AST SpaceMobile, which has a Japanese partner with Rakuten Mobile, will have competition in terms of Direct-To-Consumer connectivity. The threat comes from a joint venture between wireless telecom provider NTT Docomo and financial powerhouse Softbank. NTT Docomo and SoftBank are preparing to launch direct satellite communication services for smartphones in 2026, leveraging the Starlink satellite network […]
Measat has entered a tripartite strategic alliance agreement with Beijing Guodian High-Tech Technology (Guodian Gaoke’, and China StarWin Science & Technology to offer Internet of Things (IoT) services supported by the Tianqi Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Constellation in Malaysia. Under the collaboration, Measat will be the authorised service provider for the Tianqi Constellation’s satellite-based IoT […]
October 25th saw SpaceX launch its 135th launch mission this year. The rocket carried a batch of 28 Starlink satellites in what was another routine mission for SpaceX, although it set a record and beats the total launched in 2024 by SpaceX. The launch was from Vandenburg Spaceforce Base in California. The launch used Booster […]
After a considerable delay and much-promised delivery dates, India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that AST SpaceMobile’s (AST) FM1 (aka BlueBird 6) will definitely launch during the first week of December. It is quite possible that BlueBird 7 (aka FM2) could also launch in December, although there is considerable uncertainty as to who will […]
Airbus, Leonardo and Thales have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a leading European player in space. This new giant organisation was much expected by the industry and brings together Europe’s three largest space-related businesses. A statement from the trio said: “[This] new European space player aims to unite and enhance capabilities by combining […]
Two would-be Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite players are to merge, with the backing of giant operator SES – which was already a major investor in Lynk Global and had a stake in Omnispace. Following the merger, SES will become a major strategic shareholder, facilitating a robust deployment of D2D and IoT services for MNOs, enterprise and […]
Grey-market/cross border smuggling of satellite kit has meant that SpaceX has disabled some 2,500 former users in Myanmar (the former Burma). Myanmar is not yet offering a Starlink service, but nearby Malaysia is authorised. A statement from Lauren Dreyer (VP/Starlink Business Operations) at SpaceX said: “SpaceX complies with local laws in all 150+ markets where […]
Eutelsat’s Q1 numbers (it has a trading year that ends on June 30th) shows overall revenues down by 2.2 per cent YoY at €293 million. The division with the largest fall in revenue is Video, and which still accounts for 47 per cent of revenues, and where its DTH revenues amounted to €134 million, down […]
Analysts at BryceTech have examined 2024 data on behalf of the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) to provide a snapshot of the satellite sector’s role in the global space economy. In 2024, the satellite industry accounted for $293 billion, or 71 per cent of the $415 billion global space economy. Bryce’s highlights show that as of […]
NASA’s Acting Administrator Sean Duffy sys that SpaceX’s Moon Lander programme is running late. He praised the Elon Musk business but admitted that SpaceX is behind on the schedule. Duffy said that NASA would reopen the contract to other bidders. “The President wants to make sure we beat the Chinese — he wants to get […]