Connectivity

Could Facebook be Building Its Own Satellite?

By Photo of Veronica Magan
According to IEEE Spectrum, SSL is building the Athena satellite based on its SSL-100 design.
According to IEEE Spectrum, SSL is building the Athena satellite based on its SSL-100 design. Photo: SSL

Facebook looks to be building its own satellite to launch 2019 to test providing broadband connectivity from Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). A company called PointView Tech, which seems to be a new Facebook subsidiary, according to IEEE Spectrum, filed an experimental licensing application to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last week asking for authorization to “launch and operate a single Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), Nongeostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite.” According to the application, the satellite is called Athena and its main communications payload links “will operate in the little-used E-band spectrum – 71-76 GHz for the downlinks, 81-86 GHz for the uplinks.” PointView’s request also includes two Earth stations.

Read more at IEEE Spectrum >>

More on This Topic

Connectivity

Satellite-Mobile Partnerships for D2D Multiply, But Key Questions Remain Unresolved

Connectivity

Adel Al-Saleh Says SES at Tipping Point for Growth Amid Strategic Shifts

Connectivity

Elveo Mobile Partners With Apex to Scale Up D2D Constellation Production in the U.S.

Connectivity

Top Satellite Operators Detail Pivots to Multi-Domain Strategies With Defense and AI

Connectivity

Stc Group Orders Dedicated Astranis Satellite for Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s top telecommunications provider stc group has ordered a dedicated satellite from Astranis to provide satellite communication services.  Astranis builds smaller Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites than traditional GEOs. Customer […]
Connectivity

SES Brings New Platform to Media and Broadcast Partners

Connectivity

Iridium Sends Voice Message from Toyota Vehicle With Deutsche Telekom IoT

Manufacturing

Eutelsat Taps Airbus and Aerospacelab for OneWeb and IRIS² Satellites

Connectivity

New Eclipse Satellite Platforms Target D2D, Broadband, and Computing

Trending Now

  1. NATO Invests for the New Era of Space Defense: Interview with NCIA GM Dylan Browne
    Government/Military

    NATO Invests for the New Era of Space Defense: Interview with NCIA GM Dylan Browne

  2. Eutelsat Taps Airbus and Aerospacelab for OneWeb and IRIS² Satellites
    Connectivity

    Eutelsat Taps Airbus and Aerospacelab for OneWeb and IRIS² Satellites

  3. The ‘Impossible’ Shaping a Better Future
    Magazine

    The ‘Impossible’ Shaping a Better Future

  4. Loft Orbital, Marlan Space to Build AI Constellation to Serve France, Europe and UAE
    Earth Observation

    Loft Orbital, Marlan Space to Build AI Constellation to Serve France, Europe and UAE

  5. AT&T Business Expands Work with Amazon Leo for Resilient Connectivity
    Connectivity

    AT&T Business Expands Work with Amazon Leo for Resilient Connectivity

  6. Top Satellite Operators Detail Pivots to Multi-Domain Strategies With Defense and AI
    Connectivity

    Top Satellite Operators Detail Pivots to Multi-Domain Strategies With Defense and AI

  7. NOAA Names 14 Commercial Providers for Weather Data Contract
    Government/Military

    NOAA Names 14 Commercial Providers for Weather Data Contract

  8. Stc Group Orders Dedicated Astranis Satellite for Saudi Arabia
    Connectivity

    Stc Group Orders Dedicated Astranis Satellite for Saudi Arabia

  9. York Space to Build Platforms for Tomorrow.io’s Next-Gen DeepSky Constellation
    Imagery and Sensing

    York Space to Build Platforms for Tomorrow.io’s Next-Gen DeepSky Constellation