Tag Archives: Satellite Communications

Following reports earlier this week that Australian Stock Exchange-listed Sky and Space Global (SAS) had missed scheduled payments to its satellite manufacturer GomSpace, the narrowband satellite communications company that aims to put in orbit a constellation of Nanosatellites called 'Pearls' by 2020, said that the outstanding payments will be settled soon.

Swiss satellite operator, Astrocast, has lofted three new pilot Nanosatellites that promote affordable Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. The pilots are designed specifically for IoT applications and Astrocast’s two-way system allows companies to monitor and control their remote assets, including over-the-air upgrades at lower latency and cost than existing satellite communications networks.

The Satellite Applications Catapult and Infostellar have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide UK businesses with enhanced access to the Satellite Applications Catapult’s ground station in Goonhilly, Cornwall.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will deliver five ground stations and a total of 500 Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT) to enable its neighbours to benefit from satellite-based services such as TV, Internet, telephone, disaster management, and telemedicine.

Hughes Communications India has been selected to provide a high-performance satellite broadband system for India's Naval Communication Network (NCN).

The Indian government is considering building a constellation of communications satellite is low-Earth and Medium-Earth orbits (LEO and MEO) in order to provide improved connectivity across the country with reduced latency, as the South Asian country seeks to be the latest entity to build a large constellation of satellites, albeit the first to do so as a government programme.

As Iran makes preparation to launch three satellites using Iranian launch vehicles, the United States has warned Tehran not to conduct the launches and condemned the Iranian space programme as a deceptive measure that in reality is designed to help build long-range ballistic missiles.

Danish CubeSat manufacturer has apparently slow-rolled manufacturing of 200 Pearl CubeSats for the Australian Stock Exchange-listed New Space company Sky and Space Global after two payments thought to be worth U.S.$2.3 million have been missed, according to a report in Space News.

Ethiopia's state-owned telecommunications provider, Ethio Telecom, is considering acquiring a communications satellite in order to provide connectivity to rural Ethiopia as well as to economic sectors in the northeast African country that will benefit from telecommunications infrastructure, such as agriculture and mining, according to a news story published in Ethiopian news outlet The Reporter.

Human space exploration has received another significant boost with the successful landing of a Chinese probe on the far side of the moon – a feat that has never before been accomplished. Chinese state media confirmed that the spacecraft had performed a ‘soft landing’ at 10.26am (2.26am GMT) on January 2. The confirmation came after an earlier tweet was deleted from China Daily and various other sources, proclaiming the mission a success.