A launch of a batch of Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband satellites took place today [July 16th], on a SpaceX rocket from Launch Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral. The launch (Mission KF-01) was handled on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and carried another 24 Kuiper satellites into orbit. The 27-minute launch window opened at 2:18am EDT. […]
A study from Dr Tim Farrar’s TMF Associates talks of Starlink’s “amazing revenue growth” in the context of a satellite industry that does not grow fast. “In fact,” Farrar said, “Starlink’s near $2 billion of international broadband service revenues reported in 2024 compares to about $3 billion for all other satellite operators combined, a roughly […]
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, Waymo self-driving cars and dozens of other subsidiaries, is further investing in would-be satellite direct-to-consumer cellular activity AST SpaceMobile. Google is already a strategic investor in AST SpaceMobile, having participated in a $155 million (€132.6m) investment round alongside AT&T and Vodafone in January 2024. The investment supported AST SpaceMobile’s […]
July 11th saw the clearest indication that the long wait for SES to receive its permissions to acquire rival Intelsat is coming to an end, with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) giving its approval to the transfer “of the control of licenses from Intelsat to SES”. This, in effect, ends the FCC’s oversight of the […]
On the heels of the UK’s confirmation that it is topping up its capital investment in Eutelsat’s OneWeb (by €163.3 million), Eutelsat’s Indian partner Bharti Space is making a similar top-up worth €120 million. The smaller amount reflects a €30 million capital injection made in June by Bharti. Following the fresh investment, Bharti Space’s stake […]
Embraer, Viasat and Aeromexico have announced the installation of advanced in-flight internet connectivity on Aeromexico’s E190 jets, further integrating the airline’s fleet with fast Wi-Fi for its customers. High speed satellite connectivity via Viasat’s global Ka-band network will allow Aeromexico passengers on these aircraft to stream movies and television, watch live sports, access the internet, […]
Would-be global satellite broadband operator AST SpaceMobile has made a satellite modification request to the FCC regarding its operational fleet of satellites. The modification was submitted a month ago by its AST & Science subsidiary and proposes two new 14-satellite shells (98.13° inclination @ 685 km) alongside its already approved 520 km & 690 km […]
Hyderabad-based Indian company Ananth Technology has been licensed to launch satellite services over the country, beating the likes of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and others including OneWeb in their applications to start direct-to-consumer services. This approval marks the first instance of a private Indian firm venturing into the satellite broadband market using indigenous satellites. Recently, […]
Eutelsat has announced that the UK is to participate in the contemplated capital increase announced by Eutelsat on June 19th. This additional participation from another key reference shareholder will increase the total amount to be raised to €1.5 billion. His Majesty’s Government, via The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology of the UK […]
President Emmanuel Macron of France, in a speech to British parliamentarians, said the UK should boost its investment in space-related businesses. On July 9th he was meeting privately with UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer where it is possible that the UK’s investment in OneWeb could be on their agenda. Macron, in his speech, argued […]