Satellite Networks

A renewed and expanded deal between Openserve and Intelsat and could signal a major boost for connectivity in South Africa.

Turkcell, the largest mobile operator in Turkey, and satellite-direct-to-mobile-telecoms (Sat2Phone) provider Lynk Global have announced a contract signing signalling the start of initial Sat2Phone services utilising what Lynk calls its ‘cell-towers-in-space’.

There’s been another announcement at MWC 2024 from Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, this time involving a project with prominent telecommunications firm and systems integrator Saudi Net Link (SNL).

Global satellite operator Intelsat announced on Tuesday it has renewed and expanded its relationship with South African telecoms infrastructure provider Openserve to include new hardware and satellite connectivity.

Direct-to-phone satellite operator Lynk Global announced on Monday it has successfully tested its Sat2Phone technology in Argentina for the first time in collaboration with Telefónica.

Among satellite operator Intelsat’s announcements for MWC 2024 is news of a communications service in Madagascar running in 65 communities, providing first-time connectivity to about 100,000 people.

Sivers Semiconductors is showcasing its mmWave portfolio of 5G mmWave, unlicensed 5G, and satellite communications products at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) reportedly plans to require foreign businesses who want to provide domestic satellite telecoms services to have a gateway station located in the country.

Global communications provider Omnispace has announced that Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has approved its subsidiary Omnispace Comunicações Brasil Ltda’s request to operate its non-geostationary satellite (NGSO) system nationwide.

UAE-based satellite operator Yahsat has announced the launch of what it calls an ambitious direct-to-device (D2D) strategy to elevate global connectivity by directly enabling smartphone users and IoT devices across the world to leverage the power of space tech, regardless of location.

Telkom Indonesia announced on Thursday that its subsidiary Telkomsat will launch its 11th satellite – and the first in its fleet to feature High Throughput Satellite (HTS) technology – around the middle of next week.

The Israeli government revealed it approved the use of Starlink satellites in a field hospital in the war-torn Gaza Strip and in Israel for the first time, Reuters reported.

Hard on the heels of similar recent agreements in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Synspective, a Japanese synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite data and analytics solution provider, has announced  a deal to aid disaster prevention in Vietnam.

Qatar Satellite Company, aka Es’hailsat, and Egyptian Satellites Company, better known as Nilesat, have announced that they have signed a cooperation agreement and a strategic partnership.

China Mobile has reportedly launched two experimental satellites in low earth orbit that will be used to test 5G and 6G architectures, particuarly in terms of integrating satellite and terrestial networks to support both technologies.

Geespace, a subsidiary of Chinese carmaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, says it has added another 11 LEO satellites to its planned global constellation designed primarily to serve connected and self-driving cars.

Malaysian ICT distributor VSTECS said on Monday its subsidiary VSTECS Astar has become the latest company authorised by SpaceX to resell Starlink’s LEO satellite broadband service across the country.

Synspective, a Japanese SAR satellite data and analytics solution provider, has entered into memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Uzbekistan’s Centre for Space Monitoring and Geoinformation Technologies and Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary (KGS), the national space agency of Kazakhstan.

Connectivity provider Paratus South Africa has extended its partnership with satellite operator Eutelsat to include LEO satellite connectivity from Eutelsat OneWeb in its service offerings in South Africa.

Direct-to-phone satellite operator Lynk Global announced on Friday that Papua New Guinea state telco Telikom Limited has started offering Lynk’s Sat2Phone service to subscribers.

Aspiring LEO satellite operator AST SpaceMobile has secured US$206.5 million in new financing for its direct-to-satellite mobile network, including a US$155 million strategic investment from existing investor Vodafone and new investors AT&T and Google.

Content delivery over multiple devices is in the news once more – this time thanks to a partnership targeting India, Africa and Southeast Asia.

John Deere, a major name in the delivery of agricultural, construction and forestry equipment, has entered into an agreement with launch service company SpaceX to provide a cutting-edge satellite communications service to farmers – with Brazil among the first markets in which the service will be launched.

UAE-based operator du announced on Tuesday it has partnered with global satellite operator Intelsat to expand cellular connectivity across the country.

Marlink, the smart network and digital solutions company, says it will leverage satellite connectivity from satellite operator SES to operate YanaSat, a new publicly owned satellite network service in French Guiana.

Malaysian satellite company MEASAT announced it struck a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceXto become an official reseller of Starlink hardware and services. 

Global LEO satellite operator Iridium has unveiled ‘Project Stardust’, its new direct-to-device (D2D) strategy that will support 3GPP-compliant 5G IoT devices on its network starting in 2026.

Qatar-based communications satellite operator Es’hailSat has joined forces with managed services network infrastructure group Viasat Energy Services to provide high-speed VSAT services across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.