Asia Satellite Broadcast Services (ABS) Brüel & Kjaer C-COM Satellite Systems DEV Systemtechnik

DigitalGlobe Elbit Systems, Shiron SatCOM Business Line Foxcom Globecomm Glowlink

Hughes Communications iDirect Intelsat S.A. Iridium Communications Keystone Enterprise Services

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions KVH Industries Marlink MVS Nevion

NewCom International NewSat Newtec O3b Networks Pactel International

RRsat Sencore SES Satellite Interference Reduction Group (sIRG) SkyWave Mobile Communications

Spacecom Space Foundation Space Systems/Loral Stratos Global Thrane & Thrane

Thuraya ViaSat VISLINK Vizada Vizada Networks WORK Microwave

For many years, videoconferencing over satellite has had a reputation for being of poor quality and expensive. However, with the high levels of growth currently taking place in regions like Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, the overall difficulties presented by travel in those regions (cost, unreliability, time-consuming, danger) and the relative lack of terrestrial communications infrastructure, market interest is growing in videoconferencing over satellite (which can deliver lifelike, face-to-face communication and collaboration with colleagues, partners, suppliers and customers in hard-to-reach areas) — as long as it can be delivered in high quality and at an affordable price.

Associated Press Television News (APTN) is one of broadcasting’s unsung heroes. Although very well known to the broadcasting industry itself, it has almost no visibility to the general public, even though it is frequently APTN’s (or arch-rival Reuters) images that make up many of the reports the public sees during their evening news telecasts. AP is now well along on an 18-month, multi-million dollar planned endeavor to convert all of its operations from standard definition (SD) to high-definition (HD) video. AP’s London bureau has just been fully converted to ingest and playout HD. New York’s conversion is happening now, while Los Angeles, Paris and Johannesburg’s HD work has been completed. During 2011, a total of eight AP locations were converted, with another 25 to be completed by next year. The decision to convert to HD embraces all aspects of AP’s workflow, from newsgathering and production to content distribution.

Price War, Inmarsat Going Direct, EADS Vizada Acquisition, More Ka- Constellations, + A Peek Into 2012…

2011 was an interesting year for space. At the time of this writing, it is predicted that there will be 131 spacecraft launched, with 83 launches (This statistic may vary depending upon the launch forecast selected). As to their purpose, Figures 1 and 2 on the in the following article provide some insight. Three launch vehicles failed to place their payloads in orbit. The year also witnessed the retirement of the Space Shuttle after slightly more than 30 years of operations.

News and Notes of Interest to the Satellite Community

The Ten Investments We Must Protect.

At a conference hosted by the Satellite Interference Reduction Group (sIRG) and Global VSAT Forum (GVF), which was held in Amsterdam on 8th September, Eutelsat announced that from 30th June 2012 Carrier ID will be integrated into transmission parameters for SNG transmissions and new DVB broadcasts for all Eutelsat customers. This announcement from Eutelsat is a huge breakthrough in the fight against interference and I fully expect it to have far-reaching and positive consequences for the entire industry.

These are extremely challenging times for those seeking new careers, whether by choice or not by choice, today companies’ economics compel them to re-assess their staffing needs. The bad news is that qualified professionals are finding themselves suddenly faced with the need to seek new positions... the good news is that the satellite communications industry remains ripe with new opportunities. Finding such opportunities can sometimes be a rather difficult proposition. To assist with career searches, we asked Bert Sadtler of Boxwood Executive Search to respond to readers’ questions regarding the processes of recruitment and hiring as well as how Companies can retain crucially-needed talent. Boxwood is located in the Washington DC region and has success in senior level recruitment in satellite communications, government contracting, and within the intelligence community. If you would care to submit a recruitment, hiring, or retention question specific to our satellite communications and related industries for Bert to answer, please email your question to BertSadtler@BoxwoodSearch.com.

A Conditional Access system is a key component for most digital TV operations. They secure the operators investments by encrypting the signals and ensures that all customers have to pay in order to watch TV. Conditional Access systems (CA systems) are highly proprietary and are surrounded by a lot of secrecy. While most operators have highly skilled personnel with expert knowledge in MPEG, DVB and networking, the knowledge of the CA systems is usually limited.

With wireless communications proliferating as never before, several parameters are important in the selection of a digitizer for acquiring and accurately measuring signals used for the design and testing of wireless equipment. Wireless engineering has become extremely complex in most applications, including satellite communications, cell phones, computer network components, and commercial broadcast transmitters, all of which require ultra-high stability and accuracy. To ensure that communications products meet those requirements, multi-channel analog-to-digital converters — digitizers — are now widely used in R&D prototype development, manufacturing test, and field service testing of communication chips, sub-assemblies and finished products.