Advanced Television

Satellite

Could Rocket Lab gain ground in D2C race?

There’s no doubt that Elon Musk’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite system currently dominates Direct-To-Consumer (D2C) transmissions. Starlink is also enjoying success in serving Cruise ships and airlines with high-speed connectivity. There’s currently a battle for a would be/could be 2nd Place position between Jeff Bezos and Amazon’s Project Kuiper and AST SpaceMobile. Kuiper has yet to make […]

March 20, 2025

AST SpaceMobile to launch BlueBird 2 in May

AST SpaceMobile (AST) already has five of its BlueBird high-capacity broadband satellites in orbit, and has strong relationships with AT&T, Verizon and Vodafone each of which has stated that they want to start linking their existing cellular clients with AST. But AST needs far more satellites in orbit to provide a global service. The first […]

March 20, 2025By Chris Forrester

Project Kuiper facing regulatory deadline

The massive Amazon-backed broadband-by-satellite system, Project Kuiper, is potentially going to miss its regulatory obligations according to reports. It seems that comments made at the recent Satellite 2025 show in Washington suggest that shortage of rocket launch availability will impact Kuiper’s availability. On March 11th, Kuiper updated the Federal Communications Commission with a small reduction […]

March 19, 2025

Team Europe provides €60m for digital connectivity in rural Asia

EIB Global – the European Investment Bank’s global arm – and the European Commission have signed a financial package worth almost €60 million with SES, a Europe-based provider of satellite-enabled content and connectivity solutions. This initiative aims to deliver satellite connectivity to remote rural areas in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Nearly half of the […]

March 19, 2025

SES denies Appaloosa shareholder proposals

Investment house Appaloosa LP, which holds funds worth more than 7 per cent of satellite operator SES, has been denied its suggestions to modernise its boardroom, shareholder structure and dividend policy. SES, in response to Appaloosa, said: “SES appreciates the perspectives of all our shareholders and their constructive ideas about our business. While the Company […]

March 18, 2025

SES reinstates Cleosat LEO scheme

SES has resurrected its ‘Cleosat’ filing with the ITU which lapsed in 2015. Cleosat calls for an L and S-band constellation of 62 satellites (6×10 @ 850km/86°, 1 @ 533km/97.5° & 1 MEO @ 8062km) for a potential direct-to-handset service. The original Cleosat filing with the ITU, made in 2015, was lost and expired due […]

March 17, 2025

Rocket Lab announces $500m stock offering

Sir Peter Beck’s New Zealand-based rocket company has gone ahead with its $500 million (€461.1m) cash-raising exercise. Rocket Lab has already confirmed an offer to buy German-based laser connectivity specialist Mynaric for $75 million. But the company says it has eyes on other acquisitions. Rocket Lab has four launches planned over the next few weeks. […]

March 14, 2025By Chris Forrester

Arianespace: 4-year backlog

European rocket launch company Arianespace says it has a four-year backlog but its clients are not yet ready with their cargoes. The first mission for its Ariane 6 rocket will not be ready until July. Arianespace managed its first commercial launch on March 6th which went smoothly. Arianespace’s newly-appointed Chief Executive David Cavaillolès told delegates […]

March 13, 2025By Chris Forrester

Complaints over Rivada’s ‘Outernet’ name

Rivada Space Network has been using the term ‘Outernet’ to describe its planned orbital satellite service for some time. But its use, especially as a potential trademark, is being challenged by the Outernet Council. Rivada, in response, says that it agrees that ‘Outernet’ is a generic term and has voluntarily withdrawn its ‘OuterNET’ trademark application. […]

March 13, 2025

Starlink wins Emirates fleet-wide?

Elon Musk’s businesses may be melting down in value (Tesla stock fell 15 per cent on March 10th, and is down 41 per cent this year) but his SpaceX company is still winning contracts for its Starlink broadband system. But reports suggest Dubai-based Emirates airline has chosen to equip its complete fleet with Starlink direct-to-passenger […]

March 12, 2025By Chris Forrester