A surge in oil prices and rising energy demand has led to increased investments in offshore drilling. These “floating cities” are expensive to build with ocean-based rigs accommodating on-site employee housing, gyms, cafeterias, and infrastructure to transport oil to shore. But once offshore drill sites are up and running efficiently, they can turn profits with fewer emissions per barrel than their onshore counterparts. Profits are only attainable if oil prices remain at a certain level. Volatile oil prices mean offshore rig operators need the flexibility to pause and restart operations as markets fluctuate.

With sites getting further and further offshore, new modes of reliable connectivity with flexible service plans to accommodate oil markets have become increasingly important. In many regions traditional cellular networks do not reach the offshore sites, making satellite the most reliable mode of connectivity. A connected rig allows operators to automate production, communicate rig-to-shore, improve health and safety of employees, and monitor for leaks or spills – all through an array of connected sensors and devices providing real-time insights. Industry leaders cited rig-to-shore logistics orchestration and remote production monitoring as the most important aspects of offshore energy operations. (Source: Intelsat 2022 Voice of Customer Survey) These are some of the many use cases enabled by reliable satellite connectivity.

Improving Operations with Remote Monitoring and Automation

Real-time monitoring becomes critical for improved connectivity as drilling operations move further out into the sea. Satellite connectivity enables real-time sensors to track drilling and production, monitoring for any changes in machinery to prevent breaks before they occur. This automated array of sensors monitors oil rig assets, collecting data like temperature, flow, fluid level and pressure to optimize productivity and identify any issues in near real time. These monitoring solutions help prevent costly machine breakdowns, safety hazards and detrimental oil spills. In addition, fuel consumption monitoring can help optimize and save money while engine room monitoring and automation can help prevent major delays and broken machinery.

Secure and Reliable Network for Rig-to-Shore Communication

Offshore drilling requires bringing many stakeholders together, from the offshore installation manager (OIM) to the supply vessel captain to third party vendors. Each of these parties play a unique and critical role in keeping the rig functioning efficiently. Satellite connectivity allows all the drilling and monitoring data from sensors to be shared in real-time with onshore employees for instant analysis, asset tracking and geo-mechanical surveillance. Reliable connectivity accommodates critical ship-to-shore communications between onshore technicians/engineers and offshore crew, allowing for remote troubleshooting and diagnostics. It also allows for the integration of corporate IT systems at offshore sites, giving crews access to the business communication systems they are already familiar with, including video conferencing, remote learning tools and crew training.

Increasing Crew Safety and Welfare

Offshore rigs have 50-200+ on-board crewmembers at any time, with roles spanning everything from managers, engineers, cooks, cleaners and general crew. Oil rig personnel can spend weeks or months in very isolated settings, away from families and friends. Reliable connectivity gives crewmembers a lifeline to their onshore loved ones, in addition to many necessary employee benefits, such as telehealth, access to entertainment, crew tracking for safety compliance and remote crew training. It also gives crews and captains access to real-time weather data to ensure awareness and preventative action around any weather threats. This is especially critical for offshore oil rigs in isolated areas prone to rough seas.

Choosing a Flexible Satellite Connectivity Service

Of the 6,713 serviceable offshore vessels, only 50 percent have broadband connectivity and there are currently 610 offshore rigs equipped with satellite connectivity, according to Harbor Research. Unconnected or poorly connected oil rigs risk the safety of their crews, less efficient operations and even unmitigated oil spills. But connectivity alone is not enough – rigs are producing increasing amounts of data and requiring larger bandwidth subscriptions to send data from sensor to shore and offer crew access to connected resources. In fact, connected oil rigs are expected to increase average bandwidth subscriptions from 21Mbps in 2020 to 200Mbps by 2030, according to Harbor Research.

Offshore oil rigs are more affected by fluctuating oil prices than their onshore counterparts because the costs of setting up and operating can be so high. As oil prices fluctuate, operators need the flexibility to slow and speed operations. If oil prices decrease too much, operations will need to be safely halted without risking costly environmental spills or the safety of the crew. Rig operators are looking for reliable communications provided through flexible subscription models from all third-party vendors to support occasional pauses in operations.

Data and service plans aren’t the only drivers in choosing a satellite provider. Many offshore rigs operate in remote locations, where reliable connectivity is crucial, but often hard to find. Providers must offer global, layered coverage with consistent uptime.

Powering Offshore Operations with Intelsat FlexMaritime

Intelsat operates the world’s largest geosynchronous satellite network, with expansion plans underway to deploy the world’s first global unified network. Merging software-defined satellite technology, multiple orbits, cloud infrastructure, and terrestrial network advancements, Intelsat will continue to enable users to experience seamless, reliable and secure connectivity, precisely when and where needed.

Intelsat FlexMaritime is a global, secure, fully managed connectivity solution designed specifically for offshore drilling needs. It removes the complexity of dealing with bandwidth availability, configuration and management of network infrastructure, giving oil rig managers and other stakeholders peace of mind. FlexMaritime delivers multiple layers of throughput where needed, even at the most remote offshore drilling locations. This award-winning, high-performance service provides consistent, “always on” connectivity anywhere in the world with unrivaled network uptime, meaning end-users won’t have to worry about a lack in service availability or quality. Delivered exclusively through Intelsat’s network of highly experienced Solutions Partners, FlexMaritime can be integrated with their innovative value-added services and world-class support to create the perfect solution for their offshore customers. And with a portfolio of cost-effective, easy-to-install terminals, FlexMaritime is the preferred solution for oil rig operators, offshore managers and supply vessel captains alike. Learn more at http://www.intelsat.com/maritime.

The post Reliable Connectivity for Offshore Energy Operations appeared first on Intelsat.

With demand for reliable and ubiquitous connectivity increasing across a broader and more diverse array of vertical markets, including heavy equipment, commercial vehicles, trains, and agriculture, satellite networks continue to emerge as a critical part of the connectivity solution and more than just a redundant backup. Across these industries, satellite connectivity is helping enterprise users embrace new technologies and, ultimately, manage their businesses with improved efficiency, profitability, and safety.

In a recent session of Thursday Morning Conversations, Via Satellite’s weekly interview series with satellite industry leaders, Intelsat’s Joel Schroeder offered his perspective on the drivers for next-generation, satellite-powered land mobility services. In the chat with Via Satellite’s Mark Holmes, Joel explains how the multi-orbit, high-throughput nature of Intelsat’s FlexMove is delivering reliable and resilient connectivity for a broad portfolio of customers and powering momentum for Intelsat’s land mobile business.

Unrelenting Thirst for Bandwidth and Connectivity Driving Demand

In addressing the state of the mobility market and changing requirements for satellite networks, Joel believes that the general intolerance among both businesses and consumers for an absence of connectivity, particularly given today’s work-from-home environment, has elevated interest in and consideration for satellite networks like FlexMove that can not only plug connectivity gaps but deliver connectivity at a significantly higher data rate than what traditional Mobile Satellite [CT1] Services (MSS) have delivered. Essentially, with FlexMove, Intelsat is capitalizing on this insatiable demand for higher-performing and higher-throughput connectivity and is doing so by providing managed services and end-to-end solutions, not just capacity.

Breadth of Interest Spread Beyond Traditional Markets

Regarding customer interest in the incredibly diverse and fragmented land mobile marketplace, Joel states that initial traction came from traditional markets like governments, first responders, and media organizations eager to use the platform to broadcast live from remote sites. More recently, however, interest is coming from less traditional, industrial markets like agriculture, construction, and mining, all of which are deploying connected heavy equipment, including autonomous and remote-controlled machinery, that requires uninterrupted connectivity for effective operations. In many of these use cases, satellite is not just a redundant option, as it has traditionally been, but rather integrated as one of many connectivity options.

Interest in High-Throughput Satellite Driving Unprecedented RFP Activity

The high-throughput nature of FlexMove and its ability to interoperate alongside terrestrial connectivity options has led larger enterprises to issue RFPs for satellite solutions on a scale never before seen across the industry. The demands are also evolving as prospective users are eager to leverage satellites to monitor machine operations, interact with applications and platforms in the cloud, and send and receive copious amounts of data to and from a remote asset. With autonomy continuing to gain traction in so many industries, the need for awareness of what’s happening around these assets is driving up demand for high-performing satellite capabilities with equipment that can be integrated into the asset itself.

A Bright Future for the Land Mobile Business

While land mobile has not traditionally been Intelsat’s main segment, Joel sees it as one of the highest growth potential areas for the company. Increasing demand for connectivity combined with the presence of significant gaps in terrestrial coverage means the opportunities for land mobile are essentially endless, especially as innovation continues to reduce equipment size and cost of services while enhancing the ease of use and service delivery.

Optimism Around Prospects for Deals and Partnerships

Looking ahead to the remainder of 2023, Joel is bullish on the prospects of new deals coming to fruition as the year speeds along. The team is engaged in discussion with OEMs across a range of market segments, all of whom require a connectivity solution platform that can support a much higher volume of data transmission without breaking the bank. The team also continues to engage with potential hardware manufacturers and other partner companies that sit between Intelsat and the end user to ultimately accelerate the integration of satellite into the connectivity ecosystem.

The post Insatiable Data Demands Driving Intelsat’s Land Mobile Business: Recapping Via Satellite’s Thursday Morning Conversation with Joel Schroeder appeared first on Intelsat.

MCLEAN, Va. – Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of inflight connectivity, recently started delivering Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) educational, music and arts content across the continental United States, as part of an exclusive satellite distribution agreement.

PBS is a private, nonprofit corporation, founded in 1969, whose members are America’s public TV stations. It is a multi-platform media organization that serves America through television, mobile and connected devices and in the classroom. Starting earlier this year, Intelsat’s Galaxy 16 Ku-band satellite started delivering iconic PBS content to 156 broadcast affiliates reaching an audience of nearly 50 million primetime viewers.

“As America’s largest public media enterprise, PBS trusts Intelsat to reliably deliver on their crucial mission of providing high-quality programming to their member stations across the continental United States,” said Pascale Fromont, Vice President and General Manager of Media for Intelsat. “With the addition of PBS to the Intelsat family, all major broadcasters in the U.S. are utilizing the Intelsat fleet for content delivery.”

Located at 99W, the performance and reach of Galaxy 16 into North America were key factors in PBS’s selection of Intelsat to meet its distribution needs. Intelsat’s Galaxy fleet is the most comprehensive in North America, serving 123 million TV households.

With unmatched penetration, the high-performance Galaxy fleet provides media customers with the most efficient distribution to the premier cable, broadcast, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) systems across the country.

To learn more about Intelsat’s distribution services, click here.

About Intelsat

Intelsat’s global team of professionals is focused on providing seamless and secure satellite-based communications to government, NGO and commercial customers through the company’s next-generation global network and managed services. Bridging the digital divide by operating one of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructures, Intelsat enables people and their tools to speak over oceans, see across continents and listen through the skies to communicate, cooperate and coexist. Since its founding six decades ago, the company has been synonymous with satellite-industry “firsts” in service to its customers and the planet. Leaning on a legacy of innovation and focusing on addressing a new generation of challenges, Intelsat team members now have their sights on the “next firsts” in space as they disrupt the field and lead in the digital transformation of the industry.

Media Contact: Melissa Longo – melissa.longo@intelsat.com; +1 240-308-1881

The post Intelsat Exclusive Satellite Provider for Delivery of PBS Content appeared first on Intelsat.

MCLEAN, Va. – Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of inflight connectivity (IFC), ordered a Mission Extension Pod (MEP) from Northrop Grumman Corporation’s SpaceLogistics, which will add life to an Intelsat satellite and provide uninterrupted services to many customers.   

The MEP “jet pack” will be installed by SpaceLogistics’ mission robotic vehicle (MRV) on an Intelsat satellite operating in geosynchronous orbit, ensuring continuity of satellite service for at least six years beginning in 2026. Intelsat has not identified which satellite will be serviced. Both MEP and MRV have completed critical design reviews, are in assembly and testing, and are proceeding toward launch.

“Intelsat is committed to safe and sustainable stewardship of space,” said Intelsat Chief Technology Officer Bruno Fromont. “Intelsat successfully led the industry four years ago with the first In-orbit servicing of satellites in cooperation with Northrop Grumman. The new MEP will also ensure the Intelsat mission of providing the most reliable service to our customers.”

This recent purchase continues Intelsat’s legacy of space sustainability first instituted in 2020 when SpaceLogistics’ Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-1) performed the first-ever in-orbit commercial spacecraft docking with Intelsat 901 (IS-901), extending its life for another five years. In 2021, a second Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-2) began providing similar life-extension services for Intelsat 10-02.

“SpaceLogistics shares Intelsat’s commitment to making space sustainable, and we look forward to expanding our relationship as a provider of next-generation in-space servicing with our MRV and MEP,” said SpaceLogistics President Rob Hauge.

About Intelsat

Intelsat’s global team of professionals is focused on providing seamless and secure, satellite-based communications to government, NGO and commercial customers through the company’s next-generation global network and managed services. Bridging the digital divide by operating one of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructures, Intelsat enables people and their tools to speak over oceans, see across continents and listen through the skies to communicate, cooperate and coexist. Since its founding six decades ago, the company has been synonymous with satellite-industry “firsts” in service to its customers and the planet. Leaning on a legacy of innovation and focusing on addressing a new generation of challenges Intelsat team members now have their sights on the “next firsts” in space as they disrupt the field and lead in the digital transformation of the industry.

Media Contact:

Melissa Longo – melissa.longo@intelsat.com; +1 240-308-1881

The post Intelsat to Extend Life of Satellite with new Mission Extension Pod appeared first on Intelsat.

MCLEAN, Va. – Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network and leading provider of inflight connectivity, announced the successful launch of Intelsat 40e (IS-40e), a geosynchronous satellite that relies on spot-beam technology to provide a large amount of capacity over North America for Intelsat’s commercial aviation, mobility and network service customers.

“The IS-40e high-throughput technology serves as a significant commitment to our North American commercial aviation, mobility and network customers,” said Dave Wajsgras, CEO at Intelsat. “As we continue to refresh our fleet of satellites and add capacity, Intelsat is focused on providing the best value and service for our customers and their end users. The satellite also includes a NASA payload that will be the first instrument to monitor air pollution across North America from geostationary orbit.”

The Maxar-manufactured IS-40e satellite launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 12:30 a.m. EDT. IS-40e separated from the vehicle at 1:02 a.m. EDT and Intelsat confirmed its signal acquisition at 1:14 a.m. EDT.

When operational in May, IS-40e will be positioned at 91 degrees West and deliver a wide range of services and coverage, including:

Incremental high-throughput capacity will be added into Intelsat’s commercial aviation network, providing passengers with an enhanced user experience from coast-to-coast.

High-speed connectivity will be added into Intelsat’s Flex network to support growth for on-the-go industrial operations, rapid response missions, maritime, offshore communications, inflight connectivity for business jets and government aviation.

Enterprise customers will see higher speeds and better coverage for strengthening SD-WAN and other network services.

Cellular customers will be able to leverage more capacity to deliver 4G/LTE and 5G services for rural and remote areas and where seasonal demand and disaster recovery service is needed.

In addition, IS-40e hosts NASA’s, “Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring Pollution” or TEMPO payload. Operated by Intelsat, the TEMPO instrument will monitor and track air pollution across North America on an hourly basis with the ability to stay over a region of interest during a natural disaster like a major fire or volcano eruption.

When TEMPO starts operations this summer, scientists with Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory will send commands through the Intelsat custom-built software to the instrument and instruct it on where and when to scan. Raw data from the observations will be transmitted back down to an Intelsat ground station and made available for the scientists.

About Intelsat

Intelsat’s global team of professionals is focused on providing seamless and secure, satellite-based communications to government, NGO and commercial customers through the company’s next-generation global network and managed services. Bridging the digital divide by operating one of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructures, Intelsat enables people and their tools to speak over oceans, see across continents and listen through the skies to communicate, cooperate and coexist. Since its founding six decades ago, the company has been synonymous with satellite-industry “firsts” in service to its customers and the planet. Leaning on a legacy of innovation and focusing on addressing a new generation of challenges Intelsat team members now have their sights on the “next firsts” in space as they disrupt the field and lead in the digital transformation of the industry.

Media Contact:

Melissa Longo – melissa.longo@intelsat.com; +1 240-308-1881

The post Intelsat 40e High-Throughput Satellite Successfully Launched appeared first on Intelsat.

This is the future promise of the fully virtualized satellite communications network. Within the space industry, the Intelsat team is championing this move towards virtualization and digital transformation.

In pursuit of this vision, satellite operators today are procuring software-defined satellites that can dynamically control and adjust bandwidth and deliver connectivity with a greater degree of automation, flexibility and efficiency. However, while certainly integral to the overall provision of service, software-defined satellites are only one part of the broader equation. These days, any operator can purchase and launch one of the new software-defined satellites. But without the underlying capabilities, expertise, and modernized systems to integrate them into a broader space and ground network operation, they will not be able to benefit from many of the new capabilities that these satellites offer.

To achieve true virtualization and digitization, a delicate dance must be orchestrated among key components of the network, including intelligent terminals and modems, network hubs located at ground stations around the world, and the satellites themselves. The more these components can seamlessly interact with each other without the intervention of humans, the closer we will get to a truly virtualized and optimized satellite communications network fabric.

With this knowledge as the driver, the Intelsat team is developing a highly sophisticated system that will all but eliminate the manual management of satellite network traffic, optimize bandwidth delivery based on changing conditions and evolving demands, and automatically manage the entirety of traffic flow across the network. The scalable and fully automated approach will allow Intelsat to meet communications demands dynamically, automatically, and intelligently as satellite traffic is routed between end-user terminals, satellites in orbit, and ground stations located around the world.

Intelsat’s network management system will essentially reside in the back office and behind the scenes, but the implications for Intelsat customers will be enormous.

Customers requiring broadband services around the world are in different situations and environments with unique bandwidth needs and SLAs. Some customers will be moving, others in fixed locations, and others still in constantly changing climatic conditions. Their needs and environments may change as they are consuming a given service.

Intelsat will have the capability to understand customer needs, the situations they are in, and automatically and dynamically adjust the network and service to offer an optimal service at all times.

For example, if broadband service is required on a merchant shipping vessel navigating across an ocean, Intelsat’s next generation network, enabled by our back-end infrastructure, will recognize the request and immediately set up the required service. As the ship moves across the ocean through changing weather conditions, bandwidth requirements may change as well. By dynamically managing the constant interactivity between the satellite modem on the ship, the satellite, and the network hub at the gateway, Intelsat will ensure the appropriate adjustments to the service are made to ensure users on board continue to enjoy high quality connectivity.

The advanced and modernized network management capabilities Intelsat is developing will be scalable and able to support the individual needs of thousands of customers accessing the network simultaneously across all business segments. It will start with management of the new software-defined GEO satellites, eventually expanding to multi-orbit operations that will allow for the efficient and intelligent management of resources and traffic across multiple constellations in different orbits, further enhancing Intelsat’s ability to deliver against the bandwidth needs of customers. To effectively virtualize their networks, contribute to the new vision for an enhanced user experience, and compete in the space industry of the future, all operators will need a sophisticated management system. In reality, few will have the resources, expertise, and capabilities to develop it. Deploying and integrating a modernized back-end system throughout our network will accelerate the virtualization of space and serve as yet another testament to Intelsat’s leadership in driving innovation and progress across the industry.

The post Powering and Accelerating the True Virtualization of Space appeared first on Intelsat.

Consumers today demand continuous access to high-speed connectivity across all personal devices no matter where they may be. Wireless carriers seek to attract and retain subscribers, reduce churn, and engender loyalty. Commercial airlines strive to offer a differentiated and enhanced passenger experience and ensure every seat on every flight is filled.  

In a strategic endeavor designed to further Intelsat’s vision of providing ubiquitous access to connectivity and content, two distinct Intelsat business units joined forces to help their customers meet these ambitions in one innovative initiative.

With more than 68 million subscribers, TIM is one of the largest mobile operators in Brazil and a longtime customer of Intelsat’s Networks division. GOL is one of the largest airlines in the country and an Intelsat Commercial Aviation (CA) customer with planes outfitted with the company’s 2Ku solution to deliver industry-leading speeds to support video streaming, web browsing, and other Wi-fi enabled services.

Leveraging their deep relationships and keen understanding of the market challenges each face in their respective industries, the Intelsat Networks and Commercial Aviation teams identified an opportunity to bring their customers together in a mutually beneficial partnership – and they acted upon it.

The Intelsat teams jointly designed a program that would bring together multiple technologies and elements of its next generation satellite network to enable TIM and GOL to offer unlimited and hassle-free access to inflight Wi-Fi on all domestic and some international flights.

The benefits to all would be plentiful.

For TIM, this offers an opportunity to provide new experiences to their consumers and strengthen relationships.

For the airline, the program represents a way to spend less on IFC expenses and delight passengers in the process. 

The initiative would serve as the next step in fulfilling Intelsat’s vision of enabling continuous and seamless connectivity as consumers move from their homes to offices, from cars to planes, and so on.

As the network operator and primary relationship owner, Intelsat’s Networks and Commercial Aviation teams worked behind the scenes and across business groups to bring the concept to reality, ultimately leading to the launch of the program in October 2022.

Today, TIM Black and Black Familia subscribers can access inflight Wi-Fi on GOL aircraft for messaging and browsing. Customers access the portal, click on a customized banner, enter their login credentials, and connect to Intelsat’s network. No fumbling for credit cards is required.

Along with driving higher customer satisfaction and supporting broader business growth ambitions, the program demonstrated Intelsat’s unique ability to form strong partnerships between brands and work collaboratively across technologies and business units to solve complex problems. On the heels of the successful deployment in Brazil, Intelsat is now pursuing similar engagements around the world.

The post Connecting Brands Across Industries to Create Value for Customers and Deliver on the Promise of Ubiquitous Connectivity appeared first on Intelsat.

MCLEAN, Va. – Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of inflight connectivity (IFC), has accepted the Aerospace/Aviation Mobile Innovation Award for FlexExec by the Mobile Satellite Users Association (MSUA).

FlexExec, paired with Satcom Direct’s SD Plane Simple^® Ku-Band antenna, provides government aviation and business jet passengers with high-speed, global, connectivity. The solution guarantees throughput needed for streaming, video conferencing and sending and receiving large files.

The SD Plane Simple Ku-band terminal paired with the FlexExec network entered commercial service in 2023.

Intelsat FlexExec is a multi-layered, high-throughput global network designed to serve the business and government aviation sectors. The SD Plane Simple Ku-band tail-mount terminal is a compact, high-performance terminal system designed to meet the sector’s specific needs. The ground-breaking technology of the Plane Simple antenna, combined with the flexible service plans made possible by FlexExec and offered by SD are bringing customers reliable, global, customized connectivity solutions.

“Keeping people and machines always connected while on the move is critical to business, whether on land, in the air or at sea,” said Mark Rasmussen, Intelsat’s senior vice president of Mobility. “At Intelsat, we applied our space and network expertise to create a flexible, enterprise-grade, end-to-end managed service that delivers high-throughput, reliable connectivity whenever and wherever it’s needed. And as we continue to rapidly evolve our next-generation unified network, we are positioned to meet tomorrow’s demand and beyond.”

The Mobile Satellite Users Association, a global not-for-profit organization focused on amplifying the voice of satellite mobile services users and innovators, celebrated with organizations earning satellite mobile innovation awards during Satellite 2023 in Washington, D.C.

To learn more, visit our website.

About Intelsat

Intelsat’s global team of professionals is focused on providing seamless and secure, satellite-based communications to government, NGO and commercial customers through the company’s next-generation global network and managed services. Bridging the digital divide by operating one of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructures, Intelsat enables people and their tools to speak over oceans, see across continents and listen through the skies to communicate, cooperate and coexist. Since its founding six decades ago, the company has been synonymous with satellite-industry “firsts” in service to its customers and the planet. Leaning on a legacy of innovation and focusing on addressing a new generation of challenges Intelsat team members now have their sights on the “next firsts” in space as they disrupt the field and lead in the digital transformation of the industry.

Media Contact:

Melissa Longo – melissa.longo@intelsat.com; +1 240-308-1881

The post Intelsat Wins MSUA’s Aerospace/Aviation Mobile Innovation Award for FlexExec appeared first on Intelsat.

MCLEAN, Va. – Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of inflight connectivity (IFC), completed testing of the operational and data collection system for the first space-based instrument to monitor major air pollutants across the North American continent every daylight hour at high resolution. The new UV-visible spectrometer, operated by Intelsat for NASA and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, will be hosted on the Intelsat 40e (IS-40e) satellite set for launch next month.

Known as TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution), the mission of the instrument is to create a revolutionary new dataset of atmospheric chemistry measurements from space. TEMPO data will play an important role in scientific studies of phenomena such as rush-hour pollution and the movement of emissions from forest fires and volcanoes. Scientists could eventually apply TEMPO observations to air quality alerts for people in pollution hot spots and those living with health issues.

“Working closely with our partners, we successfully completed a rigorous schedule of tests to ensure that commanding, telemetry, and mission data are flowing accurately and at near real-time speed from the IS-40e satellite through the Intelsat ground system to the Smithsonian and NASA scientists,” said Jean-Luc Froeliger, Intelsat’s Senior VP of Space Systems. “The Intelsat communications and ground system is crucial to the success of the TEMPO project, and we’re prepared for the start of TEMPO operations this summer.”

The satellite and instrument will be positioned at 91 West in a geostationary orbit (GEO) about 22,000 miles above Earth’s equator. This vantage point will enable TEMPO to monitor daily variations in ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and other key elements of air pollution from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from Mexico City and the Yucatan Peninsula to the Canadian oil sands.

When TEMPO commences operations, the scientists at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) will send commands through the Intelsat custom-built software to the instrument and instruct it on where to scan and during what times. The instrument sweeps across North America on an hourly basis and makes observations during the daylight hours. The raw data from the observations will be transmitted back down to the Intelsat Riverside, Calif, ground station and then made available for the SAO scientists for access and analysis.

TEMPO will also form part of a virtual constellation of air pollution monitors that will give global scientists a big-picture view of air quality around the Northern Hemisphere. South Korea’s Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) instrument rocketed into space on the Korean Aerospace Research Institute GEO-KOMPSAT-2B satellite. To complete the constellation, the European Space Agency Sentinel-4 satellite will make measurements over Europe and North Africa.

About Intelsat

Intelsat’s global team of professionals is focused on providing seamless and secure, satellite-based communications to government, NGO and commercial customers through the company’s next-generation global network and managed services. Bridging the digital divide by operating one of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructures, Intelsat enables people and their tools to speak over oceans, see across continents and listen through the skies to communicate, cooperate and coexist. Since its founding six decades ago, the company has been synonymous with satellite-industry “firsts” in service to its customers and the planet. Leaning on a legacy of innovation and focusing on addressing a new generation of challenges Intelsat team members now have their sights on the “next firsts” in space as they disrupt the field and lead in the digital transformation of the industry.

Media Contact:

Steve Lott – Steven.Lott@intelsat.com; +1 202-285-9590

The post Intelsat To Operate Air Pollution Monitoring Space Instrument appeared first on Intelsat.

Services chosen to deliver reliable, high-performance connectivity for citizens and organizations

MCLEAN, Va. – Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and Sure South Atlantic, an international telecommunications service provider, have signed an expanded agreement to enable Sure to improve the capability and reliability of communications for residents of the Falkland Islands, Saint Helena and Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean.

As the sole licensee providing communication services to the British Overseas Territories, Sure is leveraging Intelsat’s AgileCore UX service to expand and deliver improved 4G connectivity, enterprise broadband, quality internet, public Wi-Fi, and streaming video for all residents, in addition to supporting connectivity for military and government operations.

Intelsat’s AgileCore UX is a high-speed trunking solution integrated with managed application optimization to deliver a superior experience to end users.

Additionally, Intelsat’s service in the Falkland Islands provides the capability to combine capacity from both Intelsat geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellites and OneWeb low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites allowing Sure to deliver added levels of network resiliency and performance based on user demand and application requirements.

“Sure is entrusted to provide customers on these remote islands top-quality connectivity that is always available,” said Rhys Morgan, Intelsat’s vice president and general manager, EMEA Media and Networks Sales. “With the managed optimization and multi-orbit features of our AgileCore UX service, Intelsat is delivering an even stronger foundation for Sure to provide user-optimized solutions that are tailored specifically to meet its business and customer needs.”

“We continually seek to improve the quality of the communications we provide,” said Justin McPhee, chief executive of Sure Falkland Islands. “The efficiency and scale of Intelsat’s network provides us with the best means to serve these multiple customer sets separated by vast distances. The addition of a multi-orbit solution will help us meet our customers’ exacting requirements and enable users to become efficient in their jobs and stay in touch with the rest of the world.”

Carole Plessy, VP, Maritime and Europe at OneWeb added, “We are excited to support connectivity for some of the most remote communities on the planet through our partnership with Intelsat. Providing connectivity is about empowering a sustainable economy and enabling residents of underserved communities to finally connect to the world with high-quality internet.”

To learn more about Intelsat’s managed AgileCore UX solution, click here.  

About Intelsat

Intelsat’s global team of professionals is focused on providing seamless and secure, satellite-based communications to government, NGO and commercial customers through the company’s next-generation global network and managed services.  Bridging the digital divide by operating one of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructures, Intelsat enables people and their tools to speak over oceans, see across continents and listen through the skies to communicate, cooperate and coexist. Since its founding six decades ago, the company has been synonymous with satellite-industry “firsts” in service to its customers and the planet. Leaning on a legacy of innovation and focusing on addressing a new generation of challenges, Intelsat team members now have their sights on the “next firsts” in space as they disrupt the field and lead in the digital transformation of the industry. 

Media Contact

Farah Latif – farah.latif@intelsat.com; +1 703-973-1679

The post Sure South Atlantic Picks Intelsat to Connect Three British Island Territories appeared first on Intelsat.