SpaceX is due to launch one of its Falcon 9 rockets from a Cape Canaveral launch pad on January 18th. So far, so normal. It will fly of some 88 seconds but then the plan is to explode the rocket. This deliberate move is designed to test SpaceX’s Crew Dragon accommodation capsule. The explosion will […]
A major pan-European review of media stocks going into 2020 from investment bank Exane/BNPP gives high marks for Europe’s two major satellite operators SES and Eutelsat, saying that it sees a positive risk reward heading into the C-Band resolution at both SES and Eutelsat. Elsewhere in Media the bank says it remains cautious on European […]
The auction results for 5G spectrum in Taiwan are already worth an impressive $0.51 per MHz ‘pop’. The strong bids for capacity came from shrewd local operators such as Chunghwa Telecom, FarEasTone, Taiwan Mobile, Asia-Pacific Telecom and Taiwan Star. New Street Research argued that should this bidding rate be matched in the upcoming auction for […]
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has won an order to build a new communications satellite for Israel. Named Dror-1, the craft will have a design life of 15 years. Details are vague as to the coverage or orbital location. IAI is a state-backed business and local reports say that the satellite will cost the Israeli government […]
Just in time for next week’s CES show where every major TV manufacturer will be showcasing their very latest models, including 8K displays, the ITU has approved the use of the world’s first IP-based digital broadcasting standard, dubbed ATSC 3.0. January 2nd saw Sinclair Broadcast Group, a major US station grouping “applaud” the ITU’s decision. […]
Apple is reportedly contemplating entering the ‘mega-constellation’ satellite race and joining SpaceX, Amazon, OneWeb and others in launching craft into orbit. It remains unclear whether Apple is preparing to construct and have its own satellites launched, or alternatively using capacity on existing satellites. A Bloomberg report says that Apple has quietly assembled a team of […]
Most years in digital media could be captioned “a significant year of change [development], [evolution], [revolution]”, your precise description choice probably depending on your perspective. 2020 will, I think, be a year of very significant evolution of the revolution that already happened. The revolution was (is) OTT and all the technological, commercial and cultural consequences […]
Amazon’s massive Project Kuiper scheme to launch 3236 satellites into a mega-constellation serving the plant with a low-latency broadband service is moving ahead rapidly. In a blog the company said it was renovating two huge factories in Redmond, Washington States, measuring 219,000 sq.ft. and which will contain Research & Development space, prototype manufacturing as well […]
The past few weeks has seen the share prices of the two main satellite operators – Intelsat and SES – hammered by the market, anxious that an FCC-controlled auction of C-band spectrum is going to mean minimum revenue benefits for the operators. Bloomberg, in a report, says that a “catastrophic” November which led to Intelsat […]
The FCC held a meeting last week part of the agenda was the planned auction of C-band spectrum over the US and offered up by four satellite operators; Intelsat, SES, Telesat and Eutelsat. Some of the FCC all-important Commissioners have now been quoted favourably supporting prompt action on getting the auction up and running. Commissioner […]