“Provision of communications infrastructure in remote locations is a constant challenge for the oil and gas industry”, Jean-Claude Bisenius, Managing Director of atrexx explains. “Oil and gas exploration teams and drilling rigs are often located in the most remote and hostile regions of the planet, meaning that more traditional means of communications cannot be rolled out without great expense or difficulty. For the oil and gas sector, the issue of secure communications is also a principal consideration. Satellite often provides the only solution to this problem.”

Stefan Tomek, IT Manager at VAOS explained:”The expectations of VAOS to operate a modern and secure corporate communications network via the Internet also presented increased requirements on IT security. For example, access to SAP business management software solutions and services from external locations and from site-to-site Virtual Private Networks (VPN) had to be possible.” Regarding the applications that the VPN should support, Mr. Tomek added:”VAOS was also looking for a reliable VoIP connection, centralized management out of Linz, Austria; and access to the Microsoft distributed systems at various locations.”

To ensure highly secure, reliable and error-free communications, VAOS selected atrexx to become a communications partner due to their ability to connect the company’s remote branch offices to the corporate network. The offices use a Virtual Private Network with Microsoft’s Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010, which guarantees a secure and reliable connection to all other branches via a satellite service provided by atrexx and iDirect’s iSCPC solution. Based on iSCPC, atrexx has developed a unique Quality of Service (QoS) that guarantees lower latency when using VoIP, despite many different types of traffic passing through the system that often operates on a small amount of bandwidth per link to the remote station in the desert.

Speaking of VAOS’ six-year partnership with atrexx, Stefan Tomek, concluded:”Thanks to the very high level of satellite knowledge, effort and support, atrexx has been and will be the right partner to realize our high demand IT solutions in the future!”

Iridium operates the world’s largest commercial satellite constellation, and is the only communications company to offer mobile voice and data services across the entire globe. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle will carry multiple Iridium NEXT satellites per vehicle, inserting the satellites into a low-earth orbit (LEO) as Iridium replaces its current satellite constellation. The Iridium NEXT satellites are set to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California between 2015 and 2017.

The contract stipulates that SpaceX will provide launch services to Iridium over a two-year period starting in early 2015. Iridium is also in discussions with, and expects to contract with, at least one additional launch services provider. Launch services are included in the total estimated cost of $2.9 billion for Iridium NEXT.

“This is the third major building block on the road to Iridium NEXT,” said Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium. “Two weeks ago, we announced our fixed-price contract with Thales Alenia Space. We also announced our Coface-backed financing plan, and today I am pleased to announce our partnership with SpaceX for extremely cost-effective launch services.”

Added Desch, “We are proud to be partnered with SpaceX, and want to congratulate Elon Musk and the entire SpaceX team on its successful inaugural Falcon 9 launch. Hands down, SpaceX offered us the best value coupled with an unwavering commitment to flawless performance and reliability. SpaceX has combined the best of aerospace and commercial best practices to design reliable and cost-effective access to space, and Iridium will be the beneficiary of that effort.”

Desch further commented, “SpaceX also offered dedicated Iridium NEXT launch slots within its manifest, which currently has 24 Falcon 9 flights scheduled ahead of us, including those for commercial and government customers, during the coming five years. Clearly, SpaceX has established itself as a significant player in the launch industry, and we have great confidence that SpaceX will build on its recent success and continue to cement an impressive track record of successful space flight in advance of our mission.”

The June 4 inaugural launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 achieved 100 percent of its mission objectives, culminating in a near bull’s-eye insertion to its targeted 250km circular orbit. SpaceX has been working with Iridium and Thales Alenia Space, the prime contractor for Iridium NEXT, to ensure compatibility between the satellite design, the Falcon 9 vehicle and the Iridium NEXT program schedule. This full coordination positions Iridium, SpaceX and Thales Alenia Space for a successful multi-year process of designing, building and launching Iridium NEXT.

“Iridium NEXT is now our largest commercial satellite launch customer and we are excited to play such an integral part in the most significant commercial space program underway today,” said Elon Musk, CEO, SpaceX. “We are impressed by Iridium’s comprehensive approach and diligence in its planning as the company prepares for the design, build and launch of Iridium NEXT. SpaceX greatly appreciates Iridium’s efficient approach to satellite production - an approach we share when it comes to our launch vehicles. As the next generation of the world’s only global satellite constellation that reliably covers 100 percent of the Earth’s surface, the implementation of the Iridium NEXT satellites will mark a significant achievement in mobile satellite communications, and SpaceX is looking forward to making it happen.”

The SpaceX Falcon 9 is a medium-to-heavy lift, two-stage launch vehicle capable of lifting approximately 11 tons to LEO. Designed to the highest levels of reliability and performance, NASA selected Falcon 9, along with the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, to resupply the International Space Station starting in 2011. This $1.6 billion contract represents 12 flights to and from the International Space Station. Further validating the reliability and robustness of commercial launch, President Obama recently decided to turn over astronaut transport to the U.S. commercial sector, specifically mentioning the example of Falcon 9 in his historic speech at Cape Canaveral. The U.S. government’s confidence in SpaceX provided further validation for Iridium’s decision.

“The growing global appetite for natural resources is rapidly driving mining concerns into emerging markets,” said Martin Creamer, Publisher of Creamer Media and Editor of Mining Weekly. “The need for cost-effective communications to support remote operations has never been greater. This agreement aims to strengthen understanding of how satellite and other complementary communications tools are being used to address critical mining challenges.”

“From workforce development and safety to remote monitoring and logistics, there are an increasing number of mining applications being addressed by satellite-enabled network solutions,” said David Hartshorn, Secretary General of GVF. “Through this agreement, Creamer Media and GVF intend to heighten awareness of innovative approaches that are producing positive results in the mining sector.”

Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly publication and MiningWeekly.com, which receives 43,000 unique visitors per week, will begin co-ordinating with GVF on industry news, event information, and special reports that reveal the impact of communications trends on each stage of the mining project life cycle, both for the majors and for the juniors.

The company is responding to the upcoming situation in Middle East. atrexx’ 2way2sat services will be delivered via different satellite position. A wide beam coverage is guranteed from Europe covering full country of Yemen.The key to the 2way2sat services is the new iDirect Evolution platform. It includes the next generation X3 satellite routers, equipped with DVB-S2 standard. The Evolution X3 technology delivers up to 30% improved bandwidth efficiency compared to the DVB-S system. The additional use of Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) provides a gain of bandwidth efficiency of up to 50%. Both features allow for a range of IP applications, including Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Voice over IP (VoIP) telephony and videoconferencing. Applications such as corporate networks, point-of-sale, SCADA, telemetry and multimedia streaming are also supported with ease.The new VSAT technology is cost effective and provides optimized applications, even under difficult weather conditions at the uplink station in Europe.

Global satellite operator SES S.A. (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) and Jersey, Channel Islands-based O3B Networks Limited (O3b), announced today that SES has made a minority investment in O3b to support the development of O3b’s satellite-based, global internet backbone designed to reach the “other three billion” people in the developing world who today do not have access to the internet. SES joins Google, Liberty Global, HSBC and North Bridge Venture Partners to become a significant investor in O3b.

SES will invest a total of 75 MUSD in the company, and will provide engineering and commercial support to O3b in order to assist the company’s development.

O3b is building the world’s first ultra-low latency, fiber speed satellite network to serve as a global internet backbone and next generation backhaul infrastructure for people and businesses in emerging markets. The company will be able to combine the speed of a fiber network with the global reach of a satellite system, and will partner with telecommunications providers and internet service providers (ISPs) to serve billions.

“O3b’s positioning perfectly meets our vision of bringing people closer together through the power of satellites, ” said Romain Bausch, President and CEO of SES. “Through its innovative satellite technology, O3b will be able to provide emerging markets with fast, competitively priced internet connectivity that is currently only available to the developed world. As we look to celebrate our 25th anniversary next year, and reflect on how far we have come since we were a young start up company, we are excited to embrace and support this next generation infrastructure initiative, and to help O3b make their vision - and ours - a reality.”

“We are delighted to welcome SES alongside our existing investors,” said Greg Clarke, CEO of O3b. “SES already reaches billions of people through the global reach of their satellite network. Now they will be able to join us in offering an advanced solution to those who have so far been poorly served, or completely cut off, from the internet - the greatest business and information resource of our time. The financial, technical and commercial support of SES will help make O3b one of the most innovative communications companies on the planet, bringing broadband internet access to the “other three billion” who currently have no access to these services.”

O3b will initially launch eight satellites that will be placed in medium earth orbit (8,000 kilometers from the earth), which is some four times closer to the planet than geostationary satellites at over 35,000 kilometers, and accounts for the low latency. Based on O3b’s current spectrum allocation in the Ka frequency band, the company has the option to launch many more satellites in the future. This innovative satellite system will cover approximately 70 percent of the world’s population with fiber quality internet connectivity at attractive terms and conditions.

About O3b Networks Ltd.

O3b Networks is building a new fiber-quality, satellite-based, global Internet backbone for telecommunications operators (telcos) and Internet service providers (ISPs) in emerging markets. With deployment scheduled for late 2010, the O3b Networks system will combine global reach and the speed of a fiber-optic network. With investment and operational support from Google Inc., Liberty Global, Inc. and HSBC Principal Investments, the O3b Networks system will provide telcos and ISPs with a low-cost, high-speed alternative to connect their 3G, WiMAX and fixed-line networks to the rest of the world. This will allow billions of consumers and businesses in more than 150 countries to benefit from high-speed Internet connectivity for educational, medical and commercial applications. O3b Networks’ headquarters is in St. John, Jersey, Channel Islands. Ground systems and technical development are managed through its wholly owned subsidiary in Englewood, Colorado.

EMC’s new Asia-Pacific gateway provides EMC’s customers with a direct connection between the United States and Asia for private data networks and video content distribution at land and sea.

Emerging Markets Communications (EMC) has successfully purchased from Telesat Canada the Telesat Asia Pacific Gateway located in Kapolei, Hawaii. EMC’s new facility offers a strategic position from which to expand EMC’s lines of business of private data networks, video content distribution and conectivity for land and sea based customers located in the fast growing Asian Market. The facility will have direct terrestrial conectivity to the United Sates, Australia, China and Japan.

This station, combined with EMC Teleport facilities in Germany and the UK, allows EMC to offer a global continuous C band foot print to all continents and oceans, including Ku band coverage in North and South America, the Gulf of Mexico, the Bering Sea and all the Aleutian Islands.

Hawaii serves as a major landing point for both fiber and satellite connectivity from Asia to the US, including direct terrestrial connectivity to major Asian markets. The acquisition is EMC’s final strategic step in the completion of a Global C band Infrastructure that provides seamless premium value added connectivity services that are truly everywhere at land or sea. From this facility, EMC also will provide vital Telemetry, Tracking and Control services for Telesat and other major satellite operators, as indicated by EMC’s President, Abel Avellan.

With offices in the UK, Australia, Singapore and South Africa, AST provides a wide range of satellite service options to marine and land customers around the world. The company’s investment in an iDirect VSAT network is a response to growing demand from maritime companies whose communications needs have moved beyond basic connectivity requirements.

The new broadband service provides Ku-band and C-band coverage and is designed to operate on the 4000 and 6000 Sea Tel Cobham stabilized VSAT antenna range. Data rates can reach 512 Kbps on the inbound channel and 2 Mbps on the outbound channel, supporting bandwidth intensive applications such as Voice over IP, remote engine monitoring, real-time data transfer and video streaming. The AST broadband service is available today for organizations with vessels or land-based operations in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions. The service extends worldwide through AST’s partnership with Speedcast using Eutelsat’s global satellite network.

Network management and systems integration

The AST VSAT broadband offering is supported by several of the provider’s technology and network management services. These include:

Remote IT and systems management: AST’s team of network technicians can remotely handle standard maintenance and problem resolution for onboard communications equipment as well as a vessel’s IT systems.
Business continuity service: AST has developed a remote diagnostic solution that monitors onboard network activity. If service is interrupted, the system can facilitate an auto-switchover to operate in another satellite band, preserving network uptime and avoiding costly service visits.
Customized Service Level Agreements: Using iDirect’s Group Quality of Service technology, AST can tailor Service Level Agreements to meet the real-time bandwidth needs of each vessel, while enabling cost-effective sharing of satellite capacity. Committed Information Rates can be set for specific onboard applications, with the ability for each vessel to burst into a Maximum Information Rate based on a fleet’s larger bandwidth pool.
Systems integration: AST can integrate a VSAT network with marine electronics systems and other satellite communications technology through the use of iDirect’s iToolkit, which is an API feature of the iVantage Network Management System. In addition, AST collaborates with its customers to assess ongoing network requirements and provides technology development services to support future applications and increase network performance.
“VSAT is a strategic addition to our service portfolio. We conducted a comprehensive and objective requirements audit for each customer and were seeing exponential increases in data usage, which pointed to the need for a VSAT broadband offering. The decision to build our new service on the iDirect platform was based on iDirect’s track record of success in the maritime market, the platform’s many technology advantages and the ability to scale our business affordably.”

~Gregory DARLING
Managing Director, Applied Satellite Technology Ltd (AST)

“For maritime companies, communications technology has shifted from simply a means of connectivity to a business solution. With the iDirect platform, AST can help its customers transform their vessels into productive remote offices, and deliver the consulting and support services its customers need to maximise the value of onboard VSAT networks.”

~ David HARROWER
Regional Vice President and Managing Director, Europe, Russia and CIS, iDirect

The 4th Annual Oil & Gas Communications MENA conference, entitled: “Wireless, Satellite & Everything in Between” will take place at the InterContinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi, over 9th & 10th June 2009, and is sponsored by the conference series lead sponsor Schlumberger, and also by Yahsat, Hughes, and Thuraya. The conference joint-organisers, Global VSAT Forum (GVF) and United Kingdom Event Management Partners (UK-EMP), having recently concluded on 13th May 2009 the 2nd Annual Oil & Gas Communications Europe: Digital Applications & Communications Dynamics conference in Aberdeen, Scotland, have now announced further key features of the forthcoming Abu Dhabi conference programme.

Paul Stahl, Managing Partner of the Conference Series co-organiser, UK-EMP, noted in respect of the 4th Annual conference in the Oil & Gas Communications series dedicated to the Middle East and North Africa region that, “Following the success of the European region event in Aberdeen, we are very encouraged about the prospects for the MENA regional conference. In addition, Abu Dhabi is a new host-city for us, and whilst we achieved a series of conference successes in our previous host-city of Cairo, we are looking forward to transferring those established successes nearer to the regional heartland of E&P activity in the Middle East.” The Abu Dhabi gathering will deliver networking opportunities for, and promote dialogue between, senior executives from demand (oil & gas sector end-user) and supply (communications solution vendor) expert practitioners. It will characterise and detail the applications and communications imperatives of the energy market vertical, illustrating that, whilst it is true of these imperatives that, in relative terms, communications solutions represent a small fraction of energy companies? total CAPEX and OPEX, well-managed ICT networks can play a disproportionately great role in reducing expenditures in drilling, production, exploration, and in every other area of operations, and all across the global oil & gas patch.

Reston, VA, and Palo Alto, CA, May 18, 2009 - TerreStar Networks, a majority owned subsidiary of TerreStar Corporation (NASDAQ: TSTR), and Space Systems/Loral, the leading provider of commercial satellites today, announced that TerreStar-1 has arrived on schedule in Kourou, French Guiana where it is scheduled to launch on June 24th aboard the Ariane 5 heavy lift launch vehicle.

TerreStar-1 will be the largest commercial satellite ever launched and is designed to provide integrated satellite and terrestrial mobile services for critical communications using conventionally-sized dual mode handsets.

“The arrival of TerreStar-1 signals the start of final launch preparations,” said Jeffrey Epstein, President of TerreStar Networks. “Once launched, TerreStar-1 will allow us to deliver on the vision of an integrated satellite and terrestrial mobile service that enables next generation applications anytime, anywhere.”

Dennis Matheson, TerreStar Networks Chief Technology Officer said, “The design, manufacture and delivery of TerreStar-1 has been a team effort. We have relied on our colleagues at Space Systems/Loral for their experience and support in delivering the integrated satellite and ground system that makes our new services possible. We now look forward to a flawless launch by our partner Arianespace.”

“It has been a pleasure working with TerreStar Networks on this challenging project,” said John Celli, President and Chief Operating Officer at Space Systems/Loral. “With its 18-meter unfurlable reflector and extraordinarily powerful S-Band feed array, TerreStar-1 was designed to provide next generation capability for mobile devices.”

Ideally suited to provide critical services to government, emergency responders, rural communities and commercial users, the satellite uses 2 GHz spectrum to provide voice, data and video communications to satellite/terrestrial mobile devices the size of a typical smart phone. Space Systems/Loral, working with Hughes Network Systems, has developed a two-way ground based beam forming technology that enables the satellite to reallocate resources based on demand, thereby maximizing capacity.

TerreStar-1 is based on SS/L’s 1300 space-proven platform, which provides the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances. The satellite will be capable of generating over five hundred spot beams covering the Continental U.S., Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

About TerreStar Networks Inc.
TerreStar Networks (www.terrestar.com), a majority owned subsidiary of TerreStar Corporation (NASDAQ:TSTR), plans to offer a reliable and secure satellite terrestrial mobile broadband network that will provide voice, data and video services dedicated to helping solve the critical communication and business continuity challenges faced by government, emergency responders, enterprise businesses and rural communities. TerreStar expects to offer next generation mobile communications through a network of partners and service providers to users who need “anywhere” coverage throughout the United States and Canada.

About Space Systems/Loral
Based in Palo Alto, California, SS/L designs and builds satellites and spacecraft systems for commercial and government customers around the world. As the leading provider of commercial satellites, the company works closely with satellite operators to deliver spacecraft for a broad range of services including direct-to-home television, digital audio radio, broadband Internet, and digital multimedia broadcasting. With more active transponders on 3-axis controlled spacecraft than any other satellite manufacturer, SS/L helps customers meet business objectives with advanced solutions based on space-proven heritage designs. For more information, visit www.ssloral.com.

About Loral Space & Communications
Loral Space & Communications is a satellite communications company. Through its Space Systems/Loral subsidiary, the company is a world-class leader in the design and manufacture of satellites and satellite systems for commercial and government applications including direct-to-home television, broadband communications, wireless telephony, weather monitoring and air traffic management. Loral also owns 64 percent of Telesat, one of the world’s largest providers of satellite services. Telesat operates a fleet of telecommunications satellites used to broadcast video entertainment programming, distribute direct-to-home video and broadband data services, and other value-added communications services. For more information, visit Loral’s web site at www.loral.com. LORL-G

The European Commission selected two operators, Inmarsat Ventures Limited and Solaris Mobile Limited, to provide mobile satellite services across Europe.

Mobile satellite services themselves can range from high-speed internet access to mobile television or radio, and public protection and disaster relief. Another well-known example is portable satellite telephones that allow phone calls to be made and received anywhere in the world.

What are mobile satellite service systems?

Systems providing mobile satellite services use radio spectrum to provide services between a mobile earth station and one or more stations either in space or on the ground at fixed locations. The new technological developments allowing MSS systems to be complemented by ground components are likely to increase their importance as compared to previous mobile satellite systems.

The radio spectrum is divided into “bands”, i.e. ranges of frequencies. Systems providing mobile satellite services have been allocated the 2 GHz frequency band throughout the European Union, comprising radio spectrum from 1980 to 2010 MHz for Earth to space communications, and from 2170 to 2200 MHz for space to Earth communications.

Why is the European Commission involved?

Satellite communications, by their very nature, cross national borders and are thus susceptible to international or regional regulation. An efficient way of ensuring the coordinated introduction of mobile satellite systems in the EU is to organise a single selection and authorisation process of operators for all Member States. This includes assigning the same spectrum to operators in each Member State, so that they can provide their satellite services at a pan-European level.

At present, existing regulations of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) have only procedures for radio frequency coordination to avoid unacceptable interference between satellite systems. They do not extend to the licensing of those systems.

The European Commission therefore intervened to create a “one stop shop” to facilitate the emergence of a single market for mobile satellite services and maximise its potential, to the benefit of consumers and businesses.

How are the market opportunities for mobile satellite services? How does Europe compare to other parts of the world?

Generally speaking, European companies represent an important force on the satellite markets: the European space industry holds about 40% of world markets for manufacturing, launching, and operating satellites.

In the field of mobile satellite services, Europe has room for improvements when compared to other parts of the world: while Japanese and Korean consumers already enjoy many radio or TV programmes on their mobile phones, in Europe mobile radio or television services are not yet provided over satellite systems. This is expected to change with the deployment of MSS by the two selected operators.

What has the Commission done so far?

Previously the European Commission adopted in February 2007 a Decision reserving the 2 GHz radio frequency bands for use by systems providing mobile satellite services.

On 22 August 2007, the Commission proposed to create a single EU-wide selection and authorisation procedure for operators that want to offer EU-wide mobile satellite services. The Decision on this procedure was adopted by the European Parliament and Council on 30 June 2008 and entered into force on 5 July 2008.

On 7 August 2008, the Commission published a call for applications for pan-European systems providing mobile satellite services (MSS).

Four companies - ICO Satellite Limited, Inmarsat Ventures Limited, Solaris Mobile Limited and TerreStar Europe Limited - had submitted an application by 7 October 2008. All four applications were declared admissible in December 2008.

On 13 May 2009, the Commission selected two operators, Inmarsat Ventures Limited and Solaris Mobile Limited, to provide mobile satellite services across Europe. The Commission Decision also identifies the specific radio frequencies to be used by each selected operator across Europe.

How were the two operators selected?

The Commission, with the assistance of independent external experts, evaluated whether the applicants demonstrated the required level of technical and commercial development of their satellite systems. Such assessment relied on the satisfactory completion of five milestones regarding for instance the construction of the satellites or their launch. The credibility of applicants and the viability of the proposed mobile satellite systems were also taken into account.

Two companies, Inmarsat Ventures Limited and Solaris Mobile Limited, demonstrated the required level of technical and commercial development of their satellite systems. No further selection was required as the two candidates could be accommodated in the available spectrum. The selected applicants will be bound by the commitments that they have undertaken, including commitments made concerning consumer and competitive benefits and geographic coverage.

What are the next steps?

Within 30 working days of the publication of the list of selected applicants they shall inform the Commission in case they do not intend to use the radio frequencies.

The authorisation of the selected applicants at national level should be ensured as soon as possible and in accordance with the EC authorisation rules. The two operators have to be authorised to use their satellite systems all over Europe for 18 years from the selection decision.

While first services are expected in 2009-2010, the development and commercial deployment of mobile satellite systems must be completed by the selected operators by May 2011 at the latest.

Why do satellite operators need legal certainty from the EU to launch mobile satellite services?

The costs of producing and launching a satellite can run to hundreds of millions of euro, and satellite operators have to pay them before any revenue can be generated from the use of the satellite in question. Investment on such a large scale can only be undertaken by relying on a stable legal environment making sure that satellite operators will be able to offer mobile satellite services across Europe throughout the life-time of the satellite.

Where will the services be deployed?

Services have to cover at least 60% of the EU’s territory as of the date the services commence. Coverage of all Member States is required at the latest seven years after the selection decision. It is obviously in the operator’s interest to reach as many potential customers as possible by serving an area as wide as possible. Moreover, the selected applicants will be bound by the commitments that they have undertaken in this respect.

Will the selected candidates receive a “European licence” and pay a “European licence fee”?

No. Only the selection of the operators of systems of mobile satellite services was made at European level. Operators will be “licensed” or “authorised” by each Member State in accordance with national law, subject to a number of harmonised authorisation conditions. In other words: there is now a “European template” for decisions that continue to require implementation at national level.

If there are fees, these will be determined nationally. Any fee must be justified, transparent, non-discriminatory and proportionate to the intended purpose.

Who will benefit?

Operators will benefit directly from economies of scale which will result from consistent national authorisations across the EU. This will encourage investment in the sector thanks to the transparency and legal certainty offered by this consistent EU approach.

Citizens and businesses will also benefit from the high-speed services that will be offered by operators such as: high-speed internet access, mobile TV services, emergency services, etc.

Mobile satellite systems also open up new geographical areas to services that were once considered too expensive to reach. This in turn, should energise local economies and help close the digital divide.