Advanced Television

LEO

Hughes, OneWeb to demo LEO service in Arctic Region

Hughes Network Systems and OneWeb have announced their selection by the US Air Force Research Lab to demonstrate managed LEO satellite communications (SATCOM) services to connect the Arctic region to sites around the globe. Under the agreement, Hughes will test and implement these end-to-end services on the OneWeb system between selected US Northern Command (NORTHCOM) […]

May 5, 2021

Eutelsat takes stake in OneWeb

Eutelsat is taking a 24 per cent stake in UK/India-owned low Earth orbiting business OneWeb. Eutelsat will invest $500 million (€455.4m) in the company, which “almost” fully funds the satellite venture. Eutelsat will use its FCC-granted ‘incentive’ payment for giving up its C-band frequencies over the US to fund its stake. In a press statement, […]

April 28, 2021By Chris Forrester

Bank: “Eutelsat can make OneWeb viable”

Eutelsat is taking a 24 per cent stake in OneWeb. Eutelsat’s fresh cash values OneWeb at $2.3 billion. However, Eutelsat is paying a significant premium to enter OneWeb. When the UK government and India’s Bharti Global invested their cash into OneWeb they placed their $500 million into the business and received 42 per cent of […]

April 28, 2021

Malaysia LEO satellite scheme emerges

Hong Kong-based Greenpro Capital Grp is backing Angkasa-X, a would-be provider of Low Earth orbiting communications. Angkasa-X is reporting that three parties have signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) including the Malaysia Penang State Government and University Science of Malaysia (USM) in establishing the ASEAN Space Economy by forming the ASEAN-LINK satellite constellation. Angkasa-X has also […]

April 28, 2021By Chris Forrester

Success for OneWeb launch

An Arianespace Soyuz rocket successfully placed 36 OneWeb satellites into orbit, and OneWeb says that contact has been made with each satellite and that they are healthy. The launch took place from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome on April 25th at 23.14 BST. It took almost four hours to dispense the satellites in nine batches. The success […]

April 26, 2021By Chris Forrester

Bezos vs Musk: Let battle commence

The news that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is now publicly committing to using the United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) giant Atlas 5 rocket was no great surprise. However, his decision allows a noticeably clear opportunity for a ‘contrast and compare’ between the Bezos-backed Project Kuiper and arch-rival Elon Musk’s Starlink scheme. The two rivals are also […]

April 21, 2021

Amazon buys 9 Atlas launches for Kuiper LEOs

Jeff Bezos has contracted nine rocket launches with the United Launch Alliance (ULA) to launch his initial Project Kuiper low Earth orbiting (LEO) broadband-by-satellite craft. The contract means that for the time being he is not depending on his own Blue Origin rocket system. “We’re determined to make affordable broadband a reality for customers and […]

April 20, 2021By Chris Forrester

Analyst: LEOs to boost satellite broadband

The demand for broadband connectivity over both fixed and mobile broadband networks is increasing dramatically. However, despite network expansions and upgrades, only half of households worldwide currently have access to fixed broadband services. With the rollout of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations, satellite broadband services will improve broadband penetration significantly. Global tech market advisory firm […]

April 16, 2021

Telesat catching up in LEO race

Ottawa-based Telesat is reportedly “racing” to launch its 298-craft Low Earth orbiting satellite platform. Even though Telesat is some two years behind Elon Musk’s Starlink, the Canadian company’s CEO, Dan Goldberg says Telesat’s Lightspeed LEO system will be the company’s “Holy Grail” and deliver a “sustainable competitive advantage in global broadband delivery”. Telesat is certainly […]

April 13, 2021

OneWeb signs MoU with Kazakhstan

OneWeb has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kazakh government, along with what the satellite operator describes as “local partners”. The agreement is with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry: national satellite operator Republican Centre of Space Communications JSC, National Company Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary and Ghalam LLP, described as a spacecraft […]

April 13, 2021By Chris Forrester