Mitsubishi Ku-band satellite device launched to Orbit

Mitsubishi recently developed a GaN high-electron mobility transistor or GaN HEMT Ku-band amplifier for several satellite earth stations. The gallium nitride device runs at 12-18 GHz, and was developed to help reduce the number of high frequency amplifiers currently being used to just half. This will also reduce the need for power transmitter equipment.

GaN devices have steadily been replacing GaAs amplifiers since the latter has been more prone to saturated electron speeds, and high breakdown voltage.

The latest GaN HEMT from Mitsubishi has 30 percent more power efficiency. This quality is crucial as satellite communications in the ku band require power-saving measures, as it is used in severe weather conditions, and extraordinary situations like natural disasters. Hard to reach areas which need communication links also rely on mobile earth-based stations.

Samples of Mitsubishi's GaN HEMT device, MGFK47G3745, will be shipped starting October 1. 

You might also want to read:

• Better Mobile Backhaul With Ku Band

IAI building Ka-band, Ku-band satellite for Spacecom

Satellite manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) accepted a $200 million contract from satellite operator Spacecom to build the AMOS-6 Ka-band/Ku-band satellite. MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) will handle the satellite's payload of Ku-band and multi-beam Ka-band transponders.

In addition to manufacturing AMOS-6, IAI will also launch the satellite in 2015 and provide ground control operations during the platform's 16-year operational lifespan.

AMOS-6 will join its sister AMOS-2 and AMOS-3 satellites in the 4 degrees West location. The Spacecom fleet at that spot supplies Ka-band and Ku-band satellite services to Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the East Coast of the United States.

Spacecom will form a consortium of investors to fund AMOS-6. IAI has already signed on as an investor. Another possible source of funding are foreign lenders that will indirectly support the planned Spacecom satellite by supporting the companies that export parts used in telecommunications satellites.

RRsat scores multiple contracts for Amos-5 Ku-band satellite capacity

The last couple of months have been busy and profitable for RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. In that span of time, the satellite services provider had secured several contracts with TV and radio channels for capacity on the RRsat Ku-band platform mounted aboard the AMOS-5 satellite.

AMOS-5 was launched by Spacecom in December 2011 and is operated by the same company. The Ku-band satellite distributes data to and from Africa via its varied payload, one of them being RRsat's platform.

The two steerable Ku-band beams of the RRsat’s platform cover the African continent. They also provide connectivity to Europe and the Middle East. The steerable Ku-band beams can support multiple transponders operating at the same time.

Ku Band Market still source of growth

According to a report by the Northern Sky Research or NSR, the Ku Band market will continue to be one of the growth engines for satellite industry. This results from the robust growth also seen from the DTH or direct-to-home market. 

International point-to-point business has declined but key players in the satellite industry still saw great numbers from the DTH market, which on its own, is expected to generate US$1.4 billion in revenues for the Ku band segment by 2021.

Etisalat's Ku Band satellite

NSR Senior Analyst Patrick M. French said, "Solid Ku-band revenue gains are also expected from the video distribution, enterprise data, commercial mobility and gov/mil verticals."

On the other hand, ka band satellites are also slowly penetrating the market. The segment is expected to generate income from government and military customers, in particular, servicing demand in the Middle East region. 

The satellite industry is facing new challenges with limited orbital sports and frequencies. Many operators are now looking to cooperate on joint project to reduce cost and keep the sector competitive.

Astrium and NewSat for Lockheed Martin

Astrium Satellites, one of the three business units of Astrium, a subsidiary of EADS, are providing Ku band and Ka bands payload hardware to NewSat, to date, the largest independent satellite communications provider in Australia, as reported by Space News, the online publication of record for civil space, military space, commercial space, and satellite communications business.


They will be under a contract with Jabiru-1 prime contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, one of the four major business divisions of Lockheed Martin, which will represent a breakthrough for Astrium’s product division. According to Andreas Lindenthal, Head of Astrium Satellites’ Product Department, Astrium was well placed for the Lockheed Martin contract after a development program for Ku band communications receivers and Ka band beacons. The two was funded in part by the European Space Agency (ESA), established in 1975), an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 19 member states, and the UK Space Agency, a British government agency responsible for United Kingdom’ civil space programme.


See: Satellite Communications Provider

Intelsat to offer EpicNG Ku-band satellite internet for MTN cruise, yacht customers

Satellite services provider Intelsat S.A. and communications provider MTN Satellite Communications announced that they will provide high-speed marine satellite internet and communications services for the cruise and yacht sectors through Intelsat's next-gen EpicNG Ku-band satellite.

Intelsat and MTN entered a long-term agreement where MTN will initially use capacity on Intelsat's Ku-band mobile global broadband infrastructure to provide Caribbean cruise and yacht operators with satellite Internet and communications. In 2015, Intelsat will launch its first EpicNG satellite, Intelsat 29e, which will bring massively-increased broadband capacity and coverage to the satcom playing field. MTN will then partly transition to EpicNG platform and provide custom-designed service featuring up to 2 Gbps capacity in important Caribbean regions.

The EpicNG Ku-band satellite will complement Intelsat's existing, extensive network of earlier platforms.

"MTN has been an important partner to Intelsat for more than two decades," said Steve Spengler, Intelsat EVP of Sales, Marketing and Strategy, "and is one of the true pioneers of the maritime VSAT sector." According to EVP Spengler, the Intelsat EpicNG platform will allow MTN to differentiate its service features and provide much higher throughput to each individual vessel. The widespread availability of affordable, reliable connectivity would change the cruise ship and yachting experience.

Errol Olivier, President and CEO of MTN Satellite Communications, stated that the Intelsat EpicNG infrastructure was "game-changing" and "will allow us to once again set the bar for broadband telecommunications at sea." MTN's eventual move to EpicNG would be the the first strategic step to provide services beyond increased satellite bandwidth.

"Our cruise and yacht customers want to offer their guests and crew the same Internet experience they have at home or at land-based resorts." President Olivier said. "We are confident that our service on Intelsat EpicNG, along with our other innovative wireless and application optimization solutions, will exceed our customers expectations."

Kevin McCarthy, MTN's SVP of Network Engineering, agreed with his boss. "The innovative Intelsat EpicNG platform will give us unprecedented control," he said, "Allowing us to customize every aspect of the service."

EpicNG service would not just provide a huge boost in throughput and reliability. It would also maintain backwards compatibility with the rest of MTN's global Ku-band network.

"Our cruise and yacht customers will be able to seamlessly roam into our high-throughput beams with their existing Ku antennas," SVP McCarthy pointed out.