Arabsat and Forsway, a global specialist in providing innovative satellite broadband solutions, announced the deployment of affordable satellite broadband services across Africa under the new Arabsat Broadband package. In their first collaboration for Africa, the partners have teamed up to create a managed resource to deliver highly affordable broadband based on Arabsat capacity and hardware from Forsway. The regional service model was designed and implemented by satellite services consultants at Developing Infrastructure.

Newtec, a specialist in the design, development and manufacture of equipment for satellite communications, today announced its technology will be used by leading satellite operator NIGCOMSAT as it expands its enterprise, government and consumer Ka-band broadband services in Nigeria.

Following on from its continued success with Newtec’s VSAT platform Newtec Dialog®, NIGCOMSAT – which was founded in 2006 by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Communication Technology – will now deploy a second hub and thousands of Newtec’s MDM2210 IP Satellite Modems and MDM2510 IP Satellite Modems.

Euroconsult anticipates that 330 satellites with a mass over 50 kg will be launched on average each year by 2027 for government agencies and commercial organizations worldwide. This is a threefold increase over the past decade as the satellite market experiences a paradigm shift with the rise of small satellites and large constellations according to the research firm's latest report, Satellites to be Built & Launched over the Next 10 Years.

HISPASAT, the Spanish satellite-based telecommunications operator, is sponsoring a new edition of the Apollo Space Contest for 14 to 16 year old students in Spain and Latin America.

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Safran [EPA: SAF] have received regulatory approvals for a joint venture so they can begin designing, building and servicing aircraft Auxiliary Power Units (APUs)—onboard engines that are primarily used to start the main engines and power aircraft systems while on the ground and, if necessary, in flight. The companies also named Etienne Boisseau as Chief Executive Officer of the joint venture.

Spacecom, operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, announced that it is expanding sales with a Vertical Solutions Division targeting MNOs, government programs, service providers and other commercial groups operating in the fertile data, mobile, and video markets.

Spacecom's new division adds value to customers by enabling them to reach a broader range of new business opportunities as they add complementary applications and push further into digital markets. The new division's first deal is a multi-year contract with a leading Southern Africa VSAT services provider via AMOS-7.

Spacecom, operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, and Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) today announced an agreement whereby AMOS-7 is supplying satellite services to BTC's VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) network throughout all of Botswana.

Spacecom is providing BTC with highest efficiency satellite capacity alongside migrating the existing network towards next generation VSAT technology.

During the past ten years, Africa, the second-largest continent in terms of size and population after Asia, has made great strides in improving its telecommmunications infrastructure through submarine fiber cables landing on both the African Eastern and Western coastlines.

In the last quarter of 2018 a real small sat express consisting of the Indian PSLV and the American SpaceX Falcon-9 launchers will bring a large number of small satellites into an sun synchronous orbit.  After long delays more than 80 small satellites from more than 30 customers from around 20  countries,  that are waiting anxiously to have their small satellites launched into orbit.

Introduction

A man walking along a cliff feels the ground give way beneath him.  He manages to clutch at a root extending from the face of the cliff, which saves him from falling 1,200 feet onto jagged rocks in the surf below. But as he hangs, on he cannot climb back up.  He shouts, “Is anyone up there!?” 

A voice fills the sky!  “Have faith. If you have faith you can let go and you will fall light as a feather, landing unhurt on the rocks below.”  He looks down at the rocks and crashing surf, thinks about it, looks back up and shouts, “Is there anyone ELSE up there?”