News Analysis

Mojave, Calif., January 17, 2021—Virgin Orbit, the California-based satellite launch company, confirmed that its LauncherOne rocket reached space during the company’s second launch demonstration today, successfully deploying 10 payloads for NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP) from a rocket launched from a Boeing 747.

by Omkar Nikam

Strasbourg, France, January 15, 2021--Ever since satellites have been launched in outer space, both opportunities and risks have increased in the various earth orbits. For more than 50 years, more than 5000 rockets have been launched carrying multiple space objects, mainly satellites into orbit. Today most of these objects are either turned backed to earth or continue to revolve in earth orbits, ultimately increasing the risks for existing and future space infrastructure in low earth- (LEO), medium earth- (MEO), and geosynchronous earth (GEO) orbits.

by Robert Bell

New York City, NY, January 15, 2021--Cellular backhaul via satellite is a big sector for the satellite industry.  It is also a vanishingly small percentage of total backhaul.  In 2020, the arrival of 5G has offered a similar paradox: hundreds of megahertz of C-band capacity have gone to feed the bandwidth appetite of 5G, yet 5G is the first cellular standard that is incorporating satellite as a native backhaul option. Our industry could be forgiven for feeling some whiplash.

by Virgil Labrador, Editor-in-Chief

Los Angeles, Calif., January 15, 2021--The new year is finally here and it certainly is more promising than the very challenging year that was 2020.   To say that the past year was a challenge is a huge understatement, but despite it all, there were some bright spots that bodes well for 2021 and beyond.

Oslo, Norway, January 13,  2021--Marlink Group, backed by Apax Partners (France), has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of ITC Global,a provider of satellite communications solutions, from Panasonic. Upon completion of the acquisition, ITC Global will become a cornerstone of the Marlink Group, supporting the expansion of Marlink's global leadership in the energy and enterprise markets.

The January-February 2021 issue of  the Satellite Executive Briefing magazine sponsored by The SpaceConnection is now available.  Featuring:

Key Trends to Watch in 2021 by Virgil Labrador, Editor-in-Chief

Space Debris: A Worsening Problem by Omkar Nikam

Satellite Data Market in a Post-COVID World by Mayank Halmare

Will 5G Finally Marry Satellite and Cellular? by Robert Bell

Today's Greater Imperative: The Power of Satellite's Ubiquity by Martin Jarrold

Case Study: Bridging the Digital Divide in Africa with Satmotion and Alusat

PLUS Product and Services Spotlight, Mergers and Acquisitions, Executive Moves, Market Briefs, Vital Statistics, Satellite Markets Stock Index and many more. Click here to read or download the file

Gaithersburg, Md., January 4, 2021–UltiSat, a systems integrator and communications services provider to the defense, federal civilian, humanitarian-aid, and critical infrastructure markets, announced today the realignment of its organization and leadership to better position for evolving customer mission landscapes. The move includes several senior leadership appointments and a reorganization around four primary lines of business – Managed Network Services, Airborne ISR Services, Specialized Wireless Services, and Engineering & Technical Services.

Remond, Wash., January 4, 2020--Kymeta Corporation announced that Hanwha Systems a global solutions company that provides differentiated smart technologies in defense electronics and information infrastructure, has signed an agreement to invest US$ 30 million to back the development of Kymeta’s next generation solutions, the Kymeta u8™ and Kymeta Connect™.

by Martin Jarrold

London, UK, January 2, 2021--From the beginning, with Arthur C. Clarke’s 1945 Wireless World article proposing that just three “geostationary” satellites would cover the entire surface of the Earth from their (relative to a point on the surface below) stationary positions, the idea of using satellites for communications was conceived to achieve global wireless connectivity. 

Melville, N.Y., December 30, 2020--Comtech Telecommunications Corp.  (NASDAQ: CMTL) reported today that Comtech and UHP Networks, Inc., a leading provider of innovative and disruptive satellite ground station technology solutions, agreed to extend their agreement for Comtech’s purchase of UHP, which was originally announced in November 2019, until February 28, 2021. UHP is based in Canada and has developed revolutionary technology that is transforming the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) market.