Amazon has launched its first 27 satellites for Project Kuiper, marking its entry into the satellite internet race against SpaceX’s Starlink. Aiming to deliver fast internet to remote areas, Amazon plans to deploy over 3,200 satellites and begin service by late 2025 while addressing concerns like light pollution and regulatory challenges.
Indian telecom giant Jio Platforms has partnered with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s satellite internet to India. This collaboration aims to enhance high-speed internet access across remote areas, supporting Jio’s mission to provide reliable broadband to businesses, enterprises, and communities.
Bharti Airtel’s strategic partnership with SpaceX to introduce Starlink broadband in India is a groundbreaking move in the telecom sector. This collaboration leverages Airtel’s market expertise and infrastructure, aiming to boost broadband access in remote areas.
Italy is in talks with SpaceX for a €1.5 billion contract aimed at enhancing national telecom security. The deal incorporates encrypted communications and Starlink’s integration to boost connectivity, especially in underserved areas.
Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) is set to launch its first batch of satellites, challenging SpaceX’s Starlink. This launch, part of China’s G60 Starlink Plan, aims to deploy 15,000 low Earth orbit satellites by 2030, marking a significant step in China’s strategic competition with the United States.
Filtronic, a UK-based manufacturer of RF, microwave, and mmWave components, projects substantial growth in both revenue and earnings for its recently concluded financial year, driven by its involvement in the low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite market and sales to Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The company forecasts an EBITDA of £4.8 million for the year ending May, marking a notable increase from the £1.3 million recorded in fiscal 2023.
SpaceX has hit a roadblock in its ambitious plan to connect consumer devices directly to its next-generation Starlink satellites, as the FCC rejected its request to utilize the 1.6 GHz, 2 GHz, and 2.4 GHz bands. The regulatory agency has halted SpaceX’s bid citing their current policy on limiting new entrants to these bands.
The telecommunications sector leaps forward as KDDI and SpaceX bring a game-changing satellite-to-cellular service, intertwining mobile and satellite technologies. Leveraging SpaceX’s Starlink low-earth orbit satellites and KDDI’s national wireless spectrum, the partnership aims to expand urban connectivity into rural areas. While the innovation promises swift deployment and extensive coverage, it also poses challenges, including the need for costly, satellite-enabled handsets.
In a groundbreaking collaboration, T-Mobile US and SpaceX are gearing up for the field testing of Starlink satellites, heralding a significant stride in eliminating mobile coverage dead zones. While the exact date for the commencement of field testing remains undisclosed, T-Mobile is optimistic about its imminent initiation, stating that the low-Earth orbit deployment of satellites sets the stage for the forthcoming trials.
SpaceX’s Starlink is paving the way for direct-to-mobile services, thanks to a progressive partnership with T-Mobile. Going beyond termianls, the ambitious endeavor could allow unmodified smartphones to directly connect with satellites. Beginning with text messaging in 2024, comprehensive voice and data services are slated to follow in 2025. However, AT&T and the Rural Wireless Association express concerns about possible interference with commercial networks, prompting fierce debate over the fine lines of regulatory procedures.
