MULTIPLATFORM — Hughes Network Systems said this week that it will be a member of Sprint’s team for the recently-awarded U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Networx Enterprise contract. Hughes will provide managed network access and internet services via broadband satellite as a subcontractor in support of federal mission-critical telecommunications requirements. The Networx Enterprise contract has a minimum revenue guarantee of $50 million to be divided among the Enterprise awardees during the life of the 10-year contract.

INTERNATIONAL — Eutelsat Communications and Digiturk signed a new contract for capacity on the W3A satellite to support continued expansion of Turkey’s leading pay-TV platform. The new contract, concluded for four years, is the third signed between Eutelsat and Digiturk since November 2006 and takes to 11 the total number of transponders leased for broadcasting services by Digiturk on Eutelsat birds. Digiturk’s platform reaches 1.6 million subscribing satellite homes across Turkey and offers pay-TV services across Europe using capacity on ATLANTIC BIRD 1 for contribution links back to its studios in Istanbul.

MISCELLANY — Arianespace signed a contract with Russian space industry interests to acquire the first four Soyuz rockets to be launched from the Guiana Space Center. The company said the contract covers launch preparations and operations, as well as maintenance of the Russian systems. The first two launchers will be ready for shipment by the end of 2008, Arianespace said.

TECHNOLOGY — Philippine Multimedia Systems Inc.’s (PMSI) Dream Satellite TV selected Envivio’s 4Caster M2 encoders for its first commercial deployment of DVB-H mobile TV services in the Philippines. PMSI is currently on test broadcast with eight live channels on select Samsung handsets using the M2 encoders to support multiple output profiles and conditional access systems.