Advanced Television

Spectrum

EchoStar: “Severe uncertainty” led to spectrum sales

Denver-based satellite operator EchoStar has told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it had no intention of selling off its valuable spectrum, but said it did so due to uncertainty fuelled by the FCC’s investigation into its usage. EchoStar sold spectrum to AT&T and SpaceX. The FCC filing confirmed a meeting between EchoStar founder and […]

December 10, 2025

Ofcom boost for satellite D2D

The race to bring satellite calls and texts to ordinary smartphones has begun, after UK comms regulator Ofcom announced its final decisions about how the technology can be rolled out. Mobile operators are now joining with satellite companies to deliver ‘direct-to-device services’ to everyday smartphones up and down the UK. This involves satellites hundreds of […]

December 9, 2025By Colin Mann

Study: Smarter spectrum policies could unlock €30bn in investment

Europe’s mobile operators could unlock billions in potential infrastructure investment, accelerating 5G standalone (5G SA) rollouts and boosting the continent’s economic output, if policymakers take a smarter approach to spectrum policy, according to a study from the GSMA. The report, Spectrum pricing and renewals in Europe, written by GSMA Intelligence, sets out how Europe’s long-standing […]

December 9, 2025

Rivada Space Networks wins spectrum dispute

Declan Ganley, CEO at Rivada Space Networks, says his firm has won a long-running dispute with Chinese-backed entities over Rivada’s rights to satellite spectrum. He commented: “I received good Thanksgiving day news from my excellent legal teams in Liechtenstein and Germany.” Ganley added: “[The decision is] a crushing victory over Chinese backed lawfare as we […]

December 2, 2025

FCC votes in favour of C-band spectrum

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-0 on November 20th to advance plans to auction key wireless spectrum crucial for advanced technology uses, with one objective being to improve connectivity between airlines and telecom companies, according to Reuters. The FCC said it was considering whether some C-Band wireless auction proceeds – likely to happen in […]

November 24, 2025By Chris Forrester

FCC issues C-band plan

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued its much-expected Notice of Proposed Rulemaking covering its wish to tap into satellite’s Upper C-band (3.84-4.2 GHz) spectrum. The FCC is inviting comments on a range of options including auctioning up to 180 MHz with the ultimate goal of maximizing the amount of spectrum for next-gen wireless services […]

November 24, 2025By Chris Forrester

AT&T switches on EchoStar’s spectrum

It was only on August 26th that AT&T agreed to buy EchoStar’s terrestrial 3.45 GHz wireless spectrum for $23 billion. But AT&T has capitalised on that investment in record time. AT&T says it has now equipped 23,000 of its cellular sites to take advantage of the valuable spectrum. It means that some two-thirds of the […]

November 19, 2025By Chris Forrester

Sweden: Tele2, Telenor secure new spectrum

Tele2 and Telenor, through their joint network company Net4Mobility (N4M), have secured new spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in the spectrum auction conducted by the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority, at a total auction amount of SEK 465,850,000 (€42.4m). The new frequency allocations are a significant step in future-proofing Net4Mobility’s shared mobile network and […]

November 18, 2025

India: Jio urges TRAI to speed up

Indian telco Jio (part of the Reliance Jio Infocomm business) is urging India’s regulators to speed up their approvals process for the Jio satellite to consumer plans. The Jio Space Technology with Luxembourg-based SES scheme was designed to expand broadband access to remote and underserved areas of India. While the joint venture was formed in […]

November 12, 2025By Chris Forrester

SES backs C-band action from FCC

The FCC unveiled plans earlier this week to again hold an auction of satellite C-band spectrum. It has now emerged that SES, the main satellite beneficiary of the restructuring, is firmly in favour of the FCC’s scheme. The FCC plan is to auction “at least” 100 MHz by July 2027. The FCC said the commission […]

October 31, 2025