Tag: satellite communications
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China Launches Satellite Internet Low-Orbit Group 29 on Long March 12 (Video)
China launched Satellite Internet Low-Orbit Group 29 aboard a Long March 12 rocket at 4:24 a.m. Beijing time on November 9, or 20:24 UTC on November 8, from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site near Wenchang. The satellites entered their planned orbit, continuing the rapid deployment of the country’s low-Earth-orbit communications infrastructure. “Group 29” is…
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ThinKom and Space Systems Command Demonstrate GECKO Multi-Orbit Containerized SATCOM System
HAWTHORNE, Calif. — ThinKom Solutions Inc. and Systems Delta 88, an operational unit of the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC), have completed a live demonstration of the Ground Entry Combined K/Ka-band Operation (GECKO) system at ThinKom’s integration facilities. Announced on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, the exercise validated coherent digital beamforming, simultaneous multi-orbit satellite…
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SpaceX and Qualcomm Partner to Build Nationwide Starlink Mobile 5G Network
The partnership is part of SpaceX’s push to make Starlink Mobile a major carrier in the US, competing directly with T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. The company has already acquired a swath of spectrum, and recent reports suggested SpaceX was exploring an acquisition of Boost Mobile. SpaceX plans to use Qualcomm’s Dragonwing Cellular Infrastructure, a platform…
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L3Harris Wins $36M Army Order for Hawkeye 4 Lite SATCOM Terminals
Under the delivery order, L3Harris will provide Hawkeye 4 Lite ground terminals to deliver expeditionary connectivity for tactical units and coalition forces. The procurement supports the Army’s C2NOW initiative, a modernization effort designed to deliver scalable data processing and unified mission command down to brigade combat teams. The terminals are configured to bolster interoperability with…
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The Satellite Spectrum Race: Why Filing First Matters
Behind the ambitions for computing in space lies a less visible contest: access to radio frequencies and the regulatory standing needed to use them. A central record in that contest is the Master International Frequency Register (MIFR). Yet the satellite systems described in regulatory filings can be far larger than the constellations actually operating overhead.…
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China Introduces Third-Party Reviews for Satellite Spectrum Coordination. A New Business Opportunity?
Suppose two satellite operators plan to use overlapping radio frequency bands. One concludes that their systems can operate compatibly; the other expects harmful interference. Each has a technical report, but repeated discussions fail to resolve the disagreement. Who should check the parameters, models and protection requirements? On September 4, 2026, China’s State Radio Office published…
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US Commander Warns Industry: Systems That Need Pristine Comms Won’t Survive 48 Hours in Korea
Brunson made the remarks Tuesday at AFCEA TechNet Indo-Pacific in Hawaii before an audience largely made up of industry members. He described a daily reality in which adversaries practice electronic attack, jam GPS in the West Sea, and attempt to blind servers, sensors, and networks. While he did not name an adversary nation during the…
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BAE Systems Wins Space Force Contract for Compact Satellite Communications Terminals
The contract draws on the company’s history of delivering radiation-hardened hardware and communications systems, spanning from Apollo-era programs to current deep-space and airborne missions. BAE Systems will base its solution on its space-hardened family of software-defined radios. These radios are designed to ensure reliable performance in contested or degraded environments, including conditions involving jamming, electromagnetic…
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Can Satellites Crash? Software and Updates in Orbit
When an expensive AI server in a ground-based data center develops a bug, engineers can usually reboot it remotely. But put that server in orbit, 400 kilometers above Earth, circling the planet roughly every 90 minutes—and who handles the restart? Difference One: Software Needs Armor If an app crashes on Earth, you can usually just…
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SpaceX Patents Satellite Beam Timing System for Direct-to-Phone Service
The system addresses a core problem in satellite-to-phone links. When a Starlink satellite forms concurrent radio connections across multiple terrestrial cell footprints, individual devices experience varying signal propagation delays depending on their position relative to the spacecraft’s orbital slant angle. A phone near the center of a spot beam sits closer to the satellite than…