Blue Origin, the rocket launch business backed by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, is laying off 10 per cent of its workforce. Some 1,400 staff will go. Positions in engineering, R&D, and programme/project management are being eliminated, and layers of management are being thinned. In a memo to staff, CEO Dave Limp said: “Over the last few […]

Investment bank BNP Paribas hosted a low Earth orbiting ‘expert event’ with Dr Tim Farrar, an acknowledged expert on the satellite sector and Direct-to-Device (D2D) services in particular. Farrar argued that Elon Musk’s SpaceX/Starlink service, although embryonic today, are some “18 months ahead of competitors on D2D and that by the end of the year […]

On the same week that analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald issued a favourable forecast for AST SpaceMobile, and helped by an advert at the February 9th Super Bowl, it emerged that AST does not need quite so many satellites to serve North America, pushing its share price up by 17.5 per cent to $31.14 per share. […]

Louisiana-based Globalstar, which is already supplying Apple with emergency satellite signals on its most recent phones, is ordering more than 50 software defined satellites from Canada-based MDA Space. The satellite will be used by Apple on its Gen 2 direct-to-device service. “We are pleased to once again be working with Globalstar as they develop their […]

As Starlink intensifies competitive pressures and African governments remain uncertain about intervening to protect telco incumbents, African telecom companies are increasingly focusing on underserved regions. In response, they are launching strategic initiatives to tackle the rising challenge of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity to maintain their market position and tap into new growth opportunities, […]

T-Mobile has started “wide-scale” testing of its satellite-to-cellular service by using SpaceX’s Starlink and its direct-to-cellular satellites. The telco says its aim is to eliminate ‘no-zones’ where conventional transmission towers simply do not exist. T-Mobile says the beta-tests will be free for users until July. Thereafter subscribers with T-Mobile’s premium Go5G service can use the […]

The USA’s United Launch Alliance (ULA) is bringing forward the launch of its debut Kuiper-1 mission (officially its KA-01 launch). This will be the first operational launch for Amazon’s giant Project Kuiper mega-constellation, and it is expected to launch in the next two months aboard an Atlas V 551 rocket. This will be the first […]

Last week the South African government, via its ICASA telecoms regulator, held formal public consultations on a proposed licensing plan for satellite services in the country. But SpaceX, and therefore Starlink, declined to appear. SpaceX was due to make a presentation to the hearing, but failed to turn up. According to an ICASA spokeswoman, SpaceX […]

Investors are increasingly concerned about the state of finances at Europe’s two giant satellite operators, SES and Eutelsat, according to a report in the FT. “The cost of buying insurance against France’s Eutelsat and SES of Luxembourg defaulting on their bonds has soared to record highs, as investors fear the two will struggle to repay their […]

The FCC is kickstarting the process to auction new C-band spectrum for use by US cellular operators and 5G expansion. The auction will wrap by mid-2026, according to FCC’s new Chairman Brendon Carr. Analysts at investment bank BNP Paribas say the news is “positive” for satellite operators SES and Eutelsat. The FCC’s plan covers 3.98-4.2 […]