Page 64 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Viasat And SKY Brasil Partner to Expand the Distribution and Availability of

High-Quality Satellite Internet Service Across Brazil

Viasat and SKY Brasil (SKY) announced a partnership to increase provides Viasat a strategic, local partner and channel to reach
the availability of fast, reliable satellite internet across Brazil. a broader set of potential subscribers who can benefit from its
Through this agreement, SKY will sell, install and provide on-site competitively-priced satellite internet service plans. Today,
technical service for Viasat's high-speed internet service. Viasat Viasat offers three plans: a premium plan (Viasat 30Mega),
gains a strong Brazilian distribution partner with proven local an advanced plan (Viasat 20Mega) and a basic plan (Viasat
expertise, and will help train SKY's vast network of distributors, 10Mega), with download speeds of up to 30 Mbps, 20 Mbps, and
resellers and installers on its internet service offerings. In October 10 Mbps, respectively. All three plans come with a Wi-Fi router
2020, Viasat became the first satellite Internet Service Provider and attractive features such as messaging and unlimited basic
(ISP) to offer high-speed broadband connectivity across 100% of navigation, and a free zone between 2:00 AM and 7:00 AM local
Brazil. Viasat's residential internet service for Brazil uses Telebras' time. With the launch of the Viasat 30Mega plan in October 2020,
SGDC-1 satellite bandwidth to provide satellite broadband Viasat is recognized as offering the best satellite internet service
service. "SKY is present in all cities within Brazil, offering services in the Brazilian market, allowing customers to enjoy faster access
that adapt to the daily life and different consumer needs and to daily online activities such as social networks, video streaming
profiles of Brazilians. We are specialists in offering excellent content, videoconference services, remote work, and distance
service and technical support with an unbeatable distribution education. Evan Dixon, Vice President, Global Broadband Services
network that delivers great value and a highly-differentiated at Viasat commented, "Working with SKY, Brazil's premier leader
service that can be seen in our business results on a national in satellite television, further reinforces our commitment to the
scale. We look forward to working with Viasat. This partnership is local market, and accelerates the ability to bring high-speed
in line with SKY's objective, which is ensuring all Brazilians have satellite connectivity to more homes across the country – even
access to information and entertainment," said Sérgio Ribeiro, those in the most difficult to reach locations." "This is an exciting
chief operations officer at SKY Brasil. "This partnership reinforces move for Viasat in Brazil and an important part of our distribution
SKY's strategy of leveraging its vast distribution network to offer strategy", added Bruno Soares Henriques, Viasat Brasil's
Home Services and Home Automation to increase the comforts commercial director. "Since the launch of our commercial service,
of home, while ensuring all Brazilians have access to the best we have seen the growing demand for connectivity outside of the
home services they require," added SKY President, Estanislau fiber footprint, and believe our SKY partnership will help reach
Bassols. The Viasat/SKY association is in line with Viasat's goal Brazilians who live in unserved or underserved areas where other
to offer connectivity options to all Brazilians. This partnership terrestrial services are not available."

Satellite Monitoring System Deployed in Tunisia

A satellite monitoring system of fishing vessels over 15
meters was put into operation, the Ministry of Agriculture,
Water Resources and Fisheries announced. This system is
based on three complementary components, namely a central
computer system at the ministry, 50 central and local control
rooms and terminals ensuring the transmission of data relating
to the location and activities of vessels while guranteeing
confidentiality. These terminals will be installed in 874 vessels
(that is 6.72% of the fleet), the ministry added Friday in a press
release. Sea equipment manufacturers are free to choose suitable
terminals in compliance with rules of competition. Fiscal and
financial advantages are instituted to cut the cost of operating
these terminals. A 5% premium on the cost of hydrocarbons will
be provided to cover annual operating and maintenance costs
in midland and the south where fishing sites are far from ports. of fishing sites. It will help reduce the costs of naval surveillance,
The ministry laid emphasis on the importance of this surveillance address illegal fishing and protect small fishermen against losses.
system in optimizing the safety of fishermen and vessels and The Ministry is working to set up a computer system dedicated
combating illegal fishing which threatens seafood wealth and the to sea fishing and aquaculture to ensure better services for
sustainability of the sector. This system also provides a database fishermen and equipment manufacturers and streamline human
for scientific research programmes on monitoring the exploitation and financial resources.

64 JANUARY 2021