satmagazine.com table of Contents Click on the title to go directly to the story FEATURES The State of the Art of the Satellite Industry by Virgil Labrador ............. 15 The Satellite Broadband Promise by Dan Freyer ............................................ 19 SES Americom: “We’ll Jump-start A2H this Year”by Chris Forrester ............ 23 Are You Protected? by John M. Puetz............................................................... 26 European Pay-TV: “The Rise and Rise of DTH” by Chris Forrester ................ 28 VIEWPOINT Post-War Opportunities in the Satellite Industry by Bruce Elbert .............................................................. 31 What happens when the war in Iraq iis over and life returns to normal? I am an optimist and can foresee how satellite communications will provide the key to rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan. COMPANY SPOTLIGHT REGULAR DEPARTMENTS SES Global--Preparing for 2010 Calendar of Events 5 by Chris Forrester................................. 33 Industry News 6 SES is involved in three new initiatives, Executive Moves 10 each designed to Product and considerably boost Service Reviews 12 income over the long Featured Event: ISCe 37 term. Vital Statistics-TV Titans 42 Advertisers Index 42 Country Profile: Nigeria 43 2 satmagazine.com letter from the Publisher Published monthly by Satnews Publishers 800 Siesta Way, Sonoma, CA 95476 USA Phone (707) 939-9306, Fax (707) 939-9235 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.satmagazine.com Introducing SATMAGAZINE EDITORIAL A new Way to Get Timely and Silvano Payne Relevant Information Publisher Virgil Labrador I started SatNews in 1984 when the commercial Managing Editor satellite industry was still almost in its infancy. Our and Editor, The Americas mission then as it is now—is to provide the industry Chris Forrester with timely, relevant and accurate information. Editor, Europe, Middle East Starting with the International Satellite Directory, and Africa now on its 18th year of publication, and our highly successful SatNews.com portal we have striven to Contributing Writers: keep up with business and technology sides of this John Puetz constantly evolving industry. Bruce Elbert Dan Freyer As we are now experiencing the worst downturn The Americas in the industry in recent memory, I think it is appropriate that we launch a new magazine. The Peter Marshall need for relevant and accurate information is most Roger Stanyard acute during periods of difficulty. Information has a Europe way of lifting the fog of ambiguity that can stifle the Baden Woodford growth of the industry as a whole. Africa Also, appropriately, being the first all-electronic Peter I. Galace publication in the satellite industry we are able to Art and Production Editor slash the costs of printing and postage that become a drag on the finances of our corporate sponsors. Advertising Sales: We can therefore concentrate our efforts on Jill Durfee bringing you topical and relevant in-depth articles. Satnews Publishers is the leading provider of information on We therefore are proud to present to you, the worldwide satellite industry. Fore more information, go to SATMAGAZINE.COM — with a mix of features, www.satnews.com. news, opinion and data that you can use—written by people in the satellite industry, for the industry. By subscribing to the SATMAGAZINE.COM, you’ll get the magazine delivered directly to you each time its published. This way, you’ll never miss a beat. We can help you keep your competitive edge in today's dynamic environment. © Copyright 2003 3 satmagazine.com Message fromArthur C. Clarke Columbo, Sri Lanka 28th March, 2003 Dear Silvano Payne, I receive a new media project almost every day: it’s nice to be wanted, except by INTERPOL… However, now that I have reluctantly accepted my limitations of time and energy, most enquirers receive my ‘Kindly Drop Dead’ reply form. However, I’d like to send my best wishes to you for your forthcoming magazine – SatMagazine.Com Yours sincerely Sir Arthur C. Clarke 4 satmagazine.com calendar of events Kristie Morris Las Vegas, Nev., (800) 342-2460 or (202) 429-4194 April 5-10 NAB2003 USA E-mail: [email protected] www.nab.org/conventions/nab2002/ Tel: 410-531-6034 or toll free 1- 888-501-2100; Huntsville, Launch Vehicle Systems -- April 8-10 Fax 410-531-1013 E-mail: Alabama Reusables [email protected] Web: www.aticourses.com Julian Clover Tel: +44 20 7585 3849/+44 1371 Prague, Czech EBC 2003: Broadband in an 810433 April 9-11 Republic Enlarged eEurope Email: [email protected] Web: www.ebc2003.com Dana Marcus Tel: (310) 563-1223 / Fax: (310) 563-1220 April 10-11 Orlando, FL LINK 16 Seminar E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.TechnologyTraining.com Tel: 410-531-6034 or toll free 1- 888-501-2100; Cape Canaveral, Launch Vehicle Systems -- April 10-12 Fax 410-531-1013 E-mail: FL U.S.A. Reusables , [email protected] Web: www.aticourses.com Shana Axemaker 17th Annual International Tel: (360) 6763290 Fax: (360) Orlando, Florida Symposium on April 21-25 6471445 USA Aerospace/Defense Sensing, E-mail: [email protected] Simulation, and Controls Website: www.spie.org Dana Marcus Tel: (310) 563-1223 / Fax: (310) MGM Grand Hotel Military Data Links 563-1220 April 28-29 & Casino, Las Conference E-mail: [email protected] Vegas, NV, U.S.A. Website: www.TechnologyTraining.com Tel: 410-531-6034 or toll free 1- 888-501-2100; San Jose, CA, Satellite Communication - An April 28-29 Fax 410-531-1013 E-mail: U.S.A. Essential Intro [email protected] Web: www.aticourses.com Tel: 410-531-6034 or toll free 1- 888-501-2100; Washington DC/ April 28-30 Solid Rocket Design Fax 410-531-1013 E-mail: MD, U.S.A. [email protected] Web: www.aticourses.com 5 satmagazine.com industry news EchoStar to Launch in Enterprises has been May; New Satellite to awarded Teleport Test First Ever Ka-Band Technology of the Year for its Hot-Air De-Icing Systems. Commercial Service WTA presented the Littleton, Colo./March 11, awards at an invitational 2003/ EchoStar ceremony and luncheon last Communications Corp. has week. announced that its EchoStar IX satellite is scheduled to launch in For the second May 2003. The satellite will EchoStar IX satellite will launch consecutive year, the launch from a floating platform from a floating platform aboard a Association awarded its at the equator aboard a Sea Sea Launch rocket. Teleport Developer of the Launch rocket. Year honor to a facility television channels, including based in the American state of The EchoStar IX satellite is interactive TV services, sports Hawaii. equipped with one of the first programming, high definition commercial Ka-band spot-beam television and international Hawaii Pacific Teleport payloads for use over the United programming. (HPT) connects global businesses States and will be critical to the through a network of satellites development of future An additional C-band and fiber optic cables reaching generations of Ka-band services. payload on the EchoStar IX from North America as far west EchoStars Ka-band portion of the satellite will be owned and as the Indian subcontinent. satellite will be used to test, operated by Loral Skynet, a Unlike American mainland verify and deliver future wholly owned subsidiary of Loral teleports, HPT can see all the broadband initiatives for the Space and Communications, as Asia-Pacific orbital slots between company. The satellite payload Telstar 13. 128E and 165E. There are also includes 32 Ku-Band fixed currently five Asian satellites satellite services (FSS) with spot beams on Hawaii. HPT transponders, at approximately Hawaii Pacific Teleport, is the only FCC-licensed teleport 120 watts, that will enhance Hot-Air De-Icing Sys- with antennas pointed at three of the five. This coverage enables EchoStars current U.S. DISH tems from W.B. Walton Network satellite TV service, HPT to serve customers located including additional service for Enterprises Win Awards as far west as Pakistan and in all Alaska and Hawaii. The satellite from World Teleport countries eastward to Hawaii will operate at the 121 degree Association plus customers in Australia, New West Longitude orbital location. Zealand and many Pacific March 5, 2003/ World Islands. With the successful launch of Teleport Association has EchoStar IX, constructed by announced that Hawaii Pacific WTA cited W.B. Walton Space Systems/Loral based in Teleport is this years recipient of Enterprises for helping teleports Palo Alto, Calif., EchoStar Teleport Developer of the Year and satellite earth station continues to invest in new award while W. B. Walton operators de-ice their dishes satellite technologies to expand during the past 21 year. services for its 8.18 million While it is defined by customers nationwide. EchoStar IX will join EchoStars current fleet of eight satellites that Teleport Technology of provide DISH Network customers the Year: W.B. Walton with hundreds of all-digital Enterprises’ Hot-Air De-Icing Systems 6 satmagazine.com industry news some as a low-tech business, notes will mature on March 15, the WTA cited the companys 2013 and are callable on or after continuous focus on its core March 15, 2008. business and its commitment to quality and innovation as another The notes are guaranteed by example of how a company can all of DirecTVs domestic be successful over the long term subsidiaries. After consideration in the satellite communications of the undrawn revolving credit industry. W.B. Walton, facility and payment of headquartered in Riverside, transaction fees, approximately California refers to itself as The $2.75 billion of the proceeds Original Hot-Air De-Icing from the financing will be paid Company and has over 4,000 to Hughes in a distribution that systems installed throughout the will be used to repay $506 world. million of outstanding short-term debt, fund Hughes business plan AMC-9 undergoes final tests through projected cash flow before it is shipped to the breakeven and for Hughes other Baikonur Cosmodrome in Hughes and DirecTV corporate purposes.