Advanced Television

Policy

Ofcom opens latest impartiality probe into GB News

Media regulator Ofcom has launched an investigation into People’s Forum: The Prime Minister on GB News under its due impartiality rules. In a press statement, Ofcom said: “We have received around 500 complaints about the programme which aired on GB News on 12 February 2024.” “We are investigating under Rules 5.11 and 5.12 of the […]

February 19, 2024

SABC hit by internal scandal

South Africa’s public broadcaster SABC has seen three executives resign or be suspended with allegations of being involved in a “secret” contract which gave them a profit share related to the launch of SABC+. SABC COO Ian Plaatjes, group executive for video entertainment Merlin Naicker, and group executive for sales Reginald Nxumalo, allegedly concealed a […]

February 15, 2024By Chris Forrester

Starlink disconnects South Africa users

A Mozambique-based company, Starsat Africa, has reportedly been supplying Starlink equipment into South Africa. These ‘grey market’ cross-border supplies and active in South Africa have now been disconnected. The reason, says SpaceX, is for unauthorised reselling but might have more to do with not upsetting South Africa’s licensing authorities. Mozambique has licensed Starlink. The official […]

February 15, 2024By Chris Forrester

EU may relax M&A to boost 5G

EU regulators may relax rules against mobile telecoms mergers and broaden telecoms rules to get Big Tech and others to help fund the rollout of 5G, according to a European Commission document reported by Reuters. National telcos have long lobbied EU antitrust regulators to loosen rules that clampdown on mergers that reduce the number of […]

February 14, 2024

Government urged to protect Traditional TV

5.5 million households in the UK will struggle to watch their favourite TV shows unless Traditional TV is protected to 2040 and beyond, campaigners are warning. The call comes as consultancy firm EY publishes new analysis on the feasibility of broadband networks serving as the only mechanism for universal TV services. Despite the Government’s 99 […]

February 13, 2024By Colin Mann

Operators seek to dismiss Ligado claims

Ligado Networks is suing certain US government Agencies and seeking $40 billion (€37.09bn) in compensation and alleging that the Agencies “roadblocked” Legado’s L-band frequencies and spectrum because the US government wanted the spectrum itself. A number of influential bodies have submitted support to the US Government in asking the Court of Federal Claims to dismiss […]

February 13, 2024

SABC complains over transmission costs

South Africa’s public broadcaster, SABC, is taking the country’s transmission operator Sentech to the Competition Tribunal, alleging excessive pricing and anti-competitive actions. Doris Tshepe, head of the country’s Competition Commission, told MPs that a commission-led effort to mediate between the parties had failed. The MPs on the country’s Committee on Communications & Digital Technologies heard […]

February 9, 2024By Chris Forrester

Starlink gets tough with Apple/Globalstar

Currently SpaceX’s Starlink system dominates satellite-based broadband and the potential for ‘direct-to-device’ (MSS: Mobile Satellite Service) communications. However, Globalstar is rolling out its smaller constellation and has Apple helping finance its expansion. The initial problem is that both outfits use the same frequencies (as does Dish Network). SpaceX formally complained to the FCC on February […]

February 8, 2024

SES gets expedited hearing on Intelsat claim

Intelsat’s Bankruptcy Court has agreed to hold a hearing into the SES claim for a larger share of the FCC’s C-band compensation payment. Judge Phillips will hold the hearing at his Richmond, Virginia court on April 24th. In essence, SES is asking for the hearing to resolve the dilemma of having ‘won’ an appeal against […]

February 5, 2024By Chris Forrester

Gogo wins initial legal spat over 5G

In-Flight communications specialist Gogo Business Aviation has won an appeal held at the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and which upheld an earlier verdict at the US District Court in Delaware and which involved denying SmartSky Networks’ motion for preliminary injunction against Gogo Business Aviation to keep it from selling its Gogo […]

February 2, 2024By Chris Forrester