Telecoms vendors worldwide are gearing up for the connectivity industry’s transition to 5G with accelerated standalone (SA) core development.

SA core is seen as essential for network slicing, a key 5G capability that enables...

A slew of tower deals driven by European telcos carving out assets to save capex and reduce debt are in the making, but there is a thin chance for independent towercos to become ultimate buyers.

Connectivity analysts believe telecom operators including Germany’s Deutsche Telekom and France’s Orange, which are currently...

LeoSat is in asset sale discussions with companies including technology giant Amazon, as other plans are evaluated for its LEO broadband constellation amid a halt in funding, founder Cliff Anders said.

These include keeping the US- and Europe-based startup…

Satellite operators are regrouping after the FCC dashed hopes for a market-based plan to release C-band in the US for terrestrial 5G, favouring instead a public auction alongside draft legislation that would give the spectrum’s current owners a smaller proportion of proceeds. Litigation and years of delays could follow without the support of the incumbent licence holders, also threatening auction appetite and prices. Although the FCC’s move has given the long-running saga some clarity after months of speculation, the question now for investors is what a middle ground might look like...

A pledge from the UK’s Labour Party to nationalise much of incumbent operator BT’s fibre network is expected to reduce infrastructure investments by local telcos, though it is unlikely to materialise.

The Labour government said it would pay an undisclosed sum to purchase BT’s fibre unit Openreach and incorporate it...

Europe is encouraging increased flexibility in financing like the fusion of public grants with private financial instruments and co-investment with corporate venture to boost investment in the commercial space sector.

An independent report highlighted the benefits that the UK enjoys from the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems programme, which has generated…

Connectivity enablers promising lower latency and better security amid enterprise cloud migration are increasingly favoured by hyperscalers over mobile service providers.

Unlike major telcos that serve enterprise customers by selling their networks, these players enable businesses to... 

Consumer, IoT and governmental connectivity accentuated the mostly buoyant results of US-based satellite operators as some of them await next-generation spacecraft to put new networks into action.

Savvy connectivity strategies are driving growth, including the consumer market, where…

Cablecos hampered by a continued decline in pay-TV subscriptions are increasingly betting on the wireless sector to get their businesses back on track.

Dutch cable operator The United Group, owned by private equity firm BC Partners, has agreed to acquire...

Uncertainty and concerns about the speed of 5G rollout in the US are permeating home stretch discussion of the reallocation of C-band spectrum against the backdrop of increasing attacks.

Some observers, however, are confident that the FCC will issue an order that is partly…

Years of record low satellite insurance rates could be coming to an end amid signs the pressured market is hardening after a string of sizeable losses.

The potential for a €173m (US$190.5m) claim for the malfunctioning Eutelsat 5 West B communications satellite could be the final straw for the industry, worn down by diminishing income from a lack of...

MNOs are expected to look for more innovative ways to cement relationships with their existing MVNO customers amid significant industry departures.

Connectivity analysts believe many operators are taking Virgin Media’s recent exit of a long-term MVNO partnership with British telco BT as a warning sign, fearing that...

Consolidation will likely be a factor for inflight connectivity (IFC) in 2020 as other trends such as the growing influence of NGSO satellite constellations are expected to play a role in the sector.

LEO/MEO constellations will offer a couple benefits over GEO connectivity for IFC, including…

Connectivity providers are the enablers of data commercialisation projects looking to tap into the gold-rush of the digital era. However, as research from law firm Simmons & Simmons underlines how the vast majority of companies are struggling to monetise their data assets, TMT businesses are also at risk of losing revenue and market share if they fall behind in the Big Data race.

Harnessing data correctly guides...

US towercos are pushing to increase mid-band spectrum adoption amid hopes that the T-Mobile/Sprint merger will succeed in December’s federal trial after recently winning FCC approval.

The US$26bn telco tie-up’s court delays have been blamed for...

A block of spectrum in L-band could become available for 5G terrestrial wireless connectivity as a call is made for spectrum strategy amid the spiralling influence of politics.

US satellite broadband venture Ligado Networks is pressing the FCC for action on a…

An anticipated rise in telecoms capex driven by China’s first commercial 5G network is increasingly attracting vendors from outside the country to invest in its infrastructure.

China’s three largest telecoms operators in China switched on the network on 1 November in Beijing, Shanghai and other prominent cities with a goal to...

The demand for Big Data from aircraft is increasing as the aviation industry seeks improved performance through space-based aircraft tracking and air traffic services (ATS) surveillance.

These trends promise blue skies for ATS surveillance, but there are challenges, including questions about how quickly the aviation industry…

The coming surge of satellite imagery is prompting a shift to the collection of imagery from multiple sources and to data insight-oriented service models, amid the rise of non-imagery datasets and largescale plans.

Grand ambitions sum up the outlook for EO, as more than 2,000…

Hyperscale acceleration is making Europe an increasingly attractive investment spot for large US data centre developers, which have recently experienced a slowdown in domestic booking activity.

California-based REIT Digital Realty’s US$8.4bn plan to buy Dutch colocation services firm Interxion for US$8.4bn will make it a...

We are seeking an ambitious Sales Director to join our team in January 2020. The business development professional will play a critical role in growing the firm’s subscription and investment conference programs.

Large technology companies and VC funds are increasingly backing startups that help to manage IoT devices amid the accelerating smart cities buildup.

San Francisco-based IoT platform provider Particle has just raised US$40m in series C funding led by...

Some satellite companies are expanding their portfolio strategies through IoT connectivity as market growth opportunity beckons despite challenges.

A question is whether these players are positioning themselves for growth because of demand for IoT connectivity or whether they are exposing themselves to excessive risk…

Growing demand for resilient communications is pushing German satcoms equipment specialist ND Satcom to seek expansion opportunities in Asia Pacific and Latin America, after acquiring a business in Senegal to grow its presence across Western Africa.

The expansion drive is part of a renewed push to commercialise the business as it branches further out from supplying modems to...

Space surveillance, previously a geeky backwater of space business, has become one of its hottest compartments. The field is likely to have top visibility at the Space19+ summit, the gathering of European space ministers planned on 27-28 November in Seville, where the European Space Agency will ask for nearly US$1bn to spend on "space and security" over the next three years, including a chunk for space situational awareness.

At least two companies already vie for this emerging market...

The launch and Earth observation sectors are among those with potential for public offerings following the 28 October debut of space tourism company Virgin Galactic Holdings on the New York Stock Exchange.

Data from JP Morgan Chase show that the share performance of many satellite sector stocks have recently…

Telecoms vendors worldwide are developing dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) products at an accelerated rate to better serve MNOs’ needs for capex savings as they transition to 5G.

DSS was created by cellular standards body 3GPP to enable operators to...

Verizon and other US connectivity providers stepping up OTT investments set to lose wireless market share to rivals that are aggressively expanding into 5G.

Competition in the country’s wireless industry is expected to intensify over the next 12 months...