satellite communications

MilSatCom USA 2021
MilSatCom USA 2021
23rd – 24th June 2021
Arlington, Virginia, USA
http://www.milsatcom-usa.com/spacenews
SMi Group are delighted to announce that the annual MilSatCom USA conference will return to Arlington, Virginia…

FCC C-band auction raised nearly $81 billion so far
The U.S. Federal Communication Commission’s C-band auction of 280-megahertz of C-band has raised nearly $81 billion and it’s not quite over.

Delta Air Lines adds Viasat in-flight connectivity service
Delta Air Lines announced plans Jan. 5 to rely on Viasat to provide in-flight Ka-band connectivity for passengers flying in more than 300 of the carrier’s mainline narrow-body aircraft.

Viasat announces agreement to acquire RigNet
Viasat Inc. announced an agreement Dec. 21 to acquire Houston-based communications firm RigNet Inc. in an all-stock transaction with a value of approximately $222 million based on Viasat’s current share price and RigNet's debt.

EOS establishes SpaceLink with Dave Bettinger at the helm
Electro Optic Systems (EOS) of Australia formed SpaceLink, a wholly owned subsidiary, based in McLean, Virginia, to provide data-relay services for satellites in low Earth orbit and named former OneWeb Vice President David Bettinger as its chief executive officer.

Telesat and Loral to form Canadian public company
Canadian satellite fleet operator Telesat and Loral Space & Communications announced plans Nov. 24 to combine to form Telesat Corp., a Canadian public company, in a deal expected to close next year.

Capella sends first task order through Inmarsat data relay
Fleet operator Inmarsat and communications technology firm Addvalue Innovation announced success Nov. 23 relaying data between Capella Space’s operations center on the ground and Capella’s Sequoia synthetic aperture radar satellite.

AAC Clyde Space to develop cubesats to offer array of services
AAC Clyde Space announced a 19 million euro ($22.5 million) contract backed by the U.K. Space Agency to develop a 10-cubesat communications and Earth-observation constellation.

Viasat claims KA-SAT as Eutelsat joint venture winds down
SAN FRANCISCO — Viasat announced plans Nov. 19 to purchase the remaining assets of the European joint venture it established with Eutelsat Communications for 140 million euros ($166 million), including the KA-SAT broadband satellite.
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Satellite manufacturers remain upbeat about market in spite of challenges presented by pandemic
Satellite manufacturers expressed optimism that overall demand for satellite communications would remain strong.

After testing, Hughes is ready to produce HeloSat communications system
After conducting extensive testing, Hughes is ready to produce the beyond-line-of-sight satellite communication system to speed up satellite communications for government and commercial helicopters.

EchoStar launch of Jupiter 3 broadband satellite slips to 2022
EchoStar Corp. plans to launch the Jupiter 3 broadband satellite in the first quarter of 2022 but has not yet selected a launch provider, company officials said during a Nov. 5 earnings call.

Baldridge replaces Dankberg as Viasat CEO
Mark Dankberg, Viasat founder, chairman and CEO moved into the newly created role of executive chairman Nov. 3 as Rick Baldridge, Viasat’s former chief operating officer, became Viasat’s new CEO while retaining his role as president.

NXTCOMM leases Eutelsat capacity to test electronically steered antenna
NXT Communications Corp. (NXTCOMM) announced plans Oct. 28 to begin demonstrating the performance of its electronically steered antenna through leased capacity on a Eutelsat Communications satellite.

Telesat to announce satellite, launch contracts by year’s end
Canadian satellite fleet operator Telesat is in advanced discussions with vendors seeking to build and launch satellites for its multibillion dollar Telesat LEO constellation.