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SS/L wins Geo-satellite order from Sweden

A Swedish company, Ovzon, which in October booked a satellite launch contract from SpaceX, has now confirmed it has ordered a geostationary satellite from Space Systems/Loral.  But there are conditions. Ovzon says that the craft will provide broadband services, but first it has to raise the cash to fund the purchase. Ovzon says it has […]

December 18, 2018By Chris Forrester

Böss leaving ProSiebenSat.1

Rüdiger Böss, Executive Vice President Content Acquisitions & Sales at ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, has announced he will leave the German broadcasting group at the end of the year after over 25 years. Henrik Pabst, Chief Commercial Officer Entertainment as of January 2019, will additionally take over responsibility for the areas of “Content Acquisitions” and “Content […]

December 18, 2018

5G a battleground for the new Cold War

In the latest issue of Euromedia we bring our annual tour of the test and measurement landscape. As broadband capacity has increased, the emphasis has shifted from underwriting the quality of data-heavy video on crowded networks, to monitoring quality and security as unmanaged services and unmanaged devices proliferate across service provider nets. Not just within […]

December 17, 2018

Ofcom restricts iPlayer changes

UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has published its full decision on the BBC’s proposed changes to iPlayer, which will limit the Corporation’s scope to make programmes available beyond a defined period. The BBC had proposed a number of changes to the BBC iPlayer for implementation in 2018/19. These included: A substantial number of additional Box Sets, […]

December 17, 2018By Colin Mann

BBC ‘commercial subsidiaries efficient and fair competition’

The BBC Board has published a review into its own commercial subsidiaries. The review by EY has found that the BBC’s three wholly-owned commercial businesses – BBC Studios, BBC Studioworks and BBC Global News – exhibit commercial efficiency in line with their peer groups and the wider market, fit with the BBC’s mission and public […]

December 17, 2018By Colin Mann

Yahsat, Hughes finalise broadband satellite JV

United Arab Emirates-based satellite operator Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) and broadband satellite technologist Hughes Network Systems (Hughes), a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation, have confirmed the completion of a joint venture arrangement to provide greater access to commercial Ka-band satellite broadband services across Africa, the Middle East and Southwest Asia. The joint venture was […]

December 17, 2018

Walsh stepping down from Avanti

Avanti Communications has confirmed that its Chairman, Paul Walsh, will step down in June. He will be replaced by his current Deputy, Alan Harper. Walsh has been Chairman of Avanti since 2014. Alan Harper joined the board in March 2017 as a non-executive director, and was appointed Interim CEO from August 2017 to April 2018. […]

December 17, 2018By Chris Forrester

Verizon backs CBA C-band proposals

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deadline for comments and responses to the C-Band Alliance’s (CBA) closed on December 11th. The CBA’s request is for a “market-based approach” to the sale of 180 MHz of satellite spectrum over the US for the use of 5G. A report from Sami Kassab, a satellite analyst at investment bank […]

December 17, 2018

Ergen links with Hispasat over Mexico

Charlie Ergen’s DISH Network has joined Hispasat to bring a broadband-by-satellite service to Mexico. The service, called ‘ON’ is designed to bring the Internet to areas with poor or no connectivity, promoting development and helping to bridge the digital divide in Mexico. The partnership says that thanks to its extensive coverage, high capacity and fast […]

December 14, 2018By Chris Forrester

CBA promises new US-built satellites

The C-Band Alliance (CBA), which is looking to restructure a total of 200 MHz of its frequencies over the US for 5G use, says that its members will invest in new satellites (all of which will be US-made) to add capacity in the upper portion of the C-band Downlink. The FCC closed its ‘in-box’ for […]

December 14, 2018By Chris Forrester