Latest news with #PolarisProgram
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GCI Collaborates With Netcracker for Modernized BSS/OSS to Enhance Customer Experience, Improve Business Agility and Enable New Business Models
Leading Telecommunications Operator in Alaska Will Benefit From Continued Partnership Using Industry-Leading BSS/OSS Platform WALTHAM, Mass., May 13, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Netcracker Technology announced today that GCI, Alaska's largest communications provider, has extended its partnership with Netcracker to improve the operator's customer, revenue and operations management systems. These capabilities will deliver a superior customer experience, reduce operational costs through managed services and bring services to market more quickly through an automated and streamlined fulfillment and provisioning process. Netcracker will also provide a variety of hosted managed services covering mission-critical BSS/OSS processes to accelerate GCI's business objectives. The operator will continue to benefit from faster issue resolution, improved order processing time and significantly lower platform costs. "The Netcracker partnership has been at the heart of the system and business transformation that was started nine years ago with the Polaris Program," said Sean Lambert, VP of Application Technology at GCI. "Extending our partnership with Netcracker will enable GCI to focus on critical market drivers to address our customer needs for many years to come." "We are delighted to continue our journey with GCI as it undertakes this critical step to boost its business efficiency and deliver more value to customers," said Rohit Aggarwal, GM at Netcracker. "Our state-of-the-art BSS and OSS solutions are a game changer, and we are excited to validate GCI's ability to enable critical digital transformations." About Netcracker Technology Netcracker Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, has the expertise, culture and resources to help service providers around the world transform their businesses to thrive in the digital economy. Our innovative solutions, value-driven services and unbroken delivery track record have enabled our customers to grow and succeed for more than three decades. With the latest technological advancements in key areas including 5G monetization, AI, automation and vertical industries, we help service providers to reach their transformation goals, advance their telco to techco evolution and realize business growth and profitability. To learn more, visit About GCI Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested $4.7 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 45 years. Through a combination of ambitious network initiatives, GCI continues to expand and strengthen its statewide network infrastructure to deliver the best possible connectivity to its customers and close the digital divide in Alaska. Learn more about GCI at GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP). Learn more about Liberty Broadband at View source version on Contacts Media Contact Anita KarvéNetcracker TechnologyMediaGroup@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
GCI Collaborates With Netcracker for Modernized BSS/OSS to Enhance Customer Experience, Improve Business Agility and Enable New Business Models
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Netcracker Technology announced today that GCI, Alaska's largest communications provider, has extended its partnership with Netcracker to improve the operator's customer, revenue and operations management systems. These capabilities will deliver a superior customer experience, reduce operational costs through managed services and bring services to market more quickly through an automated and streamlined fulfillment and provisioning process. Netcracker will also provide a variety of hosted managed services covering mission-critical BSS/OSS processes to accelerate GCI's business objectives. The operator will continue to benefit from faster issue resolution, improved order processing time and significantly lower platform costs. 'The Netcracker partnership has been at the heart of the system and business transformation that was started nine years ago with the Polaris Program,' said Sean Lambert, VP of Application Technology at GCI. 'Extending our partnership with Netcracker will enable GCI to focus on critical market drivers to address our customer needs for many years to come.' 'We are delighted to continue our journey with GCI as it undertakes this critical step to boost its business efficiency and deliver more value to customers,' said Rohit Aggarwal, GM at Netcracker. 'Our state-of-the-art BSS and OSS solutions are a game changer, and we are excited to validate GCI's ability to enable critical digital transformations.' About Netcracker Technology Netcracker Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, has the expertise, culture and resources to help service providers around the world transform their businesses to thrive in the digital economy. Our innovative solutions, value-driven services and unbroken delivery track record have enabled our customers to grow and succeed for more than three decades. With the latest technological advancements in key areas including 5G monetization, AI, automation and vertical industries, we help service providers to reach their transformation goals, advance their telco to techco evolution and realize business growth and profitability. To learn more, visit About GCI Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested $4.7 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 45 years. Through a combination of ambitious network initiatives, GCI continues to expand and strengthen its statewide network infrastructure to deliver the best possible connectivity to its customers and close the digital divide in Alaska. Learn more about GCI at GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP). Learn more about Liberty Broadband at
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's nomination for NASA leader boasts business and commercial spaceflight experience during a period of uncertainty for the agency
Jared Isaacman, billionaire, CEO and nominee to become the next NASA administrator, faced questions on April 9, 2025, from members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation during his confirmation hearing for the position. Should the Senate confirm him, Isaacman will be the first billionaire – but not the first astronaut – to head NASA. Perhaps even more significant, he will be the first NASA administrator with significant ties to the commercial space industry. As a space policy expert, I know that NASA leadership matters. The head of the agency can significantly shape the missions it pursues, the science it undertakes and, ultimately, the outcome of America's space exploration. At 16 years old, Isaacman dropped out of high school to start a payment processing company in his basement. The endeavor succeeded and eventually became known as Shift4. Though he found early success in business, Isaacman also had a love for aviation. In 2009, he set a record for flying around the Earth in a light jet, beating the previous record by more than 20 hours. While remaining CEO of Shift4, Isaacman founded another company, Draken International. The company eventually assembled the world's largest fleet of privately owned fighter jets. It now helps to train U.S. Air Force pilots. In 2019, Isaacman sold his stake in Draken International. In 2020, he took Shift4 public, making him a billionaire. Isaacman continued to branch out into aerospace, working with SpaceX beginning in 2021. He purchased a crewed flight on the Falcon 9 rocket, a mission that eventually was called Inspiration4. The mission, which he led, represented the first private astronaut flight for SpaceX. It sent four civilians with no previous formal space experience into orbit. Following the success of Inspiration4, Isaacman worked with SpaceX to develop the Polaris Program, a series of three missions to help build SpaceX's human spaceflight capabilities. In fall 2024, the first of these missions, Polaris Dawn, launched. Polaris Dawn added more accomplishments to Isaacman's resume. Isaacman, along with his crewmate Sarah Gillis, completed the first private spacewalk. Polaris Dawn's SpaceX Dragon capsule traveled more than 850 miles (1,367 kilometers) from Earth, the farthest distance humans had been since the Apollo missions. In December 2024, the incoming Trump administration announced its intention to nominate Isaacman for the post of NASA administrator. As NASA administrator, Isaacman would oversee all NASA activities at a critical moment in its history. The Artemis program, which has been in progress since 2017, has several missions planned for the next few years. This includes 2026's Artemis II mission, which will send four astronauts to orbit the Moon. Then, in 2027, Artemis III will aim to land on it. But, if Isaacman is confirmed, his tenure would come at a time when there are significant questions about the Artemis program, as well as the extent to which NASA should use commercial space companies like SpaceX. The agency is also potentially facing funding cuts. Some in the space industry have proposed scrapping the Artemis program altogether in favor of preparing to go to Mars. Among this group is the founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk. Others have suggested canceling NASA's Space Launch System, the massive rocket that is being used for Artemis. Instead, they argue that NASA could use commercial systems, like SpaceX's Starship or Blue Origin's New Glenn. Isaacman has also dealt with accusations that he is too close to the commercial space industry, and SpaceX in particular, to lead NASA. This has become a larger concern given Musk's involvement in the Trump administration and its cost-cutting efforts. Some critics are worried that Musk would have an even greater say in NASA if Isaacman is confirmed. Since his nomination, Isaacman has stopped working with SpaceX on the Polaris Program. He has also made several supportive comments toward other commercial companies. But the success of any of NASA's plans depends on having the money and resources necessary to carry them out. While NASA has been spared major cuts up to this point, it, like many other government agencies, is planning for budget cuts and mass firings. These potential cuts are similar to what other agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services have recently made. During his confirmation hearing, Isaacman committed to keeping the Artemis program, as well as the Space Launch System, in the short term. He also insisted that NASA could both return to the Moon and prepare for Mars at the same time. Although Isaacman stated that he believed NASA had the resources to do both at the same time, the agency is still in a time of budget uncertainty, so that may not be possible. About his relationship with Musk, Isaacman stated that he had not talked to Musk since his nomination in November, and his relationship with SpaceX would not influence his decisions. Additionally, he committed to carrying out space science missions, specifically to 'launch more telescopes, more probes, more rovers.' But since NASA is preparing for significant cuts to its science budget, there is some speculation that the agency may need to end some science programs, like the Hubble space telescope, altogether. Isaacman has received support from the larger space community. Nearly 30 astronauts signed a letter in support of his nomination. Former NASA administrators, as well as major industry groups, have signaled their desire for Isaacman's confirmation. He also received the support of Senator Ted Cruz, the committee chair. Barring any major development, Isaacman will likely be confirmed as NASA administrator by the Senate in the coming weeks. The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation could approve his nomination once it returns from a two-week break at the end of April. A full vote from the Senate would follow. If the Senate does confirm him, Isaacman will have several major issues to confront at NASA, all in a very uncertain political environment. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Wendy Whitman Cobb, Air University Read more: Polaris Dawn mission to Earth's orbit will test SpaceX's capabilities for a commercial space program SpaceX Inspiration4 mission sent 4 people with minimal training into orbit – and brought space tourism closer to reality What does the NASA administrator do? The agency's leader reaches for the stars while navigating budgets and politics back on Earth Wendy N. Whitman Cobb is affiliated with the US School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. Her views are her own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Defense or any of its components.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jared Isaacman, Trump's pick for NASA chief, to get Senate confirmation hearing on April 9
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, the Trump administration's pick to lead NASA, will appear before a Senate committee on April 9 for a confirmation hearing on whether he will be the next leader of the U.S. space program. Jared Isaacman, who made his billions as CEO of the Shift4 payment processing firm and has flown to space twice on SpaceX missions he financed himself, was tapped by President Donald Trump to lead NASA in December. But his confirmation path has been slow at a time when NASA is facing substantial challenges, including potential budget cuts to high-profile missions like the James Webb Space Telescope, as well as workforce reductions from ongoing cost-cutting measures by the Department of Government Efficiency led by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Isaacman will appear before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation chaired by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) during his confirmation hearing. The hearing will also consider Trump's nomination of Olivia Trusty to serve as a member of the Federal Communications Commission. Isaacman is an accomplished businessman and private pilot (he co-founded Draken International, which trains pilots for the U.S. military). In 2021, he financed and flew on the Inspiration4 orbital spaceflight on a SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft. He then bought three more SpaceX missions under his Polaris Program, the first of which (called Polaris Dawn) launched in September and included the world's first private spacewalk. The others, the last of which was to be the first crewed flight of SpaceX's Starship, have yet to be scheduled, though Isaacman would likely hold off on them if confirmed as NASA Administrator. Last month, a group of 28 former NASA astronauts announced their support for Isaacman as NASA chief in an open letter to the Senate. "Jared has a genuine passion for space exploration and will bring a renewed energy and sense of purpose to NASA," they wrote in the letter.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk's Space Business Partner Is Poised to Take Over NASA
President Donald Trump's pick for NASA administrator, billionaire Jared Isaacman, is highly unusual — or it would at least be usual for a normal administration. Isaacman has a contract worth tens of millions of dollars, or more, with Elon Musk's spaceflight and satellite company, SpaceX. Isaacman, a pilot and commercial astronaut, has traveled to space twice on SpaceX spacecraft. The Senate Commerce Committee has not yet scheduled a hearing on Isaacman's nomination. 'With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this: We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place,' Isaacman posted on X in December. 'We will inspire children, yours and mine, to look up and dream of what is possible. Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.' According to Isaacman's financial disclosure, his agreement with SpaceX for his Polaris Program, his private spaceflight program, is worth more than $50 million. The agreement is for 'space flight services & strategic agreements.' As NASA administrator, Isaacman would likely oversee the agency's relationship with the SpaceX, which has been conducting travel to and from the International Space Station. They recently brought two astronauts back to Earth who had been stranded by a Boeing spacecraft. NASA also plans to work with SpaceX to send people to the moon. Musk even said SpaceX will launch an unmanned spacecraft to Mars by next year. SpaceX has also experienced two fiery failures this year. Earlier this month, an unmanned SpaceX rocket exploded mid-air, disrupting roughly 500 flights and raining debris over Florida and the Caribbean. The rocket, Starship, was cleared to fly shortly after another Starship rocket exploded in January. 'I think SpaceX is on — for our time — the most incredible adventure imaginable,' Isaacman told CNN in August. 'It's not just about Mars. … It's actually the possibility of unlocking life's mysteries. Where did we really come from? What is our purpose?' According to NASA, the agency has spent more than $15 billion on SpaceX. In his ethics agreement, Isaacman promised that he would terminate his company's contracts with SpaceX, and said that SpaceX would send a refund for services that had not been completed yet — meaning that his company could receive millions from SpaceX if he is confirmed. In 2021, Isaacman self-funded the first spaceflight to Earth's orbit manned by civilians only, Inspiration4. He and three colleagues, who were contest winners, flew on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule for three days. After this flight, Isaacman contracted with SpaceX to create the Polaris Program, which is focused on spaceflight. In September 2024, he traveled to space in the Crew Dragon for a second time. He made the trip with three other people, two of whom worked for SpaceX. Isaacman became the first person to carry out a commercial spacewalk. The astronauts also tested new SpaceX space suits. Isaacman planned to travel to space two more times in future Polaris-SpaceX missions. Isaacman is separately the founder and CEO of Shift4, a payment processing company. He also founded a defense contractor, Draken International, which contracts with the Air Force and the Marines as well as the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. It has the world's largest private fleet of military aircraft. He sold part of his stake in 2019. Shift4 is tied financially to SpaceX. Documents show that Shift4 purchased $27.5 million worth of SpaceX shares in 2021. Isaacman owns 25 percent of Shift4. Isaacman said in an email to Shift4 employees that he would 'retain the majority of my equity interest in Shift4, subject to ethics obligations' if he were to assume the position of NASA administrator, CNN reported. He has defended Musk in the past. 'I don't need to have a public opinion on [Elon Musk's] politics because there is much more to the man and his companies,' Isaacman posted on X in October. 'What I care about are the enormous world-changing problems Elon and his companies are working to solve and generally, how I can help.' Isaacman has criticized NASA's approach of having two private companies, SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, develop different lunar landers in case one malfunctions. He said that NASA should spend money more wisely and only work with one company. 'People falsely assume its because I want SpaceX to win it all, but budgets are not unlimited & unfortunate casualties happen,' he posted on X last March. 'Spend billions on lunar lander redundancy … at the expense of dozens of scientific programs,' he added. 'I don't like it.' More from Rolling Stone Trump Wants to Boost Crypto 'Stablecoins' (Which Are Far From Stable) Trump Escalates Revenge Tour, Pulls Security Clearance for Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton 'Betrayal of the Legal Profession': Lawyers Are Dismayed at Firm Bowing to Trump Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
