NewSat wins extra funding for Jabiru-1 launch, satellite Teleport expansion

It looks like NewSat will be proceeding as planned with the scheduled 2015 launch of its Jabiru-1 Ka-band satellite- and more. The Australian company announced that it has secured an extra $108 million for its ambitious communications satellite project, part of which will go into developing its satellite Teleport site in northern Adelaide.

Jabiru-1 will deliver telephone and satellite Internet services to customers in the oil & gas, mining, and defence markets. According to David Ball of NewSat, the Ka-band satellite project will generate additional jobs at the company's satellite Teleport in Mawson Lakes, Adelaide.

NewSat is eyeing to expand the Mawson Lakes facility and its personnel. The Company plans to purchase additional land which will host Jabiru's planned satellite control facility and customer super center.

Said operation currently provides satellite services to several clients in the defense industry. Mr. Ball assures that NewSat's satellite Teleport hubs at Adelaide and Perth will retain their importance and continue supporting existing businesses. He also adds that Jabiru-1 will expand those businesses once it launches.

Encompass will provide teleport services for Inmarsat Global Xpress

Encompass Government Solutions entered a long-term contract to provide satellite access station (SAS) services for Inmarsat. Encompass' Teleport facility will extend uplink/downlink services, collocate equipment, and ensure interconnectivity within terrestrial data networks for Inmarsat as the latter rolls out its Global Xpress satellite internet service.

Inmarsat needed a secure teleport site with a suitable environment and minimal risks of disruption by harsh weather conditions and the like. Encompass’ Teleport facility at Lino Lakes, Minnesota -one of two co-primary Teleports in North America- fulfills Inmarsat's requirements.

Encompass will collocate and manage a sizable array of satellite ground segment equipment on behalf of Inmarsat. It will also perform routine maintenance services for Inmarsat's new 13.2m Ka-band antenna.

In addition, Encompass recently built a 2,500 square foot cement building to house the equipment that will manage, control, and provide satellite broadband services to Inmarsat Global Xpress customers.

Furthermore, Encompass will provide SAS services from launch to deactivation of the Global Xpress satellite fleet. This includes 24/7/365 “hot hands” engineering and facilities support at the antenna hub.

Inmarsat's Global Xpress is a next-generation, Ka-band satellite service. It is capable of providing downlink speeds of up to 50Mbps and up to 5Mbps over the uplink.

Two Global Xpress satellites will be launched in 2013. A third satellite will be launched in 2014.

More satellite service news can be found here:

• Astrium rebrands Vizada group into Astrium Services
• Inmarsat XpressLink will equip Jumbo fleet, with option for Global Xpress upgrade