Honywell, Thales integrating Global Xpress systems for in-flight Internet

Honeywell and Thales Alenia Space issued a joint announcement on September 21 regarding their newly-formed partnership. Honeywell will integrate the avionics and satellite antenna systems of its Inmarsat Global Xpress service with Thales’ cabin network solutions to create a Ka-band in-flight connectivity service.

Honeywell and Thales will leverage the Ka-band broadband capacity of Global Express to offer in-flight connectivity bandwidth of up to four times greater than the current standard. The Inmarsat satellite Internet service will allow for media-rich applications such as virtual office capability, video conferencing, real-time satellite TV channel viewing, and social media connectivity. It will also reportedly be more cost-effective than competitors' in-flight Internet services.

The three Global Xpress Ka-band satellites are currently being built at aerospace company Boeing's facilities in El Segundo, California. The first satellite has been scheduled for a 2013 launch.

Hughes providing HX System 4.0 backhaul solution to Latin American telecom operator

Hughes Network Systems announced that it will be supplying the latest HX System backhaul solution to a large Latin American telecommunications operator. The backhaul update will allow the Latin American telecom to expand the coverage of its GSM and WiMAX wireless voice and data services, letting it serve customers in remote regions.

Hughes has provided the HughesNet high-speed satellite Internet service and associated systems to over 2.8 million users in 100 nations. The satellite broadband provider's Solutions include IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A, and GMR-1.

Hughes' solutions have received approvals from the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI,) International Telecommunications Union (ITU,) and other similar standardization bodies.

The Latin American telecommunications operator previously acquired the HX System in 2009 as an upgrade of its existing DVB-S network to Hughes' enhanced DVB-S2 platform. Hughes' HX System backhaul solution provided the telecom enterprise with better voice quality and high data throughputs through a combination of a dynamic bandwidth allocation protocol and low traffic latency and jitter.

More than one million satellite broadband terminal sites use the HX System satellite networking infrastructure. The system is fully compliant with the IP over Satellite (IPoS) global standard. Its latest version is the HX System 4.0 platform, which Hughes will use to upgrade the Latin American telecom customer's network.

Recently released by Hughes, the 4.0 version of the HX System offers high-speed IP services over satellite. It is fully compatible with various multi-media, video, data, and voice applications.

Satellite broadband contributes to online education

Most people think satellites are only used in the broadcasting industry, aviation, and even military missions. But the advent of satellite broadband technology has made its effect even more widespread. Today, millions of people rely on the transmission of vessels orbiting the earth. 

Aside from making it possible to watch TV shows from other countries, satellite technology is also delivering online education in remote regions. Many communities, especially those in developing countries, are inaccessible by road, or are situated in areas where large-scale terrestrial communications network cannot be constructed.

In such situations, satellite broadband via VSAT has been the ideal solution. Now, the system can be conveniently deployed with minimal interference on the environment. Students in remote regions can stream educational videos via Internet, and teachers can finally access more information online. Internet by satellite enables computers to connect to a host of resources that are usually cut off because of the location.

Soon, satellite broadband will penetrate more remote regions, and improve the lives of people in communities often cut off from the rest of the world. With wireless communications technology improving, and with the rise of more powerful mobile devices, our connected world can enjoy easier transfer of information, as well as more powerful and convenient online education. 

Communications provider JRC partners with Inmarsat for Global Xpress launch

In a recent announcement, Inmarsat reported that it was renewing and expanding its strategic maritime partnership with Japanese-based communications provider JRC in preparation for the 2014 launch of Inmarsat's Global Xpress satellite broadband platform.

According to Frank Coles, President, Inmarsat Maritime, Inmarsat has always closely integrated its products with the best hardware and antenna manufacturers for the best connectivity solutions.

“Our fourth generation satellite service, the FleetBroadband platform,” Mr. Coles cited as an example, “has rested heavily on reliable providers like JRC. We are now delighted to extend our partnership with JRC and together develop connectivity solutions for the Global Xpress programme, which will become operational during 2014."

He added that Inmarsat continues to develop intuitive products for the shipping market by integrating its next-generation high throughput services (HTS) with hardware solutions that have proven their reliability and quality.

As a trusted Inmarsat partner since 2005, JRC provides both products and support services for Inmarsat's FleetBroadband maritime communications platform. The partnership will be extended to encompass the new Global Xpress satellite broadband program as well.

JRC and Inmarsat will develop cost-efficient, compact, and easy-to-install solutions for the shipping industry. High-speed connectivity to be provided by Inmarsat's future fleet of Ka-band satellites.

SES Broadband Service set to start late this year

November 2012 will witness the launch of SES Broadband Service (SBBS,) a Ka-band satellite broadband service that will offer up to 20Mbit/s downloads and up to 2Mbps upload.

Right now, the ASTRA 2F platform is waiting for September 21, 2012. Once successfully launched, the SES satellite will be parked at the orbital position 28.2 degrees East, the first of four Ka-band satellites that will support SES Broadband'sInternet-by-satellite services.

A cooperation agreement between SES, Gilat Satellite Technologies, and Newtec created both SBBS' hub infrastructure and the means to deliver the end-user terminals to SES' customers.

“With ASTRA 2F and the subsequent launches of ASTRA 2E, ASTRA 5B and ASTRA 2G in 2013 and 2014, we will be able to further expand our satellite broadband service in Europe with the additional Ka-band capacity on our fleet,” said Patrick Biewer, Managing Director of SBBS.

SES’ long-term partners NordNet, Vivéole, and WIBOX will distribute the new satellite Internet service to end-consumers in France. Representatives from those three service providers were excited for the Ka-band satellite broadband service.

“The new service will further increase the attractiveness of satellite broadband,” said Francis Piet, CEO of NordNet, who added that satellite Internet is now 500% faster while costing only half the price it did in 2008.

“Vivéole has been committed to bridging the digital divide since 2005,” Alexandre Séménadisse, CEO of Vivéole, said. “As a long-standing partner of SES, we will soon be able to offer even better solutions to a larger customer base.”

“The fact that satellite technology has constantly developed allows us to meet the growing demand for broadband services in the regions,” agreed Thomas Gassiloud, President of WIBOX. “We can now offer services close to the speed of ADSL connections and traffic volumes offering unprecedented freedom of choice for our customers.”

Ireland announces new National Broadband plan with minimum 30Mbps services

Ireland's Communications Minister, Pat Rabbitte, recently outlined a new National Broadband Plan that promises up to 100Mbps for urban dwellers and a minimum of 30-40Mbps for everyone else.

According to Minister Rabbitte, Ireland's new broadband plan will provide speeds of 70Mbps to 100Mbps for half the population, who are concentrated in the urban and suburban areas. This applies to both residential and commercial users.

Another 20 % of the country will get at least 40Mbps. The rest of Ireland -even it's most remotest area- will be entitled to a minimum of 30Mbps.

Ireland is doing its part for the Digital Agenda for Europe, an ambitious broadband program by the European Union. EU member states are expected to publish national broadband plans by the end of 2012; to ensure that all their citizens receive at least 30Mbps of service by 2020; and to bring speeds of 100Mbps to half of the households in the union before 2020 ends.

A good example would be Finland. In 2009, the Scandinavian country made known its plan to ensure a minimum service of 1Mbps by 2010, which in five years would be upgraded to 100Mbps.

In comparison, the United States' National Broadband Plan was released in 2010 and aims for a minimum of 4Mbps for all Americans, a minimum that has yet to be reached.

The Irish government expressed its readiness to spend €175 million ($219 million) in creating broadband infrastructure for rural areas as part of its new National Broadband Plan. The government also clarified that it is not going to purchase Internet access for people. Instead, it will merely ensure that Irishmen across the country will have access to at least the minimum required by the Digital Agenda for Europe by setting up the appropriate fiber optic, wireless, and satellite broadband networks.