The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted Elon Musk permission to lower the orbital heights of its Starlink broadband satellite system. “Specifically, we modify the license by reducing the number of satellites from 4,409 to 4,408; modifying the primary operational altitude specified for 2,814 satellites, to change it from the 1,100-1,300 km range to the […]
Elon Musk is getting closer to winning FCC approval to fly some of his Starlink low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites at even lower heights. Acting FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel has asked her board colleagues to formally vote on the plan having herself endorsed the idea. SpaceX is already licensed to operate 1,584 of its Starlink […]
Eutelsat and Viasat have lost a legal decision at the EU’s Court of Justice over a claim that London-based Inmarsat should not have been granted authorisation to key S-band satellite frequencies for in-flight connectivity over France in particular. French frequency regulator ARCEP (Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques et des Postes) had authorised Inmarsat’s important […]
London-based speciality satellite operator Avanti Communications has borrowed another $30 million and been given an additional lifeline by its lenders for its $145 million-worth of borrowings. But the money comes with a sting in the tail. The lenders have granted an extension to the repayment obligations to Avanti, setting January 31st next year as the […]
A report from investment bank Exane/BNPP says that today’s various satellite operators are supplying some 2,000 Gb/s of capacity (as at December 31st 2020 and using Northern Sky Research data). The bank suggests that this will grow ten-fold by the end of this year, and 30-fold before the end of this decade. This growth includes
California-based Viasat has signed a Memorandum of Understand (MOU) with Russia’s Gazprom Space System and telco TMC. The agreement will supply connectivity for in-flight connectivity (IFC) for airlines flying into and over Russia. Viasat says: “Russia is a key region for in-flight communications, comprised of 11 time zones, and providing, among other things, the shortest […]
Viasat of California, which already operates broadband-by-satellite services to businesses and consumers around the world, reported a 4.2 per cent drop in revenues (but Q3’s net income grew 4 per cent) but managed to boost its EBITDA by an impressive 17.5 per cent. The company told shareholders and analysts that its massive new Viasat 3 […]
NENT Group, the Nordic streaming company which includes the Scandinavian Viasat pay-TV brand, is well placed to thrive domestically and internationally according to a report from investment bank Berenberg. The bank recognises that along with many other pay-TV operations, NENT has benefited from the lockdown, saying: “2020 represented a significant year for the global streaming […]
Viasat, the California-based international broadband-by-satellite supplier, and Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar satellite business have both suffered a downgrade by analysts at investment bank Jefferies. In essence, the bank’s report says that Viasat’s revenues are likely to be impacted by the Covid pandemic and the bank has downgraded its revenue forecasts for this trading year. The bank […]
Viasat, a global communications company, and SKY Brasil, the largest satellite pay-TV operator in Brazil, have formed a partnership to increase the availability of satellite internet across Brazil. Through this agreement, SKY will sell, install and provide on-site technical service for Viasat’s high-speed internet service. “SKY is present in all cities within Brazil, offering services […]