Magazine

The Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) celebrates its 50-year anniversary this year in a key landmark for one of the oldest companies in our sector. Via Satellite recently sat down with RSCC Director General Yuri Prokhorov to talk about the company’s 50-year anniversary as well as RSCC’s place in the evolving satellite world.

With technology moving fast, Qatar Airways is aggressively investing in its connected strategy. However, the airline believes there is still a lot of confusion in the industry around connectivity.

A review of the key automotive applications for satellite connectivity.

How Earth observation is changing the mindset of the NewSpace revolution.

An timeline of the telecoms industry's progress toward 5G.

Editor's note for the November/December 2017 issue of Via Satellite

Satellite operators are optimistic that the connected car could be the next hot market for the industry. But what do car manufacturers think? We talk to one of the leading car manufacturers about whether the market for satellite is more myth than reality.

As the recent failed merger with Intelsat shows, there are likely to be a few twists and turns as one of the most ambitious satellite projects finds its feet and aims to be a lasting force in the satellite industry.

The advent of new High Throughput Satellites (HTS)

As the U.S. Air Force forges ahead in crafting its next-generation wideband space architecture, and the Trump Administration seeks approval for a FY ’18 budget with strong increases in space defense spending, Via Satellite spoke with Air Force strategists, procurement decision makers and satellite industry government experts about how they see the DoD’s strategic communications priorities unfolding in a constantly evolving threat environment.

The rise of Netflix in the United States could be a sign of things to come, putting more pressure on DTH to maintain and grow marketshare. But it’s not only in the United States where this threat is growing. In Asia, which has been a DTH Wild West in recent years, the growth in DTH subscriptions has been nothing short of phenomenal. Is all that about to change?

Trading in commodities is one of the oldest businesses. However, new satellite technology is shaking up this centuries-old business and disrupting the traditional commodities paradigms.

Editor's note for the September/October 2017 issue of Via Satellite.

As smallsat constellations and 5G loom ever closer, countless new companies have emerged to find their niche in the aerospace value chain. Europe in particular, where both governments and venture capitals have ramped up funding, has seen an explosion in future-focused businesses looking to fundamentally change the ways we connect. Watch out, Silicon Valley — there could be a new hotbed for high-tech startups.

A key part of the NewSpace movement is the small satellite. It offers the ability to rapidly innovate and launch new technology within a very short timeframe. How can manufacturers keep up with no compromise on performance and how is NewSpace impacting their thinking?

While nearly all entrepreneurs behind new satellite startup companies share a common passion for the commercial development of space, some have invested their creative energies on developing valuable business opportunities on the ground. These entrepreneurs identify a more immediate need for technologies that provide the cornerstones of ambitious space visions, and a more practical product line that can — for the most part — be physically seen and tested in laboratories, investor meetings and on trade show floors.

The industry has some work to do in making smaller and more powerful payloads, as well as achieving daily launches to meaningfully reduce launch costs. Until that time, the satellite and launch industries will continue to be a growing, but intimate group.

Editor's note for the Via Satellite's NextSpace edition 2017

In an increasingly digital environment, efficient communication is crucial to the offshore industry. This requirement drives diverse options and choices for communications services among maritime operators including 4G LTE and […]

Only through following the principle of technology neutrality whereby governments enable platforms, not technologies, to compete, will the future vision of 5G bringing wide-spread advanced communications services to all Americans, wherever they are located, be achieved.

Slavery is an acute modern day issue that cannot be ignored but one that is difficult to resolve. Not only does slavery still exist but it is likely there are […]

I was at London Technology Week recently and one of the panels was talking about future leaders in technology and how institutions like Harvard are helping new graduates with their […]

Engineers and executives from major cellular carriers converged in Austin, Texas to engage in passionate exchanges about 5G rollout plans, business opportunities and technical challenges. There’s consensus among this group — 5G isn’t just “another G.” It’s a brand new, automated world of constant connectivity that is experiencing the beginning of a fourth Industrial Revolution.

The future of satellite communications has never been more exciting with the increasing interest and investment in LEO, MEO, and GEO constellations, especially in the Ka-band arena. However, LEO and MEO constellations require a much larger volume of antennas and gateways compared to a GEO satellite, and amplifier providers must find a way to offer lower priced equipment to make it affordable to these customers.

Satellite operators looking to capitalize on data markets are evolving in parallel with customer needs. As new business models emerge, some satellite operators are going down the value chain and ditching the wholesale approach.

Not that long ago, the space industry was seen as a bit of a dinosaur, a relic from a bygone age. But over the last few years, that perception has been turned on its head, and now the industry is seen as uber hip. The question is, despite that change in perception, could the satellite industry still do more to tap into this dramatic change?

SOS Children’s Villages is an organization that aims to make a difference for children who have been orphaned or abandoned. Its work brings hope to many where previously they had been none. A partnership with Middle East-based MSS operator Thuraya has been key in helping it improve its services.

Throughout SATELLITE 2017, a major point heralded by speakers was the need to cooperate to ensure the satellite industry’s survival in the coming years. In that respect, Tuesday’s closing general […]

It seems every day there is news related to a new cyber attack. This is the new reality we must all live in, and space is no different. However, quantifying and evaluating the threat is far from easy. We talk to some of the new companies in the cybersecurity space, as well as one or two cyber experts to see how they view the threat to the satellite industry.

With the demand for more lightweight, powerful antennas showing no sign of abating, developers are rising to the challenge. But will it be enough to push the market forward?