SatcoDX - TELE-satellite International Magazine

MEDIA
located stations where fixed and mobile network
of telecom operators have not reached so far.
TATANET PARTNERS WITH VT
IDIRECT AND STELECTRONICS
Satellite-based IP communications technology
supplier VT iDirect together with its sister
company, ST Electronics (Satcom & Sensor
Systems) has announced a strategic partnership
with Tatanet Services, an Indian VSAT service
provider. Tatanet has implemented an iDirect
Series 15000 Universal Hub in Mumbai, which will
enable it to expand its business across multiple
developing markets that require specialized
service capabilities. Through iDirect’s Intelligent
Platform, Tatanet can provide satellite VPN,
VoIP and Internet broadband services to major
enterprises and organizations, supporting remote
communications, business continuity networks
and a wide array of critical IP applications.
ISRAEL
VSAT News
GILAT SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE
MERGER WITH GALACTIC
The shareholders of Gilat Satellite Networks
approved the Agreement and Plan Merger, dating
back to March 31, among Gilat, Galactic Holdings
and Galactic Acquisition Company, pursuant
to which Galactic Acquisition Company will be
merged into Gilat. Gilat will continue as the surviving
entity and will become a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Galactic Holdings. Gilat Satellite Networks
is a provider of IP based digital satellite communication
and networking products and services.
The Company designs, produces and markets
VSATs and related VSAT network equipment.
JAPAN
BB SAT TO PROVIDE SATELLITE
BROADBAND SERVICE
Beginning October 1, BB SAT will demonstrate
two-way consumer satellite broadband service
in Japan. The demonstration service is aimed
at showing how broadband satellite service can
solve Japan’s “digital divide” problem of several
million households, and how this service can be
a significant part of the government’s strategy
to provide broadband service to all citizens.
Two towns in the Japanese “digital divide”,
Shobara in Hiroshima prefecture and Tsuru in
Yamanashi prefecture, have been selected as
sites for this initial demonstration service. The
demonstration service will use the ViaSat Surf-
Beam system already in widespread use in the
U.S. and elsewhere. Satellite capacity is being
provided by Space Communications Corporation
using their Superbird B2 spacecraft.
MALAYSIA
TELEKOM MALAYSIA AND NUMIX TO
LAUNCH BROADBAND SERVICE
The partnership venture of Telekom Malaysia
Berhad (TM) and Numix Engineering has
contracted 5 MHz of transmission capacity on
the NSS-6 satellite at 95 degrees East to launch
two-way Ku-band broadband services targeting
Malaysia and other countries in South East Asia.
TM is Malaysia’s leading next generation communications
and broadband provider. Numix Engineering
provides local expertise involved in the supply and
system integration of high technology products.
SINGAPORE
SINGTEL EXTENDS MARITIME
SOLUTIONS VIA SES NEW SKIES
Singapore Telecommunications is extending its
suite of maritime satellite solutions globally by
contracting capacity on SES New Skies’ NSS-
7, NSS-703 and NSS-5 satellites. Terms of the
three-year deal for up to 5MHz of capacity over
the three satellites remain confidential. The SES
New Skies satellites will also support demand
for Singapore Telecommunications’s (SingTel)
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 VoIP
calls, GSM onboard and ship surveillance.
AFRICA
KENYA
KENYA TO GET NEW VSAT NETWORK
Kenyan businesses are to get a new VSAT
network to deliver high quality voice, broadband
data and video services. The new network is
expected to be used primarily by banks and
financial services companies to provide private
networking services, including interactive data,
broadband Internet access, VoIP and clientserver
banking applications to their customers
throughout Kenya. The network, comprising
SkyEdge II IP VSATs and a SkyEdge II hub which
supports multiple satellites, will cover sites in
various parts of Kenya. The Kenyan network