China plans for 72 IoT satellites
Chinese research institute, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has confirmed it is planning an overall constellation of 72 ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) satellites over the next 3 years. Chinese...
View ArticleTaiwan climbs Netflix Speed Index; Saudi Arabia falls
There were several big movements in the month of June on the Netflix ISP Speed Index – a monthly update on which Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide the best prime time Netflix streaming...
View ArticleWorries over ‘dead’ satellites
On May 24th a SpaceX rocket launched 60 tightly packed Starlink satellites into one dispenser launching them as if a string of pearls into Low Earth orbit. Three of the sixty subsequently failed, and...
View ArticleVirgin Galactic merges with investment business
Virgin Galactic, the much-delayed space tourism and would-be satellite launch supplier, is selling 49 per cent of itself to what has been described as a ‘shell company’ Social Capital Hedosophia...
View ArticleDC support for CBA plan
Congressman Mike Doyle (Dem), and the leader of the US House Telecom Panel, is drafting a Bill that would see US satellite operators sell spectrum in stages over the next 10 years, with an initial...
View ArticleFirst job cuts at Euskaltel
Euskaltel, Spain’s fifth largest operator, has announced 25 job cuts, 10 in R Cable, 7 in Telecable and 8 in Euskaltel. It is the first move following Zegona’s takeover of the company and will probably...
View ArticleBezos satellite scheme could be worth $100bn
Amazon owner Jeff Bezos is ambitiously backing Project Kuiper, a concept that will see 3236 smallish satellites placed into orbit for delivering broadband just about everywhere on the planet....
View ArticleDeutsche Telekom loses StreamOn appeal
Deutsche Telekom has lost its legal battle over its zero-rated mobile video offering, StreamOn, following a court ruling that the service violates EU rules on roaming and net neutrality. An appeals...
View ArticleFCC backs telehealth plan
The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) has welcomed a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposal to establish a connected care pilot program that would provide an 85 per cent discount on...
View ArticleTunisia wants 30 satellites for IoT
Tunisia-based Telnet Group is linking with two Russian companies to help achieve a mini-constellation of 30 small satellites for Internet of Things (IoT) services. Telnet has signed a contract with...
View ArticleSpain: OTT closes in on pay-TV
Spain’s three biggest streaming TV platforms – Netflix, HBO and Prime Video – have reached a combined 6 million subscribers according to the CNMC, nearing the same number as the 6.9 million who have a...
View ArticleFans turn to streaming for Wimbledon & Cricket finals
July 14th produced one of the most nail-biting half hours in British sporting history, with both the Wimbledon Men’s final and the Cricket World Cup final going to deciders in order to produce outright...
View ArticleUS examines C-band spectrum
The US House Sub-committee on Communications & Technology held a hearing in Washington DC on July 16th. High on the agenda was the proposal from the C-Band Alliance on restructuring of C-band over...
View ArticleVirgin, Sky extend content deal
UK pay-TV operators Virgin Media and Sky have agreed a new, multi-year partnership that will see the two companies strengthen their track record of collaboration and bring an even better viewing...
View ArticleSurvey: 46% of UK ‘overwhelmed’ by range of broadband bundles
UK consumers are feeling increasing overwhelmed by the range of broadband and content bundles on offer, according to the a report from EY’s annual digital home survey of 2,500 UK consumers. Nearly half...
View ArticleEC OKs Liberty Global/Vodafone deal
The European Commission has given its final approval of the sale of Liberty Global’s operations in Germany, Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic to Vodafone Group. The transaction, announced May 9th...
View ArticleFull 4G coverage for London Underground
Transport for London (TfL) has revealed plans for full 4G services across the entire Tube network. The Jubilee Line will be the first to benefit, with the eastern half to get full mobile connectivity...
View ArticleFCC gets blunt messages from CBA
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received a 28-page filing on July 18th from the C-Band Association (CBA) in regard to the Association’s re-working of C-band frequencies over the US to help...
View ArticleIntelsat and Avanti launch delays
The upcoming launch of two communication satellites, one (I-39) for Intelsat and the other a scientific mission for the European Space Agency but which also includes a payload for Avanti (and is called...
View ArticleCBA offers revenue share cash to US treasury
July 19th saw a flurry of filings to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from various interested parties to the C-Band Alliance’s (CBA) pitch for a restructuring of 180 MHz of satellite...
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