Opinion

Throughout history, transformative infrastructure projects such as electrical grids, rail networks, and telecommunications networks, such as the internet, have often been catalyzed by a small group of pioneers. Companies like Westinghouse, Siemens, General Electric and AT&T propelled industrial progress through rapid scale-up and capital investment concentrated in key areas of the value chain. Much of...

As national defense and commercial operations become increasingly dependent on satellites and satellite connectivity, the ability to accurately predict space weather will be paramount. Collecting and analyzing data and key information about space weather can help government and commercial entities manage risk for satellite launches, operations and infrastructure, optimize the success rate of launches and...

There is a critical need for resiliency in space, and diversification is the key to achieving it. Resiliency is achieved through disaggregation, distribution, diversification, protection, proliferation, and deception. All of these present a challenge and yet an opportunity. Of these, diversification presents the most opportunities for our industry. Diversification is imperative at all levels. It...

The recent announcement that Luxemburg-based satellite operator SES acquired Intelsat, the former inter-governmental satellite organization, represents the final paragraph of what I describe as the third chapter of the Space Age. The next Space Age chapter has begun and it will change many rules. To make sense of this emerging Space Age environment, we need...

On May 3, Bloomberg reported that Eutelsat Group is exploring options to sell its ground station network, which is said to be valued at over $850 million. Eutelsat is said to be working with consultants to find a buyer for the ground network. This may stem from the fact that infrastructure investment groups may have expressed...

For some, the renewed focus on defense in the space sector is a concerning trend. But for others, it’s a big opportunity. There is no shortage of new space companies entering the sphere with commercial and defense offerings, each seeking to keep up with historical players who have long played the dual game. In turn,...

It’s been said that access to space is more available.  It’s been said that the unit economics are more reasonable for aspiring orbital explorers.  However, the answers to the questions of where and why are still ephemeral for those not in a capital raise in our industry. Be it the proliferation of small satellites in...

Discussions at SATELLITE 2024 last month ranged from the biggest topics – Starlink, Kuiper, and persistent funding challenges – to emerging opportunities like direct-to-device and optical satcom that are making satellite and space an exciting and engaging topic. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what Analysys Mason’s satellite and space team observed at...

For decades, the global satellite market has been dominated by established players like the U.S., Europe, and China. But a new force is rapidly emerging in the East: The Indian satellite market. Once a quiet player, the Indian satellite market is experiencing a remarkable ascent, challenging established giants with its cost-effectiveness, agility, and thriving private...

The introduction of low profile and discrete antenna design has sparked in-flight connectivity (IFC) adoption after years of relatively limited growth. Data from the Valour Consultancy quarterly IFC tracker shows more than 1,500 systems were installed annually between 2017 and 2019 (adding more than 4,500 aircraft to the IFC installed base), as carriers rolled out...