Advanced Television

ITU

ITU rejects Liechtenstein delay request

Liechtenstein has lost its appeal to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to allow a delay of one year to launch two low Earth orbiting broadband constellations. The ITU’s powerful – and usually strict – Radio Regulations Board has firmly turned down the government of Liechtenstein along with its licensed partner, US-based Rivada Space Networks, which […]

July 8, 2022By Chris Forrester

Rwanda still wants 300,000+ satellites

Last year, the tiny African state of Rwanda registered several constellations of small satellites with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), totalling more than 300,000 units. It insists it wants to go ahead with the project but wants to ensure strict safety and debris removal for its satellite users. Anuarite Umwari, Rwanda’s Space Agency legal and […]

June 23, 2022By Chris Forrester

Globalstar wants satellite mega-constellation

Globalstar, which already provides mobile satellite services, has registered its plans with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for a huge constellation of 3080 satellites. The plan is to orbit the planet in 100 orbital planes at heights between 485 kms to 700 kms. Globalstar’s existing fleet comprises 48 satellites at 1400 kms above the Earth […]

May 4, 2022By Chris Forrester

ITU warns Viasat that time is tight for EMEA launch

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which grants and regulates spectrum and frequency usage for satellite operators, has cautioned US-based Viasat that the clock is running on its plan to use Israeli frequencies for one of its planned satellites. The ITU had approved Viasat’s use of the 13.8 degrees East orbital slot, and its Ka-band frequencies, […]

April 25, 2022

ITU toughens up on late satellites

It might be logical to think that coming out of a two year pandemic – which saw staff and logistical problems for satellite operators and the companies building their new satellites – might offer a reasonable excuse for missing launch deadlines. ‘Not so’, implies the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The ITU has firmly rejected applications […]

March 28, 2022

Study: Global broadband less affordable in 2021

​​​​​​​​​​​​Internet connectivity became less affordable around the world in 2021, according to the latest statistical analysis by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI). The share of people’s incomes spent on fixed broadband and mobile Internet services increased globally last year, in parallel with upticks in demand and usage compared […]

March 18, 2022

ITU facing pandemic problems

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is facing some urgent requests to authorise delays for satellite operators and their launch plans. The reasons are mostly caused by the pandemic and the impact of staff shortages at assorted satellite builders and their suppliers of components. The ITU has to decide whether to approve some extreme delays from […]

March 18, 2022By Chris Forrester

NGMN identifies 6G use cases

The identification of 6G use cases is key to predicting major trends in future usage scenarios and will help to steer the needs and requirements for future generational change,” according to the NGMN Alliance (Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance) – a forum founded by mobile network operators. Accordingly, operators, technology suppliers and academic advisors in […]

February 22, 2022

Intersputnik joins the GSOA

The Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications has gained full membership of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA), a platform to promote satellite communication services and the common interests of satellite operators. The Association, formerly known as ESOA (EMEA Satellite Operators Association) used to focus on Europe, the Middle East and Africa. However, January 2022 […]

February 15, 2022

China wants 13,000 satellites

Local reports seem to confirm China’s intentions to build and launch 13,000 low Earth orbiting satellites. The mega-constellation would rival the existing Starlink system from SpaceX, the UK and India-backed OneWeb scheme and a planned similar constellation from Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. China’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) has called […]

January 31, 2022By Chris Forrester