Leosat, developing a low-earth-orbit satellite constellation to provide worldwide coverage, appointed a new CEO (see 1503040026) and laid out plans to expand its network. Leosat will deliver cost-effective, high-speed, low-latency data network services for businesses and governments, said new CEO Vern Fotheringham, who last was CEO of Kymeta, in an interview. “It’s an extraordinary opportunity to leverage everything I’ve learned and bring the benefits of broadband wireless to a lot of markets.” Since 2013, Leosat has been developing its network architecture, spectrum planning and satellite payload, it said in a news release Wednesday. The mid-sized satellite constellation is expected to launch in 2018 with 80 satellites, although the number might rise to improve mobile solutions, said Fotheringham. The Leosat system will use a fully meshed space system, rather than the traditional vent pipe system, he said. The vent pipe uses satellite footprints and a "tremendous amount of gateway air stations" to work, he said. Each footprint of a satellite that's passed through requires a gateway for up- and downlink, he said. The Leosat system will use on-board processors in a fully meshed space system, he said. "We don't need all those gateways," he said. “This is a chance to leverage technology that has been created in the past several years to put the networking capabilities in space, rather than on the ground,” Fotheringham said. “It’s a logical next step in the evolution of our satellite infrastructure. There’s very little latency to move bits around the world when you don’t come down into local gateways the traditional way.” Leosat is relocating to Washington, D.C., in the next few months, said the CEO.

Sling TV launched a "Best of Live TV" core package for $20 a month, it said in a news release Wednesday, adding AMC and IFC to its programming. Sling has programming rights for BBC America, BBC World News and WE tv, it said. Sling added a Hollywood Extra add-on pack, which offers movies from Epix, Epix2, Epix3, Epix Drive-In and SundanceTV, for an additional $5 per month, it said in a news release Wednesday. The Hollywood Extra pack has a replay feature, so customers can watch up to seven days of previously televised content, it said. Sling will add video on demand content from AMC, IFC and SundanceTV, it said.

Kymeta, a developer of metamaterials-based satellite antenna technology, joined the Satellite Industry Association, SIA said in a news release Tuesday.

Hughes Network will provide its Jupiter system to upgrade Malaysian TS Global Network's existing C-band satellite network, Hughes said in a news release Tuesday. The ground system will offer high-throughput services for TS Global Network's satellites, it said.

ViaSat acquired EAI Design Services' product and technology portfolio to expand its high-speed networking security portfolio, ViaSat said in a news release Tuesday. EAI's rapid prototyping knowledge and 100 Gbps technology will accelerate ViaSat's deployment of high-speed platforms, it said. EAI's staff joined ViaSat to integrate its technologies into ViaSat's products, systems and services, ViaSat said.

Showtime Anytime is available to Dish Network customers who subscribe to Showtime, Dish said in a news release Tuesday. Dish customers can watch Showtime programming on-demand on streaming devices and TVs, it said. Showtime on-demand programming will be added to VOD content on broadband-connected Dish set-top-boxes, DishAnywhere.com and the Dish Anywhere app, it said.

Intelsat was downgraded to underperform from neutral by Credit Suisse Group, which forecast in an investor email Friday that revenue will decline 4.6 percent in 2015 and remain 2 percent below 2014 levels in 2016. "Intelsat faces challenges from satellite launch delays, pricing pressure, including on its EPIC platform, slower rollout of 4k distribution, government troop withdrawals and continued pressure on legacy channel and point to point services," wrote analyst Joseph Mastrogiovanni. "The company delayed several satellite launches by at least a quarter." The company's Q4 revenue was $619.1 million, and full-year 2014 revenue was $2.47 billion, Intelsat said in a news release Feb. 18. The satellite company declined to comment.

Intelsat and ITC Global will provide ground-to-ground satellite communication services to Solar Impulse during its first around-the-world solar flight, Intelsat said in a news release Thursday. The services will let the ground crew and support teams communicate from anywhere to anyone in the world, Intelsat said. It said the system uses a 1.8 meter, quick-deploy antenna to leverage Intelsat’s satellite network over the 22,000-mile, 550-hour flight.

Delta Air Lines chose Gogo to upgrade 250 planes from ATG-4 (air-to-ground) in-flight connectivity to 2Ku technology, Gogo said in a news release Wednesday. Gogo will begin the upgrade in 2016, it said. The 2Ku technology will deliver speeds of 70 Mbps, it said.

ViaSat discussed Phase II of the Connect America Fund (CAF) with Jonathan Chambers, chief, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis; Diane Cornell, special counsel to Chairman Tom Wheeler; and Daniel Alvarez, legal adviser to the chairman, on Thursday, ViaSat said in an ex parte notice posted at the FCC Monday in docket 10-90. Satellite-delivered broadband should play a “significant role” in the commission’s CAF structuring, ViaSat said. ViaSat’s satellite broadband services will be able to meet technology-neutral standards that the commission might establish “as a condition to being eligible to receive support,” it said.