ViaSat opened offices in Austin, Seattle and Amsterdam, the latter as it seeks international work and each with technical and engineering specializations that include security engineering, software and cloud functions, it said Thursday.
DOD has spent billions more than expected developing five interdependent GPS programs, with improvements to the current system years behind, and it could be years still before military code (M-code) signal receiver cards are ready as part of an interim, encrypted GPS signal system for military use, GAO reported Tuesday. It summarizes information given to congressional defense committees in 2016 and 2017 about GPS satellite system modernization. GAO said M-card costs will be "substantially higher" than the $2.5 billion budgeted through FY 2021. It recommended better coordination of development efforts on weapons systems with similar requirements to avoid unnecessary cost increases and schedule delays. It said the planned launch date for the first GPS III satellite to replace the current GPS constellation is now May -- four years later than originally scheduled.
Apple TV now supports the SiriusXM app, allowing for listening via Apple TV 4K and the fourth-generation Apple TV, SiriusXM said Thursday.
Hughes wants to permanently extend coverage of its EchoStar XIX satellite to encompass the U.S. Virgin Islands. In an FCC International Bureau filing Monday, it said the extension would let it provide broadband service for consumer applications, plus disaster recovery and emergency operations services. It's providing broadband services as part of Hurricane Maria recovery efforts under special temporary authority granted last month.
Charlie Ergen stepping down as Dish Network CEO is "more housekeeping" than a reflection of any strategic change in business, Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker wrote investors Tuesday. Dish said Ergen, while remaining chairman, was promoting President Erik Carlson to CEO so Ergen could dedicate more attention to its wireless business. The company Tuesday said it's moving to a group structure; among those reporting to Carlson are Dish TV Group President Brian Neylon; Sling TV Group President Warren Schlichting; John Swieringa, who succeeds Carlson as chief operating officer; and Chief Technology Officer Vivek Khemka. Ergen previously gave up the CEO role in 2011 to Joe Clayton, resuming it in March 2015 when Clayton left (see 1502230038). Dish has committed to rolling out a 5G-centric NarrowBand IoT network by spring 2020 (see 1703080026).
ViaSat consolidated all its sub-brands, such as Exede and Yonder, into the ViaSat master brand, in a rebranding campaign, it said Thursday. It rolled out a new logo. Expanding into consumer, aviation and maritime markets, "There is greater value for us to present one unified brand," said CEO Mark Dankberg.
CBS content is returning to Dish Network's lineup as the two companies reached a multiyear carriage agreement for CBS' owned local stations, CBS Sports Network, Pop and the Smithsonian Channel, Dish said Friday. Terms weren't made public. The blackout started Tuesday and affected 28 stations in 18 markets (see 1711210026).
Planet Labs wants to use some of its Flock earth imaging constellation satellites to demonstrate automatic identification system (AIS) receiver capabilities, it said in an FCC International Bureau application Monday. It wants to equip up to three of its earth exploration satellite service satellites with a software-defined radio receiver and antenna wire tuned to receive AIS signals, with AIS data to be transmitted to Planet Earth stations.
Increased orbital congestion is bringing with it more need for meaningful regulations on overlapping constellations, OneWeb Executive Chairman Greg Wyler said in testimony prepared for Wednesday's Senate Commerce Committee hearing on satellites. Minimum altitude spacing of 125 kilometers for large-scale constellations could isolate the impact of debris from a collision, he says. The U.S. last significantly addressed space debris via regulation more than 20 years ago, and while other nations are looking at rules, the U.S. "can take a leadership position and drive standards ... worldwide," he says. The company backed updating re-entry rules that require re-entry casualties be highly unlikely, since those rules still could see large constellations dropping "tens of thousands of fragments." The company's first launch is scheduled for May, with plans to bring low-latency broadband to Alaska in 2019, followed by nationwide broadband the following year. It says its system's initial speeds will be 500 Mbps, with its subsequent constellation, scheduled for 2021, to increase that to 2.5 Gbps, and that by 2027 its goal is "fully bridging the global digital divide." Also due to testify are Intelsat, SpaceX and ViaSat executives (see 1710180056).
Satellite industry CEOs urged spectrum frontiers rules changes, in eighth-floor meetings, showed a docket 14-177 ex parte filing posted Wednesday. EchoStar's Pradman Kaul, Intelsat's Steve Spengler, OneWeb Chairman Greg Wyler, SES' Karim Sabbagh, Telesat's Daniel Goldberg and Boeing Commercial Satellite Services Vice President Chris Johnson suggested changes including different population coverage limits for fixed satellite service Earth stations in the 28 GHz and 39 GHz bands; clarification of transient population limits; axing some limits on FSS Earth station numbers in counties or partial economic areas; allowing FSS individually licensed Earth stations and end user terminals in the 42-42.5 GHz band; and applying the 70/80/90 GHz band database approach to upper microwave flexible use systems. The satellite interests urged: keeping FSS uplinks as primary designation in the 48.2-50.2 GHz band; greater FSS access to the 47.2-48.2, 50.4-51.4 and 51.4-52.4 GHz bands for individually licensed Earth stations; and letting FSS networks operate Earth stations in the 37.5-40 GHz band. The meetings were with Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Brendan Carr and Mike O'Rielly.