Pactel provides SATCOM network for Australian immigration facilities at Nauru

Pactel International wasted no time in setting up a satellite communications infrastructure for Nauru refugees in Australian immigration facilities. On behalf of CenpacNet Inc., Nauru's local telecom provider, Pactel designed and debuted a SATCOM network to provide the first group of asylum seekers with Internet and VoIP access.

Pactel based its network on the IS-18 C-band and Ku-band satellite platform. The new network will be able to provide Internet connectivity and high-quality VoIP calls for up to 1500 people -the maximum number that the detention facilities can hold- thanks to the efficient bandwidth allocation capabilities of Pactel’ QoS technology.

“Access to communication facilities that enable refugees to communicate with their families and request for assistance has become a basic need in current circumstances,” said Andrew Taylor, the CEO of Pactel International. “We will ensure our service satisfies this need.”

On behalf of CenpacNet Inc., manager Rudolph Garoa, Manager explained that the Company chose Pactel International due to the latter's extensive experience and high accountability in the Pacific Region. PactTel's 24/7 network support and fast, reliable satellite communications services met all of CenpacNet's expectations.

Sky-Stream gets Eutelsat satellite capacity, coverage for marine, oil and gas sectors

In response to growing connectivity demands by customers in the marine and oil and gas sectors, Sky-Stream purchased capacity on two Eutelsat Communications satellites. Sky-Stream will also get to increase the footprint covered by its satellite Internet services.

Satellite Internet provider Sky-Stream has entered into a contract with Eutelsat for a total of 70 MHz of bandwidth. Sky-Stream will gradually deploy its new bandwidth on the EUTELSAT 3C and 10A satellites, whose combined footprint covers Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East, and Africa.

The new capacity will be used by Sky-Stream to provide GSM backhaul, satellite Internet access, and on-demand video services to its bandwidth-hungry customers in the maritime and oil & gas sectors.

Sky-Stream will use an Automatic Beam Switching aboard EUTELSAT 3C to extend the satellite's current coverage of the Middle East's Ku-band to the Mediterranean, where its luxury yacht customers can benefit from the satellite downlink.

At the same time, Sky-Stream will take advantage of EUTELSAT 10A's broad C-band beam to further enhance Sky-Stream's solid satellite communications services for both maritime and energy (offshore and on-shore) sectors in the Middle East, across Africa, and in the Atlantic.

EUTELSAT 10A's massive footprint will allow SkyStream to expand its current C band coverage. Sky-Stream will be able to ensure connectivity for its subscribers anywhere from Australia and East Asia across to the coast of the Americas, which is roughly two-thirds of the planet.

GMV USA building ground control center for MEASAT-3b

GMV USA received a contract with MEASAT Global Berhad ("MEASAT") to manufacture the satellite ground control and payload ground control systems for the MEASAT-3b communications satellite.

The Rockville, Maryland-based GMV USA is a US affiliate of GMV, a multinational satellite ground systems supplier and world leader in satellite ground systems.

"GMV is proud to offer exceptional technical competency that enables us to stand out from the competition for this project," said Theresa Beech, president of GMV USA. "We are pleased to bring our experience in successful communications satellite control center installation and operation around the globe to MEASAT."

MEASAT already has control centers for Boeing Satellite Systems-built MEASAT-3 and Orbital Sciences Corporation-manufactured MEASAT-3a satellites, which provide . The two older platforms will be switched out of their current real time system solutions and into GMV's hifly solution, which will provide MEASAT with a consolidated control center.

The geostationary MEASAT-3b is a powerful platform that will provide Malaysia, India, Indonesia, and Australia with satellite communications services through a minimum of 48 high powered Ku-band transponders. It will join MEASAT-3 and MEASAT-3a at the 91.5*E hotslot, and was designed to operate in tandem with the earlier satellites. MEASAT-3b will provide in-orbit redundancy and increase satellite capacity for the planned expansion of MEASAT's core DTH customers.

GMV will develop and deploy the ground control center for MEASAT-3b. The control center's satellite telemetry and telecommand system will be based upon GMV's hifly product, while the flight dynamics system is patterned on GMV's product focusSuite. GMV will also design and implement ground equipment monitoring and control.

The kick-off meeting between GMV and MEASAT took place in January 2012. On-site acceptance of the GMV-designed satellite ground control center is set for the third quarter of 2013. MEASAT-3b itself is currently being built by Astrium SAS, and is scheduled to be launched before 2013 ends.