The satellite communications market has seen significant changes across its value chain, bringing forth new technological innovations that include flexible satellites and more specifically, software-defined satellites (SDS). Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite operators have been compelled to respond to increased competition amidst these market shifts. One approach is to optimise the utilisation of GEO satellites; […]

Satellite communications specialist Viasat has officially opened its International Business Headquarters in London. As part of Viasat’s focus to streamline operations and drive synergies to better serve its global mobility and government customer base, the company says it has reached another important integration milestone. Viasat acquired UK-based Inmarsat in 2023 and the London office will […]

IRIS2, which is a massive European project to provide an independent broadband-by-satellite service for the military, governments and consumers, is facing some major headaches. IRIS2 (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) had been planned to be deployed by 2027. That date is now extremely doubtful, and the scheme already faces challenges of anticipated […]

In the week that SpaceX has been given a market valuation of some $180 billion (€165.7bn) it is no great surprise that the overall space economy is forecast to triple in value to around $1.8 trillion and growing at twice the rate of global GDP, according to an Insight Report from the World Economic Forum, […]

It was recently reported how Intelsat was facing up to its future and how it would compete with rival satellite operators. More detail has now emerged. Intelsat has been through something of a nightmare this past few years, emerging – more or less – from Chapter 11 bankruptcy with much reduced interest obligations and the […]

Eutelsat Group has launched low Earth orbit services in Antarctica for British Antarctic Survey (BAS), a centre for polar science and polar operations. Launched in January 2024, the service provides connectivity to the BAS operated Rothera Research Station in Antarctica. Communications and internet connectivity in Antarctica is currently limited to solutions offering at most 1-5 […]

SpaceX says it now has 2.7 million “customers – a rise of 100,000 in just three weeks. This is a growth rate of some 4,700 new users per day. If this rate is maintained, then another 1 million users by year-end is possible if not probable. A report from analysts at investment bank Morgan Stanley […]

On March 21st aerospace giant Boeing entered a writ against Virgin Galactic in the US District Court of Virginia. The action alleged that Virgin owed Boeing $26 million (€24m) and that it had misappropriated certain IP and trade secrets associated with the development for a new space tourism aircraft for Virgin. Boeing, and an associated […]

EchoStar’s Jupiter-3 satellite is a true giant for subsidiary HughesNet. When stowed within the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket (on July 28th 2023) it was described as being about the size of a school bus. Within hours of its launch it was successfully receiving and sending signals. However, today’s picture is not quite so rosy. Despite […]

Terran Orbital, which has a very healthy order book for smaller satellites (including 300 for Rivada Networks), is again “compliant” as far as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is concerned. It means that its shares have been traded at above $1 per share since late-February. NYSE rules state that shares priced below $1 cannot […]