Dr. T K Alex appointed Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore

Dr. T K Alex has been appointed as Director, ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore. He will take over from Dr. K N Shankara. ISAC is a premier center of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) responsible for the development of satellite technology.

Dr. Alex has made significant contributions to the development of all Indian satellites starting from the very first Aryabhatta. A gold medalist in electrical engineering from Kerala University, he obtained his Master's degree in engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, and a Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Dr. Alex started his career in ISRO as an electrical engineer at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvanathapuram in 1971 and later joined ISAC. At ISAC, he significantly contributed to the development of the SMART camera carried onboard Rohini RS-D2 satellite, remote sensing experiment conducted during the Indo-Soviet Joint Manned Spaceflight, and Indian remote sensing satellites. Under his leadership, ISRO's Laboratory for Electro Optics Systems (LEOS) was established in Bangalore in 1993 and from the inception, he has been its Director. LEOS is responsible for the development of electro-optic sensors for Indian satellites as well as high-resolution camera optics for Indian remote sensing satellites including the recently launched CARTOSAT-2.

BIG Broadcasting uses AsiaSat 3S

BIG Broadcasting from Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) has joined AsiaSat 3S for its bouquet of television channels which will be serving the Indian community. An agreement has been signed for one C-band transponder on AsiaSat 3S. In an effort to boost and strengthen the group's presence in the media and entertainment space, Reliance ADAG is making its foray into India's broadcast sector by using the entire C-band transponder to broadcast its bouquet of channels. Services will include general entertainment channels, movie channels, and music channels across languages and a host of other differentiated offerings.

TVB selects Eutelsat Eurobird 9 satellite for new multi-channel Chinese platform

Television Broadcasts Ltd (TVB), Hong Kong has selected capacity on the Eurobird 9 satellite operated by Eutelsat Communications to launch its new multi-channel digital platform of Chinese-language channels for satellite homes across Europe. For the first time in Europe, TVB's subsidiary The Chinese Channel is offering a line-up of five of the group's flagship infotainment channels including TVBS-Europe which specializes in Hong Kong drama series, local news and Chinese community events in Europe. It also comprises four specialty channels which were launched in first quarter of 2008. The channels are broadcast in Cantonese and uplinked to Eurobird 9 by Eutelsat's Skylogic affiliate from its teleport in Turin. The Chinese Channel is targeting the population of half a million Cantonese speakers within Eurobird 9's pan-European footprint.

Intelsat to transmit HD for European Broadcasting Union

Intelsat Limited has announced that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has signed a multi-transponder deal for the video carriage of the 2008 Summer Games to Europe. The EBU will use C/Ku-band cross-strap capacity on the Intelsat 706 satellite, located at 50.2 degrees east, to distribute the all high-definition event to its members. The EBU, of which a large proportion of the major European broadcasters are members, provides a full range of network services, including but not limited to HD transmissions to broadband video carriage.

Intelsat will be providing managed services to both the rights holding and non-rights holding broadcasters. Services will include:

• Managed platforms for encoding and multiplexing

• Transmission services via the Intelsat global network to virtually any destination in the world

• Managed fiber services

• Turn-around services on the Intelsat network to include standards conversion and data/IP

• Live shot position, with backdrop of the Olympic Stadium and Olympic Green

• Multi-format tape play-out services

• Feed point connected to a fixed uplink in Beijing.

Global satellite services revenue touches USD 73.9 billion in 2007

Global satellite services revenues grew more than 18 percent, with satellite television contributing nearly three-quarters of the USD 73.9 billion satellite services revenues in 2007. Launch services revenue grew to USD 3.2 billion in 2007, increasing nearly 19 percent from 2006. The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) has released its 2008 State of the Satellite Industry Report, showing a 16 percent growth in global revenues for the commercial satellite industry. Worldwide revenues in 2007 were USD 123 billion, representing an average annual growth of 11.5 per cent for the period 2002-2007.

Sales in consumer hardware resulted in a 19 percent rise in ground equipment revenues over the previous year, posting 2007 revenues of USD 34.3 billion. More satellites were launched in 2007 than in 2006, but satellite manufacturing revenues dipped slightly from USD 11.6 billion, reflecting a higher number of micro-satellites launched. Satellite carriage of High Definition Television (HDTV) continued to grow rapidly. The number of HDTV channels worldwide grew by 150 percent from 2006 to May 2008. Satellite-delivered HDTV channels are forecast to grow 350 percent by 2013.

Satellite services growth of 18 percent in 2007 was almost as robust as the 19 percent growth in 2006. Satellite television and DBS representing three-quarters of total satellite services revenues in 2007 increased 18 percent overall to USD 55.4 billion. Satellite pay TV subscribers increased by about 13 percent over 2006 levels, surpassing the 100 million mark globally. Transponder agreement revenues represent the core of the fixed satellite services sector, and continued to grow, increasing 21 percent in 2007.

China launches communications satellite

China has launched a French-built communications satellite that will be used for live TV broadcast of Beijing Olympics in August. The spacecraft Zhongxing-9, injected into space by China's Long March-3B rocket carrier from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre will be operationalized before the Beijing Olympics. France-based Thales Alenia Space had built the satellite for China Satellite Communications Corporations (Satcom), one of the six basic telecommunications operators in the country. Olympic events will be broadcast via the satellite which would also increase the quality and coverage of the country's television and broadcasting services. The China Great Wall Industrial Corporation had signed the launch service contract with China Satcom in November 2005.

USD 52 million contract for Viasat

ViaSat Inc. has won a delivery order valued at approximately USD 52 million for Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) terminals from The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), San Diego. By gathering information into a digital view of the battlefield, MIDS provides greater situational awareness in combat for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and for U.S. defense partners. The secure, high capacity, jam resistant wireless (non-satellite) system connects users with both digital data and voice communications. Delivery of Lot 9 units is expected to begin in May next year and continue through the first quarter of ViaSat's fiscal year 2011.

The Lot 9 order includes LVT(1) airborne and LVT(2) ground-based Low Volume Terminals under the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract awarded in January 2000. The new award includes LVT(1) terminal variants and spares for E-2D, F/A-18, E/A-18G, EA-6B, and F-16 aircraft, and MH-60R/S and CH-53K helicopters. The Lot 9 order also includes MIDS LVT(2) terminal variants and spares for various U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps applications, as well as MIDS LVT(1) variant terminals for Portuguese and Turkish F-16 aircraft.

Singtel extends MVSAT network globally via SES NEW SKIES satellites

SES NEW SKIES has announced that Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel), is extending its suite of maritime satellite solutions globally by contracting capacity on NSS-7, NSS-703, and NSS-5 satellites. Terms of the three-year deal for up to 5 MHz of capacity over the three satellites remain confidential. The SES NEW SKIES satellites will also support demand for SingTel's OfficeAtSea@SingTel suite of Maritime VSAT solutions, which enable vessels to communicate seamlessly and cost-effectively with their headquarters on land. Solutions include ‘always-on' unlimited broadband Internet access, email, low-cost Voice over IP (VoIP) calls, GSM onboard and ship surveillance. These overcome the limitations of traditional maritime communications by allowing the ship to become a seamless extension of the shore-based office.