Satellite Networks

Quetzal-1 – Guatemala’s first satellite – has been deployed. The Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG) and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) saw their satellite deployed by JAXA from the International Space Station (ISS) this week.

A new deal between two major names in IT and satellite communications promises to bring a data-and-innovation-led approach to African agricultural development.

Nanosatellite manufacturer and mission integrator NanoAvionics, together with the Mexican Space Agency (AEM), is planning to introduce a nanosatellite pilot project for future space missions.

Indonesia’s new Nusantara Dua (Palapa N1) satellite did not enter its allocated orbital slot on schedule and has reportedly been destroyed.

CSS and Forsway are partnering in Mauritania to deliver affordable broadband in West Africa.

Global communications company Viasat Inc and Brazil-based satellite products distribution company Visiontec have announced the expansion of their partnership to focus on bringing fast, reliable internet service to residential homes across Brazil.

Axess Networks has formed a joint venture with Saudi operator METelecom aimed at providing end-to-end managed satellite communications solutions.

Venezuela’s sole telecoms satellite has ceased functioning three years before it was due to.

Konnect Africa, a subsidiary of satellite operator Eutelsat Communications, along with educational platform Schoolap and financial messaging network Flash Services, is planning to bring high-speed internet connectivity to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) schools.

A welcome piece of positive news for Africa comes from the Sri Lanka-headquartered International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and a new satellite data initiative.

There has been an announcement in recent days of a major backhaul delivery in Africa by SpaceBridge, though the customer name has not yet been revealed.

Internet services group Rakuten and telecoms and technology service provider Vodafone have become the lead investors in a satellite venture that aims to extend mobile coverage to more people and devices across the planet.

Expanded internet access is coming to rural customers throughout Mexico over the next three years thanks to thousands of new Wi-Fi hotspots.

Orange, a multi-service telecommunications operator present in 18 countries in Africa, will be the first operator to adopt the O3b mPOWER  from SES, a next-generation medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite communications system, starting in the Central African Republic.

Claro Argentina, a leading mobile network operator in the Argentine market, has signed an agreement with Spanish satellite telecommunications operator Hispasat.

The Belgian development agency Enabel has partnered with SES, a supplier of global content connectivity solutions, to connect foreign aid projects in Africa via satellite.

Comtech Telecommunications Corp subsidiary Comtech EF Data Corp has selected by Bansat S.A. to supply satellite communications ground equipment to support the Aeronautica Civil de Colombia’s backup communications network for 28 airports in Colombia.

High-performance internet connectivity was restored in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) within just four days after the West Africa Cable System (WACS) undersea cable cut, thanks to the combined efforts of Gilat Telecom and SES.

Speedcast Government, which provides mission-critical communications for military, government, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, is supporting a UN agency and an independent national electoral committee in Niger in their mission to ensure that no electoral fraud takes place.

Iridium Communications Inc calls it the first and only satellite cloud-based solution offering truly global coverage for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. This week the satellite communications giant announced that Iridium CloudConnect is up and running.

OneWeb has partnered with Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) to boost broadband connectivity in Kazakhstan.

An interesting new satellite-based take on the Internet of Things (IoT), with a strong focus on emerging markets, is attracting a healthy funding response.

Further good news for connectivity across the African continent comes with the announcement of a successful new launch from satellite operator Eutelsat Communications.

In a move that make innovative use of satellite technology, digital agriculture company Farmers Edge and insurance group Fairfax Brasil have partnered to bring customized, data-driven crop insurance to growers in Brazil.

Thales Alenia Space, which designs satellite-based systems, is to build a satellite for Spanish satellite telecommunications operator Hispasat. Its coverage area will include Latin America.

The Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) and satellite systems company Aireon have come to an agreement regarding the use of space-based ADS-B for surveillance services.

Agricultural analytics company CropX has announced a partnership with Costa Rican agroforestry equipment vendor FarmAgro to provide satellite-powered precision agriculture tools to farmers in Central America.

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), a global satellite operator based in the United Arab Emirates, and broadband satellite networks and services company Hughes Network Systems have announced the commencement of a joint venture to provide satellite broadband services in Brazil.

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) has reported plans to build a new engineering design facility that, it suggests, will bring immense benefits to the space industry in South Africa.

Satellite communications operators the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) and Azerbaijan’s  Azercosmos have signed a cooperation agreement relating to satellite communications and broadcasting services.

Satellite-based systems designer Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the Egyptian operator Nilesat to build the Nilesat-301 geostationary communications satellite.

The African space industry is enjoying enormous growth, according to the recently published African Space Industry Annual Report.

ZASpace is the name of a new South African organisation that will, it is hoped, galvanize the country’s geospatial industry and bridge the skills deficit in this sector.