UK comms regulator Ofcom is consulting on proposed updates to its satellite filings procedures, which are the processes for obtaining internationally recognised orbits and frequency assignments for satellites. Before a satellite can use the radio spectrum and orbits it needs, it requires an associated ‘satellite filing’ to obtain international recognition of these resources through the […]

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is having a hard time getting some of its member states to observe its regulations. Two problems are paramount: The first is the regulation of so-called ‘space debris’ whether dying satellites or collision avoidance obligations. The second concerns the deliberate jamming of certain TV signals which includes the rules governing […]

Rivada Space Networks, the would-be constellation operator of 288 yet-to-be-built satellites, is in deep trouble. Rivada’s litany of problems continues to mount. Not only is it late in stumping up the small matter of $2.4 billion (€2.1bn) needed to build its ‘OuterNet’ constellation, Rivada now faces another major hurdle from its licensing authority, the tiny […]

The Russian Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad has been pinpointed as being one source of numerous interferences on European satellites owned by SES, Eutelsat and others. The United Nations agency that oversees communications technology ha said that Russia should “immediately cease any deliberate action to cause harmful interference to frequency assignments of other administrations,” in a […]

AST SpaceMobile wants to provide the planet’s smartphone owners with satellite-delivered 5G connectivity. The Texas-based company already has a massive prototype satellite in orbit, launched in September 2022, and claims that its technology is the world’s “first and only” global cellular broadband network and with 3,100 patents in place. But it has hit problems with […]

Developing a comprehensive roadmap for new commercially available spectrum is necessary to ensure the successful deployment of future mobile networks, according to a report, The Evolution of 5G Spectrum, from trade body 5G Americas, which  provides insights into the future of mobile networks, emphasising the critical role of licensed spectrum for the successful rollout of […]

At the end of last year 64 per cent of the world’s population, 5.4 billion people, had access to the Internet according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). That number has grown to 67 per cent this in 2023. But the ITU also says there are huge regional disparities in addition to the obvious differences […]

There was a time when satellite dish owners in certain countries would be forced to disguise their dishes because of local bans and prohibitions. Owners in Saudi Arabia used to cover their large C-band dishes with parasols so that observing helicopters could not ‘see’ the equipment. Indeed, some owners in nearby Qatar, where a dish […]

Terran Orbital is building an initial 300 satellite (288 craft plus 12 spares) mega-constellation for Rivada Space. However, Rivada is on an extremely tight launch schedule in order to comply with International Telecommunications Union (ITU) obligations. Terran has outlined its delivery plans for the next few years as far as the first batch of satellites […]

Rivada Space Networks, fresh with the positive news from the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board that its planned launches for two 300 satellite constellations can go ahead, has announced a partnership with IEC Telecom for land and maritime connectivity. Rivada is seeking business for its ‘OuterNet’ satellite scheme and supplying large quantities of data to government […]