Venture investments are flowing back into capital-intensive satellite infrastructure to mark the strongest quarter on record for the class at US$3.6bn, according to Space Capital data for Q3 2020. Software-based satellite application companies saw their weakest quarter in nearly five years, down 77% quarter-to-quarter to US$1.2bn.

The slowdown comes after a rush in H1 2020 activity for on-demand...

The main players and their early game plans in the rush for spectrum resources and connectivity grants are becoming clearer in the US, with cablecos choosing to team up for C-band coming as a surprise to some. As the US unveils bidders planning to take part in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, a €750bn (US$887bn) European Recovery Fund is also targeting digital and green initiatives in the pandemic’s wake.

The FCC released...

Expansion through partnerships is an increasingly attractive route for satellite connectivity, underscored by Swedish smallsat GEO broadband operator Ovzon’s new revenue-sharing alliance. Its deal with Greece-based satellite operator Hellas-sat builds on agreements with other established peers as it progresses towards deploying its first satellite next year.

Hellas-sat, owned by Saudi Arabia-based fleet operator Arabsat, is...

A competitive relationship with adversarial overtones marks out China-US positioning in satellite connectivity for LEO broadband as details about an expanded constellation in the Asian nation emerge.

Europe might come into focus as a potential wildcard as the juncture between the two countries grows…

Competition among satellite insurers is heating up in a boost for operators looking to reduce capex burdens, as it squeezes an already strained insurance market. The return of a major underwriter is also increasing activity in a diminishing pool of placements.

Delayed satellite launches as a result of...

The provisioning of satellite connectivity is likely to take on more urgency amid a growing number of crises globally and the expectation of more to come.

High-altitude platforms might emerge as an alternative ecosystem to satellite, as the sector has…

Mobile network operators are likely reassessing vendor strategies after the UK government unveiled a security report with adverse implications for tech giant Huawei.

Opportunity is also lurking, as the report urges the UK government to bring in new vendors…

Growing satellite/terrestrial convergence will broaden 5G revenue streams, with ubiquitous connectivity potentially providing a foundational layer for the next ‘killer app’.

As a lack of demand-pulling apps weigh on 5G monetisation strategies, British mobile operator O2 is investing in the UK’s first commercial 5G satellite lab to accelerate new...

The resurgent special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) market has found its second pure-play space company in Momentus, a US-based startup facilitating ‘last-mile’ deliveries of already launched satellites. With alternatives to traditional M&A set to play an important role in COVID-19 recovery strategies, pioneering satellite ventures appear well-suited to leverage intense activity in this market to hit sizeable capex demands.

However, the growing trend comes amid warnings of a potential bubble as the low interest rate environment...

Increased confidence amid ongoing uncertainty in the economy permeates satellite connectivity as a couple of struggling companies collect a fresh round of financing.

India is increasingly becoming a hub for the satellite industry, as telecom company Bharti Global...

Post-pandemic planning is taking hold in terrestrial connectivity, including the sudden appearance of special purpose acquisition companies seeking nearly US$1.5bn in combined investment.

Network planning is ongoing, as executives in the sector are also focusing on the organic growth of…

Vibrant but uncertain markets and uneven growth from subsector to subsector paint a complex picture for satellite connectivity. 

Although investments and operations have largely resumed after being disrupted earlier this year, the high level of activity on the commercial side is happening in the context of an “enormous amount of outcome uncertainty associated with venture-funded firms”, Carissa Christensen, CEO of research group Bryce Space and Technology, told the virtual Satellite Innovation 2020 conference...

Connectivity providers are increasingly selective about their partnerships with technology companies as they consider options for network strategies amid bullish IoT growth projections.

The timing of a Speedcast project suggests investors are weighing the financial implications of…