On January 7th, a Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX apparently failed to launch a top-secret US government ‘Zuma’ spy satellite. However, SpaceX’s president Gwynne Shotwell firmly denies the loss was a Falcon 9 problem. In a Tweet on January 9th she said: “For clarity, after a review of all data to date, Falcon 9 did […]
The US Supreme Court has refused an appeal by Dish Network which objected to plans by Florida to implement a ‘satellite tax’ on users of DTH services from Dish and DirecTV. The State law can now be implemented. Cable users already have to pay a 4.92 per cent tax on their subscriptions. However, the satellite […]
Intelsat will use Arianespace for a pair of high-profile satellite launches. One of the satellites, the snappily named Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-2) is the so-called ‘Space Tug’ being developed by builders Orbital-ATK and its Space Logistics subsidiary. MEV-2 will be owned by Space Logistics, and its first customer will be Intelsat. Intelsat will use MEV-2 […]
A SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket suffered a complete loss of a highly secret military satellite, codename Zuma, following its launch on Sunday. There will be a formal investigation into the events of Sunday evening but initial, although unconfirmed, reports suggest that the classified satellite failed to separate from the rocket’s upper stage. The lower (1st) stage […]
The number of pay-TV subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa will increase by 74 per cent between 2017 and 2023 to reach 40.89 million. However, the Sub-Saharan Africa Pay-TV Forecasts report from Digital TV Research estimates that subscriber growth will outstrip revenue progress. Pay-TV revenues will climb by 41 per cent to $6.64 billion (€5.52bn) by 2023, […]
A month or so from now Europe’s two giant satellite operators will unveil their latest results. Eutelsat’s half-year figures will emerge on February 16th, while SES will publish its full year numbers on February 23rd. However, equity advisors at investment bank Deutsche Bank have already compiled a ‘state of the industry’ report, and say that […]
UK subscription-free satellite TV platform Freesat has selected Intertrust Technologies’ ExpressPlay CA content security technology to manage and protect their ultra-high definition content in 2018. ExpressPlay CA is Intertrust’s new cloud-based conditional access security technology designed specifically for modern broadcasters. The technology keeps digital rights secure by ensuring that only licensed users can access the […]
Globecast has extended its partnership with SES for the premium TV distribution services it provides to Orange Romania using SES’s satellite capacity. Under the multi-year extension announced by SES, Globecast will lease several transponders on ASTRA 5B at 31.5 degrees East to serve Orange Romania, which uses the capacity to broadcast 112 channels, of which […]
Washington DC-based satellite builder Orbital-ATK has won a second order for one of its Mission Extension Vehicles (MEV). Intelsat has ordered the second craft, often called ‘space tugs’ for their ability to rescue and service existing satellites in orbit. The order is a major commitment by Intelsat and indicates their confidence in the overall benefits […]
Nigeria’s minister of communications, Adebayo Shittu, says that Nigeria is ordering two communications satellites from China, and will pay $550 million (€456m) for the pair. China would part-own the satellites. Shittu, speaking in Nigerian capital city Abuja, said that the China Ex-Im Bank and the Chinese manufacturer, China Great Wall, have agreed to pay for […]