Advanced Television

Satellite

Next SpaceX ‘Heavy’ to launch June 24

Subject to weather conditions and the usual last-minute technical glitches, SpaceX is planning to launch its next Falcon Heavy rocket on June 24, at 11.30pm local time. A planned launch date of June 22nd has slipped by two days. The mission is for the US Air Force and its complex Space Test Programme which involves […]

June 10, 2019By Chris Forrester

SoftBank to test satellite for self-driving cars

Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank is working with OneWeb – in which it has a major stake – to use satellites to support and control self-driving vehicles in Japan. SoftBank says they are installing more than 3300 points at base stations throughout Japan which can provide what is described as centimetre-level accuracy. Testing starts in July. […]

June 7, 2019By Chris Forrester

Don’t forget Loral Space in C-band windfall

If – or perhaps when – the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approves some sort of variation of the C-Band Alliance’s plan for the adoption of 180 MHz of satellite frequency over the US, there will be another financial beneficiary. The Alliance is being led by Intelsat and SES, who between them control around 90 per […]

June 7, 2019

“All aboard” for steamboat broadband

About 1000 passengers – plus crew – on a fleet of Mississippi paddle wheel steamboats can now access satellite-delivered broadband. The American Queen Steamboat Co has equipped its American Queen vessel with FMC GlobalSat connectivity. The company is adding connectivity to its sister vessels, American Countess and American Duchess. The American Queen Steamboat Company operates a […]

June 6, 2019By Chris Forrester

Musk’s Starlink active this winter?

Elon Musk’s satellite-based broadband constellation could start offering services over North America after just 6 batches of satellites have been launched. The first batch of 60 satellites were launched successfully last week on May 23rd. SpaceX, where Starlink is a subsidiary company, said it will launch between 2 and 6 dedicated extra Starlink launches by […]

May 31, 2019

Research: UK digital divide is real

Research by satellite broadband provider bigblu, in partnership with Konnect Europe, reveals that people living in UK rural areas with low quality Internet must travel up to five miles to get connectivity. With more than a quarter of respondents unhappy with the quality of their current Internet provider, nearly three quarters (72 per cent) said […]

May 30, 2019

CBA releases key data to FCC

The C-Band Alliance (of Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat and Telesat) has submitted the satellite usage data that the FCC requested in April. The filings give the FCC complete insight into the usage of C-band over the US by the different satellite operators; a large part of the data is treated confidentially. The data shows a snapshot […]

May 30, 2019By Chris Forrester

Ethiopia links with China for satellite

Ethiopia will order a joint-venture satellite with China for communications and broadcasting. The agreement was signed on May 27th at an event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. Dr Solomon Belay, Director General of Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute, signed on behalf of Ethiopia and Han Chinping, Deputy President of the Chinese Rocket Company. The […]

May 30, 2019By Chris Forrester

SES secures Brazilian VNO contract

SES Network’s division has signed a contract with Brazil’s Briskcom Partners to use SES-10 for a virtual network service over the country. Briskcom will expand its service offering by customising and flexibly managing connectivity for customers in energy, mining, agro- and ISP markets across Brazil. SES says: “Through this partnership, Briskcom will leverage connectivity delivered […]

May 30, 2019By Chris Forrester

Airbus wins 3 satellite deal from Inmarsat

Airbus has signed a contract with Inmarsat, a global player in mobile satellite communications, to design, manufacture and build the first in their next generation of geostationary Ka-band satellites, Inmarsat GX7, 8 & 9. The three satellites are the first to be based on Airbus’ new OneSat product line, which is fully reconfigurable in orbit. […]

May 30, 2019