SPACECOM $293M FINANCING
On November 10, Space-Communication Ltd. of Israel announced that it secured $293m in financing for its AMOS-6 satellite, consisting of $106m from Export-Import Bank of the United States, $140m from Export Development Canada and $47m from Israel Aerospace Industries Limited (IAI) for the satellite's manufacture, launch, insurance and financing costs. Currently being manufactured by prime contractor IAI, AMOS-6 will be equipped with a payload of up to 80 Ku- and Ka-band transponders provided by MDA Corp. and will be launched by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle in 2015.
DIRECTV £350M DEBT OFFERING
On November 20, DIRECTV Holdings LLC and DIRECTV Financing Co., Inc. announced an offering of £350m aggregate principal amount of sterling-denominated 5.2% senior notes due 2033. The issuers plan to use the offering's net proceeds for general corporate purposes, potentially including a distribution to DIRECTV, LLC to fund its share repurchase program and other corporate activities. ORBCOMM - INMARSAT M2M ALLIANCE On November 4, ORBCOMM Inc. (ORBCOMM) and Inmarsat plc (Inmarsat) announced a strategic alliance to target growing market demand for machine-tomachine (M2M) solutions. The partnership will focus initially on joint development and distribution of a standard satellite-based global M2M platform and hardware, including a series of interchangeable modems powered by ORBCOMM's OG2 VHF network and Inmarsat's L-band network. During a second phase of the strategic alliance, the companies will also investigate opportunities for future satellite network expansion and integration.
LAUNCH OF FIRST SKYBOX SATELLITE
On November 21, Skybox Imaging, Inc.'s first satellite, SkySat-1, was successfully launched on a Dnepr launch vehicle from the Yasny launch base in Orenburg, Russia. SkySat-1 is intended to form part of a planned 24-satellite commercial earth observation constellation that will provide customers access to cost-effective high resolution imagery, video and related analytics/data.
BRAZIL FINALIZES SGDC ORDER
On November 28, Telecomunicações Brasileiras S.A. (Telebras) and Visiona Tecnologia Espacial S.A. (Visiona), a joint venture of Telebras and Embraer S.A., signed a R$1.3b contract for Visiona to manage procurement of the Geostationary Defense and Strategic Communications (SGDC) satellite. To be manufactured by Thales Alenia Space and launched by Arianespace S.A. in 2017, SGDC will be equipped with 50 Ka- and 7 X-band transponders, and will be operated by both Telebras and the Brazilian Ministry of Defense for the provision of civil and military communications services, respectively. The SGDC program is intended in part to afford Brazil autonomy with respect to the communications needs of its armed services and will also provide broadband internet services to remote areas in Brazil as part of Brazil's National Broadband Program.
CHINA GREAT WALL TO SUPPLY APSTAR-9
On November 22, China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) announced that it was selected by APT Satellite Company Limited of Hong Kong to manufacture and deliver in-orbit the APSTAR-9 satellite based on CGWIC's DFH- 4 platform. Expected to be launched on the Long March 3B/E launch vehicle from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in late 2015, APSTAR-9 will be equipped with 32 C- and 14 Ku-band transponders and will be positioned at the 142°E orbital location, from where it will provide telecommunications and broadcasting services to customers throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
ARIANESPACE TO LAUNCH GSAT 15 & 16
On November 14, Arianespace S.A. announced that it was selected by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to launch ISRO's GSAT 15 and GSAT 16 satellites, each on an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from the Guiana Space Center. GSAT 15 will be equipped with 18 Ku-band transponders and will be positioned at the 93.5°E orbital location. GSAT 16 will be equipped with 12 Ku-, 24 C- and 12 extended C-band transponders and will be positioned at the 55°E orbital location. Both satellites will provide telecommunications services for applications such as VSAT transmissions, TV broadcasting and emergency communications.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
