T-Mobile will launch its new T-Satellite direct-to-cellular (DTC) service for US subscribers with SpaceX’s Starlink on July 23rd. It will follow this launch with support for data for third-party apps including WhatsApp and X in October. T-Mobile says the range of the satellite coverage will cover some 500,000 square miles of the country and include […]
Despite missiles raining down – and perhaps to ensure connectivity – Elon Musk has confirmed that SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite is now active in Iran. On June 13th, Iran’s communications ministry announced that “temporary restrictions have been imposed on the country’s internet” in response to Israel’s wave of attacks on military and nuclear facilities. The ministry […]
Novaspace, the space consulting and market intelligence firm, has released the 13th edition of its Prospects for Maritime Satellite Communications report, assessing the key trends and developments impacting this rapidly growing market. As the number of vessels using satcom services grows to 125,000 by 2034, reliance on GEO capacity will decrease. Vessels are moving their […]
Starlink has enjoyed considerable positive press these last few days, notably winning operating licences in India and South Korea, for example. But pilots flying some of United’s aircraft fleet are not so pleased. United Airlines has had to disable Starlink transmissions for its passengers on some flights because of interference to the aircraft’s normal operating […]
Space Norway, the European satellite operator, has signed an agreement with Starlink by SpaceX to provide Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity services starting with immediate effect. This contract further extends the company’s strategy of offering multi-orbit infrastructure combining geostationary (GEO), Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) and LEO satellites. The Starlink satellite constellation will enable Space […]
SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite system is not authorised or licensed by South Africa. Recent discussions between SpaceX and South Africa’s licensing authorities could see this prohibition lifted. However, there are reportedly thousands of Starlink users in South Africa. The users have imported equipment from neighbouring states where Starlink is authorised and have accessed Starlink via its […]
Starlink subscribers around the world pay anything between $120 (USA), A$139 (Australia), €49 (average in Europe) and Ksh 6500 (in Kenya). But SpaceX has a major dilemma in setting its pricing structure in India. Not only is India a market with plenty of established cellular competition, but also vigorous competition from Eutelsat’s OneWeb and RelianceJio/SES, […]
Elon Musk’s previous comments that South Africa’s government was allegedly “racist” were raised during the tense meeting between President Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa in the White House last week. Musk was present during the meeting but did not speak. South African billionaire Johann Rupert did speak and moved to quell tensions with remarks that […]
UK comms regulator Ofcom is consulting on a proposal to issue fixed-term spectrum licences to enable Starlink to use E band frequencies for Non-geostationary Orbit (NGSO) gateway earth stations at three sites in the UK. This is to expand backhaul capacity to support satellite broadband services. Ofcom notes that take-up of satellite broadband is rising, […]
A routine launch of 28 Starlink satellites today [May 13th] will be looking to break an impressive record for SpaceX. The new record is that the launch will be the 28th use of the Falcon 9 booster rocket. The launch will wrap up a succesful weekend for SpaceX. The company sent another batch of its […]