Satellite Networks

Digicel PNG announced on Wednesday it is now authorised to resell Starlink’s LEO satellite broadband services to businesses across Papua New Guinea, a month after a government ban on Starlink operations was rescinded.

Kazakh telco Transtelecom JSC said on Wednesday it has kicked off a project with national postal operator QazPost to install satellite connectivity from LEO satellite operator Starlink in remote settlements in Kazakhstan.

Airtel Uganda announced on Monday it has begun testing Starlink’s direct-to-cell (D2C) LEO satellite service, shortly after Starlink received a provisional licence to offer services in the country.

ICEYE, a major name in space-based intelligence, is apparently planning to establish its first Indian production facility within the next year to manufacture small satellites.

Turkcell, Turkey’s leading telecommunications and technology company, and 5G IoT satellite constellation operator Sateliot say they have successfully completed a field demonstration of 5G NTN IoT connectivity via satellite both in Barcelona and Istanbul.

Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) announced Monday that its long-awaited Nusantara Lima (N5) broadband satellite is now live and ready to connect underserved and unconnected regions across Indonesia, as well as the Philippines and Malaysia.

UAE-based satellite player Space42 revealed on Monday it is ready to launch direct-to-device (D2D) satellite services via its geostationary Thuraya-4 satellite via a partnership with non-terrestrial network (NTN) firm Skylo Technologies.

Telkom Indonesia and its satellite services arm Telkomsat revealed on Monday that they have inaugurated a new satellite gateway to provide backbone infrastructure in the Papua Mountains region.

Chinese satellite operator Guodian Gaoke has reportedly received a two-year trial licence from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) to offer LEO satellite-based IoT services in China.

Veon’s Ukrainian telco Kyivstar announced on Wednesday it has expanded its collaboration with LEO satellite player Starlink with a new agreement to resell Starlink's broadband services and hardware for businesses and public sector institutions.

Two companies headquartered in India – Pixxel, a company that builds and operates advanced imaging satellites, and artificial intelligence technology company Sarvam – have announced a strategic partnership to develop and build India’s first orbital data centre satellite.

Space solutions company SES has announced that it will provide service on its high-capacity medium-Earth orbit (MEO) satellite network O3b mPOWER to Petrobras, the Brazilian state-owned oil company, to connect multiple new floating production, storage and offloading systems (FPSOs).

Satellite operator Speedcast's Brazilian operation, SC CapRock, says it has developed and implemented a hybrid solution for mining company Mineração Taboca to provide more resilient connectivity for its operations in a remote area in the Amazon.

Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda agreed on Thursday to move forward with a plan to launch a regional satellite to boost connectivity in East Africa’s northern corridor.

Sierra Leone is ramping up efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure through satellite-enabled solutions, as part of a wider strategy to expand nationwide connectivity.

Myriota, a leading name in low-power satellite connectivity, says it is accelerating its ongoing expansion into the ASEAN market with a strategic focus on Malaysia.

Eutelsat announced on Thursday it has signed a new multi-year agreement with MTN Côte d’Ivoire to provide satellite broadband services across the country using Eutelsat’s KONNECT high-throughput satellite.

Veon Group announced on Wednesday that its Bangladesh subsidiary Banglalink has signed an agreement with Starlink Mobile to integrate its Direct to Cell (D2C) satellite connectivity in remote areas with Banglalink’s terrestrial coverage.

Satellite operator Thaicom has reportedly received regulatory clearance to lease capacity from KT Sat to temporarily replace its Thaicom 4 satellite due to the delayed delivery of its official successor, Thaicom 9.

Danish company GomSpace and Ukrainian company STETMAN have launch a satellite communication-related joint venture in Ukraine.

Following yesterday's Hughes-Air India news, another partnership has been announced for in-flight connectivity (IFC). This initiative is designed to support the evolving connectivity needs of airlines and aviation customers across Europe, Turkey and the Middle East Africa (MEA) region.

Viasat Aviation, Turksat and SkyFive Arabia announced plans on Tuesday to enable seamless roaming for in-flight connectivity (IFC) services across Europe, Turkey and the Middle East-Africa (MEA) region.

Hughes Network Systems has announced that Air India has selected the Hughes In-Flight connectivity solution to deliver what is described as a consistent Wi-Fi experience using a common connectivity platform across its mixed widebody fleet.

Algeria’s telecoms regulator ARPCE last week launched a call for bids for two satellite licenses, a significant move in a sector so far only open to public companies.

Thaicom, a leading Asian satellite operator and spacetech company, has announced that its subsidiary, TC 142 Company, has entered into an agreement with Amazon Leo, Amazon’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has reportedly submitted applications for its long-rumoured IPO in the US, a public offering expected to rank among the largest in market history.

Pan-African telco, Paratus Group, has launched Paratus Essential Access, a solution designed by Paratus and powered by LEO satellite operator Starlink to deliver priority satellite connectivity to communities and emergency services organisations at the heart of Africa’s remote communities.

Satellite services and solutions providers Qatar-based Es’hailSat and EgyptSat have signed a multi-year satellite capacity agreement, enabling EgyptSat to provide VSAT services to its customer base in Egypt and across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Avantel, an Indian designer and developer of digital solutions, has won a INR4.6 billion (about US$49 million) order to supply real-time train information system (RTIS) devices for Indian Railways.

This week has seen the reported launch of 16 broadband internet satellites into low Earth orbit by Russian aerospace company Bureau 1440. News reports are calling this the country’s first operational step towards building a domestic satellite network.

Late last week saw the opening of what is described as the largest commercial space component and sub-systems manufacturing site on the African continent.