FIRST UP Satcom | SmartSky raises $104M • SES picks Halliwell successor • Netflix tops satellite, cable in US

SmartSky has raised close to $350 million. Its network of towers across the United States is scheduled to begin commercial service later this year.

C-Band Alliance plan would require 5G networks to pay for eight new satellites

The two largest members of the C-Band Alliance would each need four new satellites in order to continue providing telecom services in the U.S. if the Federal Communications Commission accepts its C-band plan, the group said Dec. 19.

FIRST UP Satcom | ISRO launches Ku-band satellite • SpaceX raising $500 million • SES closes 400 million euro loan

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark 2 rocket lifted off on schedule at 5:40 a.m. Eastern and deployed the GSAT-7A satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit 19 minutes later.

C-Band Alliance members promise to buy American for new satellites under C-band plan

Members of the C-Band Alliance have stipulated that they will only buy U.S.-built satellites to replace any capacity lost through the transfer of some C-band spectrum to cellular operators for 5G, a move that could position their plan more favorably with the White House and Congress.

20th Annual Global MilSatCom

SMi Group are proud to announce that the 20th annual Global MilSatCom conference and exhibition will return to London on 6th, 7th and 8th November and a small satellite and disruptive space technology focus day on the 5th November.

As Euro…

C-Band Alliance doubles spectrum offer to 200 megahertz

Members of the C-Band Alliance on Oct. 22 increased the amount of spectrum they are willing to part with in the United States, aligning their plan more closely with that of the Federal Communications Commission as a deadline for input looms.

ABS, Hispasat and Star One cry foul over C-Band Alliance

Three regional satellite operators with C-band coverage over the United States have complained to U.S. telecom regulators about being left out of a group led by four of the world’s largest satellite operators to arrange a proposed spectrum transfer to the wireless industry.

Arianespace assessing impact of crewed Soyuz failure on satellite-launching variant

Arianespace said Oct. 11 it’s too soon to say whether the Soyuz-ST rockets it uses to launch satellites from South America will be grounded following the failure of a Russian Soyuz-FG rocket carrying crew to the International Space Station.

SES’s future GEO satellites will be more like O3b, CEO says

Fresh off the success of a recent contract win to connect IBM Cloud customers with O3b satellites, SES’s chief executive said many of the operator’s future geostationary satellites will have attributes of O3b to appeal to more cloud networks.

Artificial intelligence extends into space

Like SES, government agencies and space companies are applying artificial intelligence to various problems they face.

Intelsat: losing 200 or more megahertz of C-band will require new satellites

Intelsat says some satellite operators will be forced to buy new spacecraft if U.S. telecom regulators demand the transfer of 200 or more megahertz of C-band spectrum from satellite operators to cellular companies.

Telesat changes tune, joins C-band spectrum group

Canadian fleet operator Telesat has joined Intelsat, SES and Eutelsat as part of an industry consortium it once threatened to oppose.

FIRST UP Satcom | Thales InFlyt eyes global Ka-band network • Iridium to connect Ocean Cleanup effort • SES opens Isle of Man teleport

Thales InFlyt's new CEO Philippe Carette said he wants the company to offer worldwide Ka-band satellite connectivity for aircraft, a service that would position the company as a competitor with Viasat and Inmarsat.

SES wants fleet of identical, interchangeable satellites

Instead of buying individual satellites tailored for a specific job at a precise orbital location, fleet operator SES wants homogenous satellites with digitally processed payloads it can reconfigure in orbit to perform any job.

Satellite operators spar on spectrum sharing

Chief executives of satellite operators took sharply divergent views on working with terrestrial mobile operators on access to spectrum, with some advocating for negotiations while another warned of making any deals.

SES lowers video forecast, gives glowing review of O3b mPower progress

Satellite fleet operator SES of Luxembourg lowered its revenue forecast for its television broadcast market July 27 while forecasting stable growth of data services.