Satellite Networks

A potential solution to the problem of ensuring the wide affordability of satcoms services – or at least satellite-enabled Wi-Fi services – has been announced by UAE-based spacetech company Space42 in South Africa.

Rivada Space Networks said on Monday it has signed a deal with space services firm Telespazio Brasil to leverage Rivada’s planned “Outernet” LEO satellite network for secure, high-performance satellite connectivity across Latin America.

Pan-African telco Paratus Group officially launched its Lesotho unit on Thursday, offering Starlink enterprise connectivity services alongside Paratus network solutions to businesses and organisations in the country.

Recent announcements from Oman underline the country’s commitment to expanding both satellite and submarine cable connectivity in the coming years.

Satellite operator SES revealed on Thursday it has been selected by Kazakhstan’s flagship airline, Air Astana, to install next-gen in-flight connectivity services across its Airbus A321LR fleet.

Saudi Arabia-based satellite operator Arabsat and satellite services and solutions provider Qatar Satellite Company (a.k.a. Es’hailSat) signed a strategic partnership agreement on Wednesday to expand joint initiatives in broadcasting and satellite communications.

Salience Consulting, a management advisory firm specialising in the digital infrastructure and ICT sectors, has been appointed to provide transaction advisory services for a proposed commercial spaceport in Kenya.

AST SpaceMobile, which is building a space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, has secured S-band spectrum authorisation from Brazilian regulator Anatel, as well as regulatory approval for the secondary use of spectrum in the 700 MHz band.

Satellite communications technology company ST Engineering iDirect has announced a strategic partnership with Oman’s MBSat, to provide the ground system technology foundation for MBSat’s next-generation satellite gateway and network operations across Oman and the wider Middle East region.

Nokia and ICEYE have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence to develop the country’s sovereign LEO satellite communications capability, shortly after Starlink throttled connections for Ukrainian forces.

Continuing efforts by countries across the Middle East to develop domestic space ecosystems encompassing satellite infrastructure have been underlined by recent announcements from Oman and Iraq relating to ground stations.

Digicel Trinidad and Tobago announced on Friday its business unit has launched satellite connectivity solutions that offer businesses a secure, resilient backup connectivity option to strengthen business continuity and operational readiness.

Global media services provider Arqiva has announced what it calls a landmark agreement with Gulfsat, a leading Kuwaiti communications company and regional satellite operator.

Veon announced on Friday that its Bangladesh operator, Banglalink, has launched Starlink’s direct-to-device (D2D) satellite service in the country, making it the third Veon-owned telco to launch the service in the past year.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has questioned the influence of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani as Starlink continues to await approval to launch its satellite internet service in India.

Paratus Namibia announced on Wednesday it has launched Eutelsat OneWeb LEO satellite service for both residential and enterprise customers.

For the second time in a week, there’s IoT coverage news relevant to Brazil with the announcement from Flolive and Skylo Technologies of integrated cellular and satellite connectivity services designed to extend reliable IoT communications across Brazil.

Gilat Perú has signed a $28 million agreement with Pronatel, Peru’s national telecommunications program, to upgrade broadband connectivity across the Ica region.

Spanish satellite telecommunications operator HispaSat, recently in the news thanks to its support for a rail connectivity trial in Poland, says it has signed an agreement to take over the management and signal transport business of Media Networks Latin America.

Veon-owned Beeline Kazakhstan announced on Tuesday that it has commercially launched Starlink Mobile direct-to-device (D2D) satellite service in the country, enabling customers to access apps and messaging in areas outside of its terrestrial coverage.

Saudi Arabia-based satellite operator Arabsat announced on Thursday it has signed an agreement with China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) to manufacture a new satellite, ARABSAT-50.

NuRAN Wireless revealed on Tuesday that telecoms infrastructure service provider Infratel has launched a pilot at a rural NuRAN site in Nigeria to evaluate Starlink’s LEO satellite service as a potential backhaul solution.

Satellite communications giant Amazon Leo has announced a new agreement through which it says it will expand internet connectivity across Uzbekistan with the help of satellite communication service company UZ-SAT.

Satellite communications company Eutelsat says it has successfully completed its first rail connectivity trial in Poland aboard a long-distance train, demonstrating its OneWeb LEO connectivity capabilities on a live rail network.

Space solutions company SES and JioStar, South Asia’s largest media conglomerate, have announced a new multi-year deal. It comes only weeks after the inauguration of a new SES office in Chennai in southern India.

Space42, the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company, and satcoms giant Viasat have signed a binding agreement to co-found Equatys, creating the first shared space and ground infrastructure platform for global direct-to-device and advanced MSS connectivity.

Confirming Nigeria’s plans to expand its satellite resources, telecommunications and technology giant Thales Alenia Space says it has won a contract to build the NigComSat-2A geostationary telecommunications satellite.

Saudi Arabian service provider and digital enabler stc Group, and Astranis, which builds advanced satellites for high orbits, have announced an agreement to deploy a dedicated satellite serving Saudi Arabia.

The UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has granted LEO satellite operator Starlink a ten-year licence to establish, operate, and manage broadband satellite internet services in the country.

Mozambique Telecom (a.k.a. Tmcel) has started  proof of concept (PoC) tests with Angola’s Angosat-2 satellite as part of an agreement between the two countries earlier this year to cooperate in the space, telecoms and ICT sectors.

China has approved its first private-sector commercial trial for satellite Internet of Things (IoT) services, granting a permit to Zhejiang Geespace Technology as part of what are being described as broader efforts to open the country’s satellite communications market to private capital.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reportedly announced a change of policy that means it will cease direct manufacturing of commercial launch vehicles, though this may boost its other businesses.