Microcom's Space Newsfeed 23 November 2003<br />Space Industry News from Around the World<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Web resources from Microcom Systems:<br /><br />Satellite Industry Links: the largest free satellite and space industry directory on the web
http://www.satellite-links.co.uk<br /><br />Satellite on the Net: white papers, industry events, launch information and space bookshop
http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk<br /><br />Jobs in Space: space industry recruitment
http://www.space-jobs.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Advertise on Microcom's websites and reach over 25,000 space and satellite industry professionals each month.
http://www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk/ratecard.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />New from Microcom - commercial web hosting, website design and implementation, website management and maintenance, DomainSafe: safeguarding unwanted domain names<br /><br />For more information:
http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk/microcom/webservices.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Contents<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Satcoms:<br />China National Ocean Oil Corporation Uses ViaSat's StarWire Technology<br />Danish Radio100FM powered by PROFline DVB system<br />HNS Inaugurates North Las Vegas Network Operations Facility<br />LinkStar Selected by Guangzhou Weida to Expand Chinese Broadband Network<br />New Skies to Link More Than 500 Locations in Bulgaria<br />Sky Perfect to Upgrade Headend Sites With DiviCom Encoders<br /><br />Earth Observation:<br />NOAA Awards Harris Corporation Advanced Architecture Study<br /><br />Navigation:<br />Boeing Awarded Three Additional Air Force GPS-IIF Satellites<br /><br />Manned Space:<br />Lockheed Martin to Provide Cargo Mission Services For ISS<br />Spacehab Lands New Space Station Mission<br /><br />Technology:<br />NASA Successfully Tests Ion Engine<br /><br />Launch Services:<br />NASA Reaches Major Milestone in Development of an Autonomous Flight Safety System<br /><br />Business:<br />Court Approves Acquisition of Globalstar by Thermo Capital Partners<br />Ofcom Begins Operation<br />Sirius Announces Common Stock Offering<br /><br />Products and Services:<br />France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications Completes Range of Prepaid Inmarsat Cards<br />Intelsat Launches New Video Distribution Network with Level 3<br />WCC Offers Iridium's Short Burst Data Services<br /><br />People:<br />iDirect Technologies Hires VP of Operations<br />iSECUREtrac Appoints David G Vana CFO<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SMi's Global MILSATCOM<br />24th and 25th November 2003<br />Radisson SAS, Portman Hotel, London<br /><br />SMi's Fifth Annual Global MILSATCOM Conference brings together an international line-up of speakers to analyse current requirements and projects along with future developments in the field of Military Satellite Communications. For further details and to download a conference brochure and registration form, please visit:
www.smi-online.co.uk/milsatcom3.asp<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Bolton Associates - Corporate Strategies applies 21st. Century thinking for the Earth Observation, SatCom and Environment Industries that penetrate new markets using creative commercial Risk models and innovation.<br /><br />Visit us at
http://www.BoltonAssociates.com and/or download our Power Point presentation
http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk/ads/EOConsult.ppt [131Kb]<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Space Bookshop - books for space professionals.<br />
http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk/bookshop.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Satcoms<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />China National Ocean Oil Corporation Uses ViaSat's StarWire Technology<br /><br />(18 November 2003) ViaSat Inc will supply satellite networking for China CNOOC Limited, the dominant producer of crude oil and natural gas offshore in China. The network will carry high-speed data, videoconferencing and voice/fax services for CNOOC operations in about 40 locations using ViaSat StarWire bandwidth-on-demand VSATs.<br /><br />StarWire is the first VSAT system to use Paired Carrier Multiple Access (PCMA), that can as much as double the capacity of satellite bandwidth. No financial terms were announced.<br /><br />CNOOC is switching to StarWire from a competing VSAT technology to take advantage of the bandwidth savings of PCMA. StarWire's PCMA advantage saves CNOOC up to 10 MHz in satellite bandwidth rental. CNOOC will be the first customer to use the new Calypso IV terminal that can accommodate two high-speed, PCMA capable modems per chassis. ViaSat also developed a low-cost L-band to 70 MHz converter so that CNOOC could continue using its installed base of 70 MHz transceivers and antennas. While a central network control station will be located in Beijing, StarWire directly connects all remote sites in a peer-to-peer network architecture. CNOOC will be connecting Beijing with six "sub-centres" that each supervise operations at a number of offshore locations.<br /><br />CNOOC is implementing this comprehensive StarWire network after a Phase I trial that measured the bandwidth savings of PCMA. PCMA is a patented ViaSat technology that increases the capacity of satellite bandwidth. While most satellite transmissions require separate frequencies to transmit and receive, PCMA combines them into the same bandwidth. A terminal equipped with PCMA recognises the signal that it sent and simply cancels out that information, leaving it with the information received from any other location. PCMA is compatible with all modulation, coding, and multiple access techniques on "bent pipe" satellites.<br /><br />Incorporated in Hong Kong in August 1999, CNOOC is one of the largest independent crude oil and gas exploration and production companies in the world. The company has interests in 45 crude oil and gas properties in four major producing areas: Bohai Bay, Western South China Sea, Eastern South China Sea and East China Sea.<br /><br />(source: ViaSat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Danish Radio100FM powered by PROFline DVB system<br /><br />(18 November 2003) PROFline has completed the delivery of a new smallband DVB-S compliant audio satellite system for the Dutch based Talpa Radio International (holding company of Dutch commercial broadcasters NoordzeeFM and Radio10FM).<br /><br />The new Danish commercial broadcaster Radio100FM officially started broadcasting on November 15th.<br /><br />The PROFline smallband satellite is based on the latest DVB-S technologies including RDS data transport supporting dynamic RDS and occupies only 256 kb/s, fitting perfectly in Eutelsat’s requirement of 360 kHz channel spacing.<br /><br />The uplink is situated in Copenhagen. Both MPEG audio and RDS data are transmitted to the satellite as a DVB-S compliant satellite signal. With a symbol rate of 256 kb/s the signal has an excellent performance for radio distribution. On the uplink PROFline’s DVB Packetiser takes care of multiplexing the MPEG audio signal with RDS data and adding the DVB packets.<br /><br />On the reception side the TRS, PROFline’s DVB audio satellite receiver, supplies both analogue and digital AES/EBU audio as well as UECP compliant RDS data over the RS-232 output.<br /><br />The audio and RDS-data are transmitted all over Denmark by FM and Cable TV.<br /><br />(source: PROFline)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />HNS Inaugurates North Las Vegas Network Operations Facility<br /><br />(18 November 2003) Hughes Network Systems (HNS) has commenced initial network operations in its new North Las Vegas, Nevada location. The West Coast Operations centre will become an essential site for managing the company's nation-wide DirecWay satellite service, including support of SpaceWay, the company's advanced Ka band satellite system scheduled for launch next year.<br /><br />The North Las Vegas facility consolidates west coast operations of DirecWay, serving a wide range of enterprise customers, small and medium-sized businesses, and consumer residential services. DirecWay provides a modular set of integrated broadband access, network services and corporate applications, such as financial and point of sale transactions, business video and Intranet/Extranet managed solutions. The new site connects directly to the Internet backbone for network interconnectivity with DirecWay.<br /><br />The new facility is also being equipped to be a key part of the network operation and control system for SpaceWay, enabling the company to maintain high levels of network availability. Scheduled for launch in 2004, SpaceWay's innovative peer-to-peer architecture will unlock a wealth of high-bandwidth satellite services across the United States.<br /><br />(source: Hughes Network Systems)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />LinkStar Selected by Guangzhou Weida to Expand Chinese Broadband Network<br /><br />(17 November 2003) ViaSat Inc is supplying LinkStar high-speed broadband VSATs (Very Small Aperture Terminals) to Guangzhou Weida Communications Technology Company Ltd for digital satellite communication networking services, initially covering the rural areas of western China.<br /><br />Guangzhou Weida is the first private company to receive a VSAT communication license from the Ministry of Information Industry of People's Republic of China.<br /><br />To date, ViaSat has delivered and commissioned a hub and 300 LinkStar broadband VSAT terminals for Guangzhou Weida. The hub is in Suzhou, west of Shanghai, and connects the VSAT network to the public terrestrial network.<br /><br />Remote terminals connect education centres and business customers to the Internet, for data , video, and retail services. Business customers include banks, supermarkets, and gas stations. While this network acts as the primary connection for many locations, it also provides backup protection to some sites, and includes mobile satellite terminals that can be quickly set up for emergency communications.<br /><br />The network uses Ku band space segment on the AsiaSat 3-S satellite, giving excellent coverage throughout China. The network will also have full support and technical service from ViaSat's China engineering service centre based in Beijing and the 24-hour network operations help desk based in Carlsbad, California, USA.<br /><br />LinkStar is a hub-based VSAT system that provides two-way, broadband communications with more efficiency and higher data rates than other satellite networks. Remote LinkStar terminals receive data from a shared, 60 Mb/s broadcast from the access hub, and can transmit back to the hub at up to 1.15 Mb/s. Dynamic bandwidth allocation increases or decreases data rates on-the-fly for better service and more efficient use of bandwidth. LinkStar hubs and remote terminals are compatible with the digital video broadcast (DVB) international standard. Since its introduction in September 2001, approximately 12,000 LinkStar DVB-RCS-ready terminals have been shipped world-wide.<br /><br />(source: ViaSat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />New Skies to Link More Than 500 Locations in Bulgaria<br /><br />(18 November 2003) TRANSAT JSCo, a subsidiary of Bulgaria's Petrol PLC and the country's first public VSAT operator, is using New Skies' NSS-7 satellite to link hundreds of petrol stations, banks and corporate locations in the nation's largest VSAT network.<br /><br />TRANSAT, based in Sofia, was created in November 2002 to establish a highly reliable, nation-wide communications infrastructure to satisfy the needs of state and private companies throughout Bulgaria.<br /><br />The company chose NSS-7 based on its high-powered and comprehensive coverage of Bulgaria with excellent connectivity to the rest of Europe and the United States. The service began in September 2003 and the network, which will consist of more than 500 sites, is scheduled to be completed early next year. It initially will provide high-speed digital voice, video and data communications among 450 petrol stations, 30 bank branches and 17 corporate office locations.<br /><br />(source: New Skies Satellites)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Sky Perfect to Upgrade Headend Sites With DiviCom Encoders<br /><br />(17 November 2003) Sky Perfect Communications Inc, Japan's leading digital multi-channel satellite broadcasting company, is upgrading its video infrastructure with Harmonic Inc's digital headend systems.<br /><br />Harmonic's DiviCom MPEG-2 encoders and DiviTrackXE statistical multiplexer, which form the foundation of the new service, are expected to effectively double the capacity of Sky Perfect's existing satellites while improving picture quality. Sky Perfect will also use Harmonic's NMX Digital Service Manager to maximise service availability and simplify the operation of its geographically distributed video infrastructure. The system is scheduled to be fully operational in January 2005.<br /><br />With more than three million direct-to-home (DTH) subscribers, Sky Perfect is Japan's leading digital multi-channel satellite broadcasting company. A respected pioneer of digital broadcast services, Sky Perfect has grown its subscriber base by continually expanding its video and audio programming. Though satellite is the primary service platform, Sky Perfect is exploring delivery vehicles such as fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) to extend its reach.<br /><br />Harmonic systems will deliver approximately 280 digital video and audio channels over Sky Perfect's 36 existing satellite transponders. Using Harmonic equipment, Sky Perfect can scale to more than twice the initial number of channels with bandwidth still available for future growth. Harmonic systems will also power two global redundancy and two test systems. Initially, each transponder, redundancy and test system will use between 7 and 14 encoders.<br /><br />In addition, Sky Perfect will use Harmonic's NMX Digital Service Manager, a powerful monitoring and management system, to maximise service availability and operational efficiencies. By managing the infrastructure as a series of services, rather than discrete hardware and software elements, NMX reduces the time and resources dedicated to system operation. With NMX, services can be quickly added or removed with a few mouse clicks. In the event of a failure, NMX automatically notifies an operator and re-provisions equipment to minimise downtime. The client/server architecture also enables the entire distributed infrastructure to be controlled and monitored locally or remotely.<br /><br />(source: Harmonic)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Earth Observation<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NOAA Awards Harris Corporation Advanced Architecture Study<br /><br />(17 November 2003) Harris Corporation has been awarded a one-year study contract by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for ground segment work supporting the advanced Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) program. Scheduled to launch in 2012, GOES-R will feature highly advanced sensor technology and will provide much higher resolution and data frequency than the current GOES spacecraft family.<br /><br />Under the GOES-R contract, Harris will study the application of its advanced ground data processing and command and control technologies to the overall satellite ground system architecture, and provide end-to-end system integration solutions. The study phase contains a six-month option at the end of the base year contract. At the completion of the study phase in May 2005, NOAA will select the winning companies to compete for the prototype phase of the program. The prototype phase will end with a "fly-off" competition in 2006, with NOAA selecting a single company for development and production of the GOES-R ground segment.<br /><br />GOES-R will carry several operational instruments including the 16-channel Advanced Baseline Imager, which will provide visual and infrared imagery of the Western Hemisphere every five minutes; a Hyperspectral Environmental Suite, which will provide full disk atmospheric soundings to assist in severe weather forecasting; an extended Solar X-Ray Imager; and a Space Environment Monitoring Suite, which will monitor the effects of solar activity on the Earth's atmosphere. This suite of instruments will produce over 100 times the information provided by the current system and will offer a wide variety of unique observations of the environment, with particular emphasis on severe weather and hurricane activity in the Western Hemisphere.<br /><br />The study contract was awarded through NOAA's National Environmental, Satellite, Data and Information Services (NESDIS) office, which manages the nation's operational environmental satellites, provides data and information services, and conducts related research. NESDIS is purchasing the ground command, control and data processing systems. NASA is purchasing the actual satellite and sensors.<br /><br />Harris ground data processing systems consist of complex suites of hardware and software that receive sensor data from satellites and process it into useable environmental parameters under stringent timelines, turning the data into useable information. The company's command and control systems feature commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) design and high levels of flexibility. Designed for government and commercial applications, they support single-satellite missions as well as the largest and most complex satellite fleets deployed today.<br /><br />(source: Harris)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Navigation<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Boeing Awarded Three Additional Air Force GPS-IIF Satellites<br /><br />(18 November 2003) The US Air Force has awarded Boeing a US$ 142.5 million fixed-price-incentive-fee contract for three additional Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. This action authorises modernisation and production of GPS-IIF satellites numbers four through six, and the production of long-lead parts for IIF satellites seven through nine.<br /><br />With the first satellite scheduled for a mid-2006 launch, the GPS-IIF series is designed for flexibility and growth, enabling new capabilities, including improved anti-jam, increased accuracy, higher integrity and critical secure operational military codes.<br /><br />(source: Boeing)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Manned Space<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Lockheed Martin to Provide Cargo Mission Services For ISS<br /><br />(17 November 2003) Lockheed Martin Space Operations (LMSO) has won a NASA contract to support cargo mission services for the International Space Station (ISS). The potential value of this contract to Lockheed Martin is about US$ 165 million.<br /><br />Work under the contract will include planning, preparation and integration of cargo slated for transport to and from the International Space Station. In addition, if options under the contract are exercised, Lockheed Martin would also provide stowage integration services to the Space Shuttle Program, NASA prepacked-cargo processing for the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle and NASA prepacked-cargo processing for the European Automated Transfer Vehicle, which are planned to provide future logistics support to the ISS.<br /><br />The basic period of the cost-plus-award-fee contract is four years and nine months, with an estimated value of US$ 108.5 million. Two one-year extension options to the basic period are available and would bring the total contract value to US$ 165.8 million.<br /><br />Work on the contract will be performed mainly at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Major subcontractors include United Space Alliance of Houston, Teledyne Brown Engineering, and Bastion Technologies.<br /><br />(source: Lockheed Martin Space Operations)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Spacehab Lands New Space Station Mission<br /><br />(20 November 2003) Spacehab Incorporated has been awarded a new mission under its Research and Logistics Mission Support (ReALMS) contract with NASA for cargo services to the International Space Station (ISS).<br /><br />A modification to the ReALMS contract has been signed, adding the use of Spacehab's Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) to the STS-121 space shuttle mission scheduled for launch in November 2004. Additionally, the contract was amended to fund equitable adjustment payments through December 2003 for services being provided on ISS missions STS-116 (12A.1) and STS-118 (13A.1) due to space shuttle launch delays.<br /><br />NASA has directed Lockheed Martin, the recent winner of the ISS Cargo Mission contract, to establish a contract with Spacehab for continued ICC and logistics module support beginning January 1, 2004. This allows the ReALMS contract to end on its expiration date without creating any lapse in service to the Government.<br /><br />Spacehab is supporting the transition of the ISS Program Integration and Control function as a subcontractor to the ARES Corporation team. This effort utilises Spacehab's core competency in configuration management services. This five-year initiative is currently valued at approximately US$ 22.0 million for Spacehab, and if exercised, two additional one-year contract options would increase the award by an additional US$ 10.0 million.<br /><br />(source: (Spacehab)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Technology<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA Successfully Tests Ion Engine<br /><br />(20 November 2003) NASA's Project Prometheus has reached an important milestone with the first successful test of an engine that could lead to revolutionary propulsion capabilities for space exploration missions throughout the solar system and beyond.<br /><br />The test involved a High Power Electric Propulsion (HiPEP) ion engine. The event marked the first in a series of performance tests to demonstrate new high-velocity and high-power thrust needed for use in nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) applications.<br /><br />The test was conducted in a vacuum chamber at GRC. The HiPEP ion engine was operated at power levels up to 12 kilowatts and over an equivalent range of exhaust velocities from 60,000 to 80,000 meters per second. The thruster is being designed to provide seven-to-ten-year lifetimes at high fuel efficiencies of more than 6,000-seconds specific impulse; a measure of how much thrust is generated per pound of fuel. This is a contrast to Space Shuttle main engines, which have a specific impulse of 460 seconds.<br /><br />The HiPEP thruster operates by ionising xenon gas with microwaves. At the rear of the engine is a pair of rectangular metal grids that are charged with 6,000 volts of electric potential. The force of this electric field exerts a strong electrostatic pull on the xenon ions, accelerating them and producing the thrust that propels the spacecraft. The rectangular shape, a departure from the cylindrical ion thrusters used before, was designed to allow for an increase in engine power and performance by means of stretching the engine. The use of microwaves should provide much longer life and ion-production capability compared to current state-of-the-art technologies.<br /><br />This new class of NEP thrusters will offer substantial performance advantages over the ion engine flown on Deep Space 1 in 1999. Overall improvements include up to a factor of 10 or more in power; a factor of two to three in fuel efficiency; a factor of four to five in grid voltage; a factor of five to eight in thruster lifetime; and a 30 percent improvement in overall thruster efficiency. GRC engineers will continue testing and development of this particular thruster model, culminating in performance tests at full power levels of 25 kilowatts.<br /><br />HiPEP is one of several candidate propulsion technologies under study by Project Prometheus for possible use on the first proposed flight mission, the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO). Powered by a small nuclear reactor, electric thrusters would propel the JIMO spacecraft as it conducts close-range observations of Jupiter's three icy moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. The three moons could contain water, and where there is water, there is the possibility of life.<br /><br />Development of the HiPEP ion engine is being carried out by a team of engineers from GRC; Aerojet; Boeing Electron Dynamic Devices; Ohio Aerospace Institute; University of Michigan; Colorado State University and the University of Wisconsin.<br /><br />(source: NASA)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launch Services<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA Reaches Major Milestone in Development of an Autonomous Flight Safety System<br /><br />(17 November 2003) NASA has recently completed the design phase of a flight safety system to potentially lower range operations cost for the launch of expendable launch vehicles. The Autonomous Flight Safety System (AFSS) is being developed in three phases by a NASA team of flight systems, operations and range safety personnel.<br /><br />Design comments have been received from NASA and Department of Defense range safety experts for the single, on-board processor system to be developed in the current phase, Phase III. The core of the flight-qualified system is the design structure comprised of the processor, algorithms and sensors.<br /><br />The AFSS will be an independent subsystem that would be mounted on expendable launch vehicles that require flight safety systems. If successfully demonstrated and adopted for flight by the ELV community, this on-board system for flight termination or destruct should reduce the need for safety specific ground based telemetry and radar tracking.<br /><br />If required, flight processors will initiate the flight termination function automatically. Redundant on board sensors will gather vehicle navigation data and flight termination will be based upon that data and software-based rules.<br /><br />In addition, the AFSS will allow for launches from remote locations that do not have extensive ground-based range safety equipment such as tracking radars.<br /><br />Prototype system flight-testing will take place through lab simulations and on suborbital sounding rockets. Flight-testing of the prototype system is scheduled for September 2004 and flight tests on the redundant system are scheduled for September 2005.<br /><br />This phase is a three-year effort to produce a flight qualified system that will be tested by existing launch ranges such as the NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia; the Eastern Range, Cape Canaveral, Florida; and the Western Range, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.<br /><br />NASA Headquarters, Office of Space Flight and Office of Safety and Mission Assurance are providing funding. The project is an example of "One NASA" providing Agency resources from multiple locations to develop new technologies in space flight. The Wallops Flight Facility is providing project management, systems engineering, sensors, flight algorithms, software support and simulation testing. Kennedy Space Center in Florida is providing flight computer and sensor interface, software development and process management, flight algorithm support and systems engineering support. Earlier phases of the project were supported by the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama.<br /><br />(source: NASA)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Business<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Court Approves Acquisition of Globalstar by Thermo Capital Partners<br /><br />(21 November 2003) Thermo Capital Partners has received court approval for its plan to acquire a majority interest in a reorganised Globalstar.<br /><br />The proposed transaction would give Thermo an 81.25% ownership of a new company that would take control of Globalstar's assets and operations, in exchange for a cash investment of up to US$ 43 million. The remaining 18.75% of the equity interests in the new company will be available to Globalstar for distribution to its creditors. Additionally, Globalstar's creditors will have the right to purchase additional equity interests in the new company for an aggregate ownership interest of up to 33.87%.<br /><br />The Thermo transaction would supersede Globalstar's May 2003 agreement with ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited, under which ICO intended to acquire Globalstar.<br /><br />Final documentation for the Thermo transaction is expected to be completed by December 2. Closing of the transaction will be subject to regulatory approval, which is expected to be obtained in early 2004, and the companies anticipate completing the Chapter 11 process shortly thereafter.<br /><br />(source: Globalstar)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Ofcom Begins Operation<br /><br />(18 November 2003) Oftel (the UK's telecommunications regulator) is merging with the Broadcasting Standards Commission, the Independent Television Commission, the Radio Authority and the Radiocommunications Agency (the UK's radio spectrum regulatory agency) to form Ofcom, the new regulator for the communications sector in the UK.<br /><br />Oftel’s staff will transfer over to Ofcom’s headquarters at Riverside House, London on Friday 21 November, and begin working for Ofcom on Monday 24 November.<br /><br />(source: Oftel)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Sirius Announces Common Stock Offering<br /><br />(19 November 2003) Sirius has announced that it priced an offering of 73,170,732 shares of common stock at a price to the public of US $2.10 per share.<br /><br />The offering, underwritten by UBS Warburg LLC, is expected to close on Monday, November 24th. Sirius intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of approximately US$ 150 million for general corporate purposes, including investments in programming and retail and automotive distribution.<br /><br />As part of the offering, the company granted UBS Securities LLC an over-allotment option to purchase an additional 10,975,610 shares.<br /><br />(source: Sirius)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Products and Services<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications Completes Range of Prepaid Inmarsat Cards<br /><br />(18 November 2003) France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications has completed its range of Scratch and Phone prepaid cards by launching the Opti-time card, for use in all Inmarsat digital satellite handsets: Inmarsat-Fleet, Mini M, B and M.<br /><br />Catering for the private call requirements of seafarers and staff at remote sites not covered by conventional networks (land line, GSM), the new Opti-time card extends the existing range of prepaid cards: the “Classi-Call” card (works with all Inmarsat voice systems: A, B/M, Mini M or Fleet, with three different time formats: 5, 20 or 60 minutes, usable at any time.) and the “Universal Happy Hour” card (works with Inmarsat B/M, Mini M or Fleet systems, providing calls of either 20 or 60 minutes at a very competitive price (0.99 US$/min) from 11:00 pm to 03:00 am UTC).<br /><br />The Opti-time Scratch and Phone card offers users particularly good call terms, enabling them to talk longer with their family and friends for the same price.<br /><br />Scratch and Phone prepaid cards are an effective call supervision tool for firms and other organisations which have to manage site workers (oil rigs, mines), merchant navy crews, or military contingents. They allow “business” and private calls to be clearly separated, considerable reductions in the costs of handling private calls, and greater control of the organisation’s communications budget.<br /><br />The Opti-time Scratch & Phone card offers a single price per minute, whatever the number called (to land-line or GSM networks) and per-second billing. The user also enjoys longer call times by choosing the time of day for their call: depending on the time slot - Off-Peak or Happy Hour - the user gains extra minutes (up to more than twice the original time), allowing them to stay on the line longer.<br /><br />Scratch and Phone cards use a confidential 12-digit code which the user obtains by scratching the back of the card. This code gives access to the Scratch and Phone voice server, reports the minutes remaining, and transmits the call to the chosen number. A tone warns the user one minute before talk-time is used up, and again ten seconds before cut-off.<br /><br />(source: France Telecom)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Intelsat Launches New Video Distribution Network with Level 3<br /><br />(19 November 2003) Intelsat and Level 3 Communications Inc have announced an agreement to launch a new video delivery network to serve North American broadcast customers. The new Intelsat-operated network, scheduled for launch in the beginning of 2004, will be deployed using Level 3’s state-of-the-art fibre-optic network and collocation facilities. It will be specially optimised for broadcaster customers to provide unprecedented service reliability and the flexibility to transmit any type of digital video feed, from standard definition to high definition television (HDTV) for sports and news contribution and syndication.<br /><br />Intelsat and Level 3 have been working together since Intelsat began aggressively building out its ground network in 2002. Since 2002, Intelsat has utilised Level 3’s services to interconnect major points-of-presence (PoPs) and teleports to provision hybrid space/terrestrial services to customers. The new video delivery network serves as an expansion of the existing relationship between the companies.<br /><br />The new network will complement Intelsat’s growing global satellite fleet, existing terrestrial network and recently announced occasional use television partnership with Television New Zealand (TVNZ). Through a connection to one of the new Intelsat Video PoPs on the Level 3 network, broadcasters located in many of the top media centres in North America will now be able to transmit high-quality video content to/from other cities in North America, as well global locations, via the Intelsat network.<br /><br />The all-digital network offering is expected to meet an increasing demand for flexible and reliable, fibre-based, video delivery solutions in North America by presenting broadcasters with a finely-tuned distribution network run by knowledgeable operators. The offering will initially be comprised of PoPs located in many of the largest US media centres, such as New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Denver and San Francisco, with fibre interconnects into additional North American locations. These PoPs and interconnects will enable access to media companies, as well as to top news and sports venues in each region. Furthermore, as customer demand for HDTV or other services grow, the network will continue to evolve and PoPs in additional cities will be deployed.<br /><br />The network is being built using 3rd Generation MPEG-2 equipment provided by Tandberg Television. Customers will be able to choose from various analogue, digital compressed video and HDTV interfaces, as well as the transmission speed of their choice, based on their quality requirements. The entire network has been designed to offer high reliability, multiple redundancy, fully diverse route options, and fast switching capability.<br /><br />(source: Intelsat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />WCC Offers Iridium's Short Burst Data Services<br /><br />(19 November 2003) World Communication Center (WCC) has announced that they are offering Iridium's newest data service, Short Burst Data (SBD). The Iridium Short Burst Data service is designed for applications that send and receive short data messages ranging from one to 1960 bytes in size, ideal for situations such as asset tracking, remote telemetry, or pipeline monitoring. WCC will focus on approaching markets such as research, gas, Rail, oil, maritime, aviation, and utility industries as well as supporting government needs.<br /><br />WCC currently provides short burst data capabilities to OmniMetrix with a primary focus on the electric power marketplace. Through WCC, OmniMetrix added Iridium SBD capabilities to acquire the benefit of Iridium's multiple methods of connectivity, outright global roaming capability and voice option - all while meeting the needs of their multi-national customers.<br /><br />As a value-added reseller (VAR), WCC will continue to grow their strong Iridium presence, specifically in data services and SBD. WCC has recently launched other data services such as RUDIC-S (the newest Iridium data transmission solution) and SMS (two-way text messaging).<br /><br />(source: WCC)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />People<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />iDirect Technologies Hires VP of Operations<br /><br />(17 November 2003) iDirect Technologies has appointed Rock Arkie, a veteran with more than 20 years in sales, operations and marketing of technology, as its vice president of operations, reporting to John Kealey, president and CEO.<br /><br />In this new position, Arkie will be responsible for all operations as well as the company's professional services business.<br /><br />Arkie most recently served as vice president at Tanberg, a global videoconferencing equipment supplier, where he was in charge of the customer advocacy group, accountable for order intake, order processing, logistics, manufacturing of key applications products, education, technical services and information technologies. Additionally, he was president of the company's service provisioning business.<br /><br />Previous to Tanberg, Arkie served as the executive vice president and general manager of Marconi Services - Americas. In this role, he managed all aspects of the US$ 400 million organisation, which consisted of 1,300 direct employees providing business consulting, technical consulting, system implementation, services marketing, field support services, technical education, and program management. As vice president of global services marketing, his responsibilities entailed services product management, marketing communications, marketing intelligence, vertical marketing programs, and marketing support services.<br /><br />Arkie was vice president operations for the Service Provider Business Unit at Fore Systems, managing product marketing and creating service offerings and deployment methodologies for its service provider customer segment. At Fore, he also held the position of vice president of professional services organisation. In that role, he spearheaded the creation of Professional Services and Certified Training Partner Programs, and created innovative education methodologies including media-based technical training.<br /><br />(source: iDirect Technologies)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />iSECUREtrac Appoints David G Vana CFO<br /><br />(20 November 2003) iSECUREtrac Corp has appointed David G Vana as Chief Financial Officer. Mr Vana joined iSECUREtrac Corp in November, 2001, as Senior Vice President of Product Development. In that capacity, he led the development of the company's personal tracking unit model 2100 series product offering.<br /><br />Prior to joining iSECUREtrac Corp, he was with TRI Communication Solutions Inc where he served as Chief Financial Officer and Board Member. Prior to TRI Communications, Mr Vana was with Ernst and Young's Management Consulting Practice in Kansas City, Missouri where he specialised in leading enterprise application development initiatives. Mr Vana previously was the CFO for Pyramid Computing Solutions, Director of Financial Systems for MFS Communications and Accounting Manager for America First Companies. Mr Vana holds a BSBA with a major in Accounting and an MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.<br /><br />(source: iSECUREtrac)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Press releases should be sent to: newsfeed@microcomsystems.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Microcom makes no charge for this service and makes no payments for the use of material. Microcom makes no warranties about the quality of this free service and accepts no liability for mistakes and errors. Use of this service is taken as confirmation of acceptance of these conditions.<br /><br />If you require further information contact Microcom by email: info@microcomsystems.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />This newsletter, and archives dating back to January 2000, can be viewed on the web at
http://www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />To subscribe to this email newsletter go to:
http://www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk/subscribe.html. You can also unsubscribe from the same page.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Copyright 2003 Microcom Systems Ltd. All rights reserved.<br /><br />Microcom's Space Newsfeed may be freely distributed on condition that it is distributed complete, not edited in any way, and that no fee is charged. All copies must contain this copyright notice.<br /><br />Microcom Systems Ltd<br />PO Box 21<br />Haverhill<br />Suffolk CB9 0NZ<br />United Kingdom<br /><br />info@microcomsystems.co.uk<br />
http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk
