Iridium

Satellite veterans warn of space SPAC downside
The frenzy of activity swirling around SPACs is pushing space into a new era of risk-taking, according to two satellite industry veterans.

Relativity wins Iridium contract, selects West Coast launch site
Small launch vehicle developer Relativity Space has won a contract to launch six Iridium replacement satellites, which it plans to carry out from a new launch site it proposes to develop at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Iridium says coronavirus clouding revenue projection
The coronavirus pandemic is making it harder for Iridium to line up customers for its recently upgraded satellite constellation, but isn’t expected to reverse the company’s six-year annual growth streak, according to CEO Matt Desch.

FCC to greenlight Ligado’s 5G network despite strong pushback from the Pentagon
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is poised to approve a spectrum application from Ligado Networks that would allow the company to deploy a wireless communications service that the Pentagon says will drown out GPS signals.

Iridium would pay to deorbit its 30 defunct satellites — for the right price
Iridium Communications completed disposal of the last of its 65 working legacy satellites Dec. 28, while leaving open the possibility of paying an active-debris-removal company to deorbit 30 that failed in the decades since the operator deployed its first-generation constellation.

4.1 billion people online • Iridium completes $1.45 billion refinancing • SES exec to chair Space Data Association
An estimated 53.6% of the world’s population now has access to the internet, according to a new report from the International Telecommunication Union.

ST Engineering completes Newtec purchase • Azerspace-2 reaches 80% fill rate
Singapore Technologies Engineering said Oct. 1 it completed its acquisition of Belgian ground infrastructure provider Newtec.

LEO constellation operators OneWeb, Iridium announce collaboration
Iridium and OneWeb, two companies pursuing different types of telecommunications businesses from low Earth orbit, said Sept. 17 that they would work together on a combined service offering.

Iridium lands seven-year, $738.5 million Defense Department contract
Iridium said Sept. 16 that the new seven-year, $738.5 million contract ensures continuity for voice, data, broadcast and other services to Defense Department and associated users.

Telstra-NBN combo ruled out • Aireon launches free emergency service • Globalstar buys IP from supplier
Australia’s competition watchdog agency ruled out the idea of Telstra buying the National Broadband Network.