Gilat unveiled its satellite-cellular hybrid terminal. The SkyEdge II-c Libra terminal was designed to enable mobile network operators to extend their broadband reach beyond the limits of their existing mobile or DSL infrastructures, Gilat said Wednesday in a news release. The terminal allows direct-to-home service providers to enrich their offerings by adding broadband services, it said. The terminal includes a standard receive-only antenna, low-noise block converter and a self-install option, which reduces deployment-related expenses, it said.

Iridium continued to urge the FCC to grant its revised proposal to designate 1616 MHz-1617.5 MHz for shared use between Iridium and Globalstar. After meetings with Globalstar and the International Bureau, it was brought to light that Iridium is using the existing shared spectrum without any evidence of harmful interference to Globalstar’s mobile satellite services, "and that this is occurring under conditions where Globalstar claims to be heavily using the spectrum in question,” Iridium said in supplemental comments in docket 13-213. The additional spectrum requested by Iridium would enable it “to maximize the effectiveness of its current- and next-generation satellite systems and facilitate Iridium’s continued development and introduction of new advanced services and expansion into new markets,” it said. If the FCC approves Globalstar’s terrestrial low-power service (TLPS), there can be little question that Globalstar’s use of the L-band spectrum “will be reduced and unlikely to ever be heavy in nature once TLPS is deployed across the country,” Iridium said.

Engineers for the Integrity of Broadcast Auxiliary Services Spectrum said the FCC should give no credence to Globalstar’s filing in response to Kerrisdale Capital. The filing doesn’t mention co-channel TV broadcast auxiliary services (BAS) stations concerning Globalstar’s proposed terrestrial low-power service (TLPS), EIBASS said in an ex parte filing in docket 13-213. The Globalstar filing said TLPS would be compatible with existing 2.4 GHz S-band Wi-Fi operations, “while ignoring how newcomer co-channel AWS-5 operations would avoid interference to grandfathered A10 TV pickup stations in many of the major metros,” it said, referring to metropolitan areas. The AWS-5 portion of TLPS shouldn’t be allowed inside the operational areas of record of any grandfathered TV BAS channel A10 TV pickup station, it said.

The FCC International Bureau is seeking comment on proposals to amend rules for the licensing and operation of earth stations and satellites. Initial comments are due Dec. 15, replies Jan. 14, the bureau said Friday in a Federal Registernotice. The modified rules were proposed in a Further NPRM adopted by the commission in September (see 1410010048).

SES and Global Eagle Entertainment formed a partnership to deliver global Ku-band satellite in-flight connectivity to airlines. SES will provide the satellite bandwidth for use in Global Eagle's in-flight connectivity system, SES said Thursday in a news release. The agreement includes access to the existing SES network, and to upcoming high throughput satellite spot beam-based systems, "providing significant increases in bandwidth speeds," it said.

An accident investigation board, NASA, National Transportation Safety Board and other entities will carry out a review of the failed unmanned rocket launch Tuesday that destroyed a Cygnus satellite. The satellite was launched on an Antares rocket by Orbital Sciences, which also makes communications satellites. The Cygnus satellite exploded about 15 seconds after take-off from Wallops Island, Virginia, said Orbital CEO David Thompson. The launch was part of an International Space Station (ISS) mission, and Orbital also launches commercial satellites from the island. It’s too soon to know how long the review process will take “or whether Antares and Cygnus missions scheduled for next year … will be affected,” he said Wednesday during a teleconference with analysts and investors. Orbital is “disappointed,” but not “discouraged or dissuaded from our objective to expand the Antares rocket well into the medium launch class,” he said. Orbital’s top priority will be to work to meet its commitments to NASA and “to keep open the cargo supply line to the space station of which Antares and Cygnus play an important part,” he said. Orbital’s view for 2014 remains unchanged, said Garrett Pierce, chief financial officer. The cost of facility repairs and other expenses is reimbursable by insurance, he said. It’s too soon to determine how the failure would affect plans for next year, he said. The ISS crew “is in no danger of running out of food or other critical supplies,” NASA said in a news release. “We are relieved to hear there are no reported fatalities, and we anticipate learning more about the circumstances surrounding the launch failure in the near future,” said House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, and Space Subcommittee Chairman Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., in a joint statement.

Arianespace signed a contract with European Launch Vehicle for 10 Vega launch vehicles. The contract follows a long-term procurement agreement for the launch vehicles signed last year, Arianespace said Wednesday in a news release. The launchers will enter service in 2015, it said. The Vega is suited to launch small scientific and earth observation satellites "into low or sun-synchronous orbit," Arianespace said.

The third group of four satellites from O3b Networks is scheduled to launch Dec. 18. With this launch, the company will have 12 satellites in orbit, O3b said in a news release. The satellites will be launched on a Soyuz rocket from French Guiana, it said. The satellites will be launched into an orbit that provides O3b customers "with substantial performance benefits due to lower latency or delay," it said.

SES signed a comprehensive consultancy service agreement with Qatar-based Es’hailSat. The agreement gives Es’hailSat full access “to the technical experience and engineering know-how of SES,” SES said Monday in a news release. SES will support the development of Es’hailSat’s new teleport facility, which will be designed as a modern facility providing satellite control and communications support for the Es’hail 2 satellite, it said. The teleport will be designed to allow significant future growth, “and will feature all major requirements” to provide customers with satellite ground station and platform services, it said.

Thuraya partnered with SOS Children’s Villages to provide satellite connectivity to remote communities in the Central African Republic. The agreement will help the charitable organization connect its programs “as well as coordinate emergency preparedness and response teams within the remote communities they work in,” Thuraya said Thursday in a news release (http://bit.ly/12rQbAr). Thuraya will provide public calling units, broadband terminals, SIM cards and other technology, it said.