NEWS

LATEST NEWS EXTRACTS FROM THE APSCC

Thuraya Aero Reaches Line‐fit Milestone for Airbus Helicopters

April 30, 2020 - Thuraya and SCOTTY Group have announced that they have secured line-fit offerability for the Thuraya Aero mobile connectivity solution on Airbus H145 and H135 helicopters. For the first time, Airbus customers can install and customize their Thuraya Aero kit when ordering new aircraft. The system will be fitted on the production line, with no need for further tests and verification. The aircraft will be ready to use on delivery, with voice and data connectivity fully functioning. This means that it can be deployed immediately to deliver mission-critical capabilities. There is no need to have the aircraft grounded for months after delivery in order to retrofit communication systems. Thuraya Aero is an inflight connectivity and data-sharing platform that uses mobile satellite communications to provide internet access, text messaging, phone calls, VOIP, video and audio conferencing as well as aerial surveillance, especially for BLOS missions. Thuraya and SCOTTY showcased the solution’s live streaming capabilities at Dubai Air Show in November 2019, wherein surveillance data and video were transmitted to Dubai from an airborne Airbus H145 helicopter in Germany. Real-time streaming was made possible by Thuraya’s L-band satellite network, which enables transmission over vast geographical areas. Thuraya has also demonstrated the advanced features of its aero mobility system to key UAE government customers.

 ThinKom Completes Successful Antenna Interoperability Demonstrations on Ku‐Band LEO Satellite Constellation

April 30, 2020 - ThinKom Solutions recently completed a series of interoperability tests that demonstrated the compatibility of its core antenna technology with a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. The tests took place during the first quarter of 2020, using commercially available airborne-certified hardware, including a ThinKom Ku3030 phased-array antenna subsystem and a Gogo radome, adaptor plate and power amplifier that together comprise the “2Ku” aero satcom terminal. The 2Ku terminal demonstrated rapid acquisition and tracking of LEO satellites and provided continuous connectivity over all operationally relevant elevation angles. The switch time between individual satellite beams was less than 100 milliseconds (ms), and handoffs between satellites were completed in less than one second. Switches between LEO and geostationary (GEO) satellites were also achieved with similar results. The measured terminal performance demonstrated the potential that the combination of ThinKom antennas and LEO solutions will provide, with throughput rates in excess of 350 Mbps on the downlink and 125 Mbps on the uplink, at latencies of less than 50 ms.

UAE Ministry of Education Collaborates with Yahsat to Offer Free Satellite Broadband Services

April 30, 2020 - The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced that it is collaborating with Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) to extend the reach of its Remote Schooling initiative for students seeking to access e-learning platforms during the current COVID-19 situation. As part of the collaboration, Yahsat will provide high-speed satellite broadband services for students and teachers in multiple locations across the UAE, where terrestrial broadband alternatives are unavailable. Yahsat’s satellite links will provide remote users access to online libraries, educational applications and collaborative platforms, ensuring e-learning and knowledge sharing through this phase of home-based schooling. The company’s services will be available to users free of charge.

Cobham EXPLORER 323 and EXPLORER 6075LX Terminals Receive Inmarsat Type Approval

April 30, 2020 - Cobham SATCOM and Inmarsat have today announced the type approval of two new land satellite terminals. The low-profile vehicular Cobham EXPLORER 323 BGAN terminal and the auto-point ‘fly-away’ Cobham EXPLORER 6075LX VSAT terminal are now fully operational on the Inmarsat network with commercial shipments of each beginning immediately. The new EXPLORER 323 terminal represents the first class 12, electronically steerable terminal for use on Inmarsat’s L-band Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN). It combines the slimmest form factor of any vehicular BGAN terminal with a number of new innovative features and sets a new standard in robustness due to its lack of moving parts. In conjunction with Inmarsat’s highly reliable network, offering up to 99.9% uptime, it promises a new standard in mobile communications to organisations operating in remote locations across a wide array of industries.

COMSAT Inks Deal with ABS to Enhance C‐ and Ku‐band US Connectivity Solutions on ABS‐3A

April 29, 2020 - COMSAT has ratified an agreement with ABS to enhance and strengthen the COMSAT global network. The addition of the ABS-3A satellite to the COMSAT Southbury, Connecticut teleport services bolsters its reach throughout the Americas, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to provide more resilient and robust connectivity solutions through its terrestrial fiber pathways. A 14.2M antenna delivering C-band services and a 9M antenna, providing Ku-band services, have been allocated to support the new partnership. As demand for data transmission increases globally the agreement focuses on providing multiple service options and strengthened satellite connectivity to deliver increased amounts of data, video, mobility, and government applications between the U.S. and international markets. COMSAT will participate in the ABSPlus program, which aggregates teleport infrastructures from around the world to seamlessly integrate ground networks with satellites globally. This complements an ambitious expansion plan currently in process at COMSAT’s Tier 4 WTA certified teleports in Southbury, CT. and Santa Paula, CA. On completion COMSAT will support more satellite constellation providers than any other terrestrial network.

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About APSCC
APSCC is a non-profit, international organization representing all sectors of satellite and space-related industries. The aim of the organization is to exchange views and ideas on satellite technologies, systems, policies and outer space activities in general along with satellite communications including broadcasting for the betterment of the Asia-Pacific region.

Conferences, forums, workshops, and exhibitions are organized through regional coordination with its members in order to promote new services and businesses via satellite as well as outer space activities. APSCC membership is open to any government body, public or private organization, association, or corporation that is involved in satellite services, risk management or associate fields such as data-casting, informatics, multi-media, telecommunications and other outer-space related activities with interests in the Asia-Pacific region. More information is available at www.apscc.or.kr.