Hughes Network Systems has partnered with OneWeb, the global communications company with a mission to bring connectivity to everyone everywhere, to become a worldwide distribution partner for OneWeb and integrate low earth orbit satellite services, the company announced on Monday.

"We are entering a new era of global connectivity demand that can only be fulfilled by a mix of data transport services, including terrestrial, geostationary and Low Earth Orbit satellites," said Pradman Kaul, president of Hughes. 

Hughes will utilize OneWeb's constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to expand its service offerings and ensure the company’s customers can access low-latency, high-speed connectivity, regardless of location. Applications will include enterprise and government networking, cellular backhaul and community Wi-Fi hotspots.

"OneWeb complements our service portfolio with a truly global coverage, low-latency option that will enable our customers to meet their end users' needs for connectivity everywhere," Kaul added. 

The partnership will expand an already successful relationship between the two companies. Hughes has invested, through its parent company EchoStar, to develop essential ground network technology for OneWeb's LEO system.

OneWeb has worked with a variety of distribution partners in each of its core markets to provide new business and expansion opportunities through the low latency, global, high throughput attributes of the company’s network.

OneWeb is building its initial constellation of 650 LEO satellites. The company has projected that by the end of 2021, OneWeb will be offering low latency globally, with the same capacity over the water, in the air and  in previously unconnectable places. 

Through Hughes’ gateways, the company has started service testing on the satellites and network availability. The results have been successful, including seamless satellite and beam handovers, high speeds and low latency.

The gateways feature multiple tracking antennas to support operation and handoff of high-speed user traffic to and from the LEO satellites, and can handle up to 10,000 terminal hand-offs per second. Every OneWeb terminal, whether for fixed or mobile services, will incorporate a core module, including modem, developed and manufactured by Hughes.

"I'm delighted that Hughes is joining OneWeb on our mission to deliver this vision. Hughes is already an important investor and an invaluable technology partner, and I look forward to working together to bring OneWeb's pioneering technology to markets around the world," said Adrian Steckel, chief executive officer, OneWeb.

About Hughes at SATELLITE 2020

Hughes will exhibit at SATELLITE 2020, March 10-13, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., showcasing how consumers, businesses, governments and communities around the world benefit from the connected experiences enabled by Hughes technologies and services. 

See Hughes executives at SATELLITE 2020 for the latest technologies and solutions for GEO HTS and NGSO systems; Community Wi-Fi Hotspots and cellular backhaul; aero and maritime connectivity; military SATCOM; the latest in hybrid terrestrial-satellite technologies, and more.

Jacobs has acquired Wood Nuclear business for an enterprise value of approximately $325 million to enhance its total lifecycle nuclear services and technology-enabled solutions, the company announced on Monday. 

"Bringing together Wood Nuclear within Jacobs' Critical Mission Solutions business provides a powerful platform to support clients' complex programs, respond to unprecedented changes in the many sectors and geographies where we work and help accelerate commitments to a more sustainable future," said Jacobs chair and CEO Steve Demetriou. 

Jacobs will expand strategic support to clients' mission-critical defense and clean energy priorities, nuclear clean-up and decommissioning, environmental restoration and operational support. Clive White of Wood Nuclear will lead the new combined business as senior vice president of Critical Mission Solutions, International (CMS-I). 

Under the acquisition, Jacobs will leverage its industry leading integration approach to develop a joint Jacobs-Wood Nuclear Integration Management Office (IMO). The office will work to oversee the integration process to maximize the value of the new entity. 

Jacobs senior vice president, Pete Lutwyche, will supervise the implementation of the IMO and support its initiatives in the broader business. This purchase will provide Jacobs with more than 2,000 employees to the company’s business. Jacobs has planned to recruit 300 to 400 additional employees into highly-skilled roles into 2021.

Wood Nuclear will also expand Jacobs' U.K. employee base to nearly 11,000 and increase access to specialist talent,  particularly in locations across Cheshire and Cumbria, U.K., and expanded reach into Europe, Japan, the Middle East, South Africa and the U.S.  

Jacobs' has projected its investment in the U.K.'s largest independent nuclear research, development and testing facilities, will provide enhanced capabilities, including remote handling, cyber, inspection technology and test rig facilities.

"With our shared values, technical heritage and global reach, we are combining complementary capabilities to deliver high value, differentiated nuclear and defense solutions for our clients and greater opportunities for our people across our diverse portfolio," added Demetriou.

About Jacobs 

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. 

With $13 billion in revenue and a talent force of more than 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed amendments to the current exempt offering framework under the Securities Act of 1933 in an effort to expand investment opportunities and advance capital formation.

"Emerging companies—from early-stage start-ups seeking seed capital to companies that are on a path to become a public reporting company—use the exempt offering rules to access critical capital needed to create jobs and scale their businesses," SEC Chairman Jay Clayton said in a statement published Wednesday.

“These proposals are intended to create a more rational framework that better allows entrepreneurs to access capital while preserving and enhancing important investor protections.”

The proposed rule changes seek to address the ability of issuers to transition from one exemption to another; raise the offering limits for Regulation A, Regulation Crowdfunding and Rule 504 offerings; establish consistent and clear rules with regard to offering communications between issuers and investors; and coordinate certain eligibility and disclosure requirements and provisions for bad actor disqualification to reduce differences between exemptions.

Stakeholders have 60 days to comment on the proposed amendments.

John Whitley, who performs the duties of director of the office of cost assessment and program evaluation at the Department of Defense, said the office of DoD’s chief management officer is reviewing each of the service branch’s budgets to align them with the National Defense Strategy, DoD News reported Friday.

Whitley said Wednesday at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference that the reviews will materialize in the defense budget cycles from fiscal year 2022 through FY 2026.

He said the Pentagon had to look within to free up money to support programs meant to counter threats posed by Russia and China. Those programs include artificial intelligence, hypersonics, 5G, missile defense and nuclear triad modernization.

The Pentagon conducted a defense-wide review between August and November and Whitley noted that the department was able to find approximately $6 billion in funds to support high-priority initiatives in the FY 2021 budget.

The U.S. Air Force is slated to conclude its feasibility study that will help the service assess its need for commercial aerial refueling services, Defense News reported Thursday.

Gen. Maryanne Miller, commander of the Air Mobility Command, told the publication in a prior interview that the Air Force seeks to establish requirements for a potential contract award on tanking services to support testing and training activities.

She noted that the command plans to achieve an initial operating capability certification with a few aircraft within a year.

“The interest is high on the commercial side,” said Miller. “The commercial companies who are considering this are really waiting to see the feasibility study, which will be completed in March.”

According to Miller, privately operated tankers will not fly for combat or other overseas missions and will be used for tasks within the continental U.S.