Last month it was reported how the organisation which supervises Intelsat’s public service obligations, the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (ITSO), had complained to Intelsat’s bankruptcy court that Intelsat had not been paying its dues to ITSO. ITSU had asked the court to authorise a special payment to fund its costs and services. Intelsat responded ahead […]
Despite being up against fierce competition from the likes of SpaceX which is launching rockets with relentless frequency, Arianespace has again slipped the launch readiness date for its new Ariane 6 rocket. Originally promised for a mid-2020 debut test flight, that date has reportedly slipped to late next year. Ariane 6 is a much-needed replacement […]
In a filing made to the FCC, SpaceX said that its Starlink service would help bridge the digital divide using the 12 GHz satellite frequency band (Ku-band). The filing was made in a response to a filing made on May 26th by the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) which argued that the 12 GHz band should […]
The Gulf state of Oman is inviting expressions of interest from satellite builders to construct its first national satellite. The initiative is being spearheaded by Space Communications Technology LLC (SCT), a wholly government-owned entity established with the mandate to develop and implement the Sultanate’s maiden satellite communications project. The brief will include ground infrastructure as […]
Local residents, businesses, government entities and the San Rafael de Leticia Hospital in the Colombian Amazonas are experiencing efficient, reliable and high-performing Internet connectivity as Colombian services provider SkyNet and SES Networks extended their partnership and increased network capacity within days to support Covid-19 mitigation efforts. SkyNet leveraged SES Networks’ Signature Solutions to deliver connectivity […]
Telesat is working with Telefónica on a series of in-orbit broadband and video tests on Telesat’s first-generation Low Earth Orbiting satellite. The tests, described by the pair as “rigorous”, were designed to explore the performance and feasibility of leveraging LEO satellites for high-end services. Testing demonstrated that Telesat LEO could be a viable option for […]
Intelsat might be in Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring, but trading continues. The satellite operator’s revenues were $458.8 million for Q1 (to March 31st) down 13 per cent, and after interest payments and other obligations, that turned into a net loss of $218.8 million for the quarter. The company reported significant downturns in Network Services (down […]
The Russian leased rocket launch site at Baikonur in Kazakhstan is to be turned into an economic Freezone with help from investors from the United Arab Emirates. The TASS news agency is reporting that Kazakhstan’s president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said the spaceport – now named after Russia’s first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin – would also be further […]
SpaceX completed another flawless launch on June 3rd – and the recovery of its Falcon 9 first stage a few minutes later. It was the sixth SpaceX launch this year (the second in five days) and the fifth use of the first stage booster which some dubbed the ‘sooty launcher’. Sooty or not the whole […]
Eutelsat, not for the first time, has formally complained to the FCC over the Commission’s ruling that it would pay around $5 billion to both Intelsat and SES in ‘incentive payments’ for clearing certain C-band frequencies over the USA. In essence, Eutelsat is fearful that the payments – and the related reimbursements of actual costs […]