www.apscc.or.kr
Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council ISSN 1226-8844
QUARTERLY NEWSLET TER
The Satellite TV Industry
Interview with
Gwynne Shotwell, President of SpaceX
FOCUS ASIA
East Asian Video Markets
04
A P R I L 2 010
C O N T E N T S
APRIL 2010 Volume 16 lssue 2
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 03
COVER STORY 04
Dynamic Growth of Satellite Pay-TV Market in Asia 04
Serving as the Gateway to Asia 08
INTERVIEW 12
Gwynne Shotwell, President of SpaceX 12
FOCUS ASIA 16
Whither goes East Asian video markets? 16
APSCC MEMBERS 22
SATELLITE TRENDS 24
Sensors, Systems, and Advanced Satellites 24
Connecting Scientists in Remote Mongolia 30
The Mining, Oil & Gas Market 34
INSIDE APSCC 38
APSCC 2010 38
Satellite Communications Summit 38
SATELLITE INDUSTRY NEWS 42
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 47
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX 48
APSCC Officers
President
Nongluck Phinainitisart, Ph.D.
Advisory Board
Romain Bausch
SES
Richard E. Butler
WorldSpace Asia MESSAGE FROM
G. Madhavan Nair, Ph. D.
Indian Space Research Organisation
THE PRESIDENT
Eui K. Koh, Ph.D.
JB Technologies
David W. Thompson
Orbital Sciences Corporation
It was Sunday, February 7, 2010 that a TV and you can watch your favorite channel. It’s
Yasuo Otaki
Panasonic Systems Solutions Engineering Co., Ltd. event was transmitted to a satellite, broadcast as though you have never left home and the
Patrick DeWitt around the world and generated an average of lifestyle — the world over has forever changed.
Space Systems/Loral 106.5 million viewers, scoring CBS the largest
Board of Directors audience in TV history. It was the Super Bowl Satellites are well known for applications such
Cynthia Dickins
SES WORLD SKIES game. as 1) Telephony — the first and historically
Richard Bowles most important application for satellites was
Arianespace It’s something to think about. Where any place in intercontinental long distance telephony
William Wade in the world in the most humble of homes, and this is the satellite application most
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd.
with a small dish antenna on the roof, a responsible for making a major change in the
Ramesh Ramaswamy
Hughes person could turn on a TV and view this lifestyle of people throughout the world over
David Ball
event — surely a tribute to the communication the last few decades; 2) Satellite television
Intelsat satellite industry as a whole. — both Fixed Service and Direct Broadcast
Thomas Carroll Satellite has become the main market; 3)
International Launch Services, Inc.
It wasn’t always like this though. There was Mobile satellite technologies and satellite
Titus Yong
Singapore Telecommunications Ltd.
time when there were no communication radio; 4) Satellite Internet and broadband
Yutaka Nagai
satellites in existence and people lived simple service; 5) Military uses and; 6) Navigation.
SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and private lives. When ”communication via
Anthony Colucci satellite“ became a reality and with the rapid These applications will be discussed during our
Space Systems / Loral
advance of technology, lifestyles were forever annual conference in Tokyo, Japan on 5 - 7
Eddie Kato
Thales Alenia Space
changed. October this year. You will find yourself in the
city where some of the most advance
Yousuf Al Sayed
Thuraya Satellite Communications Company Step out of the house, walk down any street, technologies are integrated into consumer
Vice Presidents into any shop, through any mall and for a first products and the local hospitality will delight
External Relations & Membership
time observer it would appear that people are all visitors. We are looking forward to seeing
Gregg Daffner
G3 Global Communications holding on to their ear and talking to you all in Tokyo.
Conference & Publications themselves. But what people are really doing
Naoakira Kamiya
is communicating through their ”cell phones“
Satellite System Research Institute
to any place in the world. Travelling around in
Technical Research & Development
Ken Betaharon foreign places by car is no longer a serious Nongluck Phinainitisart
Asia Broadcast Satellite
challenge when you have a satellite navigation President, APSCC
Regulatory Affairs
system. Travel to any major city in the world
Pramook Chaiwongwutthikul
THAICOM Public Company Limited
COVER STORY
Dynamic Growth of Satellite Pay-TV
Market in Asia
Mounia El Bouzegaoui & Dimitri Buchs, Analysts, Euroconsult
Solid performance of the satellite New platforms should join the list in the coming
pay-TV industry worldwide years thanks to more favourable regulations,
In the last decade, dozens of satellite pay-TV improving economic conditions and higher demand
platforms have been launched around the world. The for enhanced services. In most emerging pay-TV
industry has become global and reached a critical markets, the satellite pay-TV penetration rate is still
size in the digital TV market. At year end 2009, 113 under 30%. Malaysia is the only country in the
TV platforms were in service, covering more than 100 Asian market showing a satellite pay-TV penetration
countries across all regions. With close to 130 million higher than 30%, proof that there is still room left
subscribers and revenues around $70 billion in 2009 to improve pay-TV penetration in several countries.
according to the Euroconsult report “Satellite TV
Platforms, World Survey & Prospects to 2019,” Competition from other delivery networks, led by
satellite pay-TV has proven to be a reference for the cable TV, is one of the main issues facing satellite TV
distribution of digital entertainment. platforms. Nevertheless, some satellite TV platforms
managed to take the lead in markets where cable TV
While historical platforms in the most mature was predominant. This is the case in the United
satellite TV national markets have now reached States with DirecTV and Dish Network and in India
operational profitability, emerging digital markets with Dish TV and Tata Sky. The only markets where
are facing an impressive burgeoning of new satellite satellite TV failed to take leading positions are small
TV platforms (e.g. India and the Philippines in Asia) markets with very strong historical cable
trying to position themselves in national markets penetration, such as the Netherlands and Hong
that are sometimes already served by several other Kong, where the addressable market is limited and
satellite TV players. the competitive advantage against other delivery
networks insufficient.
For most countries, the satellite TV platforms
introduced have become the leading pay-TV Asia: A dynamic satellite pay-TV market
provider. This is the case for Sky PerfecTV, Tata Sky Since 2008, Asia has driven regional subscription
and Dish TV India in Asia. Less than 10% of all growth and achieved a total of 8.7 million new
satellite TV platforms in operation at year-end 2009 subscribers in 2009; it will be the largest market in
had passed the 4 million subscribers mark; these terms of subscribers by 2010, with over 43 million
include four Asian platforms — Dish TV, Sun Direct subscribers. Market growth will be favoured by the
and Tata Sky in India and Sky PerfecTV in Japan. dynamism of a few markets, including India, where
4 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
“Since 2008, Asia has driven regional subscription growth and
achieved a total of 8.7 million new subscribers in 2009; it will be the
largest market in terms of subscribers by 2010, with over 43 million
subscribers. By 2014, subscriptions in the region are expected to
reach 74 million.”
Satellite Pay-TV Platforms Worldwide
Source: 4th Satellite TV Platforms-World Survey & Prospects by 2019-Growth through the Crisis
satellite pay-TV services have been legalized in the situation in China remains unclear; the country
last decade, and Indonesia, where pay-TV could be one the main satellite TV growth drivers in
penetration is still very low. By 2014, subscriptions the next decade depending on whether the market
in the region are expected to reach 74 million. The opens in the mid or long term.
APRIL 2010 5
The launch of new satellite pay-TV platforms in Asia satellite pay-TV penetration is still low (e.g. Sri
has contributed to subscription growth in the past Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam). These countries face
few years. With the launch of K+ in Vietnam in pay-TV piracy issues which could hamper future
January 2010, the number of platforms operating in growth opportunities. Regarding the more mature
Asia reached thirty-one. This enabled the market to television markets like those of Japan and South
grow by an impressive 35% in 2009. Korea, slow growth has been experienced in recent
years and they are not expected to drive future
In Asian emerging digital markets (mainly in South subscription growth.
and South East Asia), growth in subscriptions has
been very strong in recent years. This growth is led Mature Asian satellite TV markets are
by a booming Indian market where six pay-TV facing increasing pay-TV competition
platforms are now in service, after the launch of One of the strongest challenges faced by the Asian
Videocon D2H in May 2009. The country had more satellite pay-TV market will come from increasing
than 19 million satellite pay-TV subscribers at the competition from other delivery networks with the
end of 2009, representing more than half of all digitalization of cable TV networks and the take-off
Asia-Pacific subscribers. Dish Network India, the of IPTV services.
country’s leading satellite pay-TV platform, has seen
its market share decrease in the last couple of years Cable TV is still the dominant pay-TV delivery
as satellite pay-TV competition intensified in the network in the region, but a majority of networks
country. Indian regulation prevents content are still analogue. The digitization process is moving
providers from signing exclusive deals with a pay-TV rapidly in a few countries, including China and
platform, thus guaranteeing every Indian platform Japan, which could pose a real threat to the satellite
access to all TV channels but making it difficult for pay-TV market in these countries. Another threat for
Indian operators to differentiate themselves from the Asian satellite TV market is the development of
their competitors on content offered, thereby push- IPTV services, still at an early development stage in
ing operators to battle on price and distribution. most countries of the region.
Due to regulatory constraints, ARPUs in India are
among the lowest in the world which explains why IPTV services are developing rapidly in mature
subscriptions have grown so quickly in the country. pay-TV markets. They include Hong Kong, where
The large size of the Indian market will allow IPTV services were rolled out in 2003, Japan and
national platforms to increase their subscriber bases, South Korea. In Hong Kong, IPTV should overtake
but Euroconsult anticipates that a consolidation cable-TV in the middle term. In Japan, this could
process might occur in the coming years. also be the case within the next five years according
to Euroconsult estimates. South Korea, where linear
Alongside India, the Philippines and Indonesia are IPTV services were launched in early 2009, is also
two other dynamic satellite pay-TV markets in the expected to be one of the driving IPTV markets in
Asian region. Both countries launched two satellite the region within the next decade.
pay-TV platforms in the last couple of years (GSat
and Cignal Digital TV in the Philippines and Stronger competition from other delivery networks
Telkomvision’s Yes TV and Aora TV in Indonesia). The in mature Asian markets has limited new satellite
Philippines and Indonesia are expected to be the pay-TV subscriptions. In Japan, Sky PerfecTV, the
fastest-developing satellite TV markets in the region only satellite TV platform operating in the country,
in the coming years. In several Asian countries, has seen subscription figures remain globally stable
6 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
since 2007. In South Korea, SkyLife’s subscriber base can expect the market to boom, following in India’s
has continued to grow in recent years, but at a footsteps.
slower pace compared to that of several years ago.
Subscription growth for SkyLife is expected to be The Chinese satellite TV industry is liberalizing
limited in the near future, as the launch of IPTV progressively and building an effective satellite TV
services in the country will certainly threaten the broadcasting infrastructure. This is confirmed by the
platform’s position on the Korean pay-TV market. fact that the State Administration of Radio, Film,
The Korean satellite TV market seems close to and Television (SARFT) has reportedly allocated close
saturation in a country where pay-TV penetration is to $500 million for the development of satellite TV
higher than 90%. In Australia, IPTV services have not services in the country. Even though market indi-
yet been rolled out, but the first commercial services cators are positive, satellite pay-TV services are
could be launched as soon as 2010; this will unlikely before 2011 in China. Despite the uncer-
probably have an impact on the Australian pay-TV tainties linked to a service launch, it is probable that
market, which is currently dominated by the two satellite pay-TV will be successful in China once it
national satellite TV platforms, Austar and Foxtel. gets going; according to Euroconsult, China could
have close to 8 million satellite pay-TV subscribers
With the increasing competition, satellite TV by 2014. > As launch providers go, SpaceX is a relatively new entrant to the game. How does
SpaceX hold up to its competitors?
SpaceX was founded in 2002 with the singular goal of increasing access to space. Our Falcon family of launch
vehicles have been conceived of and designed from the beginning with high reliability and low-cost in mind.
Today, SpaceX has a launch manifest featuring 32 flights between
now and 2015, the bulk of which are for the Falcon 9 launch
vehicle. This includes 12 flights for NASA as part of a $1.6 billion
contract to transfer cargo to and from the International Space
Station (ISS). SpaceX has had two back-to-back successful launches
of our Falcon 1 launch vehicle, the lowest price per mission rocket
in the world, which demonstrates that we have the technology and
the team to serve our customers needs.
Our Falcon 9 is scheduled for its first launch from our new pad at
Cape Canaveral in the next few months. In short, in approximately
8 years, we designed, developed, qualified and twice successfully
launched Falcon 1, while at the same time developing on-site production facilities, a world-class engine
testing facility, two launch sites, three proprietary engines, and in-house structures and avionics departments.
Also during this time we completed development and qualification of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle and the
Dragon spacecraft. Given all of this, I would say we hold up well.
>> NASA recently announced a significant shift in the US space program, specifically
proposing that $6 billion be allocated to commercial launch services providers for the
transport of astronauts to and from the ISS. Will this have any impact on satellite
providers?
The take-away for satellite providers should be that the government is increasingly relying on commercial
enterprise to satisfy their needs. This should come as great news to satellite providers. In addition, increased
12 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
Photo Credit: Chris Thompson/SpaceX.
The full flight-ready Falcon 9 launch
vehicle with Dragon qualification
spacecraft raised to vertical on the
competition and tempo in launch can only serve to benefit them. Until recently, the launch services industry launch pad at SLC-40, Cape
Canaveral, Florida.
was dominated by a few players. Today, however, competition is rapidly developing. Many new organizations
are coming on-line with alternative vehicles for commercial use. Across the globe, launch services providers
are under pressure to provide quality service at reduced costs. This will help expand the market and increase
opportunities for satellite suppliers.
As a result of the NASA budget, satellite providers will see an increase in competition among US commercial
providers to develop more reliable vehicles at lower costs. While the NASA efforts will be focused on transport
of astronauts, satellite companies will benefit from the competition and higher standards for safety and
reliability. The end result will be more launcher options of better quality and at a lower cost.
>> The Asia-Pacific community is currently experiencing tremendous growth in
domestic satellite development and related services. Does SpaceX see unique challenges
or opportunities in the Asian market?
The satellite business is truly global, but each region has its own specific needs. The growth in satellite
development and related services amongst the Asia Pacific countries has been exciting to watch over the last
few years. With the support of organizations like the APSCC, we have seen a highly effective hybrid of
APRIL 2010 13
Photo Credit: SpaceX
Liftoff of the Falcon 1 RazakSAT mission, from the SpaceX launch site on Omelek Island,
US Army Kwajalein Atoll, in the Central Pacific, on 14 July 2009 at 03:35 UTC.
government, commercial and private entities come together to provide services that ultimately deliver
tangible socio-economic value to the Asia-Pacific region. A great example of this is Malaysia’s Astronautic
Technology (M) Sdn. Bhd. (ATSB), which launched their Earth observation satellite, RazakSAT, aboard a SpaceX
Falcon 1 in July 2009.
The satellite was developed by ATSB, but the program was funded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and
Innovation (MOTSI). And the Malaysian Space Agency (ANGKASA) is operating the ground station that will act
as the primary RazakSAT tele-command location. SpaceX was able to provide ATSB with a low altitude, low
inclination orbit, enabling them to pass over their country many times each day, unlike launches from higher
latitudes, which would provide less frequent coverage.
This mission marked the first time a privately developed liquid fueled rocket had successfully put a
commercial satellite in orbit; it was only the second satellite launched by Malaysia and their first remote
sensing satellite. In short, this was a great meeting of new entrants and new technologies to achieve a goal
that would otherwise have been technologically infeasible and cost-prohibitive.
Looking forward, we expect to see more of these types of collaborations. For our part, SpaceX is working to
bring a more open approach to the field; for example, we publish standard prices and offer a streamlined
procurement process for our customers. The increase in launch opportunities will foster a better understanding
of technical requirements of different launch vehicles and, in a best case scenario, drive the industry towards
commonly agreed upon standards for satellite configurations in order to maximize launcher options. <
Gwynne Shotwell joined SpaceX as VP of Business Development, before being promoted to President. Before joining
SpaceX, Shotwell spent 10+ years at the Aerospace Corporation in positions of increasing responsibility, including Chief Engineer
of an MLV-class satellite program. Shotwell also headed the Space System Division at Microcosm. Shotwell received her
Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Northwestern University in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics, with honors.
14 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
FOCUS ASIA
Whither goes East Asian video markets?
Patrick M. French, Senior Analyst & Head, Singapore Office, NSR
Much of the focus on the Asian broadcast and DTH Madani Channel, GLC and B4U standard definition
industry in the last years has been directed to the channels. On the HD side, AsiaSat scored a win for
breakout of the Indian market as well as growing the new Fashion TV HD channel, while MEASAT
DTH in both Southeast Asia and the move to HD in picked up a deal via Crawford Satellite Services for
Australia and New Zealand. Less attention has been carriage of the All Sports Network (ASN) HD channel
given to video and DTH in East Asia, notably China, for Asian audiences.
Japan and South Korea, but these are in fact some of
the countries projected to have the greatest leased For the mainland Chinese market, the distribution of
transponder growth in Asia for the coming ten years. national and provincial channels for China as well as
Chinese cable headend platforms are now mainly
In NSR’s Global Assessment of Satellite Supply and concentrated onto the ChinaSat fleet. Here slow
Demand 6th Edition study, the classic satellite video channel growth is less an economic issue than tied
markets are segmented by video distribution (pri- up into Chinese government control of the TV
marily for cable headends, free-to-air and special- markets. Both CCTV and the provincial broadcasters
ized bouquets) and direct-to-home. Of course, DTH are limited in the number of channels they can have
is mainly a Ku-band service, while cable headend, carried over satellite, and commercial Chinese
free-to-air and specialized bouquets can be either broadcasters are slow to develop new channels. NSR
C-band (notably for greater China) or Ku-band (both does expect that over the coming years there will be
for Greater China and the traditional video the launch of at least one HD channel per province
distribution markets in Japan and South Korea). plus several additional national HD channels;
however, SD channel growth will remain restricted.
Greater China and pan-Asian platforms key to What is not restricted, and mainly carried by the
C-band video distribution growth pan-Asian platforms, are the overspill signals that
C-band video distribution in East Asia continues to target the large population of illegal satellite TV
be dominated by services to the mainland China viewers in the country. However, there are limits to
market or on pan-Asian video platforms. With little growth in this indirect market as well.
dispute, AsiaSat continues to run two of the key
C-band pan-Asian video platforms on its Asiasat-2 Early weakness in Ku-band video distribution
and Asiasat-3S satellites. The company signed to be replaced by steady gains
numerous channel contracts in the last year The Ku-band video distribution market in East Asia is
including carriage of the France 24, DW-TV Asia, mainly made up of services and bouquets to a
16 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
number of national markets. Some of the bouquets markets, but HD channel growth will remain in line
are for cable distribution, and others are free-to-air or even exceed prior projections from a year ago
content combined with some encrypted content. despite the economic issues because of the growing
Unlike C-band video distribution services, pan-Asian importance HD is playing in pay-TV markets. From
Ku-band video distribution platforms have a much 2011 to 2013, SD & HD channel growth will likely
more limited role in East Asia. accelerate due to improved economic conditions
and new satellite launches and then more steady
The economic malaise of 2009 limited Ku-band from thereon. The end result is NSR’s forecast of
video distribution channel growth in the last year; some 33 new C-band TPEs of demand for video
however, one important contract signed in June distribution in East between 2008 and 2018 and
2009 was a three-transponder deal between SES nearly another 25 TPEs of Ku-band video distri-
World Skies and with Teleport Access Services, Inc. bution capacity for the region.
(TAS). This capacity will be used to carry 50 Chinese-
language channels for cable households in Taiwan. Chinese DTH services finally launched, sort of ...
Along with the EchoStar-AsiaSat deal cited below, Near the end of 2008, the Chinasat-9 satellite began
this is another indication that the current largely carrying 48 channels of national and provincial
analog cable market in Taiwan could undergo a content and officially heralded the start of the
substantial transformation in the coming years and Chinese DTH market... sort of. In fact, only rural
could drive further Ku-band transponder demand to villages with no or poor access to terrestrial TV
support this transition to digital. In the coming broadcasts have the right to install communal satellite
years, NSR expects continued expansion of the antennas to receive this content from Chinasat-9 free
existing video bouquets serving the region, and of charge. These dishes are being partially financed
there could well be new Ku-band bouquets through China's "Cuncuntong" project, which aims to
launched for Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong/Macau deliver state-run radio and TV to as many as 60
and mainland China in addition to Taiwan. In partic- million families. The current programming only uses a
ular, NSR would not be surprised to see a telco TV or handful of transponders on the Chinasat-9 satellite,
ADSL backfill type platform (like Orange has done and there are plans being floated to allow content
for France) to emerge for the region. integrators or broadcasters to eventually launch
encrypted, pay services (closely regulated by SARFT as
Going forward, NSR believes that SD channel is normal) that individual households could
additions will be slow for the next year because of subscribe to. However, a major roadblock remains in
East Asian C- and Ku-band Video the economic crisis impacting the broadcasting place in the form of the “Provisions on The
Distribution Channels
Administrative of Ground Receiving Facilities for
Satellite Television Transmissions” decree, or Decree
No. 129, that has yet to be modified to allow private
Chinese citizens to legally purchase satellite TV
equipment with the obvious concern that changing
Decree No. 129 will open the floodgates on the
already large illegal satellite TV market in the
country. When the situation finally becomes more
coherent is anyone’s guess, and NSR currently does
not expect substantial channel growth on Chinasat-
9 for several years at least.
18 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
...and a few new platforms for East Asia... DTH Service Name Notes
In the last year, two new DTH platforms were Pay-service for national Japanese
BS Digital
launched for East Asia. The first was Samoa based channels.
GBMI’s G Sat that will serve East Asia and parts of Broadcasting started in late 2008
Southeast Asia (mainly the Philippines) using Chinese for Chinese national DTH service
DTH Platform though currently limited to
capacity in the NSS-11 satellite. The platform carries
services to remote villages.
a little over 30 channels and is a classic example of
DTH service for Taiwan. Sister
an overspill bouquet that is indirectly targeting
platforms treated as video
markets (namely China and North Korea) where C Sky Net
distribution include I-Sky-Net and
satellite TV is illegal as well as other nations in the 146-Sky-Net.
region. The second new DTH platform was Targeting East Asia and parts of
announced in June 2009 and is a joint venture G Sat Southeast Asia.
between EchoStar and AsiaSat. The new platform, to Owned by Samoa-based GBMI.
be carried on Asiasat-4 and enter into service SkyLife DTH service for South Korea.
sometime in 2010, targets the Taiwanese market. DTH service for Japan. Includes the
SkyPerfecTV! SkyPerfecTV! and Sky PerfecTV!e2
The majority of Taiwanese pay-TV households
platforms.
subscribe to analog cable services. The yet-to-be
DTH service for Hong Kong
named EchoStar-AsiaSat platform will attempt to
launched in 2005. To be migrated
target these analog households exactly in the Skywave TV
to EchoStar-AsiaSat DTH platform
East Asian DTH Service
fashion DBS services in North America went after for Taiwan in 2010. Providers, 2009
the then analog cable market. AsiaSat has reported Source: NSR
that this DTH platform will replace the current
SkyWave DTH service on Asiasat-4 that was always broadcaster NHK, private broadcaster WOWOW, and
positioned by AsiaSat as a “testing the waters/ a number of other major Japanese broadcasters. The
learning experience” for the company. purpose of BS Digital is to bring digital programming
mainly to Japanese households that do not receive
...and traditional players continue to expand good terrestrial broadcasting coverage.
Finally, the long-standing “traditional” DTH platforms
in East Asia continue to gradually expand their In South Korea, the only DTH platform is SkyLife
channel packages and capacity leasing. The largest whose top three shareholders are KT Corp,
remains SkyPerfecTV! that has two platforms in J.P.Morgan Whitefriars and Korea Broadcasting
Japan: SkyPerfecTV! on the JCSAT-3A and JCSAT-4A System with a combined stake of about 39% of the
satellites and Sky PerfecTV!e2 carried on N-Sat 110. company. In March 2009, SkyLife and Discovery
The SkyPerfecTV! platform had 3.2 million subscribers Networks Asia-Pacific reported that they have
as of the end of June 2009, and Sky PerfecTV!e2 had launched a 24-hour Discovery HD channel as part of
another 937,000. Further, SkyPerfecTV has a service the SkyLife program lineup. SkyLife HD services were
delivered over cable called Sky PerfecTV! HIKARI plus available in 160,000 households in Korea out of a
a number of other service providers that, combined, total subscriber base of about 2.3-2.4 million as of
had some 143,000 sub- scribers. SkyPerfecTV! the date of this announcement. And in Taiwan,
continues to expand its HD lineup and plans to C-Sky-Net is part of the Taiwanese Chinese Satellite
exceed 70 HD channels by end of 2010, up from 24 Communication Group, which also owns a number
as of mid-2009. Also in Japan is the BS Digital of other platforms that NSR has classified as video
platform owned by the national Japanese distribution. As the largest of the Taiwanese Chinese
APRIL 2010 19
Overall, NSR predicts very slow growth in full-time
C-band and Ku-band digital feeds through 2018,
and the actual growth trend may even prove to
show high annual variability with the possibility of
some years actually chalking up a net decline in
full-time feeds and other years chalking up growth
due to special events. A possible example here was
the December 2008 announcement that SKY Perfect
JSAT had been awarded the exclusive Japanese
broadcasting rights for all 64 matches of the 2010
FIFA World Cup. Still, much of the content related to
East Asian Ku-band DTH Channels
the FIFA World Cup and other future sporting
Satellite Communication Group platforms in terms matches will be fibered into East Asia, so there is a
of channels and subscribers, NSR has classified limit to the overall demand potential.
C-Sky-Net as a DTH platform, but it could arguably
be put in the video distribution market along with Strong TPE demand in East Asia but not an
its sister bouquets. “exciting” market
So while garnering much less attention, it appears
Overall, NSR projects that some 200 SD and just that East Asia will in fact be a very important area
over 130 HD channels will be added to the East for commercial transponder demand growth in the
Asian DTH market in the coming ten years. This is video broadcasting and DTH sectors in the coming
expected to result in a Ku-band capacity demand years. No doubt the low profile of these markets is
increase of nearly 30 TPEs for DTH services in the in part due to national operators tending to dom-
coming ten years. inate the markets, and little of the transponder
demand growth potential, beyond the pan-Asian
Well established terrestrial networks implies C-band video distribution segment, is truly open for
limited potential for contribution & OUTV competition. Despite the lack of “excitement” in the
A short mention should also be made of the video chase to lease capacity in these segments, the
contribution & occasional use market, which NSR region is home to some of the most well-established
measures in terms of full-time video feeds as well as video markets in all of Asia, and it is often these
leasing of capacity for short periods of time for countries that generate the largest pure demand
services like outdoor broadcasting or SNG. Growth gains in the overall satellite leasing market. <
in full-time C-band and Ku-band digital feeds in the
last year has been slow. This trend is primarily due
to well-established terrestrial networks in most
countries in the region limiting demand for
full-time video contribution services in East Asia.
Patrick M. French joined NSR in September 2003 and has authored numerous studies, the most recent being the
Global Assessment of Satellite Demand, 6th Edition and Broadband Satellite Markets, 9th Edition. His focus is commercial
satellite supply and demand modeling, video services, DTH, broadband and narrowband VSAT networks, and satellite
broadband access services.
20 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
SATELLITE TRENDS
Sensors, Systems & Advanced Satellites
Driving the Evolution of the Satellite Industry in Asia Pacific
Richard Theodor Kusiolek, Managing Director, TransGlobalNet
Environmental satellite data has grown in volume, systems and satellite technology and refine the true
complexity, and information content over the last data elements of climate change monitoring.
10 years, and there is every indication that this
trend will continue and will accelerate exponen- Japan
tially. In the upcoming decade, growth in that Japan has agreed to a
volume may equal that of the last two or three 25% CO reduction,
decades. According to the National Oceanic and which was premised
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) committee, by on the establishment
2014, many of today’s technologies will be obsolete. of a fair and effective
Although India, China, Korea, Malaysia, and Japan international frame-
have had limited space monitoring resources, the work in which all
Japan's Advanced Land Observing
rapid development of their broad based national major economies par- Satellite (ALOS) launched in 2006
space program with local launch vehicles, sensors, ticipate and on agree-
systems, satellites, control facilities, and information ment by those economies on ambitious targets. The
data gathering, has begun to spur the internal Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has
growth of the manufacturing of space related tech- supported a broad range of Earth space borne
nologies. Remote sensing and monitoring of climate remote sensing missions to answer the reality of
change are allowing the growth of extensive local many of these scientific objectives. Japan’s long
developed ground-based surveillance and coordi- term Earth-observation (EO) targets disasters and
nation systems which can be relayed with the resources, climate change and water, water cycles,
nation’s remote sensing satellites climate change, and greenhouse gases. Those
programs are TRMM, ALOS, GOSAT, GCOM and the
Global Climate Change Satellite Earth care series.
Monitoring Responsibility has shifted
to Asia Pacific Japan has an aggressive 2025 national space vision.
Now that the economic power has swung to Asia On March 31 2005, Keiji Tachikawa, President of
Pacific’s satellite industry to addressing these JAXA commented at the JAXA symposium that “as
climate change issues by working towards learning far as space is concerned, we'll focus mainly on
through alliances with NASA and the ESA, while three areas: expansion of space utilization, further
developing advanced satellites with sensors and development of space science, and space access
systems, will usher in a new golden age of sensor, technology. I don't think that this is too ambitious.
24 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
Japan had already decided to focus on lunar
exploration and utilization.”
Developing Japan’s sensors, systems, and advanced
satellite technology are key to achieving this 2025
vision. Satellite's traditional role of monitoring
climate change and also the national and societal
push for Asia Pacific to take the lead in remote
sensing, systems, and satellites has sparked a new
light beam of Japanese commitment.
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)
satellite launched in 1997 is Japan’s EO satellite that
diagnoses conditions on Earth by measuring
precipitation in tropical and subtropical areas.
TRMM is a joint project between Japan and the
United States, where Japan developed the
Launched in January 2009,
Precipitation Radar (PR), while NASA developed the models. In addition, observation of methane, Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite
(GOSAT) will enable the precise
spacecraft, four additional observation instruments, another Greenhouse gas, has been considered. monitoring of the density of carbon
dioxide by combining global
and the satellite operation systems. Unprecedented observation data sent from space
data obtained by the on-board Japanese radar have Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM) consists with data obtained on land, and with
simulation models.
attracted increased attention and expectations, and of GCOM-W and GCOM-C. The mission aims to
is leading to further development of more future construct, use, and verify systems that enable
advanced Earth-observing equipment. Global continuous global-scale observations (for 10 to 15
Precipitation Measurement (GPM) is scheduled to be years) of effective geophysical parameters for
launched in 2013 and follow up on the on-going highlighting global climate change and water
TRMM mission. circulation mechanisms. Water circulation changes
will be observed by a microwave radiometer
Japan's Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) onboard the GCOM-W (Water) satellite. GCOM-W is
launched in 2006, has been used in the mitigation scheduled to be launched in 2011 and GCOM-C in
of environmental destruction and natural disasters. 2013. “At the moment, the mission is at a level
In 2010, ALOS has been utilized on many occasions where we can only examine the parameters like
such as mapping and observation of sea ice and ‘blood pressure’ and ‘blood sugar levels,’ but not at a
forests in addition to emergency observations level to diagnose what kind of ‘disease’ is infecting
during disasters. JAXA joined the International the Earth. Yet in the future, it will become possible
Disaster Charter to contribute ALOS's disaster for us to predict the symptoms, or improve them,
observations. through accumulating data over a long period and
continue steady research such as comparing actual
Launched on January 23, 2009, Greenhouse Gases data on the ground. We also believe that we can
Observing Satellite (GOSAT) will enable the precise provide the policymakers with data to help prevent
monitoring of the density of carbon dioxide by and improve the environmental degradation of the
combining global observation data sent from space Earth.” stated Keizo Nakagawa, GCOM Project
with data obtained on land, and with simulation Manager.
APRIL 2010 25
Japan’s industrial base is focused on a national cooperation program with the EU and Israel in
policy of national development and manufacturing training its engineers.
of advanced satellites, systems, and sensors. For
example in 2010, it was announced that the satel- China has emerged as a global space-based tech-
lites, Himawari 8 and Himawari 9 will be built by nology super power. Although China’s efforts in
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation for Japan's Mete- remote sensing of global climate change have been
orological Agency and is scheduled for launch in on micro-satellite platforms, the levels of engineer-
2014 and 2016. The Multifunctional Transport ing accomplishments are clear. From 1980 to 2007,
Satellites (MTSAT) is a series of weather and aviation China had 124 launches, while in a short three years
control satellites. They are geostationary satellites that number increased dramatically. In 2004 China
owned and operated by the Japanese Ministry of had planned to launch more than 100 observation
Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Japan satellites before 2020. The Ministry of Science and
Meteorological Agency (JMA), and provide coverage Technology stated at that time that a large surveil-
for the hemisphere centered on 140 degrees East. lance network will be set up to monitor water
reserves, forests, farmland, urban development and
Saori Ozawa, Spokesperson for JAXA commented various events. Sun Yanlai, then Director of China's
that “Japan is planning on developing hyperspectral National Space Administration expressed the goals, at
sensors in the future, however we cannot describe the 18th Plenary Meeting of Earth Observation
in detail yet...but we are in the feasibility studies Satellites Committee, to build a new generation of
level now for the LIDAR missions. All of the meteorological, resources and ocean observation
Earth-observation satellites of JAXA are designed to satellites by 2010 and to launch a small constel-
contribute to the global research on climate change. lation for environmental and resource supervision
We have established the data archiving and data and control. The constellation will consist of eight
processing systems of each one of our satellites.” small satellites. The first three will be finished by
Michael Freilich, Director of NASA’s Earth Science 2007, while the rest five will be completed by 2010.
Division stated on December 17, 2009 that “the
Global Precipitation (joint effort with JAXA and the Research and Development Growth
US) mission...will be launched in July 2015... Japan’s China is not a newcomer in developing and imple-
Global Change Observation will be launched in 2012 menting satellites. China’s Ziyuan craft flew
and be moved into the A-trains (constellation of 7 successfully in 1999 and 2000. In contrast to the
EO satellites in sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude lightweight satellites of South Korea, these tip the
of 690 kilometers above the earth) lead position scale at more than a ton and a half. China’s launch
that was designated for (OCO).” vehicles continue to grow in thrust and reliability
China China Aerospace Machinery and Electronics
In 2009, India and China indicated that they would Corporation (CAMEC) and China Aerospace and
be willing to reduce green house gases. This com- Technology Corporation (CASC) build the Fengyun
mitment will allow these two major emitters to weather satellites, the Shijian science exploration
focus on their immediate need to reduce smog and satellites, the Ziyuan remote sensing satellites as
create more jobs for their total 2.4 billion popu- well as other satellite series The first EO satellite was
lations. In 2010 China had over 104 institutes and the DFH-1 launched in 1970 designed with airborne
offices dedicated to the development of sensors, and spaceborne remote sensors, covering a spec-
systems, and advanced satellites and actively had trum of visible, infrared, thermal infrared and
26 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
microwave. In 2010, China is now accomplished in
building its own sensors, systems and advanced
satellites.
South Korea
In 1989, the Korean Aerospace Research Institute
(KARI) was founded to build the first South Korean
rocket, using a solid motor. Over the many years of
South Korea's growth as a technology powerhouse,
large ocean pollution accidents have occurred many
times in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, which satellite developed by KARI. KOMPSAT-3 is
surrounds Korea. The focus has been on minor scheduled to be launched in 2012.
remote sensing, systems, and advanced satellites. In
Asia, South Korea has pursued a program resem-
bling that of Orbital Imaging. South Korea started in
1992 and 1993 with two small spacecraft, each
weighing about a hundred pounds. In December
1997, KARI developed a satellite launch vehicle with
a liquid oxygen/kerosene rocket motor of 12.5 tons
thrust. A single test launch of the KSR III planned
modular booster stage took place in 2002. South An artist view of KOMPSAT-3 &
Korean government decided it wanted to be among KOPSAT-5
the top ten space-faring nations by 2015.
India
Research and Development India is intent on going alone on space systems and
In 2006, Malaysia’s first scientific satellite, orbiting its own developed launch vehicles, sensors,
RASAKSAT, was developed with the technology systems, and advanced satellites. The Indian remote
assistance of the South Korean company SATREC. sensing program has been particularly active, flying
South Korea has developed a weather communica- its first spacecraft in 1988, aboard a Soviet rocket
tions satellite which was designed jointly by KARI and continuing since 1994 with India's own Polar
and Astrium. The geostationary satellite will be Satellite Launch Vehicle. The newest craft, called
equipped with a multi-spectrum camera and sensor Oceansat, flew in 1999, and only a few months later,
array that can help gather high quality ocean surveyed the damage done by a powerful typhoon.
meteorological data including typhoons, ocean
temperatures, and the movement of dust and cloud
formations. South Korean has a mission to launch a
satellite into sun-synchronous orbit by 2015.
In September 1994, Korean Multi-Purpose Satellite
(KOMPSAT) was the first joint spacecraft develop-
In September 2009, ISRO launched
ment project for the South Korean aerospace the Oceansat-2 with a design life of
agency KARI. KOMPSAT-3(Korean Multi-purpose five years. Oceansat-2 carries an
Ocean Color Monitor and a Ku-band
Satellite 3) is a lightweight Earth observation pencil beam Scatterometer.
APRIL 2010 27
For the past four decades, India Space Research data processing techniques, the applications of
Organization (ISRO) has launched more than 50 remote sensing data, and the development of new
satellites for various scientific and technological environmental satellite platforms.
applications like mobile communications, Direct-
to-Home services, meteorological observations, According to Northern Sky Research (NSR), EO will
telemedicine, tele-education, disaster warning, radio generate huge revenue rewards for the Asia Pacific
networking, search and rescue operations, remote region. The drivers will be the competition from
sensing and scientific studies of the space. many nations seeking to become space-faring, the
advancement of technology in sensors and image
On September 23, 2009, ISRO launched the processing, and finally, governments utilizing global
Oceansat-2 with a design life of five years. warming for political leverage. By 2020, over 180
Oceansat-2 carries an Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) new EO satellites may be launched and the market is
and a Ku-band pencil beam Scatterometer. In to reach $2.2 billion by 2018. According to NSR, EO
addition, it also carries a Radio Occultation Sounder value added service will reach $2.3 billion for a total
for Atomospheric studies (ROSA), developed by the of $4.5 billion.
Italian Space Agency (ASI). The Scatterometer has a
ground resolution of 50km 50km is expected to Sustainable climate change monitoring based on
provide accurate information on wind speed and cooperation and the development of new constel-
direction. lations that have unique sensors and systems which
are developed and manufactured in Asia Pacific can
Space is for all Nations be achieved by 2020. Tachikawa spoke that “even if
Earth observation monitoring cooperation is a project is beyond one country's capability, since
essential. The natural environment of the region space is such a large-scale field, the benefit can be
around Japan, China, India and Korea has been shared globally, and therefore, international collab-
radically affected by human activities such as coal oration is very significant.”
burning electrical plants, polluting chemical
manufacturing plants, raw materials manufacturing The tremendous growth in space-based remote
activities, and has diverse natural phenomena such sensing, systems and advanced satellites will lift Asia
as Asian desert dust, harmful algal bloom, and Pacific to even higher levels of growth and promi-
turbid water. The only answer could be the long nence.<
term satellite monitoring with active and passive
remote sensing methods. Asia Pacific nations must
focus their economic prosperity based on the
development of remote sensing technology, new
Richard Theodor Kusiolek was an early visionary of space related technologies in Northern California’s Silicon Valley
architecting Digital Battlefields and the High Tech Multimedia City. Professor Kusiolek is a Faculty Instructor with the University
of Phoenix and also a technical writer for Via Satellite Magazine, China Communications, and APSCC. Professor Kusiolek is
Senior Director of JP Technologies Ptc. Ltd. and Managing Director for TransGlobalNet LLC, a Global Management Consultancy,
specializing in Strategic and Technical Marketing Management. Professor Kusiolek served as the Senior Management Consultant
for India’s Metamor Corporation, China’s Huawei Technologies, China’s National Aerospace/Aviation Base, Beijing’s Satellite
Conferences, and as the General Manager and Director for China’s WeSoftware Corporation.
28 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
SATELLITE TRENDS
Connecting Scientists in Remote Mongolia
Mobile Broadband Satellite Service Assists Search for
Genghis Khan’s Tomb
Gerbrand Schalkwijk, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Stratos Global
“Forbidden Zone” for the tomb. The project is
supported by the National Geographic Society and
the Mongolian Academy of Science.
The 90-square-mile Forbidden Zone is one of the
Earth’s most remote places, hundreds of miles from
the nearest village. It remained off-limits to the
world until the 1990s. Only a small number of
scientists have visited the region since then.
During the first phase of the project last summer,
the VOTK project team — consisting of 19 men,
eight horses and two trucks — spent nearly a month
roaming the wilderness of the Forbidden Zone.
They spent much of that time in an 11-square mile
The VOTK project team included 19
men, eight horses and two trucks. Many of today’s archaeological expeditions are region conducting a non-destructive archaeological
dramatically different than those of the past. search. The search seeks to locate the tomb without
Instead of starting with picks and shovels, they use disturbing it, thus maintaining respect for local
exotic tools such as digital imagery, ultrasound, and customs.
unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to locate their
prize. For vital field communications, they use the This meant flying two GPS-guided UAVs, which
latest mobile broadband satellite systems. recorded extensive infrared and full-color images
over large swaths of barren land. Along with
That is the profile of the Valley of the Khans (VOTK), high-resolution satellite imagery, the team used the
one of the world’s most advanced digital archae- UAVs to scout for anomalies in the landscape. The
ological surveys that is attempting to locate the data analysis is now underway in UCSD’s high-tech
tomb of the legendary Mongolian leader Genghis Visualization Lab.
Khan. The VOTK project (www.valleyofthekhans.org),
led by University of California San Diego (UCSD) While in the field, a special ruggedized ViaSat
scientist Albert Lin, is searching northern Mongolia’s VRT100 BGAN terminal, with airtime from Stratos,
30 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
provided the researchers with critical broadband Stratos customers fully utilize The Stratos
connectivity. The BGAN service ensured safety and Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help
facilitated vital voice and data communications with keep costs within budget by monitoring airtime and
the outside world. restricting unauthorized usage. The services provide
users with cost control, firewall management, full
The summer of 2009 featured the region’s worst traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security
rain storms in 40 years. BGAN enabled the project options, easy VPN access, messaging services and
team to secure real-time weather updates to help full IP range.
accurately plan daily expeditions.
In June 2010, the VOTK project team will return to
In this type of expedition, instant communications the most promising locations in the search area and
with colleagues is critical. BGAN enabled scientists examine each one using non-invasive imaging
to transmit rich content, in a variety of media technologies. If they can identify the tomb’s loca-
formats, to officials at the Mongolian Academy of tion with some degree of certainty, they will turn it
Science and the UCSD Visualization Lab for fast over to the Mongolian government to undertake an
analysis. BGAN also enabled project leader Albert Lin archaeological excavation.
to provide daily updates to team members and
supporters via daily blog postings. At this point, no one knows if the project will reach
its goal. But, it has certainly captured the world’s
Finally, BGAN enabled the project team to conduct imagination. The VOTK project has appeared repeat-
several community-outreach video conferences with edly in print, on television and the Internet. National
public-school students in Southern California, Geographic’s Adventure magazine nominated it as
enabling the students to appreciate the latest one of 2010’s “Adventures of the Year.”
advances in archaeology first hand.
Stratos’ successful contribution of BGAN service for
Stratos is one of the world’s largest distributors of this important project showcases the service’s
Inmarsat’s BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) portability and high performance. We are also
service, a mobile satellite offering that uses grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate the
portable, lightweight terminals to provide video durability of the VRT-100 terminal and its suitability
(guaranteed up to 384 kbps streaming), high-speed for use in a variety of harsh outdoor environments.
data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity
anywhere in the world. Stratos now boasts more This innovative archaeological project is the most
than 11,500 BGAN activations by media organiza- recent example of how BGAN is providing reliable
tions, military agencies, first responders and other broadband connectivity anywhere, anytime. <
professionals in 185 countries.
From Singapore, Gerbrand Schalkwijk manages Stratos sales, marketing and channel partner relationships in the Asia
Pacific region. With 14 years of international satcom experience, he ensures the continued adoption of Stratos remote
communications solutions in the region. Prior to joining Stratos, he held senior executive positions serving all global regions for
Xantic and Station 12, both now Stratos companies.
32 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
SATELLITE TRENDS
The Mining, Oil & Gas Market
New Horizons for Pactel International
Andrew Taylor, CEO, Pactel International
Steffen Holzt, Executive Director, Pactel International
Pactel International focuses on providing satellite Pactel International provides point to point and
technology solutions in remote areas for the Mining, point to multipoint satellite communication
Oil & Gas resource sectors within the Asia-Pacific systems, enabling head offices to communicate with
Region. Companies in these industries require remotely located operation sites.
constant contact with the rest of the world —
whether they are located offshore or hundreds of The Company uses multiple technologies integrated
kilometers inland. Whether it is regarding envi- to provide reliable, customized and affordable
ronmental emission limits, operating targets or telecommunications solutions for the Mining, Oil &
accurate view of production, readily available Gas industries. The following diagrams illustrate
information is the key in any decision making how our current technology is integrated to serve
process, regardless of how far they are from the the Oil & Gas sector:
actual work site.
34 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
SAT Solutions Services Provided
Voice calls (local and international)
SMS
Voicemail
EDGE (2.5G)
Pre-paid billing
International roaming
ToIP Solutions
SAT Solutions
PactelMulti-Platform
DVB-S2 ACM
SCPC
Star
Mesh
VNO
MVNO
Services Offered
Toip Solutions
Satellite Links
Satellite Bandwidth It is recognized by Pactel that Telephony is much
Telephony over IP (ToIP )/VoIP more than the simple carriage of voice and that it
GSM Deployment requires the highest levels of service capability
Backup Lines such as:
Cellular Backhaul
Provisioning based on proven network archi-
Applications Supported tectures
Internet Access & Services Service Reliability
Distance Learning Outstanding, carrier-grade voice quality
Security/CCTV/IP Accurate and timely billing
Videoconferencing Online CDR access
VPN & Business Voice Trunks
Telemedicine Analogue FXO & FXS 2, 4, 8, 24 and 48 Ports
Digital from single E1 up to 64 E1’s
Mobile Solutions C7/SIP/H323 and ETSI ISDN Signaling
Performance reporting and management
What sets Pactel International apart is their exper-
tise and reliability in providing rapid deployment of
voice, data and mobile communications solutions,
under harsh environments via satellite within the
Asia-Pacific region.
Mobile Solutions
APRIL 2010 35
Their new, value-added services include: Your service provider has procedures for trouble
escalation, load rebalancing, network security
Tracking and monitoring the entire network from assessments and regular data backups in place.
end-to-end with 24-hour phone support Yes No
Fault management, load balancing, network
security assessments, and regular data backups Your service provider’s data centre supports your
Disaster recovery system — capable of providing requirements for physical and network security,
an instant network solution in the affected area capacity, availability, operations, and backbone
Response to customers’ changing needs — connectivity.
Pactel’s managed network services demand. Yes No
Your Current Service Provider “Health Your service provider promptly responds to your
Check” - a few tips from Pactel growing needs and changes.
Unsure of your current service provider’s Yes No
capabilities? Have a go at taking a quiz below.
Your service provider has a disaster recovery system,
Does your service provider tracks and monitors the which can provide an instant, temporary solution in
entire network from end-to-end with 24/7 Phone the affected area.
and email support? Yes No
Yes No
Your service provider has a great sales team that
Your service provider secures its own traffic and makes an effort to come and see you wherever you
manages priority traffic across other networks. are to discuss your business needs.
Yes No Yes No
Your service provider keeps you up to date with If you answer “No” to one or more of these state-
your network performance parameters. ments, consider getting a new service provider.<
Yes No
Andrew Taylor was born in Hobart, Tasmania, where he has completed a degree in Engineering. Andrew came to Sydney
for a holiday 19 years ago and stayed there ever since. He then worked in various commercial and engineering roles at
PanAmSat, Comsyst, Optus, and Telstra. In 2003, together with Steffen Holzt, Andrew co-founded Pactel International.
Steffen Holzt was born in Hamburg, Germany, where he attended a technology University and has completed 2 years of
banking and international trade training. He then spent the next 17 years working in PNG and New Caledonia in the satellite
industry. In 2003, when Pactel International was formed, Steffen has moved to Sydney. Steffen believes Sydney is just the right
place for business, focused on the Pacific Islands. Living in Sydney allows you to combine quality of life pacific style with the
advantages of a big city.
36 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
INSIDE APSCC
APSCC 2010 Satellite
October 5-7 Communications
Hilton Hotel, Tokyo, Japan
Forum
June 16
Singapore Expo, Singapore
Entering its sixteenth year, the APSCC’s Annual APSCC co-presents again the Satellite Communica-
Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications, Broadcasting tions Forum at CommunicAsia 2010 Summit this
and Space Conference and Exhibition, APSCC 2010 year on June 16 in partnership with GVF, talk
will be held in Tokyo, Japan for the first time in the Satellite and Singapore Exhibition Services.
history of APSCC’s annual events.
Since 1979, CommunicAsia has established itself to
Themed “Beyond Survival, It Is Responsibility”, be the unparalleled one-stop ICT event platform in
the APSCC 2010 Satellite Conference and Exhibition Asia. CommunicAsia2010 is an ideal marketplace
will identify new business breakthroughs ahead of bringing buyers and sellers together to seek the best
the industry and share the insights for the fast returns on investments and to determine the best
growing market and the social responsibility with value and latest convergent technologies and
leading speakers drawn from of the Asia-Pacific applications.
region. This year, APSCC 2010 will help you achieve
your goals by creating a forum where key players Into its 21st year, CommunicAsia2010 highlights the
from all markets in the satellite industry can discuss newest technology innovation in the ICT industry in
the cutting-edge topics. the like of today’s digital convergence landscape.
Products being showcased ranges from the latest
APSCC cordially invites all executives and profes- technologies in applications, solutions to hardware.
sionals in the satellite industries to attend the ses- The show has proven to be the choice platform for
sions, panel discussions, and CEO Roundtables which product launches and announcements.
are specially designed with you in mind. Connect
with each other and gain the latest information on The Satellite Communications Forum at Communic-
the Asia-Pacific market as well as business opportu- Asia 2010 Summit will focus on satellite services
nities at industry’s premier satellite event in Asia! < and connectives for the consumers, satellite based
cellular backhaul services, satellite communi-
cations developments in Asia Pacific, satellite mobile
communications in Asia, VSAT-based services and
solutions, etc. The forum will also cater to the full
spread of convergent technologies and applications
from industry leaders intended to enhance
enterprises' mobility and users' lifestyle.<
38 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
Satellite Industry News
Satellite Industry News
Satellite Business Iridium Selects Hughes to Develop ANC as Major Step
toward "Iridium NEXT"
SES WORLD SKIES Announces Fleet Rebrand February 8, 2010 - Iridium Communications Inc. has selected Hughes
January 22, 2010 - SES WORLD SKIES unveiled its new naming to develop an Access Network Controller (ANC) in its gateway ground
convention for future additions to the fleet that will leverage SES’ radio control network. The ANC is part of a multi-year plan for
global reach. Three new advanced satellites in various stages of Iridium to upgrade and evolve its gateway network in preparation for
development and construction by Orbital Sciences Corporation are Iridium’s next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT. Under
intended to replenish and expand SES WORLD SKIES’ North American the development contract, Hughes will design and supply a fully
fleet and will be named SES-1, SES-2 and SES-3. NSS-14, currently tested, turnkey ANC system, which will be integrated with Iridium’s
under construction with SS/L and scheduled for launch in Q1 2011, existing system, together with training and maintenance. Iridium
has been renamed SES-4. The C-band payload of SIRIUS 5, also under expects the ANC to be complete and operational by the fourth
construction with SS/L and scheduled for launch in Q4 2011, will be quarter of 2011.
named SES-5. The NSS-806 replacement satellite, under negotiation
with vendors, will be named SES-6. Finally, upon closing of the Globecomm Awarded Maritime Managed Services
Protostar-2 acquisition announced late last year, the satellite will be Contract from PACC Ship Managers
fully integrated into SES WORLD SKIES global fleet and renamed February 24, 2010 - Globecomm Systems Inc. announced that
following the same “SES” satellite naming nomenclature. the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Telaurus Communica-
APG2012-3 Meeting in Bangkok, 8-12 March 2010
Pramook Chaiwongwutthikul, APSCC Vice President
APT held the 3rd meeting of APT Conference Preparatory Group for WRC-2012, APG2012-3, in Bangkok, Thailand during 8-12 March
2010. The objective of APG2012-3 meeting was to review ITU-R studies related to the WRC-12 Agenda Items and develop APT
preliminary views on those Agenda Items. Almost 300 delegates participated in the meeting and wide range of subjects relating to
radiocommunication services have been reviewed and discussed among the participants.
Agenda items which are interesting among the satellite community are AI 1.13, AI1.20, AI 1.22, AI1.25, and AI7 which dealt with an
examination of regulatory provisions for BSS in 21.4 - 22 GHz, spectrum identification for high altitude platform stations (HAPS),
examination of impact from short-range devices (SRD) on radiocommunication services, an additional allocation to MSS, and an
improvement on filing process, respectively.
APG has developed preliminary views on each agenda items such as supported ITU-R studies and completion of studies, new additional
allocation should provide adequate protection to existing or planned services, but on some agenda items some APT members have
additional or different views from the preliminary views. The next APG2012-4 will be held in Hong Kong, China during 14-18 December
2010 to further develop a common proposal in preparation for WRC-2012.
40 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
Satellite Industry News
tions, has been awarded a three-year maritime managed services Hughes 9350 BGAN terminal offers high- performance mobile
contract from Singapore based PACC Ship Managers Pte. Ltd. connectivity at data rates of up to 400 kbps, even in the most
Pursuant to the terms set forth in the contract, Telaurus will demanding environments. It comes as a complete, mobile
provide maritime fleet broadband terminals (FB500) and its communications package including a broadband satellite IP
se@COMM(R) maritime communications platform to thirty terminal and tracking antenna.
vessels trading worldwide. The se@COMM(R) end-to-end
solution manages the communication needs of a vessel master Sea Launch Receives Court Approval for Additional
and shipping company. The latest release of se@COMM(R) not Financing
only provides a highly functional email solution for both the March 18, 2010 - Sea Launch received final approval on March 17
ship's business and crew use, but also effectively controls from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware on its motion to
broadband connectivity so that the ship manager does not incur secure a second tranche of debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing
expensive charges due to unnecessary or non-approved data in the amount of $12 million from Space Launch Services, LLC
connections. (SLS). SLS also provided the first tranche of DIP financing in the
amount of $12.5 million to Sea Launch, pursuant to an earlier
Glowlink Announces New Satellite Spectrum court order dated December 3, 2009. Sea Launch received interim
Monitoring System approval from the court earlier this month for this second
February 26, 2010 - Glowlink announced an ultra wideband tranche of the DIP credit facility, which is providing working
satellite spectrum monitoring system. The new product, Model capital for continued Sea Launch operations while the company
1010, has an instantaneous front-end bandwidth up to 180 MHz proceeds through its Chapter 11 reorganization. Sea Launch is
and incorporates the company's patented and cutting-edge DSP planning to submit its Plan of Reorganization to the court shortly,
technologies. The Model 1010 vastly improves the ability of as a step toward emerging from Chapter 11 status. Space Launch
satellite owners and users to monitor ultra wide-bandwidth Services is providing financing to Sea Launch in collaboration
carriers, and to detect and identify tough interferences. with Excalibur Almaz, and is working to provide exit financing, as
well as equity investment in a reorganized Sea Launch.
Hughes Delivers Mobile Broadband Satellite IP
Terminals to JSAT Mobile Communications Satellite Broadcasting
March 15, 2010 - Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES)
announced that its advanced 9350 BGAN mobile satellite SkyLife Signs Contract with Nagravision for HD
terminals are now being delivered to JSAT Mobile Communica- February 16, 2010 - Nagravision announced that its NAGRA
tions of Japan who, in turn, is providing them for the National Media ACCESS conditional access system (CAS) was selected by
Police Agency of Japan. The terminals are being used for SkyLife, the sole DTH pay TV service provider in Korea with 2.4
communications-on-the-move to broadcast real-time videos of million subscribers to secure their new HD platform. SkyLife, one
emergency situations and natural disasters to police of the largest and most advanced DTH operators in Asia, is
headquarters. Fully type-approved for operation over Inmarsat’s aggressively migrating from SD to HD by implementing the
Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) satellite service, the state-of-the-art, feature-rich NAGRA Media ACCESS solution.
42 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
Satellite Industry News
RAI Launches New Italian Channel on AsiaSat 5 further demonstrates Proton’s capability to launch multiple
February 17, 2010 - NewCo Rai International has launched a new spacecraft.
Italian language channel “Yes Italia” to Asia. This new 24-hour
channel is available free to air on AsiaSat 5, offering a variety of OHO-1 satellite to be Launched by Arianespace
content on Italy’s artistic, cultural and environmental heritage to March 1, 2010 - OverHorizon has chosen Arianespace to launch
television viewers across the Asia Pacific region. Yes Italia is its first communications satellite, OHO-1. OHO-1 will be
developed and distributed by NewCo Rai International, a launched into geostationary transfer orbit in mid-2012, using an
subsidiary of Italian public broadcaster Rai. Ariane 5 launcher from the Guiana Space Center. The satellite
will be built jointly by Orbital Sciences Corporation and Thales
GlobeCast Beefs up Asian Capacity for Channel Alenia Space, using the Star 2.3 platform. OHO-1 will weigh
Launches and 2010 Sport Events about 3,200 kg at launch, and will incorporate a Ku-band
March 9, 2010 - GlobeCast has signed a deal for an additional regenerative payload for two-way broadband communications
full transponder on the AsiaSat 5 (formerly AsiaSat 2) satellite with small terminals.
for permanent and adhoc clients. The increased capacity on
AsiaSat 5 will first of all serve to meet coverage needs at major ILS Proton to Launch Intelsat 21 and Intelsat 23
live news and sporting events slated in 2010 such as the World March 15, 2010 - International Launch Services (ILS) announced
Cup in South Africa, Asian Games, G20 Summit in Korea, and two firm missions with the ILS Proton launches of the Intelsat 21
Commonwealth Games in India. The transponder will also be satellite and the Intelsat 23 satellite for Intelsat S.A. The Intelsat
used to launch permanent channels, which will be uplinked from 21 satellite, weighing 6,300 kg, will be built on the Boeing 702B
Jordan Media City in Amman and linked to the rest of the world platform and will be launched aboard an ILS Proton utilizing a
via GlobeCast°Øs worldwide satellite and fiber network. 65,000 km super-synchronous transfer orbit. Intelsat 21 will
replace Intelsat 9 located at 302 degrees East and will provide C-
Space and Launch and Ku-band capacity for broadband, video and voice
applications with coverage over the Americas and Europe. The
ILS and SES Announce the ILS Proton Launch of Intelsat 23 satellite, weighing 2,730 kg, will be built on the
SES-3 in 2011 Orbital Star 2.4E platform with an ILS Proton providing a direct
February 11, 2010 - International Launch Services (ILS) and SES injection into geostationary orbit. Intelsat 23 will provide
announced the ILS Proton launch of the SES-3 satellite with the communications services for the Americas, Europe and Africa
Kazsat-2 telecommunications satellite in 2011. SES-3, the third with C- and Ku-band coverage at 307 degrees East.<
in SES’s multi-satellite procurement agreement with Orbital
Sciences, will mark the fifth SES mission for ILS/Proton in
2010-11. SES-3 is intended to replace existing spacecraft over
More News?
the Americas. The mission for the launch of SES-3 with Proton
Check out www.apscc.or.kr now.
will be to insert the three-ton satellite into geostationary
transfer orbit. This agreement for the shared launch of SES-3
44 APSCC Quarterly Newsletter
APSCC Membership
Why APSCC?
A voice, a vision for the Asia-Pacific
APSCC is a non-profit international association representing all sectors of satellite and/or space-related
industries, including private and public companies, government ministries and agencies, and academic and
research entities. From its establishment in 1994, APSCC has served the satellite and space community in a
myriad of capacities.
APSCC works to develop, expedite and broaden the distribution of new services via satellite in the Asia-Pacific
region. APSCC also assists in the formulation of recommendations on policies, regulations and technical
standards within the region and around the world. From its publications to its events, APSCC provides its
constituents with the support and tools they need to flourish in their respective fields.
Overall, APSCC’s most important function is to bring together the various entities in the community for
communication and cooperation, and APSCC achieves this objective through its membership. APSCC currently
has more than 110 members from over 32 countries world wide, and the membership list is growing larger at
all the time.
Join APSCC Now!
Get connected with the strongest satellite network
APSCC membership consists of Platinum, Gold, Regular, Affiliate, and Individual Members. Members are
chosen from among the most prominent people and organizations in several space- and satellite-related
fields, including manufacturers, launch service providers, satellite service providers, satellite risk management
companies, telecom carriers, broadcasters, and government organization from Asia, Europe, Australia and
North America. Together, the members comprise one of the most powerful global networks of its kind.
APSCC Membership is open to any government body, public and private organization, association, or
corporation that is involved in satellite services, broadcasting, manufacturing, launch services, risk
management or associate fields such as data-casting, informatics, multi-media, telecommunications, and
other outer space-related activities with interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
Networking Opportunity Representation Facilitation Promotion Information Events Publications
Contact us at info@apscc.or.kr
Be an APSCC Member and enjoy the benefits and privileges
If you would like to find out more information on APSCC Membership, please contact:
Chloe Song, Membership & External Relations
Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC)
Tel: +82 31 783 6244 Fax: +82 31 783 6249 Website: www.apscc.or.kr
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
APRIL
12-15 NAB Show Las Vegas, USA
www.nabshow.com
12-15 SatCom Africa 2010 Johannesburg, South Africa
www.terrapinn.com/2010/satcomza/
21 Australasia Satellite Forum Sydney, Australia
http://talksatellite.com/ASF%202010.htm
JUNE
14 CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum Singapore
www.casbaa.com
16 Satellite Communications Forum Singapore
http://www.communicasia.com/main.htm
15-18 CommunicAsia 2010 Singapore
http://www.communicasia.com/main.htm
SEPTEMBER
6-9 World Satellite Business Week Paris, France
http://www.satellite-business.com/
O C TO B E R
5-7 APSCC 2010 Satellite Conference & Exhibition Tokyo, Japan
www.apscc.or.kr
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APSCC Newsletter - A Great Way to Advertise
With a vast international circulation that includes the most prominent members of the satellite, space and communications communities, APSCC Newsletter is seen by an
elite readership of industry professionals around the Asia-Pacific and globally.
Your message will reach the right people. Advertising in APSCC Newsletter is a cost-effective way to reach your potential clients and business partners. APSCC
Newsletter can bring your company to the attention of key personnel in the satellite and space technologies, telecommunications and broadcasting industries. We offer you
exclusive contact with people in the government, academic and industry sectors.
APRIL 2010
Advertiser Page
THAICOM Inside front cover
GMV 2
Glowlink 11
AAE Sytems 15
SES WORLD SKIES 17
Arianespace 21
Space News 29
Content Asia 31
Space Systems/Loral 33
talkSatellite 37
CommunicAsia 2010 39
ABS 41
Satellite TODAY 43
International Satellite Directory 45
APSCC 46
NSR Inside back cover
KT Back cover
APSCC is a non-profit, international regional association representing all sectors of Editorials and Inquiries
satellite and space related industries. APSCC membership is open to any government body,
Anna Kim, Editor
public and private organization, association, or corporation that is involved in satellite
Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council
services, broadcasting, manufacturing, launch services, risk management or associate
Suite T-1602, Poonglim Iwantplus
fields such as datacasting, informatics, multi-media, telecommunications, and other outer 255-1 Seohyun-dong, Bundang-gu
space-related activities with interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Seongnam, Kyunggi-do, 463-862 Korea
Tel: +82-31-783-6244 / Fax: +82-31-783-6249
APSCC aims to exchange views and ideas on technologies, systems, policies and outer
E-mail: info@apscc.or.kr / Website: www.apscc.or.kr
space activities in general along with satellite communications including broadcasting for
the betterment of the Asia-Pacific region. Conferences, forums, workshops, summits,
APSCC Newsletter is a publication of the Asia -Pacific Satellite Communications Council. It
symposiums, and exhibitions are organized through regional coordination in order to is published quarterly in January, April, July and October. The contents of this publication
discuss issues that affect the industries and to promote and accelerate the efficient may not be reproduced, either in whole or in part without, prior written permission from
introduction of outer space activities, new services and businesses via satellites. the editor. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and are not
necessarily supported by APSCC.
In order to disseminate industry related information, APSCC publishes a quarterly satellite
magazine as well as a monthly e-newsletter, which are distributed worldwide to members
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and others. The quarterly magazine and other publications are available on the Web at
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www.apscc.or.kr.