Putting $50 million into the consortium buying bankrupt OneWeb could be extremely lucrative for EchoStar subsidiary Hughes Network Systems/Hughes Connects (HNS). Hughes was an original investor in OneWeb and is now likely to gain $300 million in contracts for at least some of OneWeb’s important ground segment installations. HNS, via EchoStar, signed a contract with […]
Google has revealed plans to build a new undersea network cable connecting the US, UK and Spain. The online giant says it is incorporating new technology into the cable, which it claims is a significant upgrade to existing lines. Jayne Stowell, who oversees construction of Google’s undersea cable projects, told the BBC it needed an […]
Broadband customers who are out of contract are set to benefit from a package of pricing changes and commitments from their providers, following a review by UK comms regulator Ofcom. According to Ofcom, the broadband market offers customers a wide range of choice, with different deals on offer to suit different needs, but it is […]
Video delivery specialist Harmonic is to partner with satellite operator SES for technology upgrades associated with the SES transition plan filed with the Federal Communications Commission on June 19th, 2020. The pair will work together to fast-track this deployment, freeing up spectrum for 5G while simultaneously enabling SES’s C-band customers to maintain the quality and […]
EchoStar-owned Hughes Network Systems is joiining the new consortium buying bankrupt OneWeb. Hughes will join the UK government and Bharti Global as part-owners. Hughes will, in principle, invest $50 million into the consortium. “Additionally,” says the Hughes statement, “[We] will continue as a trusted technology and distribution partner to OneWeb, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) […]
UK comms regulator Ofcom has published updated advice to the Government on the airwaves that could be used to improve broadband for rail passengers. In 2018, Ofcom provided initial advice to the UK Government on how demand for on-board data services for passengers is likely to grow in the coming years; and on the types […]
The UK is keen on establishing so-called Spaceports, whether in Scotland or the West of England. It has just signed a Treaty-level agreement with the US which allows use of US-built rockets from British locations. The UK’s Space Agency (UKSA) says that a US-UK Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) agreed in June potentially opens up activity […]
Elon Musk, flushed with the stock market success of his Tesla vehicle business, is seeking to raise more cash. This time the cash would go to SpaceX. This fund-raising would be the N-series and Musk, according to Bloomberg, wants at least $500 million and possibly $1 billion which would give his rocket-launching business a valuation […]
Paris-based consultancy Euroconsult says that despite the virus pandemic it still expects around 1000 smallish satellites to be launched each year throughout this decade. The drive will largely come from would-be broadband suppliers with mega-constellation operators accounting for around half of all launches and one-fifth of market value. Euroconsult’s forecast (contained within Prospects for the […]
The recent launch of Virgin Telco throughout Spain seems to have had a positive impact on Euskaltel’s performance. In the first half of the year, the nation’s fifth-largest telco managed to increase both its profit and subscribers. Up to June 2020, the company made a profit of €35.5 million, up 55 per cent versus the […]