Apple is reportedly contemplating entering the ‘mega-constellation’ satellite race and joining SpaceX, Amazon, OneWeb and others in launching craft into orbit. It remains unclear whether Apple is preparing to construct and have its own satellites launched, or alternatively using capacity on existing satellites. A Bloomberg report says that Apple has quietly assembled a team of […]
Amazon’s massive Project Kuiper scheme to launch 3236 satellites into a mega-constellation serving the plant with a low-latency broadband service is moving ahead rapidly. In a blog the company said it was renovating two huge factories in Redmond, Washington States, measuring 219,000 sq.ft. and which will contain Research & Development space, prototype manufacturing as well […]
The past few weeks has seen the share prices of the two main satellite operators – Intelsat and SES – hammered by the market, anxious that an FCC-controlled auction of C-band spectrum is going to mean minimum revenue benefits for the operators. Bloomberg, in a report, says that a “catastrophic” November which led to Intelsat […]
The FCC held a meeting last week part of the agenda was the planned auction of C-band spectrum over the US and offered up by four satellite operators; Intelsat, SES, Telesat and Eutelsat. Some of the FCC all-important Commissioners have now been quoted favourably supporting prompt action on getting the auction up and running. Commissioner […]
Elon Musk’s plans for a potential mega-constellation of 42,000 broadband satellites have been called into question. There are already more than 120 Starlink satellites in orbit, and another 60 will be orbited later in December. But there are concerns. Tim Farrar, an analyst at TMF Associates, questions the vague business plans for Musk’s system and […]
While most people still see ProSiebenSat.1 as a traditional TV broadcaster and dependent on commercials for survival, a report from investment bank Berenberg suggests that the market needs to take a fresh view of the company, and in particular its ‘NuCom’ division. The report is headlined More than meets the eye and reminds readers that […]
On December 10th in Washington DC the chairman of the FCC, Ajit Pai, was due to deliver a speech at the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) and observers were expecting some comments and his latest thoughts on C-Band, and the planned auction of satellite spectrum. Today, December 11th, the US Senate’s Committee on Commerce will […]
Analyst Roger Rusch, CEO at TelAstra, says in a report that the commercial satellite industry is facing 6 different and worrying crises. Rusch suggests that terrestrial growth from fibre and wireless is threatening future growth of the satellite sector, and this is his Crises Number 1. “The wireless and fibre providers are more agile at […]
A copyright infringement dispute between Warner Music and Sony against streaming service TuneIn Radio, filed in 2017, alleges that some 800 unlicensed TuneIn music streams were available in the UK, is likely to go the UK’s Court of Appeal. A judgement by Judge Colin Birss back on November 1st favoured Warner and Sony and found […]
An ‘end of year’ assessment report from investment bank Exane/BNPP on Europe’s commercial broadcasters praises some, but warns clients on others. The problem, says the bank’s report, is that for some broadcasters “the worst is yet to come”. The study says TV – for some broadcasters – is looking bleak this winter; “Audience share is […]