The GSMA has released two new reports at the annual GSMA Mobile 360 – MENA event currently taking place in Dubai. These reports highlight the positive economic impact of the mobile ecosystem on markets across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as well as the transformative impact of IoT technologies on regional governments’ […]
Thailand’s Thaicom has confirmed it is to free up its C-band spectrum (3400-3700 MHz range) and to allow the bandwidth to be auctioned for use by the country’s 5G networks. The nation is also to welcome foreign satellite operators to manage and operate Thaicom’s existing satellites and broadcast frequencies. A presentation last week organised by […]
Last week, Eutelsat’s CEO Rodolphe Belmer met with the FCC’s Chairman Ajit Pai. Belmer said that satellite operators should receive an upfront ‘stage’ payment for handing over their spectrum. A report from analyst Sami Kassab at Exane/BNPP gives a detailed background to the event, saying that Belmer discussed the principles that should govern the transition, […]
An FCC commissioner, Jessica Rosenworcel, has confirmed that Intelsat and SES (and by implication Telesat of Canada and Eutelsat) will be compensated for releasing their C-band spectrum to auction. “They’re going to be compensated in some way,” Rosenworcel, one of five FCC commissioners, said in an interview with Bloomberg News. “It has to be an […]
An Italian Court hearing into the Vivendi vs Mediaset squabble and where Vivendi is objecting to Mediaset’s plan to merge their Italian and Spanish broadcasting businesses into a Netherlands-based company (‘MediaforEurope’) has been postponed until November 29th. The Court says it wants the two players to again attempt to resolve their dispute. Vivendi is arguing […]
The GSMA – which represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide – has welcomed the international spectrum treaty adopted by the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19), which it says will unlock the potential for game-changing 5G services around the world. The conference, which has just concluded in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, has identified much-needed spectrum for […]
A renewal of the long-established Satellite Television Extension & Localisation Act (STELA) is looking more likely following extensive discussions by US lawmakers. A new variation, introduced by Senator Roger Wicker, and based on his STAR Act (Satellite Television Access Reauthorisation) was introduced to the US Senate with Wicker bluntly warning colleagues that without the Act […]
Pro-copyright education body The Industry Trust for IP Awareness and Universal Pictures International UK + Eire have launched an exclusive bespoke Cats trailer featuring the star-studded cast of James Corden, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson and Taylor Swift. This is the first bespoke trailer The Industry Trust has launched for a musical movie, with […]
The UK’s Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA UK) – the voice of the UK Internet industry to policy makers, the media and the public – has responded to the launch of the Labour Party’s General Election manifesto which has formalised its previously—announced policy of renationalising parts of the UK industry, including BT’s infrastructure subsidiary Openreach, […]
If Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have their way the planet’s heavens will soon be populated with tens of thousands of new Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites. Musk is due to launch 60 of his ‘Starlink’ satellites in the next day or two. The International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) World Radio Communication Conference-19 (WRC-19) in Sharm […]