector. The beaming live broadcast of FESTAC 1977, relied on hemi-beam to transmit its signal satellite and space sector plays a dominant the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA toAir Europe Vice Marshall and across Tommy Africa Udoh from its 11 role in the continent's economy with a very finally migrated its space segment from high percentage of the foreign exchange meter dish, and sometimes, with a Intelsat to Nigerian Communications earnings coming from the sale of Earth minimum of 6.5 meter dish. The hemi- Satellite, NigComSat for content Observation dara and satellite bandwidths . beam cost more than the global beam. Yet Africa have historically had a very small contributions from the Zonal centres. From its bird's eye, NigComSat satellite can share of the satellite business, and local Also, the zonal beam permits the NTA to reach any number of antennas within its participation is very low. Indeed, despite cover the entire country. However, using coverage zone. Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, being the largest consumers of space and zonal beam, the signal can only travel to the managing director of the Nigerian satellite products, Africa’s production is yet to West African and Southern African Television Authority, NTA, explains that the account for substantail needs of its market. countries. So far, NTA's transmissions to migration to NigComSat is the fulfilment of Americas rely on global beam. Worldwide, there is a yearning for the the local content provisions of the Nigerian development of in-country expertise and government by the Nigerian Television In order to transmit a signal on Intelsat competence as countries are beginning to Authority, NTA, aimed at encouraging local 907, with a Hemi-beam, to a target awake to the fact that specialising in areas value creation, driving indigenous audience in Europe, NTA rely on a zonal where they have competitive advantage can innovation and developing the local beam to get the signal get out there, and only be achieved through the deployment of a broadcast industry. country's competencies. For instance, India then crisscross to another Ku-band transporter, solely because of regulatory specialises in Information Technology, While Africa belongs to region one, the Bahamas in the Caribbean is known for provisions that prevent the use of dish of Americas are in region two, and the Asian tourism whilst Kenya is known for wildlife and over 90cm for signal transmission. game reserve. countries were categorized in region three. Depending on how they will be used, on From the outstations, the zonal offices board satellite antennas are designed to In 1996, Chief Don Etete, a former Minister of contribute to live discussions, and the NTA cover precise zones which can range from Petroleum Resources in Nigeria issued a 9pm o'clock news. Ordinarily, there is one a single country to several continents. A statement in Warri Globestar yard which set satellite in the uplink for contribution, satellite with global beam can cover two the course for the development of Local sending signals to Abuja, and then regions. Content . He stated that “foreign suppliers another satellite to distribute to global would have to bid and supply through a local viewers. The Nigerian Television subsidy or agent”.This consideration stems Nigeria's first International gateway was Authority, NTA presently relies on from the fact that Nigerian citizens were not established in Lalente, Oyo State, with NigComSat for contribution, and also due benefiting much in terms of contract awards large sized earth station, built on analogue to its inherent limitation in signal and employment from investments by foreign technology. At the Lalente gateway, the distribution over Europe, and has f i r m s . A l l s e r v i c e s r a n g i n g f r o m antenna size was 32 meters. Gradually, in maintained the International transmission manufacturing and fabrication, repairs and 1980s, Nigeria again established another on intelsat.However, there are areas, NTA servicing, maintenance and engineering international gateway at Saka Tinubu in still uses the Intelsat, the footprint of designs, were carried out outside Nigeria Lagos State with antenna size of 15m.

19 SPECIAL REPORT

NigComSat satellite 'the beam' don't support signal transmission over Europe so NTA will still rely on Intelsat Satellite to distribute its signal over Europe. In addition, the migration will assist the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA and the Nigerian Government at large to conserve scarce foreign exchange and improve the balance of trade between the United States and Nigeria.

Satcom in the oil and gas industry

Close to 50 satellites cover at least part of Sub-Saharan Africa with C-band capacity. A recent trend in Africa has been the emergence of regional and national satellite systems. While two satellite systems, Rascom and Nigcomsat, are currently operational, two new systems are currently under procurement for DRC and Angola. Though being located on the western coast with access to a submarine cable network, Angola continues to be one of Africa's l a r g e s t m a r k e t s f o r s a t e l l i t e communications, as much of the country's IntelsatOneSM terrestrial network to VSAT sites between March and July 2014, telecommunications infrastructure outside provide point-to-point (SCPC) and point- and at the end of 2016 the bank has added of the capital city Luanda was destroyed by to-multipoint services. Global service more sites as it expand and upgrade it ATM the 27-year civil war, which lasted until provider ITC Global (Newsat) has network. Banks use C-band VSATs to support 2002. Courtesy- SpaceX reported that it manages about 40 sites in interbank networks (Metro Area Networks Angola, utilizing in total around 90MHz (MAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN). In According to Euroconsult report, there are C-band capacity. addition, Vodacom has over 60 sites running around 7 to 10 VSAT providers based in on C-band for Zenith bank, providing Angola, including Angola Telecom, Also, Europe-based service provider broadband connectivity between the head M S T e l c o m , I n f r a s a t , A n g o l a CETel operate 15 C-band sites in Angola office in Lagos and remote branches. This Communication System (ACS), Nexus, for two to three Oil and Gas companies includes remote branches in Sierra Leone and SISTEC, Net One, Global Telesat and ITA using 5MHz capacity. According to Ghana as well. (Maxnet). Among these operators, the Hughes, they manage around 10 sites for national telecom operator Angola Telecom IOCs operating in Angola. Global VSAT Based on new release, MTN Nigeria observed wholly owns the service provider Infrasat, provider Harris Caprock has started to that it have few (<10) VSAT sites on C-band while its main competitor MSTelcom holds operate few dozens of high data rate for bank networks. While equipment vendor majority stakes in ACS, Nexus and Net One. sites on C-band for international oil HNS also reported that its organization have Global service providers like SkyVision, companies. Its estimated that supplied C-band VSATs for a service provider Hughes, Gilat, Bentley Walker, EMC and approximately 230 C-band VSATs are that runs around 50 sites exclusively for banks Harris CapRock as well as some European currently in service according to the and for another service providers managing teleport providers like CETel, and Global TT typical number of sites deployed for oil around 200 sites for banks and enterprise are present in the country, primarily serving companies as well as considering the applications. international oil and gas, and corporate current major offshore and deep water customers. projects by Sonangol, Total, Exxonmobil, Apart from the local bank network, BP, Chevron, and other small players. international banks also have VSAT remote According to MSTelcom, the company sites running in Nigeria. For example, African manages 50 to 60 sites for parent company In Nigeria, banking and the oil and gas Development bank has 65 sites in C-band Sonangol to connect the remote exploration industry as well as GSM backhaul are the deployed across Africa, including sites in sites to the company headquarter in largest VSAT customer service segment, Nigeria. The case is similar for other Luanda. The average traffic for these sites accounting for over 60 per cent of the organizations like World Bank and VISA, range from 512 Kbps to 2 Mbps. In total, total C band usage in the country, which typically has 50-65 sites across Africa MSTelcom use 36 MHz capacity (one according to a survey. In the banking including those in Nigeria. transponder) for managing Sonangol sites. industry, for instance, the branch-wide They plan to lease 18 MHz more capacity in networks and core banking applications It is estimated that the C VSAT VSAT market the next few months for adding more sites are running on C-band VSATs, just as the for the banking sector currently stands at for new Sonangol projects. majority of ATM networks are on Ku- approximately 1,500 sites including the band. community bank network. Future growth In addition, MSTelcom also operates one drivers could be the ongoing domestic and site for Chevron (~1Mbps) and five sites for Based on industry report, VSAT is the international expansion of the Nigerian banks, BP (@512Kbps each) in Angola. In 2014, main e-channel choice for banks. partially aided by the financial inclusion MSTelcom signed a multiyear contract with Nigeria's major banks have VSAT project of Central Bank of Nigeria. Intelsat to offer broadband services largely networks of 35-40 sites across the 36 While the financial services industry took the focused on corporations in the oil and gas states, while some have much larger lead, the oil and gas industry is also a large and banking sectors in Angola. Through the networks, going up to 300+ sites. and growing segment for C-band VSATs in contract, MSTelcom avail C-band capacity According to a service provider, Zenith Nigeria, particularly in terms of bandwidth on Intelsat-14 satellite as well as utilize the bank has deployed over 300 C-band 20 SPECIAL REPORT

usage per site. According to Euroconsult, the service level availability requirements for the oil and gas segment typically is above 99%, which can only be met by C- band VSATs. Under the liberalized VSAT license regime, the DRP (Department of Petroleum Resources) allows international service providers to provide satellite connectivity services directly to customers in the country. In a report by the national producer NNPC, the corporation have used only C-band VSATs since its beginning in 1977, as all of their remotes are in high rain areas where during rainy season Ku-band links are cut for around three hours per day on average. Despite its reliance on C-band, the company is only able to achieve around Typically, international energy companies 98% availability due to power outage operating in Nigeria, requiring satellite or decade. issues. VSATs are used for providing high- fiber networks, earlier were forced to use density mesh voice and fax and data small, local providers with limited capacity. South Africa's industrial interconnectivity between sites and the potential Presently, C-band usage for connectivity head office. In recent years, South Africa has made the have increase as customers are able to development and cultivation of a domestic leverage one vendor for their connectivity They are also used for monitoring pipelines space industry a priority, citing the critical requirements in Nigeria and in the rest of and petrol stations, through live streaming roles science, technology, and innovation Africa. of metering data on the level/volume of play in economic growth and socio- product such as crude oil, petrol, kerosene, economic development. South Africa So far, international firms, Nigerian Agip carried through pipelines and stored at established a civil space agency, the South Oil Company Limited (NAOC), and Shell stations. According to report, oil and gas African National Space Agency, SANSA, by are expanding their C-band VSAT companies involved in exploration and act in 2008; the agency is now fully connectivity for the provision of C-band production have typically around 20-25 operational. sites. The companies involved in both hubs and around tenth of remotes including bandwidth provisioning, for production and distribution use 50-60 sites, To date, African satellites have been connecting its offshore sites with hubs in with the largest networks going up to 350 contracted from foreign industries, mostly Port Harcourt and Lagos. Global satellite sites. from France, UK and Russia. One service provider ITC global manages exception is South Africa with Sun Space around 40 sites in Nigeria for oil and gas According to Euroconsult, the NNPC and Information Systems, and SCS-Space, companies using around 95 MHz capacity. typically has approximately 50 remote C- South African own satellites were designed band sites managed by global service and manufactured by domestic high tech One European satellite service provider is provider Gilat Satcom, mainly for pipeline firms. In Africa, the challenge has been for currently managing over 50 C-band sites monitoring. The sites are spread across the space-related industries to be considered for oil and gas companies in Nigeria. country including presence in all 36 states. as a priority, especially with countries Approximately half of these sites are i- I The company uses 2 to 5 Mbps C-band having many social priorities with short term Direct TDMA sites and the rest are SCPC links to connect their eight nodal stations impact. As such, space related industries in sites. In total, the sites use around 20 MHz and also 512 to 1000 Kbps links to connect Africa are also competing with longer-term capacity (40 Mbps), including another 15 their 42 petrol stations, utilizing in total investments in other technological spheres, sites for mining construction companies. around 20 MHz of C-band capacity. such as housing, hospitals and financial

systems. However, the number of sites has grown by In addition, Hughes manages no fewer than 50 sites in Nigeria for oil and gas about 25% in the last five years. The In South Africa, there are 74 companies in construction companies. According to company is presently adding more sites, to the aerospace and defence sector, 60 of HNS, their customers typically have connect their retail franchise petrol stations them being small medium and micro around a few dozen VSATs per network. and overhaul it disaster response regime. enterprises. The satellite integration facilities exist from the previous South However, a Nigerian service provider These new sites will be carrying African space programme at the Institute of stated that it has three sites for their comparatively lower data rates at 256 to Satellite and Software Applications, near customer CONOIL. The sites are 3E1 (~7 512 Kbps and will be increasing the current Cape Town. bandwidth usage from 20MHz to 36MHz of Mbps) links and use around 11 MHz of C- band capacity in total. The company now C-band capacity. For instance, SunSpace has its origins in plans to add a few more sites (less than the SunSat satellite programme (64kg) of five) for CONOIL and also for a new oil and It has been estimate that the C-band VSAT the Stellenbosch University. The company gas customer in the coming months. market for the oil and gas segment counts originated from a 1991 initiative by the up to 550 units including those for Computer and Control Systems Group of A leading satellite provider in the region, exploration, construction, production and the electrical and electronic engineering SkyVision, is currently running multi-year distribution. The majority of the sites are department of the university to establish a contract from South Atlantic Petroleum used in the distribution segment, including post-graduate research group in satellite (SAPETRO) to provide voice and data over 300 new TDMA sites installed by systems. This led to the Electronic Systems solutions and services to connect the NNPC to connect retail petrol stations. Laboratory and the intake of the first company's offices and operational sites. Other companies should mainly use SCPC students in 1992. More than 100 students, Anticipating the growth potential in the oil links with data rates typically above 1 Mbps in collaboration with engineers, were and gas market, SkyVision has been in the to connect to their exploration and involved in the development of the first process of the establishment of hubs and production sites. major project, the SunSat satellite, and over PoPs in Lagos and Abuja over the past 21 SPECIAL REPORT

50 Masters and PhD degrees were awarded launch of Intelsat New Dawn, Intelsat's data market is markedly concentrated. during that time. African fleet grew to 22 satellites, Though, some African countries have representing a multi-billion dollar successfully launched their EO satellites, In February 1999 SunSat was launched by investment in the region, with plans to three foreign satellites operators possess the American space agency, NASA, and the launch three satellites, Intelsat 20, Intelsat more than 70% of the market: GeoEye satellite successfully operated in space, 22 and Intelsat 23 - in the next 10 months (USA), DigitalGlobe (USA) and Astrium GIS fulfilling all mission objectives. As the that will provide incremental capacity to the (Europe), even in countries that have commitment to long-term research and continent. New Dawn launched with 28 C- launched such satellites for earth development can only be sustained by and 26 Ku- band transponders, designed observation, says an informed source. commercial application of space-based to offer critical communications Following the lack of commercial high services, Sun Space Information Systems infrastructure for African customers. New resolution EO satellite operators, most of the (Pty) Ltd was incorporated by Unistel Group Dawn's C-band antenna reflector did not revenues in the market go to non-African Holdings (Pty) Ltd, which is a company properly deploy after launch, reducing the companies. Astrium GIS has a large share of wholly owned by the university and which satellites broadcasting payload by half. the Africa market and is estimated to capture provides the opportunity to commercialise The satellite still has Ku-band broadcasting almost 40% of EO data revenues from the intellectual capital developed at the capability, and supports a new satellite region. The two others “majors”, GeoEye university. broadband offering, SkyeMax, offering and DigitalGlobe, are estimated to have less access to the Internet. than 20% of the Asian EO data market Sun Systems provides industrial design and altogether. satellite construction, and also was awarded South Africa's pay-TV household the Sumbandila satellite project by South penetration rate, at 12 percent when The demand for EO products for scientific, Africa. It proposes to deliver satellites additional licenses were granted in 2008, is telecommunications, weather monitoring between 80 and 400kg, in EO, space projected to grow beyond 47 percent by and military reconnaissance is growing in science and LEO communication fields. The 2017. Africa, conducted independently or in team who designed and developed SunSat partnership with other space agencies, forms the core of SunSpace today. In the meantime, two important figures in which was the third largest market in the global commercial space have strong ties globe in 2010 close behind the 2ndplace The state-owned company Denel Dynamics to South Africa. SpaceX founder and CEO European EO market. It is currently non- “is South Africa's largest single entity in Elon Musk, who emigrated to the United Asian companies such as Astrium GIS, States at age 17, was born and raised in defence and aerospace.” Denel was GeoEye and DigitalGlobe that play a South Africa. SpaceX, a launch vehicle incorporated as a private company, with the significant role. However, this dynamic is state as its sole shareholder in 1992. Denel company based in the United States, is changing, and recent operates the Denel Overberg Test Range aiming to substantially lower the costs and and produces tactical missiles for export. increase the reliability of space The company has capabilities in diverse transportation. South Africa is also the Recent estimates revealed that African aerospace and defense areas. home of a pioneering participant in EO market both data and VAS has commercial space tourism. Mark reached approximately $200 million. The Marcom Aeronautics and Space is a Shuttleworth, an Internet entrepreneur, demand for data in the region is Johannesburg-based company that has became the first South African in space in increasing, driven by applications such as reported it will develop a two-stage liquid April of 2002. His trip to the International defense and intelligence, agriculture, engine launch vehicle called the CHEETAH- Space Station, launched via Soyuz and urbanization, natural resources 1 CSLV, designed to deliver small payloads brokered by Space Adventures, cost a monitoring and disaster monitoring. into orbit. The company, which also markets reported 20 m USD. engineering services, states that it hopes to In Nigeria, the combination of 2.5m reduce the cost of launch and address Africa – Not yet a local (panchromatic) and 5.0m (multispectral) underserved payload markets. industry player sensor resolution of Nigeriasat-2 offers much capacity for traditional applications South Africa is a market for space-related The African Earth Observation (EO) sector is marked by strong governmental and such as oil spill management onshore and p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s i n c l u d i n g offshore, The market is largely driven by telecommunications, television, imagery, military presence. Major scientific, weather orders from governments and military location-based services, and space tourism. monitoring and military programs, So far, the demand for remote sensing data conducted independently or in partnership organizations. is growing rapidly in South Africa, as the with other space agencies, enabled the country viewed satellite imagery as key to development of a strong base of skills, but There is currently no fully private African sustainable agriculture and natural resource not yet a strong local commercial set of EO satellite operator. Consequently, management. In addition to being a priority in players. satellites are built for the countries' government policy, the country has had a g o v e r n m e n t a l n e e d s , a n d long-standing relationship with commercial The demand for data across Africa is commercialization of their data is not the providers of satellite imagery. growing, driven by applications such as primary focus. Their reseller network to defense and intelligence, agriculture, access worldwide markets is small Applications of GPS technologies, as in most urbanization, natural resources monitoring compared to private actors. This markets internationally, are growing at a and disaster monitoring. In Africa, EO data translates into a very low share of EO rapid pace in South Africa, and are expected market is largely made up of high, medium, satellite operators in the global EO data and low resolution and instruments in to total nearly 70 m USD. revenues market.. As a result, most of the either optical or radar. The optical segment Despite its local industrial capacity, Intelsat's revenues in the EO market are captured New Dawn Satellite, launched in April of represents the vast majority of revenues, and there is an ongoing race towards the by foreign companies. Astrium GIS has a 2011 aboard an Ariane 5 rocket, was led this market closely followed by financed by a consortium of African higher resolution. The sub-meter optical GeoEye and DigitalGlobe. investors, led by Johannesburg-based imagery market represented around 60% Convergence Partners. The consortium, of the total market in 2010. additionally includes Nedbank, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, While the procurement of an EO satellite and the African Development Bank, provided remained capital intensive and thus 90 percent of the satellite financing. With the requiring strong financial backing, the EO IN THE NEWS

Lasers: Too fast for Libya internet prices reduced by 50 percent satellite? Libya's General Authority and to keep pace with the i m p l e m e n t e d . T h e y for Communications and technological development doubted that the 50 percent The last few years have seen increased optical Informatics announced a 50 of all age groups in Libya. would be implemented at a activity as network operators look to new percent reduction in the The huge price cut has time when Libya's telecoms technologies as an emerging alternative to RF. prices of subscriptions and come as a surprise to many companies needed to Optical is expected to address challenges of the internet packages provided experts in the field. Well i m p l e m e n t h u g e RF comms ecosystem, especially around data b y s t a t e placed telecoms sources in investments to upgrade the rates, link availability, reliability and security. t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Libya told Libya Herald that internet service and quality While such technological advantages are a companies. The Authority the price reduction was too in the country. welcome change, other factors such as cost said that the decision came high. It presumes that They see the decision as a and market maturity will play a key role in the after a series of meetings Libyan telecoms companies p o l i t i c a l o n e t a k e n adoption of optical wireless communications in and discussions with are earning more than the unilaterally without even space. In other words, will the use of lasers in specialists to ensure that 50 percent reduction in c o n s u l t i n g L i b y a ' s our industry keep pace with the (very) high the reduction does not profits – which they insist internationally recognized expectations to deliver increasing volumes of cause any negative effects they are not. government. data over satellite networks? on the budgets of the As of 2019, plans for more than 25,500 companies concerned. The sources put profits at no It will be recalled that the satellites to launch have been announced, more than 30 percent and, internet service in Libya ranging from Comms and Earth Observation to It explained that the therefore, they see the price has come in for huge M2M/IoT and Space Situational Awareness decision to slash prices cut as a new type of subsidy. criticism with its poor applications. More than one such constellation comes as part of the This, they add, at the very q u a l i t y a n d l a c k o f has proposed the use of optical Inter-Satellite Authority's efforts to time when the Libyan state reliability. The crash in the Links (ISLs), and these are expected to be the is struggling economically real enabler of large volume production of Laser improve the level of value of the Libyan dinar and attempting to reduce Communication Terminals (LCTs) in the coming c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d and in standards of living inherited Qaddafi-era decade. Despite being an unproven information services, to had made it relatively more subsidies. technology for such a use case, LCTs provide enable citizens to access expensive. Libya's ever- They predicted that the main the dual benefit of circumventing regulatory internet services in the present power cuts since its state company supplying constraints associated with landing rights and easiest way and lowest 2011 revolution has not internet services would go drastically decrease the number of ground prices, to promote the helped reliability either. stations required. As such, NSR expects major culture of digital knowledge bust soon if the cut was constellation operators to slowly ramp up on the adoption of LCTs on their satellites and develop ISL-enabled constellations in phases. NSR's Optical Satellite Communications, 2nd Edition report projects a $3.8 billion cumulative IEC Telecom to introduce latest satcom opportunity through the coming decade for space-based laser communications. Despite solutions for humanitarian sector recent moves across the value chain, the market remains largely a hardware play, with a Satellite communications plans to introduce OneGate termed as one of the most majority of the revenues flowing to equipment specialist, IEC Telecom A i d , a n i n t e g r a l agile and future ready satcom manufacturers, growing at a CAGR 10.1% in along with its partners has communications solution solutions for humanitarian the 2019-2029 period. a n n o u n c e d t h e i r for humanitarian missions i n d u s t r y, e n a b l i n g t h e Last summer, BridgeSat announced its participation at the Dubai and e-camps. The satellite- organizations to better utilize rebranding to BridgeComm, to signify its International Humanitarian b a s e d n e t w o r k the technology and make a deepening involvement in markets adjacent to Aid and Development management solution difference to the affected the space sector alone, with the aim of being a Conference and Exhibition operating from a virtual communities. provider of optical wireless communications 2 0 2 0 D I H A D . T h e platform is designed to (OWC) at a larger scale. Alongside ongoing o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l b e efficiently manage crisis For the past several years, advances in 5G, the coupling of terrestrial and showcasing its solutions situation, enabled with UAE has been a key player in aerospace connectivity markets is more aimed at improving the monitoring and updating the humanitarian field with its apparent in the case of laser-based efficiency of aid to the t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s g e n e r o u s d i s t r i b u t i o n s communication solutions. regional and international aid network as rapidly as field towards international aid. The R&D efforts into free-space optical (FSO) a n d d e v e l o p m e n t demands. commitment to give more and comms on the ground are expected to spur community. help as many people as advances in the satellite world, further blurring With an increased focus possible is aligned with the the line between space and terrestrial comms When an emergency or a towards connecting the country's core values: a broad solutions. Organizations with an expertise in d i s a s t e r s t r i k e s , a u n c o n n e c t e d , t h e generosity, the desire to ease high-end optoelectronics and photonics have coordinated approach and technology also provides suffering and help rehabilitate now begun to delve into the satellite world, in time critical intervention by different output and traffic p e o p l e f r o m l i v i n g i n some cases, partnering with satcom market humanitarian organizations t y p e b a s e d o n t h e conditions that they had no players to develop integrated products and is imperative to enable fast requirements, such as to control in creating; taking the services in the future. BridgeComm's and effective recovery. optimize workflow and country's total foreign aid partnership with French photonics startup, During these situations, divert costs, access and contributions to more than Cailabs, to adopt the latter's Multi-Plane Light telecommunications in share high data volumes Dh28.5 billion in 2018. Conversion technology into its OWC solutions g e n e r a l a n d s a t e l l i t e between remote and is one such move. The Netherlands' TNO is communications in particular response teams, empower IEC Telecom with its long- driving such innovation by bringing together are key contributors to the priority communications by standing dedication has various Dutch organizations involved in optical success of the humanitarian segregating networks for served more than 350 systems (VDL, Nedinsco etc.) and space i n t e r v e n t i o n a n d response teams and camp satisfied humanitarian sector (Airbus DS, Hyperion Technologies etc.).As development activities. inhabitants. With an option customers around the world. NSR noted in the past, optical today is where to build special apps on RF was a few decades ago. At DIHAD, IEC Telecom demand, OneGate can be The NILESAT 201 satellite

Egypt and the "space race”

Egypt has decided to join the world space club and the decisions to form Egypt's Space Agency and to build EgyptSat – A, are significant steps to achieve this strategic goal. Shaul Shay explains that the Egyptian satellite program has both scientific and military implications. Egypt highlighted the civilian aspects of the satellites, but the EgyptSat-2 satellite was designed to provide high-resolution imagery for the Egyptian military and other government agencies in the country.

On August 13, 2018, Egypt and China previous Egyptian satellite EgyptSat-2 Russia intended to launch the new s i g n e d m u t u a l l e t t e r s f o r t h e was launched in April 2014, and it was Egyptian satellite by 2019, from a implementation of a satellite named lost in 2015. The satellite was taking Russian space base in Baikonur, EgyptSat-A, according to an official pictures of the planet in the visible and Kazakhstan. statement by the Ministry of Investment infrared spectrum with panchromatic and and International Cooperation. The multispectral modes. According to The Egyptian space program Chinese grant hits $US 45 million for the Russian press reports, EgyptSat-A will The Egyptian satellite program has remote sensing Earth observation satellite have improved performance capabilities b o t h s c i e n t i f i c a n d m i l i t a r y built by the Russian RSC Energia. The compared to the failed EgyptSat-2. In implications. Egypt's first space letters were signed by Sahar Nasr, Egypt's particular, the replacement satellite will program was initiated in 1960 and was minister of investment and international feature an improved electro-optical subsequently shelved numerous times cooperation, and the Chinese ambassador system and onboard control systems, until its first independent budget was to Egypt, Song Aiguo. high-speed radio links, and solar panels adopted in 2000 to fund space with increased efficiency. research, following the launch of the During Egyptian President, Abdel-Fattah country's first satellite NileSat1 in El-Sisi, visit in China in September 2018, RSC Energia will produce the vast 1998. the two countries signed the agreement to majority of components for EgyptSat-A, The Russian Sputnik agency reported manufacture the Egyptian satellite, as well compared to Egyptsat-2 where 60 in April 2015 that Egypt aims to as a framework agreement for future percent of the components were develop its space program and Russia projects in the coming three years. The manufactured in Egypt. Egypt and could be a strategic partner to SPECIAL REPORT

establish a specialized space agency in agency, aiming to develop and transfer largely in secret. Only one visual of the Egypt. President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi also space science and technology into operational spacecraft was released to signed in February 2015 a memorandum Egypt. the public by its manufacturer RKK of understanding in the space field with The satellites of Egypt Energia, after the successful launch. his counterpart Vladimir Putin. The EgyptSat-1 The Russian-built Egyptsat-2 satellite was designed to provide high- In 2007, the Egyptian government made The Egyptian satellite program is run resolution imagery for the Egyptian its first attempt to acquire its own high- under the National Authority for Remote military and other government resolution surveillance satellite with the Sensing & Space Sciences (NARSS). agencies in the country. The satellite launch of the Egyptsat-1 spacecraft built The NARSS defined the Egypt Space was reportedly equipped with electric in Ukraine. The first satellite EgyptSat-1 Program vision primarily as Egypt to join engines using xenon gas as propellant was launched from Baikonur on April 17, the Space age through gradual to enter its operational orbit and to 2007. However, the contact with it was manufacturing of small research and c o n d u c t o r b i t c o r r e c t i o n s . remote sensing satellites, acquiring lost in 2010. Mubarak's government kept the scientific setback secret for three t e c h n o l o g i c a l k n o w l e d g e a n d According to its official specifications, months, before details leaked out. capabilities, and building required the satellite could discern details as Egyptian specialists claimed then that infrastructure to achieve self-capability small as one meter on the Earth's this was an experimental project with an for Egypt to design and manufactures its surface. In addition to regular photos, expected satellite's service life of no own small satellites, utilizing the space the satellite's optics could produce more than three years. technologies and application to develop infrared imagery. The optical imager the scientific research and technologies supported various modes of operation The EgyptSat-1 was capable of development in Egypt and to serve the including single-scene imaging, route photographing sites on earth and its national developments plans and imaging, mapping, and stereo imagery launch came after Egypt awarded a establishing a scientific and research acquisition. tender to Ukraine to construct the base for advanced industries in Egypt. In April 2015, the EgyptSat-2 satellite. Under the agreement, 60 completely failed in orbit but there was Egyptian scientists were trained by no official confirmation or denial from Egypt's Space Agency Ukraine, with the aim of Egypt the official sources. EgyptSat-A is Egypt's House of Representatives developing the capability to operate the being built as a replacement for approved in December 2017, a law to satellite independently. EgyptSat-2. establish Egypt's Space Agency. The law Although Egypt continued working with aims to push Egypt forward in the vital the Ukrainian KB Yuzhnoe design Egypt is negotiating a deal with Thales area of space and satellite technology in bureau on a follow-on project, Cairo Alenia Space (TAS) to purchase an a way that should serve the country's received a bid from Moscow to supply a observation satellite and a military national security and development state-of-the-art "eye in the sky". In 2009, telecommunications satellite. The objectives. The law is based on a 25- Egypt awarded a contract to Russia for contract amounts to approximately one page report prepared by parliament's the development of a high-resolution billion euros for the two satellites. committees on education and scientific imaging satellite. research, telecommunications and Egypt has decided to join the world's information technology, defense and In Moscow, the project was officially space club, and the decisions to form national security, the budget, and handled by Rosoboroneksport, a Egypt's Space Agency and to build legislative and constitutional affairs. The g o v e r n m e n t - o w n e d c o m p a n y EgyptSat-A are significant steps to Egyptian Space Agency (ESA) will be a specialized in exports of military achieve this strategic goal. Cairo-based public organization that will technology. However, the actual The EgyptSat-A satellite aims to have branches in different parts of Egypt. development of the spacecraft was support Egypt's "presence in space," to delegated to RKK Energia based in establish the presence of Egyptian The agency will be affiliated with the Korolev near Moscow and renown scientists and researchers in outer president of the republic, having around the world for its leading role in the space and to increase new investment financial, administrative and technical nation's manned space flight. RKK o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d e n h a n c e independence to be able to do its job in a Energia's imaging satellite was originally developmental projects. professional way. The agency will be known as E-Star, but it was eventually mainly responsible for drawing up a re-christened Egyptsat-2. The E g y p t c u r r e n t l y o w n s t w o national space technology program development of the satellite coincided communication satellites, NileSat 1 within the next few years. It will be with a major political upheaval in Egypt; and NileSat 2. Egypt highlighted the primarily focused on launching self- however, the nation's military clearly civilian aspects of the satellite, but the made satellites that should serve the managed to fully fund the project. development and national security EgyptSat-2 satellite was designed to objectives. provide high-resolution imagery for the EgyptSat-2 E g y p t i a n m i l i t a r y a n d o t h e r Egyptian Space Agency will be set up on A Soyuz-U rocket carrying an Egyptian government agencies in the country. Cairo-Suez Road (in Egypt's space and observation satellite, EgyptSat-2, was The decision to stick with a Russian satellite city). Egypt hopes that in seven l a u n c h e d f r o m t h e B a i k o n u r manufacturer and China for the years Egypt's space and satellite Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on, April Egyptian remote sensing satellite technology city will contribute at least 10 16, 2014. Russia trained Egyptian might be more about Egyptian percent to the national income. In engineers to control the satellite from a geopolitics than just the need for a January 2018, Egypt's president Abdel ground station near Cairo. 1 reliable satellite imaging system. Fattah El-Sisi ratified a law establishing The development and launch campaign the country's first Egyptian space for Egyptsat-2 has been conducted

IN THE NEWS ASIA

The AERKOMM AirCinema system, sounding rocket launch campaign. Indonesia commences which Aircom is designing and satellite project for implementing specifically for Hong Kong The campaign is planned to take place at nationwide internet Airlines, will introduce free high speed the Beyond the Blue Aerospace sub- internet access to the seat back screens orbital launch facility just outside of coverage of Hong Kong Airlines' Airbus A320 Goondiwindi in Queensland's outback. aircraft, connected via the Ka-band Scheduled for blast-off mid – February The Indonesian government has AERKOMM K++ IFEC system. Instead 2020, the Raptor Aerospace team intends appointed a consortium of local of the traditionally preloaded and fixed to undertake a campaign where they can companies to operate a broadband selection of in-flight entertainment, first test and space qualify their own telecommunication satellite that will passengers will have access to high- launch vehicles and systems. provide comprehensive internet access speed internet steaming services for Coming to Australia to undertake this type a c r o s s t h e v a s t a r c h i p e l a g o . videos, music, live TV, and social media. of test and recovery campaign is more Communication and Information Aircom and Hong Kong Airlines will work practical than carrying it out in the UK. It is Technology Minister Johnny G. Plate said closely together to develop the very difficult to embark on a land-based on Wednesday the financial agreement AERKOMM AirCinema system, thus rocket launch campaign in the UK, where would be concluded next month to allow making Hong Kong Airlines the launch the desired outcomes are the recovery of the consortium to commence the project customer for this innovative solution. the systems for further analysis. This is immediately. due to the dense population and busy The AERKOMM K++ IFEC system will European airspace. The project to build and launch the also provide passengers of Hong Kong SatelitRepublik Indonesia, or Satria, will Airlines with an "at home" network The vast launch and recovery area be led by the PasifikSatelit Nusantara experience by giving free access to on- provided by Beyond the Blue Aerospace, (PSN) consortium, which comprises the board WiFi internet connectivity to all and the project requirements enabled by companies Pintar Nusantara Sejahtera, passenger personal devices, including Black Sky Aerospace will completely P a s i f i k S a t e l i t N u s a n t a r a , D i a n laptops, mobile phones and tablets. The resolve any logistical, population or SemestaSentosa and Nusantara Satelit AERKOMM K++ system will be ready airspace challenges that Raptor Sejahtera. future-proof and compatible with the aerospace might face in Europe. "We expect the Satria satellite to go to the next generation of satellite technologies. Enhancing the campaign, ties between launch pad in the fourth quarter of 2022," This system will also provide the UK Space Agency and Australian Johnny said in a hearing with the House of passengers of Hong Kong Airlines with Space Agency are very strong, thanks to Representatives' Commission I which access to e-commerce amenities such the recent announcements of a “Space oversees defense and foreign affairs. as in-flight shopping and travel services. Bridge”, that is designed to open up new Johnny said the financing of the project Details and terms about the services to trade opportunities. The Space Bridge will involve several countries. The be provided via the AERKOMM K++ aims to shape the scope for work in space consortium has appointed France-based system are being actively discussed by between the two nations, and support Thales Alenia Space to design and Aircom and Hong Kong Airlines and will future objectives and ambitions. manufacture the satellite. be set forth in one or more service level agreements to be entered into by the Raptor CEO, Mr. Ben Jarvis said “Whilst According to Thales' website, Satria will parties. the development of the new space-ports be a Very High Throughput (VHTS) in the UK will ultimately allow some of our satellite with a design based on Thales' Mr. Jeffrey Wun, CEO of Aerkomm, commercial activity to occur on 'home Spacebus NEO full electric platform and commented, "This agreement marks the soil', many customer payloads and test fitted with a fifth-generation digital next step in our partnership with Hong flights, where recovery of sensitive processor (5G). Thales will also build two Kong Airlines, who will be the launch electronics after flight is critical, will need a satellite control centers (main and customer of our AERKOMM K++ IFEC land range to fly from.” backup), the telecommand and telemetry system. In addition, this agreement, as Mr Jarvis continued, “Black Sky stations, and the ground mission the first application of our technology to Aerospace have been a great partner in segment. a commercial passenger fleet, is a our development so far in offering us milestone in the commercialization of access to a suitable inland site and our AERKOMM K++ IFEC system. We invaluable expertise that we hope will lead Aerkomm Inc. to supply look forward to furthering our to an ongoing commercial collaboration Hong Kong Airlines with partnership with Hong Kong Airlines to that forwards space access in both implement our industry-leading countries.” in-flight connectivity technology." CEO and founder of Black Sky Aerkomm Inc. announced that its wholly aerospace, Blake Nikolic said, “Australia owned subsidiary, Aircom Pacific, Inc has Black Sky Aerospace is playing an increasing role in the world's signed an agreement with Hong Kong facilitating Australia's space ambitions and we are playing a Airlines Ltd ("Hong Kong Airlines") to significant role in enabling access to an provide Hong Kong Airlines with both its first international efficient, cost-effective service” AirCinema and AERKOMM K++ In-Flight “…This campaign with Raptor Aerospace Entertainment and Connectivity solutions. rocket testing and will drive additional export opportunities of sounding rocket Black Sky Aerospace's technology, whilst Under the terms of agreement, Aircom solidifying Australia's position as the place shall provide to Hong Kong Airlines its Ka- launch partnership to conduct research and testing, before band AERKOMM K++ IFEC system for undertaking expensive orbital launches,” installation on its fleet of 12 Airbus A320 Queensland based launch provider, continued Nikolic. and 5 Airbus A330-300 aircraft as well as Black Sky Aerospace and UK company Raptor Aerospace is headquartered in the AERKOMM AirCinema system for the Raptor Aerospace will conduct Norfolk, UK and provides practical Airbus A320 aircraft. Australia's first privately operated, training, simulation and small launch international rocket motor test and vehicles to the UK and greater European 28 IN THE NEWS ASIA space industry and are committed to be determined in collaboration with using Wi-Fi and FTTH services preparations that support the UK's space emergency services organisations. collectively.Around 55.39 per cent of the industry in the coming decade. Black Sky "The NBN disaster service test is population use mobile internet, out of which Aerospace is a leading manufacturer of expected to commence on or about the majority use the 3G service. aerospace products and launch provider February 2020 and may be operational in Australia with access up to and at specific locations for a period of through controlled airspace. approximately three weeks or more," an SSC and Geo-Insights to NBN Co spokesperson told iTnews. expand business NBN testing short-term together in the Asian- Telecom imports rise in satellite connections Pacific region for disaster recovery Pakistan Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and Pakistan's overall telecom imports bill NBN Co is set to use its response to Geo-Insights (GI) have signed a surged by 29 percent to $844.657 million Australia's bushfire crisis to create a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for in July-Dec 2019-20, official figures say. formal product offering that can offer collaborative activities regarding satellite Increase in the telecom imports reached affected areas “interim” internet services ground station services on the Asia-Pacific to the tune of $188.73 million in July-Dec delivered via the Sky Muster satellites. market, ultimately expanding their 2019-20 from $655.927 million in July- The company said it had “been businesses in the region. Dec 2018-19, Pakistan Bureau of approached to develop and make The agreement will provide new Statistics suggests. available to its customers an interim possibilities for SSC and GI to serve their The country imported 47.17 percent or service” that can be stood up during existing and future customers in Asia- $51.889 million more telecom goods to “disaster events”. Pacific, currently the fastest growing space $161.895 million in Dec 2019, from It defines a disaster event as “a sudden, market globally. The partners will co- $110.006 million in Dec 2018. Up by calamitous event that seriously disrupts operate to expand satellite ground systems 69.25 million or $252.102 million, mobile the functioning of a community or society and services in the region by sharing handsets import grew to $616.148 and causes human, material, and capacity and competence. million in July-Dec 2019-20 comparing economic or environmental losses that GI is a joint venture company formed with their import of $364.046 million in exceed the community's or society's between DSO National Laboratories and July-Dec 2018-19. ability to cope using its own resources.” ST Engineering Electronics. Leveraging on Cellular phones import in Dec 2019 The first version of this product was likely the strengths of its parent companies, GI stood at 98.13 percent or $58.287 put together in NBN Co's response to the offers geospatial analytics and value-added million to $117.682 million from $59.395 bushfire crisis in NSW and Victoria over services based on satellite imagery data to million in Dec 2018. However, import of the Christmas and New Year periods. address growing global demands for timely other apparatuses scaled down by 22 NBN Co put temporary satellite insights, and SSC is a premier supplier of percent or $63.372 million to $228.509 infrastructure at 17 bushfire evacuation ground stations and satellite operation in July-Dec 2019-20 from $291.881 centres, and also deployed its Road services globally. million in July-Dec 2018-19. Import of Muster trucks at other sites to lay on ”This is an important step for SSC that goes other apparatuses reduced to $44.213 temporary internet connectivity. It now hand in hand with our overall objective to million in Dec 2019 from $50.611 million appears that these arrangements will be strengthen our presence and expand in Dec 2018. made into a formal product offering activities across the Asia-Pacific region, available for future disasters.“Many including Australia and New Zealand. SSC locations across Australia are Number of internet welcomes the co-operation with GI to serve susceptible to natural disasters including the important Asia-Pacific market”, says bushfires and flooding,” NBN Co said in users up by 2.5 million Stefan Gardefjord, CEO at SSC. technical documentation released late in Nepal last week. [pdf] Flight VA252: “Over the past few months, severe The number of internet users in Nepal bushfires across many parts of Australia has increased by 2.5 million in the past Arianespace at the have caused unprecedented impact, for six months, according to the Nepal service of SKY Perfect example by burning out huge tracts of Telecommunications Authority.Around land, forcing many individuals from their 18.6 million people were using the JSAT (Japan) and KARI homes and damaging and/or rendering internet until mid-May last year. But, as (Korea) with JCSAT-17 inoperable key infrastructure, including of mid-November, the number rose to fixed and mobile communications 21.1 million, according to a recent report and GEO-KOMPSAT-2B equipment. of the regulatory body. For its third flight of 2020, Arianespace will “The bushfires have also placed a huge In the recently launched Management orbit two telecommunications satellites strain on emergency services, as well as Information System report, it is said the using an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from the affecting critical infrastructure suppliers 71.52 per cent of the total population in Guiana Space Center: JCSAT-17 for the such as nbn and its customers. Nepal is now connected to the internet. Japanese operator SKY Perfect JSAT “NBN Co has been approached to However, in reality, the number can be Corporation; and GEO-KOMPSAT-2B for develop and make available to its less considering that some of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute customers an interim service ... to subscribers have more than one internet (KARI). With this mission dedicated to support people, emergency services, connection. space applications for telecommunications businesses and communities during The report shows a significant rise in the and environment monitoring, Arianespace such emergencies until normal services numbers of fixed broadband and mobile once again contributes to the improvement are restored.” NBN Co was involved in a internet users, says NTA director and of life on Earth network resiliency discussion with other spokesperson Min Prasad Aryal. As telcos and government convened in the many as 13 million people use Nepal JCSAT-17 payloads incorporates S-band, wake of the bushfires. NBN Co said the Telecom's service and 6.9 million people C-band and Ku-band transponders, which disaster service would be offered via use Ncell. A total of 3.5 million people are will provide satellite communication retail service providers.Test locations will services. The S-band and C-band

29 IN THE NEWS ASIA transponders will serve NTT DOCOMO, business by offering greater access for new phase of rapid growth. This Inc., the largest telecommunications customers considering utilizing services acquisition is a significant step in driving company in Japan, for its flexible mobile related to space. Spaceflight has our strategy forward. BlackSky will communications services in Japan and demonstrated its ability to push boundaries continue to partner with Spaceflight's the surrounding region under IRU and achieve success and we are eager to ridesharing and launch service experts to contract (Indefeasible Right of Use). bring them into the Mitsui & Co. portfolio.” meet our aggressive launch schedule.” SKY Perfect JSAT will support NTT The acquisition transaction will now Since its founding Spaceflight has DOCOMO's satellite communication undergo review by the Committee on launched 271 satellites via 29 rocket services Foreign Investment in the United States launches, establishing itself as the (CFIUS) which evaluates the national leading rideshare service provider. JCSAT-17 will also be the 32nd satellite security aspects of foreign direct Spaceflight plans to execute more than launched by Arianespace for Japan. investment in the U.S. economy. The 10 missions in 2020 across five different Built by Lockheed Martin Space, JCSAT- review process takes several months, and launch vehicles. Its first mission this year 17 will be the 47th satellite made by this the companies anticipate the deal to be will be PSLV C49, scheduled to take manufacturer to be launched by approved in the second quarter of 2020. place in March. Other notable missions Arianespace. GEO-KOMPSAT-2B will Upon regulatory approval, Spaceflight will include the company's first missions on be KARI's second satellite as a continue to operate as an independent Arianespace's Vega and NSIL's SSLV. manufacturer – and its third as a client – U.S.-based company, with a 50/50 joint to be launched by Arianespace. venture ownership stake by Mitsui & Co. The GEO-KOMPSAT-2 program is a and Yamasa. Optus opens pre-order national program of the Korean for Samsung Galaxy government to develop and operate two “This is an exciting and monumental civilian geostationary satellites: GEO- development for Spaceflight Industries, S20 5G, S20+ 5G & S20 KOMPSAT-2A for meteorological and especially for our launch business,” stated Ultra 5G space weather monitoring missions; and Curt Blake, CEO and president of G E O - K O M P S AT- 2 B f o r E a r t h Spaceflight. “The acquisition provides an Optus has announced the Samsung environment monitoring and ocean opportunity to be a part of a high-growth Galaxy S20 range of 5G smartphones are monitoring missions. The GEO- international portfolio, which offers deep available for pre-order in store and online. KOMPSAT 2 program also ensures the expertise and investment opportunities. Optus Head of Product Shawn Van Graan succession for the COMS program Spaceflight remains committed to our said, “Optus is primed for Samsung's ( C o m m u n i c a t i o n , O c e a n a n d mission of providing comprehensive launch latest range of feature packed 5G devices M e t e o r o l o g i c a l S a t e l l i t e ) . services that enable routine, reliable and which can be used on our 5G network that affordable access to space. Our biggest now has more than 400 mobile sites Spaceflight Industries priority, as always, is ensuring all of our live.”*“In addition, customers can also get customers are fully supported, including one of our new Optus Choice SIM plans signs definitive both commercial entities and U.S. that offer customers flexibility through agreement to sell government agencies; we're currently customisable, no lock-in plan options, taking steps to establish the necessary which include the ability to build your own Spaceflight, its infrastructure and enhanced services to plan.” Rideshare launch meet their needs.” “We will be offering customers a launch Spaceflight headquarters will remain in offer where they can save up to $500 on services provider, to Seattle with Blake continuing to serve as their new Samsung Galaxy S20 5G or Japan's Mitsui & Co., the CEO and president, reporting to a newly Galaxy S20+ 128GB 5G device through formed board of directors established with a Optus when they trade-in an eligible Ltd and Yamasa Co., majority of U.S.-based persons. device and stay connected on a SIM + The parent company, Spaceflight device plan over 24 or 36 months.”** Ltd. Industries, will leverage the capital from this There's an added benefit for customers agreement to focus on the accelerated who pre-order the Galaxy S20+ 5G or Spaceflight Industries, Inc. has signed a growth of BlackSky, its geospatial S20 Ultra 5G by 5 March 2020 who will definitive share purchase agreement intelligence business. BlackSky has four receive (via redemption) a bonus pair of with Mitsui & Co., Ltd., in partnership Earth observation satellites on orbit, with Galaxy Buds+ valued at $299 RRP.*** with Yamasa Co., Ltd. to sell its satellite another eight planned to launch this year, Optus is offering the Samsung Galaxy rideshare launch business, Spaceflight, including four on a dedicated mission S20 5G on a great value plan for $85.06 Inc. Mitsui & Co.'s planned acquisition of procured by Spaceflight aboard NSIL's new per month for 36 months (includes the launch service provider is a unique Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in $49/mth plan + $36.06 handset opportunity for Spaceflight to further India. repayment) with 60GB of included invest and expand its commercialChina launchedand “Spaceflight two satellite for Industriesits GPSsystem has (Source: been China a pioneer Daily monthly data (min. total cost $3,062.16 government rideshare launch services in new space since its inception. Together, over 36 months including device credits). while Mitsui & Co. expands its portfolio to Spaceflight launch services and BlackSky Optus is offering the Samsung Galaxy offer space services. Financial details of have led with several innovations S20+ 128 5G on a great value plan for this deal are not disclosed. throughout the smallsat ecosystem, $89.24 per month for 36 months (includes including rideshare services, smallsat $49/mth plan + $40.24 handset “Spaceflight has established itself as an design, manufacturing and on-demand repayment) with 60GB of included influential company in the space geospatial intelligence,” said Brian O'Toole, monthly data (min. total cost $3,212.64 industry, making rideshare a credible president of Spaceflight Industries and over 36 months including device credits). and reliable option for smallsat CEO of BlackSky. Optus is offering the Samsung Galaxy launches,” Tomohiro Musha, general S20 Ultra 128 5G on the great value plan manager of aerospace systems & rail “Our BlackSky high-revisit constellation for $104.52 per month for 36 months leasing division in Mitsui & Co., said. combined with our industry leading data (includes $49/mth plan + $55.52 handset “The acquisition of an industry leader is analytics platform is enabling our repayment) with 60GB of included an optimal way for Mitsui & Co. to enter customers to see changes that matter most monthly data (min. total cost $3,762.72 the space industry and expand its to them. Both companies are poised for a over 36 months).

30 IN THE NEWS ASIA

imagery data and analytics tools that will Azercosmos and Thaicom reports 2019 help businesses to derive new insights as Infostellar enter into results well as to accelerate decision making. Moving away from traditional standalone ground station Thaicom Public Company Limited systems that are costly, time consuming partnership (THCOM), satellite operator, announced and limited by system capabilities, its yearly financial results ended 31 GÎOEARTH's open platform provides Azerbaijan Satellite Operator December 2019. The Board of Directors immediate streaming access to high- Azercosmos and Japanese Ground meeting no. 3/2020, dated 5 February resolution imagery from TeLEOS-1, Segment as a Service Provider 2020, approved proposing to the Singapore's first commercial earth Infostellar have signed an agreement shareholder's meeting for approval of the observation satellite, together with a suite of that will enable Infostellarcustomers dividend for 2019 of Baht 219 million, or data analytics tools. Applications that can access to their satellite constellations equivalent to Baht 0.20 per share. THCOM benefit from GÎOEARTH include airport from the Azercosmos Ground Station reported revenue from sales and services operations, business intelligence, (AGS), located in the Absheron for 2019 of THB 4,663 million, down by monitoring of maritime activities, land-use peninsula. 22.4% from 2018 mainly due to the survey and scene-change analysis. decrease of revenue from satellite and AGS is ideally positioned at the unique related services because of customers The global earth observation industry is location between Europe and Asia. churn. Most of the churn occurred during evolving rapidly with the commercial Being a universal ground station, AGS the first half of 2019, following by utilization availability of high resolution satellite provides satellite operators with stabilizing during the second half with new imagery. This drives emergence of new secure, highly reliable services, customers filling-in. user demands and business opportunities. enabling a real-time transmission The Company's net loss for 2019, Leveraging cloud technology, GÎOEARTH environment for satellites in low earth excluding extra items recognized during enables our global customers to derive orbit. AGS has the capacity to provide the year, i.e., the loss from satellite useful insights specific to their use cases in on-demand and continuous services to impairment, the sale of investment and a timely manner by providing instant access all global satellite operators. foreign exchange, was THB 432 million, to a wide selection of such imagery and while the total net loss reported for 2019 makes available intuitive analytics tools at The station consists of a 5.5m S/X- was THB 2,250 million. The extra items their fingertips anywhere, anytime,” said Mr Band antenna system and a network includes the impairment of the satellites in Tang KumChuen, President, Satellite infrastructure that makes it compact total of THB 1,623 million as the results of Systems, ST Engineering. and versatile. IP connection to two (1) the Thaicom 5 satellite malfunction backbone optical lines provides causing THCOM to migrate its customers Streaming access to high-resolution network resilience and redundancy. to other satellites and (2) the slowdown of TeLEOS-1 imagery GÎOEARTH provides Moreover, AGS has the ability to be satellite industry from the change in immediate access to archived satellite flexible in terms of system configuration customer behavior, together with fierce images, compared to the current lead time and modulation, based on the technical competition causing the yield drop further of up to three days. Users will be able to requirements of customers. than expected. However, the impairment is search for their desired satellite images, Azercosmos CEO and Chairman considered a non-cash item and does not preview areas of interest at full resolution, Rashad Nabiyev said, “We feel very affect the cash management of the and download the required area of interest happy about having a Japanese space Company. anytime, anywhere. communications infrastructure THCOM had remaining cash of THB 5,703 company Infostellar among our million as at the end of 2019. The overall Holistic image analytics suite GÎOEARTH partners. It is of great importance for us utilization rate as at the end of 2019 of the is able to support analytics on both Optical to provide high, secure, and reliable Company's conventional satellites, the and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, services to our customers together with Thaicom 5, Thaicom 6, Thaicom 7 and and can process data from TeLEOS-1 and such a young, energized and, most Thaicom 8, was 55%, decreased from 59% various sources such as ICEYE, TerraSAR importantly, a professional team.” as at the end of 2018, mainly due to churns and Planet Lab. The suite of analytics tools MrNabiyev added “Azercosmos is the on clients during Q1/2019. The utilization relieves users from the manual work of only satellite operator in the Caucasus, was rather stable from Q2/2019 onwards. processing satellite images to extract and its Ground Station is located in a For broadband satellite, the Thaicom 4, the objects, such as airplanes, ships, or storage very strategic position, in the spot utilization rate was 23%, down from 30% tanks. The tools will automatically highlight where East meets West. That is why as at the end 2018, mainly from the ramp changes and classify land cover in the integrating the StellarStation platform down and churn of customers. Lao image. They are in ready-to-use format and with the Ground Station will create an Telecommunications Co., Ltd. (LTC), provides ease of use to users without excellent condition for organizations to Thaicom's telecommunication and mobile technical knowledge. get secure access to the satellites that service provider subsidiary in Lao PDR, pass over our coverage area.” reported total mobile subscribers Kazakhstan to lead Infostellar's CEO, Naomi Kurahara, (excluding fixed wireless) of 1.42 million. said, “It is important to have a ground The country's leading mobile network global school station in the right location for delivering operator reported a market share of connectivity initiative in satellite remote sensing images at the 55.3%. right time. Azercosmos' ground station Central Asia is located in a unique position, which ST Engineering with our platform, will allow satellite The Government of Kazakhstan, the operators to design and deploy a launches GÎOEARTH International Telecommunication Union strategic ground station network for (ITU) and the United Nations Children's their satellite data intelligence service. “ST Engineering today announced the Fund (UNICEF) agreed to collaborate on We are very happy to improve the launch of GÎOEARTH, a cloud-based GIGA, a UNICEF-ITU global initiative to coverage of our platform together with geospatial analytics platform that provides connect every school to the Internet and Azercosmos' professional, reliable one-stop and immediate access to satellite every young person in Kazakhstan to ground station team.” 31 IN THE NEWS ASIA

information, opportunity and choice empowering young people,” said Doreen businesses. This enormous step will be Launched in 2019, GIGA sets the goal B o g d a n - M a r t i n , D i r e c t o r I T U paving paths to introduce and uplift of providing connectivity to every school Telecommunication Development Bureau. business opportunities in Sri Lanka in the world. Some 3.7 billion people in “Kazakhstan's commitment to school commending the new product which has the world do not have access to the connectivity is one of the government's currently recorded 1.7Gbps of 5G speed Internet, of whom 360 million are young most important and far-reaching at the trial. people. A lack of access to the Internet decisions, because it is the youth of today means children and young people are who will drive the next wave of digital Besides, SMEs are also increasingly excluded from the wealth of information progress. Furthermore, the GIGA project expanding their businesses to extents available online, limiting their resources contributes to the ITU Connect 2030 where high speed internet is a must. to learn and to grow, and to fulfill their Agenda, which among others, aims to Consequently, e-Commerce, e-Payment potential. Closing the digital divide bridge the digital divide and provide and a growing number of other essential r e q u i r e s g l o b a l c o o p e r a t i o n , broadband access to all.” devices are needed to be connected leadership, and innovation in finance online all the time. Latest SLT 5G and technology EU Commission issues broadband access is the best available solution to fulfil all these wants and needs. “The joint UNICEF-ITU global initiative “5G toolbox”, allowing In fact, Fixed 5G services were GIGA aims to bridge the digital divide Huawei in 5G rollout demonstrated in the 3.5Ghz trial band between urban and rural education. It is allocated by TRCSL recently. Thus, be important to note that providing remote prepared to welcome the other vertical villages with broadband Internet access The European Union has issued a ser of capabilities of 5G technology which will be is one of the most central areas of the guidelines, referred to as the “5G toolbox”, trialled and introduced in due course to w o r k o f o u r m i n i s t r y, ” s a i d and allowed Huawei to continue facilitate the intensifying Digital Sri Lanka. AskarZhumagaliyev, Minister of Digital participating in Europe's 5G roll. The Development, Innovation and guidance comes just a day after the British 5G will reach customers with high speeds, Aerospace Industry of the Republic of government officially approved Huawei's high data volumes providing a high Kazakhstan. “Telecom operators have involvement in 5G networks in the United capacity of bandwidth which is laid thousands of kilometers of fiber- Kingdom. undoubtedly the main concern of the mass optic communication lines to villages. users of broadband services. 5G will Within the framework of this project In a Huawei media statement following the encourage the blooming of entrepreneurs alone, we provided access to high- publication of the European Commission's and enterprises alive with the low latency speed Internet for 446 rural schools, 5G toolbox, Abraham Liu, Huawei Chief which will be needed in times of critical and by the end of this year there will be Representative to the EU Institutions, missions and where the fastest responses 1,342 such schools. Therefore, commented: "Huawei welcomes Europe's are desired, an SLT spokesman said. supporting GIGA is a logical step for us decision, which enables Huawei to to further expand the access of rural continue participating in Europe's 5G roll- SLT's 5G is the long-expected service for schoolchildren of Kazakhstan to online out. This non-biased and fact-based the growing ICT era in the country as it educational resources,” he concluded. approach towards 5G security allows allows mass connectivity where the user is Europe to have a more secure and faster capable of connecting many machines According to ITU, the official source for 5G network. and many applications in one go. global ICT statistics, nearly 80 per cent Reliability and high availability of 5G of the population in Kazakhstan uses Huawei has been present in Europe for service is an ecstasy to all esteemed the Internet, but the figure across the almost 20 years and has a proven track clients of this fast-moving sophisticated Commonwealth of Independent States record with regard to security. We will world. Surprisingly innovative 5G is tested (CIS) region ranges between 21 per continue to work with European to be one of the most resilient broadband cent and 81 per cent. Kazakhstan is governments and industry to develop services provided by the national ICT among the countries with the highest common standards to strengthen the backbone in Sri Lanka. level of mobile-broadband penetration security and reliability of the network," in the CIS region. The country is also a added Liu. regional leader in access to computers SK Telecom targets 6-7 and offered the lowest price per gigabyte of all CIS countries with 5G the next milestone million 5G subscribers capped entry-level fixed-broadband for SLT by end-2020 plans in 2017 \ Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) is now ready to “This partnership with the Government unveil the next giant milestone in the telco South Korean mobile operator SK of Kazakhstan is integral to our industry as the company is fully furnished Telecom expects to reach 6-7 million acceleration of GIGA – as a lead to facilitate the Sri Lankans with 5G subscribers in the 5G segment by the end country in this first phase of a global experience via fixed wireless broadband of 2020, the company's CFO, Poong- rollout, Kazakhstan will lay the access. Modern and advanced Young Yoon, said durin a conference call groundwork for new financing models, technology users of today expect ultra-fast with investors. At the end of last year, the partners and digital tools – and networks everywhere. Even at homes, operator reached 2.08 million 5G ultimately opportunity and choice for consumers are keen on receiving fast and subscribers, the executive said. every young person. This work is critical uninterrupted video streaming services “While there were some competition to closing the digital divide in Central and also want Internet access for their during the initial stages of 5G adoption last Asia and around the world,” said Arthur laptops, phones, tablets, televisions, and year, this year we will maintain the van Diesen, UNICEF Representative in other smart devices. currently stable market order and execute Kazakhstan Through the advent of 5G, an opportunity efficient marketing costs and focus on “ITU's exciting new joint project with is opened up for Fixed Wireless Access growing the 5G subscriber base through UNICEF stems from my cast-iron (FWA) services, which offers wireless service competitiveness,” he added. conviction about the importance of broadband to homes as well as to

32 IN THE NEWS ASIA

To achieve this goal, SK Telecom plans to bid on by the participants in the first round that cooperation, and we are very pleased focus on providing new 5G services this but the number went down to 19 in the to be working with SITAEL Australia on this year through partnerships with large second, which met the number of project.” foreign and Korean companies, the licences provided by the National executive said. “We believe that the Broadcasting and Telecommunications continued growth for 5G subscribers, as Commission (NBTC). New South Wales and well as the growth in data usage will The final price on the range reached 1.95 Luxembourg sign MoU gradually bring positive contribution to our billion baht per licence after the 40-minute profit. We have seen the market stable a auction. The amount is only 5% higher on future space lot more beginning from Q4 last year, and than the reserve price of 1.86 billion baht activities we expect this trend to continue into this per licence. year,” he added. Each applicant is allowed to bid on up to 10 licences in the range. The NBTC has The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the SK Telecom said that its net income yet to disclose which operators secured State of New South Wales, Australia, declined 72.5% last year from a year the licences on the band. The National signed a Memorandum of Understanding earlier due to reduced equity gains from its Broadcasting and Telecommunications (MoU) on future space activities. The chip-making affiliate. In a regulatory filing, Commission is holding 5G auctions at its Memorandum puts in place a framework the telco reported a net income of 861.9 office. for cooperation on space related activities billion won ($725.9 million) last year, down such as Space science, technology and from 3.1 trillion won in 2018. applications, including high-tech SITAEL opens new instrumentation, ground communications The company said that operating profit for satellite design office in a n d s e r v i c e s , s m a r t p a y l o a d s the year fell 7.6% on-year to 1.11 trillion development, space and intra-space won, although its annual revenue grew by Adelaide and signs communications and commercialisation of 5.2% year-on-year to a record 17.74 trillion contract with a South space data; won. The exploration and sustainable utilisation Rival operator KT ended 2019 with a total Australian company of space resources is given particular of 1.42 million subscribers in the 5G emphasis, along with the desire to foster a segment. The telco experienced a A promising and exciting year has begun sustainable use of space and its slowdown in the adoption of 5G for SITAEL Australia, with the opening of resources. subscriptions as net additions during the its new satellite design office at Lot New South Wales and Luxembourg both last quarter of the year amounted to Fourteen innovation neighbourhood in have strong space industries and research 363,000, down from 636,000 in the third Adelaide, continuing the company's communities. The MoU will enable a quarter. expansion in South Australia. SITAEL, mutually beneficial exchange of ideas and Meanwhile, LG U+ reported that it closed the largest privately-owned Italian space personnel as well as the exploration of last year with a total of 1.16 million 5G company, indicated the new office will commercial possibilities. subscribers. The carrier's 5G subscriber help expand its Australian capability to Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and base increased by 33.1% during the fourth design, build and manufacture 50-300kg Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said, “NSW quarter of 2019. class satellites locally. already excels in mining technology and Managing Director of the SITAEL Space services, including smart sensor systems, South Korean carriers SK Telecom, LG Division MrPierluigiPirrelli commented robotics and automation and this MoU will Uplus and KT initially launched 5G “By expanding our Australian footprint, help the State build and deliver on its services in the country in April last year. we can better deliver our Space world-leading research in such areas as The three Korean carriers launched technology solutions to Australian and space resource utilisation”. limited 5G commercial services in regional customers. With such rapid The MoU is an outcome of Mr Ayres and December 2018 as part of an agreement growth and development in the Australian Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and with the ICT ministry to launch space sector, we are very pleased to be Minister of the Economy Etienne simultaneously to avoid excessive expanding our presence in South Schneider's space industry meeting during competition. The three mobile carriers Australia.” Mr Schneider's visit to Sydney in initially launched the 5G service in limited “The proximity to other space November 2019. areas in Seoul. organisations such as the Australian Minister Schneider said: “The cooperation In June 2018, South Korea completed a Space Agency, SmartSat CRC, Inovor with NSW is yet another driver behind tender process through which it awardede Technologies, Myriota and Neumann Luxembourg's ambition to become a spectrum in both the 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz Space sealed the decision to locate in Lot European hub for the exploration and use bands. The government made available a Fourteen, and we are excited about of space resources. We are focused on total of 280 megahertz in the 3.5 GHz expanding the company in such an supporting a sustainable ecosystem for spectrum band and 2,400 megahertz in environment”, commented Mark the space industry and offering a platform the 28 GHz band. Ramsey, General Manager of SITAEL in Europe for commercial space Australia. development.” New South Wales is home Following the announcement on the 29th to over 40 per cent of Australia's space Thailand raises US$3.2 o f N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 9 o f I n o v o r industry, with a very broad range of space billion at 5G license Technologies winning the $2.5m Defence capabilities. The state excels in mining contract for the Buccaneer satellite bus, technology and services, including smart auctions SITAEL Australia has also today signed a sensor systems, robotics and automation. contract with Inovor Technologies to The state also undertakes world-leading Some 37.1 billion baht was raised from the formally support the project. research into the application of these fields auction of 19 licences in the 2600MHz Chief Executive Officer of Inovor to the exploration, exploitation and range, contested by Advanced Info Technologies Matt Tetlow said “After utilisation of space resources. Service (AIS) through its subsidiary signing a Letter of Intent at IAC in 2017, Advanced Wireless Network (AWN), True Inovor Technologies and SITAEL have Luxembourg has a thriving space industry Move H Universal Communication (TUC) looked for cooperative opportunities to and research community, fostered by and CAT Telecom. A total of 25 lots were work together. Today we see the fruits of government policy designed to encourage 33 IN THE NEWS ASIA high tech industry - space in particular. demanding applications.” which are laying the groundwork for the Luxembourg space sector's contribution ultimate goal of a sustainable orbital to the nation's GDP is amongst the highest Astroscale selected as environment. In the second half of 2020, in Europe. Astroscale will launch its End-of-Life Over the past four decades, the commercial partner for Services by Astroscale-demonstration Luxembourg space industry has grown (ELSA-d) mission, the world's first significantly. The country hosts world JAXA's commercial demonstration of commercial orbital leaders of satellite-based communications removal of debris debris removal. Astroscale will improve and is the home to other highly advanced upon the heritage capabilities and proof technology companies. Luxembourg is demonstration project of commercial viability being developed s t r o n g l y e n g a g e d i n r e s e a r c h , for its ELSA-d mission under CRD2 and development activities and support Astroscale Holdings Inc. has been other ongoing projects with government industry providing products and services selected as the commercial partner for and industry. Most recently, Astroscale in areas such as telecommunications, Phase I of the Japan Aerospace was awarded a grant of up to US $4.5 earth observation, navigation and security. Exploration Agency's (JAXA) first debris million from the Tokyo Metropolitan removal project, a groundbreaking step Government's “Innovation Tokyo Project” by Japan to commercialize space debris to build a roadmap for commercializing Comtech Receives $1.4 removal m heights™ networking debris removal services. The JAXA Commercial Removal of platform order to Debris Demonstration project (CRD2) Cavli Wireless pioneers support maritime consists of two mission phases to launch of the first 5G achieve one of the world's first debris communications removal missions of a large object, the test network in India network in Asia first of which has been awarded to Astroscale. This first phase will be Cavli Wireless, a global leader in cellular demonstrated by the end of the Japan Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, and Comtech EF Data Corp., which is part of Fiscal Year 2022 and will focus on data Maker Village, the Indian IoT and Comtech's Commercial Solutions acquisition on an upper stage Japanese h a r d w a r e i n n o v a t i o n h u b , a r e segment, received a $1.4 million rocket body. Astroscale will be collaborating to launch India's first 5G equipment order from a major maritime responsible for the manufacturing, network test lab in Q3 2020. The lab will service provider in Asia. launch and operations of the satellite that enable IoT OEMs and ODMs to test their The service provider, a long-standing will characterize the rocket body, prototypes in real-world settings to fast customer of Comtech EF Data, specified acquiring and delivering movement track the product development the Heights™ Networking Platform and observational data to better understand processes, and will mark the first time complementary RF products, including the the debris environment. The CRD2 Indian engineering teams have access to LPOD Block Up Converters and the MBT- project will further cement Japan's a local cutting-edge, fully functional test 4000 Multi-Band RF Transceivers. After an leadership in developing the technology platform with 5G coverage.The lab will go exhaustive evaluation of VSAT platforms, and policies that will drive this growing live just in time to help 5G technology's Heights was selected as the best fit for its market momentous transformation of cellular demanding maritime applications, which technologies, such as Narrowband IoT include maritime safety, maritime traffic “This is a big step in moving toward a (NB IoT) and long-term machine type administration, fishing and environmental commercial service for debris removal communication (LTE-M), into mass protection. and I am very honored that Astroscale adoption With the growth of the requirements of this has been selected for this collaborative When asked about the significance of this service provider, it requires the most mission with JAXA,” said Nobu Okada, initiative, John Mathew, Chief powerful and efficient VSAT platform, Founder & CEO of Astroscale. “Several Technology Architect, Cavli Wireless capable of delivering the highest possible countries, including Japan, are taking said, "The launch of 5G technologies is data rate in its most demanding of action by funding missions which support expected to have a transformative effect maritime environments. The customer the development of debris removal on society, especially with the also requires the same level of industry- technologies, and we at Astroscale are development of smart cities. Cavli, with leading reliability and flexibility that it excited to help drive the market by its innovative suite of solutions, is here to experiences with its existing installed base providing the most cost-effective and ensure that IoT solution developers are of networking products previously efficient debris removal services.” able to experience the power of 5G supplied by Comtech EF Data. The technology, through the test platform that Heights Networking Platform was selected “The data obtained in Phase I of CRD2 is will be set up”. as an ideal solution, demonstrating both expected to reinforce the dangers of "Cavli Wireless is proud to collaborate greatly increased efficiency and existing debris and the necessity to with Maker Village and pioneer to bring economics while retaining the value and remove them. Debris removal is still a the 5G test network lab for the IoT extending the useful life of the existing new market and our mission has always startups in India. We are confident this antennas and BUC/LNBs. been to establish routine debris removal platform will inspire startups and services in space in order to secure companies across the globe to prepare “We are delighted to have been selected to orbital sustainability for the benefit of their IoT products and prototypes for the supply equipment for this mission-critical future generations. The international latest 5G technology standards," added maritime network,” commented Fred community is growing more aware of the Mathew Kornberg, Chairman of the Board and risks of space debris and we are The test network will be available with 5G Chief Executive Officer of Comtech committed more than ever to turning this SA and NSA modes (supporting sub- Telecommunications Corp. “Our Heights potential market into a reality.” 6Ghz bands), alongside the LTE NB-IoT point-to-multipoint satellite networking and CAT-M for LPWAN side of the IoT. platform is deployed in similar networks all Astroscale's selection as commercial Access to this 5G test network will be free around the world, delivering cost-effective, partner for CRD2 adds to a series of of charge to enable IoT startups in the robust and reliable operation in the most missions the company is involved in country to develop 5G-ready IoT

34 IN THE NEWS ASIA

solutions that are compliant with global for a series of in-orbit tests before standards. Cavli will provide 5G test Ball Aerospace-built operations are handed over to Sky network users, with complimentary six- geostationary air Perfect JSAT Corporation (TYO: 9412). month access to their global IoT JCSAT-17 will provide flexible mobile connectivity platform that enable users to quality instrument communications services to users in power M2M local data connectivity for launches successfully Japan and the surrounding region. their solutions across the globe by virtue JCSAT-17 is the first Mobile Satellite of Cavli's data partnerships with telecom Service (MSS) communications satellite operators. Startups and businesses The Geostationary Environment built on the modernized LM 2100™, which currently involved in developing Monitoring Spectrometer, GEMS includes 26 innovations that make the commercial IoT solutions can apply for instrument, jointly developed by Ball satellite more powerful, flexible and free access to the 5G test network which Aerospace and Korea Aerospace versatile in orbit. A reprogrammable will be available inside the KINFRA Hi Research Institute (KARI) under the mission processor adds flexibility as Tech park campus in Kochi, India. leadership of Ball Aerospace, launched mission needs change. Lockheed Martin successfully on Feb. 18, 2020. GEMS is currently manufacturing five was integrated onto KARI's GEO- modernized LM 2100™-based satellites KOMPSAT-2B satellite. for commercial and government China's first low-orbit Once operational in space, GEMS will be customers. broadband the first air quality sensor in " A d v a n c e d m o b i l e s a t e l l i t e geostationary orbit where it will help communications are necessary as the communication satellite monitor pollution events in the Korean world consumes more and more data in conducts successful peninsula and Asia-Pacific region. the transition to 5G," said Guy test "GEMS is a result of more than 30 years Beutelschies, Lockheed Martin's Vice of innovation in advanced spectrometers President for Communication Satellite at Ball Aerospace," said Dr. Makenzie Solutions. "This satellite will diversify and China's first low-orbit broadband Lystrup, vice president and general harden Japan's communications communication satellite with 10 Gbps manager, Civil Space, Ball Aerospace. infrastructure, by adding new options for bandwidth, made by commercial "Data from GEMS will enable KARI's mobility, bandwidth where it's needed, aerospace company GalaxySpace, mission to assess and forecast air and reliable connections." conducted a successful communication pollution by identifying sources and The satellite's payload incorporates S- test after 30 days in orbit. The satellite is a distribution of pollutants in the band and C-band transponders with a k e y c o m p o n e n t o f t h e g l o b a l atmosphere." flexible processor along with 18m mesh communication system to achieve global Ball Aerospace led GEMS development r e f l e c t o r , e n a b l i n g a s s u r e d network coverage in the 5G or even 6G under a contract with KARI for the communications continuity during high- era, according to a report from National Institute of Environmental volume events. The satellite also features GalaxySpace. With a wide service area Research in the Ministry of Environment robust Ku-band connectivity. JCSAT-17 is and capability of not being affected by the of South Korea. GEMS will make hourly the eighth satellite built by Lockheed geographical environment of the Earth's measurements of key constituents that Martin for SJC, beginning with NSAT-110, surface, the low-orbit broadband make up air pollution, including ozone JCSAT-9 through JCSAT-13 and JCSAT- communication satellite is able to provide and nitrogen dioxide, which will improve 110R. stable and high-speed signals in remote early warnings for potentially dangerous areas and enclosed spaces like bullet pollution events. trains where connectivity is difficult. GEMS is one part of a global air quality Huawei recognised as a The satellite has been in good condition monitoring constellation of geostationary E u r o p e a n r e g i o n a l in orbit, with its onboard software, satellites that will include NASA's integrated electronics system and control Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Certified Top Employer system operating normally. The low-orbit Pollution (TEMPO) spectrometer. Ball 2020 satellite was sent into space on January completed TEMPO in September 2018 16 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center for NASA Langley Research Center and in North China's Inner Mongolia Harvard Smithsonian Astrophysical Huawei has been officially recognised Autonomous Region. Observatory. TEMPO is scheduled to by the Top Employers Institute as a Top A series of tests carried out by the launch in 2022. Employer 2020 in Germany, the UK, company on its first low-orbit satellite will Italy, Spain and the Netherlands as well become the basis for iteration and as being certified as a regional Top optimization of subsequent satellite Lockheed Martin's Employer in Europe. Organisations design, which will be more conducive to launches third satellite certified as Top Employers dedicate mass production and reduce the cost of themselves to providing the very best the satellite. based on modernized working environment for employees It is hoped that product finalization can be LM 2100™ bus to through their progressive 'people-first' realized and small batch production can HR practices. be carried out when the second and third enhances coverage Moving from a country certification to a satellites are launched, said Chang Ming, across Japan regional certification offers even further a company spokesperson. Chang said recognition to employers focused on that the company aims to contribute to advancing employee conditions in their China's space network as the US is in the Lockheed Martin's third satellite based organisation. Wells Li, Vice President of rapid construction and deployment on the modernized LM 2100™ bus HR in Huawei West European Region phase of its space network by launching launched from the Guiana Space Center said 'We look for the unique value in low-orbit broadband communication in French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 people, then work with them in diverse satellites. rocket and is traveling to its transfer orbit ways. We place people in the positions IN THE NEWS ASIA

that match their skillset and experience to Limited (Nelco) to provide satellite connectivity solutions have begun using maximize their potential.'. connectivity services to customers flying the GSAT 14 satellite. Top Employers Institute CEO David Plink into India and over Indian airspace. With says, 'Recognising our regional Certified this agreement, Panasonic becomes the NELCO Managing Director and CEO, P Top Employers 2020 is an extremely proud first satellite communications provider to J Nath, said: “We are delighted that moment for us all. This level of certification begin inflight connectivity (IFC) Nelco is spearheading in providing the showcases the dedication to the consistent operations under Nelco'sDepartment of long awaited Aero IFC services in the application of HR excellence on a regional Telecommunications license for In-Flight country, marking the beginning of a new level – an impressive commitment to and Maritime Connectivity (IFMC), in chapter in passenger services for the e n r i c h i n g t h e w o r l d o f w o r k . accordance with the Flight and Maritime aviation sector in India. We are also very Congratulations!’ Rules. As a result of this agreement, happy that we have forged the Panasonic, and its subsidiary ITC partnership with Panasonic Avionics in Global, now offer connectivity to both serving their customers. We foresee a Arianespace's aircraft and maritime vessels operating great opportunity for growth in the IFC successful launch of within India. services in the country in the coming years and intend to be a leader in this JCSAT-17 and GEO- According to Ken Sain, Chief Executive market”. KOMPSAT-2B marked Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation: “Becoming the first satellite Panasonic's inflight connectivity the company's 317th communications provider to offer solutions will enable passengers to stay flight overall services over India is a major milestone connected while they fly. Along with its for Panasonic. We are delighted to be subsidiary, AeroMobile, Panasonic is JCSAT-17 was produced by Lockheed partnering with Nelco, and are proud to working with Nelco, the Department of Martin Space using the company's LM offer our valued customers the ability to Telecommunications – India, and local 2100™ spacecraft bus. It incorporates S- change the way people stay connected telecoms organizations to deliver band, C-band and Ku-band transponders in flight, at sea and in remote locations seamless connectivity for data, text and to deliver flexible, high-bandwidth around the world.” voice services, accessible via a communications for users in Japan and the passenger's mobile device in flight. surrounding region from an orbital position With the implementation of the The service will be available on aircraft at 136 deg. East. agreement and subject to regulatory equipped with this service travelling The lower passenger in Ariane 5's dual- approvals from relevant authorities, across Indian airspace, and is expected payload configuration was GEO- Indian full-service carrier Vistara may to launch on Vistara in early 2020 – the KOMPSAT-2B, which marks the second become the first airline in the country to first Indian-based airline to offer a satellite Arianespace has launched for offer satellite connectivity on service of this kind to passengers. KARI as a manufacturer – and its third as a international flights. customer. Designed to conduct Earth Mitsubishi Electric environment monitoring and ocean Commenting on the occasion, Mr. monitoring missions as part of Korea's VinodKannan, Chief Commercial completes new satellite GEO-KOMPSAT-2 program, it will be Officer, Vistara, said: “As Vistara inches production facility stationed at the 128.2 deg. East orbital closer to launching long-haul location. international operations and becomes a Contributing to a record year of launches global brand, our steadfast effort is to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has Arianespace is targeting a record mission provide a truly world-class service to our completed construction of a new facility count in 2020 – with up to 12 opportunities customers to and from India. Our for the production of satellites at the identified from Europe's Spaceport in partnership with Panasonic in providing company's Kamakura Works in French Guiana using Ariane 5, Soyuz and a state-of-the-art IFE system and Kamakura, Japan. Together with Vega; along with the maiden flights of satellite connectivity is a step in that existing facilities, Mitsubishi Electric's Ariane 6 and Vega C; plus eight more from direction, and we are confident that it will combined annual capacity will increase the cosmodromes at Baikonur and further elevate the five-star flying to 18 satellites, up from 10 at present, Vostochny. experience that Vistara is renowned for.” which will enable the company to satisfy After today's success, Arianespace's Luce With equipment already installed on the growing demand for governmental Fabreguettes announced a busy launch more than 2,500 aircraft, vessels, and satellites in Japan and commercial schedule for the following month – which other platforms, Panasonic and ITC communication satellites worldwide. will include a total of three launches during Global are already delivering March, with two from the Spaceport in connectivity services to customers in the The new facility will increase production French Guiana using Soyuz and Vega; plus aviation and maritime markets, providing efficiency, shorten production time, another Soyuz mission at the service of them with access to satellite-based high- reduce costs and elevate product quality OneWeb from Baikonur Cosmodrome. quality broadband internet services over for enhanced competitiveness. It will India. incorporate information technologies based on Mitsubishi Electric's e- Panasonic Avionics, Panasonic's inflight connectivity service F@ctory solutions, which extract hidden Nelco Ltd turn on is currently offered by more than 65 benefits from existing resources through airlines globally. The GSAT 14 satellite integrated automation to realize satcom services for will ensure that passengers onboard improved efficiencies, reduced costs aviation over India Panasonic-connected flights will enjoy a and increased productivity. In addition, full suite of connected services while the new facility will incorporate flying over Indian airspace or into India. Mitsubishi Electric products, such as a Panasonic Avionics Corporation At this time, over 700 aircraft from over heat pump air-conditioning system, LED announced an agreement with Nelco 30 airlines installed with Panasonic's lights and high-efficiency transformers IN THE NEWS ASIA

to further reduce energy consumption. New Zealand joins which are long-term impacts of climate change.” The Japanese market for governmental NASA science mission Air New Zealand Chief Operational satellites is expected to grow under the to monitor climate Integrity & Standards Officer Captain country's Basic Plan for Space Policy, David Morgan said the airline is incredibly which calls for the development of change impacts proud to be the first passenger airline in observation, communication and the world to partner with NASA on an positioning satellites that support daily life New Zealand researchers and engineers earth science mission – and its regional and facilitate the commercial use of space will join NASA's Cyclone Global Q300 is the perfect aircraft for the for the enhancement of Japan's industrial Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission. and scientific foundations. Last year, the mission after the Ministry of Business, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Innovation and Employment signed a The Science Payload Operation Centre (JAXA) announced its participation in the science partnership agreement with the will be housed at the University of U.S. government's Gateway project world's biggest space agency in Auckland and will be developed by a joint targeting a manned station near the moon, Washington DC last year. team of researchers from the University which is expected to stimulate increased From left, Al Condes and Dr Thomas of Auckland and the University of demand for governmental satellites. Zurbuchen of NASA with Dr Peter Canterbury. Project Lead Professor Separately, the global market for small Crabtree, General Manager of Science, Delwyn Moller said the Centre will be up communication and observation satellites Innovation and International at MBIE at and running in late 2020 and will begin also is envisioned growing. the partnership agreement signing receiving the data immediately. New ceremony in October 2019. Zealand researchers will work with NASA Mitsubishi Electric's long involvement with In a cutting-edge new collaboration, and the University of Michigan to process satellites includes the Himawari-7, -8 and - NASA's next generation Global these unique data into environmental 9 weather satellites, the Superbird- N a v i g a t i o n S a t e l l i t e S y s t e m information that can be used to inform C 2 — J a p a n ' s f i r s t c o m m e r c i a l Reflectometry (GNSS-R) receivers will scientific research. “Over time, this data communications satellite, QZS high- be installed on Air New Zealand Q300 that will be collected by these receivers accuracy positioning satellite systems, aircraft, collecting and processing could form one of New Zealand's largest and the Es'hail-2 for Qatar Satellite important environmental data as they fly bodies of long-term environmental data Company in Qatar. Going forward, across the country. and as such it represents a wide range of Mitsubishi Electric aims to more widely research opportunities,” said Professor apply technologies it cultivates for To support the science objectives of the Moller said. governmental satellites to enhance its mission, the University of Auckland has position in expanding fields, such as next- received $1.5 million in funding from the Thaicom 5 satellite generation-engineering test satellites. Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to establish a Science ends service Four BeiDou satellites Payload Operations Centre to process and analyse the data for research Thaicom Public Company Limited has join system to provide purposes. announced the successful migration of its services MBIE's General Manager of Science, customers from the Thaicom 5 satellite to Innovation and International Dr Peter Thaicom 6 and other satellites. The Crabtree said the aim of the partnership Company has put in its best effort to Four new satellites of the BeiDou is to engage New Zealand researchers in resolving the technical anomaly in order Navigation Satellite System (BDS) have a globally significant science mission. to ensure the continuity of services to its recently passed tests in orbit and joined “One of MBIE's core roles is to build customers. The migration and service the system to provide positioning, research, science and innovation restoration were completed on 20 navigation and timing services. The four capability in New Zealand, and as a February 2020. Meanwhile, the Company satellites include the 47th, 48th, 52nd and result of this partnership both Air New completed the deorbiting of Thaicom 5 on 53rd satellites of the BDS family, according Zealand engineers and researchers 26 February 2020 at 4.52 p.m. Local to China's Satellite Navigation System across New Zealand will now have the Time. Management Office. opportunity to work with NASA and the On 17 December 2019, Thaicom 5 All of them, operating in medium Earth University of Michigan on a world-leading experienced a technical issue causing orbit, were developed by the China earth science mission.” technical limitations to monitoring the Academy of Space Technology under the status of the satellite. The Company has China Aerospace Science and Technology Dr. Gail Skofronick-Jackson, NASA's performed several unsuccessful attempts Corporation. The 47th and 48th BDS CYGNSS Program Scientist in the to recover the satellite's technical incident satellites were launched on Sept. 23, agency's Earth Science Division, said ever since the anomaly occurred, 2019, and the 52nd and 53rd BDS working with New Zealand provides a resulting in the satellite manufacturer's satellites were launched on Dec. 16, 2019. unique opportunity to broaden the scope opinion to deorbit the Thaicom 5 satellite. China began to construct its navigation of the mission to monitor the wider Thaicom 5 provided reliable satellite system, named after the Chinese term for impacts of climate change on the communication services for 14 years the Big Dipper constellation, in the 1990s environment. since its launched in May 2006. The and started serving the Asia-Pacific Company would like to thank the Ministry Region in 2012. Over the past two years, “NASA will use the data that is collected of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) China has successfully sent 28 BDS-3 and processed in New Zealand for and the National Broadcasting and satellites and two BDS-2 satellites into scientific research into global water cycle Telecommunications Commission orbit. China plans to launch more BDS processes and their interactions with (NBTC) for their prudent decision to satellites in March and May to complete climate including effects like flooding, support and approve of the relevant the global network. droughts and coastal erosion – all of process. IN THE NEWS ASIA

Kacific has successfully the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak equipment or services provided by and quicken construction on the 5G Huawei Technologies Company conducted the first Geo- network. Telecom companies should (Huawei) and ZTE Corporation Stationary Ka-band optimize construction plans of the 5G ( Z T E ) — o r t h o s e c o m p a n i e s ' network and fully utilize its role in subsidiaries, parents, or affiliates—and mobile backhaul test in stabilizing investments and spurring the the estimated costs of a so-called “rip and development of the related industrial replace” of such equipment and services, the Pacific Islands. chain, according to a statement released as required by the Commission's 2019 after a work conference of the MIIT. Supply Chain Order. The News Release The ten-minute call between Kacific CEO that accompanies this Notice explains Christian Patouraux in Singapore and a Boosted by the news, 5G-related shares that “today's action initiates the process large mobile operator in the Melanesia rose across the board. China has to collect information to aid in the design region utilised the recently launched extended the use of 5G technology in the of a reimbursement program and inform Kacific1 HTS satellite. ongoing battle against the epidemic, with any other potential FCC actions to protect The trial was quickly set up using an wide applications in work resumption, the communications supply chain.” existing mobile cell site and connected by long-distance disease diagnosis and ethernet into one of Kacific'sNewtec temperature checking in transport The filing deadline for responses to this MDM2510 VSAT modems, a 3W networks. Information Collection is April 22, 2020. transceiver and an inexpensive 1.2m dish. The ministry said businesses should The Order directed the Commission's A layer 3 accelerated TCP/IP link via the capitalize on business opportunities in Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) and Kacific1 Ka Band HTS satellite then via sectors such as online education and the Office of Economics and Analytics Kacific Broken Hill Teleport, in Australia, health services to promote information (OEA) to conduct this Information was then established. From there onto the consumption. China greenlighted the Collection “to determine whether ETCs public internet, across an undersea cable commercial use of the superfast wireless own equipment or services from Huawei to the mobile operator's location on a technology in June last year, triggering a and ZTE; what that equipment is and Pacific island. A point-to-point GRE tunnel surge in consumer enthusiasm and an services are; the costs associated with was then established and within minutes acceleration in industrial investment. purchasing and/or installing such between the 3G Base Station and the 3G Leading telecom operator China Unicom equipment and services; and the costs Core (SGSN/GGSN). said it will work with China Telecom to associated with removing and replacing Adrian Potter, Deputy CTO and Head of finish the construction of 250,000 5G base such equipment and services.” G r o u n d I n f r a s t r u c t u r e , K a c i f i c stations across the country by the end of To perform the Information Collection, commented, “This trial demonstrates that the third quarter. the Commission has launched a portal for it is possible to rapidly connect remote ETCs to submit required information. The locations to existing mobile networks Nepal ranks 112th in portal also contains information about using inexpensive, off-the-shelf related filing instructions. equipment. During the call we were global internet speed impressed by the call clarity and the speed The Information Collection Applies with which the voices were relayed.” rankings Broadly to ETCs. The Information CEO Christian Patouraux spoke with Collection has broad application to ETCs management and technical delegates Nepal has been ranked 112th in the global that are Universal Service Fund (USF) from the mobile operator who were rankings of the internet speed based on recipients, regardless of whether Huawei extremely pleased with the results and are the fixed-line.As per the global ranking or ZTE equipment are being used on their now looking towards expanding their made public by Speedtest, Nepal has networks. As noted in the Public Notice: mobile coverage footprint throughout the been placed 127th when it comes to This information collection is mandatory Melanesia region and beyond. mobile internet speed.If the rankings are for all ETCs and their subsidiaries and “In terms of real-world applications, something to go by, Nepal has higher affiliates; ETCs that do not use increased mobile reach allows more internet speed compared to India. India equipment or services from Huawei or people to participate in international has been ranked one spot below Nepal in ZTE are required to report that they do communications, which is so important for mobile internet speed. not use such equipment or services. connecting both businesses with wider As per the data for January, Nepal's fixed Other service providers that are not ETCs economies and families migrating for internet has an average download speed may participate in this information work. The reach also plays an important of 21.05 Mbps and the average upload collection on a voluntary basis should part in medical or weather-related speed is 19.80 Mbps.Likewise, Nepal's they have ETC designation petitions emergency situations,” said Potter. mobile internet has an average download pending (or intend to file such in the Kacific offer a range of cost-effective speed of 12.43 Mbps and the average future). Similarly, other Universal Service mobile backhaul solutions across upload speed is 7.21 Mbps. Fund recipients who are not ETCs may dedicated terrestrial links or secure public participate in the information collection internet tunnels for both end-to-end Layer FCC initiates an on a voluntary basis. 2 or Layer 3 use cases on its new high- powered Kacific1 Ka-band satellite. information collection The FCC states that “USF recipients that on Huawei and ZTE were [ETCs] as of December 31, 2019 must file. Other USF recipients and China regulator pushes equipment and services service providers that are not ETCs may, but are not required to, file.” 5G-network T h e F e d e r a l C o m m u n i c a t i o n s construction Commission issued a Public Notice The Information Collection Seeks announcing the process by which Eligible China's Ministry of Industry and Information About Huawei and ZTE Telecommunications Carriers ETCs must Information Technology (MIIT) has urged Equipment and Services. report the extent to which their networks major telecom operators to timely assess contain or use potentially prohibited IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

Airbus unveils new injected 34 OneWeb satellites into orbit, System. Schumann said in an interview bringing the total to 40. The first six that the partnership with OneWeb will portfolio of Earth satellites in the OneWeb constellation greatly enhance the Aurora project by, observation satellites w e r e s u c c e s s f u l l y o r b i t e d b y among other things, giving customers a Arianespace a year ago, in February much stronger broadband network. He 2019. Nineteen more Soyuz launches Airbus has redefined its portfolio of turnkey anticipates the companies' combined for this constellation will be carried out Earth observation systems, specifically work will “upend” Alaska's internet from three space centers, along with the designed for the international market. market by making higher speed, lower first Ariane 62 launch – with the missions Responding to current market trends, the cost connectivity available to everyone taking place primarily in 2020 and 2021. company now offers a portfolio of end-to- in the state, he said. O n e W e b w i l l s t a r t c u s t o m e r end systems that complies with the “Both of these services working together demonstrations in 2020 and will offer increasing variety of user requirements promises the best of both words and global 24/7 coverage starting in and business models of its customers. some incredible benefits as far as 2021.The OneWeb satellite operator This new portfolio encompasses off-the- resiliency and redundancy on the intends to provide communications shelf products ranging from the network because, now, I come into a services across the planet by utilizing its constellation-ready S250 optical and S250 location if I'm providing service for health constellation of new-generation radar all the way to absolute-high-end care or any other business that needs satellites, which will provide seamless systems with the S850 radar and the S950 really good, reliable communications — connectivity for everybody, anywhere in optical. It also includes the S450 optical, we're going to be able to do that because the world. formerly known as the AstroBus-S. we've got redundancy built into what we're doing,” Schumann said. OneWeb therefore is deploying a “The success of our AstroBus products network of satellites in low Earth orbit has confirmed our decision of about five The redundancy comes from the (LEO) to provide low-latency broadband years ago, when we started to propose different technical approaches Pacific services to a wide array of markets, largely standardized satellite systems for Dataport and OneWeb have for including the aeronautical and maritime the international market,” said Laurent operating their satellites. Pacific sectors, cellular network links, Jaffart, Head of Strategy, Corporate and Dataport's small Aurora System community Wi-Fi and emergency New Business Development for Airbus satellites — the first of which is communications services. The Space Systems, during this week's Global scheduled to launch late this year with operator's primary objectives include Space and Technology Conference in 10 gigabytes of capacity — will work in providing connectivity for schools and Singapore. “Customers appreciate the high, geosynchronous orbits more than reducing the digital divide around the easy access to flight-proven technology, 1,000 miles above Earth that mirror the world. available quickly and offering excellent planet's rotation. OneWeb Satellites is a joint venture value-for-money.” The Aurora satellites will be positioned founded by OneWeb and Airbus “Today's market shows a growing demand roughly over Hawaii “to give the best Defence and Space – is prime for optimized revisit rates as well as an possible look angle” to Alaska. They will contractor for the constellation. Built in increasing need for highly reliable and be able to provide broadband service up Florida on a dedicated production line, detailed information,” added Jaffart. “The to 500 miles north of the North Slope, he the payloads for this latest launch are fact that we are able to combine our latest said. the seventh to 40th OneWeb satellites technological advancements with the Historically, satellite-based systems orbited by Arianespace. experience collected in decades of used in extreme latitudes have often technological leadership, enables us to been obstructed by objects on the define a portfolio that offers the right Microcom-OneWeb ground, or even the curvature of the solution for every customer.”\ earth, because they must be pointed at partnership promises low-earth orbit, or LEO, satellites circling the earth at the equator. Arianespace, Starsem Alaska coverage by launch 43 Oneweb year-end Teledyne e2v develops satellites to help bridge Alaska telecommunications provider and manufacture high the digital divide Microcom has teamed up with a global specification CCD counterpart to bring high-speed internet capabilities to every inch of the state by image sensors “With this second successful mission for the end of the year. Microcom and OneWeb, Arianespace reaffirms its role as London-based OneWeb announced an the operator's strategic partner and agreement that will make the Teledyne e2v, part of the Teledyne prepares itself for numerous other Anchorage-based company the Alaska Imaging group, said that it will continue launches. They will allowed our customer distributor of space on OneWeb's global its role as a long-term partner in the to achieve its goal of providing truly global broadband network that is currently in- development, fabrication, and supply of internet coverage. Thanks to its complete the-works. A year ago Microcom CCD detectors to the high science family of launchers, both current (Ariane 5, founder Chuck Schumann announced market – including space exploration, Soyuz and Vega) and future (Ariane 6 and his company's plans to eventually Earth observation, and ground-based Vega C), Arianespace ensure a supply up to 80 gigabytes of broadband scientific endeavours in the fields of predominant role in the fast-growing Internet capacity statewide via several microscopy, spectroscopy and market for constellation launches – special satellites strategically positioned astronomy. As a longstanding supplier to whether for navigation, communications in orbits to provide the best possible the European Space Agency (ESA), or Earth observation satellites, connectivity for Alaska customers. N A S A , E S O , a n d J A X A , e 2 v StéphaneIsraël, Chief Executive Officer of Microcom's plan to drastically grow the understands well the required diligence Arianespace, said. state's broadband capacity with its of delivering science-level visible The current launch represents the 27th Aurora System project started with the detection to an environment where Soyuz mission carried out by Arianespace formation of subsidiary Pacific Dataport detectors and systems simply must and Starsem from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Inc. in 2017 to implement the Aurora work.

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Miles Adcock, President of space and Participating airlines that choose to take improve the video experience for quantum at e2v commented, “It is advantage of the Viasat/fuboTV passengers in-flight. Viasat has incredible to think how the invention of the technology partnership will be able to give contributed significantly to the Alliance's CCD more than 50-years ago would lead their passengers—whether fuboTV work in Open Caching and other working not only to a multi-billion-dollar-a-year subscribers or not—free access to fubo groups, which has furthered the Alliance's imaging industry but also enable the Sports Network. progress in helping the streaming industry discovery of distant worlds, and provide to improve scalability, delivery the improved understanding of life- Current fuboTV subscribers, and consistency and reliability of OTT sciences that we enjoy today.” passengers that sign-up for a free seven services.” While other technology companies have day trial of fuboTV when in-flight, will be migrated to CMOS technology over able to enjoy live and VOD content for the continuing development of CCD duration of their flight, including streaming Northrop Grumman set technology, Teledyne Imaging, through its any of fuboTV's 100+ live channels, which European business, e2v, and with includes the world's most popular live to launch Cygnus Teledyne DALSA's foundry in Bromont, sports coverage, plus entertainment and spacecraft to the ISS for Canada, will continue to supply high news networks from NBCU, FOX, quality, mission critical CCD detectors to ViacomCBS, A&E Networks, AMC NASA enable the most demanding of imaging Networks, beIN Sports, Crown Media, applications. In addition, the group will Discovery Communications, NBA TV, NFL Northrop Grumman Corporation is set to continue to invest in complementary Network, SHOWTIME, Turner, Univision, launch the company's AntaresTM rocket technologies such as CMOS, x-ray, select regional sports networks, and carrying its CygnusTM spacecraft to the spectroscopy, and infrared technologies, more; and accessing fuboTV's extensive International Space Station for NASA. providing a well-balanced set of business video on demand library of 30,000+ TV This mission, known as NG-13, marks the lines to address a growing customer base shows and movies each month. company's 13th cargo mission for NASA across existing and emerging markets. and the second mission under NASA's “We're focused on delivering the best live Commercial Resupply Services-2 Viasat, fuboTV sign first- TV and sports streaming service to our contract. customers—anywhere, and now that The launch is scheduled from the Mid- of-its-kind In-flight video includes at 35,000 feet,” said Cristina Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0A on distribution and Arango, director of strategic partnerships, Wallops Island, Virginia, at NASA's fuboTV. “Streaming live television is Wallops Flight Facility, with rendezvous technology partnership complex, and fuboTV prides itself on our and berthing at the station to occur on internally-built tech stack that allows us to Feb. 11. The mission will use the Antares bring a stable experience to our Viasat Inc., a global communications 230+ configuration and will conduct a 24- subscribers. That's why it was critical for hour late load operation. company, and fuboTV, a sports and news- us to work with a proven technology focused live TV streaming service, partner like Viasat to enable fuboTV to be “Antares is Northrop Grumman's announced a video streaming distribution one of the first live streaming services to and technology partnership that advances workhorse for providing commercial expand distribution to the U.S. aviation cargo delivery to the space station,” said how content can be delivered and market. We are excited to offer both consumed in-flight. The partnership is the Scott Lehr, vice president and general fuboTV and fubo Sports Network without manager, launch and missile defense first to leverage innovative technology the need to purchase an in-flight Wi-Fi standards from the global technical systems, Northrop Grumman. “The package, to millions of passengers every capability to load cargo just before launch, association, the Streaming Video Alliance m o n t h — w h i c h i s a n u n t a p p e d (the Alliance), and apply them to in-flight and the increased performance of environment for us.” Antares, provides NASA with the flexibility connectivity. These standards enable airlines that sign-up for the Viasat/fuboTV they can depend on for timely and cost “We aim to lead the way in creating effective Space Station resupply.” partnership to seamlessly make fuboTV's d i f f e r e n t i a t e d i n - f l i g h t , o n l i n e live streaming premium over-the-top entertainment experiences and digital For the NG-13 mission, Cygnus will carry (OTT) and video on-demand (VOD) OTT provides the features, convenience sports, entertainment and news approximately 7,500 pounds (3,400 and choice that passengers love when kilograms) of cargo for the crew aboard p r o g r a m m i n g a v a i l a b l e t o a l l they're on the ground,” said Don passengers—at no charge—on U.S. the station. This marks the second time Buchman, vice president and general two Cygnus spacecraft will be in flight at flights equipped with Viasat satellite manager, Commercial Aviation, Viasat. internet. the same time as the NG-12 vehicle, “We're working with airlines to explore and which remains in orbit after departing from develop new and innovative technology the station on Jan. 31. As the first to implement the open caching tools and business models that align with specifications of the Streaming Video their brand and their interest in engaging “Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft Alliance in-flight, Viasat and fuboTV are more passengers with in-flight Wi-Fi at the using multicast techniques to deliver live has undergone a number of upgrades lowest cost. Our partnership with fuboTV throughout our 13 missions,” said Frank OTT and VOD content at-scale. uses state-of-the-art technology to Specifically, the companies have DeMauro, vice president and general leverage our bandwidth advantage even manager, tactical space systems, implemented the Alliance specifications further to offer reliable, high quality OTT, over Viasat's capacity-rich network, to Northrop Grumman. “We continue to offer live or on-demand, as efficiently as NASA and our commercial customers a optimize video delivery of fuboTV's live TV possible.” streaming service, including their free reliable spacecraft that not only delivers linear channel, fubo Sports Network. This vital cargo, but is also a fully functioning Jason Thibeault, executive director, science laboratory in space and has now technology optimization provides for more Streaming Video Alliance commented, “It reliable live and VOD streaming with faster demonstrated its ability to perform long- is exciting to see two innovators, like duration in-orbit operations.” web page downloads and enhanced video Viasat and fuboTV, build an offering using streaming image quality—on any personal next-generation streaming technologies device connected to the Viasat network. Once Cygnus is grappled to the like our Open Caching specifications to International Space Station, the

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spacecraft will remain attached for resolutions from HD to 4K; various proceeding. We look forward to approximately three months before performance factors from 4:2:0 up to reviewing the draft order, once issued, to departing with up to 8,200 pounds 4:4:4; as well as uncompressed and zero place Chairman Pai's comments in full (approximately 3,720 kilograms) of cargo latency streams. Among the options, the context.” for disposal. VuStream 300 Series delivers full IP- On this mission, Cygnus will once again based KVM encoders and decoders. With host the Spacecraft Fire Safety Experiment built-in KVM capabilities, operators can Globe Telecom extends – IV (Saffire-IV) providing an environment remotely control all their sources over a its contract with Aviat to safely study fire in microgravity. The standard IP network from their desktops Saffire experiment, designed by the as well as on the video wall. Networks through 2024 NASA's Glenn Research Center, has flown VuStream appliances can be used on three previous Cygnus missions. NG-13 alongside other H.264 and SDVoE Aviat Networks, Inc., the leading expert will also support CubeSat deployments via encoders and decoders in the same in wireless transport solutions, SEOPS SlingShotdeployer and a SEOPS ecosystem. Because VuStream announced that Globe Telecom Inc. has hosted payload. This underscores how the appliances co-exist with other brands on extended its contract with the Company Cygnus spacecraft continues to serve the same network, every device in the through December 31, 2024. In support scientific needs and commercial business system can be centrally managed by of Globe's 5G network rollout, Aviat will in low-Earth orbit through the second phase VuWall'sTRx centralized multi-videowall provide wireless transport products and of its resupply missions to the space station. management platform. Operators benefit solutions across Globe's network from simplified device management via a footprint. VuWall expands single common configuration and The contract scope includes all Aviat operation platform. products and services including the VuStream series Company's WTM portfolio of microwave encoders and multiview C-Band Alliance radios, CTR switching and routing platform, ProVision Plus network decoders to deliver high- responds to remarks of operations system, and Aviat's complete quality video streams FCC Chairman AjitPai in portfolio of services and support solutions. across corporate C-Band proceeding "Globe is one of the most innovative operators on the planet and we are networks extremely proud to support them in their The C-Band Alliance (CBA), comprised of 5G rollout," stated Pete Smith, Chief the leading global satellite operators Executive Officer, Aviat Networks. "We VuWall, a leader in video wall control Intelsat, SES, and Telesat, recently systems, has broadened its family of have a true partnership, learning from responded to remarks delivered by each other every day, and we're VuStream encoders and decoders. Federal Communications Commission Demonstrated for the first time at ISE 2020 confident this will continue through the (FCC) Chairman AjitPai at an industry duration of the new contract." in Booth 15-K250, VuStream encoders and event hosted by the Information decoders support H.264 and Software In October 2019, the companies Technology and Innovation Foundation in announced the deployment of Aviat's Defined Video-over-Ethernet (SDVoE) Washington, D.C. standards. These solutions allow high- WTM 4800 E-band and multi-band radio The Chairman's commentary previewed platform to support Globe's 5G rollouts. quality video streams to be delivered across the key elements of a highly anticipated an organization's standard IP network. The WTM 4800 is the industry's first and only draft order in response to the proceeding single box, multi-band solution which VuStream Series includes a range of to bring C-band spectrum to the market, appliances available in various form lowers total cost of ownership (TCO) upon which the CBA was premised and significantly, compared to alternative factors, resolutions, and performance has been an active participant since features to suit any application, even within multi-band solutions. With this new 2018. Once issued, the draft order is agreement, solutions and services have the same deployment. expected to detail the FCC's approach to "Within a single project, there may be been expanded, as has the duration of clearing C-band spectrum to enable rapid the contract as the companies are several video wall applications, each with and nationwide 5G network deployment its own requirements — such as a KVM partnering to make 5G deployment a in the U.S. commercial success. operator desk, a video wall management Chairman Pai has indicated that the system, as well as matrix switching and order as written by the Commission is corporate signage within one room or expected to achieve the Commission's Reynolds Journalism facility — making it difficult and expensive to core objectives of the C-band clearing settle on a single format," said Mark proceeding—namely a robust amount of Institute uses the Schmidt, CTO at VuWall. "We have built all spectrum cleared to enable 5G, a rapid Quicklink TX for of our solutions based on H.264 and SDVoE clearing process, revenues that will open standards because we recognize the benefit the American public, and Washington Journal value of interoperability and giving protection of incumbent C-band services. interview customers the liberty to choose the right He indicated that with the anticipated technology for each of their AV-over-IP February 7, 2020 release of a draft order, installations. VuStream accommodates the FCC will pursue a 2020 public auction The University of Missouri School of customer needs, giving them the flexibility of the C-band spectrum. Journalism's Reynolds Journalism to select the option that will best serve each In a statement, the CBA said, “The Institute recently used Quicklink TX for application." imminent issuance of the draft order an on-air interview with C-SPAN on the The VuStream family includes the Series reflects the tireless efforts of many over Senate presidential impeachment trial. 100, 200, 300, and 500 to suit almost any the past several years to ensure that this Staff from RJI utilized Quicklink TX to AV-over-IP encoding or decoding critical spectrum comes to market safely, broadcast Missouri School of Law requirements. The product line offers a mix quickly, and efficiently. Today's comments Professor and author Frank Bowman for of single, dual, or quad encoders and by Chairman Pai are a significant a live, one-hour interview on C-SPAN's decoders; 1G or 10G network options; development in this important morning program, Washington Journal. 38 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

For this set-up, RJI easily established a systems have already been deployed for integrator to design, develop, integrate and two-way, high quality, ultra-low delay tracking low orbit satellites, such as test NTS-3, including ground mission call. CubeSats and Smallsats, in Canada and applications. “Because of Quicklink, we're able to sell in other parts of the world.” our small-scale facility to others as a site “We have moved from contract award to from which to do these national and “Telesat is working with high technology finishing an early design review in under one international broadcasts. It's like we're vendors such as C-COM to assure the year, which is an amazing accomplishment able to play with the big boys without availability of affordable antenna systems for a satellite development program that owning a microwave truck or satellite for Telesat LEO across a variety of normally takes twice that amount of time,” truck,” said Travis McMillen, senior applications,” stated Michel Forest, said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and media producer at RJI. “I've found that Director, LEO Systems Engineering. “C- Airborne Systems, L3Harris. “We have Quicklink TX provides a powerful, yet COM's advanced antenna technology will proven we can move quickly to support the straight-forward experience for both the enable Telesat's customers to take full Air Force's go-fast mission requirements.” far site and the near site.” advantage of Telesat LEO's capabilities, L3Harris has more than 40 years of RJI also uses Quicklink TX on a weekly including high capacity and ultra-low experience transmitting GPS navigation basis during Global Journalist, a 'virtual latency.” signals. The company's technology has roundtable' program featuring guests been onboard every GPS satellite ever from anywhere in the world. During the launched. show, three journalists join the in-studio L3Harris Technologies moderator as guests to discuss a topic from their point of view as the journalist has reached a major Comtech to provide covering the story. Quicklink TX is also development milestone Satellite Ground available as a compact and portable unit with inbuilt camera and lighting. The on the U.S. Air Force's Equipment to support Quicklink TX Skype-in-a-box allows Navigation Technology backup communications universities and corporations to connect to any global broadcaster in studio Satellite-3 program network for airports in grade quality. Colombia L3Harris Technologies has reached a Live testing of new C- major milestone in the U.S. Air Force's Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) Comtech EF Data Corp., which is part of Com transportable project – passing the preliminary design Comtech's Commercial Solutions segment, antenna system over review that defines the spacecraft's path to was selected by Bansat S.A. to supply delivery and allows the program to move to satellite communications ground equipment Telesat's LEO Satellite the next phase of development. to support the Aeronautica Civil de confirms advantages NTS-3 is an experimental program Colombia's backup communications examining ways to improve the resiliency network for 28 airports in Colombia. of the military's positioning, navigation and The Aeronautica Civil de Colombia, C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. timing capabilities. It will also develop key Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority (also announced the completion of its first live technologies relevant to the Global known as Aerocivil), is a government entity test of a low-cost commercially Positioning System (GPS) constellation, responsible for developing and operating a available, 74cm parabolic, flyaway with the goal of future transition to the GPS system of Air Traffic Control and Navigation antenna system, with Telesat's Phase 1 IIIF program. throughout the country. It strives to ensure LEO satellite. C-COM's fully automatic, the orderly development of civil aviation in highly compact, and easy to deploy In collaboration with the Air Force Colombia, the aviation industry and the safe iNetVu® FLY-74 Ka-band transportable Research Laboratory, Space and Missile use of its airspace, facilitating different antenna was used during the live testing Systems Center, and United States Space modes of transportation enhancing the at Telesat's Allan Park facility in Ontario, Force, L3Harris is combining experimental country's competitiveness. Canada. antennas, flexible and secure signals, The iNetVu® FLY-74 has been tracking increased automation, and use of Comtech EF Data's CDM-425 Advanced Telesat's Phase 1 LEO satellite over a commercial command and control assets. Satellite Modem and LPOD C-Band Block s i x - mo n th p e ri o d . Fu l l - d u p l e x Up Converter (“BUC”) will be deployed to throughput data rates of up to 158 Mbps “The NTS-3 vanguard is an experimental, support the backup communications on the downlink and 158 Mbps on the end-to-end demonstration of agile, network. The CDM-425 Advanced Satellite uplink were achieved at extremely high resilient space-based positioning, Modem builds on Comtech EF Data's legacy spectral efficiencies, all while navigation, and timing,” said Arlen of providing the most efficient and reliable demonstrating the ultra-low latency Biersgreen, Air Force NTS-3 Program satellite modems. Its Forward Error capabilities (20-40 msec) of Telesat Manager. “It has the potential for game- Correction options comprise 18 VersaFEC® LEO. The on-air tests were conducted changing advancements to the way the Air ModCods and 74 VersaFEC-2 ModCods, using a Newtec MDM 6000 modem. The Force provides these critical capabilities to permitting users to optimize for latency and FLY-74 antenna acquired and tracked warfighters across the Department of coding gain for any link budget. It includes the LEO satellite at elevation angles as Defense. The commitment demonstrated DoubleTalk® Carrier-in-Carrier® bandwidth low as 10 degrees above the horizon. by United States Space Force to partner compression, additional TX rolloffs and with AFRL and support technology s o p h i s t i c a t e d p a c k e t p r o c e s s i n g “We are very pleased with the transition was a key element in NTS-3 capabilities. The LPOD eliminates the performance and high reliability of our being designated as an Air Force traditional requirement for the modem to FLY-74 antenna system and its ability to vanguard in September 2019.” supply a DC power source and a 10 MHz track and maintain connectivity with the reference to the BUCs and LNBs. The Telesat LEO satellite,” said Bilal Awada, The Space Enterprise Consortium LPOD's optional internal reference and LNB Chief Technology Officer of C-COM. “A selected L3Harris for the $84-million bias T greatly simplify multi-carrier operation number of these flyaway antenna contract in 2018 as the prime system and provide cost-effective redundant

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solutions. portfolio, including CrewFlix, RigNet's the fire-fighter radio in the MED, which Luis Guillermo Sandoval, Chief video-on-demand service and Crew contains more stringent approval Executive Officer of Bansat S.A. said, “I Hotspot, a dedicated crew internet access procedures, demonstrates the EU's believe in the strategic combination of point. The CrewConnect portfolio provides commitment to ensuring radios are fit for Comtech EF Data's technical expertise services for improved crew morale in purpose and better supports life at sea and the service support excellence of remote locations, enhancing operational safety provision. Bansat for the satellite portion of this efficiency through reduced employee contract. Together we will enable turnover and increased productivity. Commenting on regulatory changes, mission critical services to Aerocivil “We are very pleased that Northern Peter Andersen, Business Development using Comtech EF Data's CDM-425 Offshore recognizes the value of RigNet as Manager at Cobham SATCOM, said: Advanced Satellite Modems. These we enable their success across these “Safety of life at sea is the starting point modems will enable point-to-point links vessels in the region,” said Steven Picket, for everything we do. The alignment of that will transport Air Traffic Control President and Chief Executive Officer of our SAILOR 3965 Fire Fighter Radio with (“ATC”) communications between RigNet. “Our goal is to deliver these new IMO and EU regulations is the airports and three main cities including c o m p r e h e n s i v e m a n a g e d latest example of our philosophy in Bogotá, which will also operate with communications services to meet the action. We hope to continue driving redundant Comtech C-Band LPODs. In needs of customers like Northern Offshore further improvements in seafarer safety addition to the proven performance of as they improve efficiency, productivity, through our world-leading R&D process, Comtech EF Data's equipment, the and safety while lowering overall cost.” which has supported seafarer welfare for CDM-425 provides digital E1 G.703 more than 50 years.” From 3 October BNC non-balanced interfaces, which is 2022, all new fire-fighter radios installed essential for this network. Along with Cobham SATCOM on-board EU flagged vessels have to be fractional nx64 capabilities, these welcomes new tighter Wheelmark approved to prove modems deliver the exceptional compliance with the MED. Until that date, product quality and reliability that are safety regulations for Radio Equipment Directive (RED) CE paramount to vital communications of fire fighter radios to marked radios will be accepted. The this nature.” SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter is the protect life and assets at world's first Wheelmark approved RigNet signs long- sea portable radio made specifically for fulfilling the new SOLAS Chapter II-2 term agreement with Regulation 10.10.4 and to maximise fire Northern Offshore Cobham SATCOM, the market leading safety at sea. Built on the legacy of provider of radio and satellite SAILOR SP3500 series portable radios, communications solutions, announced the SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter radio RigNet has signed a long-term that it welcomes the improved safety provides reliable, feature rich agreement with Northern Offshore, a regulations that will further protect the communication that helps to make the global offshore drilling company, to welfare of seafarers using fire-fighter fire party safe and effective when called provide various services to their fleet of radios into action. rigs in the Middle East. Under this The International Maritime Organization's agreement, RigNet will provide several (IMO) unified interpretation of the essential solutions including VSAT Managed safety requirements of the fire-fighter Speedcast brings Communications Services, CrewFlix radio, and the European Union's (EU) backhaul solution to Video on Demand, CrewHotspot addition of the fire fighter radio in the internet, and Enhanced Cyber Services Marine Equipment Directive (MED) mean Mexico (ECS). enhanced safeguarding for life and assets in the most extreme and dangerous Speedcast International Ltd, a provider of “RigNet has demonstrated their ability situations at sea. The regulatory updates remote communications and IT services, to meet our expectations of rapid are a further seal of approval for Cobham's has announced that is has been awarded deployment and alignment with SAILOR 3965 UHF Fire Fighter radio, a 12-month contract with a mobile Northern Offshore's plans,” said Tony which is already compliant with both operator in Mexico. Beebe, SVP Project Management & regulatory updates. Identifying the customer only as the Engineering. “We expect these second largest operator in Mexico, solutions and technologies will allow us SOLAS regulations require all vessels to Speedcast says its fully managed, end- to optimize our operations for greater carry two-way fire-fighter radios which to-end cellular backhaul solution will help efficiency and increased financial enable trained seafarers to communicate the mobile operator expand its network performance.” RigNet is providing an effectively in an emergency; detecting and and provide connectivity to sites where advanced VSAT solution with voice and extinguishing fires before they cause other types of communication are high-speed data communications as significant risk to life and a vessel's unavailable. well as 24/7 remote network monitoring integrity. Using Speedcast's cellular backhaul and technical support. This will be The IMO's new unified interpretation of the service, the operator will have access to combined with RigNet's ECS offering, essential safety requirements of fire- an extensive network of networks that an improved data and system security f i g h t e r r a d i o s i s b a s e d o n includes terrestrial MPLS, LTE, 5G and solution with real-time threat detection, recommendations from the International the largest portfolio of satellite capacity in as well as an advanced conditional Association of Classification Societies the world. Offering a flexible pay-as-you- access system tailored for 3rd-party (IACS), to set a minimum level for grow business model, Speedcast says its partners on offshore rigs. intrinsically safety. backhaul service will help the operator Approval under the MED is based on cost-effectively expand its mobile In addition, RigNet is also providing dedicated maritime standards, taking the coverage into new markets and grow its crew information and entertainment harsh environment and users' conditions revenue. Speedcast will back up the services from its CrewConnect into consideration. The decision to include deployment with 24/7 design, installation IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

and engineering support. fairing when fully assembled. The Modernization of Media Regulation Speedcast, which describes itself as the technologies developed under SPIDER Initiative to eliminate or modify media world's largest remote communications could ultimately enable entirely new r e g u l a t i o n s t h a t a r e o u t d a t e d , and IT services provider, has a network architectures and space infrastructure unnecessary or unduly burdensome. well suited for the challenges of for a wide range of government and communications provision. The company commercial missions, including delivers critical communications commercial satellites, human space SES offers Princess solutions through its multi-access exploration to the Moon and Mars under Cruises first access to technology, multi-band and multi-orbit the Artemis program and in-space network of more than 80 satellites and an telescope assembly. Ground-Breaking O3b interconnecting global terrestrial network, SPIDER will also demonstrate in-space mPOWER Satellite- bolstered by extensive local support from m a n u f a c t u r i n g u s i n g Te t h e r s more than 40 countries. Sectors covered Unlimited'sMakerSat. MakerSat will based communications include maritime, energy, mining, manufacture a 10-meter lightweight system enterprise, media, cruise, humanitarian composite beam, verifying its capability and government. to form large spacecraft truss structures for future missions. As it manufactures Princess Cruises has announced a new the beam, MakerSat will characterize the dimension in its connectivity partnership NASA selects Maxar to b e a m ' s s h a p e a n d s t r u c t u r a l with SES and will become the first global build, fly innovative performance to determine if a structure cruise ship fleet with early access to SES's robotic spacecraft built in space performs differently than ground-breaking O3b mPOWER network one made here on Earth. a u g m e n t i n g t h e P r i n c e s s assembly technology MedallionClass™ experience as it scales on Restore-L across the fleet. FCC modernizes SES is enabling global, high-performance Maxar Technologies, a trusted partner Broadcaster connectivity to Princess Cruises using its and innovator in Earth Intelligence and notification rules For hybrid medium earth orbit (MEO) and Space Infrastructure, today announced geostationary (GEO) network. The that it was selected by NASA to perform Cable and Satellite TV combination of the globally-deployed an in-space assembly demonstration Princess MedallionClass ships, the Ocean using a lightweight robotic arm. The arm, Providers Guest Experience “Cloud Connected” called SPIDER (Space Infrastructure Platform and SES's multi-constellations Dexterous Robot), will be integrated with T h e F e d e r a l C o m m u n i c a t i o n s satellite network not only creates the spacecraft bus Maxar is building for Commission has modernized its unmatched and ubiquitous global Wi-Fi NASA's Restore-L project, which plans to notification rules for cable and satellite service levels, but ensures seamless refuel a satellite in low Earth orbit. TV providers by transitioning certain land/sea digital experience enablement notices to broadcast TV stations from including OceanView® TV (OTT, Mobile The award is valued at $142 million and paper to electronic delivery. and VOD) and is disrupting the traditional f o l l o w s a s u c c e s s f u l g r o u n d FCC rules require that cable and satellite commodity satellite bandwidth model. demonstration in 2017, and a review in TV providers provide written notice to As the innovation partner for Princess August 2018 that validated Maxar's first- local TV stations before taking certain MedallionClass, Carnival Corporation's g e n e r a t i o n e n d - t o - e n d s y s t e m actions. For example, cable operators Global Experience and Innovation unit is architecture and detailed robotic arm must provide notice to TV broadcasters elevating the SES partner relationship design. Maxar is identifying roughly $2 before launching service in a new market through 2023. The Premier Innovation million of work to be performed by West or deleting or repositioning a broadcast Partner status makes SES a fully- Virginia University through its West station within its channel lineup. integrated development partner of Virginia Robotic Technology Center, Similarly, satellite providers must give Carnival Corporation's Global Experience including independent verification of notice prior to retransmitting certain and Innovation unit, spanning design, SPIDER's capabilities through multiple stations or launching new services into a creation and delivery for game-changing performance studies to increase the market. connected guest experience innovations, reliability of in-space assembly tasks. The The new rules adopted today will require technical platform development, program was called Dragonfly during the that cable and satellite TV providers use intelligence and hybrid cloud and edge design and ground demonstration phase. email to deliver covered notices to local compute enablement. As a result, SPIDER will be built by Maxar's team in TV stations—consistent with recent Princess MedallionClass, which is Pasadena, Calif., which has previously updates to the FCC's carriage election enabled by the OceanMedallionTM and delivered six robotic arms for NASA's notice rules. For stations that maintain powered by SES, will be the first cruise Mars rovers and landers, including the an online public inspection file, notices ships to access SES's ground-breaking arm currently operating on InSight Lander will be emailed to the same inbox that the O 3 b m P O W E R s a t e l l i t e - b a s e d and an arm for the upcoming Mars 2020 station uses for communications relating communications system. The SES brand Rover. t o i t s e l e c t i o n o f m u s t will also be incorporated into the SPIDER will enable spacecraft carry/retransmission consent status. OceanMedallion, further symbolizing the components to be robotically assembled Stations that are not required to maintain integrated relationship. and reconfigured while on-orbit. For such public files will receive notices at To date, the most significant development Restore-L, SPIDER will assemble the general email address already o f t h e p a r t n e r s h i p h a s b e e n multiple antenna reflector elements into provided in the Licensing and MedallionNet®, the best WiFi at sea, one large antenna reflector. This Management System under existing which has raised the bar for guest revolutionary process allows satellites, procedures. connectivity in the cruise industry. Since telescopes and other systems to use Today's action will make the notification 2017, MedallionNet has been offering fast, larger and more powerful components process more efficient, reduce paper unlimited, reliable and affordable guest that might not fit into a standard rocket waste, and is part of the Commission's connectivity exclusively to the Princess IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

fleet. We're very excited to bring Dawn on as a focus on customer needs are at the heart of The expanded partnership recognizes partner”. our success and the reasons why I am SES's integral role in enabling the Ocean Specialising in space logistics, Orbital excited to come back and help take the Guest Experience PlatformTM with real- Transports is curating an extensive company into its next stage of growth and time xIoTTM, edge, cloud and shoreside network of partners to deliver a variety of evolution,” added Dan Castles. intelligence synchronization on Princess small satellite solutions from mission MedalllionClass Ships. Princess design, to launch procurement and MedallionClass will be fully active on 11 satellite operations. The company The Satcoms Innovation ships by the end of 2020 with a new ship coordinates all the complex elements Group announces ViaLite activated every 60 days. involving space vehicles, people, facilities and services required for a Communications as new Dawn Aerospace joins successful small satellite mission. member Orbital Transports Telestream to make The Satcoms Innovation Group has partner network for US leadership transition announced that ViaLite Communications, a customers manufacturer of RF over fiber products, has through next phase of joined as an associate member. SIG Dawn Aerospace are gearing up in their growth promotes innovation within the satellite US expansion activities. As part of this, a communication industry with the aim of partnership agreement has been signed improving operational efficiency and with Orbital Transports, the Chicago- Telestream, a leading global provider of reducing impact based turnkey satellite solutions digital media tools, quality monitoring company. It is a move to further and workflow solutions, announced that SIG introduces discussion between accelerate Dawn's green bi-propellant Dan Castles, one of the company's industry operators and professionals in satellite propulsion systems across the original founders, has returned as CEO order to examine challenges and US market. Since releasing their products to lead the company through its next opportunities, as well as considering the to market in early 2019, sales of ~950K phase of growth. Scott Puopolo, who technical aspects of industry efficiencies as USD have already been secured, has served as CEO of Telestream since a whole. In an evolving satellite ecosystem, including a Phase 1 SBIR contract from 2017, has decided to step down as CEO. SIG provides members with a collaborative the United States Air Force. Puopolo successfully developed and style of networking to ensure that the advanced Telestream's strategy, which industry develops innovative solutions to Orbital Transports provides turnkey will drive the company's growth in the remain at the forefront of connectivity. satellite solutions to companies who want years ahead. access to space that have limited ViaLite has a varied, global user base which experience with space missions. Eli Weiss, Managing Director of Genstar utilises its products over a diverse range of “Chicago is well situated to tap into the Capital, Telestream's majority applications. Its RF products and solutions growing NewSpace industry in the shareholder, commented: “We are are used in industries such as Satcom, Midwest and on the East Coast,” said grateful for Scott Puopolo's many Broadcast and Government and Defence. Jeroen, Dawn Aerospace CEO. “We have contributions to the company. Scott has confidence in David Hurst and the been a great partner to Genstar in our Richard Jacklin, Director of Sales, ViaLite experience the Orbital Transports team efforts to grow and expand Telestream. Communications, commented, “We've brings. Helping customers navigate this As we embark on a new decade which worked extensively within the satellite ever-growing market and ensure their promises to bring fundamental changes industry and have seen that the mission is a success, this is exactly what's to the broadcast industry, we are excited opportunities and challenges facing the needed for the NanoSat industry.” to have Dan rejoin Telestream to help industry are changing. We strive for our drive its growth strategy and continue to equipment to remain at the forefront of Orbital Transports upcoming Catalog lead the industry.” consumer need and we see it being hugely Portal will feature Dawn's 0.5N CubeSat beneficial to have an opportunity to discuss propulsion module and 22N hydrazine Under Castles' 20-year leadership, the broader ecosystem with other replacement thrusters. Dawn's 0.5N Telestream experienced consistent professionals within the industry. It provides CubeSat propulsion module is a year-on-year revenue growth, and us with a chance to work to the same overall specialisedCubeSat propulsion system strong profitability. The company has objectives as other space users to ensure that delivers capability only found on today become the recognized leader in that satcom remains competitive.” large satellites. It can be adapted for enterprise-class video transcoding, CubeSats of almost any size. With higher quality assurance, and workflow Helen Weedon, Managing Director, SIG, thrust than any other comparable system, solutions, addressing the numerous added, “We're delighted to welcome ViaLite Dawn propulsion enables instant, v i d e o f o r m a t a n d d e v i c e Communications to the group. Its team efficient manoeuvers, enabling CubeSats incompatibilities and service disruptions offers extensive knowledge from its 25 to deliver maximum value. encountered when delivering video over years' experience of delivering links and any network. systems for RF over fiber within satellite “Dawn's green bi-propellant propulsion communications. We look forward to the systems really do give customers “Broadcast business models need to team's input within our group.” enhanced capabilities for their mission”, evolve to meet rapidly changing said David Hurst, Orbital Transports consumption habits. Telestream is SIG has recently updated its membership Founder and CEO. “Client's are coming p e r f e c t l y p o s i t i o n e d t o h e l p fee structure to include start-up and to us asking 'How do I get my satellite into organizations navigate the myriad academic membership tiers. With its goal to position quickly and keep it online challenges that face them. Our improve operational and technical longer?' With Dawn's high performance employees' dedication to excellence, efficiencies, SIG hopes to promote the propulsion tech, this is easy to answer. spirit of innovation and unwavering group's accessibility for start-up businesses IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

and academic projects, as well other course of our long and successful in order to achieve their business goals. prospective members within satcoms. history together,” said Maxar CEO Dan We look forward to many successful Jablonsky. “Maxar is also honored to missions together.” have collaborated with NASA for more Maxar Technologies to than 50 years, and we are excited to leverage our strong legacy in bridging Intertrust, Friend MTS build next-gen Intelsat commercial and government needs to extend partnership to Epic geostationary integrate the agency's TEMPO payload with Intelsat 40e. Maxar's recent work fight video streaming communications satellite with NASA on TEMPO and several piracy other Space Infrastructure missions Intelsat has selected Maxar Technologies, to demonstrate positive momentum for Intertrust, a pioneer in Digital Rights manufacture Intelsat 40e, a next-generation our expanding civil space portfolio.” Management (DRM) technology, and geostationary communications satellite Friend MTS, a leading global provider of scheduled to launch in 2022. Maxar will SATLANTIS enters into content protection services, has integrate NASA's Tropospheric Emissions: announced an extended partnership Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) payload launch services a g r e e m e n t t h a t e n h a n c e s with the Intelsat 40e satellite. agreement with Firefly Intertrust'sExpressPlay content “When it's launched, Intelsat 40e will be the protection platform with cutting-edge newest addition to our next-generation Aerospace F r i e n d M T S a n t i - p i r a c y a n d Intelsat Epic platform, which is already watermarking technology services. providing our global customers with flexible, high-performance connectivity they can Firefly Aerospace, Inc. announced the Now, an additional layer of protection is count on today – and in the future,” said execution of a Launch Services introduced that is complementary to the Intelsat CEO Stephen Spengler. “Intelsat Agreement with SATLANTIS, a ExpressPlay content security suite, continuously invests in innovative new provider of high-performance payload which features ExpressPlay DRM™ and satellite and hybrid technologies that make it technologies for Earth observation and ExpressPlay XCA™. Intertrust enters easy and affordable for our customers to remote sensing. Beginning in 2022, this new reseller agreement with Friend connect people, devices and networks, even SATLANTIS will utilize the Firefly Alpha MTS with a joint objective to tackle in the most remote locations. We look launch vehicle to deploy a constellation piracy with an anti-piracy platform that forward to partnering with Maxar on this next of satellites with breakthrough high- provides an end-to-end solution that can build.” resolution multispectral cameras with shut down an illicit stream by stopping Based on Maxar's proven 1300-class four bands of 80 cm native resolution. transmission of content from the satellite platform and Intelsat Epic, Intelsat endpoint where it is being redistributed 40e will provide Intelsat customers across "SATLANTIS is constantly developing illegally, or by compiling a forensic North and Central America with flexible, cutting-edge technologies to support evidence package that can be utilized high-throughput, “coast-to-coast” coverage. the growing need for high-accuracy and for subsequent legal action. The additional capacity will also support the high-revisit Earth observation," said growing number of customers utilizing Firefly CEO Dr. Tom Markusic. "The “Modern content security is essential for Intelsat managed-service offerings, Firefly Alpha was specifically designed safeguarding the revenue of premium including those working with Intelsat to solve to support the new wave of low Earth live broadcast and streaming services, connectivity challenges for commercial and orbit observation constellations and we and the addition of the Friend MTS private planes, moving vehicles on land and are pleased to be selected by technology into our cloud-based multi- other mobility applications. SATLANTIS to provide launch services DRM solutions ensures robust, end-to- for their constellation.” end protection against a myriad of piracy In 2019, NASA selected Maxar to host its and illegal content access issues,” said TEMPO payload utilizing the Space and "SATLANTIS efforts are aimed at Ali Hodjat, product marketing director for Missile Systems Center Hosted Payload providing governments, national space Intertrust Media Solutions. “We see live Solutions (HoPS) contract vehicle. Now that agencies, and industries seeking space premium sports as an area of great Maxar has identified Intelsat 40e as the capabilities with unparalleled access to concern for our customers as the variety satellite, the company will begin the high-quality Earth observation data, of media access technologies evolves. integration process. TEMPO is a UV-visible without the need to develop costly A d v a n c e d w a t e r m a r k i n g a n d spectrometer that will detect pollutants by programs of their own. Our partnership enforcement in live events has the measuring sunlight reflected and scattered with Firefly complements SATLANTIS potential to prevent significant revenue from the Earth's surface and atmosphere. strategy to deliver these products - by loss from illicit restreaming.” The resulting data from TEMPO will be used providing cost-efficient, on-demand to enhance air-quality forecasts in North launch services to meet the stringent Piracy is a global issue that affects America, enabling the more effective early orbit and revisit requirements of our content rights owners throughout the public warning of pollution incidents. The constellation," said SATLANTIS CEO pay-TV value chain, from major sports combined Intelsat 40e and TEMPO Juan Hernani. events to premium movies and TV programs are expected to be accretive to shows. According to ABI Research, the Maxar's earnings and cash flow on an annual AlonaKolisnyk, Firefly Director of number of households viewing illegally basis throughout the production process. International Business Development, distributed content in some regions is as added that, "We have worked closely high as 15 percent, with 9 percent of “Maxar and Intelsat have a strategic with SATLANTIS to ensure that we will North American households accessing partnership that goes back more than 40 be able to structure the multiple such content illegally. Though these years, and we are honored to have been missions required to deliver their figures may seem small, they represent chosen for Intelsat 40e – the 54th satellite spacecraft to the inclinations of their a potential of $7 billion in additional that Maxar will build for Intelsat over the choosing, on the schedule they require IN THE NEWS AMERICAS revenue per year that the pay-TV industry content is delivered in multiple video the MRC by providing the national could gain by converting just one in four quality levels within OTT video streams, broadcaster with the latest Dejero unauthorized users into paid subscribers. the captions maintain a high quality.” solutions including WayPoint 204 “Prolific growth in piracy is undermining SMPTE ST 2110 receivers, EnGo 260 subscriber revenue and cutting into profits, BATON Captions reports on any drop mobile transmitters, rack-mounted making it essential for content owners, or inaccuracy in captions and audio, as PathWay transmitters, and the LivePlus broadcasters and OTT service operators to well as compliance issues, providing mobile app for iOS and Android devices prioritize anti-theft measures and take broadcasters with automated options across the network. Dejero is also decisive action,” said Simon Hanna, for correcting alignment, text, and providing CBC with connectivity and Regional Vice President, EMEA, Friend spelling mistakes. Captions can be cloud-management services. MTS. “The addition of watermarking and checked against actual audio essence, anti-piracy services to ExpressPlay, corrected, and exported to any industry- “Dejero's proven track record, powered by Friend MTS, has the potential supported caption format. Through auto partnership, and ongoing support have to significantly reduce unauthorized content time stamping with state-of-the-art been invaluable to CBC over the last redistribution and access in a matter of just speech recognition technology, BATON decade," commented François Vaillant, minutes.” Captions adds accurate time to dialogs executive director, engineering solutions in scripts, resulting in faster, more at CBC/Radio-Canada. "Some of the key Interra Systems efficient caption generation. factors that stood out for us when we examined Dejero's technology during simplifies video caption Through web-services-based API the selection process, were that their support, BATON Captions can easily be solutions clearly met CBC's needs and creation with machine integrated with third-party tools. expectations, being reliable and agile, learning-based QC Broadcasters have the option of particularly when broadcasting in deploying the captioning solution on bandwidth-constrained scenarios from Solution premises or in the cloud for added the field.” flexibility. The application comes with a Interra Systems, a leading global provider feature-rich review and editing platform “We are thrilled to have been re-selected of software products and solutions to the with frame-accurate playback options. as the field contribution technology digital media industry, has announced Offering support for a host of subtitle partner of CBC/Radio-Canada, a close BATON Captions, a new addition to its and closed caption formats, BATON relationship we have cultivated for over a BATON platform. Leveraging cutting-edge Captions helps drive globalization of decade," said BogdanFrusina, founder machine learning (ML) and automatic content for broadcasters and other of Dejero. “We look forward to continuing speech recognition technology, BATON media professionals. our support of CBC/Radio-Canada as it Captions brings simplicity and cost savings transitions to IP workflows and to the creation, management, and delivery CBC/Radio-Canada completes its groundbreaking project in of captions for traditional TV and video Montreal.” streaming. BATON Captions allows chooses Dejero for b r o a d c a s t e r s a n d o t h e r m e d i a field contribution This announcement comes on the back professionals to address all of their of a successful year for Dejero that saw captioning needs, from caption generation technology the company being awarded a second to QC, auto corrections, review, and editing. prestigious Technology and Engineering Keeping in mind the high volumes of Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed Emmy® Award recognizing its content being generated and distributed solutions that provide award-winning innovation in the industry, thanks to its today, a defining feature of BATON v i d e o t r a n s p o r t a n d I n t e r n e t Smart Blending Technology and unique Captions is that it offers industry-leading connectivity while mobile or in remote hybrid encoding approach. Last year, performance. Utilizing the high- locations, has announced that it has Dejero was awarded its first Technology performance solution, media companies once again been selected as the and Engineering Emmy® Award for can dramatically expedite the caption primary field contribution solutions 'excellence in engineering creativity', creation and verification processes for both provider for Canada's national public honoring a decade of achievements in live and VOD content. broadcaster, CBC/Radio-Canada the field of live transmission driven by its (CBC). As part of this renewed multi- vision of reliable connectivity anywhere. "Captions have long been mandated by all year agreement, Dejero will help with major broadcasters, and now with the rise in CBC's transition to IP workflows. Disney+ achieves 28.6 global consumption of online content, captions and subtitles represent an A major project that CBC is currently million subscribers in amazing opportunity for television viewers undertaking is relocating the four months to watch and comprehend foreign- broadcaster's French Services HQ to language content with ease. However, the groundbreaking all-IP 'Maison de captions can be tedious and expensive to Radio-Canada' (MRC) broadcast Disney+ has hit 28.6 million subscribers produce. Also, when transitional issues center in Montreal. Upon completion in less than six months, the company has happen throughout the file-based workflow, later this year, the new SMPTE ST 2110 confirmed. The company's first quarterly the delivery of captions becomes more compliant MRC will stand as one of the results since the streamer's launch in five complex," said AnupamaAnantharaman, most advanced, state-of-the-art IP territories met recent estimations from vice president, product management at broadcast facilities in the world, analyst MoffettNathanson. Interra Systems. "BATON Captions supporting CBC's multiplatform and Speaking on Disney's Q1 2020 earnings leverages our industry-proven expertise in ever-increasing digital strategy. call, CEO Bob Iger attributed Disney+'s captions and subtitles QC to simplify this success to “our incredible portfolio of process and improve workflow efficiency. As a long-time partner of CBC in the great brands, the outstanding content Using this solution, broadcasters and area of field contribution, Dejero is from our creative engines and a robust media companies can ensure that when supporting the all-IP infrastructure at technology platform,” adding that “the IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

launch of Disney+ has been enormously known as Aerocivil), is a government access can change lives for the better, successful exceeding even our greatest entity responsible for developing and especially for people living in developing expectations.” Iger added that though the operating a system of air traffic control countries and the world's most remote quarter ended with 26.5 million paid and navigation throughout the country. locations," said John Gedmark, CEO and subscribers, as of Monday February 3, the Comtech EF Data's CDM-425 co-founder of Astranis. "By connecting streamer was tracking at 28.6 million paid Advanced Satellite Modem and LPOD those who need connectivity the most, subscribers. C-Band Block Up Converter (“BUC”) will we're encouraging health, learning, and Of those subscribers, Iger said that “about be deployed to support the backup entrepreneurship across the world.” 20%” came from Verizon, with the US communications network, enabling mobile operator offering the service as a point-to-point links that will transport air The Series B round includes $40 million of free bundled bonus for premium traffic control communications between equity financing led by Venrock with subscribers. Approximately half of the airports and three main cities, including continued investment from Andreessen subscriptions came directly through Bogotá, which will also operate with Horowitz and participation from existing Disneyplus.com. redundant Comtech C-Band LPODs. investors Fifty Years, Refactor Capital, and In terms of pricing, Iger said that making any Y Combinator, among other funds and adjustments is “not a priority of ours right Microsatellite startup angel investors. The recent fundraising now,” but said that “we believed all along also includes a debt facility of up to $50 that we would have an opportunity to Astranis to power next million from TriplePoint Capital, which address pricing as we added more content, Astranis will use to support current and really original content, and the price-value generation of internet future projects. The company is in talks to relationship went up to the consumer.” connectivity kick off new projects around the world in ARPU for the US$6.99 Disney+ was at 2020 and 2021 by partnering with internet US$5.56. service providers (ISPs), established Astranis announced a $90 million satellite operators, governments, and Though the company has sporadically financing round to launch its first many others. Astranis has raised more announced milestones – such as the initial commercial satellite and build the than $108 million in financing to date. As 10 million sign ups within 24 hours – Iger foundation for the internet infrastructure part of the most recent financing round, added that “going forward, it's our intention of the future. The round was led by Ethan Batraski and Dan Berkenstock, to announce subs, as of the end of the Venrock, with significant participation founding CEO of Skybox, joined the quarter that we're reporting on.”The CEO from existing investor Andreessen Astranis Board of Directors. also noted that “both conversion from free Horowitz. to pay and churn rates were better than we Astranis aims to solve a problem in the Astranis was founded in 2015 by John expected.” With subscriber numbers modern space race that hasn't been Gedmark and Ryan McLinko. Astranis's exceeding even Disney's highest cracked: bringing the next four billion world-class team includes leaders and expectations, and with further territories still people online with low-cost, reliable engineers from premier satellite and space to receive the service, the company is on internet. The $120 billion market is programs, including SpaceX, Boeing, course to comfortably exceed its target of growing quickly – demand for internet is Lockheed Martin, Skybox, Planet Labs, 60-90 million by 2024. rising 40% per year, every year – but and NASA, in addition to top talent from until now, there has been no practical, Qualcomm, Apple, and Google. After However, Iger was hesitant to announce cost-effective solution for bringing tripling its headcount in 2019, Astranis is any adjusted targets. “It's far too early for us internet access to remote parts of the now a team of over 100 people. after, basically, a quarter and a little bit more world. Astranis is singularly focused on under our belt to change our guidance, solving this problem. Telespazio Brasil to having not launched in any of the big international markets yet,” he said. “[This is] "Global connectivity is an industry prime build new satellite not in any way [to] pour cold water on them, for disruption," said Ethan Batraski, because we know that those brands are partner at Venrock. "Astranis's team teleport in Maricá, strong in the markets, and this product is and microsatellite technology put them boosting its next-gen already working.” in a strong position to fulfill the needs of the new market, which is vastly different satellite services than the market of 20 or 30 years ago." Satcoms to support Astranis is building a first-of-its-kind offering Colombian airports micro-geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite that is 20 times smaller in size Codemar will lease the site where Telespazio will build one of the most Comtech Telecommunications Corp than that of its predecessors – just 350 kg – compared to traditional satellites advanced Ground Segment facility for subsidiary Comtech EF Data Corp has communications operators in Latin been selected by Bansat S.A. to supply that are upwards of 6,500 kg. Its secret sauce is a flexible, ultra-wideband America. This investment will see satellite communications ground Telespazio reinforce its position as one of equipment to support the Aeronautica Civil software-defined radio technology, which allows Astranis to replace heavy the most important global players in de Colombia's backup communications satellite solutions The initiative is part of network for 28 airports in Colombia. and bulky analog radio hardware with l i g h t w e i g h t , c o m p a c t , d i g i t a l the Municipality of Maricá's plan for the Comtech EF Data Corp is a supplier of t e c h n o l o g y - d r i v e n s u s t a i n a b l e communications equipment with a focus on alternatives. The satellites are small enough to be manufactured and development, which also saw the satellite bandwidth efficiency and link establishment of the joint venture optimization. Bansat provides services over launched in months instead of years, all with more bandwidth than was Leonardo&Codemar S.A. multiple satellites and in C, Ku, and Ka Leonardo, through its subsidiary bands. previously possible with the same form size. Telespazio Brasil, and the Maricà The Aeronautica Civil de Colombia, municipality represented by Codemar Colombia's Civil Aviation Authority (also "We know that increasing internet (Companhia de Desenvolvimento de IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

Maricá), have announced an agreement to Grisham said. “Today marks another develop a new satellite teleport for Virgin Galactic step closer: We will have a genuine telecommunications applications in the welcomes Space Valley in Southern New Mexico, a territory of Maricá (State of Rio de Janeiro, hotbed of innovation and achievement Brazil). SpaceShipTwo unity to and space tourism development. “When Codemar will lease a large parcel of land to spaceport America, Virgin Galactic started moving to New Telespazio, which will design and build the Mexico last year, everyone felt the sheer telecommunication infrastructure required New Mexico magnitude of the task ahead, but we to host one of the largest and most were encouraged and excited by the advanced Ground Segment for new Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc., a vertically team's confidence and strong vision for Satellites Operators in Latin America. The integrated aerospace company, has the future,” said George Whitesides, new teleport will provide telecommunication successfully completed another vital CEO of Virgin Galactic. “Today we services for the Geostationary Earth Orbit step on its path to commercial service, realized the next step in that dream by (GEO) satellites as well as low latency, very relocating SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, to bringing our beautiful spaceship to New high-bandwidth services for the Low Earth its commercial headquarters at Mexico. We still have significant work Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. Spaceport America's Gateway to Space ahead, but we are grateful to all our building. VSS Unity, attached to the teammates who have made this day a This new facility is well positioned to support carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, made the reality.” the growth in demand and challenging journey from Mojave, California, where requirements generated by the Oil & Gas the Company's manufacturing facilities The relocation of VSS Unity to sector in the region, as well to seize are based. The vehicle landed at 15.49 Spaceport America enables the opportunities in other sectors such as MT, where it was greeted by an Company to engage in the final stages of government and maritime operations. enthusiastic group of teammates who will its flight test program. This will begin with operate the spaceship in New Mexico. a number of initial captive carry and glide Maricá is investing in world-class flights from the new operating base in infrastructures with the aim of becoming the This captive carry flight provided an New Mexico, allowing the spaceflight new hub for the Oil & Gas sector, due to its opportunity for engineers to evaluate operations team to familiarize strategic location and in order to support the VSS Unity for over three hours at high themselves with the airspace and sector's growth in Bacia de Santos, the altitude and cold temperatures, a longer ground control. Once these tests are most important oil exploration field in Brazil. period of time than is experienced during complete, the team will carry out a As part of the administration's plan for a missions to space. These environmental number of rocket-powered test flights technology-driven development, Leonardo, evaluations of system performance are from Spaceport America to continue the through its subsidiary Leonardo difficult to replicate at ground level, evaluation of VSS Unity's performance. International, and Codemar recently making captive carry missions a vital During this phase, the final spaceship e s t a b l i s h e d t h e j o i n t v e n t u r e component of VSS Unity's flight test plan. cabin and customer experience Leonardo&Codemar S.A. (49% Codemar The flight also provided a valuable evaluations will also be concluded in and 51% Leonardo) which is focused on opportunity to conduct pilot training and preparation for the start of commercial security, resilience, critical infrastructure familiarization, with veteran Italian Air spaceflight operations. management and innovative services. Force Test Pilot Nicola 'Stick' Pecile joining Chief Pilot Dave 'Mac' Mackay in the cockpit of the spaceship for the first Gilat's first-to-flight Calian selected to deliver time. Nicola is the fifth pilot to complete a ESA terminal Gilat to satellite ground systems flight in VSS Unity. VMS Eve was piloted by Mike 'Sooch' Masucci and Frederick win vast opportunities Calian Group Ltd. has been selected by a 'CJ' Sturckow. in the ESA Market global satellite communications operator for the provision and installation of new radio The move of the spaceship to Spaceport frequency (RF) satellite ground systems. America marks a key step in the Gilat's first-to-flight Electronically Calian SED, a global supplier of relocation of Virgin Galactic's to the state Steered Antenna, ESA terminal communication systems solutions and of New Mexico. In May 2019, Virgin achieved yet another industry-first with products, will support the satellite operator's Galactic announced that as part of this in-flight connectivity over NGSO, that existing systems as well as future move, approximately 100 teammates well-positions Gilat to win the vast deployments. would move to New Mexico from Mojave, opportunities in the ESA market. The California, Spaceport America would d e m o n s t r a t i o n s h o w e d h i g h Delivery on the contract, valued at over become operational and the vehicles performance and instantaneous Ka- CAD $30M, starts in the current fiscal year would be transferred to the Gateway to band switchovers between and and is expected to be completed within Space. Today, nearly all of those team operating on Telesat's Phase 1 LEO approximately two years. The contract will members have relocated, the spaceport satellite and its Anik-F3 GEO satellite, be reported within Calian's Advanced is operationally ready, and both VMS Eve onboard Honeywell's Boeing 757 Technologies segment. “We are excited to and VSS Unity have now arrived. Of commercial test aircraft, across several be working on this program,” said Patrick Virgin Galactic's total current New flight tests. Thera, President, Advanced Technologies. Mexico work force, more than 70 team “We have an excellent reputation for quality members have been hired locally, the Gilat's high throughput and small form in our satellite ground systems. This win result of a conscious effort to attract New factor ESA operated continuously over further demonstrates the value we bring to Mexico-based talent. GEO then instantaneously switched customers for their complex requirements connectivity to operate on LEO when it of higher frequency bands, which are used “New Mexico is going to be the world's came into view, and back to GEO after in high throughput satellite applications.” launchpad for commercial spaceflight,” operating on LEO. The ESA terminal New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan demonstrated high performance, with IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

broadband throughput of up to 58 Mbit/sec applications, low SWaP satellite on both FWD and RTN, round trip delay as t e r m i n a l s , a n t e n n a s , n e t w o r k Satcube Ku first low as 18msec and robust operation at low m a n a g e m e n t s y s t e m s a n d 5 G satellite terminal fully elevation angles of down to 20 degrees. technology solutions. John Restivo, President of Advantech Wireless operational on Intelsat Gilat's ESA is a no moving parts, full Technologies is pleased to announce the FlexMove new high- electronic beam steering flat panel partnership with TXMission, a antenna with an extremely low profile. professional off-the-shelf, end-to-end speed managed Gilat's innovative design combines the satellite communications company. service benefits of ESA with the advantages of Ka- “Advantech plans to integrate our band, as highlighted by the performance microwave RF technology with the achieved in this testing. The ESA terminal TXMission modem, resulting in a system Satcube has launched the lightweight s e r v e s b o t h G E O a n d N G S O level solution that will work across Satcube Ku satellite terminal on constellations and as such opens the multiple Satcom markets. We are certain Intelsat's new FlexMove service, market to low latency real-time this relationship will present new providing broadband connectivity to applications. opportunities for Advantech.” Steve Satcube users in nearly 190 countries. Gilat's multi-orbit ESA switchover McHugh, Chairman of TXMission, stated Satcube Ku is the first satellite terminal capabilities will enable airlines to future- “This is an exciting development that fully operational for Intelsat FlexMove proof their connectivity decisions,” said combines our unique SDR technology Comms on the Pause (COTP) Michel Forest, Director of Systems with Advantech's renowned RF applications. Intelsat's first-of-its-kind Engineering for the LEO Program at capabilities.” “FlexMove”, end-terminal managed Telesat. “Airlines will be able to access service including the Satcube Ku, offers high-performing Ka-band connectivity affordable connectivitythat is 20 times today, and easily incorporate LEO low- New Digital River faster than current Land Mobile satellite latency connectivity without replacing solutions on the market. terminals. Our ongoing development shows how satellite The partnership enables on-the-spot efforts with our valued partner Gilat will brings connection to portable broadband access and an ensure airlines have flexibility and ability outstanding service offering based on to meet their inflight data requirements of even the most remote Intelsat EpicNG satellites for Satcube the future.” of rural villages users around the globe, in addition to a “Gilat's innovative ESA terminal opens up new market opportunity for solutions great opportunities in the commercial and providers and resellers. business aviation markets with a winning Space & Satellite Professionals proposition that addresses the two major International, SSPI released The Digital At only 8 kilos, Satcube's compact ESA industry growth dynamics: mobility, River, its newest Better Satellite World terminal provides portable connectivity, with emphasis on in-flight connectivity, video. It tells the story of how Viasat featuring an intuitive user interface with and the upcoming NGSO constellations,” brought satellite connections to more assisted pointing function to enable said RoniStoleru, Vice President Antenna than 1.8 million people in rural Mexico, satellite broadband access in 60 Products & Strategy at Gilat. “We are giving them their first access to the online seconds in the most remote locations. appreciative of the collaboration with our world. Viasat was the first company in the The Satcube Ku is a perfect match for long-standing partners, Honeywell and world to introduce a new kind of satellite Intelsat FlexMove COTP (Comms-on- Telesat and look forward to continued broadband—one with high speeds and the-Pause) services designed for cooperation.” competitive costs. More than a half- temporary use in fixed locations. million Americans and US businesses Satcube Ku terminal is not vertical- subscribe to its broadband service. With specific, complementing the entire Advantech announces its Community Wi-Fi program, based Intelsat portfolio. technology and around a single Wi-Fi hotspot in the center of each village, the company has -”With the unique new Intelsat FlexMove distribution partnership found a way to deliver service at a price partnership, Satcube users can now with TXMission that rural Latin Americans can afford. access broadband connectivity, quickly, almost anywhere on earth,” says Jakob Advantech Wireless Technologies Inc., Kallmer, CEO, Satcube. ”Open up the has signed a sales and distribution “Viasat is one of more than 20 Satcube, point it to the correct Epic agreement with the California and companies that has supported the Better satellite and get broadband connectivity Watford, England based TXMission, a Satellite World campaign, our industry's in under a minute. The sophisticated designer and manufacturer of high program to engage and educate future i n t e l l i g e n c e o f F l e x M o v e w i l l performance SmallSat modems for the customers, employees and investors automaticall identify which satellite is New Space Industry. The companies will about the enormous contributions of best suited at that place and time." together develop a comprehensive suite space and satellite to life on Earth. It Joel Schroeder, Director of Intelsat's of SmallSat, Airborne and Comms-On- presents dramatic stories of satellite and Land Mobile business, '"Exploding data The-Move (COTM) communication space technology serving people, from consumption and the need for products for markets requiring versatile, agriculture and electric utilities to connectivity everywhere, even in the extremely low size, weight and power aviation, shipping, security, finance, most remote and hostile locations, is a (SWaP) products that provide leading- healthcare, education, broadband and key motivator for a new generation edge performance. The range of fully the Internet of Things. Through the global service offering to meet the needs integrated SmallSat and UAV/Airborne stories we tell, SSPI inspires the growth of today's heavy data users. FlexMove's products to be developed will include of the $1 trillion space economy of the unique high-throughput global network advanced RF transceivers, multi-gigabit future.” and Satcube's easy-to-use interface modems for onboard and ground segment provides users with portable, high-speed IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

connectivity.” services needed to gather and report scheme, enabled on-the-fly switching Satcube Ku enables people and local weather tracking and forecasting between various SCPC and MF-TDMA organizations on-the-go to create an easy data using capacity on the Hughes waveforms based on the running to use Wi-Fi hotspot and get high-speed JUPITER™ 1 (EchoStar XVII) and applications and set up triggers. All this is broadband connection in less than a JUPITER 2 (EchoStar XIX) High- aimed by means of a distinctive minute to execute critical on-the-spot Throughput Satellites (HTS). At mission- technology in line with directives of the work assignments and communication. critical locations, Hughes will provide 4G country national defense strategy. Tapping the benchmark lightweight LTE wireless backup that ensures a dual- Satcube Ku terminal and Intelsat's path network architecture for increased ubiquitous, global connectivity, the availability. Also as part of the managed combined solution is ideal for broadcast service, the team will install Hughes 5GLIVE to advance 5G media companies, emergency response, HR4860 Secure SD-WAN Gateways at potential across law enforcement, public safety the locations and provide a live organizations, tele-medicine, NGO's, dashboard with 24x7 access to network industries worldwide industry and those with remote work performance data and analytics. l o c a t i o n s a n d h i g h c a p a c i t y 5GLIVE will showcase the most communications needs. "This expansion of our longstanding innovative, cutting edge 5G use cases partnership with ERT, Inc. in support of across a range of industry verticals, when the National Weather Service is a the show launches later this year. Total Blue Origin opens testament to the essential power of Telecom's brand new event will shine a Huntsville engine connectivity to impact lives every day," spotlight on the transformative potential of said Tony Bardo, assistant vice president next generation connectivity across a factory of government solutions at Hughes. "The range of verticals, including transport, work of the NWS ensures the manufacturing, finance, healthcare, Blue Origin opened its rocket engine preparedness of people nationwide, and utilities and media production facility in Huntsville, AL. The we are proud to deliver the network they world-class engine manufacturing facility need to carry out their mission with 5GLIVE will be held at the ExCel, London in The Rocket City will conduct high rate speed, flexibility, and reliability.” from September 23-24, and will explore production of the BE-4 and BE-3U how 5G will enable new, agile business engines. These engines will undergo models and the development of 5G- testing at NASA Marshall Space Flight SpaceBridge delivered enabled products and services. The event Center on the historic Test Stand 4670. will bring together 400 leading industry BE-7, our lunar landing engine, is also geographically speakers from the likes of Bosch, currently in test at NASA Marshall. redundant VSAT Deutsche Telekom, E.ON, Telefonica and UEFA, acting as a one stop shop for “At the core of every successful launch platform's for Border industry buyers and sellers alike. vehicle program are the engines that Security ProgramS power those vehicles to space. Early on in “We are thrilled to be hosting leading Blue Origin's history, we made a crucial industry experts and operators at 5GLIVE decision to invest in developing the next paceBridge has delivered to principal South American defense entity to further accelerate the innovation generation of reusable rocket engines. potential of 5G across the global And now, it's an exciting time for Blue, our geographically redundant Military Satellite Communication Network economy.” said Rob Chambers, partners and this country –we are on the Managing Director at Total Telecom. “The path to deliver on our promise to end the Systems for the prestigious project known as the largest border security event will showcase how 5G will be the reliance on Russian made engines – and cornerstone of Industry 4.0. The initial it's all happening right here, right now, in program in South America. SpaceBridge was selected and delivered to the response to 5GLIVE has been the great state of Alabama. We couldn't outstanding and we look forward to be prouder to call this our home for engine Communications and Electronic Warfare Command of the South American Army welcoming the people driving the future production,” said Bob Smith, CEO of Blue digital economy. Origin. geographically redundant satellite communications platforms. 5GLIVE will gather over 2,000 people ERT, Inc., Hughes SpaceBridge designs, builds and from CSP's and multiple vertical i n t e g r a t e s a s t a t e - o f - t h e - a r t , industries, 800 organisations and over 50 selected to expand geographically redundant VSAT world-renowned keynote speakers. They platforms, connecting to VSAT Gateway include the CTO of Swisscom, the CCO of managed network Hub with the FlyAway Remote GE Power, CEO of BT Enterprise and services across the U.S. Terminals, Mobile User Terminals and SVPs from Lego and Deutsche Telekom. Fixed terminals. The delivered network The event will comprise ten dedicated ERT, Inc., one of NOAA's largest science incorporates SpaceBridge's ASATTM VSAT platform for Satellite Broadband content streams including 5GPLACES – and technology contractors, together with to focus on the inevitable advancements Hughes Network Systems, announced Multiservice applications, including WaveSwitchTM multi-waveform of the future for urban living; their selection by the National Weather 5GTRANSPORT – looking into the value Service (NWS) to upgrade and expand switching technology, its superior adaptive waveform optimization, for of 5G networks from both a private and managed satellite and wireless services public perspective of transport, and how at NWS locations in the contiguous United fixed and mobile satellite communication solution for enabling various mission these can drive connected and States, Hawaii, Alaska, and Pacific autonomous vehicles; 5GFINANCE – Region. critical entities to operate tactical a p p l i c a t i o n s i n r e a l t i m e . looking at the benefits of 5G connectivity ERT and subcontractor Hughes will for the finance and banking ecosystem. provide the NWS with the network WaveSwitchTM, dynamic access IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

5GLIVE will have over 250 partnering the satellite network has already started “Satellite Technology of the Year” award companies including sponsors, exhibitors in 100 communities and will ultimately and excited to show that there is real and start-ups. It will also include a new reach 250 rural locations in Argentina. progress and a viable solution for 5GSTARTUPS stage for technology reducing the digital divide and bringing disruptors to pitch to VCs and Investors to The deployment will focus on connectivity to vast, underserved explore new areas of development. Patagonia, Cuyo, Centro and Noroeste, regions.”From the host of the prestigious Free tickets are available for attendees in connecting the sites with 2G, 3G and 4G “Satellite Executive of the Year Award”, the Telecoms, Manufacturing, Health, mobile radio bases, via the Ku-band Via Satellite has a longstanding history of Utilities, Transport, Agriculture, Media, capacity of the HISPASAT 30W-5 and recognizing the people leading the Finance and Public Sector industries. HISPASAT 30W-6 satellites. charge for the satellite industry. Interested attendees can register for “Last year, we introduced a new award, 5GLIVE on the website. Satellite Technology of the Year ForswayXtend (STOTY), an award that recognizes the nominated for Via impact of a specific technology that is GVF opens Associate making a difference in our industry. In Satellite's 2019 2019, Intellian deservedly became the Membership benefits to Satellite Technology of first winners of this Award,” said Mark world's emerging Holmes. “We have a terrific set of the Year Award nominees and we await to see which satellite start-ups company become our second winners of the STOTY Award.” GVF, the global trade association of the Forsway, a leading provider of satellite industry representing the entire innovative solutions tapping satellite value chain, today announced the and existing terrestrial technologies to creation of a new category of membership enable cost-efficient broadband, SmartSat Cooperative for start-ups and early stage companies announces ForswayXtend has been with business goals that include satellite nominated for Via Satellite's 2019 Research Centre communications. Qualified NewSpace Satellite Technology of the Year Award. announces details of companies will now be able to join GVF The nominees are chosen based on and enjoy the many benefits of Associate innovation, benefit to the industry, and its first R&D projects Membership at no cost for an initial one overall disruption to the satellite year period. David Meltzer, Secretary landscape. General of GVF, commented “Integral to Forsway has challenged the high cost SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre GVF's mission of promoting the greater of reaching underserviced markets by announced details of its first R&D industry, this program is intended to deploying a cost-efficient hybrid satellite projects, prioritising water security, embrace NewSpace members in their extension. ForswayXtend has been built disaster management, and advanced formative years, helping accelerate their to remove the complexity of rolling-out telecommunications innovation. entry into our fast-growing satellite satellite broadband to underserved Following the nation's crippling summer ecosystem. In effect it's a fast track to a regions while enabling monetization of of bushfires, top priority for the CRC is win-win scenario, offering maximum unused bandwidth. Operators can now development of accurate, reliable leverage of their entrepreneurial work offer services to untapped markets while communications technology for disaster through collaboration with the well- helping to facilitate a connected, management, which will see SmartSat established industry leaders of our wide- empowered and equitable global collaborate with NASA, the Australian ranging, global membership. society. Maritime Safety Authority, and local ” Xtend's easy to deploy hardware and industry partner, Safety from Space, on a Upon joining as Associate Members, service ecosystem unites the best of project with broad international NewSpace companies will benefit from satellite and terrestrial networks (global implications. GVF initiatives, solutions and products in coverage of satcom and affordability “Critical communications infrastructure the fields of: Regulation, spectrum & and low latency of terrestrial networks), is often damaged during a major fire policy; Terminal type approvals; Product eliminating the need for expensive incident, which may complicate rescue quality assurance; Network validation; additional network (fiber, xDSL or LTE) efforts and put lives at further risk,” Prof Market intelligence; Training & infrastructure. The solution can be Koronios says. “We are meeting with certification; Products, services, case adapted to multiple customer NASA this week to discuss a project that s t u d i e s & o r g a n i z a t i o n a l n e w s deployment scenarios and diverse will adapt existing emergency beacon promotions; Speaking opportunities at up/downstream technologies including technologies into a form of miniaturised events, and participation in Working 5 G a n d e m e r g i n g L E O / M E O satellite radio, connected into a national Groups constellations, and, provided as an incident data management system that . OEM. A Forsway hybrid ODIN F-50 will deliver a complete, real-time picture terminal costs 5 to 10 times less than a of disaster zones and ensure reliable VSAT terminal, including installation - communication for individuals and Claro Argentina taps w i t h s i m i l a r d o w n l i n k communities in danger.” performance.“Today the satellite HISPASAT for rural 3G, industry is experiencing overcapacity In a separate project, SmartSat will 4G coverage and unused bandwidth, yet 45% of the prove-up technologies that will enable its global population remains underserved partners and relevant agencies to or has no broadband access - primarily establish a national network to monitor Claro Argentina has enlisted Spanish outside urban areas including rural US the quality and quantity of surface and satellite operator HISPASAT to provide 3G and other industrialized countries,” says ground water across the country. and 4G internet access to 250 rural Tobias Forsell, CEO, Forsway. Dubbed the 'AquaWatch Australia communities throughout the country via a We are thrilled to be a finalist nominee Mission', this project is to be undertaken cellular backhaul solution. The rollout of for this year's Via Satellite prestigious in partnership with the CSIRO, and with

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