NBN faces possible shortfall in capacity for satellite broadband services

The interim satellite broadband service of the national broadband network (NBN) in Australia has become so popular that its builder may encounter difficulties ensuring remote regions can access high-speed satellite services.

The interim satellite service is offering broadband services with download speeds that can reach six megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds up to one Mbps. These broadband services can reach Australians who live and work in the country's remote and rural areas.

Mike Quigley, the Chief of NBN Co., explained that demand for the interim satellite broadband service has exceeded the project's expections. He expressed concern that the current supply of satellite capacity will not be able to accomodate the growing demand before NBN launches the first of its two satellites in 2015.

The two NBN broadband satellites cost a total of $620 million. The plan is to launch them half a year apart.

In the meantime, NBN Co is considering launching the full interim service earlier than planned. Mr. Quigley noted that NBN has already acquired a significant percentage of the limited amount of satellite capacity that Australia can tap for satellite broadband services.

Telefonica Chooses the KA-SAT of Eutelsat for Internet Service

Telefonica Global Solutions, a Spanish broadband and telecommunications provider, will be making use of the high-performance KA-SAT satellite of Eutelsat to provide high quality satellite broadband services to carriers all throughout Europe.

The company intends on utilizing the capacity of KA-SAT to suggest solutions to European carriers that are as dependable and competitive in prices as terrestrial broadband services. Telefonica Global Solutions also aims on bringing high-speed Internet service to carriers all over Europe, especially in areas that cannot be reached by terrestrial broadband networks, such as urban belts or rural areas that do not have access to terrestrial with fully diversified backup solutions.

In a statement, Telefonica Director of the Satellite Services Business Unit José Antonio Guerra said, “The bid for Eutelsat Ka-band is the logical step for the evolution of the business of data communications via satellite in Europe, where land-based infrastructures have increasing capillarity. KA-SAT will allow us to offer high quality services at competitive prices, allowing us to update our catalogue of services for operators and corporations. It also allows us to complement the overall strategy of the Telefonica Group providing another access technology for services such as M2M or iHealth.”

U.S Government Refurbishes ViaSat Broadband Airborne Satcom Services Contract

Direct Broadcast Satellite company ViaSat will be providing broadband airborne satcom services to a customer from the U.S government, under a valued $52 million one year contract.

This renewal is for the services established back in 2009 which made use of ViaSat ArcLight technology over a managed private network to support military mission for the War on Terror. The systems of ViaSat mobile broadband are specifically created to provide media-rich ISR, C2, as well as other applications with high-speed, beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications. Typical operational data rates utilize Ku- and Ka-band satcom links and range from one to eight Mbps off over 300 government aircraft.

The same terminals can function on the Yonder global satellite network, giving the network a higher priority regional service overlays with a variety of performance and connectivity options.

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Telesat wants partners for its satellite broadband proposal in Northern Canada

Telesat states that the positive results of its recent live satellite broadband trials in Iqaluit proved that satellite services can help bridge the bandwidth gaps plaguing Northern Canada.

The Canadian satellite operator led a team of local communications technology providers to deliver advanced satellite broadband services to residential, government, and business customers in Iqaluit.

These bandwidth gaps were first identified by the Arctic Communications Infrastructure Assessment (ACIA) Report of 2011. Telesat asserts that the technology and the satellite capacity to resolve these shortcomings are now available for implementation.

The Company suggested a public/private collaboration with territorial, provincial, and federal governments as well as other interested parties who want to improve the availability and quality of broadband services in Northern Canada.

Telesat offered to invest CAD 40 million as part of its proposed collaboration to deliver advanced satellite broadband services in the North. The Company expects that its successful demonstrations in Iqaluit will spur the implementation of broadband services as early as 2013.

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HCIL will deploy satellite broadband network for 3000 bank branches in India

Hughes Communications India, Ltd (HCIL) won a five-year, $6 million contract from C-Edge. HCIL will be deploying a satellite broadband network and managed services that will link together more than 3,000 branches of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in India.

HCIL will connect various District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and State Apex banks in India. The first phase of the new satellite broadband network will be implemented in the Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

Hughes will also deploy 3,000 HN9200 VSAT terminals as part of the significant banking project. The Company will further provide shared Network Operations Center (NOC) services such as backhaul, hosting, end-to-end IPSec management, and satellite bandwidth.

A joint venture of the State Bank of India (SBI) and TATA Consultancy Services (TCS,) C-Edge intends to reengineer the business processes of more than 140 banks in India. It also seeks to transform the information technologies used by those same banks. C-Edge selected the unique solution employed by HCIL to optimize its customers' technology, security, cost, and operations.

HCIL offers a wide range of satellite broadband networking technologies, solutions, and services, including managed services. Its solutions can meet every communication challenge faced by Indian businesses and governments.