SS/L will build Jupiter 2/EchoStar XIX Ka-band broadband satellite for Hughes

An announcement from Hughes Network Systems, LLC made it known that Space Systems/Loral will be building the JUPITER 2/EchoStar XIX satellite. The new Ka-band broadband satellite will possess the highest capacity in the world and will be used by HughesNet high-speed Internet by satellite service.

Jupiter 2/EchoStar XIX will have over 150 Gbps throughput, half again as much as the earlier, SSL-built, Hughes-operated satellite EchoStar XVII launched on July 5, 2012. Like its predecessor, the new Hughes satellite will employ a next-generation architecture. More than 120 spot beams will deliver high quality satellite broadband coverage across the United States and parts of Canada during its expected service lifetime of 15 years.

Once the JUPITER 2/EchoStar XIX enters commercial service in 2016, it will be leveraged by HughesNet, the largest high-speed Internet by satellite service in the world with 659,000 subscribers as of the end of 2012. HughesNet will use the new capacity to drive further growth in North America.

Honywell orders Ka-band transceivers from Wavestream for GX satellite Internet

Honeywell recently awarded an exclusive contract to Wavestream for the provision of Ka-band transceivers that will be integrated into the airborne antenna systems of the Inmarsat Global Xpress (GX) in-flight satellite Internet network. Wavestream will begin scaled production of the transceivers in 2014.

Honeywell is in charge of the development and distribution of on-board hardware that allows users to access GX Aviation, a high speed Ka-band system from Inmarsat.

Wavestream is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. It develops and deploys BUCs and amplifiers for military and commercial customers, who use its products for various satellite communications applications. The Company has deployed more than 5,000 of its Ka-band products during the last three years.

Wavestream implemented its patented Spatial advantEdge technology in its Ka-band transceiver family to create product packages for fixed, mobile, and flyaway antenna systems. The Company's amplifiers and BUCs are smaller and lighter than the norm yet possess high output power, superior efficiency, and improved reliability. Its products are carefully designed and thoroughly tested for operation in extreme environments, ensuring continuous connectivity for operations critical to national defense and demanding consumer broadband applications such as the GX satellite Internet solution.

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.

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.

Recommended addition reading:

• SES, Astrium Services renew capacity deal, extend maritime VSAT coverage, services

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.

Recommended additional reading:

• Backhaul providers readying for high-data traffic

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.

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.