January 2009

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 KVH Industries and Thrane &Thrane Sign Global Distribution Agreement for mini-VSAT Broadband (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)

Posted in General Industry News (RSS)

VSAT Broadband airtime as its maritime VSAT solution

"*"KVH Industries and Thrane &Thrane Sign Global Distribution Agreement for mini-VSAT Broadband (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)

Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 by Tom Clark

 Critical Upgrades for HNS Terminals

Posted in Hughes Product Bulletins (RSS), Stratos Bulletins (RSS)

Critical Upgrades for HNS Terminals

Please be advised that Hughes Network Systems recently released two important updates for the HNS 9250 and 9201 BGAN terminals. The issue with the HNS 9201 terminal upgrade has been fixed with Software Version 3.6.2.8.


These updates are in response to Inmarsat's I-4 F3 satellite repositioning. Downloading and installing these updates is critical to ensuring that terminals function correctly with the new I-4 F3 satellite.


HNS 9250

Software Version 4.0.2.7


HNS 9201

Software Version 3.6.2.8


More information can be found in the service bulletins included with the downloads.

Posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 by Tom Clark

 Inmarsat Update

Posted in Inmarsat Service Bulletins (RSS), Vizada Bulletins (RSS)

Dear Customer,

 

Please be advised that as part of its satellite repositioning programme Inmarsat plans to restore all broadband services on the Inmarsat-4 (I-4) F2 satellite from 16:00 UTC on Friday, 6 February.

 

This is a change to the previously published schedule for users of the following services affected by the current outage on the I-4 F2:

 

·        BGAN - in Iceland, Ireland and parts of West Africa, the UK and Greenland

·        FleetBroadband – in a narrow strip of the east Atlantic Ocean

·        SwiftBroadband – in a narrow strip of the east Atlantic Ocean.

 

Users in the above outage areas will have service restored at the same time as BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband traffic in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is transferred from the I-4 F1 to I-4 F2 satellite, currently scheduled to begin at 16:00 UTC on 6 February.

 

In a further change to the schedule, Inmarsat satellite phone services (SPS), including IsatPhone, LandPhone and FleetPhone, will  transfer from the I-4 F1 to the I-4 F2 satellite at the earlier time of 08:00 UTC on 6 February.

 

Distribution partners and service providers are requested to update their websites and other repositioning documentation, and where possible to contact end-users likely to be affected by these activities.

 

You are reminded that the second and final outage, in parts of Asia-Pacific, caused by the repositioning of the I-4 F1 satellite to 143.5 degrees East, will also begin on 6 February, starting with SPS from 08:00 UTC and broadband services from 16:00 UTC.

 

 

 

Many thanks

Kind regards

 

Posted on Monday, January 26, 2009 by Tom Clark

 FCC Approves Transfer Application (CNW Group via Yahoo! Finance)

Posted in General Industry News (RSS), Stratos Bulletins (RSS)

Stratos Global Corporation today announced that the US Federal Communications Commission has issued its order approving the transfer of Stratos' FCC licenses from an irrevocable trust, in which CIP Canada Investment, Inc. deposited Stratos' shares, to Inmarsat, plc.

"*"FCC Approves Transfer Application (CNW Group via Yahoo! Finance)

Posted on Saturday, January 24, 2009 by Tom Clark

 JRC Fleet Broadband Terminal Update

Posted in Inmarsat Service Bulletins (RSS), JRC Product Bulletins (RSS)

I would like to advise all partners that JRC has strongly recommended that Fleet Broadband JUE-250 mobile terminals requiring full global coverage should be updated to the new satellite map after the I-4 F2 satellite re-enters service at 25 degrees East on 6 February 2009.

Note: This bulletin supersedes the recent announcement of JRC FleetBroadband terminal software version 01.06, which has been recalled. The current approved terminal software version now reverts to 01.04.

Why is the update required? Inmarsat is repositioning the I-4 F2 and F1 satellites to optimise the network in readiness for the introduction of global FleetBroadband coverage. This repositioning process commenced on 7 January and is due to end on 24 February 2009.

Without the map update the JUE-250 will have access to Inmarsat's new I-4 Americas satellite at 98 degrees West, but NOT to the repositioned I-4 F2 and I-4 F1 satellites in their new locations at 25 degrees East and 143.5 degrees East respectively. This is due to incompatibility of satellite map management (location, frequencies and coverage area).

Therefore JRC strongly recommends that after (and only after) 6 February users and service providers install the JUE-250 Satellite Map Update Tool to enable them to update their terminal with the new satellite map.

When is the update required?

F

rom 6 February 2009, the date the I-4 F2 satellite re-enters commercial service at 25 degrees East. At this point, from 16:00 UTC on 6 February, FleetBroadband traffic in the Indian Ocean Region will transfer from the I-4 F1 to I-4 F2 satellite.

Users in the Indian Ocean Region

For FleetBroadband terminals currently using the I-4 F1 in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the satellite map must be updated after 16:00 UTC on 6 February 2009, after the transfer of traffic has been completed. If the satellite map is updated before this time, user terminals will be unable to communicate in the IOR satellite area.

Users in the Asia-Pacific Region

FleetBroadband users are reminded that the second planned I-4 service outage begins in parts of the Asia-Pacific region from 16:00 UTC on 6 February, while the I-4 F1 moves to 143.5 degrees East. This is currently scheduled to last for 19 days, ending at 18:00 UTC on 24 February.

If a JUE-250 terminal's satellite map is updated before 6 February 2009, it will be unable to communicate with the I-4 F1 in Inmarsat's new Asia-Pacific coverage region after 24 February 2009. In this case, the satellite map must be re-installed after 6 February 2009.

Obtaining the update tool

The JRC FB250 terminal JUE-250 Satellite Map Update Tool is downloadable from the Inmarsat support website at:

www.inmarsat.com/Support/FleetBroadband/Firmware.aspx

For any queries, users are advised to approach their Inmarsat service provider for update support. It should be noted that if the JUE-250 Satellite Map Update Tool is downloaded over the air, it will add cost to users' airtime bills. The file size is around 1.5MB.

Customer queries relating to the terminal or tool should be addressed to the JRC contacts below.

JRC Europe:

Tel: +31 20 658 0750

Fax: +31 20 658 0755

Email: service@jrceurope.com

JRC America:

Tel: +1 206 654 5644

Fax: +1 206 654 7030

Email:

marineservice@jrcamerica.com

Posted on Friday, January 23, 2009 by Tom Clark

 Inmarsat - Scheduled Outage Notification

Posted in Inmarsat Service Bulletins (RSS), Vizada Bulletins (RSS)

SCHEDULED OUTAGE NOTIFICATION- Service Operational

Dear Distribution Partner,

Please be advised that as part of its satellite repositioning programme Inmarsat plans to restore all broadband services on the Inmarsat-4 (I-4) F2 satellite from 16:00 UTC on Friday, 6 February.

This is a change to the previously published schedule for users of the following services affected by the current outage on the I-4 F2:

* BGAN - in Iceland, Ireland and parts of West Africa, the UK and Greenland

* FleetBroadband - in a narrow strip of the east Atlantic Ocean

* SwiftBroadband - in a narrow strip of the east Atlantic Ocean

Users in the above outage areas will have service restored at the same time as BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband traffic in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is transferred from the I-4 F1 to I-4 F2 satellite, currently scheduled to begin at 16:00 UTC on 6 February.

In a further change to the schedule, Inmarsat satellite phone services (SPS), including IsatPhone, LandPhone and FleetPhone, will transfer from the I-4 F1 to the I-4 F2 satellite at the earlier time of 08:00 UTC on 6 February.

Distribution partners and service providers are requested to update their websites and other repositioning documentation, and where possible to contact end-users likely to be affected by these activities.

You are reminded that the second and final outage, in parts of Asia-Pacific, caused by the repositioning of the I-4 F1 satellite to 143.5 degrees East, will also begin on 6 February, starting with SPS from 08:00 UTC and broadband services from 16:00 UTC.

More information about the repositioning, including coverage maps and new versions of LaunchPad, can be found on the Inmarsat website under Support.

Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 by Tom Clark

 ICO Approved for Ancillary Terrestrial Component Use By FCC

Posted in General Industry News (RSS)

ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited (NASDAQ: ICOG) today announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the application of its subsidiary, New ICO Satellite Services G.P., to utilize an ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) in conjunction with its mobile satellite services (MSS).

ATC authority will allow ICO to use its 20 megahertz of 2 GHz spectrum for two-way terrestrial communications to enhance coverage and capacity of its MSS system by integrating terrestrial base stations into its network. In granting the ATC authority, the FCC also approved ICO's requests to use the spectrum in a more efficient manner, consistent with rules of operation for comparable terrestrial spectrum.

ICO is currently conducting trials of MSS/ATC services in the Las Vegas, Nevada and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina markets, including a mobile interactive media service known as ICO mim(TM). ICO mim is one of many advanced services that ICO will be able to deploy using its MSS/ATC system. ICO is engaged in development efforts that will permit the MSS/ATC system, over time, to offer a range of nationwide, interactive, broadband-enabled services.

"ATC approval is yet another major milestone achieved by ICO, and we thank the FCC for their continued efforts in support of a new generation of mobile satellite services," commented Tim Bryan, chief executive officer for ICO. "With operating rules that are now aligned with all of the major wireless service spectrum bands, ICO is well-positioned to leverage the economies of scale for equipment and technology deployment to provide the seamless, nationwide service experience that only mobile satellites can deliver."

Use of the ATC authority is subject to ICO's compliance with FCC regulations and conditions of the order, a copy of which may be found on the FCC's website at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-38A1.doc and on the About Us page of www.ICO.com.

About ICO

ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited is a satellite communications company developing an advanced next-generation hybrid media system, combining both satellite and terrestrial communications capabilities. ICO's satellites are capable of supporting wireless voice, data, and/or Internet services on mobile and portable devices. In North America, through its subsidiary ICO North America, Inc., ICO is deploying a mobile interactive media service known as ICO mim(TM). ICO mim will combine ICO's unique interactive satellite capability with nationwide coverage to deliver a new level of navigation, enhanced roadside assistance and the ultimate mobile video experience, including 10-15 live channels of premium television content. ICO is based in Reston, Virginia. For more information, visit www.ico.com.

Posted on Friday, January 16, 2009 by Tom Clark

 **Urgent Notification** HNS 9250 and 9201 Terminals - DO NOT UPGRADE

Posted in Hughes Product Bulletins (RSS), Stratos Bulletins (RSS)

**URGENT NOTIFICATION**

DO NOT Install HNS 9250 and HNS 9201 BGAN Terminal Upgrades


Stratos has just learned that there is a critical error in the recently released HNS 9250 and 9201 upgrade software. It is important that you DO NOT install these upgrades, as they will prevent you from being able to access the I-4 satellites.
 
Stratos will pass on updated information on these terminals as it becomes available from Inmarsat and Hughes and will also notify customers when the proper software upgrades have been tested and released.
 
Our apologies for any issues or confusion this may have caused. Should you acquire assistance, please contact your Stratos sales representative or Customer Support as follows:
 

Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2009 by Tom Clark

 T+T 700 Software Release V3.00,case#290021

Posted in Thrane Product Bulletins (RSS), Vizada Bulletins (RSS)

Dear BGAN Customers,

  • Thrane & Thrane EXPLORER® 700 Software Version 3.00

We are pleased to inform you that The Thrane & Thrane EXPLORER® 700 Software Version 3.00 is released and available for download from the Inmarsat website at

http://www.inmarsat.com/support/BGAN

 

Information on this release can be found in the attached Technical Notification document that is included in the download. This release will be available for download within one week through the BGAN Update feature.  

 

 

 Inmarsat

Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2009 by Tom Clark

 Terminal Upgrade HNS 9250 and 9201

Posted in Hughes Product Bulletins (RSS), Stratos Bulletins (RSS)

Critical Upgrades for HNS Terminals


Hughes Network Systems recently released two important updates for the HNS 9250 and 9201 BGAN terminals.


These updates are in response to Inmarsat's I-4 F3 satellite repositioning. Downloading and installing these updates is critical to ensuring that your terminals continue to function correctly.


HNS 9250

Software Version 4.0.2.7


HNS 9201

Software Version 3.6.2.6


More information can be found in the service bulletins included with the downloads.

Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2009 by Tom Clark

 JRC JUE250 Update

Posted in JRC Product Bulletins (RSS), Vizada Bulletins (RSS)

I would like to advise all partners that JRC has recommended that their FleetBroadband JUE250 mobile terminals requiring full global coverage should be upgraded to version 01.06 before the initial deployment of the I-4 EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) satellite on 2 February 2009.

 

Why is the upgrade required?

Inmarsat is repositioning two satellites in the Inmarsat-4 (I-4) satellite constellation to optimise the network in readiness for the introduction of global broadband coverage.  This repositioning process takes place from 7 January to 24 February 2009.

The previous JUE-250 software version (1.04) will enable the terminal to access the new I-4 Americas satellite at 98 degrees West, but not to access the repositioned I-4 EMEA (formerly I-4 F2) and I-4 Asia-Pacific (formerly I-4 F1) satellites, in their new locations at 25 degrees East and 143.5 degrees East respectively. This is due to incompatibility of satellite map management (location, frequencies and coverage area).

Therefore JRC strongly recommends users and service providers to download the software for upgrading to version 01.06 to access the full global FleetBroadband service.

 

When is the upgrade required?

Before 2 February 2009 – the date the I-4 F2 (I-4 EMEA) satellite arrives at 25 degrees East and begins operating in the outage area in the Eastern Atlantic only.

Full coverage across the new I-4 EMEA satellite region begins on 6 February, when FleetBroadband traffic in the Indian Ocean Region is transferred from the I-4 F3 satellite to I-4 EMEA and the second planned I-4 service outage in parts of the Asia-Pacific region starts.

 

Changes from JRC FleetBroadband software version 01.04 to 01.06

In addition to support for the repositioned I-4 constellation, the following features will also be provided:

* Correction of satellite map management (location, frequencies and coverage area) for satellite repositioning

* User-selectable enable or disable DHCP and configurable IP address

* Support for the USIM PIN function

* Improved communications stability in case of blockage by shadowing, and

* Reduced echo on voice phone calls

 

Further details will be provided in release note documentation distributed with the software.

 

Obtaining the software

The JRC FB250 terminal JUE-250 new software version 01.06 will be downloadable from the Inmarsat support Website from mid-January.

Before this time, users are advised to approach their Inmarsat service provider for upgrade support.

The new terminal software can also be downloaded using the LaunchPad update feature. However, it should be noted that if the software is downloaded over the air, it will add cost to users' airtime bills. The file size will be about 5MB.

In addition, CDs containing the new software will be available on request after mid-January at:

JRC Europe

Tel: +31 20 658 0750

Fax: +31 20 658 0755

Email: service@jrceurope.com

JRC America

Tel: +1 206 654 5644

Fax: +1 206 654 7030

Email: marineservice@jrcamerica.com

Customer queries relating to the terminal or software should be addressed to the JRC contacts above.



Customer Care
Vizada
Europe
E-mail:  customercare.europe@vizadacom
Tel: +33 5 61 28 89 99
Fax: +33 5 61 28 89 98

United States
Tel: +1 301 838 7700 (worldwide)
         1 800 685 7898 (U.S.toll free)
Fax: +1 301 838 7701 
E-mail:  customercare.us@vizada.com

33# (For Technical assistance from your Inmarsat terminal)
Web site:  www.vizada.com/

I-4 F2: 7 January - 2 February 2009 .

o BGAN - in Iceland, Ireland and parts of West Africa, the UK and Greenland .

o FleetBroadband - in a narrow strip of the east Atlantic Ocean.

o SwiftBroadband - in a narrow strip of the east Atlantic Ocean.

I-4 F1: 6 - 24 February 2009 .

Service outage in parts of Asia-Pacific for: .

o BGAN .

o FleetBroadband .

o SwiftBroadband, and .

o IsatPhone, LandPhone, and FleetPhone. .

Full global coverage will be introduced at the end of the repositioning process, on 24 February 2009..

Vizada Service Providers will need to remind customers using BGAN, IsatPhone and LandPhone services to point antennas to the new satellite location after repositioning of each satellite has been completed. Older BGAN terminals may also need an upgrade. FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband terminals should re-point automatically to the satellite in its new location. However, some FleetBroadband terminals may require user intervention or software upgrades. Users of BGAN LaunchPad should ensure they have installed the most up-to-date version. .

For more information about the repositioning, including coverage areas and new versions of BGAN LaunchPad, go to www.inmarsat.com/coverage. For copies of the new coverage maps for the aeronautical and maritime services, please see the attached jpg files..

RBGAN Service Came to a Close.

Inmarsat’s R-BGAN service came to a close on 31 December 2008.

Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2009 by Tom Clark

 Delta Wave Site Updated

Posted in Delta Wave News (RSS)

Just completed an update of the Iridium Downloads page at Delta Wave Site.

Added Iridium 9555 information - brochure, user guide, voicemail instructions and USB driver's that can now be downloaded for future reference.

Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2009 by Tom Clark

 BGAN traffic was successfully transferred from the I-4 F2 satellite at about 09:00 UTC, 7 January 2009.

Posted in Inmarsat Service Bulletins (RSS)

New I-4 Americas satellite
enters commercial service

Inmarsat is pleased to announce the entry into service of the new
I-4 Americas satellite, providing mobile voice and broadband data coverage for North and South America.

BGAN traffic was successfully transferred from the I-4 F2 satellite at about 09:00 UTC, 7 January 2009.

The start of commercial service on the satellite, formerly known as
I-4 F3, marks the creation of a new Inmarsat satellite coverage region, called “I-4 Americas”.

Optimal data connectivity
The I-4 Americas spacecraft is positioned more directly over the region than the I-4 F2. This makes it easier to point a BGAN terminal at the satellite and, coupled with a higher concentration of spot beams over the landmass, provides optimal data connectivity.

Also, for the first time, BGAN network coverage will be extended to include parts of Western Canada and Alaska.

BGAN users in North and South America now need to re-point their terminals from the I-4 F2 satellite at 53 degrees West to the new I-4 Americas satellite located on the Equator at 98 degrees West, directly south of central Texas and west of Islas Galapagos.

Graphical guide
The new version of BGAN LaunchPad provides a graphical guide to locating the I-4 Americas satellite.

However, a few older BGAN terminals may require a firmware upgrade to function on the new satellite. End-users should contact their equipment supplier if unsure.

The land-mobile Inmarsat GAN and Mini M services are now operating via the Inmarsat-3 F4 satellite at 53 degrees West. Users should continue to point their antennas at the same in-orbit location as before.

Coverage maps
Further information about the coverage provided by the new I-4 Americas satellite, including coverage maps and the new version of BGAN LaunchPad, can be found in the Support section of the Inmarsat website.

Posted on Wednesday, January 07, 2009 by Tom Clark