IRIS2 is the proposed mega-constellation of multi-orbiting satellites intended to provide highly-secure communications for Europe’s military, government, business and the potentially the public. But Germany, which has always been doubtful about the scheme might now be considering its own rival satellite scheme. The news emerged during last week’s European Space Agency (ESA) ministerial meeting in […]
The past week has seen Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat raise some €1.5 billion overall in fresh money to improve its reserves and to finance investment in the proposed IRIS2 mega-constellation. But while majority shareholders have supported the cash raising exercises, the Rights Issue, raising €670 million, has seemingly upset minority shareholders. Eutelsat’s share price has […]
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) ministerial meeting in Bremen, Germany, on November 26th has hit its first snag. The meeting was due to approve an overall €22.5 billion budget including expenditure for a major satellite constellation which would have seen a global intelligence, surveillance and reconnaisance project started. Now the 27-nation ministries have an additional […]
South America’s Chile is the latest country to report that Starlink’s Direct-to-Device (D2D) is now available to its cellular users. “From forests to deserts, customers can now stay connected in the most remote areas with satellite-to-mobile technology,” said the local cellular telco, Entel (Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones SA). “The best customers deserve to stay connected […]
A batch of Amazon Leo broadband-by-satellite craft are on their way to Arianespace’s launch site in French Guiana. The satellites are set to be launched on an Ariane 64 version rocket. Satellites are transported in specialised, temperature-controlled containers en route to French Guiana, where they’ll be processed and integrated ahead of launch on the debut […]
Elon Musk’s Starlink has updated its broadband-by-satellite options for Ukraine. Ukrainians can now buy the Starlink Mini service for the equivalent of $200 (€173) and use the Home Lite plan for $25/month, instead of the previous $450 kit and $75/month plan. Ukraine has just become one of the first countries in the world to launch […]
Would-be satellite-based direct-to-device (D2D) operator, Lynk Global has started beta-tests of its D2D service over the Philippines. SES has a significant stake in Lynk which itself is in the process of combining with Omnispace (announced in October). Following the merger, SES will become a major strategic shareholder in the combined business, facilitating a robust deployment […]
Analysts at investment bank Deutsche Bank have outlined some aggressive share price targets for would-be global Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite operator AST SpaceMobile. The current share price target is an already bullish $81 (€70) per share. AST’s shares are trading at about $58-$65 per share, with the market in general awaiting the upcoming mid-December launch of […]
The United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) next mission – Leo 4 – will launch a batch of Amazon Leo satellites into their designated transfer orbits. The giant Atlas V rocket will carry 27 satellites, and the launch is set for December 15th with its launch window opening in the early morning hours at 3.52am (Eastern Time) […]
BICS, a Proximus Global company, and Starlink have entered into a strategic partnership, appointing BICS as the preferred IPX provider in Europe for Starlink’s direct-to-cell (D2C) satellite connectivity services. The collaboration enables Starlink to leverage the IPX network to connect mobile network operators (MNOs) today, while also paving the way for Starlink’s next-generation network that […]