Ukraine will deploy Starlink hotspots using Tesla Powerwall during outages

In the event of power outages, Ukraine will deploy public Starlink hotspots powered by Tesla Powerwall.

Starlink is providing a lifeline to Ukrainians as they fight to defend their homeland. SpaceX’s LEO satellite internet service offers vital connectivity within the country while ensuring the rest of the world can see the war crimes being committed by the Russian Federation.

Russia has targeted Ukraine’s critical infrastructure since the beginning of the invasion on...

31 October 2022 | Broadband

Russia threatens attacks on Western satellites

Amid growing desperation, the Russian leadership is now threatening attacks on Western satellites.

Putin’s unprovoked war against Ukraine is entering its ninth month. The heroic efforts of Ukrainian defenders are pushing the invaders out of previously occupied territories.

With mounting losses and low morale, Russia is resorting to ever more barbaric acts, dangerous posturing, and ludicrous claims to make up for its battlefield...

27 October 2022 | Networks

Starlink will be available for moving vehicles in December

SpaceX has announced that its Starlink service will soon be available for moving vehicles.

The company’s Starlink for RVs service was initially launched in May but was designed for stationary vehicles.

However, some enterprising folk managed to get Starlink working for moving vehicles anyway:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PDVURcvWeg

From December 2022, a new Starlink service is launching that is meant for in-motion use.

The new service...

26 October 2022 | Networks

OneWeb successfully deploys 36 new LEO satellites

OneWeb has successfully added 36 new LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites to its constellation.

With the UK not set to bring its vertical space launch capabilities online until next year, the British satellite operator turned to NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) to conduct the launches from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Radhakrishnan D, Chairman-cum-Managing Director at NewSpace India Limited, said:

“The successful launch of 36 OneWeb...

24 October 2022 | Networks

Australia’s NBN secures further $1.5B for its full-fibre rollout

The Australian government has announced a further $1.5 billion (AUS$2.4 billion) for the NBN to support its full-fibre rollout.

NBN (National Broadband Network) is an Australian national wholesale open-access data network that is operated by the NBN Co.

The state-owned NBN Co was established in 2009 and had connected 6.7 million homes and businesses as of February 2020. However, Australia’s largest infrastructure project has been widely perceived as failing to offer...

21 October 2022 | Broadband

SpaceX announces Starlink Aviation will takeoff in 2023

SpaceX has announced that its Starlink Aviation service will be ready for delivery in 2023.

The company says the service will offer passengers high-speed, low-latency Wi-Fi “from the moment they walk on their plane”.

Speeds of up to 350Mbps will be available with latency as low as 20ms. With this level of performance, SpaceX says passengers will be able to conduct video calls and even play online games.

Unlike most current in-flight Wi-Fi services, which...

19 October 2022 | Networks

India plans nationwide 5G coverage within two years

The Taj Mahal at the sunrise.

India's National Broadband Mission, which operates under the Ministry of Communications, has revealed that the country's Government will announce the launch of 5G services in the country at India Mobile Congress on October 1.

Mukesh Ambani, India's Reliance Industries’ chairman, Bharti Airtel’s CEO, Sunil Mittal, and Vodafone Idea India’s CEO, Ravinder Takkar, are expected to unveil the plan during a joint presentation at the event.

According to reports, the...

28 September 2022 | 5G

OneWeb seeks £3B for GEN2 satellites that could support navigation

OneWeb is looking to raise around £3 billion to expand its constellation with second-generation satellites that could support navigation.

The British firm is part-owned by the UK government and currently has 428 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) at around 1,200km. By the end of 2023, OneWeb aims to have increased the size of its constellation to 648.

OneWeb is already able to provide speeds exceeding 100Mbps and with sub-100ms latency. While impressive, OneWeb can’t...

19 September 2022 | Broadband

FCC authorises nearly $800M from RDOF to Nextlink, Starry and others

The FCC has announced the approval of nearly $800 million from the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) that will go to providers including Nextlink and Starry.

Fixed wireless access (FWA) providers are the main beneficiaries of the RDOF fund as the FCC bets on their ability to achieve rural broadband availability targets.

"We are excited to partner with the FCC to deploy gigabit connectivity to households across rural America," said Nextlink CEO Bill Baker in a...

1 September 2022 | 5G

SpaceX and T-Mobile partner on ‘satellite-to-cellular’ service

SpaceX is partnering with T-Mobile on an ambitious plan to offer “satellite-to-cellular” service.

Connectivity will be provided by SpaceX’s second-generation Starlink satellites in combination with T-Mobile’s mid-band 5G spectrum.

T-Mobile says the “vast majority” of existing smartphones will be compatible with the new service. If all goes to plan, customers should expect “near complete coverage” across the US, including territorial waters.

"Our...

26 August 2022 | 5G