ORBCOMM, KCM team up to provide global telematics solution

M2M communications and solutions provider ORBCOMM Inc. has collaborated with Kobelco Construction Machinery Co. Ltd., to deliver global telematics application.

Kobelco will use the global satellite communications network of ORBCOMM to keep track and monitor the location, status and performance of equipment they use for construction. The powerful on-board system of the KCM will allow their customers to gain essential operating advantages and cost savings through improved visibility and better asset management of their machinery.

In a company statement, ORBCOMM CEO Marc Eisenberg said: “KCM’s agreement with ORBCOMM further demonstrates our market leadership as the top choice for wireless M2M network service among the largest global manufacturers in the heavy equipment industry. With the growing importance of cost-effective, reliable connectivity in powering M2M applications, ORBCOMM will play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of KCM’s high-performance asset monitoring solution in key international markets.”

Thuraya introduces satellite adaptor for iPhones

Thuraya Telecommunications, an international mobile satellite services provider, has just introduced its adaptor called Thuraya SatSleeve designed to deliver satellite connectivity to Apple’s iPhone.

A little bigger than the iPhone, Thuraya SatSleeve is intended to be a compact adaptor that aims to provide easy and affordable access to mobile satellite communications over the Thuraya satellite network. As such, it will enable users to keep in touch via voice and text, something that terrestrial networks that have limited coverage cannot do.

Speaking about the recent launch, Thuraya CEO Samer Halawi noted, “The launch of Thuraya SatSleeve represents a major milestone and a game-changing innovation in the satellite industry. This is the first consumer friendly mobile satellite phone ever launched, which dramatically increases the reach to satellite telephony for enterprise, government, and everyday consumers alike. It provides iPhone users with a versatile and highly affordable means of conducting phone calls and sending SMS via satellite from the world’s most remote locations."

Four Of The World's Largest Fixed Satellite Operators Announce A Few Surprises At Satellite 2013

Named as the "big four" at the last SATELLITE 2013, the FSS panel, Intelsat, Eutelsat, SES, and Telesat, dropped a few surprises and came out worry-free despite centered on financing and the diminishing ability to raise capital in the industry on the account of the recession in the past few years.

David McGlade, Intelsat Chairman and CEO, singled out ULA’s Delta 5 rocket as an excellent, but pricey choice to launch his satellites.

Eutelsat's CEO, Michael de Rose, on the other hand, told the audience that the most significant moment for the satellite industry last year was the death of Apple Founder and CEO Steve Jobs, who he called “the true pioneer of mobility and an innovator that made, and will continue to make, a considerable impact on our industry.”

Praising technological developments from O3b Systems, SES CEO, Romain Bausch, talked about it going so far as to call it the most significant development of the past year. It is important to note that SES has a considerable financial investment in the worldwide satellite broadband provider.

Giving two of the more surprising answers of the panel session was Telesat's CEO, Dan Goldberg. The first was when he was asked how long it would take for Ultra HD to really make an impact on the bandwidth markets. While the three other panelists said that this would most likely happen in the 2015 to 2016 timeframe, Goldberg didn’t think Ultra HD would make its presence known for at least another five years – in 2018 – despite the upcoming 2016 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games, both happening in Brazil.

He also praised McGlade and Intelsat for the operator’s Epic NG offering, saying, "Most likely emulate Intelsat’s approach with another high-throughput-style offering. The EpicNG development just makes sense for our market and that’s the direction we may take in the future.”

However, with McGlade and de Rosen expressed excitement over the new capability, and Bausch and Goldberg said that they didn’t believe these solutions would make much of a difference, the panelists didn't agree on the potential impact of in-orbit servicing and satellite re-purposing on the operator business.

Avanti Communications To Help In Bringing Ka-Band To Libya

With the help of Europe's pioneer in Ka-band satellite technology, Avanti Communications Group PLC's Hylas 2 satellite, the Libyan satellite provider, Sana, is planning to offer broadband services to businesses and government organizations that are helping rebuild Libya.

Sana's spokesman, Aimen Sabkha, said in a statement, “Thanks to the flexibility of Avanti’s Ka-band technology, we can optimize our services to create high speed resilient and secure networks for large enterprises and domestic consumers. By using satellite, consumers can get connected and businesses can operate effectively which supports the economic growth of the country.”

Sabkha also adds that satellite broadband is expected to play an essential role in the re-emergence of Libya after recent political instability.

With only 5.5% of Libyans who have access to the internet, Libya currently holds one of the lowest rates in terms in the Middle East and North Africa, connecting at the lowest internet speeds in the region at that. This new tie-up between the two companies may be successful as the demand from the consumers in the region is predicted to continuously rise. Also, Sana expects to provide backhaul support services in the future.


See also: Glowlink To Monitor Satellite Links for NOAA

Boeing taps GE Aviation to provide Inertial Navigation Technology for its next-gen satcom system

GE Aviation, a subsidiary of General Electric, recently won a contract with Boeing to install inertial reference units for its wideband phased array satellite communications systems designed for airborne mobile communications.

The state-of-the-art units will provide the technology to deliver orientation and position using data from Global Positioning System (GPS) for next-generation satellite communications systems. The system can be used for surveillance, target acquisition and satellite antenna pointing purposes in land vehicles and airborne and seaborne applications. The reference units combine GPS and inertial data to deliver high-accuracy continuous location, heading, pitch and roll data in moving and stationary vehicles.

“Tactical inertial navigation is an area of expertise for our team,” GE Aviation VP and General Manager of Avionics George Kiefer said in a statement. “The inertial reference unit delivers continuous navigation data required for next-generation satellite communication systems in stationary and moving vehicles and aircraft.”

The cutting-edge Ka-band phased array satcom antenna system of Boeing enables customers to enjoy and take advantage of the significant increase in bandwidth provided by next-generation Ka-band satellites to deliver data between aircraft in-flight and the ground network. Boeing developed these communications antenna technologies to enhance platform capabilities to remain connected even when mobile.