Satellite News

EchoStar Communications Corporation announced that its subsidiary, EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation (ESOC), has entered into a controversial contract with National Programming Service, LLC (NPS) to provide domestic satellite capacity.

EchoStar Communications Corporation announced that its subsidiary, EchoStar Fixed Satellite Services Corporation (EFSSC), has entered into a contract with Sprint Nextel to provide U.S. Ku-band Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) capacity.

Discovery Communications, Inc. will use Intelsat’s PAS-12 satellite to provide Discovery HD, the company’s international high-definition network, in Europe.

Toshiba Corporation announced the development of a gallium nitride (GaN) power field effect transistor (FET) that far surpasses the operating performance of gallium arsenide (GaAs) FETs widely used in microwave solid-state amplifiers for radar and satellite microwave communications in the 8 GHz to 12 GHz X-band frequency range.

SES Astra and SES New Skies announced an agreement to broadcast France 24, the new French channel for international news, on an Astra satellite at 19.2 degrees East for Europe and on the NSS-7 satellite at 22 degrees West serving the African continent.

EMS Satcom (a division of EMS Technologies, Inc.), Vitrociset Belgium and Creaction International have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create and develop a new satellite communications service provider offering airtime services and equipment to Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

SES Astra said it has signed a capacity agreement with ROOS, the association of Dutch public regional broadcasters, for the digital free-to-air distribution via Astra of 10 Dutch regional broadcasters. The company also announced it would develop its 23.5 degrees East slot for DTH services.

Mobile Satellite Ventures, LP (MSV) and Hughes Network Systems, LLC announced the signing of an agreement under which Hughes will develop and supply MSV’s Satellite Base Transceiver Sub-System (S-BTS), in exchange for payments by MSV expected to total US$43 million over its term.