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Inside Satellite

Chris Forrester

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.

Ergen starts fiscal manoeuvres

Charlie Ergen has been busy mapping out his chess-type strategy for his combined Dish Network and EchoStar businesses. Now trading under the ‘Dish’ banner, Ergen has spun off a batch of his terrestrial spectrum licences into a new subsidiary and this move helped rocket Dish’s share price by an impressive 41 per cent on January […]

January 11, 2024

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

Can Starlink’s D2D have an impact for consumers?

Last week SpaceX launched six of its Starlink satellites with ‘direct-to-device’ cellular possibilities. The technology will allow Starlink to deliver direct satellite broadband connectivity on smartphones anywhere on the planet. The technology will also connect internet of things (IoT) devices with common LTE mobile standards. One consumer journal has already described these Starlink devices as […]

January 8, 2024

Vodacom tests broadband balloons

London-based World Mobile Group recently launched its first ‘aerostat’ giant tethered balloon in Massingir, Mozambique, in collaboration with Vodacom. Vodacom has reportedly shared its spectrum and other key technologies to enable the balloon’s launch for a two-month trial in November and December 2023. The trial in Mozambique is more than just a technological experiment. “The […]

January 5, 2024

AST SpaceMobile explains funding

Texas-based AST SpaceMobile, which says it building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio, has explained how its much-needed financing is shaping up. AST has already launched the massive ‘BlueWalker 3’ satellite. Each satellite comprises flat […]

January 4, 2024

China starts second broadband constellation

China successfully launched three test satellites for its expanding broadband Internet technologies on December 30th. The satellite was launched by a Long March-2C carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. These satellites are for the GuoWang national network of 13,000 satellites. However, there is now confirmed news that China […]

January 3, 2024

SpaceX wraps 2023 with 98 launches

SpaceX was just short of its own unofficial 100 rocket launch target in 2023, achieving 98 launches overall. The 2024 target is (again unofficial) of about 130-150 launches, or launch activity about every 2.6 days. SpaceX managed: • 2 Starship launches • 5 Falcon Heavy launches • 91 Falcon 9 launches • 98 launches in […]

January 2, 2024

India Telecommunications Bill under debate

Indian telcos and their satellite partners will have to wait some time to access new satellite spectrum over the nation. A new Telecommunications Bill is now under debate and this is not likely to be finally decided and approved until a planned budget session in February 2024. The various authorities will then need time to […]

December 21, 2023

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

UK puts cash into Scottish spaceports

The UK Space Agency has announced funding of more than £6.7 million (€7.7m) to further Scotland’s spaceports ambitions. Scottish-based HyImpulse, a launch company working with SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland, will receive £3.4 million. And Orbex, which is working with Sutherland Spaceport on the A’ Mhòine peninsula, will get more than £3.3 million. Both spaceports plan […]

December 18, 2023