Telefonica taps Eutelsat KA-SAT capacity for satellite Internet services

A joint announcement by Telefonica Global Solutions and Eutelsat unveiled their new plan to provide European carriers with satellite Internet services via a high-performance Eutelsat KA-SAT satellite.

Telefonica will use capacity from the KA-SAT satellite to deliver satellite Internet solutions to carriers throughout Europe, including rural areas and urban belts that terrestrial broadband networks cannot reach. The satellite broadband service can also provide fully diversified backup solutions to areas that do have access to terrestrial broadband networks.

KA-SAT capacity allows Telefonica to update the satellite Internet services it provides to operators and corporations. This allows the company to maintain the high quality of their services while also keeping their prices competitive. In addition, KA-SAT serves as an additional access technology for M2M, iHealth, and other services.

SES introduces Internet Satellite JET Ka-band broadband solution in France

Satellite operator SES will be the first to deliver Internet Satellite JET, a satellite broadband solution capable of offering up to 20 MBps of speed, to consumers in France.

Internet Satellite JET leverages the SES Astra 2F satellite for Ka-band capacity. It can provide high-speed Internet by satellite connectivity, VoIP telephony, and High-Definition TV services.

It is distributed by France Telecom-Orange affiliate NordNet through new generation end-user terminals provided by Gilat Satellite Technologies.

SES can finally match the features and prices of terrestrial broadband services in Europe through the pioneering Internet Satellite Jet. SES intends to offer new Ka-band satellite broadband solution to consumers in remote locations in France who would find it most suitable for their needs.

Bulgarian Telecom Company Vivacom Boosts Satellite-Based Internet Services

Vivacom, a former state-owned Bulgarian monopoly, announced on December 11 that the company has increased their download speeds and made the monthly bandwidth allowance twice as high for its satellite-based internet services.

Due to the recent upgrade, the highest download speed available now via satellite has been increased to 18 mbps and up to 50GB of bandwidth every month is now being offered with packages. Prices for satellite internet connections at Vivacom start at $25.75 a month, with available coverage across the country.

This enhanced service intends to serve parts of the population who do not have access to traditional wired broadband, such as ADSL or high speed wireless alternatives.

Formerly known by the name Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC), Vivacom was recently taken over by Russia’s VTB Capital and domestic financial institution Corporate Commercial Bank (CCBank).

US military supplier orders Advantech SCPC modems for A-SATTM VSAT

A major U.S. military supplier placed an order with Advantech AMT Corp. USA for $1.7 million worth of the Company's DISA Certified MIL-STD-188-165A, AMT73L SCPC Modem, which will be used to deliver secure satellite communications systems over the Discovery A-SATTM VSAT system.

The AMT73L is designed to fulfill two-way satellite communication requirements in Defence Satellite Communications Systems (DSCS) and Wideband Global SATCOM System (WGS).

The installed base of the AMT73L DISA Certified Modems can be overlaid by the Discovery A-SATTM VSAT platform. In addition, the DVB-RCS waveform can be incorporated into Discovery through the integration of SCPC networks.

The Advantech Wireless family of high throughput modems boast of high reliability and flexibility. The AMT75 platform can handle ASI HD Video, Telco, and IP interfaces while the FLS-100 allows these modems to achieve up to 155Mbps throughput through IPE.

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Gilat Satcom integrates XiPlink remote appliances into its satellite teleport

Israel-based communication solution provider Gilat Satcom recently announced that it is integrating XipLink remote appliances into its satellite teleport to accelerate its satellite Internet speeds and satellite communications throughput.

Gilat's satellite teleport will receive XipLink XA Appliances with XipLink Hub Optimizations (XHO) software. The XipLink solution will increase the teleport's quality of service without the need for expensive new hardware or software upgrades.

Thanks to the XipLink solution, Gilat Satcom will be able to provide ISPs and enterprises in Africa with a new level of cost-effective satellite communications services. This includes Internet by satellite services like web surfing, and movie streaming.

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O3b, Gulfsat Madagascar team up for Internet on satellite services

A long-term capacity deal between O3b Networks and Gulfsat Madagascar is expected to generate high-speed Internet on satellite and telephony services for residential and commercial customers in Madagascar.

The O3 Medium Earth Orbit satellite fleet will provide Gulfsat Madagascar with unlimited and affordable Ka-band capacity. The African telecom service provider will use this connectivity to deliver a wide range of Internet on satellite, voice, and data transmission services.

Gulfsat reported that consumers and businesses in Madagascar are highly interested in an affordable, fast, and reliable Internet solution. Its partnership with O3b Networks will optimize Internet on satellite access for customers in Africa.

Hughes Network Systems offering new satellite Internet solutions to government

Government agencies across the United States will now be able to avail of the new satellite Internet service plans from Hughes Network Systems, LLC, which can deliver speeds of up to 15Mbps to places with slow, expensive, or unavailable terrestrial Internet connections.

Hughes Internet Access Solutions leverage the recently-deployed EchoStar XVII satellite for capacity. The new-generation Ka-band satellite can deliver the fastest satellite Internet speeds the industry has witnessed through the multi-spot beam, bent-pipe architecture of JUPITER high-throughput technology.

In addition to download speeds of 10 or 15 Mbps, the Hughes Internet by satellite plans also offer a selection of generous data allowances that are just perfect for government customers. Hughes will provide all tiers with enterprise-grade equipment and assistance from the Company's service and support teams.

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Scottish MPs urge faster broadband Internet deployment in rural regions

MPs are pressing the Scottish government to speed up its part in the United Kingdom's planned deployment of broadband Internet infrastructure in rural regions suffering from slow ADSL connections.

The European Union recently approved of the United Kingdom's plan to deploy broadband on a national scale. Building on this auspicious development, MP Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute) urged both the government and the Highlands and Islands Enterprise to deploy broadband infrastructure at the soonest.

Minister David Mundell of the Scotland Office assured Mr Reid's concerns that he will galvanize the Scottish government and appropriate agencies to accelerate deployment of rural broadband services.

This assurance was not enough to quiet the concerns by other MPs. Michael Connarty, the MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk, was of the opinion that the promised national network will not be able to cover the entire UK and will thus leave citizens out of the loop.

The growing demand for online connectivity in remote regions has spawned a number of solutions. For example, satellite Internet uses a satellite to provide connectivity and capacity to wide areas. This solution allows the provision of connectivity to some of the most remote or isolated places on Earth that cannot be reached by terrestrial networks. However, satellite Internet is usually slower and more expensive than fiber optic, and it is also negatively affected by inclement weather.

Hughes builds satellite broadband network for Mexican government

Hughes Network Systems won a $24-million contract with the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transport for the construction of an 11,000-site satellite broadband network that will deliver high-speed satellite Internet and voice connectivity throughout Mexico.

Hughes will supply its HN System Network Operations Center and 11,000 broadband terminals to build the new network. It will also deliver and deploy data compression/optimization technology, fiber optic/Internet interconnection equipment, IP phones, and wireless access systems.

According to Mexican officials, the new satellite network will span the 32 states of Mexico. It will deliver satellite Internet, voice, and data services to community centers, government locations, hospitals, public calling offices, and schools in both accessible and remote regions.

Telecomunicaciones de Mexico will operate the Hughes-built broadband satellite network. A decentralized government office that manages Mexican telecommunications, Telecomunicaciones de Mexico possesses significant experience in satellite operations.

According to coordinator Monica Aspe Bernal of the Agency for Knowledge and Information of the SCT, Hughes Network Systems has proven its reliability as a provider of broadband satellite networks and services over the past 25 years. Hughes came out on top of other major satellite broadband equipment providers that participated in the open public competitive bid.

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Space Data Corporation deploys Lemko DiMoWiNe broadband Internet solution in Alaska

Residents of the remote region of Atqasuk, Alaska can now access wireless broadband connectivity thanks to the new satellite-based commercial LTE network established by a collaboration between Space Data Corporation and Lemko Corporation. The first in the region, the DiMoWiNe-powered Space Data long term evolution (LTE) network will provide regional subscribers with high-speed mobile broadband.

Carrier company Space Data specializes in low-cost connectivity solutions for rural and remote areas where fiber or cell towers cannot be deployed due to terrain and costs. The Company leveraged the DiMoWiNe (Distributed Mobile Wireless Network) software solution by Lemko to create and deploy an affordable yet efficient LTE network.

The satellite Internet services of the LTE network are delivered by the high-altitude SkySite Network. Space Data designed its proprietary communications platforms to be operated by a single person and launched within a couple of minutes from any location on Earth.

Space Data's Alaskan LTE network is powered by Lemko's DiMoWiNe software solution. DiMoWiNe is a virtualized core software program collocated at the eNodeB that speeds up the network by reducing signaling traffic. Virtualizing the core moves switching and routing to the edge of the network. The result is an LTE solution that can tolerate greater amounts of latency and with the capability to deliver mobile broadband over satellite.

Avanti, InSat, Newtec finish testing Ka-band satellite Internet hub in Cyprus

A joint announcement by Avanti Communications, InSat, and Newtec reported a successful conclusion of their joint testing of the new Ka-band satellite Internet hub infrastructure built by Newtec in the island nation of Cyprus.

Newtec serves as the exclusive technology partner for all InSat services and a partner of satellite operator Avanti. In addition to installing the Cyprus Ka-band hub, Newtec will also provide two-way satellite broadband technology. Its MDM2200 broadband terminals can provide download speeds of up to 22 Mbps for InSat's ISP customers.

In fact, according to InSat, Afghan telecom and Internet service providers are already testing their managed services. Insat has installed on-site control stations and customer terminals in Afghanistan, which allows local Internet service providers to test out its Hi-Stream broadband Internet-from-satellite service.

InSat is a managed services provider (MSP) that uses the Newtec Sat3Play Broadband platform under the Hi-Stream brand name to provide IP access services for businesses and consumers. The service leverages the significant broadband capacity of Avanti's HYLAS 2 Ka-band satellite.

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Honeywell signs MDA with Inmarsat for GX Aviation services

Inmarsat and Honeywell have entered into a master distribution agreement (MDA) that will see Honeywell distributing Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Aviation satellite Internet services to the business aviation sector.

In addition to signing the MDA, Honeywell has secured five years worth of GX capacity. It has also reserved additional satellite broadband capacity up until 2021. This is a compelling endorsement of the future GX service.

Global Xpress is a future high-throughput satellite broadband network that can deliver speeds of up to 50Mbps anywhere in the world. Inmarsat’s GX Aviation solution will leverage the Ka-band satellite network to generate in-flight satellite Internet connectivity to aircraft cabins.

Inmarsat plans to launch GX during the last quarter of 2014. Honeywell will introduce and distribute the GX Aviation Internet-by-satellite solution to business aviation customers in 2015.

Advantech: Discovery satellite hubs achieve 155 Mbps forward link performance

Last week, Advantech Wireless reported that its new generation of Discovery satellite Internet hubs and terminals broke previous performance records by achieving a 155 Mbps forward link throughput performance.

The Discovery Series leverages A-SAT technology, which optimizes satellite bandwidth by switching between SCPC and TDMA modes as needed. This allows a Discovery hub to reach throughput speeds of 155 Mbps on the forward link.

According to CEO David Gelerman of Advantech Wireless, the Company’s next generation satellite hub designs are designed from the get-go to offer optimal performance and reliability. “Our customer set a goal of 155Mbps and in record time, it is realized,” he  said in his statement. “Our team of engineers are the best in the business and have built the best VSAT solution in the market.”

The Discovery Series Hub serves as an excellent starter system for new ISPs. The Advantech satellite hub is a two-way, open standard (DVB-RCS), broadband satellite access system. It includes a fully functional hub with 4 inbound carriers, which can be scaled according to the need for increased capacity through software license.

Previously, Internet Service Provider (ISP) start-ups required hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment. Advantech bucks that trend with its Discovery Series, which sells for under $50,000 and can be easily upgraded for more bandwidth. The affordable Advantech satellite hub easy to establish small and medium private satellite networks, commercial enterprises, or government services that provide or rely upon Internet from satellite connectivity.

Bentley Walker debuts Freedomsat Ka-band satellite Internet in Iraq, Afghanistan

American military personnel and contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan will be able to enjoy satellite broadband thanks to Bentley Walker and its Freedomsat satellite Internet service.

Freedomsat taps the Hylas2 satellite for Ka-band capacity. It offers speeds of up to 10Mbps at low cost, twice that of the previous Bentley Walker service.

As part of its ongoing relationship with US military personnel serving overseas, Bentley Walker previously supplied 4Mbps Ku-band Internet service. The older service uses the HX50 modem and is currently the most popular Internet connectivity service for personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Satellite Internet allows American military personnel and civilian contractors to stay in contact with family and friends back home. It also helps in rebuilding and installing infrastructure and other important tasks.

Bentley Walker is the first ISP that offered high-speed Ka-band satellite Internet service in Afghanistan and Iraq. Its Freedomsat package has a unique pin service that allows 24/7 activation and access for users. In addition, Bentley Walker also offers detailed web filtering services.

Computing for the maximum transmit cable length of a VSAT Internet system?

Note the BUC gain and power supply requirements. Note your minimum and maximum modem output levels.

Using the BUC gain work out the appropriate input level for saturation.

Calculate the modem levels for various BUC output levels and try to design a system that allows the BUC to saturate with the modem perhaps still 5 dB below its maximum output. Operating any equipment at its extreme limits is not recommended. That gives you the dB loss for the transmit IFL cable, review the cable spec at L band to find the length. If you will be operating a very small carrier, with the BUC at very low power, e.g. 0.1W then take this into account, or use a lower power BUC. You dont want to get into the situation where you can't reduce the power sufficiently, even with the modem ats it minimum output. A longer cable may provide useful L band attenuation while allowing the DC and 10 MHz reference through.

Using the power requirements of the BUC, e.g. 55W at 15 to 24V.What power can your modem put out without overheating etc. If marginal then use an external power supply with cooling fan etc.

For higher powers, like 55W, it helps to use the maximum voltage at the modem end, in this case 24V. This minimises the current (amps) and thus the voltage and DC power loss in the cable. Solid copper centre wire is mandatory. 50ohm cable may be helpful as it has a thicker centre wire, if the modem and BUC can match 50ohms. Copper coated steel centre wire must be avoided!. Be conservative. Ask if the DC current taken by the BUC is smooth. It may comprise spikes at the switch mode power supply frequency and may spike also when the modem transmits a burst. Work out the cable ohms and compare with the cable specification versus length. DC power is very demanding on the coax centre pins, centre socket springs and the sheath wire connection at the plugs. A smear of electronic grade silicone contact grease can help exclude oxygen and moisture from the metallic points of contact.

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Hughes TurboPage with ActiveCompress upgrades HN/HX systems

Hughes recently announced that it will be upgrading its HN/HX systems with the TurboPage with ActiveCompression feature. The upgrade will greatly increase bandwidth efficiency and provide support for the newest generation of IPv6 Internet addressing.

HN/HX systems possess numerous IP features and functionality that make them perfect for satellite routing where full IP functionality and performance is needed. The Hughes-designed systems provide advanced bandwidth management capabilities that allow operators to customize various Quality of Service (QoS) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) on a per-remote basis. Being pure IP-based solutions, they also incorporate a strong set of IP functions and features.

Hughes TurboPage with ActiveCompression can boost compression gain of transmitted HTTP traffic by up to 50 percent. It compresses both text and image data to decrease the volume of data transmitted through satellites. This improves bandwidth efficiency and performance across the entire network.

Hughes ActiveCompression also protects the original quality of both text and images during and after compression.

According to Adrian Morris, Executive Vice President of Engineering at Hughes, the HN/HX systems' new features future-proofs the networks of Hughes customers. "The Internet's growth creates an almost endless demand for new bandwidth,” he said, and added that same growth is causing the Internet to outstrip its own protocols.

“By providing network operators with higher compression rates for more efficient bandwidth use and dual-stack support to ease the transition to IPv6,” said EVP Morris, “we've given them the tools to ride out the Internet's growing pains without disrupting service to their customers.”

One such customer was Vodacom Group, Ltd., which needed to improve its converged service offerings in throughout Africa. Last year, Vodacom selected Hughes' HN and HX satellite broadband solutions to improve network speeds and bandwidth efficiency.

Satellite making internet-on-the-go possible

In our globalizing world, more and more people are clamoring for internet-on-the-go. The demand for Wi-Fi connection has increased also due partly to the rise of more powerful, and smarter mobile devices. Smartphones, tablets, and laptops, are rendered almost useless in places where there is no Internet connection.

Many industries, sectors, and organizations are looking at internet from satellite to provide wireless connection anytime, anywhere. Terrestrial networks may be the most favored technology for broadband distribution, but in places where geography makes it impossible to lay cables, satellite technology is the ideal solution.

Internet by satellite is also being used in the transport sector. Airlines and cruise ships are installing satellite terminals to provide in-flight and on-board Internet connection to passengers. Even train stations and trains are using the wireless technology to provide greater connection on-the-go. 

Business travelers, tourists, and commuters are welcoming the arrival of such technology. This means they can read the news, send emails, use mobile travel applications on their phones, and even make video calls before they board trains and planes, or while honeymooning in a cruise ship of the coast of Chile. 

Satellite internet may not completely replace fibre technology. But it is certainly the best solution and coverage for the last mile. 

ViaSat Exede considers bundling VoIP with Internet-by-satellite service

ViaSat is considering an expansion of its Exede Internet-by-satellite Ka-band service

by adding a VoIP satellite service to its Internet-only 12 Mbps offering.

According to Lisa Scalpone, Vice President of Exede, more than 100,000 have subscribed to the company's 12 Mbps Internet-by-satellite service. "We feel pretty good that people will make that trade for one, two, three megabits service,” she said. “For people who need to do things with speed, 12 Mbps is decisive."

Exede offers high-speed broadband service that can favorably compare with fixed wireless, 4G mobile, and stock copper-based DSL counterparts. According to various analytical models, around 35% to 40% of Exede's customer base selected the ViaSat satellite service despite the availability of DSL or cable wireline options in their location.

In addition, Exede is planning to release a competitively-priced bundle of broadband and voice services. "For the VoIP service,” Scalpone said on the challenges faced by the company's new offering, “the biggest issue is proving lag does not matter.”

According to VP Scalpone, VoIP calls can match or even improve upon the quality found in a typical narrowband cell phone call. Exede takes care to optimize and prioritize VoIP calls within the broadband network.

To prove its argument, ViaSat is building and turning over VoIP demonstration units to its retailers for testing by customers. "We have to demo everywhere," Scalpone said of Exede's planned VoIP satellite service. "If we can show people, I think it's going to be huge."

Exede's planned Internet and voice bundle will probably include home number portability, 911, and caller ID features. Its stand-alone Internet-by-satellite offering currently costs $50 per month.

Satellite Broadband for the US via Dish Network

With the recent improvements in the US satellite industry, the country now has the technological capacity to support a nationwide satellite broadband project. The advancements in the satellite sector now enables operators to use higher-frequency bands.

Dish Network to deliver satellite broadband nationwide

Dish Network, in particular, is planning to roll-out internet by satellite with the help of EchoStar Corp's spacecraft, the EchoStar 17 satellite. The spacecraft itself has been delivering increased bandwidth capacity and can provide up to 15 megabits in download speeds. However, expect the broadband-Internet service to offer lower speeds, at around 5 megabits, in order to increase capacity for more customers.

The time frame for the project's implementation would be around September and October. Dish Network is targeting consumers in rural regions who are unable to access the Internet with the help of terrestrial infrastructure like cable broadband. 

The company has been offering broadband-Internet service via satellite in partnership with ViaSat, although the offers was limited to specific regions of the US. The latest project, however, will see Dish Network offer packages and bundles which would include video services.

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