Satellite Networks

Chinese LEO satellite operator Geespace and Malaysian telecoms service provider Altel Communications have agreed to establish an R&D centre to develop use cases for direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications technology.

SpaceX has reportedly said it plans to invest US$1.5 billion in Vietnam in the near future as an apparent sweetener to convince the government to allow the company to launch its LEO satellite broadband service Starlink in the country.

The market for Starlink’s LEO satellite services in Fiji is getting more competitive as Digicel Fiji began offering Starlink services for its enterprise customers on Tuesday, just two months after rival telco Telecom Fiji did likewise.

Global satellite player Intelsat has revealed a new satellite terminal strategy that it claims will make it the first satellite player to offer global multi-orbit solutions for all relevant verticals by the first half of 2025.

Chinese LEO satellite contender GalaxySpace has signed a deal with Hong Kong carrier PCCW Global to expand its market reach overseas by integrating its LEOsat connectivity with PCCW’s worldwide network.

Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) said on Monday that it has connected more than 100 rural base stations in Nigeria to Starlink’s LEO satellite network, which has resulted in a 45% boost in traffic on those sites.

In a rather unusual turn of events, a Kenyan lobby group has apparently filed a lawsuit against operator Safaricom, along with regulator the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), and Kenya’s Competition Authority, demanding that they allow satellite operator Starlink access to the Kenyan market.

Chinese LEO satellite operator Geespace said on Friday it has launched a third batch of satellites for its planned LEOsat constellation that it says now covers 90% of the planet.

Space X subsidiary Starlink reversed course and agreed to block access to fellow Elon Musk-owned company X (formerly Twitter), to maintain its satellite internet service in Brazil.

Highlighting an increase in natural disasters in the Pacific Region, Digicel Pacific and SES have announced an agreement to bolster Digicel Pacific’s network with SES's service to enable critical communications to be restored quickly in the event of natural disasters. This agreement is an extension of the companies' long-standing partnership.

LEO satellite operator Starlink has scored another licence in the Pacific Islands to offer services – this one in the Solomon Islands, after two years of discussions with the government.

There’s been a flurry of African news from Starlink – satellite communications company SpaceX’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet service – in recent days, culminating with this week’s announcement that Botswana has granted an operating licence to the service.

Abu Dhabi-based Marlan Space, a new space company affiliated with International Holding Company (IHC), a global diversified conglomerate, also based in Abu Dhabi, has established a joint venture with US-headquartered space infrastructure company Loft Orbital to form Orbitworks, the Middle East’s first private space infrastructure company.

Kenyan telco Safaricom has reportedly written a letter to the Communications Authority of Kenya complaining that LEO satellite operator Starlink is a threat to the telecoms market and should be required to partner with local operators rather than compete with them.

Airtel Nigeria says it has successfully set up a satellite dish in Lagos for Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO satellite broadband service, which it says will be used to bring high-speed internet to remote areas.

Zambia has completed the construction of a ground receiving station which it says will pave the way for the launch of the country's long-awaited first satellite.

African technology group Liquid Intelligent Technologies has announced a strategic partnership with US connectivity innovator Globalstar to deliver advanced 5G connectivity solutions across Africa, the Middle East and the Gulf.

Bayanat, a provider of AI-powered geospatial solutions, and Yahsat, the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider, have announced the successful launch of their first low Earth orbit (LEO) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite. It went into orbit at the end of last week.

Senegal finally launched its first-ever satellite, GAINDESAT-1A, into orbit on Friday – after numerous delays – marking the first stage of its budding national space programme SENSAT.

Argentina’s telecoms regulator Enacom has permitted another big name in satellite services to enter the market.

MTN subsidiary Bayobab signed a multi-year deal to integrate Eutelsat’s LEO satellites, a move to expand cellular backhaul and coverage in rural areas to meet rising demands from enterprise clients across Africa.

Lynk Global, a satellite-to-phone (sat2phone) telecoms provider, and Vodafone Kiribati, a leading mobile operator in Kiribati, have announced the start of initial satellite direct-to-mobile phone services to subscribers using what Lynk calls its “cell-towers-in-space” system.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) said on Tuesday it has officially issued a telecoms licence to SpaceX’s LEO satellite broadband operator Starlink to offer services in the country.

Private equity firm EQT has announced that its EQT Infrastructure VI fund has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire a majority stake in the ground station infrastructure business of Eutelsat Group, a global leader in satellite communications.

Azercosmos, Azerbaijan's space agency, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana have announced a new partnership, described as a ‘new milestone in connectivity’, to launch satellite services in Botswana.

Hard on the heels of recent headlines made by China’s plans to launch a rival to the Starlink service has comes news of an incident that certainly wasn’t part of those plans.

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has reportedly changed its strategy for allocating two unsold satellite orbital slots after last week’s auction failed to attract any bids.

LEO satellite operator Starlink has received a temporary permit to operate in Tonga in an apparent retreat by the government who had earlier banned the service outright as residents sought to cope with last month’s subsea cable outage.

Telecom Fiji announced on Wednesday it has signed an agreement to become an authorised reseller for LEO satellite operator Starlink, and is already pitching it as a connectivity solution for businesses in underserved areas.

Avanti Communications a global multi-orbit provider of fully integrated connectivity services and solutions, says it has undertaken a satellite connectivity test with BankservAfrica, Africa’s largest automated clearing house, and with Capitec Bank, one of South Africa’s top retail banks.

Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), which owns and operates Nigeria’s communications satellite systems, has begun the process of replacing its NIGCOMSAT-1R communications satellite. It is reportedly seeking support from investors and collaborators worldwide to do this.

Starlink has officially launched services in South Sudan with the approval of the National Communications Authority (NCA), which hopes the LEO satellite operator will bring affordable internet services to the country.