ViaSat Introduces High Definition Video Encoder at LandWarNet

EnerLinks High Definition Video Encoder with Integral H.264 Compression Readily Integrates to any TCDL, CDL or other IP-based data link.
 
ViaSat Inc.  has introduced a multichannel high definition (HD) video encoder that enables an IP-based data link to transmit standards-based H.264 compressed, HD full-motion video.
 

 
Designed to meet the environmental constraints of tactical unmanned systems, the EnerLinks HD Encoder is compatible with the industry's most advanced ISR sensors and can simultaneously compress one to two streams of HD video, or one to four streams of standard definition (SD) video. In addition, the HD encoder can transport KLV metadata that is time-aligned to each video frame in compliance with MISB Standard 0604.1. Integration with IP-compliant data links is low risk as the compressed video and KLV metadata are output by the ViaSat HD Encoder as an MPEG-2 transport stream encapsulated in IP over Ethernet.
 
Ground systems such as ROVER, OSRVT, and VideoScout can readily receive the CDL transmission and use an H.264 software decoder supporting an MPEG-2 transport stream to display or exploit the video content.
 
Following the EnerLinks legacy, the EnerLinks HD Encoder is I/O rich, with interfaces to provide metadata via TCP/IP or UDP/IP over Ethernet or via serial ports, two HD-SDI digital video ports, and four NTSC/PAL analog video ports. These interfaces provide the flexibility needed to interface with most HD or SD sensor systems.
 

ViaSat Airborne ISR Network Upgrade Demonstrates Very High Rate Intelligence Video Return Link

ViaSat Inc. has demonstrated a new return link waveform which could enable a nearly 10-fold improvement in the baseline return link available to current operations. Recent tests provided high data rate, continuous return link traffic using the same airborne broadband satcom network equipment that U.S. Special Forces and a variety of other intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft are operating in the Middle East. In-theater operational demonstrations of the higher return link rates are scheduled for later this year. This improved airborne ISR capability can transmit multiple full motion high definition video feeds as well as other ISR sensor data streams simultaneously from a single platform.
 

 
The development waveform project and demonstration was performed for an undisclosed government customer. Today's operations send high-resolution video and broadband data off the aircraft at speeds up to 1 Mbps. This Ku-band system enables the highest speed ISR missions operating with ultra small .3-meter antennas and meeting the regulatory performance for Ku-band satellites. The purpose of this program is to provide a path for continuous return rates at the highest possible speed while operating on widely available Ku-band satellites.
 
ViaSat mobile broadband terminals include a mix of systems operating on integrated networks for general aviation, communication on-the-move, maritime, and rail. The terminals use ViaSat patented ArcLight® technology, which enables a very small antenna to deliver improved speed and performance compared to other mobile satellite alternatives. The system connects aircraft to both private managed networks in dedicated regions and over the ViaSat Yonder® global network for mobility. While operating on the Yonder network, the systems are networked through a series of eight secure teleports that coordinate bandwidth on 10 satellite transponders. Total shipments of ViaSat mobile broadband terminals have reached 1,500 units for both government and commercial customers.

ViaSat Selected by U.S. Army to Supply Next Generation Blue Force Tracking

ViaSat Inc. has received a $477 million IDIQ contract to supply the next generation of high speed, high capacity, low latency Blue Force Tracking (BFT) equipment to the U.S. Army as part of the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) Program. In addition to being selected as the provider for this faster and more accurate command and control satellite communication system, ViaSat also received the first delivery order for $37.7 million to fund deliveries of first article and initial production terminals and other ground networking equipment.
 
Armed forces use BFT to view regularly updated troop positions on screens in vehicles and aircraft to differentiate between friendly and enemy forces. These awards signal the transition of the BFT program from a proprietary network to BFT-2, an open IP-standard communication network.
 

 
ViaSat had delivered prototype second generation BFT-2 terminals under contract to Northrop Grumman and then a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) award from the U.S. Army for system testing. The units met network capacity requirements and demonstrated data throughput that far exceeded specifications. The efficiency gain and latency reduction improve situational awareness and accuracy, and enable satellite channels to accommodate more simultaneous users and messages.
 
A variety of equipment and services are included in the new BFT-2 awards:
 
• Small BFT-2 satellite terminals for a variety of ground vehicles and small aircraft
• Hub equipment for high-speed two-way access to ground and airborne terminals
• Network Operations Center (NOC) equipment for overall network monitoring and control
• Backbone network to connect all FBCB2 NOCs into a single network for worldwide interoperability
• Integration with FBCB2 software
• Engineering services in support of the BFT-2 network
 
The new BFT-2 system is derived from ViaSat ArcLight® mobile satellite communication technology, which enables fast, efficient network access using very small antennas. The ArcLight system provides broadband communications-on-the-move (COTM) service to multiple customer classes, including the ViaSat Yonder(SM) Mobile Broadband service featuring near global coverage. Applications include Internet access, VoIP, and video for private business jets; crew and passenger broadband access for commercial and private maritime vessels through the KVH mini-VSAT Broadband(SM) service; maritime security operations by the U.S. Coast Guard; and real time video feeds from ISR aircraft.

ViaSat Fielding the Highest Performance Airborne ISR Satcom Network for the DoD

ViaSat Inc. airborne broadband satcom services and systems are now used by more DoD customers than any other mobile Ku-band system. The communications-on-the-move (COTM) systems are supporting multiple customers and missions spanning many military programs. Over 100 aircraft are flying approximately 30 airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions each day.
 

 
The ViaSat COTM systems connect aircraft to both private managed networks in dedicated regions and over the ViaSat Yonder® global network for mobility. While operating on Yonder, the COTM systems are networked through a series of eight secure teleports that coordinate bandwidth on 12 satellite transponders. ViaSat and KVH have jointly built out the Yonder satellite network that can be accessed virtually anywhere in the world. ISR satcom return (off the aircraft) channel rates operate up to 1 Mbps, while Command and Control platforms can receive up to 10 Mbps.
 
ViaSat and KVH have jointly built out the satellite network that can be accessed virtually anywhere in the world. ISR satcom return (off the aircraft) channel rates operate up to 1 Mbps, while Command and Control platforms can receive up to 10 Mbps.
 
Total shipments of ViaSat mobile satellite broadband terminals have reached 1,500. The total includes a mix of systems operating on integrated networks for general aviation, COTM, maritime, and rail. ViaSat COTM terminals use ViaSat patented ArcLight® technology, which enables a very small, lightweight antenna (12 inches) to deliver improved satcom on-the-move (SOTM) performance.

ViaSat Receives Award With $5.75 Million Ceiling (IDIQ)

ViaSat has been awarded a $5.75 million Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ), firm-fixed-price contract for tactical data link and satellite communications equipment and engineering support services from the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C. The contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy (75 percent), and the government of the Republic of Turkey (25 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program.
 

 

The contract has an initial ceiling of $5.75 million through June 30, 2011, and all work will be funded and authorized by separate delivery orders.
 
This award includes contract options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative ceiling of this contract to an estimated $29,999,500. If all options are exercised, work could continue until June 2015.

ViaSat wins $5.75M contract

Carlsbad-based ViaSat Inc.  is being awarded a $5,754,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract for technical services and equipment in support of tactical data link systems and satellite communication systems.
 





 
This contract includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $29,999,500. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (75 percent), and the government of the Republic of Turkey (25 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program.


 
Work will be performed in Carlsbad and is expected to be completed by June 2011. If all options are exercised, work could continue until June 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured.


 
The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-10-D-5105).

VIASAT to provide coverage of English premier league football

Modern Times Group MTG AB (‘MTG’ or ‘the Group’), the international entertainment broadcasting group,  announced that its TV 2 Sport joint venture with TV 2 in Denmark, will launch two new TV 2 Sport Premier League pay-TV channels, which will provide live coverage of Barclays Premier League football matches for the next three years. This follows the earlier announcements by Viasat of the acquisition of the exclusive rights to English Premier League football in Sweden, and the carriage of three TV 2 HD channels featuring live coverage of Premier League games in Norway. Viasat will therefore be the only pan-Scandinavian pay-TV operator to offer Barclays Premier League coverage to its subscribers in all three countries.
 


 
TV 2 Sport Premier League (standard definition) and TV 2 Sport Premier League HD will be launched on the Viasat satellite platform and third party IPTV networks in Denmark on Friday 13 August 2010, and will provide coverage of all 380 matches during the Premier League season. The channels will be broadcast 24 hours per day, seven days a week and 365 days per year.
 
Danish TV 2 Sport standard and high definition subscribers will receive the new standard or high definition channels as part of their existing Viasat pay-TV subscriptions. Access to the TV 2 Sport Premier League HD channel requires a Viasat HD subscription, an HD-ready TV and an HD box from Viasat.
 
Viasat’s Danish pay-TV subscribers already receive coverage of the Danish Superliga, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and French League 1, which is broadcast on the TV 2 Sport and TV 2 Sport HD joint venture pay-TV channels, or on Viasat’s own TV3+, TV3+ HD and TV3 PULS free-TV channels.
 
MTG announced at the end of March that Viasat Broadcasting had acquired the exclusive television broadcasting rights to the Barclays Premier League in Sweden for the next three seasons, and that coverage would be broadcast on its Viasat Fotboll, Viasat Sport and Viasat Sport HD pay-TV channels, as well as on a new dedicated Viasat Premier League HD channel. Viasat’s Swedish sports channels are made available on the Viasat satellite pay-TV platform and all major third party IPTV and cable networks.
 
MTG also announced at the beginning of June that Viasat Broadcasting had signed an agreement with Norwegian broadcasting group TV 2 AS to distribute TV 2’s three Premier League channels – TV 2 Premier League HD, TV 2 Premier League HD 2 and TV 2 Premier League HD 3 – on its Norwegian satellite pay-TV platform for the next three seasons.
 
MTG already had the broadcasting rights to the Barclays Premier League in Bulgaria for the next three seasons.