Doubts about smallsat launch are intensifying as the number of vehicles in development or consideration continues to rise, while the costs of existing vehicles are seen as too high to support smallsat startups.

Some contend the doom and gloom might be excessive amid the soaring number of smallsats…

Geospatial data provider BlackSky’s tie-up with satellite broadband operator Intelsat took many by surprise, stirring debate over what a partnership that combines Earth imagery with connectivity could look like.

While some see BlackSky’s US$50m loan from Intelsat as a standalone event — helping the venture build out its infrastructure while giving the debt-constrained latter another avenue for growth — others see it as the start of a new trend. Few details have been...

Increasing antitrust investigations into European network-sharing deals will unlikely prevent local mobile operators from forming new JVs to accelerate fibre rollout.

European authorities largely believe sharing wireless and fixed assets will...

A reorientation of the Earth observation sector is liable to happen amid increasing applications of synthetic aperture radar and other platforms as launches are announced.

Data diversification is very real in the sector, as multispectral and hyperspectral platforms and non-imagery datasets also…

Rising data centre valuation is driving US acquirers to raise more equity to fund M&A, which will likely take place this year in markets where hyperscale leasing remains strong.

Large US-based REITS are “consistent data centre acquirers and developers”, and will likely...

The demand for connectivity and cost-effective strategies are helping to drive the digital transformation of the commercial GEO satellite manufacturing market, amid increasing stabilisation in contract numbers.

The increasing importance of digital orientation of GEO satellites is evident in the January announcements of orders from…

The urgency to make more mid-band spectrum available for 5G will likely cost US telecoms operators significantly in the upcoming C-band and CBRS auctions.

C-band in the US could even surpass the current bidding price for...

As mobile operators strengthen their focus on in-building connectivity to ensure a seamless 5G experience indoors and out, Wi-Fi 6 is ushering in a far-reaching revamp that could significantly change market dynamics.

While it is still early days for both sides, connectivity investors should be able to get their first glimpses of how they will interplay this year in private networks. Mobile operators have traditionally...

Questions about strategic focus are lingering amid investors’ mostly positive reaction to Maxar Technologies' sale of satellite technology business MDA.

The impact on the greater market likely includes Maxar Technologies’ increasing shift towards the…

More telecoms operators across Asia Pacific, including new entrants, are expected to share assets with local competitors this year to reduce expensive 5G buildout cost burdens.

Telcos in several Asian countries, such as Thailand, India and Sri Lanka, have paid significant prices for...

A generally good 2020 awaits the commercial satellite economy with expectations for near- and mid-term growth, the possibility of major spending and the likelihood of increased service revenue.

Not everyone, however, will find this energy to be satisfying, as formerly solid satellite segments – video, HTS and others – are likely to…

An expected increase in asset divestitures led by debt-burdened operators will likely drive more independent infracos to pursue telecoms infrastructure deals in 2020.

The share prices of many telcos, especially those in Europe, largely...

Commercial satellite M&A activity in 2020 is primed to crescendo as executives search for opportunities amid increasing newspace investments and growing interest in the sector.

Long-term portfolio planning in the industry – and the impact of trends including reduced satellite capacity pricing, increased competition and among some players higher debt loads in increasingly crowded fields – are likely to…

More sharing and consolidation are expected across wireless, tower and fibre assets this year, driven chiefly by a need for infrastructure densification. 

Although accelerating 5G deployments will play a major role, it is the universal demand for more data that is at the heart of this trend. The market has...

Telecoms operators worldwide are expected to increasingly form IoT roaming partnerships in 2020 to better serve enterprises operating beyond their borders.

Enterprise demand has been the main driver of IoT, which will account for...

US MNO T-Mobile is expected to amass significant spectrum from the FCC’s third mmWave auction, which has exceeded US$4bn in gross proceeds as of round 21, while its merger outcome with smaller rival Sprint looks increasingly optimistic. 

Auction 103, which involves 35 qualified bidders, includes...

Network diversification is coming into view as a path to growth while satellite operators appear to adopt varied approaches to the antennas that would connect consumers.

Movement on terminals is slow-going, amid questions about the cost of antennas in an industry where memories of a legendary failure are fresh. The sector is expected to get a boost from key players SpaceX, Hughes Network Systems and Viasat as their plans gain structure. Technical options in antennas are...

Satellite’s role in the connectivity ecosystem is expected to step up next year as software-defined networks, NGSO ventures and other advances bring it closer to the wider terrestrial landscape.

Convergence has been gaining traction in recent years amid industry shifts that have made commercial space more accessible, fuelled by the relentless demand for data that has been opening up new markets and...

Network sharing between European operators is expected to evolve from being mainly based on passive infrastructure assets to pooling more active elements in 2020.

The model of these deals will also likely help form...

Tower investments in Asia are expected to ramp up in 2020 as worries mount that a pending rule on T-Mobile/Sprint’s merger will devalue US cell sites, while those in Europe will be weighed down by increased network sharing.

US towers in particular are experiencing a...

Demand for satellite connectivity could get a boost, as some steadying in satellite capacity pricing drops amid other dynamics might provide operators with the incentive to focus on strategy.

The top-four and some regional FSS operators are likely to get the opportunity to work on their business cases amid some…

The introduction of the WiFi 6 wireless platform overlaps with key trends in connectivity, including increased communications power and widespread integration of diverse ecosystems.

WiFi 6 might point to increased investment in part because the platform could prod some enterprises and consumers to…

New technologies and spectrum sharing possibilities are promising to open up connectivity markets in developing regions across the world. With one of the most striking coverage gaps, Africa is widely seen as the last frontier for connectivity. 

While there has been a lot of progress in parts of the region’s network ecosystem, less than...

Connectivity investors are busy assessing future battle lines for spectrum as dust settles from the recent 2019 World Radiocommunications Conference. Despite the trend towards convergence between orbital and terrestrial connectivity, the conference has become a fierce battleground between these two ecosystems for access to increasingly scarce and valuable frequencies.

Representatives from both camps found causes to...

A reshuffle is looming in launch amid the expectation of multiple introductions in 2020 as trends that include speedy adaptability and the advent of new pricing strategies emerge.

The market is in flux amid developments that include the entrance of Germany’s OHB as at least the second company seeking integrated…

The FCC is seeking to launch a US$9bn fund in 2020 to provide 5G connectivity in rural America that will replace a previous effort amid questions about the process.

The investment in these projects are considerable, and the time to recoup the outlay is likely to be…

A growing number of IoT use cases is encouraging technology companies focused on private enterprise networks to forge more satellite partnerships.

Satellite IoT is expected to play a significant role in areas such as...

Fast, affordable and secure connectivity is emerging as a focus in satellite as industry players optimise networks against the background of increasing IoT and 5G operations.

Most researchers believe small satellites are the most vulnerable to the threats of…