In Demand renews C-band capacity agreement with SES

World-leading satellite operator SES announced that content distributor In Demand renewed its capacity deal with the company to continue with the delivery of pay-per-view and Video On Demand sports and entertainment television content to cable headends in North America.

Under the terms of agreement, In Demand will make use of a full transponder of C-band capacity aboard the AMC-1 satellite of SES to provide programming like movies, events and sports packages to cable audiences throughout the United States and beyond. All in all, the content distributor relies on five transponders aboard three SES satellites for its full-time satellite distribution capacity.

“SES represents the foundation of our overall North American satellite distribution capabilities and strategy,” said In Demand CTO John Vartanian in a statement. “Our audiences have come to rely on the availability and quality of In Demand sports and entertainment programming. In turn, we have come to trust in our longstanding partnership with SES for the reliability and flexibility we need in our satellite distribution platform.”

The C-band payload aboard AMC-1 satellite does not only deliver North American coverage, but is also home to national television networks broadcasting to several cable headends. The Ku-band beam also supports national broadcasters and VSAT and broadband services for enterprise clients.

Belarus, Russia collaborate to launch new satellite constellation

Two powerful countries Belarus and Russia announce its plan of launching a new satellite fleet to enhance the image resolution of one meter, this according to Piotr Vityaz, head of administration of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

The new satellite constellation is expected to capture images from the outer space, with the resolution of one meter to provide for the high detailed imagery demands of the two countries. Presently, the leaders of Belarus and Russia are in talks of the possibility of launching these satellites.

Meanwhile, the existing satellite constellation that makes up the Belarusian-Russian integrated space system for live monitoring of the Earth will undergo expansion. Currently, it includes the Belarusian satellite BKA, the Russian satellite Canopus-B, and the ground-based infrastructure. In the future, the existing satellite constellation will gain one Belarusian satellite and two Russian satellites.

On July 2012, Belarus sent its own satellite into space. With this move, the country became a space power and later created the Belarusian space system for the remote sensing of the Earth. The system is made up of the satellite and the ground-based control center.

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Iran plans on launching seven satellites

Iran Space Agency Director Hamid Fazeli made an announcement that the country aims to send seven satellites into space during the current Iranian calendar year, which commenced on March 21. Various Iranian universities will be contributing in the satellite manufacturing project.

Director Fazeli said that one of the satellites scheduled for launch this year is the Nahid spacecraft, using a special kind of technology. Weighing 50 kilograms, the Nahid satellite is designed by experts at the research centre of Iran Space Agency, along with scientists at Amirkabir University of Technology.

Among the other satellites that will be launched this year include the reconnaissance satellite Fajr (Dawn), powered by solar energy, and the Zafar (Triumph) satellite, to be produced by the University of Science and Technology. Mesbah, a communications satellite weighing 69 kilograms, will also be sent into orbit by the end of 2013.

Zafar, known as the second version of the Navid (Promise) satellite, is outfitted with colour cameras and has the capability to survey jungles, mines, natural disasters and oil reserves.

Fazeli added that the Iran Space Agency is also working to produce carrier rockets that can carry heavier satellites into space.

In February 2009, Iran launched its very first satellite called Omid (hope), while the Rasad (Observation) satellite was sent into space in June 2011. A year after that, the country sent its third locally manufactured satellite called Navid (Promise), which sent its first image in February 8, 2012.

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Intelsat taps ILS to launch two satellites

International Launch Services (ILS) has been chosen by satellite services provider, Intelsat S.A, for two future ILS Proton satellite launch missions.

In a company statement, Intelsat EVP and CTO Thierry Guillemin noted, “Intelsat enjoyed another steady year in 2012, which included five successful satellite launches and the completion of the world’s first global broadband mobility platform, which will enable increased bandwidth to support our customers’ growth plans.” Guillemin added that the company is looking forward to building its momentum, hence choosing ILS for two satellite launches which will allow the company to reach developing regions and eventually meet the ever-increasing demand for highly efficient and reliable connectivity.

Recently, ILS successfully launched the first satellite aboard the Proton vehicle. The spacecraft took the Satmex 8 satellite into orbit.

“ILS is honored to be selected by Intelsat for these future missions. We are pleased to have Intelsat’s confidence and commitment to support their plans for growth and expansion of their business,” ILS President Phil Slack said in a statement.

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