Advanced Television

Satellite

SES asks for expedited hearing in Intelsat case

The long-running dispute between SES and Intelsat over how the FCC’s C-band payments have been allocated has prompted SES to ask Intelsat’s Bankruptcy Court to hold a hearing in April. The hearing, if granted, will be heard and mediated by Judge Mark Colombell in Virginia. “SES believes that a hearing would be beneficial to address […]

February 1, 2024

Filing explains SpaceX’s Direct-2-Cell service

Chris Forrester There’s considerable interest in what various heavyweight suppliers might be doing in terms of Direct-2-Cell satellite telephony. Apple, Google, AST SpaceMobile and others, including SpaceX’s Starlink, are very busy in this area. A filing with the FCC from T-Mobile on January 18th (which is linked with Starlink) explains their intentions, and the practical […]

February 1, 2024By Chris Forrester

Zimbabwe threatens arrest to Starlink users

Zimbabwe’s Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has issued a warning to users of Starlink broadband equipment that they risk being arrested for the illegal import and usage of the kit. Zimbabwe has not licensed Starlink. The threat extends to companies and individuals who are importing or advertising the equipment. The regulator says […]

January 31, 2024By Chris Forrester

Report: Record launch activity in space sector

Space Foundation has issued its Space Report for Q4 2023 revealing that global launch activity reached new highs for the third year in a row, with 223 launch attempts and 212 successful launches. Commercial launch activity increased 50 per cent from 2022. The US saw a 33 per cent increase in launch attempts, with China, […]

January 31, 2024By Chris Forrester

Extreme E partners with Eutelsat, OmniAccess

Racing series Extreme E has launched a partnership with Eutelsat OneWeb, the Geostationary Equatorial Orbit and Low Earth Orbit (GEO-LEO) satellite communications operator.  The collaboration with Eutelsat OneWeb, part of Eutelsat Group, will connect the racing action to the St Helena, the championship’s floating centrepiece which transports all of the series’ ODYSSEY 21 vehicles and […]

January 31, 2024

Forbes: “2024 the year of LEO”

Forbes has declared that 2024 will be the ‘Year of Low Earth Orbit satellite services’ and expects the likes of Elon Musk’s Starlink to make significant inroads but with competition from other players. That competition could make the LEO segment a “crowded place”. February will see Mobile World Congress take place in Barcelona where satellite-based […]

January 30, 2024By Chris Forrester

Eutelsat: “OneWeb behind schedule”

Eutelsat has issued a trading review and market update stating that its OneWeb division was making slower progress than expected. The impact has slashed its anticipated EBITDA revenues for this year (to June 30th) by between €75 million to €145 million. Eutelsat has “suspended” its guidance for this financial year and postponed any further guidance […]

January 29, 2024By Chris Forrester

Thales to provide Laser payload for Hellas Sat 5

Hellas Sat, majority owned by Arabsat, has agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thales Alenia Space to collaborate on the development of an optical communication payload for the upcoming new mission to be embarked on the future HellasSat 5 telecommunications satellite, which will orbit at 39 degrees East. The partnership between Hellas Sat and […]

January 29, 2024By Chris Forrester

ESA boss: “Europe must be bold”

Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency (ESA), speaking at the European Space Conference held in Brussels, has urged European space-related industries to be bolder. He wants to set up a ‘Strategy 2040’ programme, and has agreement from the EU. “Europe has to be bold, or else we will always remain a 2nd […]

January 26, 2024

Viasat adds 150 Lufthansa aircraft with IFC

German giant airline Lufthansa has selected Viasat’s Inmarsat satellites to equip more than 150 aircraft – across its own Lufthansa and subsidiary SWISS and Austrian Airlines fleets – with the European Aviation Network (EAN) in-flight connectivity (IFC) solution. The more than 150 extra aircraft include Airbus A320s, A320neos and A220s fleet versions. The EAN technology […]

January 26, 2024By Chris Forrester