Advanced Television

starlink

Starlink could offer smaller antenna

SpaceX’s Starlink has submitted an application to the FCC for permission to test a smaller antenna for its broadband-by-satellite service. The application asks for a temporary licence to test 5 new user terminals (in California, Colorado, Texas, Utah and Washington State). These new designs will use the same uplink and downlink frequencies as a conventional […]

June 8, 2021By Chris Forrester

Viasat questions FCC Starlink subsidy

California-based satellite broadband supplier Viasat has filed an objection to the FCC’s granting of $885 million to SpaceX and its Starlink satellite service. The FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) awarded the sum to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service in December 2021. The award was part of a massive $9.2 billion granted to successful applicants, and […]

June 3, 2021By Chris Forrester

Germany to subsidise Starlink subs

Germany says it is prepared to help its citizens living in rural areas to access better Internet services with subsidies. The government’s Transport Ministry says it will subsidise the purchase of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite dishes and similar providers of wireless Internet connections with grants to households worth €500, business daily Handelsblatt reported. The €500 on […]

June 2, 2021By Chris Forrester

FCC to Starlink’s objectors: “No change in decision”

A slew of objectors is grumbling to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system. We have reported on Viasat’s complaints, but SES, Hughes Network and others are also arguing for the FCC to either suspend or modify its April 27th permission for SpaceX/Starlink to alter their orbital plans. Some of the […]

June 1, 2021

SpaceX close to 1600 launched Starlinks

May 26th saw SpaceX launch another 60 of its Starlink satellites. This means that there are almost 1600 working Starlinks either orbiting or being moved to their target positions. In total Starlink has orbited 1737 satellites although some were test craft and others have failed and been deorbited. The Starlink 28 flight took place at […]

May 27, 2021By Chris Forrester

Viasat asks FCC to halt SpaceX launches

California-based satellite operator Viasat has asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stop – or at least pause – SpaceX from launching any more of its Starlink satellites. Last month the FCC ruled that SpaceX could modify its licence and place some satellites into different orbits than originally permitted. The request to the FCC from […]

May 27, 2021By Chris Forrester

SpaceX’s Starlink extends to Belgium

Last week it was the Netherlands, and this week the SpaceX Starlink broadband-by-satellite service has been extended to Belgium – or at least a service has been promised in the near future. An email from Starlink to potential subscribers in Belgium stresses that the system will still suffer short periods without a connection while Starlink […]

May 24, 2021By Chris Forrester

SpaceX’s Starlink now in Netherlands

As SpaceX gears up for its next Starlink satellite launch on May 26th, the business has announced that its beta-test programme is now available in the Netherlands. Adding the country means that much of Europe, including the UK, Germany, Austria and France, is now available to early adopting subscribers. The May 26th scheduled launch, subject […]

May 18, 2021By Chris Forrester

SpaceX success for Starlink 27; plans Starship orbit

Elon Musk’s SpaceX make a textbook Cape Canaveral launch of another 52 Starlink satellites (plus two ‘rideshare’ paying craft) into orbit on May 15th. And, as ever, more records were broken. This time, for Starlink 27, it was the third launch in as many weeks. It was the eighth use of the first stage Falcon […]

May 17, 2021By Chris Forrester

Starlink targets 1m European subs this year

SpaceX will launch 52 Starlink satellites this weekend on May 15th. The normal batch of 60 is being amended because SpaceX has a couple of paying guest craft on board for the launch. Starlink has also confirmed that it is now taking orders from clients in France. Spain is also targeted with Starlink having registered […]

May 14, 2021By Chris Forrester