Contrary to some recent reports that Starlink would not be available in South Africa, local sources say that SpaceX is making moves that would see its equipment sold legitimately in the country. Just days ago South African communications regulator Icasa, in the nation’s official Government Gazette, published a notice about “illegal provision of satellite internet […]
Zain has announced the signing of definitive agreements between Ooredoo Group, Zain Group and TASC Towers Holding to create the largest tower company in the MENA region, in a cash and share deal. The enlarged tower company, comprising approximately 30,000 towers, has a combined estimated current enterprise value of $2.2 billion (€2bn). Ooredoo and Zain […]
Having launched more than 5,000 satellites it is inevitable for SpaceX’s Starlink that some will fail. SpaceX has filed to the FCC its latest report on those failures over the past couple of months and gives the reasons. Starlink reference number 3337 suffered failed software. Remedial action was taken and the software updated but ultimately […]
Rivada Space Networks has partnered with GlobalSat Group to bring Rivada’s planned ‘OuterNET’ satellite system to Latin America. GlobalSat, a provider of mission-critical satellite and wireless connectivity solutions, will use the OuterNET seamless connectivity to provide a next-generation network for customers in the energy, government NGO, agriculture, utilities and transportation sectors throughout the Americas and […]
Amazon’s Project Kuiper mega-constellation has surprisingly ordered three rocket launches from rival SpaceX. It seems the SpaceX launches are needed to ensure that Kuiper meets its ITU obligations to orbit 50 per cent of its 3,236 fleet by July-2026. Coincidentally, the order comes at the same time as a lawsuit from an institutional investor is […]
Communication permissions for Elon Musk’s third test flight of the SpaceX Starship has been issued by the FCC. The communications licence covers a period from December 1st to January 6th 2024. The formal communications licence was issued to SpaceX on November 28th, but is not permission to actually launch. Those final permissions will come from […]
The European Space Agency (ESA) issued a strong warning to contractors supplying components for its new Ariane 6 rocket. They will be barred from raising prices over and above their originally quoted costs – and that ESA expects prices to be reduced. Phillippe Baptiste, head of France’s CNES space agency, said this was not the […]
Euroconsult’s Prospects for Direct to Handheld and IoT Markets report unveils the developing potential of the satellite direct-to-device market, with projections indicating that direct-to-phone services could connect nearly 130 million average monthly users by 2032. Euroconsult’s market intelligence report delves into the dynamic landscape of three crucial satellite communication market segments: traditional handheld phones, direct-to-phone […]
Italy has launched 9 small satellites (‘pico-sized’) which will provide global coverage for Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. Apogeo Space says it is creating Italy’s first private satellite constellation to provide a telecommunication service for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and has released the firm’s first batch of nine smallsats. The fleet was launched on […]
Icasa, South Africa’s communications regulator, is complaining about grey market Starlink dish sales in South Africa. Starlink is not licensed in the country. Icasa says such sales are illegal and “must stop immediately”. Icasa believes that dishes and modems are being brought into South Africa from neighbouring countries where they are licensed to operate. Starlink […]