Educational Satellite Network operational in Kashmir

Educational Satellite Network (EDUSAT) launched by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has become operative in Kashmir province from April 8. The School Education department has been allotted two days per week (Monday and Thursday) for delivering lectures through this network. The first lecture for School Education department was delivered on Thursday, April 10. On this occasion, Director School Education Kashmir, Muhammad Rafi lauded the efforts put in by the Principal SIE, MA Buch and the State Coordinator EDUSAT (School Education) for making Satellite Interactive Terminals (SITs) of 16 Government Higher Secondary Schools including DIETs functional.

Israeli satellite in August

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch an Israeli satellite, called Polaris, through a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in August from Sriharikota. The satellite, weighing 300 kg, can take pictures of the earth through cloud and rain, 24 hours of the day. Informed sources said the Israelis wanted a "core-alone" configuration of the PSLV to put Polaris in orbit and the launch in August. For the first time, a core-alone configuration of the PSLV, called PSLV-C8, lifted off from Sriharikota and put in orbit Italian satellite Agile. In normal configuration, the PSLV has six strap-on booster motors around the first stage. The PSLV is a four-stage vehicle that is 44 metres tall and weighs 295 tonnes. In the core-alone vehicle, these six strap-on booster motors are not used. So the core-alone PSLV weighs 230 tonnes. Commercial marketing agency of the Department of Space Antrix Corporation Limited will fly Polaris on board a core-alone PSLV at international rates. ISRO has bagged another contract from Israel. In 2008, it will fly an ultra-violet astronomy telescope from Israel on board ISRO's GSAT-4 that will be launched by the indigenous GSLV (Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) from Sriharikota.

Powerful new satellite to debut over Pacific

The United States is set to start operating a powerful new military communications satellite over the Pacific next week, the first of a planned six-satellite network that will boost data flows10-fold, the Air Force Space Command said. On its own, the maiden Boeing Co-built Wideband Global Satellite will provide more capacity for video, data and voice than the entire group of 10 or so satellites it is designed to replace, the command said. "We expect to start cutting over operational communications networks from the existing constellation to the new satellite next week," said Air Force Col. James Wolf, chief of the command's military satellite communications division. Australia joined the WGS programme last year, providing funds that expanded it to include the sixth satellite, which had been an option under a contract awarded to Boeing in January 2001. Wolf said that the commander of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Timothy Keating, had asked to "take advantage of the increased capacity just as soon as he possibly could." He said he was unaware of any specific event that might have spurred such demand for the satellite, which will be in geostationary orbit over the western Pacific.

Sony launches new channels in Portugal

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has launched two new channels in Portugal; the general entertainment Sony Entertainment Television (SET) and the Japanese animé channel, Animax. Both channels, which are available from 12 April, will be available via IPTV and DTH operator, MEO, part of Portugal Telecom. SPTI also confirmed that it is in advanced negotiations with other Portuguese operators for carriage.

Thor 5 commences commercial operations

Telenor Satellite Broadcasting has completed the in-orbit testing for its Thor 5 satellite. In addition to taking over traffic from Thor II, the satellite will also accommodate additional capacity for the Nordic region, and Central and Eastern Europe.

Shanghai authorities warn of illegal satellite TV crackdown

Seventeen government departments will launch a joint city-wide campaign to wipe out illegal television satellites that can receive foreign TV programs across Shanghai. There are a few places where satellite dishes are allowed, essentially military/government compounds and expert havens. If you aren't in one of those places you may run into problems. Evidently, the "authority may dismantle the illegal satellites by force if owners refuse to cooperate", and if you do refuse to dismantle your satellite chances are you will face prosecution. So in the meantime we recommend watching as much American Idol as possible and find a few good DVD shops near your house. Alternatively, we've heard of camouflaging satellites by hanging laundry on them, but not sure how that affects reception.

Nigerian satellite out of capacity

Nigerian satellite builder Nigecomsat expects its satellite to run out of capacity in August, with all the capacity dedicated to Nigeria`s national usage. Speaking at Satcom 2008 in Sandton this week, Nigecomsat CEO Achmed Rufai said Nigerian initiatives had expressed interest in booking all of Nigecomsat`s capacity, as the country`s demand for satellite capacity was huge. Rufai said NigecomSat-1 began commercial services in July last year. The capacity was made available to all African stakeholders, and the Nigerian government moved fast to solidify its interest in taking capacity. “We would have loved to see telcos taking this capacity,“ he noted. Rufai said Africa still had a big need for satellite capacity, and encouraged other African countries also to build satellites. Africa needed at least 100 transponders, he said, noting that Nigeria would look into building a second and third satellite.

Freeview HD in 2009

Freeview viewers in some parts of the UK, who choose to upgrade their reception equipment, will be able to watch high definition TV channels as early as next year, according to media regulator Ofcom. The launch of the HD channels is being made possible by moving channels from Multiplex B into Multiplexes 1, 2 and A. Multiplex B was allocated to the BBC at the start of Freeview in addition to the corporation’s gifted capacity in Multiplex 1. The BBC Trust will continue to be responsible for part of the capacity in Multiplex B and this is likely to be used for BBC HD. The remaining capacity will be awarded to the commercial public service broadcasters through a competitive bidding process. Ofcom is banking on both MPEG-4 and the new DVB-T2 technology that, that are eventually expected to deliver savings of up to 30 per cent of capacity. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to upgrade digital terrestrial television. It offers benefits for broadcasters – who will be able to launch new services without using any new spectrum – and viewers – who will have access to new channels and services on free to air," said Ed Richards, chief executive, Ofcom. However, with only four channels, the DTT HD offer will still be tiny compared to the multichannel proposition on cable and satellite

AT&T rolls out DISH, fades out DirecTV

AT&T is rolling out a satellite video service with DISH Network Corp and has stopped marketing rival DirecTV Group’s rival satellite television service. AT&T said the company was still in negotiations with both DirecTV and DISH over a long-term partnership, which allows for bundled phone, Internet and video services. A decision is reportedly due by the end of the year. The DISH roll-out is over territory previously covered by BellSouth Corp, which AT&T acquired in late 2006. BellSouth had a pact with DirecTV in its nine states, mostly in the US Southeast. Analysts have said AT&T, the largest US phone company, is likely to switch to DISH throughout its territory, although both sides appear to be haggling over price and other conditions.

Portugal Telecom launches 70 channel DTH service

Portugal Telecom has announced the launch of a DTH satellite service, which will complement its existing multi-platform offer. Meo Satellite carries more than 70 channels and provides HD in MPEG-4 with the latest Nagra conditional access technology. Portugal Telecom has signed an eight-year transponder deal with Hispasat, worth an estimated E43 million. The basic package, with 20 channels, will cost E14.90 (E9.90 for PT clients), while the most expensive package, with 65 channels, will cost E24.90 (E19.90). Meo is also the brand name for PT’s TV offer which is available via IPTV, mobile phones (Meo Mobile), PCs (Sapo portal) and now also satellite. On IPTV, the service offers more than 100 channels plus digital recording, TV pause, VOD and HDTV. According to PT executive president, Zeinal Bava, the IPTV service will be available to 90 per cent of Portuguese households by September.

Brazilian broadcasters invest in HDTV

Brazil’s leading broadcaster, TV Globo, is to increase the quantity of programmes transmitted in HDTV during 2008. Starting from this week, the number of hours of HD programming will be gradually increased in São Paulo, the first city in which the system was implemented. Programs that will be recorded and broadcast in HD will include TV series, news and sports, including the Beijing Olympic Games. All post-production will be switched to HD and a new HD mobile unit with up to 30 cameras will be acquired. The next cities to receive the digital signal will be Belo Horizonte (from April 25), followed by Rio de Janeiro (May), Recife (by April 2009) and Brasília (1H 2009).

TV live programmes stopped in Lanka

Sri Lanka's state-run television service, Rupavahini, has suspended live programs other than news broadcasts in protest against an attack on one of their employees - Anurasiri Hettige, a trade union official, with a metal bar in the Kottikawatte area of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo. The attacks came after junior labour minister Mervyn Silva was held hostage by state television workers after he stormed the newsroom of Rupavahini in the company of thugs and assaulted its news director.