Advanced Television

Broadband

Russia wants dedicated satellites for Northern latitudes

Russia’s Satellite Communications Co (RSCC) says it wants to launch 4 new satellites to provide Ku-band coverage for its important Far North regions, and which are not well covered by its existing geostationary fleet of 10 craft. Consequently, these new satellites, which RSCC says will be in orbit by 2024, will be highly elliptical in […]

May 28, 2020By Chris Forrester

OneWeb asks FCC to authorise 48,000 satellites

OneWeb, despite being on the sales forecourt as far as its assets are concerned while it is Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is asking the FCC to approve expanding its constellation of satellites to 48,000. OneWeb adds that its bankruptcy was not helped by the impact of the Coronavirus and was forced to file for Chapter 11. […]

May 27, 2020By Chris Forrester

Intelsat accepts C-band 5G scheme

Intelsat says it is committed to an accelerated process to clear C-band frequencies over the US in accordance with the FCC’s plan to speed the adoption for 5G. The FCC’s deadline for the accelerated scheme is May 29th. “As the foundational architects of satellite technology and leading experts of integrated communications technologies, Intelsat is committed […]

May 27, 2020By Chris Forrester

AsiaSat questions C-band 5G role

A white paper from satellite operator AsiaSat argues that C-band is not the correct band to support the key performance indicators (#KPI) promised by 5G. In the white paper – titled Choosing the Right Spectrum for 5G – Hai Hu, Senior Communications Systems Engineer, AsiaSat, notes that higher data rates, ultra-low latency and massive machine-type […]

May 26, 2020By Colin Mann

Research: US lockdown drives broadband service upgrades

According to research from actionable intelligence firm The Diffusion Group (TDG), 7 per cent of US broadband households upgraded their service in April 2020, a rate that varies dramatically relative to the number of children under 18 living at home. Only 4 per cent of broadband households without children under 18 at home upgraded their […]

May 26, 2020

SES accelerates C-band clearing over US

Satellite operator SES is clearing a portion of its C-band spectrum in an “accelerated” manner in accordance with the FCC’s timeline and Order published on April 23rd. SES will file the election later today (May 26th) – ahead of the key May 29th FCC deadline. “Accelerated clearing, including the migration of existing customers, is an […]

May 26, 2020By Chris Forrester

Intelsat wins one, loses another

Intelsat, despite its bankruptcy process, has launched CellBackhaul over the US for 4G and 5G mobile network operators. This is good news for the company and users as it will help provide coverage to the rural and suburban regions of the US with little or no access to mobile broadband. Intelsat says it is providing […]

May 26, 2020

Report: US broadband resilient in pandemic

Covid-19 has forced the residents of many nations to shelter-in-place, either by choice or by mandate. As a result, Internet use has skyrocketed, putting stress on both fixed and mobile broadband networks. In a study released by the Phoenix Center, Chief Economist Dr. George S. Ford looks for the impacts of rising Internet use on […]

May 26, 2020

Branson’s Virgin Orbit rocket fails

Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit rocket launching aircraft made its inaugural flight on May 25th (at 11.56 Pacific Time). All went well with the actual aircraft (Cosmic Girl) but the adapted Boeing 747’s rocket failed moments after deployment from the aircraft. The rocket did ignite its first stage for a few seconds and observers suggest that […]

May 26, 2020By Chris Forrester

OneWeb bonus incentive scheme hits objection

OneWeb, despite its bankruptcy, wants to pay special incentive bonuses to its few remaining staff in order to hold onto their skills during and perhaps beyond the bankruptcy process. But the US Trustee is objecting strongly. In a filing to the Court the Trustee reminds Judge Robert Drain that OneWeb paid out “large bonuses…shortly before […]

May 22, 2020