OneWeb is a $3 billion project to circle the Earth with about 700 small satellites and beaming broadband connectivity to underserved communities. It is backed, in part, by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, and telco giant Qualcomm. The problem is that the satellites operate at just 1200 kms in space, and well below their bigger […]
Back in July the Bermuda and Hong Kong-based satellite operator ABS cancelled a satellite order with Boeing citing problems that Boeing had in obtaining financing for the deal from the US Export-Import Bank. The bank’s ability to lend or underwrite projects is currently on hold pending the renewal of its Charter to Operate which expired […]
International Launch Services (ILS) has a new CEO, and his first move is to cut prices for its Proton rocket launches. Appointed just a week ago, Kirk Pysher took over from Phil Slack. Mr Pysher inherits something of a challenge in that the value of Russia’s rouble has tumbled by some 30 percent against the […]
There’s a lot of whooping at Apple product launches. As the analysts and reporters are unlikely culprits (though I do know some journos who are worryingly hard line Apple adherents), we have to assume the uncontained excitement belongs to staffers. I suppose it’s hard to not to drink the Kool-Aid when you’re on the payroll. […]
Just at the moment the ‘big three’ satellite operators (Intelsat, SES and Eutelsat) are suffering depressed share prices amid concerns that delayed launches and commoditised revenues pose a threat to future prospects. “Not so” argues a major, 95-page, report from equity analysts Jefferies, who say that the industry is going through a “quantum leap” in […]
The news that FashionOne has now launched in Europe as well as over North America and South America on SES satellites ups the total number of Ultra-HD channels either on air or shortly to launch over Europe . New York-based Fashion 4K is now transmitting from SES’s 19.2 degrees slot reaching 116 million potential homes – […]
A September 1st report from equity analysts at investment banker Jefferies suggests that pay-TV operator Sky is now “heavily” dependent on its profit growth by activity in Germany and Italy. Indeed, the bank is concerned that despite Sky bringing forward its annual price hike from September to June its revenue growth remained slow. Jefferies takes […]
The waiting is Déjà Vu all over again. We now know that satellite operator SES has reserved five channels for 4K/UHD launches. We know that Sky Deutschland has reserved 4K capacity. We know that SES has signed up a German shopping channel (pearl.tv) for transmission in 4K. We know that a major new general entertainment […]
Russia is establishing a new TV channel for the Ukraine and Turkey, ‘Millet’ (“Nation”) will go on air in November. Initially, it will broadcast a 24-hour analogue terrestrial service but then go “international” on satellite. Zaur Smirnov, the head of the Crimea government’s committee for nationalities and deportees, as reported by BBC Monitoring and Russian […]
Tensions between the ‘West’ and Iran are easing, with the Iranian government seemingly ready to do business now that the tough economic restrictions on Iran are re-opening the country for trade. But any opening up does not – seemingly – include the BBC’s local transmissions to the country. On August 20th it was reported that […]