Satellite operator Viasat of Carlsbad, California, speaking to banking analysts after its Q4 and full year earnings results, said that it wanted to modify and expand its current plan for Mid-Earth Orbiting (MEOs) satellites to Low Earth Orbiters (LEO). Viasat is already busy supplying broadband to 590,000 US consumers, and is connecting Brazilian users with […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Northern Sky Research (NSR), in its latest edition of its In-Orbit Servicing study. forecasts that 533 satellites could be candidates for in-orbit servicing including life extension, relocation, de-orbiting, salvage and robotic involvement. This new industry – the very first in-orbit ‘rescue’ took place earlier this year – will be helped by new FCC rules which […]