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Avanti signs contract with CommCarrier Satellite Services »Avanti Communications Group Plc (AIM: AVN), the satellite operator, is pleased to announce that it has signed a five year contract with CommCarrier Satellite Services Limited of Kenya (“CommCarrier”) for the supply of satellite bandwidth over East Africa on its HYLAS 2 satellite. The contract is valued at $23.9m over five years. Established in 1995, CommCarrier has a strong track record for providing satellite data services in the region for major customers and with other large partners. The capacity purchased will be used for a combination of cellular backhaul services, consumer and enterprise broadband and government services. Anjum Chaudry, CommCarrier Chairman said: “The recent cable cut in Kenya shows how urgently Avanti’s HYLAS 2 capacity is needed here and we are certain that demand for the entire East African HYLAS 2 capacity can be filled very quickly. The launch of Avanti’s HYLAS 2 satellite will provide a major boost to the region’s infrastructure development goals both in the near and medium term. Avanti has the right technology and business model for this market and we are very pleased to work with them.” David Williams, CEO of Avanti, said: “East Africa is a fantastic market for our services and I am pleased to see the demand beginning to turn into large contracts. CommCarrier is a credible and well connected partner for the region and we are working together already on additional prospective business.” For further information please contact:  Avanti Communications Group Plc   David Williams / Sean Watherston Tel: +44 (0)20 7749 1600     Cenkos Securities plc Nicholas Wells (Nomad) / Julian Morse (Sales) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7397 8900     Jefferies International Limited Julian Smith / Thomas Rider Tel: +44 (0) 20 7029 8000     Redleaf Polhill Emma Kane / Paul Dulieu Tel: +44 (0) 20 7566 6700 About AvantiAvanti sells satellite data communications services to telecoms companies which use them to supply residential, enterprise and institutional users Avanti's first satellite called HYLAS 1, launched on November 26th 2010 and is the first superfast broadband satellite launched in Europe Avanti's second satellite, called HYLAS 2, is on target for launch in Q2 2012. It will extend Avanti's coverage to Africa and the Middle East Avanti’s third satellite HYLAS 3, to be launched in partnership with ESA in 2015, will provide further capacity in the EMEA region 80% of Avanti’s fleet capacity will address the Emerging telecommunications markets of Africa and the Middle East 
CommCarrier Satellite Services has solutions for a variety of requirements. »Business across all industries has a need for reliable, viable and cost effective communications. Provision of such services has been CommCarrier’s remit ever since the telecommunications sector  in Kenya was liberalized. CommCarrier Satellite Services has solutions for a variety of requirements.  As a full Tier2 licensed operator the company can offer infrastructure, applications and content, both nationally and internationally. Fibre, broadband radio and satellite are frequently part of a unified solution, under a single Service Level Agreement.CommCarrier's NetSafari service is a satellite-based communications service that offers businesses highly flexible and reliable communications solutions, in both urban and rural areas. VSATs will change the way the world does business as geographical barriers are eliminated and remote or distant businesses and communities are brought even closer.You can supplement terrestrial infrastructure, and cover the “last mile” using Netsafari’s unbeatable DVB S2 hub in Nairobi.  The “last mile” can be anywhere -  in Nairobi, Rumbek, Mogadishu, Kampala or even Kigali.  You have the freedom and flexibility to establish your own private communication network, independent of any public infrastructure.At CommCarrier we understand this and we constantly strive to deliver state of the art communication tools and infrastructure directly to our customers.  We are proud to introduce our latest communication tool – Vidyo™ Personal Telepresence – that allows our customers to not only save costs on operational budgets, but also to communicate in high definition quality internally and externally from within their own communications infrastructure. Vidyo offers a complete telepresence solution portfolio for universal video conferencing from any end point, including room systems, desktops and mobile devices, over any network without requiring expensive network upgrades.  Regardless of the business or application, Vidyo’s Adaptive Video Layering Architecture (AVLA) delivers low latency HD-quality multipoint video conferencing over the Internet or wireless network. Vidyo offers solutions engineered for mid-market, enterprise and service provider deployments, incorporating multiple types of endpoints to meet business and technical needs, and industry-specific solutions. Each Vidyo™ solution is built on our award-winning software-based platform, so it is fully customizable and easy to integrate, with support for an impressive array of application programming interfaces, and affordably priced, as well.Contact us today if you are interested in saving operational costs and to create more reliable and effective communication networks for your organization!Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Streambox Partners with AST to Enable Satellite Customers to Access Streambox Live - Video Contribution Service »SEATTLE — April 22, 2011 — Applied Satellite Technology Ltd (AST) today announced a formed partnership with Streambox, Inc. AST is delighted to offer the Streambox Live IP-based video contribution service, fully integrated with AST’s suite of Value Added Services, ASTLive!™, available on the BGAN satellite platform. By downloading the Streambox Live encoding software free of charge onto a laptop field news crews and other organisations using AST’s services can now transmit live or file-based video via mobile satellite terminals.“Broadcasters are increasingly demanding a ‘pay as you go’ broadcast model to more closely map their usage to service costs,” said Mark Sykes, AST’s Airtime Director. “Combine that with new cost effective streaming pricing from Inmarsat and AST’s optimised Internet routing solution (Performance IP), which makes BGAN live broadcasts over the Internet a reality, and you have the perfect solution for all types of broadcasters wishing to relay news and events in real time from remote areas of the world using satellite IP services.”Through the AST/Streambox partnership, all video transmitted by Streambox Live users will be automatically streamed to AST’s Streambox Live Server. Users will be able to set up an account, browse the Streambox Live Server, and select videos to manage, route, and broadcast live. The Streambox Live Server adds Forward Error Correction (FEC) to the video stream and transmits the video to the customer with added packet redundancy and recovery for smooth video playout with minimal latency, and the highest-possible picture quality.Brian Raine, Vice President, Business Development at Streambox added, “This new service has had great adoption and is particularly attractive to medium and smaller sized broadcasters in emerging markets who often find alternatives too expensive.”More information about Streambox Live available through AST can be found online at www.satcomms.com.About Applied Satellite TechnologyPart of the Gardline Group of privately owned companies, AST was established in 1992 with a background in providing communications solutions to the offshore oil and gas exploration industry. Recently celebrating its 15th year anniversary, the company has enjoyed tremendous growth in providing equipment to both the land and marine sectors including provision of satellite airtime.AST currently operate on an international basis from two UK offices, with a further four offices based in South Africa, Singapore, Australia and the USA.AST contribute their success and growth to their ability to offer customers a complete ‘one stop’ service combined with hard won specialised experience, a professional approach and a thorough understanding of customer needs.For more information on AST Ltd visit www.satcomms.comAbout StreamboxStreambox focuses on IP-based, end-to-end newsgathering and contribution services. It delivers SD and HD software and hardware for video compression, transmission, management and playout. The Streambox Live™ service supplements the Streambox platform with free encoding software and server-based services for scalable newsgathering and contribution.Streambox solutions are based on the industry-leading ACT-L3 AP™ codec, which provides unrivaled performance, reliability, and quality over low data rate IP networks for fast transmission and playout of video streams in HD and SD. The company's platform enables broadcasters, government agencies, enterprises, and other users to enhance content ownership, simplify operations, and increase operational efficiencies.
EchoStar Corporation to Acquire Hughes Communications, Inc »EchoStar Corporation to Acquire Hughes Communications, Inc Combination creates a worldwide leader in satellite delivered video and broadband servicesEnglewood, Colorado and Germantown, Maryland, February 14, 2011 – EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) and Hughes Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: HUGH) announced today an agreement pursuant to which EchoStar will acquire all of the outstanding equity of Hughes and its subsidiaries including its main operating subsidiary, Hughes Network Systems, L.L.C. in a transaction valued at approximately $2 billion, including Hughes debt expected to be refinanced in connection with the transaction. EchoStar Corporation is recognized as a leader in the telecommunications industry for its innovation in satellite solutions and technology, and its broadcasting expertise. Hughes is the global leader in broadband satellite technologies and services, and a leading provider of managed network services. The transaction will greatly enhance EchoStar’s capabilities for broadband transport of video and data.Under the terms of the transaction, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Hughes’ shareholders will receive $60.70 per share without interest, which represents a premium of 31% over Hughes' unaffected closing share price of $46.43 on January 19, 2011. The transaction is expected to close later this year, subject to certain closing conditions including receipt of federal regulatory approvals. Investment funds affiliated with Apollo Management IV, L.P., who own a majority of Hughes’ outstanding stock, have approved the transaction by entering into a written shareholder consent.Pradman Kaul, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hughes, stated, "We are very pleased to announce this transaction as it brings together the two premier providers of satellite communications services and delivers substantial value to our shareholders. By combining Hughes’ operational strength and proven record of customer satisfaction with EchoStar’s expertise in cutting edge satellite video technology, customers will benefit significantly from our shared institutional excellence.”"There is a unique and compelling fit between Hughes and EchoStar," said Michael Dugan, President and Chief Executive Officer of EchoStar. “With a rich engineering culture, an extensive fleet of owned and leased satellites, and experienced personnel in communications centers around the world, the combination of EchoStar and Hughes will create a powerful leader in video and data transport.”  About HughesHughes Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: HUGH) is the 100 percent owner of Hughes Network Systems, L.L.C. Hughes is the global leader in providing broadband satellite networks and services for enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers. HughesNet® encompasses all broadband solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies. Its broadband satellite products are based on global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI, and ITU standards organizations, including IPoS/DVBS2, RSM-A, and GMR-1. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 2.5 million systems to customers in over 100 countries. Headquartered outside Washington, DC, in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes maintains sales and support offices worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.hughes.com (http://www.hughes.com).About EchoStarEchoStar Corporation (Nasdaq: SATS), provides equipment sales, digital broadcast operations, and satellite services that enhance today’s digital TV lifestyle, including products from Sling Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., EchoStar has more than 25 years of experience designing, developing and distributing award-winning television set-top boxes and related products for pay television providers and is creating hardware and service solutions for cable, Telco, IPTV and satellite TV companies. EchoStar includes a network of 10 digital broadcast centers and leased fiber optic capacity. EchoStar also delivers satellite services through 10 satellites and related FCC licenses. For more information, please visit www.EchoStar.com (http://www.EchoStar.com).AdvisorsDeutsche Bank Securities served as financial advisor for EchoStar and has provided committed financing for the transaction. Barclays Capital served as financial advisors for Hughes. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP are the legal advisors for EchoStar, with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP serving as legal advisors to Hughes.Safe Harbor Statement under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995EchoStarExcept for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements set forth above involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such statement, including the risks and uncertainties discussed in EchoStar Corporation's Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements included in its recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K and its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and EchoStar Corporation expressly disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. 
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Telkom Kenya wants regulator to repair cables
Telkom Kenya has asked the telecoms market regulator to meet the costs of cable repairs from the universal access kitty. The cost of repairs and guarding the facilities is “becoming unbearable,” said the telco’s chief executive Mickael Ghossein. At the same time the firm has urged MPs to speed up the process of making laws to curb the vice, saying it was losing up to Sh2 billion annually in copper and optic fibre cable cuts with close to Sh400 million going to repairs.

 “The cost of contracting the guards and repairs is becoming unbearable for the company. We are asking CCK (Communications Commission of Kenya) through the UAF [ Universal Access Fund] to start offering the operators funds to repair these cuts,” said Mr Ghossein.

The Fund is a one per cent levy on the annual gross revenue of the operators in telecommunications and broadcasting by CCK. It seeks to expand investments of IT services into remote areas that operators consider commercially non-viable. However, the Telkom’s request may take longer to be acted on.

A source at CCK, who is not authorized to give media interviews, told Business Daily last evening the fund is not operational. According to the source, the proposal by Telkom can only be handled by an institution to be established under the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Cable vandalism has been rising over the past few weeks, with the latest reports showing that on Monday three cables were cut in Nairobi and at the Coast. Among the areas affected in the incident were two Business Processing Outsourcing firms, Mater Hospital and a cable that carries traffic for a mobile phone service operator.

Mr Ghossein said stiffer vandalism laws would save the country billions of shillings lost to malice. “We have had a total of 342 cuts since beginning of year. Of these, 117 were copper cuts and 225 were optic fibre cable cuts, ” he said. Concern is rising about the cuts considering that the optic fibre cables cannot be reused.

“As opposed to copper which can be resold and smelted, the optic fibre cable is of no use when it is cut. We believe this could be a scheme orchestrated by some of our competitors”, he said.

Source: Business Daily Kenya,
 

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