Qatar Airways, the largest global airline to offer Starlink’s high-speed internet on board, has achieved a new milestone with the installation of Starlink on its 30th aircraft, equipping over 50 per cent of its Boeing 777 fleet. This achievement comes four months after the airline launched the first Boeing 777 Starlink-enabled flight and two months […]
SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite system is proving popular in Nigeria. Indeed, Starlink has paused distribution of its dishes and receivers in some high-population cities in Nigeria. However, Starlink has emerged as Nigeria’s second-largest Internet Service Provider (ISP) by subscriber numbers as of Q3 2024 according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Starlink’s active customer […]
Local reports say that Elon Musk’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite system could soon have permissions to operate in the India market. According to India’s Economic Times, SpaceX has agreed to most of the local conditions needed to gain access to the nation. The company has agreed to comply with most provisions for securing a GMPCS licence, but […]
Novaspace, the space consulting and market intelligence firm, has released the 7th edition of its FSS Capacity Pricing Trends report, analysing the shift in satellite capacity pricing as the industry moves from scarcity to abundance. As new-generation satellites drive down costs, traditional wholesale leasing models are under increasing pressure. Operators are responding by adopting value-based […]
The Latvian airline airBaltic has officially become the first European airline to introduce SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet for free onboard its Airbus A220-300 fleet – with certification granted by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). To celebrate this achievement, airBaltic hosted a special flight at RIX Riga Airport, bringing together key stakeholders, international and […]
South Africa has suspended talks over licensing SpaceX’s Starlink service in the country because of tensions with the Donald Trump administration in the US. A Bloomberg report says that “negotiators plan to wait until the dispute between the US and South Africa calm down, with the intention to return to a possible deal at a […]
Investment bank BNP Paribas hosted a low Earth orbiting ‘expert event’ with Dr Tim Farrar, an acknowledged expert on the satellite sector and Direct-to-Device (D2D) services in particular. Farrar argued that Elon Musk’s SpaceX/Starlink service, although embryonic today, are some “18 months ahead of competitors on D2D and that by the end of the year […]
As Starlink intensifies competitive pressures and African governments remain uncertain about intervening to protect telco incumbents, African telecom companies are increasingly focusing on underserved regions. In response, they are launching strategic initiatives to tackle the rising challenge of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity to maintain their market position and tap into new growth opportunities, […]
Last week the South African government, via its ICASA telecoms regulator, held formal public consultations on a proposed licensing plan for satellite services in the country. But SpaceX, and therefore Starlink, declined to appear. SpaceX was due to make a presentation to the hearing, but failed to turn up. According to an ICASA spokeswoman, SpaceX […]
While Europe may not represent the largest market for satellite solutions compared to other large landmass regions with lower fibre density and a greater share of the population living in rural areas, low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations have emerged as an important part of the connectivity toolkit in the region. SpaceX’s Starlink has secured a […]