DirecTV requested a modification of its operating authority to reorient the DirecTV 5 satellite. The satellite is located at 110.1 degrees west and it operates in the 12.2-12.7 GHz and 17.3-17.8 GHz bands, the FCC International Bureau said in a public notice (http://bit.ly/KJFLD1). LightSquared is seeking a modification of its Msat-2 satellite authorization. The satellite is located at 103.3 degrees west, the bureau said. LightSquared wants to extend the license term by one year “to continue service to its customers not transitioning to its second-generation space station, SkyTerra-1, as well as to provide a backup for that satellite,” it said. Intelsat applied for a 180-day special temporary authority to continue providing fixed satellite service at 43.10 degrees west using the 3700-4200 MHz, 5925-6425 MHz, 11.45-11.70 GHz, 11.7-12.2 GHz, and 14.0-14.5 GHz bands, it said.

Comtech Systems received a $4.4 million contract for a satellite system for end use by the Brazilian military. The military will receive an upgrade to its satellite network, Comtech said in a press release (http://bit.ly/1hzJPUD).

EchoStar plans to pursue international direct-to-home (DTH) opportunities, continue going after video and broadband possibilities and focus on international growth, a Citi Research note said (http://citi.us/1eqJT3L). The note recounts a presentation this week by David Rayner, EchoStar chief financial officer, at the Global Internet, Media and Telecommunications Conference in Las Vegas. EchoStar is pleased with Hughes broadband subscriber growth, the note said. Gross subscriber additions were split 50-50 between wholesale and retail, it said. Most consumers opt for the lower-level 10 Mbps service plan and the customers are somewhat price-sensitive, it said. On the failed attempt at a joint venture with Vivendi’s GVT to offer DTH service in Brazil (CD Dec 16 p20), Rayner said Vivendi “was the one that walked away from the deal.” EchoStar “could look to different economic models from the 50-50 JV model but it is unlikely to accept a deal whereby the partner does not hold some economic interest,” it said. Hughes is targeting a 2016 launch of EchoStar 19, the note said.

EchoStar requested renewal of a series of special temporary authorities for the EchoStar 16, EchoStar 12 and EchoStar 3 satellites and an earth station. It wants to operate the satellites in the 61.5 degrees west cluster on channels 1 and 2, it said in applications to the FCC International Bureau (http://bit.ly/1cWCIC8, http://bit.ly/Kw0kCU, http://bit.ly/1cWEL9s). EchoStar also requested a 180-day STA renewal to operate its transmit/receive earth station E020248, to provide tracking, telemetry and command for EchoStar 3, it said (http://bit.ly/1cWEL9s).

Thales Alenia and Astrium signed a contract to develop the control electronics on the upper-stage engine steering system on the Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution launcher. The Vinci engine manufactured by Snecma offers multiple restart capability, “greatly increasing the launcher’s satellite orbital positioning capabilities,” Thales said in a news release (http://thls.co/Kx9Nue).

The Indian Space Research Organisation launched its GSAT-14 satellite. The satellite was lifted from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on a geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle, GSLV-D5, ISRO said in a news release (http://bit.ly/1aBHf8O). “All the important flight phases, namely, the core stage and strap-on stage propulsion, payload fairing separation, second stage propulsion, cryogenic stage propulsion and spacecraft separation, were executed as planned,” it said.

Inmarsat completed its acquisition of Globe Wireless. Inmarsat bought substantially all assets of the maritime communications services provider for $45 million, it said in a press release (http://bit.ly/1hlqTZM). Globe Wireless has an installed customer base of more than 6,000 ships, Inmarsat said.

If DirecTV fails to act on acquisition and partnership opportunities in Latin America this year, its options might be limited in the future, a BTIG Research analyst said. Brazil’s TIM and Global Village Telecom, and Virginia-based NII Holdings, “are all likely up for sale and could jumpstart DirecTV’s broadband offering at a critical time in the global communications industry,” said wireless analyst Walter Piecyk in a BTIG blog post (http://bit.ly/1cLgh2W). In Latin America, wireless networks will play a more important role in enabling broadband because the wired infrastructure isn’t robust, he said. Fixed broadband penetration is 33 percent in Brazil, “but it’s still higher than pay-TV penetration of 28 percent,” he said: “This presents a risk and opportunity for DirecTV.” The DBS company doesn’t offer broadband in the U.S., but that strategy might get more focus after Verizon completes the acquisition of Vodafone’s stake in Verizon Wireless, he said. Verizon will pay Vodafone $130 billion for its interest in Verizon Wireless (CD Sept 4 p1). This could be “the beginning of a stronger push into integrated service offerings by Verizon,” Piecyk said.

Eutelsat closed on its $831 million acquisition of Satmex. Eutelsat obtained all required government and regulatory approvals, it said in a news release (http://bit.ly/1ddwfPK). The buy of Satmex is an effort to significantly upscale activity in North and South America, Eutelsat said.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) plans to launch its Global Precipitation Measurement core observatory Feb. 28 on the H-IIA F23 launch vehicle, JAXA said in a news release (http://bit.ly/19zDIND). The vehicle also will provide “launch and orbit injection opportunities for seven small secondary payloads,” JAXA said.