Hughes Announces First Inmarsat BGAN M2M Terminal to Receive Hazardous Locations Accreditation

Inmarsat partner Zedi Inc. places first order for newly accredited terminal

GERMANTOWN, Md. and LONDON, March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite solutions and services and Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, today announced the first BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) M2M (machine-to-machine) terminal to receive Hazardous Locations Accreditation. The Hughes 9502, a global-use terminal designed and manufactured by Hughes for operation over Inmarsat’s BGAN service, has successfully completed testing by Met Laboratories, Inc. (MetLabs), an Accredited Laboratory.1

The Hughes BGAN terminal has been certified for operation in hazardous locations where explosive gaseous atmospheres may potentially be present. The certification covers operation in environments classified as Class 1, Division 2, Groups A-D, and ATEX Zone 2, Group II, Category 3.

Gerbrand Schalkwijk, Vice President, Enterprise Energy, Inmarsat, said, “Hughes’ latest Class 1, Division 2 BGAN M2M terminal is an exciting addition to our M2M portfolio and will play a significant role in supporting global energy customers who operate SCADA networks in hazardous environments. Inmarsat is the only mobile satellite communications company to offer such a broad portfolio of global M2M capabilities and we are well positioned to support this rapidly expanding market.”

In a parallel announcement, Inmarsat partner Zedi Inc., a leading oil and gas technology and services company in the field of production operations, confirmed it is placing orders for the newly accredited Hughes BGAN M2M terminal.

James Freeman, Chief Technology Officer at Zedi, said, “Zedi utilizes the latest technologies available to reliably connect our customers’ remote sites and provide industry-leading monitoring solutions. In 2010, we were excited to announce the world’s first large-scale SCADA network based on Inmarsat BGAN.”

“Over the last two years, our team engaged Inmarsat and industry customers to outline requirements for a new M2M BGAN terminal and we’re pleased to see this terminal available for commercial delivery to Zedi this quarter. It was important to us that the terminal be small, easy-to-use, efficient, cost-effective and certified for use in Class 1, Division 2 hazardous locations. The industry collaboration and successful result demonstrates Zedi’s commitment to meet our customers’ needs for world-class monitoring solutions where terrestrial cellular coverage is not an option.”

Graham Avis, Vice President at Hughes, said, “It is evident that a significant portion of the M2M market requires terminals that operate in hazardous environments. We are pleased to announce a Class 1, Division 2-compliant 9502 BGAN M2M terminal variant.”

The Hughes 9502 M2M terminal delivers affordable, end-to-end IP data connectivity for a wide range of industry sectors, such as environmental monitoring, weather, tsunami warning systems, seismic data collection, utility smart grid applications, pipeline monitoring, well site automation, IP-camera surveillance and satellite back-up for terrestrial fixed or wireless primary site communications.

Inmarsat’s BGAN M2M service is accessible across the globe and combines performance with low latency assuring real-time visibility of critical data. It is simple for field teams to set up and integrate with bespoke applications, and can be maintained without technical expertise or training. As with all mobile satellite connectivity delivered through Inmarsat’s I4, L-band constellation, BGAN M2M operates with 99.9 per cent availability.

1 OSHA Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and Standards Council of Canada Certification Body

About Zedi Inc.
Zedi Inc. (TSX VENTURE: ZED) helps the world’s oil and gas producers be more productive, more profitable, and more sustainable through technology backed by expert consultation and services. Our 60 years of continuous operations in North America and recognition as one of the industry’s best workplaces, sets us apart in the production operations landscape. With our unique combination of award-winning automation, data management, and field and professional services, we offer solutions to our customers’ challenges and help them realize their production potential.

Zedi Inc. operates in 30 countries worldwide. For additional information about Zedi Inc., please visit www.zedi.ca.

About Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat employs around 1,600 staff in more than 60 locations around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:ISAT.L). For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com

The Inmarsat press release newsfeed is on Twitter @Inmarsatnews and corporate updates are on @Inmarsat_plc.

About Hughes Network Systems
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes) is the world’s leading provider of satellite broadband for home and office, delivering innovative network technologies, managed services and solutions for enterprises and governments globally. HughesNet® is the #1 high-speed satellite Internet service in the marketplace, with offerings to suit every budget. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 3.3 million systems to customers in over 100 countries, representing over 50 percent market share. Its products employ global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI and ITU organizations, including IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A and GMR-1.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes operates sales and support offices worldwide, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (SATS), a premier global provider of satellite operations and digital TV solutions. For additional information about Hughes, please visit www.hughes.com.

©2013 Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar company. Hughes and HughesNet are registered trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

ILS Proton Successfully Launches Satmex 8 Satellite for Satmex

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

International Launch Services (ILS), a leader in providing mission integration and launch services to the global commercial satellite industry, today announced that it has successfully carried the Satmex 8 satellite into orbit on an ILS Proton launch vehicle for Satélites Mexicanos S.A. de C.V. (Satmex) of Mexico City, Mexico.

The ILS Proton Breeze M vehicle launched from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 01:07 today local time (19:07 GMT and 15:07 EDT on March 26). Utilizing a standard 5-burn Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) mission design, the Breeze M successfully released the Satmex 8 satellite into orbit 9 hours and 13 minutes after launch. The satellite, built on the flight-proven 1300 platform, weighed nearly 5.5 metric tons at liftoff and was the 25th Space Systems/Loral (SSL) satellite launched on an ILS Proton rocket. This was also the first Satmex satellite launched by ILS and the first ILS Proton launch of the year.

Satmex 8 will replace Satmex 5 and will provide enhanced performance and capacity in North, Central and South America at 116.8 west longitude. This new high-power, fixed service satellite has 24 C- and 40 Ku-band transponders, and will improve the current continental and regional services for video contribution and distribution, broadband, cellular backhaul and distance learning.

Satmex 8 adds 45% of total capacity over Satmex 5 which translates to 94% of increased capacity on Ku band to fulfill the growing demand for satellite services in the Americas.

This was the 384th launch for Proton since its maiden flight in 1965 and the 78th ILS Proton launch. The Proton Breeze M vehicle was developed and built by Khrunichev Research and Production Space Center of Moscow, Russia’s premier space industry manufacturer and majority shareholder in ILS.

“We want to thank Satmex for entrusting us with the launch of the Satmex 8 satellite. We also want to express our sincere appreciation for the ILS, Khrunichev, Satmex, and SSL teams for their tireless work in ensuring the mission’s success,” said ILS President Phil Slack.

Satmex President and CEO Patricio Northland added, “We are delighted with the successful ILS Proton launch and orbit of Satmex 8, the latest satellite in our expanding fleet. Satmex offers fixed satellite transmission services to more than 90% of the population in the Americas, and this important addition will provide enhanced performance and capacity to our coverage areas. It also positions us well for future launches of advanced models that will mark step-change expansions in our capabilities. Our sincere gratitude goes to all those who played a role in building and orbiting the Satmex 8 satellite.”

About ILS and Khrunichev

ILS is a world leader in providing launch services for global satellite operators and offers a complete array of services and support, from contract signing through mission management and on-orbit delivery. ILS has exclusive rights to market the Proton vehicle to commercial satellite operators worldwide and is a U.S. company headquartered in Reston, VA., near Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.ilslaunch.com.

Khrunichev, which holds the majority interest in ILS, is one of the cornerstones of the Russian space industry. Khrunichev manufactures the Proton system and is developing the Angara launch system. The Proton launches from facilities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and has a heritage of more than 380 missions since 1965. Khrunichev includes, among its branches, a number of key manufacturers of launch vehicle and spacecraft components in Moscow and in other cities of the Russian Federation. For more information, visit www.khrunichev.com.

About Satmex

Satélites Mexicanos (Satmex) is a significant provider of fixed satellite services (“FSS”) in the Americas, coverage of more than 90% of the population of the region. As one of only two privately-managed FSS providers based in Latin America, Satmex (together with its predecessors) has designed, procured, launched and operated three generations of satellites over a 25 year period. Satmex’s current fleet is comprised of three satellites in highly attractive, contiguous orbital slots that enable its customers to effectively serve their entire coverage footprint utilizing a single satellite connection. (SATS)

For further information, visit www.satmex.com

Contact:
Media:
International Launch Services
Karen Monaghan, 571-633-7549 or 571-282-5195 (mobile)
Director of Communications
k.monaghan@ilslaunch.com
www.ilslaunch.com
or
Satmex
Claudia Junco or Juan Garcia-Gayou
+52-55-2629-5800
ir@satmex.com

Ooyala Introduces Video Discovery Technology for Personalized Channels; Delivers Easy Way to Publish Across Android Phones and Connected TVs

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA–(Marketwire – Mar 27, 2013) – Ooyala today announced its newest advances in multi-screen video technology for broadcasters and media companies. The new products build on Ooyala’s strong track record of innovation for companies needing to deliver premium, protected content across all screens in a way that maximizes viewer personalization, content discovery and monetization.

The new products include:

• Ooyala Discovery Guide for personalized programming guides that blend live and VOD content
• Hook, a mobile video playback application that simplifies distribution to nearly all Android devices
• Ooyala XTV Connect for playback of video discovered on mobile devices via connected TVs
• Ooyala Rights Locker for managing entitlements for linear and VOD content on a per-user basis

Ooyala will be showcasing its full set of offerings — from live streaming and mobile video to social integration and monetization tools — as well as Discovery Guide, XTV Connect and Hook at this year’s National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas, and exhibiting at MIPCube in Cannes, France, both from April 8-11. To learn more or to schedule a meeting at either show visit the events page at Ooyala.com.

“Today’s new product offerings overcome significant barriers for media companies delivering premium content online, in the critical areas of content discovery, multi-screen DRM, and distribution to mobile devices and connected TVs,” said Bismarck Lepe, president of products and co-founder of Ooyala. “These products will help our customers deliver a more lucrative TV-like experience on all screens, and create seamless connections between content and consumers.”

“Getting live video content to Android devices is extremely challenging and, as a result, some content owners have even considered abandoning support for Android altogether,” said Dan Rayburn, Principal Analyst, Frost & Sullivan. “With Hook, Ooyala is solving a major pain point for premium content owners that want to reach as many Android devices as possible. Ooyala is stepping in to solve a problem that Google has been unable, or unwilling, to address.”

Ooyala Discovery Guide Increases Engagement Through Data-Driven Personalization
Building on the success of Ooyala Discovery, launched in 2012, Ooyala Discovery Guide is a significant step forward enabling media companies to blend linear, live and on-demand content into an integrated, engaging guide experience. Ooyala Discovery represents a unique data-driven approach to engagement and revenue optimization that has been proven with trial customers to advance key business goals such as driving usage, increasing ad completions and improving ad fill rates.

Bringing the traditional grid-like TV programming guide into the new millennium, Ooyala Discovery Guide uses program schedules, behavioral data, content metadata, explicit user input and editorial controls to provide a personalized channel lineup. Ooyala’s Discovery technology uses real-time analytics and patented optimization algorithms to provide up-to-the-minute recommendations of the content the viewer is most likely to watch. In addition, Ooyala Discovery Guide includes a watch-later queueing functionality so viewers can select the programming they wish to keep on a personal playlist.

Media companies with large content libraries can use Discovery Guide to construct personalized channels that are unique to each individual viewer. Discovery Guide is designed to increase engagement and optimize revenue through personally relevant, TV-like experiences that blend together on-demand and scheduled content. Ooyala Discovery is already delivering an average 30 percent lift for current customers, and now with Discovery Guide, Ooyala is bringing this optimization capability to live content.

Hook: Easy Way to Publish to Android with Live and Linear Streaming, Ad Insertion, DRM
According to Ooyala’s Global Video Index, the share of all hours watched on mobile and tablets doubled in 2012. However, even with Android’s large install base, iPhone users watched twice as much video on their phones according to the Index.

Hook, a mobile video playback application published by Ooyala, is a revolutionary concept that combines the ease of development of the web with the robustness of a native video runtime to solve the problem of version and device fragmentation on Android. In pilot with select customers, Hook was developed to enable media companies to quickly and easily deliver premium content to nearly all Android phones and tablets (going back to Android 2.2) — a task that until now has been difficult with the limitations of Android in a post-Flash world.

“Live sports drive our network, but it’s our ability to integrate live and on-demand content that gives Pac-12 sports fans the immersive and informative experience they crave,” said David Aufhauser, vice president and general manager of Pac-12 Networks. “With Hook, we will be able to extend that experience to the large portion of our viewership that uses Android devices. Combined, the potential of Ooyala’s new offerings will be huge for Pac-12 fans.”

With live and linear streaming support, studio-approved digital rights management (DRM) technology, and HLS support to provide adaptive bitrate streaming, Hook provides optimal viewing experiences. Hook is available now on the Google Play store and, once installed, that device will automatically play video from any Hook-enabled website.

Hook was designed to be a compelling solution for publishers who are looking to deliver and monetize premium content without the high costs of developing native Android applications. Hook also supports ad insertions, most notably mid-roll ads for linear and VOD content, making it easy for content publishers to monetize their content through advertising. With Hook, Ooyala enables device-specific advertising strategies for Android as well as mobile-specific analytics ranging from video performance to viewer behavior that inform content and monetization strategies. In addition, Hook supports closed captioning to make the content more accessible and comply with regulatory mandates in various geographies.

Discover on Mobile, Play on TV with Ooyala XTV Connect
Informa Telecoms and Media reported that there will be 1.8 billion connected TV devices globally by 2016. Ooyala XTV Connect presents an easy way for publishers to take advantage of that fast-growing footprint and deliver a lean-back TV experience with video discovered on a mobile phone or tablet. With XTV Connect, viewers can send content from their iOS or Android phone or tablet directly to tens of millions of connected TVs and companion devices like Apple TVs, with the touch of a finger. By discovering content on their tablets or phones and watching it on the TV, users free up their mobile device for second-screen activity.

XTV Connect leverages DLNA technology, which comes preinstalled on most connected TVs, and AirPlay for Apple TV. XTV Connect dramatically simplifies the process for delivering content to connected TVs, giving media companies more advertising inventory in the living room. It is an integrated part of the Ooyala technology stack, so publishers can deploy XTV Connect rapidly to begin seeing the benefits of mobile-to-TV delivery.

Delivering Premium, Protected Content to All Screens
Today the company also introduced Ooyala Rights Locker, a highly scalable entitlement system that extends Ooyala’s monetization capabilities for customers that need to manage granular permissions and advanced usage rules for linear and VOD content on a per-user basis. Rights Locker integrates with a publisher’s subscriber management system to grant rights to either an individual asset, such as a live event or movie, or a bundle of assets such as a TV series or linear channel. Ooyala’s authorization system integrates Rights Locker to enable customers to manage consumers’ access to any encrypted, multi-DRM protected, or simply authorized streams.

For media companies and broadcasters requiring secure multi-screen delivery of fully protected content, Ooyala offers robust content protection to support all primary business and transaction models such as authenticated ad-supported content, subscription, rental, purchase and pay-per-view. Ooyala’s multi-DRM support meets the strict needs of major studios and enables premium content providers to deploy their complete range of service offerings across all consumer devices including PCs, mobile and tablet devices, connected TVs, set-top boxes, gaming consoles and companion streaming products.

About Ooyala
Ooyala delivers personalized video experiences across all screens and is the leader in online video management, publishing, analytics and monetization. Ooyala’s integrated suite of technologies and services give content owners the power to expand audiences through deep insights that drive increased viewer engagement and revenue from video.

Companies using Ooyala technology include Telstra, ESPN, Pac-12 Enterprises, Miramax, Bloomberg, Telegraph Media Group, Telefonica, The North Face, Rolling Stone, Dell, Sephora and Yahoo! Japan. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Ooyala has offices in New York City, London, Sydney, Tokyo and Guadalajara, Mexico. The company works with premier reseller and technology partners throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. For more information, visit www.ooyala.com.

Contact:
Press
Steve Biondolillo
Communications Manager
Ooyala
+1 408.620.0847
steveb@ooyala.com

HeyWatch Unveils HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) for iOS. And Make it Available for Android Too

SAN FRANCISCO, March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ –

HeyWatch, the pioneer in professional cloud-based video encoding, today announced the release of HTTP Live Streaming for both iOS and Android devices.

HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), the adaptive bit-rate technology developed by Apple Inc., allows users to optimize video for mobile playback by dynamically adjusting the quality of the video stream to suit the viewer’s connection speed, thus delivering the optimum viewing experience every time.

This great streaming technology was initially restricted to iOS devices, but since the official release of Android 3.0, HTTP Live Streaming has been made available for Android devices too. So, from now on, HeyWatch will offer HLS for all iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod) and also for any Android devices including Sony, HTC, Archos, Nexus, LG, Samsung smartphones and Google TV.

HeyWatch’s video encoding API provides the easiest and quickest way to integrate HTTP Live Streaming into any existing platform. Delivering great video content to both iOS and Android users has never been this simple.

HeyWatch has been the leader in high-performance cloud-based video encoding since 2006, converting millions of videos each year with an unparalleled 99.9% encoding success rate. Whether Broadcast, Mobile or Web, HeyWatch has been providing the fastest video transcoding in the cloud to hundreds of world-class customers including Tumblr, Fotolia, Unruly Media, SchoolTube, Kit Digital, Dotsub and Flavorus for 6 years.

About HeyWatch

HeyWatch (http://www.heywatchencoding.com/) has been a pioneer in professional cloud-based video transcoding since 2006, offering a powerful online video encoding solution to both startups and large organizations. Its platform enables users to encode and deliver video content to virtually any internet-connected video device on earth. Founded by web and tech lovers, HeyWatch’s main goal is to make light work of heavy video-encoding processes. With HeyWatch, tech and web companies free themselves from the headaches involved in providing online video and can devote all their energy to growing their business.

Contact: Eric Fontaine, eric.fontaine@particle-s.com, +33-676-399-518

RFS Announces RF X-TREME(TM) Base Station Antenna Platform for High-Performance Multi-Band Capability

Enables LTE Evolution and Capacity Additions With Minimal Impact on Current Network and Site Designs

MERIDEN, CT–(Marketwire – Mar 26, 2013) – Radio Frequency Systems (RFS), the global wireless and broadcast infrastructure specialist, today announced that it has developed a new base station antenna platform that will serve as the foundation for a high-performing line of multi-band base station antennas. Called RF X-TREME, the new antenna platform meets customer demand for multi-band antennas by providing high-performance triple-band capability in a compact dual-band package. By providing the highest gain for triple-band antenna size, RF X-TREME better supports multiple bands, including LTE 700, CDMA 850, PCS 1900 and AWS 2100 with no compromises in electrical performance.

Dual-band antennas do not offer enough capacity to support customers’ increasing data demands — particularly in the advent of LTE rollouts. Adding an additional antenna presents a problem with site designs and lease costs. With RF X-TREME, RFS provides the capacity of three full band antennas by orienting them side by side to achieve high gain and optimal performance in a single package. Using the entire antenna length for every band instead of the traditional method of stacking antennas on top of one another means operators can evolve from a dual-band antenna to a triple-band antenna of the same length and maintain similar gain levels. Providing full-band coverage on every port enables operators to now implement 4xRx and 4xMIMO on any of the higher frequency bands, enabling excellent cell-edge performance with 30 percent fewer base stations.

A 1.2-meter (4-ft) triple-band model will be the first commercially available option, an ideal antenna size for capacity pressed urban sites. An integrated and field replaceable AISG 2.0 antenna control unit for remote electrical tilt compatibility is also available, as well as a model without ACU.

Feedback from a Tier 1 North American operator using one of the first triple-band antennas based on the RF X-TREME platform confirms that the antenna delivers higher gain, higher cross polarization discrimination (XPD) and better vertical pattern control than competing antennas of its size.

“We made a strategic decision to design a multi-band base station antenna platform that provides a solution for capacity and LTE evolution that is completely transparent to the existing network,” said Teppo Lukkarila, RFS’ global product line manager for Base Station Antennas. “This is a different approach than many of our competitors take but we feel strongly that flexibility and performance should not be mutually exclusive choices. Operator’s need both — especially as they look to deliver demanding LTE applications. With the RF X-TREME platform, we took a very rigorous approach to both design and testing. We took no shortcuts and allowed no compromises.”

The RF X-TREME platform is also designed for low wind-load to minimize tower loading. For example, the triple-band antenna currently being used in select customer deployments is only 12-inches wide, the size of a dual-band antenna, but it adds a third antenna path.

The design features and capabilities in the multi-band RF X-TREME platform make it ideal for adding capacity and coverage to existing sites. It is also well-suited for new sites because it allows operators to support additional bands in the future without replacing the antenna. Support for LTE 700 and MIMO 4xRx diversity makes the platform a particularly good choice for current or proposed LTE sites.

As a global supplier with facilities around the world, RFS has the capacity and breadth to deliver and service all of its products, for customers of all sizes, in all regions. The RF X-TREME platform received an award at a major 2012 North American Channel Partner event for its innovation in Base Station Antenna design. RFS is currently taking orders for the RF X-TREME antennas, the first of which are expected to be available for mass market deployments in Q2 2013.

Trademarks: RFS® is a registered trademark of Radio Frequency Systems. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About RFS
Radio Frequency Systems (RFS) is a global designer and manufacturer of cable, antenna and tower systems, as well as active and passive RF conditioning modules, providing total-package solutions for outdoor and indoor wireless infrastructure. RFS serves OEMs, distributors, system integrators, operators and installers. Its customers currently include the four largest wireless carriers, the majority of tier 2 and 3 wireless carriers in North America and many of the top wireless and microwave OEMS worldwide.

For more than 70 years, RFS has provided its customers world-class service that today is backed by a global presence of nine manufacturing facilities worldwide and sales and technical support centers in 23 countries. RFS offers advanced engineering capabilities, superior field support, and expert technical assistance and training to provide scalable, flexible, future-proof and lightweight end-to-end solutions optimized across the entire RF chain. As an ISO-compliant organization, RFS solutions offer proven longevity, premium performance and unrivalled quality.

For more information visit www.rfsworld.com, or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RFSworld.

Contact:
RFS Press Contact
Paula Mennone-Preisner
Marketing and Communications Specialist
E-mail: Email Contact
Phone: + 1 203 630 3311
Cell: + 1 203 715 1595

PR Contact
Jill Colna
Email Contact
Jordan Bouclin
Email Contact
SVM Public Relations
Phone: + 1 401 490 9700