Infrastructure
Communications Satellites
2013 – Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) Satellite Design Activities
Over the past few years, several companies have deployed new satellites designed to use the relatively less crowded Ka-band set of frequencies to support delivery of space-based internet broadband. Operators such as Eutelsat, Avanti Communications in the United Kingdom, and ViaSat in the United… This article is for subscribers. Please sign up for a subscription…
2013 – Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) Space Activities
The number of FSS satellites has grown tremendously over the past five years in response to increased demand. Deregulation of international markets has sparked the rise of new companies providing content to customers via satellite. Harmonization of digital transmission standards has helped manufacturers, allowing for economies of scale and more cost-effective distribution.
2012 – MSS Satellite Design Activities
MSS providers offer satellite-based communications directly to consumers through devices such as mobile phones. Traditionally, these satellites have provided basic voice and data services to receivers aboard ships and in other places underserved by terrestrial facilities, such as isolated rural… This article is for subscribers. Please sign up for a subscription or login below.
2012 – Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) Space Activities
One MSS industry leader, Iridium, is implementing a major network upgrade. In June 2010, Iridium selected France’s Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor for its second-generation satellite constellation, named Iridium NEXT. The upgraded network will consist of ## active and ## spare satellites, scheduled for launch between 2015 and 2017.[
2012 – Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) Satellite Design Activities
The number of FSS satellites has increased tremendously over the past five years due to the growth of several applications that drive the need for satellite capacity. Deregulation of international markets has sparked the licensing of many cable and DTH providers that provide customers with cont… This article is for subscribers. Please sign up for…
2012 – Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) Space Activities
GEO satellites can allow a signal to be beamed over a wide fixed coverage area, with the potential to reach a third of the Earth’s surface. They are thus ideal for FSS operators, who often use them to send a single data stream to many stationary antennas in one or more continents. FSS satellites provide DTH video or internet services, corporate network connectivity, broadcast video distribution, and secure communications for the military. Of the ## total active satellites in 2012, ## are communications satellites.
Infrastructure: Space Infrastructure – TSR 2012
2011 – Communications Satellites Snapshot
2011 – Communications satellites have been a crucial part of the global telecommunications infrastructure for decades. They bridge the oceans and connect continents with international telephone calls, bring live video footage of major events to television studios, and connect the major network hubs … This article is for subscribers. Please sign up for a subscription…
2011 – Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) Space Activities
Iridium’s LEO constellation of ## active and ## spare satellites relay signals to each other directly, unlike other systems that require multiple hops between space and the ground to send signals around the world. In June 2010, the company named France’s Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor to construct the communications payload for Iridium’s second-generation, ##-satellite constellation Iridium NEXT.
2011 – MSS Satellite Design Activities
Total MSS revenues in 2010 reached $1.38 billion, an 8.8% increase over the previous year, and are expected to exceed $2.2 billion by 2020.1 The market is dominated by two players: the United Kingdom’s Inmarsat and U.S.-based Iridium. These two firms accounted for 53% and 17% of the market, respecti… This article is for subscribers.…