In a significant development, Hong Kong residents now have access to China Telecom’s satellite direct-to-phone service, marking a pivotal step in the operator’s expansion strategy. China Telecom has long provided satellite options to mobile customers through a range of devices, including dongles, dedicated satphones, and smartphones equipped with built-in satellite antennas from manufacturers like Huawei.
Reports this week indicate that the Indian government is expected to postpone spectrum allocations for satellite broadband providers by four to six months, awaiting clarity following the ongoing general elections. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is reportedly holding off on final decisions until after the election results are announced on June 4.
Indonesia is poised to welcome SpaceX’s Starlink LEO satellite broadband service within the next two weeks, announced Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the coordinating minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment. According to government sources, Starlink has secured the necessary agreement and license from Indonesian authorities to commence satellite internet operations.
Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES has revealed plans to purchase rival Intelsat in a landmark deal worth €2.8 billion. The move, unanimously approved by the boards of both companies, is set to create a formidable multi-orbit operator poised for expanded global coverage and innovation.
Intelsat, a leading satellite connectivity firm, has joined forces with farming equipment manufacturer CNH to introduce connected tractors and other agricultural machinery to Brazil, enabling precision farming in remote regions. The initiative involves installing ruggedized multi-orbit satellite terminals on CNH farm equipment across Brazil. These terminals will leverage Intelsat’s global network to establish connectivity, facilitating the real-time streaming of data between farm equipment and cloud services.
Telecommunications operators are increasingly turning to satellite technology to expand 5G coverage, particularly in rural regions, as indicated by new data from the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA). However, despite a rising number of partnerships and commercial launches, the market’s growth is slower than anticipated.
Bridging the digital divide in vast and harsh terrains like the Scottish Highlands, VMO2 embarks on a novel approach, utilizing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites from Starlink for critical backhaul services. Bypassing conventional, costly terrestrial infrastructure, VMO2’s tests have proven the potency of satellite technology in improving coverage across the UK.
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 move, Mavenir is joining forces with Terrestar Solutions, a satellite operator based in Canada, to pioneer a project that seamlessly blends satellite connectivity with Open RAN terrestrial networks. This collaboration, revealed just before the Mobile World Congress (MWC), aims to offer users across the globe uninterrupted connectivity by merging satellite and terrestrial network capabilities.
