Mobile data will be the main driver of growth in the African telecoms market, with the number of mobile broadband connections on the continent set to more than double over the coming five years, and rise from 419 million at end-2017, to 1.07 billion at end-2022, according to Ovum’s Forecaster data service. The growth of […]
Vodafone Italia has made the first 5G data connection in Italy, within the framework of tests promoted by the Ministry of Economic Development. The telecommunications operator used the 3.7-3.8 GHz frequency band for the live 5G trials in the metropolitan region of Milan. The 5G data connection was conducted using a localised antenna at the […]
OneWeb is a proposed mega-constellation of an initial 648 low-orbiting satellites designed to bring affordable broadband access to the whole planet. Eventually, OneWeb is planning a total of 4425 satellites in its fleet. Founder Greg Wyler, speaking last week before the USA’s Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Technology, said the first two test satellites […]
Abu Dhabi-based satellite operator Yahsat says it has been trialling a 50 Mb/s in-flight service direct to aircraft passengers. “The result of a unique partnership between Yahsat, du, Etihad Airways Engineering, Hughes Network Systems and Carlisle Interconnect, the high-speed broadband offering will be available for airlines to offer its passengers within the next year,” it […]
A major European telecom operator will bring connectivity to new areas across North and West Africa and enable contingency services during fibre outages using a satellite-based solution. The network is implemented by CETel, a German provider of global end-to-end communications solutions, in partnership with SES Networks, who will deliver C-band capacity on SES’s NSS-7 satellite. […]
Eutelsat has reported a 9.3 per cent fall in Q1 reported revenues to €349 million (although 6.7 per cent when ‘like for like’ numbers were measured) and including a 11.7 per cent tumble in in its ‘Fixed Data’ division compared to Q1/2016. However, these numbers were very much in line with market expectations, and only just […]
In-flight entertainment and broadband supplier, Gogo, has won an order from LATAM Airlines, a Brazilian airline for Gogo’s 2Ku satellite-delivered technology. Gogo says it will fit its equipment into 100 of LATAM’s Airbus A320 aircraft and services will start during the first half of 2018 with installations to be completed during 2019. “We are delighted […]
The booming Chinese market is set to ensure that 5G is quicker out of the starting blocks than any previous mobile technology, according to CCS Insight’s 5G forecast, published today. The forecast predicts that 5G connections will reach 1 billion worldwide in mid-2023, taking less time than 4G to reach this milestone. As early as […]
More than 30 per cent of Europe’s mobile connections will be running on 5G networks by 2025, according to a new GSMA study. The 2017 Europe edition of the GSMA’s Mobile Economy series, forecasts that there will be 214 million 5G connections in Europe by 2025, establishing the region as one of the largest 5G […]
The FT reports that satellite operator ViaSat of California will sue Inmarsat over what ViaSat describes as “blatant misuse of [satellite] spectrum, which must stop now”. UK regulator Ofcom this week granted Inmarsat a licence to operate its system. ViaCom already has legal actions in Germany, Belgium, Italy as well as with the European Court […]