NEWS

LATEST NEWS EXTRACTS FROM THE APSCC

MEASAT’s High‐Speed Satellite Broadband Prepaid Service “CONNECTme NOW” Reaches Key Milestone with 1,000 Sites Installed in Rural Malaysia

December 30, 2020 - CONNECTme NOW, Malaysia’s first prepaid satellite broadband WiFi Hotspot service by MEASAT Global Berhad (“MEASAT”) has successfully been installed at Data Kakus. This marks the 1,000th installation in rural locations, providing communication and internet access to the rural communities nationwide. CONNECTme NOW launched in 2019, is satellite-based and available exclusively in Malaysia, delivered by employing Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and High Throughput Satellite (HTS) technology. The service is a sustainable prepaid business model for rural broadband connectivity. With no contract or fixed monthly charges, subscribers only pay for what they use with a Prepaid Access Code (PAC) Vouchers used at CONNECTme NOW community WiFi hotspots. CONNECTme NOW has been making waves in providing community-focused satellite broadband services with 30 Mbps broadband speeds to realize national broadband aspirations. Today, CONNECTme NOW is rapidly connecting the unconnected Rakyat with over 100,000 broadband connections nationwide for the Rakyat residing outside of 4G or terrestrial coverage, empowering rural communities to be part of the digital economy. 

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. Extends Term of Acquisition Agreement for UHP

December 30, 2020 - Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (“Comtech”) (NASDAQ: CMTL) reported today that Comtech and UHP Networks, Inc. (“UHP”), a leading provider of innovative and disruptive satellite ground station technology solutions, agreed to extend their agreement for Comtech’s purchase of UHP, which was originally announced in November 2019, until February 28, 2021. UHP is based in Canada and has developed revolutionary technology that is transforming the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) market. Comtech Telecommunications Corp. designs, develops, produces and markets innovative products, systems and services for advanced communications solutions. The company sells products to a diverse customer base in the global commercial and government communications markets.

Kymeta Announces $30 Million Equity Investment by Hanwha Systems to Back Global Mobile Satellite‐Cellular Connectivity

December 28, 2020 - Hanwha Systems (HSC) has signed an agreement to invest $30 million to back the development of Kymeta’s next generation solutions, the Kymeta u8™ and Kymeta Connect™. The investment will further Kymeta’s global market reach, accelerate production of Kymeta products and solutions, and improve the overall growth trajectory of the company. The funding is anticipated to support increased unit production, an enhanced customer experience, and the ongoing development of Kymeta’s next generation capabilities. HSC aims to support Kymeta’s metamaterial-based antenna technology and gain a foothold in the rapidly growing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) antenna market. With the capital investment and upon regulatory approvals, HSC will also receive a seat on the Kymeta Board of Directors. The investment follows the commercial availability of Kymeta’s next-generation antenna, terminal, and services on November 30, 2020. Kymeta offers seamless and uninterrupted mobile satellite-cellular connectivity to satisfy the overwhelming demand for communications on the move. Kymeta’s new products and services offer a breakthrough in performance, ease of use, and affordability. The company anticipates that these solutions will further enhance its position in both commercial and government markets.

Viasat Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire RigNet

December 21, 2020 - Viasat today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire RigNet, a leading provider of ultra-secure, intelligent networking solutions and specialized applications, in an allstock transaction that values RigNet at an enterprise value of approximately $222 million based on Viasat's share price as of the date of the agreement and RigNet's net debt at September 30, 2020. The acquisition will help to further accelerate Viasat's strategy to provide high-quality, ubiquitous, affordable broadband connectivity and communications to the hardest-to-reach locations around the globe. RigNet provides premier, global end-to-end, secure managed communications service and installation capabilities, along with digital transformation solutions, which will enable Viasat to quickly expand into new adjacent industries, including: energy, shipping, maritime, mining and additional enterprises. Acquiring RigNet will give Viasat direct access to over 650 customers and expand and diversify Viasat's commercial connectivity portfolio, providing Viasat an opportunity to more quickly enter adjacent industries. For example, by combining the strong gains in bandwidth efficiencies expected from the impending ViaSat-3 constellation and RigNet’s portfolio of services, Viasat will become a leading vertically-integrated energy communications provider with deep domain and customer expertise.

Hispasat Awards Gilat Order for Cellular Backhaul over Satellite to Extend Service to Rural Mexico

December 21, 2020 - Gilat Satellite Networks has announced that Hispasat awarded it a multi-million dollar order to expand the existing SkyEdge II-c platform that Hispasat operates in Mexico and procure Capricorn VSATs for cellular backhaul (CBH) over satellite. Hispasat will use Gilat technology to extend the service of Altan La Red Compartida, the shared telecommunications network in Mexico, to over three million people in Mexico. Mexico’s underserved rural population will benefit from 4.5G LTE coverage enjoying high-quality mobile broadband voice and data services. Altan is committed to promoting the vision of more and better-connected residents in Mexico. Due to difficult terrain, laying out land-based infrastructure is unfeasible or would require exorbitant costs. Therefore, satellite backhauling is the preferred method to provide fast coverage to the unserved and underserved population in Mexico, in regions where telecommunications can be crucial to open new opportunities for economic and social development. Gilat’s SkyEdge II-c platform with its flagship VSAT, Capricorn, over Hispasat’s Ka-band Amazonas 5 satellite, provides a most reliable quick solution to meet Altan’s demanding requirements. Gilat’s CBH platform provides a user experience similar to terrestrial technologies enabling MNOs to expand high-quality coverage to underserved areas of Mexico.

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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.