ITV

Category: Satellites

  • Thaicom promotes Paiboon Panuwattanawong as CEO

    Thaicom promotes Paiboon Panuwattanawong as CEO

    MUMBAI: Asian satellite operator Thaicom Plc has appointed Paiboon Panuwattanawong as the new CEO and authorised director of Thaicom, effective from October 1. 

     

    Panuwattanawong has been serving Thaicom for 23 years now with the last six years in the role of chief technical officer (CTO).

     

    The previous CEO, Suphajee Suthumpun, will serve as an adviser to support the new CEO during the leadership transition period from 1 October – 31 December.  

     

    During her four years at Thaicom, Suthumpun created sustainable growth and success for Thaicom and the Intouch Group. 

     

    Suthumpun’s efforts and accomplishments have been widely recognised and honoured by many reputable customers, Thai and international institutions alike.

     

    Over the past few years, the company has been implementing a succession plan in order to ensure business continuity. Panuwattanawong was identified as the natural successor to Suthumpun as CEO. 

     

    Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics) from Yale University, Panuwattanawong has also attended the Directors Certification Program at Thai Institute of Directors Association in 2009. 

  • ISRO successfully launches communication satellite GSLV-D6

    ISRO successfully launches communication satellite GSLV-D6

    MUMBAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched the communication satellite GSLV-D6. 

     

    GSLV-D6 will launch 2117 kg GSAT-6, an advanced communication satellite, into a GTO. GSAT-6 will provide S-band communication services in the country. After reaching GTO, GSAT-6 will use its own propulsion system to reach its final geostationary orbital home and will be stationed 0 at 83 East longitude.

     

    This is the ninth flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). It is also the fifth developmental flight of GSLV. This is the third time the indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) is being carried on-board during a GSLV flight.

     

    GSLV-D6 flight is significant since it intends to continue the testing of CUS. GSLV is designed to inject two ton class of communication satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

     

    GSLV-D6 was launched from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota.

     

    GSLV-D6 vehicle is configured with all its three stages including the CUS similar to the ones successfully flown during the previous GSLV-D5 mission in January 2014. GSLV-D5 successfully placed GSAT-14 satellite carried on-board in the intended GTO very accurately.

     

    The metallic payload fairing of GSLV-D6 has a diameter of 3.4 m. The overall length of GSLV-D6 is 49.1 m with a lift-off mass of 416 t.

     

    The CUS being flown in GSLV-D6 is designated as CUS-06. The main engine and two smaller steering engines of CUS together develop a nominal thrust of 73.55 kN in vacuum. During the flight, CUS fires for a nominal duration of 720 seconds.

     

    S-band telemetry and C-band transponders enable GSLV-D6 performance monitoring, tracking, range safety/flight safety and Preliminary Orbit Determination (POD).

  • Aircom Pacific leases transponders across AsiaSat fleet for in-flight entertainment delivery

    Aircom Pacific leases transponders across AsiaSat fleet for in-flight entertainment delivery

    MUMBAI: Asian satellite operator Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat) has reached an agreement with in-flight entertainment and connectivity service provider Aircom Pacific, Inc. for using AsiaSat’s transponder capacity and uplinking services.

     

    Under the agreement, Aircom Pacific will use Ka-band and Ku-band capacity on AsiaSat 7 and AsiaSat 8 to deliver its in-flight entertainment and connectivity services for airlines flying routes over Asia. These services include Wifi broadband Internet, streaming TV and videos, streaming gaming, cellular connectivity, and real-time Duty Free shopping and travel services, enabling passengers to enjoy more comprehensive entertainment options during their flight while staying connected to their work and social networks at all times.

     

    “We chose AsiaSat as our satellite partner because it offers us the capacity, coverage and expertise in aero services necessary to ensure a successful implementation in the coming calendar year. The airline industry is intensely competitive. In-flight entertainment and connectivity will be the key for airlines to achieve differentiation and to boost passenger loyalty. Working with AsiaSat to launch this brand new range of in-flight services, we anticipate providing our partner airlines better value, improved and more convenient services to their passengers,” said Aircom Pacific chief marketing officer Alan Gallant.

     

    “Advanced satellite solutions are playing an increasingly important role in enabling in-flight service providers and airlines to offer the best possible entertainment and connectivity solution to their passengers. We are excited that AsiaSat’s satellite capacity was selected by Aircom Pacific to deliver more sophisticated in-flight communications and entertainment services that meet passengers’ growing demand for higher-quality entertainment and connectivity,” said AsiaSat vice president, sales and business development Philip Balaam.

  • ISRO to increase transponder capacity for Indian DTH players to use INSAT

    ISRO to increase transponder capacity for Indian DTH players to use INSAT

    NEW DELHI: With five Direct-to-Home (DTH) service providers using transponder capacity leased from foreign satellites, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is taking measures to augment satellite capacity in India so that these users have the option to migrate to the INSAT system. 

     

    Giving this information, Space Department Minister Jitenda Singh told the Lok Sabha today that ISRO has given a proposal for pricing of satellite transponders for public and non-government users.

     

    A proposal for continuing the existing method of transponder pricing, which is based on type of services, band of operations, coverage area, power level is under consideration. 

     

    There are 13 INSAT/GSAT satellites in orbit, out of which 11 are communication satellites and two are meteorological satellites. In INSAT/GSAT communication satellite systems, there are about 37 Government users and about 49 non-Government users. 

     

    The transponder characteristics in terms of power, coverage, frequency band, etc., vary according to the type of service, which requires differential pricing.  

  • ISRO spends Rs 9 crore to help States bring literacy to rural areas

    ISRO spends Rs 9 crore to help States bring literacy to rural areas

    NEW DELHI: A sum of approximately Rs 9 crore has been spent over the last three years by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to provide the necessary satellite bandwidth to respective State Governments under the Gramsat Scheme.

     

    The expenditure towards content generation and transmission is borne by the State Government of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Karnataka for the operation in their respective states. 

     

    The details of the programme transmitted under the scheme have been under the purview of the concerned State Government. Generally, these programmes cover areas such as mass education, tribal culture, anganwadi workers’ training, fisheries, forest and environment. 

     

    The State Governments concerned formulate the programmes to be transmitted on the Gramsat network and include programmes such as ‘Kuch Soche Kuch Samjhe’, ‘Bhor Honewali Hai’, Kahani Baba’, ‘Ek Tha Raja’, ‘Baat Hamari’, to promote tribal development and culture. 

     

    The dedicated Gramsat satellite is being used by ISRO in keeping in mind the urgent need to eradicate illiteracy in the rural belt.

     

    The Gramsat satellite carries six to eight high powered C-band transponders, which together with video compression techniques can disseminate regional and cultural specific audio-visual programmes of relevance in each of the regional languages through rebroadcast mode on an ordinary TV set.

     

    The high power in C-band has enabled even remote area viewers outside the reach of the TV transmitters to receive programmers of their choice in a direct reception mode with a simple dish antenna.

     

    The salient features of GRAMSAT projects are its communications networks are at the state level connecting the state capital to districts, blocks and enabling a reach to villages; providing computer connectivity data broadcasting, TV-broadcasting facilities having applications like e- governance, development information, teleconferencing, helping disaster management; and providing rural-education broadcasting.

     

    The Gramsat projects have an appropriate combination interactive training at district and block levels employing suitable configuration; broadcasting services for rural development; computer interconnectivity and data exchange services; and tele-health and tele-medicine services.

  • ISRO’s Antrix earns Rs 1860 crore in 2014-15, up Rs 700 crore from 2010-11

    ISRO’s Antrix earns Rs 1860 crore in 2014-15, up Rs 700 crore from 2010-11

    NEW DELHI: The turnover of Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was Rs 1860.71 crore (unaudited) during 2014-15 as compared to Rs 1113.58 crore in 2010-11, the Parliament has been informed. 

    Earlier, Minister in the Department of Space had informed the Parliament that India had earned a sum of approximately Rs 662 crore ($17 million and 78.5 million Euros) by launching 45 satellites from 19 countries using ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

    Antrix has signed agreements for launching 28 more foreign satellites from six countries namely Algeria (3), Canada (4), Germany (4), Indonesia (2), Singapore (6) and the United States (9).

    The launches of these foreign satellites are envisaged during the 2015-2017 time period. Discussions with foreign agencies and companies are going on for providing launch services to their satellites on-board ISRO’s PSLV and Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

    The details of the commercial income generated by Antrix for the last five financial years are: 

    (Rs in crore)

  • AsiaSat announces sales solutions team

    AsiaSat announces sales solutions team

    MUMBAI: Satellite  operator  Asia  Satellite Telecommunications  (AsiaSat)  has  announced  an  enhancement  of  its  sales development and support activities in order to improve the solutions it delivers to its clients.

    A new sales solutions team has been formed and will provide focused and solutions-driven support to the company’s sales and business development activities.  Led by Alan Wong, manager, sales solutions, this team will have an increased focus of identifying and implementing the best solution for each customer’s requirements.

    “With rapidly-changing markets and requirements, this group, working together with our Sales and Engineering & Operations teams, is a key asset for better addressing customer needs and strengthening our partnerships with current and prospective clients,” said Philip Balaam, Vice President, Sales and Business Development.  “As part of our continuous improvement we are looking at offering a more effective and targeted sales approach and the Sales Solutions team will be an important pillar of that effort.”

  • Space Act on the anvil to involve private sector in regulating space activities

    Space Act on the anvil to involve private sector in regulating space activities

    NEW DELHI: A National Space Act for India for regulating space activities in India; facilitate enhanced levels of private sector participation and offering more commercial opportunities is being formulated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

     

    Towards this, a two-day national workshop was held at ISRO headquarter, Bangalore, on 16 and 17 January with the participation of experts across the country. The draft version of the National Space Act has been prepared and consultations have been held with Space Law experts and internal experts within the Department of Space.

     

    The Department of Space has initiated the process of charting out a roadmap for the country’s space programme addressing the short-term and long-term needs in the areas of Space Transportation Systems, Satellite Communication and Navigation, Earth Observation, Space Sciences and Planetary Exploration, and Space-based applications for governance and development.

     

    The Department has initiated a series of reviews towards evolving an action plan for completing all the approved projects, focusing on progress achieved, identifying the tasks to be completed and fix the targets for realising the missions in a timely manner. 

  • India earns Rs 650+ crore by launching 45 foreign satellites

    India earns Rs 650+ crore by launching 45 foreign satellites

    NEW DELHI: The country has earned a sum of approximately Rs 662 crore ($17 million and 78.5 million Euros) by launching 45 satellites from 19 countries using Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

     

    The commercial wing of the ISRO, Antrix Corporation Limited, has been generating income with commercial arrangements through launching of satellites of foreign countries on-board ISRO’s launch vehicle. 

     

    Space Department sources said the launch missions conducted by ISRO for launching Indian satellites are intended for National development. 

    Antrix has signed agreements for launching 28 more foreign satellites from six countries:  Algeria – three, Canada – four, Germany – four, Indonesia – two, Singapore – six and the United States – nine.

     

    The launches of these foreign satellites are envisaged during the 2015-2017 time period. Discussions with foreign agencies and companies are going on for providing launch services to their satellites on-board ISRO’s PSLV and Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). 

    Furthermore, the images received from the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites (RESOURCESAT-2, RISAT-1 and CARTOSAT-1) are marketed globally by Antrix through International Ground Stations established outside India. The IRS images of regions outside India received and processed at ISRO’s Ground Station are also marketed to global customers through Antrix.

  • ISRO to build 15 PSLV launcher by decade end

    ISRO to build 15 PSLV launcher by decade end

    NEW DELHI: A total of 15 Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) launchers worth Rs 3090 crore have been sanctioned by the Government for being built during 2017-20. 

     

    The launchers proposed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the coming years (that is till March 2017) include ten PSLV, two Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles (GSLV) and one developmental flight of GSLV Mk III. 

     

    The indigenous GSLV will launch 2-ton class of communication satellites in space. 

     

    Space Department sources said ISRO has been utilising the Indian industry for the manufacturing and production of the various components and sub-assemblies required for the development of space technology since 1976. In order to ensure the smooth supply chain of hardware, components and sub-systems, ISRO is planning to magnify the role of industry partners by increasing the scope of work from sub-system/hardware level to system level in a phased manner.

     

    The entire gamut of activities that goes into the realization of the launch vehicles or satellites could be performed by the industry, except mission critical activities and launch operations.