Focus: Telecom

Verizon’s latest commercial, featuring astronaut Buzz Aldrin, highlighted the company’s work with satellite technology to eliminate cellular “dead zones.” The ad emphasized Verizon’s satellite capabilities as a solution for remote […]

Verizon Communications will display its latest critical communications capabilities to public safety, government, and military agencies at the EDGE conference from Jan. 5 through 7. Satellite tech will play a […]

A Swedish research project is kicking off in 2025 to explore integrating mobile communication and satellite communication in 6G. The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) announced a grant of […]

T-Mobile is preparing to start beta testing with SpaceX’s Starlink direct-to-cell satellite service in early 2025 and opened registration on Monday for a limited number of slots to participate in […]

AST SpaceMobile has signed a commercial agreement with its longtime investor Vodafone Group that lasts through 2034. This agreement establishes the framework for Vodafone to offer space-based cellular broadband connectivity […]

The FCC gave SpaceX approval to operate satellite direct-to-cellular service with T-Mobile in an order released Nov. 26.  This is the FCC’s first instance of approving supplemental coverage from space […]

Working together, Deutsche Telekom, Qualcomm, and Skylo completed a trial to send a text message over a Geostationary (GEO) satellite, the companies announced Tuesday. The proof-of-concept was conducted in Greece […]

Apple is doubling down on its partnership with Globalstar, investing $1.5 billion to fund a new constellation for expanded satellite services.  Apple will pay Globalstar up to $1.1 billion to […]

As the direct-to-device space picked up steam in 2024 with demonstrations and new partnerships with mobile network operators and device manufacturers, the business model is still being worked out.  Industry […]

French startup Constellation Technologies & Operations has raised 9.3 million euros ($10 million) to move forward on its plans for a satellite broadband constellation in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO).  […]

In late August, Verizon was the latest big name telco to team up with a satellite player for direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity. Verizon announced a deal with Skylo to launch a […]

Korea Telecom (KT), one of the largest telcos in Asia, has concluded a successful 5G NTN (non-terrestrial network) trial that brings satellite more into the mainstream in South Korea and […]

DirecTV is acquiring EchoStar‘s video distribution business, including Dish TV and Sling TV. EchoStar said this move refocuses the company’s portfolio on wireless and satellite connectivity markets.  The deal brings […]

Iridium announced more details about its direct-to-device ambitions, announcing a service called Iridium NTN Direct that will connect people and things to Iridium’s network using 3GPP standards.  Iridium announced Wednesday […]

PARIS — The direct-to-device (D2D) market has been the subject of excitement and hype in the satellite industry in the past few years, with the promise of expanding satellite’s market share […]

SoftBank and Intelsat are teaming up to develop and launch a “Ubiquitous Network” concept that uses 5G connections between terrestrial and mobile and satellite communications networks. The companies announced Tuesday […]

PARIS — The satellite industry is undergoing massive change as many of the largest satellite operators consolidate to deal with competition from SpaceX’s Starlink constellation.  During the operator panel in […]

AST SpaceMobile confirmed the milestone launch of its first five commercial satellites on Thursday morning. These satellites will start service for the company’s cellular broadband network in space.  SpaceX launched […]

T-Mobile reported Wednesday that it successfully sent a wireless emergency alert via Starlink satellites, testing a capability that will provide emergency warnings to the public outside of cell service.  T-Mobile […]

Verizon is the latest big name telco to accelerate its reach into the satellite arena. It has teamed up with Skylo to launch a commercial direct-to-device messaging service for Verizon […]

The 3GPP mobile standards organization has approved an Intelsat-led Ku-band project for standardization. Intelsat led the effort with support from 35 companies and 3GPP community members, including other satellite operators, […]

EchoStar Corporation has opened a new Open RAN (O-RAN) testing and evaluation lab at the company’s data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The the Open RAN Center for Integration and Deployment […]

Comcast Business signed a deal with SpaceX to provide for Starlink connectivity to its enterprise customers. The collaboration announced June 21 brings satellites to the Comcast Business managed connectivity portfolio.  […]

Apple is expanding the capabilities of its satellite messaging on the iPhone. The new iOS 18 update will broaden the availability beyond emergency messaging, and Messages via satellite will be […]

Wireless communication technology companies Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) and Viavi Solutions signed an expansion of their joint wireless lab test solutions partnership. The two companies announced Wednesday that the partnership […]

The relationship between satellite operators and telcos can at times seem like a troubled marriage — “It is difficult to live together. But it’s more difficult to live alone,” Jean-Luc […]

GSMA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are starting a 15 million euro ($16 million) million challenge, Non-Terrestrial Network (TN-NTN) Community, and other initiatives to foster innovation between terrestrial and […]

A group of satellite operators debuted a new industry organization on Friday — the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA), focused on promoting the direct-to-device (D2D) ecosystem. Its founding members are […]

AT&T, Google, and Vodafone have made a strategic investment in AST SpaceMobile to support the commercial roll-out of AST SpaceMobile’s network. Both AT&T and Google are new investors for the […]

Lynk Global has started initial satellite-to-cell service in Papua New Guinea with the country’s state-owned telecoms company Telikom Limited.  The initial service will begin with SMS and is expected to […]