SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite system is not authorised or licensed by South Africa. Recent discussions between SpaceX and South Africa’s licensing authorities could see this prohibition lifted. However, there are reportedly thousands of Starlink users in South Africa. The users have imported equipment from neighbouring states where Starlink is authorised and have accessed Starlink via its […]
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy has confirmed that the European Commission will assess the effects of the recommendation on combating online piracy of sports and other live events by November 2025 and on that basis, consider if additional measures are needed at EU level. A written question from a group […]
The BBC is introducing changes in network television commissioning to support its commitment to make the biggest possible impact right across the UK. In a blog post, Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director of Nations at the BBC, notes that the Corporation is already by far the biggest commissioner of television programming outside London, investing almost £1 […]
UK comms regulator Ofcom is consulting on a proposal to issue fixed-term spectrum licences to enable Starlink to use E band frequencies for Non-geostationary Orbit (NGSO) gateway earth stations at three sites in the UK. This is to expand backhaul capacity to support satellite broadband services. Ofcom notes that take-up of satellite broadband is rising, […]
The upcoming Harry Potter TV series from HBO has cast screen newcomers Dominic McLaughlin in the role of Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Francesca Gardiner, showrunner and executive producer, and Mark Mylod, director of multiple episodes and executive producer, said in a joint statement: “After an extraordinary […]
The European Commission’s biennial Report on the Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in Third Countries identifies IPR deficiencies in third countries that cause the greatest economic harm to EU interests. In addition, the EC’s Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List describes the latest trends in counterfeiting and piracy, and lists websites and physical […]
The Federal Communications Commission is aggressively pursuing spectrum abundance as part of its Final Frontiers agenda to secure US leadership in space and supercharge the possibilities of satellite broadband. The Commission voted May 22nd to kickstart a proceeding that could unlock more than 20,000 megahertz of spectrum for high-speed Internet delivered from space. That amount […]
A man from North Wales has been arrested on suspicion of leaking unreleased Hollywood films online. Officers from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police arrested the man, aged 47, on suspicion of copyright offences. He is suspected to have obtained thousands of films, TV series and music without the […]
Following Channel 4’s confirmation that it will be establishing an in-house production arm, Channel 4 Productions (C4P), following the removal of its exemption from doing so in last year’s Media Act, Llyr Morus, Chair of TAC, (Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru) which represents the independent television production sector in Wales, said that the broadcaster would need to […]
UK digital infrastructure provider Openreach has committed to build the country’s most reliable broadband technology, full fibre, even faster – thanks to increased investment from BT Group. The company has already built the new infrastructure to more than 18 million homes and business nationwide – including more than four million in just the last 12 […]