Generation Satellite Constellation News

Viasat and Cobham Satcom announced the companies are collaborating on a new, advanced satellite connectivity solution for the maritime and energy industries in preparation for the launch of Viasat’s next generation satellite constellation, ViaSat-3.The connectivity system, which will include a portfolio of groundbreaking antenna systems from Cobham Satcom, is being designed to deliver advanced, high-speed connectivity that will leverage the satellite capacity expected from the ViaSat-3 constellation.

Inmarsat and Intellian have signed an outline agreement that will support enhancements to Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband service for the next decade and beyond. The new agreement will see Intellian design and manufacture a new generation of FleetBroadband terminals that will support the existing I-4 network alongside the major advances coming with Inmarsat’s sixth generation satellite constellation, the first of which is scheduled for launch in 2020. The next generation terminals will be significantly lower cost and feature a host of new capabilities, including much faster throughput speeds.

Iridium Communications has announced the successful third launch and deployment of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites. The satellites were delivered into low-Earth orbit approximately one hour after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 5:37 a.m. PDT. With two successful launches having already been completed this year, this third batch of 10 satellites brings the total number of Iridium NEXT satellites in orbit to 30, nearly half the amount required for a full Iridium NEXT operational constellation.

Iridium Communications announced the successful launch of its first ten Iridium NEXT satellites. The satellites were delivered into low-Earth orbit approximately one hour after the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:54:39 a.m. PST. Iridium NEXT is the company’s next-generation satellite constellation, replacing and enhancing its existing network of low-Earth orbit satellites spanning the entire globe – the largest commercial satellite constellation in space.

Inmarsat has marked the 25th anniversary of Inmarsat C by revealing that more than 600 distress alerts from vessels in urgent need were broadcast over the service in 2015. The disclosure demonstrates how the decision made by IMO administrations requiring all ships of more than 300 gross tons to be fitted with a Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) remains pivotal in protecting lives at sea. Inmarsat is the only safety services provider in the world approved to deliver GMDSS under the rigorous International Convention for the Safety of Life At Sea requirements. Ronald Spithout, Inmarsat Maritime President, commented: “Over its lifetime, GMDSS has made the biggest single contribution to maritime safety since the advent of radio in 1899.

Iridium Communications Inc. (IRDM) and maritime navigation and communications equipment leader FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD. announced a strategic partnership in which Furuno will be marketing Iridium satellite services and products initially in Japan. As part of this agreement, Furuno will be developing a new part of its portfolio of satellite communications service with Iridium. That may include the Iridium Pilot antennas, powered by the Iridium OpenPort broadband service, providing the industry's only pole-to-pole mobile wireless coverage for ships at sea; Iridium GO!, the world's first truly global online smartphone access device; weather resistant Iridium Extreme handset; and the Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) service.

Expected to begin launching in 2015, Iridium NEXT is the next-generation satellite constellation & the world’s largest ongoing commercial space venture. The new system, say Iridium, is designed to drive innovation, create opportunities and change the way people and organizations communicate – everywhere on the planet. Iridium NEXT will replace the current constellation while retaining the 66 satellite LEO (low-Earth orbit) architecture, with six in-orbit spares and nine ground spares.

Globalstar, Inc. announce that 6 second-generation Globalstar satellites were successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch services provider Arianespace confirmed that the upper stage accurately injected the six second-generation satellites into their targeted low earth orbit of approximately 920 km. Globalstar reports that all six satellites have been successfully acquired following separation from the Dispenser and Fregat Upper Stage. Globalstar expects to place these final six second-generation satellites into commercial service by this summer…

All Globalstar's launched second-generation satellites now providing commercial service. One satellite was affected by the momentum wheel issue. It was originally launched in October 2010 and removed from service in early 2011, but now all 18 of Globalstar's launched second-generation satellites are now providing commercial service. Jay Monroe, Chairman and CEO of Globalstar, Inc., added, "After more than a year of development, Globalstar and Thales Alenia Space completed the software engineering, uploaded and tested the solution, and then successfully returned the affected satellite to commercial service. The solution not only permitted this satellite to return to service but also provides a fix for similar problems that may happen across our constellation.

The fight in the maritime satcom sector is somewhat analogous to the one fought by Apple and Microsoft in the early ‘80s: two tech companies, polar-opposite philosophies and a raging battle for market share. Market watchers  likely have noted an increased “competitive spirit” among providers of ship-to-shore communication services. •    the need to keep crew content with         Email, Internet & entertainment. A corporate driver for change has been Iridium, the McLean, VA-based…

Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) announces that German shipping company Reederei Werner Bockstiegel has selected Iridium Pilot(TM) to upgrade its shipping fleet with broadband communications. Globecomm Maritime, a long-standing Iridium partner, is offering Iridium Pilot as part of an upgraded "Telaurus se@COMM" communications package, and will manage the installation fleet-wide. "We're seeing a rapidly growing appetite among maritime customers to migrate from out-dated narrowband services to satellite broadband communications solutions," said Greg Ewert, executive vice president of global distribution channels at Iridium. "We are proud to expand our service to Reederei Werner Bockstiegel through our innovative partner Globecomm Maritime.

McLean, Va. - With the planned commencement of the launch of its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT, less than 36 months away, Iridium announced the completion of the satellite preliminary design review phase of the program. This phase concludes the preliminary design and specifications for all elements of the satellite system, including payload, main mission antenna, feeder links and cross links. “The foundation for Iridium NEXT satellite design is complete,” said Scott Smith, executive vice president, Iridium NEXT. Iridium NEXT is on track to further Iridium's position as a vital player in the global communications infrastructure.

Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) and KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI) have agreed to offer what the pair is touting as the first-ever, fully global, seamless broadband satellite communications service for the maritime market. Under the agreement, KVH will offer an integrated service package that combines its mini-VSAT BroadbandSM service and the Iridium OpenPort broadband service. “We are enthusiastic that KVH is our first distribution partner to launch Iridium’s new VSAT companion service offering,” said Greg Ewert, executive vice president, global distribution channels, Iridium. “We have optimized the Iridium OpenPort system to seamlessly integrate with a vessel’s VSAT platform.

Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) announced that it has signed the definitive Coface Facility Agreement to finance its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT. The syndicate of nine banks is led by Deutsche Bank AG, Banco Santander SA, Société Générale, Natixis and Mediobanca International S.A., and includes BNP Paribas, Crédit Industriel et Commercial, Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. and Unicredit Bank Austria AG. They will provide up to $1.8b of financing to Iridium for the design and manufacture of Iridium NEXT satellites. The funding under the Facility is subject to customary closing conditions, which are expected to be met shortly. The credit facility consists of two pro rata tranches. One tranche of up to $1.537b will bear a fixed interest rate of 4.96% per annum.