Satellite communications specialist Viasat has successfully performed what it say is the first successful direct-to-handset (D2H) communication test using direct-to-device (D2D) technology in L-band in Brazil. The demonstration showcased two smartphones connecting directly via satellite using 3GPP NTN standards without the involvement of other terrestrial infrastructure. According to Viasat, his signifies the start of a […]
High-speed inflight connectivity and worldwide entertainment solutions provider Anuvu has upgraded its Dedicated Space platform, saying it drives over a 35 per cent increase in peak speed. Introduced in 2022, Dedicated Space optimises network performance by dedicating satellite capacity to individual aircraft and passengers, enabling a low-latency and reliable Internet experience. Now, Dedicated Space is […]
New Zealand-based (but Nasdaq-listed) Rocket Lab has confirmed that it intends attacking the Direct-to-Consumer market currently dominated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its Starlink broadband system. Rocket Lab, founded by Sir Peter Beck, has recently unveiled its ‘Flatellite’ satellite, which it claims will deliver a long life in orbit and low-latency, with high-speed connectivity and […]
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, speaking at the commissioning ceremony for the country’s home-produced TÜRKSAT 6A on April 21st, said that Turkey was now one of only a few counties capable of producing its own satellites. “With TÜRKSAT 6A, which we developed with a domestic production rate of over 80 per cent, Türkiye has become […]
AST SpaceMobile (AST) already has five of its Mark 1 ‘BlueWalker’ satellites in orbit but they are far from enough to provide even close to decent coverage of its direct-to-consumer cellular coverage. Key to its 2025 strategy is to launch the larger and more powerful BlueBird satellites. India was initially reported to launch the first […]
Germany has already made it known that it believes the EU-backed IRIS2 mega-constellation of super-secure satellites is too expensive. Now it seems that Italy is also having thoughts about its own satellite fleet. A report in German newspaper Handelsblatt suggests that the German army (Bundeswehr) is backing an alternate orbiting satellite system, and may not […]
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted AST SpaceMobile, in coordination with AT&T, the ability to test direct-to-cellular connectivity on public safety’s Band 14 spectrum via its BlueBird satellites orbiting Earth. With this approval, it is envisioned that select first responders on FirstNet, Built with AT&T will trial public-safety-grade satellite communications later in 2025. AT&T […]
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) already delayed launch from April 10th and again on April 14th of a batch of Amazon Project Kuiper broadband satellites has now further delayed lift-off until April 28th. Weather got in the way of the April 14th launch. The new date should see the ULA Atlas V rocket lift off […]
The Baikonur rocket and missile site in the middle of Kazakhstan is an area of some 90 kms in diameter which is leased to Russia until 2050. At its heart is the spaceport, and central to the spaceport’s modest visitors area is a small museum where the world’s first astronaut Yuri Gagarin lived ahead of […]
Managed network connectivity solutions specialist Hughes Network Systems has confirmed the availability of its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite service. Using Eutelsat’s OneWeb high-speed, low-latency, LEO satellite broadband services with Hughes ground equipment, installation, and network management, enterprises across Europe will experience enhanced connectivity from European-based providers. As an engineering partner, Hughes is developing gateway […]