India’s government, via its Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), says it has not set any sort of deadline on a switch by satellite broadcasters from foreign-owned craft and their transponders to India’s own ISRO/Antrix satellites. “The government has not set any deadline for use of foreign transponders by the TV channel owners,” said MIB […]
Following a consultation issued in April 2018, UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has decided not to advertise or re-advertise licences local TV services for 13 locations, in order to help protect the economic sustainability of the sector as a whole. When Ofcom established its framework for licensing local TV in 2012, it said that it would […]
UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has published a report which assesses how easily today’s viewers can find public service broadcasters’ (PSB) channels, and local TV programmes. This is the watchdog’s first report which fulfils a new duty under the Digital Economy Act. Alongside the report, Ofcom is consulting on updating the rules which give appropriate prominence […]
Chip-set giant Qualcomm has abandoned its proposed acquisition of Dutch rival NXP Semiconductors. The deal has been 20 months in progress and would have been the largest-ever in the semiconductor sector, but it had emerged that China’s regulators were not in favour. Qualcomm is the world’s largest maker of chipsets for mobile phones. A successful […]
Rural connectivity specialist RTO Wireless and Microsoft Corp are teaming up to provide broadband Internet access to more than 290,000 people living in unserved rural regions of New York and Maine. The partnership is part of the Microsoft Airband Initiative, which aims to extend broadband access to 2 million people in unserved portions of rural […]
India’s Department of Space along with its satellite development arm, India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are both looking to persuade DTH broadcasters to shift their contracts from non-Indian satellite operators to Indian-managed spacecraft. Currently, international operators such as SES supply considerable satellite capacity targeting Indian DTH viewers. Rajya Sabha, a minister of state in the […]
Speaking to the UK House of Commons Committee for Exiting the EU, the Commercial Broadcasters Association (COBA) has called on the Government to commit to seeking an ambitious deal on broadcasting before companies are forced to activate contingency plans. COBA’s Executive Director Adam Minns told MPs on the Committee that international broadcasting was a £1 […]
UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has outlined a package of proposed measures to support long-term investment in full-fibre networks. According to Ofcom, consistent, predictable regulation over the coming years can help companies build on recent full fibre commitments, and support the Government’s ambition for 15 million homes to have access to full-fibre broadband by 2025 – […]
Following publication by the UK Government of its long-term strategy for UK telecommunications, a number of industry players and trade bodies have voiced their opinion on forging a full fibre broadband and 5G future for all. ITSPA, the trade body for the next generation communications industry, has welcomed the announcement of the Future Telecoms Infrastructure […]
The world’s two largest satellite operators, Intelsat and SES, have enjoyed remarkable valuations of their US-focused C-band spectrum, and the prospects of the FCC permitting a restructuring of that spectrum in favour of 5G. However, the prospective valuations depend on US wireless telcos paying reasonably competitive prices for the spectrum on offer. The formula to […]