ORBITZ — CapRock Communications — DISH Networks + AT&T — MSV + Boeing — RigNet — Amhadinejad Spouting

MOVING ON UP… AT CAPROCK COMM — CapRock Communications has promoted David Cavossa to vice president of its SATCOM Division for Arrowhead Global Solutions. Arrowhead is CapRock’s government-focused service that provides mission-critical connectivity anywhere in the world. With almost a decade in the industry, Cavossa has extensive experience supporting the government community in the public and private sectors. He had served as vice president of government relations since joining the company in July of 2007 and will now report directly to Arrowhead President Tom Eaton.

DISH NETWORKS + AT&T — Doug Allen bylined an article at Telecommunications Online that reveals the nearly hidden bit of info in DISH Networks’ recent SEC 8-K filing, stating therein that AT&T is going to end its distribution partnership with the satTV provider by the end of this year. The contract ‘tween the two stipulates six month’s notice is required when service termination is decided upon—we can all now wait and see whether or not AT&T renegotiates its contract with DISH Networks or take their business to another satTV provider. Betcha DISH Networks has already called upon DIRECTV to see what can be arranged…

MSV + BOEING — Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) announced it has reached an agreement with Boeing Satellite Systems to defer an additional $40 million of payments on the construction of the MSV-2 satellite. The $40 million deferral is in addition to the original construction payment deferral of $76 million. Deferred payments are now due by December 20, 2010, or ten days before shipment of the second MSV satellite, whichever is earlier. The construction program is proceeding as planned and is consistent with previously announced launch windows of the fourth quarter 2009 for MSV-1 and the third quarter 2010 for MSV-2.

MOVING ON UP… AT RIGNET… — RigNet, Inc. has named Brian Keefover as director of global operations. Based in Houston, Mr. Keefover will be responsible for driving operations throughout RigNet’s global organization. He joins RigNet from fellow remote communications provider, CapRock Communications, where he served most recently as director of operations, North America. Prior to that, he worked for a number of years at Schlumberger in a range of IT and remote communications roles of increasing responsibility, including working on the integration of fellow provider, DMS, into the Schlumberger family. He also worked at IWL Communications, a predecessor company to CapRock, further grounding him in the remote communications industry. Other experience includes serving as a field engineer for IDB WorldCom and as a satellite communications specialist for the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

AMHADINEJAD SPOUTS OFF AGAIN… — A somewhat unsettling news tidbit from Mathaba.Net, if you are of the ilk where impotent vocal bravado can upset your day… Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s President, has once again iterated Iranian satellites will soon be en route to space aboard Iranian rockets. He was at Kaula Lumpur’s Crown Plaza Hotel to chat with expats living in Malaysia and stated Iran’s scientific achievements, including nuclear technology, were but a sample of the nation’s capabilities. He stressed, “No one dares launch a military attack against the sacred soil of Iron today.” Ahmadinejad stated that the hands of enemies would be severed before any aggression could be launched… hide your Husqvarna chain saws and your Ginsu knives…

ORBITZ — CapRock Communications — DISH Networks + AT&T — MSV + Boeing — RigNet — Amhadinejad Spouting —