Satellite and Broadcasting

Currently, about 40 percent of the world’s population has poor or no access to high-speed Internet. Internet coverage from LEO satellites offers the potential to bring areas away from the major terrestrial data highways online. However, operators also need the right interconnection on the ground and that is why Internet Exchange (IX) operator with the largest neutral interconnection ecosystem, DE-CIX, shows how new interconnection solutions are building bridges for the Internet of tomorrow, connecting Earth and space.

To connect Africans living in underserved areas with reliable mobile connectivity, fixed satellite solution and professional service provider, iSAT Africa and SES, the leader in global content connectivity solutions have joined forces to provide new 4G connectivity first via SES’s O3b medium earth orbit (MEO) constellation to subsequently migrate and expanded to SES’s next-generation MEO system, O3b mPOWER, in 2022. The development is the result of a three-year partnership agreement signed by the two companies.

The Digital Interface Standards Working Group (DIS), in support of Communications & Power Industries (CPI), DataPath, Datum Systems, Gilat Satellite Networks, SES, ST Engineering iDirect, and Wavestream, invites the satellite communications (SATCOM) community to collaborate on the development of an open interoperability standard for the SATCOM industry.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) brought together national broadcasters and regulators from across Africa and its neighbouring countries to coordinate their spectrum use and identify new frequencies to avoid harmful interference as services expand.  A series of key regional frequency planning and coordination meetings, aimed at helping African countries expand the reach of their FM (frequency modulation) radio broadcasting services.

SES announces its half-year financial results that reveal solid H1 2021 performance upon delivering revenue of €875 million and adjusted EBITDA of €544 million. In line with this, the company’s 2021 revenue and improved EBITDA outlook are on track.

Azercosmos announced partnering with Satelliteherd, one of the leaders of the commercial space industry in China.

SES Networks and Orange will jointly provide higher-capacity satellite connectivity to Orange’s maritime customers to help them accelerate their digital transformation.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said he plans to invest up to 30 billion dollars to develop his ambitious Starlink satellite internet service.

The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the world's first sophisticated and fully reprogrammable satellite onboard an Arian 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. This paves the way for more flexible communications necessary for the modern era.

The government of Oman has initiated a bidding process inviting companies to help design and launch Oman’s first satellite by 2024.