Satcoms

China Satellite Communications Corp. (China Satcom), a subsidiary of the China Aerospace and Science Technology Corporation (CASC), is aiming for a 1 billion Yuan (U.S.$148 million) Initial Public Offering (IPO) in June 2019. Despite China’s plans to almost double the size of the global space industry, fundraising is not the main objective.

Thuraya Telecommunications Company, a subsidiary of the Al Yah Satellite Communications Company, Yahsat, today announced that it has signed a Service Partner agreement with Elcome, one of the largest marine technology system integrators. Elcome will provide Thuraya’s products and services worldwide across key vertical markets.

Spanish satellite telecommunications operator Hispasat, has completed the successful installation of a hub at its gateway in Ixtlahuaca del Rayón (México) to manage the Smartellites™, hiSky terminals that offer mobile satellite services (MSS) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions through Amazonas-5 satellite Ka-band, which covers 79% of the Mexican population. Both companies signed an agreement in 2017 to jointly commercialize this solution in Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and North Africa.

Pakistan signed a space cooperation agreement with China at a ceremony in Beijing held on 27 April 2019 providing a framework for the training of Pakistani astronauts, space science and exploration, as well as the establishment of a Sino-Pakistani space committee that will discuss other cooperative initiatives in space.

ORBCOMM has announced that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has extended their contract for another year through ORBCOMM’s partner Kordia.

The UK's International Trade Secretary, Dr. Liam Fox, announced on 25 April 2019 that UK Export Finance (UKEF) will support an Airbus Defence and Space Ltd UK contract with Turksat, the Turkish communications satellite operator. Airbus will manufacture and deliver, in orbit, two telecom satellites and a ground station, which will be essential for the continued provision of TV and data services in Turkey and the wider region.

Communities in remote areas of Indonesia will soon be able to enjoy reliable broadband internet access delivered by Teleglobal enabled by SES Networks’ managed data services and the SES-12 satellite, SES announced on 24 April 2019.

Relativity, the world’s first autonomous rocket factory and launch services leader for satellite constellations, announced on 23 April 2019 a partnership with mu Space, the innovative Thai satellite and space technology company, to launch a satellite to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on Relativity’s Terran 1 rocket, the world’s first and only 3D printed rocket.

ÅAC Microtec AB's subsidiary, Clyde Space, announced on 9 April 2019 that it has partnered with ORBCOMM Inc., a global provider of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, to provide two next-generation Automatic Identification System (AIS) microsatellites that will enhance ORBCOMM's industry-leading satellite AIS service offering.

Following the successful completion of payload and bus integration, Boeing will begin antenna range testing and core testing of the Kacific1 satellite. The satellite is on track to begin service delivery later this year.