MIRAMAR, Fla., Jan. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — MTN Satellite Communications (MTN), the global provider of communications, connectivity and content services to remote locations around the world, today announced it has won a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) in the category “Development of Integrated, Deployable Systems for Live Reporting from Remote Environments.” The award recognizes MTN’s CTO Richard Hadsall, NBC and the late David Bloom for constructing the Bloom-Mobile, a satellite-based mobile communications platform, to broadcast live coverage of the War in Iraq.

The concept of the Bloom-Mobile was inspired by Mr. Bloom himself in order to deliver live coverage of U.S. military forces in Iraq in 2003. MTN collaborated with Mr. Bloom and NBC over a 45-day period to design, build, commission and equip the vehicle with live television and satellite transmission equipment, allowing the Bloom-Mobile to send live, full-motion broadcast-quality video and audio as U.S. troops moved towardsBaghdad. By securing a 200-watt stabilized 1.2-meter Ku-band antenna to the back of a custom-built Ford F450 4WD diesel truck, MTN enabled NBC to provide the first live “On the Move” broadcast coverage while traveling at speeds up to 70 mph.

“With the high demand for news as it happens, it was essential for NBC to have the technology in place to relay information to its viewers, and the Bloom-Mobile made this possible,” said Richard Hadsall, CTO at MTN. “Not only did MTN make David’s concept into a reality in 45 days, we also provided the broadcast industry with a vehicle that changed the delivery of news from the Middle East. We are proud to receive this recognition from NATAS for our work with NBC and it’s a fitting tribute to David’s vision to deliver live coverage of the War in Iraq to viewers at home.”

Since the Bloom-Mobile’s launch, its presence in the broadcast industry continues to expand. The vehicle is used to cover a variety of stories including hurricanes and elections, and is leveraged the U.S. government for both tactical and non-tactical applications.

The Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards honor companies, organizations and individuals for innovative advances in broadcast technology that have a ground-breaking influence on television engineering. The awards were presented on January 12, 2012 during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.