Advanced Television

Spectrum

FCC OKs SpaceX satellite broadband

The US Federal Communications Commission has approved an application by SpaceX to provide broadband services using satellite technology in the United States and around the world, a move it says represents another step the Commission is taking to increase high-speed broadband availability and competition in the United States. This is the first approval of a […]

April 3, 2018By Chris Forrester and Colin Mann

UK 5G auction starts

Bidding has started for the latest batch of UK airwaves as networks look to offer next-generation 5G services and improve existing 4G. The big four mobile networks (O2, Three, EE and Vodafone) will compete with one new player (Airspan Spectrum) to bid for a share of the newly released spectrum.  It follows months of legal […]

March 20, 2018

Trade bodies launch Global Satellite Coalition

Six of the world’s leading satellite industry associations have established the Global Satellite Coalition (GSC), an international group through which targeted initiatives will be coordinated and implemented with the combined support of hundreds of member companies based in every world region. The coalition will drive industry priorities with one voice, unlocking opportunities for industry growth […]

March 13, 2018

FCC indicates support for SES/Intelsat C-band plan

The Federal Communications Commission’s chairman, Ajit Pai, speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, said the FCC was working on plans on the next steps needed to make the 3.7 – 4.2 GHz (C-band) available for commercial terrestrial use in the coming months. The positive news helped propel shares in Intelsat, which first proposed […]

February 28, 2018By Chris Forrester

Ofcom proceeds with spectrum auction

UK comms regulator Ofcom has announced the companies that have qualified to take part in its upcoming spectrum auction. Ofcom is releasing 40 MHz of spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band to improve broadband for today’s mobile users. It is also releasing 150 MHz of spectrum in the 3.4 GHz band to prepare for the […]

February 27, 2018

Intelsat falls 12% on low forecasts

Intelsat’s results are not that different from its two giant competitors, SES and Eutelsat. Each of the three are in for a tough year ahead with – at best – flat prospects, and bandwidth contract renewal prices under pressure. However, Intelsat’s stock price is always highly volatile and its February 26th results disappointed the market […]

February 27, 2018By Chris Forrester

SES joins 5G revolution for US

SES has accepted the merits of an Intelsat/Intel suggestion to the FCC that satellite’s valuable C-band frequencies can be shared with telcos in city areas to help boost 5G coverage. SES will join a consortium with Intelsat which is open to all satellite operators. The move, if accepted by the FCC, could prove to be […]

February 9, 2018By Chris Forrester

FCC’s Pai opposes ‘nationalised’ 5G

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has spoken in opposition to reports that the Trump administration is considering a federal takeover of portions of the country’s mobile broadband networks. A National Security Council official is reported to have presented senior members of the administration and other agencies with information suggesting that the United States needs […]

January 29, 2018By Colin Mann

France moves to boost mobile coverage

An historic agreement has been signed between the French Government, France’s Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (Arcep) and mobile operators to accelerate mobile coverage in country’s regions. Eradicating the digital divide is one of the major challenges of territorial cohesion policies. To accelerate the pace of France’s digital transformation, whether for micro, small and […]

January 16, 2018

US coalition aims to eliminate digital divide

Rallying around a plan to eliminate the digital divide by 2022, a diverse group of community leaders, rural advocates and top innovators have launched of Connect Americans Now. The new alliance will work with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other policymakers to ensure that there is sufficient unlicensed low band spectrum in every market […]

January 2, 2018By Colin Mann