BSNL, Viasat to power Indian Navy's satellite communications upgrade programme
INDIA 08:53

BSNL, Viasat to power Indian Navy's satellite communications upgrade programme

Indian operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Viasat have announced they are supporting the next phase of the Indian Navy's satellite communications upgrade programme, scheduled for launch later this month. Under the terms of an agreement signed between BSNL and the Indian Defense Forces, Viasat's Ka-band satellite systems will be used alongside its existing L-band infrastructure to deliver secure connectivity for Indian naval platforms.

Kyivstar reaches 3 mln customers using Starlink Direct to Cell service
UKRAINE 15 JAN

Kyivstar reaches 3 mln customers using Starlink Direct to Cell service

Ukrainian operator Kyivstar has reached over 3 million registered users for Direct to Cell satellite connectivity services, powered by Starlink. This user base corresponds to over 10 percent of Kyivstar's mobile subscribers. 

Q-Kon partners with Sistec to bring satellite connectivity to Angola
ANGOLA 15 JAN

Q-Kon partners with Sistec to bring satellite connectivity to Angola

Africa-based satellite communication service provider Q-Kon has announced a partnership with Angolan IT and telecoms provider Sistemas, Tecnologias e Industria (Sistec). Under the partnership, Q-Kon will support Sistec with its multi-orbit Twoobii services, which encompass both Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary (GEO) satellite technology. The offering is tailored to meet the demanding requirements of the enterprise market, maritime sector and on-demand connectivity applications. 

Telefonica adds basketball and movie channels to satellite TV service
SPAIN 15 JAN

Telefonica adds basketball and movie channels to satellite TV service

Telefonica Spain is adding three basketball-focused channels and two movie ones to the satellite TV offer of its Movistar Plus+ service, available in SD via the Astra 1N satellite. They include Dazn Basketball, Basketball 1 and Basketball 3, part of the operator's deal with the sports streamer and featuring live games from Spain's ACB league and the Euroleague tournament.

Amazon Leo obtains Nigerian landing permit
NIGERIA 15 JAN

Amazon Leo obtains Nigerian landing permit

Amazon Leo has secured a landing permit from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and will begin operations from 2026, TechCabal reported, referring to it by its old name, Project Kuiper. It said the NCC has granted Amazon's satellite internet service a seven-year landing permit, allowing it to launch its constellation over Nigerian territory in 2026. The NCC says its the decision reflects Nigeria's commitment to "promoting competition, innovation and investment" in satellite communications while ad

Globalstar deploys three new C-3 tracking antennas at Yeo Ju ground station
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 15 JAN

Globalstar deploys three new C-3 tracking antennas at Yeo Ju ground station

Globalstar has installed three new six-meter C-3 tracking antennas at its ground station in Yeo Ju, South Korea. For more than two decades, Globalstar has provided mobile satellite services across East Asia via its ground station located in Yeo Ju, South Korea, which has now been expanded to include three C-3 tracking antennas.

Viasat to deploy air traffic management facility in Singapore
SINGAPORE 15 JAN

Viasat to deploy air traffic management facility in Singapore

Viasat has announced plans to deploy an additional Iris Test Facility (ITF) in Singapore to support the region in Trajectory Based Operations (TBO) implementations across the Asia Pacific region. The ITF is a key enabler providing a platform for end-to-end testing of live air and ground operations, including new standards such as ATN/OSI and ATN/IPS, multilink datalink configurations, and advanced TBO Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract (ADS-C) exc

ACMA approves W-band earth stations in Perth and Sydney
AUSTRALIA 15 JAN

ACMA approves W-band earth stations in Perth and Sydney

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has approved interim arrangements to allow W-band fixed satellite service earth station transmitters to operate in Perth and Sydney, following a public consultation process. The decision permits earth stations communicating with non-geostationary satellites in the fixed-satellite service, using W-band frequencies, under temporary licensing conditions. An originally proposed site in Melbourne has been withdrawn after concerns were raised about potentia

Eutelsat deploys OneWeb LEO satellite connectivity onboard Indian Navy's Kaundinya Voyage
INDIA 15 JAN

Eutelsat deploys OneWeb LEO satellite connectivity onboard Indian Navy's Kaundinya Voyage

Eutelsat has partnered with the INSV Kaundinya team, part of the Indian Navy, on one of its maritime heritage and strategic initiatives. Under the terms of the deal, Eutelsat will provide its OneWeb high-speed LEO satellite connectivity to a vessel undertaking a historic voyage of national importance.

AccelerComm to supply physical layer solution to Airbus 5G NTN demonstrator
GLOBAL 14 JAN

AccelerComm to supply physical layer solution to Airbus 5G NTN demonstrator

AccelerComm, provider of 5G NTN physical layer technologies, announced its participation in a regenerative 5G NTN demonstrator project led by Airbus, aimed at realising standardised, software-defined orbital data transmission at lower cost than existing market players.

Senegalese ICT ministry discusses telecom sector issues with Yas
SENEGAL 14 JAN

Senegalese ICT ministry discusses telecom sector issues with Yas

Senegal's ICT ministry officials has held talks with Yas Senegal as part of ongoing engagements with key players in the country's telecoms sector, TechAfrica News reported. The visit centred on discussing the strategic role of the sector in strengthening national sovereignty, enhancing economic competitiveness, promoting territorial cohesion and ensuring equitable access to essential services for citizens.

Smart, Lynk complete direct-to-device satellite service pilot in Catanduanes island
PHILIPPINES 14 JAN

Smart, Lynk complete direct-to-device satellite service pilot in Catanduanes island

Philippines operator PLDT, its mobile unit Smart Communications, and technology partner Lynk Global have tested Direct-to-Device satellite service in the island of Catanduanes in the Bicol region. PLDT reports that these tests demonstrated the technology's potential in providing mobile services even in areas where cell services are unavailable.

PHILIPPINES 14 JAN

Globe Telecom to launch Starlink direct-to-cell service in Philippines on 16 January

Philippines operator Globe Telecom has partnered with Starlink (SpaceX) to bring satellite Direct to Cell (DTC) connectivity to the Philippines. The service is designed to provide coverage even in remote and underserved areas. The service uses SpaceX's Starlink satellites to deliver voice, data, and messaging directly to unmodified LTE phones.

SPAIN 14 JAN

Starlink Spain doubles entry-level roaming data to 100GB

SpaceX has announced that subscribers to its entry-level Starlink Roam rate will now have access to 100GB of data a month at no extra cost, compared to the 50GB available previously. The company also now allows subscribers to continue accessing unlimited data at a reduced speed once their monthly bundle has been consumed.

QATAR 14 JAN

Qatar Airways deploys Starlink on Boeing 787 and completes Airbus A350 Starlink roll-out

Qatar Airways says it has become the first carrier globally to enable Starlink on Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The airline had also equipped its entire Airbus A350 fleet with the service by December, within eight months. To date, Qatar Airways is operating three Dreamliners with fast Wi-Fi, bringing the total of its Starlink-connected widebody aeroplanes to nearly 120. 

EUROPE 14 JAN

Open Cosmos acquires Ka band rights from Liechtenstein to support new LEO constellation

Open Cosmos has acquired Ka-band spectrum rights in Liechtenstein to support its plans to build and operate a new sovereign LEO broadband satellite constellation. The UK-based company said it plans to launch its first two satellites within the first quarter of 2026, with manufacturing of the equipment underway at its site in Oxfordshire.

IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF) 14 JAN

Starlink offers free internet services in Iran

Starlink is now offering its satellite service free in Iran, amid protests and a days-long internet blackout, Bloomberg reported. It cited Ahmad Ahmadian, executive director of the US group Holistic Resilience, which works with Iranians to secure internet access. Ahmadian said SpaceX has waived the Starlink subscription fee in Iran, so people with receivers in the country can access the service without paying. According to the report, a person familiar with Starlink's operations confirmed the free service. 

NIGERIA 14 JAN

NCC seeks comments on D2D connectivity by 23 February

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a public consultation on Satellite Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity and is seeking comments by 23 February on the potentials, risks and public-interest considerations. D2D allows standard mobile devices to connect directly to satellite constellations, offering a complementary service to terrestrial mobile networks. The NCC said the main benefits include expanding coverage in rural and remote areas, improving network resilience during fibre cuts o

AUSTRALIA 14 JAN

Australian Defence Extends UHF Satellite Communications via SES IS-22

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has signed an extended agreement with satellite operator SES to secure uninterrupted ultra-high frequency satellite communications via the IS-22 satellite. The deal provides continuity of service through 2033, with options that could extend access to 2041, ensuring ongoing UHF connectivity for Australian military operations.

AUSTRALIA 14 JAN

Telstra seeks expanded OneWeb LEO capacity amid rising remote outages - report

Telstra has called for an expansion of its low Earth orbit satellite backhaul capacity, citing a sharp increase in mobile base station outages affecting remote communities and access to Australia's triple zero emergency services, according to IT News, citing industry sources. The issue is linked to the carrier's growing reliance on leased LEO satellite capacity from Eutelsat OneWeb to connect small cell sites in far-remote locations to its core network.

UGANDA 13 JAN

Uganda shuts down internet ahead of elections

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has ordered telecommunications service providers to cut internet access across the country, citing a need to maintain security during the election period. The directive, which follows a recommendation from the inter-agency Security committee, went into effect at 18:00 hrs on 13 January. In addition to the internet blackout, the commission suspended the sale and registration of new Sim cards and outbound data roaming to One Network Area countries. The directive come

UKRAINE 13 JAN

Kyivstar adds Starlink Direct to Cell support on Samsung Galaxy 4G phones

Samsung has announced that the Samsung Galaxy-series smartphones have started supporting the Starlink Direct to Cell offered by Ukrainian operator Kyivstar. Kyivstar launched Starlink's Direct to Cell satellite technology for mobile customers in Ukraine in December of 2025. Powered by Starlink's satellite constellation, the service has enabled Ukrainians to stay connected on standard 4G smartphones in remote areas where the terrestrial mobile network is not available. Kyivstar is the first mobile operator

GLOBAL 13 JAN

Anritsu to present 6G test and measurement tools at Mobile World Congress

Anritsu has shared details of its presentation at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, focusing on test, measurement and validation technologies tailored to early 6G standardisation and research projects. The company will bring to the event a host of software-centric tools, including its Virtual Signalling Tester with an arbitrary waveform output function that Anritsu says is under consideration for 6G networks.

GLOBAL 13 JAN

Myriota bolsters global IoT network with launch of eight satellites

Australia-based global satellite IoT provider Myriota announced the successful launch of eight satellites supporting its space-based UltraLite IoT network. Through Myriota's partnership with Spire Global, the satellites were launched aboard SpaceX's Twilight mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The launch delivers a major uplift in performance, capacity, and resilience across Myriota's UltraLite Network, improving message delivery speed and reliability for customers operating in over 57 c

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