Advanced Television

Satellite

EchoStar sells spectrum to SpaceX; quits LEO plan

It seems that Charlie Ergen and EchoStar have decided to trim – if not exit – the satellite direct-to-consumer market. It is selling its AWS-4 and H-Block licences (c. 50MHz of spectrum) to SpaceX for $17 billion (€14.5bn), with up to $8.5 billion in cash and $8.5 billion in Starlink equity. SpaceX will also assume […]

September 8, 2025By Chris Forrester

Es’hailSat, neXat MENA collaboration

A partnership between Qatari satellite company Es’hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, and neXat, creators of the first satellite-specific open OSS/BSS platform, seeks to improve the way managed services are accessed and delivered across the Middle East and Africa. Es’hailSat will use the neXat platform to make it easier for its channel partners – such as […]

September 8, 2025

Bank ups AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile has received a positive upgrade from Bank of America. The bank has given the would-be broadband-to-consumer satellite operator a share price target of $55 (€46.89). AST is currently trading at about $42. The bank says it has based its target on a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis and says a DCF valuation is […]

September 8, 2025

Panasonic Avionics, Intellian launch IFC solution

Panasonic Avionics, a specialist in in-flight engagement and connectivity (IFEC), and Intellian Technologies, a provider of satellite communication antennas and ground gateway solutions have announced a new high-performance, cost-effective low earth orbit (LEO)-only terminal system designed to connect to Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO network. The new terminal system features Intellian’s new LEO-only aviation antenna, seamlessly integrating […]

September 8, 2025

FCC invites AST SpaceMobile and partners for full SCSA

The FCC has issued AST SpaceMobile (AST) and its key US partners AT&T, Verizon and FirstNet its formal public notice that it is minded to grant formal permission for AST’s recognition that it can operate as a full ‘Supplemental Coverage from Space Authorisation (SCSA) system. The FCC invites public comments by October 6th. There isn’t […]

September 6, 2025By Chris Forrester

JetBlue chooses Project Kuiper

JetBlue is the first operator to select Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellite broadband system. The airline is already using Viasat’s geostationary satellites to serve its passengers, and Kuiper will not be fully active until 2027. The airline says it will start to roll out Kuiper in 2027 for about a quarter of its fleet with a phased […]

September 5, 2025By Chris Forrester

SkyPerfect JSAT plans major expansion

Japan’s satellite operator, Sky Perfect JSAT, is to triple its investment in its fleet and which will include diversification into optical and radar observation satellites in addition to its core DTH broadcast services. Isao Kubo, the company’s CFO says that the past 3 years had seen it invest some $489 million (€419.7m) in its fleet, […]

September 4, 2025By Chris Forrester

Eutelsat brings all subsidiaries under one brand

Eutelsat Group has announced it will now be known simply as Eutelsat, bringing all its activities and subsidiaries under one brand.  Following its successful merger with OneWeb, which created the world’s first GEO-LEO operator, Eutelsat now operates as a single company. The LEO constellation will continue under the OneWeb name, highlighting its central role in […]

September 4, 2025

FAA allows increase in SpaceX launch cadence

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved SpaceX increasing launch cadence at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s SLC-40 to 120 Falcon 9 launches per year (up from 50/year) plus construction of a landing zone at SLC-40 and up to 34 first stage landings there per year. The full decision from the FCC says: · […]

September 4, 2025

Project Kuiper readies for Sept 25 launch

The next batch of Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites is slated for launch on September 25th from Cape Canaveral. The launch, dubbed KA-03, will be handled by United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V551 rocket depending on the usual weather and range approval permissions. “This launch continues a new chapter in the commercial launch industry as Amazon […]

September 3, 2025By Chris Forrester