THOR Turns Transponder Temptation Into Intelsat Reality

[RIDER]

THOR Turns Transponder Temptation Into Intelsat Reality

Thor 6 satellite
Intelsat, Ltd. and Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc) have completed an agreement wherein Intelsat will purchase 10 transponders on Telenor’s THOR 6 satellite, which is due to launch during the second quarter of 2009. Under the contract, Intelsat will gain the additional capacity needed to expand its growing DTH business within Central and Eastern Europe.

For both Telenor and Intelsat, this agreement paves the way for continuing their combined efforts to further develop 1°W as a leading broadcasting position in this region. THOR 6 will be based on a Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000B2 platform, fitted with 36 Ku-band transponders. Twenty transponders will be positioned to serve the business demands in Central and Eastern Europe. The satellite will be launched on either an Ariane 5 or a Soyuz launcher from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana—Pembroke, Bermuda & Oslo, Norway

[RIDER]

Light Noise Can Be A True Communication Friend, Says NuCrypt

There can be no doubt that ultra-secure data transmission is a critical component in military communications. However, for such to be successfully deployed, the technology must be available at reasonable cost and convenience. That is the core innovation of NuCrypt. The company has a strong heritage in optical communication systems and has received funding from the Department of Defense. In addition, the Homeland Security Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Northwestern University (HSIEC) recently awarded NuCrypt a challenge grant. NuCrypt has four SBIR grants that have reached phase two.

At MILCOM 2007, NuCrypt is going to demo this technology for ultrahigh security over optical communication networks. NuCrypt uses the inherent noise in light to enhance the best state-of-the-art encryption technology while remaining compatible with conventional optical infrastructure. Its product, AlphaEta, interfaces between the transmitter or receiver and the optical channel and makes the transmitted message difficult to eavesdrop on by adding optical noise to the encryption process. AlphaEta uses commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) components and is compatible with traditional optical infrastructure. It operates at high data rates, making it the first practical, physics-based ultrahigh security optical encryption technology on the market.

Since AlphaEta is built on standard optical communications, it is compatible with current long haul infrastructure. Users can deploy it without investing in additional equipment or leasing new lines. AlphaEta can be deployed over both fiber-optic (wireline) and free-space (wireless) optical networks. Because the system works with a variety of platforms, security among all communication links is assured—Evanston, Illinois

[RIDER]

Nepal’s New Chinese ComChannel

In April of 1995, the Chinese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPT) and the State Planning Commission formed the China Orient Telecommunications Satellite Company, also known as COTS (not to be confused with Commercial Off The Shelf… but it is!) This company has a great deal of independence when deciding satellite operations issues. They contracted that same year with Lockheed Martin for the ChinaStar-1 satellite, based on the A2100 platform.

According to INTERFAX-CHINA, COTS has just agreed to lease a channel to Nepal Telecom. This channel will be used for mobile communication services and the contract has been confirmed by the Embassy of China in Nepal.

[RIDER]

MDA To Bring A New Jewel To Space

MDA's Saphire Sat
MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. [TSX: MDA] has won an approximately $65 million contract from Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) to deliver an information solution called SAPPHIRE for the surveillance of space objects. SAPPHIRE is DND's first dedicated space mission and will support Canada's NORAD commitments with the delivery of critical information. SAPPHIRE will feature a space-based data collection platform for continuous surveillance of man made and natural objects in medium to high Earth orbits (6,000 to 40,000 km). The data collected will be processed by a ground-based system and the results will be used to update the U.S. Satellite Catalog that is used by both NORAD and Canada to provide space situational awareness.

MDA will lead a team comprised of COMDEV of Cambridge, Ontario, and SSTL of Surrey, England. The four-year contract has the potential for a future extension for mission support, operations, and maintenance and follows a design phase previously awarded to MDA—Richmond, British Columbia