Satellite and Broadcasting

The Qatar Amateur Radio Association participated in World Amateur Radio Day, celebrated each year on April 18.

Ahead of Zephyr’s commercial service launch by the end of 2024, Airbus’ high-altitude platform station (HAPS) connectivity business has unveiled its new brand, AALTO HAPS (AALTO), with the tagline “The Future is Stratospheric.”

AALTO HAPS, manufacturer and operator of Zephyr, the world-record-breaking, solar-powered High Altitude Platform Station set to enter commercial service in 2024, appointed Hassan Kabbani as its Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).

Emirates will offer passengers new high-speed inflight broadband powered by Inmarsat’s GX Aviation onboard 50 new Airbus A350 aircraft that are scheduled to enter service in 2024. The new agreement will significantly improve the passenger experience with enhanced connectivity and greater global coverage.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. announced the successful completion of the first-ever two-way voice calls directly to everyday, unmodified smartphones using the BlueWalker 3 (BW3) satellite. This is the first time anyone has ever achieved a direct voice connection from space to everyday cellular devices, demonstrating a significant advancement in AST SpaceMobile’s mission to provide connectivity to the nearly 50% of the global population who remain unconnected to cellular broadband.

Es’hailSat, the Qatari satellite company, and AXESS Networks, a global leader of satellite communications solutions, announced their strategic partnership agreement to provide teleport and VSAT services for multiple sectors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

AALTO HAPS has signed a contract to partner in a proof-of-concept (PoC) demonstration flight of its world-record-breaking Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station with Space Compass of Japan, a joint venture between NTT and SKY Perfect JSAT.

Iridium Communications has entered into an agreement with Qualcomm Technologies to enable satellite messaging and emergency services in smartphones powered by Snapdragon® Mobile Platforms. Qualcomm Technologies' new Snapdragon® Satellite solution is supported by the fully operational Iridium® satellite constellation.

European satellite telecommunications provider SES is exploring a possible merger with Intelsat, another tie-up in the sector as the race for space-based internet service heats up.

SES announced that the first two O3b mPOWER satellites were successfully launched into space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States.