O3b taps Norsat to provide microwave components for ground terminals

Canadian satcom company Norsat International will be updating its portfolio soon as it has been chosen to be the authorized supplier of microwave components for O3b Networks’ ground terminals.

For O3b’s launch of the company’s next-gen Ka-band satellite constellation, Norsat will supply O3b with custom-made frequency 5W and 10W Block Upconverters (BUCs) and Low-Noise Blocks Downconverters (LNBs). O3b’s constellation aims to provide telecommunications and data backhaul from remote locations, as well as deliver consumer broadband Internet services to maritime customers. The multi-million dollar, multi-year project aims to incorporate Norsat’s LNBs into maritime systems so O3b can deliver high-speed satellite broadband service at sea by summer of this year.

In a company statement, Norsat President and CEO Dr. Aimee Chan noted: “We’re pleased to be selected as a preferred vendor to O3b Networks and look forward to building the first Medium Earth Orbit satellite constellation through this partnership. The customizations we’ve introduced to our leading edge microwave products make them ideal for projects with high reliability requirements, such as communications at sea. This new partnership with O3b is another milestone as we deliver on our mission to develop innovative communications products and services for challenging applications and environments.”

NigComSat Selects Newtec To Provide Ka-Band Hub Platform

Nigerian company, NigComSat Ltd. (Nigerian Communications Satellite ) has chosen the Europe-based company, Newtec to provide a Ka-band hub platform including terminals to offer B2B and B2C broadband services. The broadband platform will enable voice, data, video, internet and application service solutions over Nigeria via the NigComSat-1R satellite.

“High-speed and reliable Internet will transform the economy and lead to more and better opportunities for many individuals," said NigComSat's Managing Director and Chief Executive, Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai. "In 2011 we successfully put our own high throughput satellite in the sky and I am pleased to welcome now our new technology partner Newtec. We are teaming-up with Newtec because of its track record of delivering reliable, fast and easy to use satellite solutions at an affordable cost.”

The installation of a first Newtec broadband hub is already complete. NIGCOMSAT plans to operate several thousands of satellite modems within the first year of operation.

“I am delighted to say that our new Ka-band technology will help to close the digital divide in Nigeria by using the latest broadband technologies to achieve the highest broadband experience and availability. Our Newtec MDM2200 Ka-band consumer modem and our MDM3100 enterprise modem enable NIGCOMSAT to provide highly competitive connectivity services, achieving download speeds eventually up to 45Mbps. The self-installation capability and the optimized packaging of our complete Ka-band terminals allow NIGCOMSAT to minimize the logistical and installation costs,” said Newtec CEO Serge Van Herck.


See also: India To Launch The First Of Seven IRNSS Satellites

SES To Debut Ka-Band Service In Germany

One of the world's leading satellite operator, SES, announced last March 3rd that starting the second half of 2013, it will offer its satellite broadband service, SES Broadband, with download speeds up to 20Mbps in Germany. According to the report in the company website, "The enhanced service will become available once the Ka-band capacity on SES’ ASTRA 2E satellite is operational."

Marketed by SES's wholly-owned subsidiary SES Broadband Services to Internet Service Providers, the service is "designed for end users in remote locations all over Germany" and, according to the said company report, will provide a highly competitive broadband offering with performance features comparable to terrestrial broadband services.

SES's Ka-band expansion to Germany is the next step in the company's strategy to offer its customers an ever-higher quality of service.

Managing Director of SES Broadband Services, Patrick Biewer said, “We are delighted to offer download speeds of up to 20 Mbit/s to end users in Germany in the course of this year. We are convinced that the highly competitive new offering will satisfy consumers and help us in our endeavour to further expand our offer throughout Europe.”

See also: Apple, Likely To Adopt Wireless Charging Technology