Advanced Television

Satellite

Italy joins Germany in IRIS2 alternate thoughts

Germany has already made it known that it believes the EU-backed IRIS2 mega-constellation of super-secure satellites is too expensive. Now it seems that Italy is also having thoughts about its own satellite fleet. A report in German newspaper Handelsblatt suggests that the German army (Bundeswehr) is backing an alternate orbiting satellite system, and may not […]

April 17, 2025

AT&T plans satellite connectivity trials

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted AST SpaceMobile, in coordination with AT&T, the ability to test direct-to-cellular connectivity on public safety’s Band 14 spectrum via its BlueBird satellites orbiting Earth. With this approval, it is envisioned that select first responders on FirstNet, Built with AT&T will trial public-safety-grade satellite communications later in 2025. AT&T […]

April 17, 2025

Kuiper launch delayed again

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) already delayed launch from April 10th and again on April 14th of a batch of Amazon Project Kuiper broadband satellites has now further delayed lift-off until April 28th. Weather got in the way of the April 14th launch. The new date should see the ULA Atlas V rocket lift off […]

April 16, 2025By Chris Forrester

Kazakhstan to create museum at Yuri Gagarin launch site

The Baikonur rocket and missile site in the middle of Kazakhstan is an area of some 90 kms in diameter which is leased to Russia until 2050. At its heart is the spaceport, and central to the spaceport’s modest visitors area is a small museum where the world’s first astronaut Yuri Gagarin lived ahead of […]

April 16, 2025

Hughes, Eutelsat LEO partnership

Managed network connectivity solutions specialist Hughes Network Systems has confirmed the availability of its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite service. Using Eutelsat’s OneWeb high-speed, low-latency, LEO satellite broadband services with Hughes ground equipment, installation, and network management, enterprises across Europe will experience enhanced connectivity from European-based providers. As an engineering partner, Hughes is developing gateway […]

April 15, 2025By Colin Mann

Telesat trims Lightspeed LEO fleet

Ottawa-based satellite operator Telesat has formally advised the Federal Communications Commission that it wants to reduce the size of its proposed Liightspeed low Earth orbiting fleet from 1,671 craft to 300. The major change is that Telesat will orbit the Lightspeed fleet in higher orbital altitudes. The initial ‘Shell 1’ launches were due to comprise […]

April 15, 2025By Chris Forrester

American Airlines, AT&T inflight Wi-Fi partnership

American Airlines and AT&T have announced they will partner to offer complimentary inflight Wi-Fi across more than 2 million American flights a year, beginning in January 2026. With complimentary inflight Wi-Fi available exclusively to members of the AAdvantage loyalty programme, American Airlines says it will offer free inflight connectivity on more planes than any other […]

April 15, 2025

CMA investigates SES-Intelsat acquisition

The UK’s Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a Phase 1 investigation into SES in relation to its proposed acquisition of Intelsat. The CMA believes that the proposed acquisition of Intelsat Holdings by Luxembourg-based SES could potentially lead to a substantial lessening of competition in one or more UK markets. The CMA is examining […]

April 14, 2025By Chris Forrester

EU supports Airbus, Thales merger

The EU’s Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius says he has no objection to mergers in the satellite and space production sector. Speaking on April 11th at the New Economy Forum’s Europa Forum in Brussels, he said he was in favour or supporting champions, although did not specifically mention the Airbus and Thales Alenia merger […]

April 14, 2025By Chris Forrester

AST SpaceMobile gets $42 or $1500 price target

An Indian rocket will launch AST SpaceMobile’s (AST) first of its 2nd Generation satellites into orbit in May. AST’s intention is to provide a global direct-to-consumer cellular service in conjunction with partners such as Vodafone, AT&T and Verizon. Shareholder optimism is also robust, helped by positive reports from some influential investment banks. But two recent reports […]

April 14, 2025