Chris Forrester is one of the most experienced and highly regarded journalists in the field. His insight and analysis, particularly in the satellite and pay-TV arena, is highly prized. He has written for all the major business journals in the sector as well as several national newspapers.
Japan has four cellular network operators with three of them controlling some 80 per cent of the market. Rakuten, currently Number 4 in the hierarchy with about 3 per cent market share, is looking to grow its ‘Direct-to-Consumer’ satellite connectivity share thanks to AST SpaceMobile. NTT Docomo, the largest player, does not – as yet […]
Saudi Arabia’s multi-billion sovereign wealth fund created Neo Space a year ago, and while it is keen on developing space-based technology for Earth observation and other applications it does not see direct-to-cellular from space as being economic – at least for the time being. However, according to an interview in Space Intel Report, Neo Space […]
Analysts at investment bank BNP-Paribas, in a note following the news that CEO Eva Berneke is to be replaced, sid that the company’s guidance that reaffirmed the previous expectations for the year’s trading which ends on June 30th is good news. French business newspaper La Tribune saidthat Eutelsat’s “fragile situation has become a top priority […]
Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke is stepping down from the company. The market responded by seeing Eutelsat’s share price rise by 12.5 per cent on May 5th to €4.50 and at one point to €4.67. But incoming CEO Jean-François Fallacher has to face some heavyweight challenges when he officially joins on June 1st. Fallacher’s background is […]
Satellite operator SES reported its numbers on April 30th but it has now emerged that the company’s O3b mPOWER Mid-Earth orbiting fleet is expected to grow capacity by 30 per cent this year alone, and more in 2026. The additions to the fleet will bring critical capacity for customers in government, maritime and aero, CEO […]
Japanese public broadcaster NHK is currently the only TV broadcaster transmitting 8K material. It transmits 8K on its BS8K satellite service which launched with much fanfare on December 1st 2018. NHK calls its 8K transmissions as ‘Super Hi-Vision’. Now, despite a slow take-up of the formate, Warner Bros has scanned a selection of classic movies […]
A Russian satellite, Cosmos 2553, is tumbling out of control and posing a danger for other orbiting craft. Satellite observation specialist LeoLabs has reported that the “anti-satellite weapon” launched into orbit in 2022 is no longer functional. Cosmos 2553 is thought to be part of a Russian effort to develop a nuclear weapon that could […]
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr last week visited the AST SpaceMobile (AST) satellite manufacturing facility in Midland, Texas. He was accompanied by Republican senator Ted Cruz on the visit. AST is building a mega-constellation of high-output satellites that will deliver broadband and voice calls direct to a consumer’s ordinary handsets. Chairman […]
AST SpaceMobile (AST) activated one of its first BlueBird satellites over Japan in order to make a video call with staff from cellular telco Rakuten, its partner operator in Japan. Abel Avellan, CEO at AST, commented: “Another historic first! We completed our initial activation of our first BlueBird satellites in Japan with Rakuten Mobile to […]
New Zealand-based (but Nasdaq-listed) Rocket Lab has confirmed that it intends attacking the Direct-to-Consumer market currently dominated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its Starlink broadband system. Rocket Lab, founded by Sir Peter Beck, has recently unveiled its ‘Flatellite’ satellite, which it claims will deliver a long life in orbit and low-latency, with high-speed connectivity and […]
Ofcom: “BBC should play to its strengths”
Australia: Content quota for streamers becomes law
Brazil: Anti-piracy action takes down 535 websites
Paramount+ partners with Arsenal
BBC Sport agrees La Liga digital clips deal
Magic Light creates The Gruffalo & Friends idents for BBC
ESA secures €22bn in funding
Report: Disabled people underrepresented in broadcasting jobs
Channel 4 reports record Hollyoaks viewership
URC returns to Premier Sports with Black Friday deal