Advanced Television

Project Kuiper

Kuiper, SpaceX battle over deployment

Project Kuiper is planning its own mega-constellation and has already raised concerns about SpaceX’s proposed occupation of the 604 and 614 kms orbits. Amazon’s Project Kuiper has written to the FCC complaining about a SpaceX request to adjust the altitude of 7,500 satellites previously authorised to operate at altitudes of 525, 530 and 535 kms, […]

March 13, 2024By Chris Forrester

Vodafone rules out Starlink D2D

Vodafone says it will not support Starlink with the satellite operator’s plans for orbiting ‘direct-to-device’ and cellular connectivity. Starlink last week orbited an initial six satellites capable of direct connection and plans to launch more than 800 extra satellites during 2024. Vodafone has ruled out a partnership with Starlink because it has already signed an […]

January 9, 2024

Analyst: Improvements in satellite broadband speeds

Analysts at CCG Consulting report that their examination of Ookla download statistics for satellite operators, and in particular SpaceX’s Starlink, shows a “significant improvement” in download speeds in Q3 2023 when compared with the position at the end of 2022. However, there are caveats. CCG says: “Starlink’s median download speed in the third quarter of […]

January 4, 2024By Chris Forrester

Forecast: 28,700 satellites to launch in next decade

Analysts at Euroconsult forecast that the next decade will see some 28,700 satellites launched into space. The activity will be worth around $588 billion (€536.4bn). Activity from, Starlink, Project Kuiper, Telesat’s Lightspeed, Eutelsat/OneWeb and Chinese craft will lead the exponential growth. The analysts admit that their forecast might be an underestimate; they have included in […]

December 20, 2023By Chris Forrester

India backs ‘free’ satellite access

India’s government is proposing that satellite spectrum over the country will be assigned without would-be operators having to bid for the bandwidth. This rule, if enabled, will be a major advantage for the likes of Amazon’s Project Kuiper, Eutelsat/OneWeb and Elon Musk’s SpaceX/Starlink. The proposed Bill was tabled for approval in India’s parliament on December […]

December 20, 2023

Kuiper shocks with rival SpaceX bookings

Amazon’s Project Kuiper mega-constellation has surprisingly ordered three rocket launches from rival SpaceX. It seems the SpaceX launches are needed to ensure that Kuiper meets its ITU obligations to orbit 50 per cent of its 3,236 fleet by July-2026. Coincidentally, the order comes at the same time as a lawsuit from an institutional investor is […]

December 4, 2023

Major updates for Amazon’s Project Kuiper

Amazon’s Project Kuiper proposed satellite broadband system has announced two major updates. It is formally linking with sister business Amazon Web Services (AWS), the company’s cloud computing service and announced this week at ‘AWS re:Invent 2023’. The second announcement is a series of strategic partnerships in Japan with Japanese giant telco NTT and its NTT […]

November 29, 2023By Chris Forrester

Kuiper test satellites working well

The two prototype Amazon Kuiper broadband satellites are working as planned in orbit. Amazon states that the demo-spacecraft have demonstrated controlled manoeuvring in orbit using their purpose-built electric propulsion systems. The propulsion system is key to positioning and maintaining the satellites in orbit. “A recent series of test firings provided critical on-orbit data to further […]

November 10, 2023By Chris Forrester

Project Kuiper to start building satellites

Project Kuiper is the Amazon-backed broadband-by-satellite system which will comprise 3,236 craft circling the planet. Amazon says that its first two prototype satellites now in orbit are working well. They were launched on October 6th. Further tests to further validate the technology will take place over the next few weeks. In its statement, Amazon says […]

October 19, 2023By Chris Forrester

Kuiper 1 and 2 ready for launch

Amazon’s broadband-by-satellite Project Kuiper system is getting closer. Two prototype satellites will launch in the next few weeks. The United Launch Alliance (ULA) rocket operator has confirmed that its next launch will carry Amazon’s KuiperSat-1 & 2 prototypes for their Project Kuiper mega-constellation. According to an insider source, reportedly the mission, known as the Project […]

September 12, 2023