Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat has supplied extra detail for its upcoming nano-satellite fleet dedicated to the Internet of Things. The new fleet of 25 of these very small satellites is being called ‘ELO’ and the first demonstration craft should launch early in 2020. The constellation’s first four operational satellites will be developed under the supervision […]
Satellite operator SES has seven ‘small’ satellites on order for its O3b division, called mPower craft, and being constructed by Boeing. They are scheduled for launch in 2021, and are small enough to fit three or four at a time onto a SpaceX rocket. These seven are to orbit as Mid-Earth orbiters, but SES has […]
Eutelsat, in a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing on September 19th, told the FCC that it might rejoin the C-Band Alliance (CBA). Eutelsat dramatically quit the CBA in earlier this month. Lawyers for Eutelsat met with FCC senior officials on September 17th. The CBA is looking to restructure and auction some of its C-band frequencies […]
A report from investment bank Exane/BNPP suggests that ‘decision day’ for the C-Band Alliance (CBA) will soon hear from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with its verdict on the CBA’s proposals. “Our review of the FCC record suggests that alternative proposals to the CBA are not gaining traction. With the likes of Altice, Dish and […]
Intelsat is already drifting an orbiting satellite in order to replace the lost IS-29e which failed in April. Speaking at a Goldman Sachs investor conference, CEO Steve Spengler said Intelsat expected to suffer a $70 million EBITDA hit from the loss of IS-29e at 50 degrees West which would translate into a $50 million revenue […]
Thaicom has announced the signature of an Agreement of Intention with Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC), the Russian satellite operator, to collaborate on the joint development of a service offering for maritime satellite broadband connectivity. According to the framework of the agreement, Thaicom and RSCC will initially study roaming options on their proprietary maritime VSAT […]
Russia’s TASS news site says that rocket manufacturer Khrunichev has built 4 of the popular Proton-M rockets and will build another 7 before shutting down the production line and switching to a new version. Khrunichev’s Director General Alexei Varochko told TASS on September 17th: “According to the current plan, the Khrunichev Center is to manufacture […]
Rocket business SpaceX is offering three-times a fair market value for some homes adjacent to its Boca Chica Village launch site. The South Texas area, near the town of Brownsville in Cameron County, is where SpaceX is building its ‘Starship’ project and is testing the rocket system which, founder Elon Musk hopes will take humans […]
A potentially devastating dispute has broken out between two former “cooperation” joint-venture partners: Intelsat has filed a lawsuit against OneWeb and its financial backer Japan’s SoftBank. The writ alleges that the OneWeb and SoftBank conspired together in stealing confidential information, because – the writ states – SoftBank no longer believed in the OneWeb project and was […]
Iridium has 66 satellites in orbit, while OneWeb plans to populate space with at least 650 satellites. At Iridium’s partner conference in California, the two signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on a combined service for clients. The two operate on different frequencies so are not direct competitors. Iridium’s $3 billion Next constellation operates […]