SpaceX’s Starlink has started security tests ahead of its commercial launch in India. Reports from India say this is one of the final steps needed prior to starting commercial broadband services in the nation. The tests form part of India’s obligatory security clearance process for both foreign and domestic telecom operators. However, India’s Telecom Regulatory […]
AST SpaceMobile, which has a Japanese partner with Rakuten Mobile, will have competition in terms of Direct-To-Consumer connectivity. The threat comes from a joint venture between wireless telecom provider NTT Docomo and financial powerhouse Softbank. NTT Docomo and SoftBank are preparing to launch direct satellite communication services for smartphones in 2026, leveraging the Starlink satellite network […]
Grey-market/cross border smuggling of satellite kit has meant that SpaceX has disabled some 2,500 former users in Myanmar (the former Burma). Myanmar is not yet offering a Starlink service, but nearby Malaysia is authorised. A statement from Lauren Dreyer (VP/Starlink Business Operations) at SpaceX said: “SpaceX complies with local laws in all 150+ markets where […]
SpaceX launched its 10,000th Starlink satellite on October 19th at 17.39 UTC. Some observers said there had been a malfunction but SpaceX later confirmed all the satellites had been deployed and the valuable booster stage of the rocket successfully landed on its floating drone ship eight minutes after launch. Indeed, the day represented a double […]
Using Speedtest data, Ookla has taken a look at the early usage of T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service across T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and FirstNet users in the US. Speedtest data highlights the early usage of T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service, which works on most new iOS and Android smartphones released in the past 2-4 years. The service is available […]
United Airlines has started offering Starlink WiFi and In-Flight connections on some of its Denver-based fleet. United plans to install Starlink on up to 15 of its 737-800 planes each month, with more than half of the United’s regional Embraer fleet already equipped with Starlink. Reports say that United is installing two Starlink antennas on […]
Local reports in South Africa say that Communications Minister Solly Malatsi is poised to give a policy direction which will permit SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite system to operate in the country. Malatsi’s move will have to be approved by the nation’s regulator Icasa and will likely to require Starlink to invest in local businesses in order […]
Parnil Urdhwareshe, Starlink’s India market director, speaking in New Delhi, said its upcoming satellite broadband service in India will remain underutilised unless rural users are brought on board, stressing that rural connectivity lies at the core of its global network and will be central to its India plans. The company, which is gearing up to […]
The Jeff Bezos-backed Project Kuiper rival to Starlink is readying its KF-03 batch of 24 satellites for launch today [October 9th], subject to the usual last-minute weather and technical considerations. According to weather officials, there’s a 55 per cent chance of favourable weather conditions at the time of the launch. Officials are monitoring weather conditions […]
Elon Musk’s Starlink service is offering some major concessions to South Africa in an attempt to get permission to launch services in the country. Starlink has itemised significant investment promises for the government. Ryan Goodnight, senior director in charge of market access at Starlink has reportedly raised a few key points at the AGM of […]