UK’s latest telecommunications initiatives involve satellite broadband for remote Scottish regions, collaborating with Australia on telecoms diversification, and implementing advanced digital infrastructure such as smart lampposts, showcasing its commitment to becoming a global industry leader.
AST SpaceMobile has made history by successfully connecting a direct voice call between the United States and Japan via its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, using standard smartphones. The use of standard smartphones makes this a world first, as no one has previously achieved a direct voice connection from space to unmodified cellular devices. AST SpaceMobile partnered with some of its mobile operator partners, including AT&T, Rakuten, and Vodafone, to make the connection. The test call was made using AT&T spectrum and a Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone in the Midland, Texas area, connecting to Rakuten in Japan. The successful test call validated AST SpaceMobile’s network architecture and systems, including its BW3 satellite, which it describes as the largest commercial communications array in low-earth orbit. The call also paves the way for space-based cellular broadband. AST SpaceMobile’s goal is to provide coverage to close to 50% of the world’s population…
The EU Secure Connectivity Program has welcomed Rivada Space Networks, a wireless technology company focused on open access wholesale and the fusion of terrestrial and satellite communications. The EU space-based, secure communication system proposes to use the most recent quantum communication technology for secure encryption in order to accommodate growing and changing governmental and business demands. The program aims to enable access to advanced, dependable and high-speed connectivity for citizens and businesses across Europe, including coverage of communication dead zones. This initiative is aimed at ensuring cohesion among Member States, and providing the long-term availability of worldwide uninterrupted secure and cost-effective satellite communication services. In its submission to the EU Secure Connectivity Program’s preliminary market consultation, Rivada Space Networks outlined the main characteristics of its laser-linked LEO constellation architecture. The business also suggests that the member nations and project stakeholders should use its Open Access Wireless Marketplace platform…
T-Mobile is collaborating with SpaceX to expand its network coverage. Last week, the two businesses announced that they will collaborate to provide extensive cellular access, including full coverage in most parts of the United States. The collaboration seeks to beam down connectivity using SpaceX’s fleet of low Earth orbit satellites for the benefit of T-Mobile customers. With this initiative, T-Mobile consumers should be able to connect to the SpaceX satellites through a new network, transmitted from Starlink’s satellites utilizing T-Mobile’s midband spectrum across the country. SpaceX currently provides home internet access globally through its Starlink program. Even though T-Mobile hasn’t yet provided details on the network’s deployment, the company claims that this collaboration should provide nearly complete coverage almost anywhere in the US. The two companies intend to provide this service in order to replace the use of satellite phones in off-the-grid locations such as national parks or…
UltiSat, a global provider of essential communications solutions, has announced a new distribution agreement with OneWeb Technologies to include its LEO-based satellite communications services in the UltiSat portfolio for the government and mobility industries. The deal is part of UltiSat’s continuous product and service expansion plan, which began in late 2021. To enable worldwide end-to-end connectivity, the distribution agreement will make use of OneWeb’s expanding fleet of LEO communications satellites and approved remote terminals. Equipment integration, field services, 24×7 customer support, logistics and lifecycle management will be provided by UltiSat. UltiSat and OneWeb Technologies will collaborate to make a wider selection of client application environments more accessible, all of which will be commercially available and operated as a service. UltiSat has also announced a strategic distribution and integration deal with Cobham Satcom, a prominent global provider of land and maritime satellite communications solutions to the government and enterprise…
IBM to purchase security firm ReaQta IBM intends to buy endpoint security firm ReaQta in order to improve its automated cybersecurity threat detection and response capabilities. The acquisition broadens IBM’s capabilities in the extended detection and response (XDR) sector, consistent with the company’s objective to supply security through an open approach that spans diverse technologies, data and hybrid cloud environments. IBM also introduced QRadar XDR, a new suite of XDR capabilities designed to assist security analysts in breaking down the walls between the industry’s growth of point products and gaining full insight through security tools and data sources, both in the cloud and on-premises. Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/ftyj3ds Airtel Africa and UNICEF enter a multi-million-dollar partnership Airtel Africa, an African telecoms service provider, has established a partnership with UNICEF to expedite the roll-out of digital learning by connecting schools to the Internet and assuring free access to educational platforms in…
Amazon, the multinational technology company, has received the approval from America‘s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy 3,236 internet satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) and to provide the US with satellite-based broadband services. The project, named Kuiper, was first announced last spring with the intent to build a LEO satellite constellation that would have the potential to provide cost-effective broadband services to unserved and underserved communities around the world. A project of this magnitude requires a great amount of resources, therefore Amazon will invest more than $10 billion in the project. This investment will not only provide broadband services, but will also create workplaces and infrastructure around the United States. Dave Limp, senior VP at Amazon, commented: “There are still too many places where broadband access is unreliable or where it doesn’t exist at all. Kuiper will change that. Our $10 billion investment will create jobs and…
