Satcoms

OneWeb, the global communications company with a mission to connect governments, businesses and people everywhere, submitted a modification request to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase the number of satellites in its constellation up to 48,000 satellites. This larger OneWeb constellation will allow for greater flexibility to meet …

GuarantCo, with funding from the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) Technical Assistance, is providing a US$500,000 grant to support Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific) efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by distributing satellite communication systems. These systems will allow free connections of up to 1,000 rural health posts and …

By Yuka Koshino Japan’s establishment of the Space Domain Mission Unit, which is planned to become fully operational in 2023, reflects the country’s increasing reliance on space systems to meet its security needs. It could emerge as a key actor in the defence of space assets in the Indo-Pacific. In …

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and Ministry of Defense (MoD) stood up the country’s first Space Operations Squadron – the first component of Japan’s Space Domain Mission Unit (SDMU) – in a ceremony presided by the Japanese Minister of Defense Taro Kono on 18 May 2020. The Space Operations Squadron, …

Isotropic Systems, a leading developer of transformational broadband terminal technologies, announced on 18 May 2020 an antenna evaluation and development contract with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to test the ability of its patented multi-beam antennas to unlock high-powered bandwidth aboard next-gen Naval vessels at sea. As the U.S. Navy …

Intelsat, one of the largest commercial satellite communications operators in the world, announced on 13 May 2020 that it is seeking Chapter 11 protections from its creditors in US bankruptcy courts. The satellite communications operator with a fleet of over 50 satellites is reported to have debts of at least …

Telesat, one of the largest and most successful global satellite operators, has joined a group of tech firms led by Mississippi-based C Spire working to bridge the “digital divide” and help solve the rural broadband access and adoption problem. The firms, which also include Airspan Networks, Microsoft, Nokia and Siklu, …

C6 Launch Systems Inc., is pleased to announce the successful completion of a Canadian Space Agency (CSA) funded research and development project paving the way for next-generation, low-cost space communications for small-sat rockets. Named C6 STARS™ (Space Transmission and Reception System), the system was developed on time with a CA$71,990 …

Airbus has won the new satellite communications framework contract for military and civil missions of the European Union and its member states. This four-year framework contract was awarded by the European Defence Agency (EDA) and is estimated to be worth tens of millions of euros. “With this satellite communications programme, Airbus …

Iran is planning to develop and launch a satellite into geostationary orbit (GEO) – at an altitude of 36,000 kilometres – for the economic benefit of the country, according to Brigadier Ali Jafarabadi, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Space Command. Speaking with Iranian news outlet Negar …