The European Investment Bank’s global arm, EIB Global, has signed a €125 million loan agreement with satellite operator SES to fund three satellites of its second-generation medium Earth orbit (MEO) system O3b mPOWER. SES has already launched eight of 13 O3b mPOWER satellites, which operate 8,000 kms away from the Earth, delivering high throughput and […]

Viasat and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a contract to “take European space to the next level”. The contract is with the Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES 4.0) programme. The agreement could lead to a jointly-led low Earth orbiting satellite constellation. Josef Aschbacjker, ESA’s director general, said: “By developing Direct-to-Device technologies, […]

SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite services has been chosen by airline Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). SpaceX, posting on X, said: “Next-gen Wi-Fi is coming onboard! With SpaceX Starlink, you can enjoy high-speed internet – even over remote areas like the North Pole or Atlantic Ocean. Rolling out fleet-wide in late 2025, and free for EuroBonus members.” SAS said: […]

SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite system could soon be legitimately be available to South African residents. Local reports say that the nation, which requires incoming businesses to have a shareholding which includes a 30 per cent ‘black’ ownership (officially Historically Disadvantaged Groups), is close to approving Starlink’s availability. South Africa recently announced that it would introduce new […]

Eutelsat has announced that its near-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SBTi has recognised the Group’s scope 1 and 2 targets as aligned with a 1.5°C trajectory, in line with the Paris Agreement. The approved targets include: A 50 per cent absolute reduction […]

Satellite operator SES has bought back €100 million of its perpetual bonds of which €625 million were in issue. SES’s bonds dropped sharply in mid-January after the credit desk at investment bank BNP Paribas published a note recommending investors sell the debt. The BNP Paribas report suggested that competition from new(ish) satellite players such as […]

Amazon has shipped the first of its Kuiper satellites. The satellites themselves were well wrapped up within metal containers, but Amazon has admitted that the containers contained more of their Project Kuiper broadband communications satellites. “Late last year, we began shipping flight-ready satellites, and even more have been on their way in recent weeks,” the […]

Investment bank ScotiaBank, a recent fan of satellite-to-cellular operator, has lowered its price target for AST SpaceMobile from its previous $44.70 to $40.20. The bank maintains its ‘Sector Outperform’ advice to clients for the stock. ScotiaBank’s price expectation is in the mid-range of the $15 to $53 currently suggested by other investment banks and analysts. […]

Spanish technology company Indra is set to buy satellite operator Hispasat from Redeia for €650 million. Indra, in which the Spanish Government has a 28 per cent stake, and Redeia are finalising the negotiations to complete the deal that will then be submitted for approval to both board of directors in each company. The recent […]

Eutelsat Group and Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) have announced a multi-year, multi-million-dollar partnership to deliver low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services in Nigeria. This strategic agreement positions NIGCOMSAT as Nigeria’s leading satellite service provider by leveraging the OneWeb LEO network to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity. The services will cater to a wide range of sectors, […]