Advanced Television

Satellite

SpaceX to bring down 100 satellites

Elon Musk says that SpaceX will deorbit approximately 100 of its early version Starlink satellites which have a design problem and could fail, and not be manoeuvrable. Musk also stated that the 3rd test launch of its Starship giant rocket was about 3 weeks away. SpaceX, in a February 12th statement, said these “early version” […]

February 14, 2024

Viasat serves 1,800 aircraft with SuperBowl

More than 1,800 Viasat-enabled flights around the world took to the skies on February 11th, and passengers on board had the best seats in the house – streaming the SuperBowl LVIII game live to their seats at 35,000 feet in the air. While the total number of passengers might only be measured as a few […]

February 14, 2024By Chris Forrester

Report: Satellite bandwidth prices tumbling

Paris-based Euroconsult reports that the price of satellite capacity for video services has fallen by 16 per cent over the past 5 years. But the price for data services has crashed 77 per cent over the same period. Video-based services are traditionally more robust and the contracts longer lasting, hence the slower reduction in value. […]

February 13, 2024By Chris Forrester

Eutelsat wins Telstra agreement

Eutelsat’s OneWeb division has won a significant contract with Australian telco Telstra. OneWeb will provide “the largest roll-out of low Earth orbit backhaul in Australia” says the company. The financial value of the agreement was not revealed but more information might emerge from Eutelsat’s half-year results due on February 16th. The launch follows the signing […]

February 13, 2024By Chris Forrester

Report: Telcos with no satellite strategy will miss revenues

A report from Analysys Mason’s NSR division states bluntly that “Telcos that rely exclusively on terrestrial networks will miss revenue opportunities and fall behind their rivals.” Telcos should use satellites to enter new verticals and enhance services, says NSR. Telcos’ satellite strategies need to fit into their overall action plan; they should prioritise their target […]

February 12, 2024By Chris Forrester

Confusion over Russia using Starlink

A source in Ukraine says that Russia is importing Starlink equipment from Dubai, but at hugely inflated prices. The Ukrainian (Oleg Kutkov), who repairs damaged Starlink equipment, says that Russia is paying between $5,000 and $6,000 per unit. He stresses that Starlink is not officially working in or over Russia but says that Russia and […]

February 12, 2024

New Zealand offers Starlink mobile service

New Zealand telco one.nz is offering clients a new collaboration with SpaceX to provide Starlink satellite to mobile service. Beta testing is available now for emergency messages. “When the service goes live, there will be a Starlink satellite to mobile service for far greater coverage than available now. Whether you’re out on your boat, climbing […]

February 12, 2024By Chris Forrester

Space industry forecasts far from perfect

It is always fun going back a few years and Pierre Lionnet, director of research at ASD Eurospace, has done exactly that and gone back to Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) forecasts for the space industry as they saw things in 2015. Lionnet is too polite to say the forecasts were rubbish, but points out that […]

February 12, 2024

Lynk to merge with Slam

Lynk Global and special purchase acquisition company Slam Corp are to merge. The pair announced that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement under which Slam will combine with Lynk. Upon completion, the combined company will operate as Lynk Global Holdings, and its shares expected to be publicly listed on Nasdaq under the […]

February 9, 2024By Chris Forrester

Intelsat invests in hiSky

hiSky, which provides advanced satellite communication solutions, has signed an investment and strategic collaboration agreement with Intelsat. The investment marks a transformative development in the delivery of reliable, high-throughput satellite connectivity. Intelsat’s investment in hiSky underscores hiSky’s technological prowess and market potential and places Intelsat as shareholders in the Israel-based company, joining Singapore-based ST Engineering’s […]

February 9, 2024By Chris Forrester