Satcoms

Arianespace’s heavy-lift launcher, Ariane 5, flight VA258, has successfully deployed Eutelsat’s Konnect VHTS (Very High Throughput Satellite) telecommunications satellite in orbit. This was the launcher’s second mission of the year, the 114th overall, and the 37th time that Ariane launched a satellite for Eutelsat.

Teleport services company Signalhorn, decided to change its name to Leuk Teleport & Data Centre following a strategic business review, to better reflect the future direction of the company, Singalhorn said. The firm was founded in 1972 and has been providing highly secure connectivity ever since.

Launch company Arianespace, is to launch satellite operator Eutelsat’s Konnect VHTS (Very High Throughput Satellite) telecommunications satellite built by Thales Alenia Space, aboard an Ariane 5 rocket on 6th September, Arianespace said. Eutelsat aims to provide high-speed internet access throughout Europe, even in isolated regions, with the help of the mission.

In this Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Severin Meister, CEO of Rivada Space Networks about their ambitions and plans. We spoke with Severin during this year's ILA Berlin which is the largest aerospace trade show in Germany which took place this year June 22 - 26.

T-Mobile and SpaceX announced their new plan: Coverage Above and Beyond, to provide near complete coverage in most places in the U.S., even in many remote locations previously unreachable, leveraging SpaceX’s Starlink constellation and T-Mobile’s wireless network.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office selected space data provider SpaceLink, to participate in the Space-Based Adaptive Communications Node (Space-BACN) program designed to connect the proliferated space domain, SpaceLink said.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rejected LTD Broadband and Starlink’s applications for support through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) program, causing the companies to lose out on US $1.3 billion and US $900 million respectively. The FCC made the decision based on the conclusion that the providers failed to demonstrate that they could deliver the promised services.  

Wireless laser communication systems developer, Astrolight, successfully performed a satellite-to-ground laser communication test using a portable OGS-1 optical ground station, the company said. Working with the European Space Agency (ESA), Astrolight established the laser communication link near ESA’s Izaña-1 (IZN-1) ground station, located at Teide Observatory.

The UK branch of global communications company Viasat, was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to conduct a multi-layered Satellite Communication (SATCOM) study focused on evaluating the use cases, market segments and technical aspects of these future systems, the company said. 

Satellite operators Eutelsat Communications and OneWeb have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a leading global connectivity company through a merger between them in an all-share transaction, Eutelsat said. Eutelsat will combine its 36-satellite geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) fleet with OneWeb’s constellation of 648 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.