Intelsat 33e, one of its ‘epicNG’ next-generation satellites, has suffered a catastrophic loss and is understood to have broken up. Initially, Intelsat said that the satellite had “lost power” and that it believed the satellite would not be recoverable. IS-33e was designed and manufactured by Boeing Space Systems. It was launched in August 2016 and […]

China’s GalaxySpace is reportedly talking to Brazil’s Ministry of Telecommunications about potential collaboration. The discussions include technology transfer and the development of satellites for Brazil which itself seeks to diversify the supply of services. China GalaxySpace launched 18 satellites (‘Thousand Sails’) in August but has plans for an initial fleet of around 648 craft which […]

Eutelsat Group has announced the successful launch and deployment of 20 satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO), further strengthening the OneWeb constellation. The satellites were launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 which lifted off at 10:13 pm PT (local) on October 19th from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. […]

Mexico’s América Móvil is the seventh-largest mobile telco in the world in terms of subscribers with activity in Colombia, Peru, Eastern Europe, and Argentina. At its Q3 results statement on October 17th it said it is also exploring partnerships for satellite connectivity, including agreements with Starlink and AST SpaceMobile, to enhance service in rural areas. […]

A report from analysts at Quilty Space says that SpaceX has filed with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and requesting permission to modify Starlink’s architecture and establish what it calls SpaceX V3. The filing refers to SpaceX’s plans for a 30,000-satellite constellation (specifically, 29,988 satellites), of which the FCC has already authorised an initial […]

Authors of a new book, Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit, to be published in January 2025 by Wiley and written by Marc Feldman and Hugh Taylor, outlines what they see as very real threats to orbital satellites. “Just as pirates board oil tankers off the coast of Africa and hold them […]

The next SpaceX launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California will be the Eutelsat OneWeb Flight 20 mission. This launch was originally scheduled for late-September. It is now expected to happen on October 20th subject to the usual weather limitations. The 20 OneWeb low Earth orbit satellites are ‘in orbit spares’ for the OneWeb […]

Viasat, a global player in satellite communications, has successfully demonstrated direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity in India for the first time. Working alongside partner BSNL, India’s telecommunications provider, Viasat engineers successfully showcased satellite-powered two-way messaging services for attendees at India Mobile Congress — one of Asia’s largest technology fairs. Viasat is currently working with its partners, […]

Taiwan will have 24-hour access to OneWeb’s low Earth orbit satellites by the end of October through service provided by Eutelsat OneWeb as part of the nation’s effort to enhance signal resilience, a Chunghwa Telecom spokesperson has confirmed. The Taipei Times reported that earlier this year the country’s Ministry of Digital Affairs, which partnered with […]

The global satellite IoT communications market is growing at a good steady pace according to a research report from specialist IoT analyst firm Berg Insight. The global satellite IoT subscriber base grew to surpass 5.1 million in 2023. The number of satellite IoT subscribers is predicted to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) […]