Tag: Direct-to-Device
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Japan Nears Decision on $2 Billion Domestic Direct-to-Device Satellite Network
Japan is expected to select a proposal this month for its planned J-LEO direct-to-device (D2D) satellite network, a government-backed initiative aimed at establishing a domestically owned and operated low Earth orbit (LEO) communications system. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has allocated approximately $1 billion in subsidies for the project, covering up to…
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Amazon, Globalstar, Iridium and Telesat Launch NGSO Satellite Trade Association
Amazon, Globalstar, Iridium and Telesat have formed the SpaceConnect Association, a new trade organization representing non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) operators. The association said it will work with governments, international institutions and industry stakeholders to promote a competitive satellite communications market and expand global connectivity. Former National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Administrator David Redl has…
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Northwood Space Unveils Prism Antenna to Support High-Throughput Satellite Communications
Northwood Space has introduced Prism, a new parabolic antenna system designed to support high-volume satellite communications and growing demand for data-intensive space applications. The company said the 2.4-meter antenna is engineered to deliver high-throughput, bidirectional connectivity across multiple orbital regimes and is intended for use cases including enterprise backhaul, direct-to-cellular services, and space-based computing networks.…
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NewOrbit Raises $18.5 Million to Commercialize Very Low Earth Orbit Satellite Operations
European satellite manufacturer NewOrbit has closed an oversubscribed $18.5 million Series A funding round to accelerate the commercialization of very low Earth orbit (VLEO), a region of space that has historically been considered too challenging for long-term commercial operations. The funding round was led by Voyager Ventures and included participation from several new and existing…
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Telefónica Germany and OQ Technology Test Direct-to-Device Satellite Connectivity
Telefónica Germany has partnered with Luxembourg-based satellite operator OQ Technology to test direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications, marking a step toward integrating satellite connectivity with conventional mobile networks. The companies are conducting trials in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, using Telefónica Deutschland’s frequency spectrum to evaluate two-way text messaging and voice communication directly between satellites and standard mobile…
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SWISSto12 Partners with Germany for D2D GEO Broadcast Satellite
What makes this German partnership crucial for GEO broadcast satellites? SWISSto12 has secured a strategic partnership with an unnamed German high-performance space subsystem provider to develop Direct-to-Device (D2D) capabilities for Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites focused on media broadcast applications. The collaboration represents a significant pivot toward consumer-facing satellite services from the Swiss company known primarily…
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BlueBird 7 Satellite Lost After Blue Origin Launch Failure
What happened to AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 satellite after the Blue Origin launch? AST SpaceMobile’s 693kg BlueBird 7 direct-to-device satellite will be deliberately deorbited after a Blue Origin New Glenn upper stage malfunction stranded it in the wrong orbit on April 18, 2026. The $150 million satellite—designed to provide cellular connectivity directly to standard smartphones—reached…
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AST SpaceMobile BlueBird 7 Lost in New Glenn Upper Stage Failure
What happened to AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 satellite? AST SpaceMobile has declared its BlueBird 7 satellite a total loss following an upper stage failure during Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch on April 19, 2026. The $50 million direct-to-device communications satellite was lost when the rocket’s upper stage experienced an anomaly during orbital insertion, despite Blue…