The Federal Communications Commission has reaffirmed the Wireline Bureau’s prior decision to reject the long-form application of Starlink to receive public support through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund programme, based on the applicant’s failure to meet the programme requirements. The programme, which uses scarce universal service funding collected from consumers, sought to expand access to […]
Air New Zealand is to install Starlink antenna on its domestic aircraft fleet for broadband in-flight connectivity. The plan includes installations on the airline’s Airbus A320 and also its ATR 72 turbo-prop aircraft, and believed to be the first use anywhere on turbo-prop aircraft. “Whether travelling for work or leisure, we know maintaining seamless internet […]
Starlink is definitely going after the satellite ‘direct-to-device’ (D2D) market and this includes providing a cellular connection service for telephony. Details are still sketchy but what is known is that Starlink has been licensed by the FCC for testing of connections. Starlink is reportedly planning to include connectivity for users from 840 new satellites to […]
Contrary to some recent reports that Starlink would not be available in South Africa, local sources say that SpaceX is making moves that would see its equipment sold legitimately in the country. Just days ago South African communications regulator Icasa, in the nation’s official Government Gazette, published a notice about “illegal provision of satellite internet […]
Having launched more than 5,000 satellites it is inevitable for SpaceX’s Starlink that some will fail. SpaceX has filed to the FCC its latest report on those failures over the past couple of months and gives the reasons. Starlink reference number 3337 suffered failed software. Remedial action was taken and the software updated but ultimately […]
Icasa, South Africa’s communications regulator, is complaining about grey market Starlink dish sales in South Africa. Starlink is not licensed in the country. Icasa says such sales are illegal and “must stop immediately”. Icasa believes that dishes and modems are being brought into South Africa from neighbouring countries where they are licensed to operate. Starlink […]
Elon Musk made a high-profile and controversial visit to Israel on November 27th, meeting Bibi Netanyahu and touring some of the war-affected areas. Musk’s visit also saw Israel’s Ministry of Communications confirm an agreement on Starlink operations over Israel – and potentially including the Gaza region providing the Ministry gives its specific approval for coverage. […]
SpaceX’s Starlink dish has been completely redesigned with a much simpler concept. Starlink has redesigned its high-tech antenna. The latest versions have eliminated the automatic self-seeking positioning motors. The supplied instructions now talk about positioning the dish terminal as being with “manual orienting”. In other words, the customer positions the dish. The new dish (officially […]
Elon Musk, speaking ahead of the November 19th Starship launch, denied a Bloomberg report that his rocket company SpaceX was discussing an initial public offering (IPO) for its satellite internet business, Starlink – perhaps as soon as 2024. Musk, posting on his social media platform X, specifically described the Bloomberg report as “false”. The report […]
Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke, in an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP), has said that Eutelsat OneWeb intends to form a viable competitor to Elon Musk’s Starlink and provide superfast internet and broadband from space. She told AFP: “We have a lot of customers who want us to get there quickly. They tell us they took […]