Viasat demos D2D services in Uzbekistan at GSMA event
UZBEKISTAN 22 MEI

Viasat demos D2D services in Uzbekistan at GSMA event

For the first time in Uzbekistan satellite-enabled messaging directly with a standard mobile terminal via Viasat's satellite was demonstrated during the GSMA M360 Eurasia event. The direct-to-device test and the features and technical specifications of the 5G technology were discussed in detail at the conference, and Viasat also presented potential sovereign satellite solutions for Uzbekistan, according to a statement from the government. 

ESA, Spain boost cooperation on Iris2 satellite network
SPAIN 22 MEI

ESA, Spain boost cooperation on Iris2 satellite network

Spain's space agency AEE and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a letter of intent to deepen cooperation on satellite connectivity, with a focus on the European Union's Iris2 programme. The agreement highlights Spain's role as a leading contributor to low earth orbit (LEO) activities within ESA efforts supporting the secure communications initiative.

O2 Satellite supports 24-hour, 92km challenge across Snowdon
UNITED KINGDOM 22 MEI

O2 Satellite supports 24-hour, 92km challenge across Snowdon

Virgin Media O2's new O2 Satellite service is supporting a new endurance challenge by TV personality Spencer Mathews. He is attempting a 24-hour, 92km trek across Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in Wales, using the satellite connectivity service to stay connected in remote sections of the mountain. The O2 Satellite service is now live on Snowdon for the first time. It will allow him to stay in contact with the support team, navigate in real-time, and access weather updates and live location sharing.

Starlink hikes prices in France with entry‑level plan rising to EUR 35/month
FRANCE 22 MEI

Starlink hikes prices in France with entry‑level plan rising to EUR 35/month

Starlink has increased the monthly rate of its French entry‑level residential plan by EUR 6, following the revamp of its satellite broadband offers in late March. As a result, the 100 Mbps tier is now priced at EUR 35 per month for new and existing customers. Equipment rental remains included in the subscription and is available to new sign‑ups at no extra charge, subject to a one‑off fee of EUR 19. The 200 Mbps option and the top‑tier Max plan have also increased by EUR 6 to EUR 45 and EUR 65 per month res

Transtelecom expands cooperation with QazPost on Starlink sales
KAZAKHSTAN 21 MEI

Transtelecom expands cooperation with QazPost on Starlink sales

Kazakhstan operator Transtelecom has expanded its cooperation with the national postal operator QazPost on providing internet services in villages. The operator carries out the project in 13 regions. Employees from 210 units of the post company provide customers with support when connecting to internet services from Starlink. Transtelecom is the official reseller of services from Starlink in Kazakhstan.

Nkom deploys 2 new GNSS measurement stations in Eastern Finnmark
NORWAY 21 MEI

Nkom deploys 2 new GNSS measurement stations in Eastern Finnmark

Norwegian telecoms regulator Nkom has announced the deployment of two new GNSS measurement stations in Eastern Finnmark as reports of disruptions to satellite navigation systems continue. It follows the government's decision last year to open a new Nkom office for northern Norway, in the city of Tromso in Troms county. Digitisation minister Karianne Tung stressed the importance of bolstering resilience in the north of the country, saying that the new stations in Eastern Finnmark will provide a better overvi

Airtel Uganda begins technical trials for Starlink's D2C service
UGANDA 21 MEI

Airtel Uganda begins technical trials for Starlink's D2C service

Airtel Uganda has launched technical trials for Starlink's direct-to-cell (D2C) satellite service following the satellite operator securing a provisional license from national regulators. Airtel Uganda MD and CEO Soumendra Sahu confirmed the rollout in a LinkedIn post, saying Airtel has entered the testing phase for D2C satellite services with Starlink. Sahu welcomed the long-awaited partnership,noting the Uganda trials advance a broader alliance between Airtel Africa and SpaceX. 

Megafon, Bureau 1440 introduce satellite equipment pack for private networks
RUSSIAN FEDERATION 21 MEI

Megafon, Bureau 1440 introduce satellite equipment pack for private networks

Russian operator Megafon and the satellite operator Bureau 1440 introduced a package for rapid deployment of private LTE or 5G networks in any location. The end-user terminal from Bureau 1440 will provide customers with a connection via low orbit satellites to the ground network infrastructure at Megafon. The package includes a small cell and the end-user terminal from Bureau 1440, along with the internet connectivity services and support to deploy a corporate network with trunking, Wi-Fi, private LTE, priv

NCC holds stakeholder workshop with view to updating National Telecoms Policy 2000
NIGERIA 21 MEI

NCC holds stakeholder workshop with view to updating National Telecoms Policy 2000

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is holding a stakeholders' workshop to review the National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000. The NCC said this is a step towards the first major overhaul of NTP 2000 in over 25 years and aims to bring the regulatory framework up to date with contemporary digital advancements.

Thaicom's Q1 profit jumps 390% on tax refund interest and forex gains
THAILAND 21 MEI

Thaicom's Q1 profit jumps 390% on tax refund interest and forex gains

Thaicom reported core profit of THB 385 million for the first quarter of 2025, which represents an increase of 59.1 percent quarter-on-quarter and of 165.5 percent year-on-year. This profit growth was mainly boosted by higher revenue, alongside efficient cost and expense management.

SpaceX IPO moves ahead with preliminary prospectus filing
GLOBAL 21 MEI

SpaceX IPO moves ahead with preliminary prospectus filing

SpaceX is moving ahead with plans for an initial public offering of shares, filing a preliminary prospectus with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for the listing on the Nasdaq market. While no details on the number or price of the shares have been disclosed yet, the filing confirms that founder and CEO Elon Musk controls 85.1 percent of SpaceX voting rights. The company said it plans to use the proceeds from the IPO to expand its AI computing infrastructure and satellite network, as well as invest

Myriota completes lunar-ready IoT payload for Moon deployment
AUSTRALIA 21 MEI

Myriota completes lunar-ready IoT payload for Moon deployment

Australian-based satellite IoT company Myriota has completed a next-generation communications payload designed to extend its low-power IoT connectivity beyond Earth, marking a key milestone in Australia's space technology capability development. The company said the payload, developed with support from the Australian Government's Moon to Mars Demonstrator Mission program, is intended for deployment in low lunar orbit and will enable applications such as astronaut health monitoring, lunar robotics, and inter

SWITZERLAND 20 MEI

IPTV maintains lead among households in Switzerland - Zattoo report

IPTV maintains its leading position among households in Switzerland as the means to watch TV.  According to the Zattoo TV Streaming Report 2026, 71 percent of households in Switzerland watch television via the internet. By contrast, cable TV has declined from 32 to 30 percent in the past year, and satellite from 10 to 9 percent.

MALAWI 20 MEI

Airtel Malawi prepares for mobile satellite connectivity

Airtel Malawi is preparing to introduce satellite-supported connectivity to strengthen mobile network coverage and reduce service disruptions in hard-to-reach parts of the country. Airtel Malawi chairperson Kayisi Sadala said the move will reduce challenges of intermittent network connectivity which customers have been experiencing in some parts of the country.

SPAIN 20 MEI

Starlink Spain hikes prices to cope with rising demand

Starlink has increased the price of two of its three residential plans after several years of cost cuts in Spain. The satellite internet operator announced on its website that the price of the Residential 200 and Max plans has been increased by EUR 6 per month to EUR 45 and EUR 65 for internet at download speeds of up to 200 Mbps and 400+ Mbps respectively. 

JAPAN 20 MEI

Sky Perfect Jsat partners Astroscale on satellite servicing technologies

Japan's Sky Perfect Jsat and Astroscale have entered into a capital and business partnership focused on developing on-orbit satellite servicing capabilities and expanding commercial space infrastructure services. The companies said the partnership will centre on "on-orbit services", including satellite inspection, repair and life-extension technologies led by Astroscale, alongside joint development of new space-related businesses.

GLOBAL 19 MEI

GSA identifies 275 operator-satellite NTN partnerships in 101 countries

The latest data from the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) shows a total of 275 publicly announced operator-satellite partnership for Non-Terrestrial 5G Networks (NTN) and satellite connectivity worldwide in 101 countries/territories as of April 2026. A total of 57 operators, across 35 countries/territories, have launched commercial offerings, with satellite-to-mobile services driving NTN growth with 21 partnerships in 17 countries. 

BRAZIL 19 MEI

Brazil grants AST SpaceMobile partial approval for satellite deployment

Anatel, Brazil's telecommunications regulator, has granted partial approval to AST SpaceMobile to operate a constellation of 248 low-orbit satellites in Brazil. AST SpaceMobile's request included the S-band and Q/V bands. However, Anatel imposed a condition for the S-band, limiting the grant to the 1,990-2,000 MHz and 2,180-2,190 MHz sub-bands, a 10+10 MHz block, without coordination priority over existing systems.

NORWAY 19 MEI

Nkom revises cooperation with Coastal Administration and Maritime Directorate

Norwegian telecoms regulator Nkom said it has signed revised cooperation agreements with the Coastal Administration (Kystverket) and the Maritime Directorate (Sjoefartsdirektoratet). The aim is to ensure that the maritime sector has access to high quality and robust communication and navigation systems, making it safer to travel along the coast in Norway. The agreements concentrate on matters such as data sharing and contingency planning. 

SOUTH AFRICA 19 MEI

South African minister plans to change ECA to allow Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes

South Africa's Communications Minister Solly Malatsi has reasserted that the nation's telecommunications licensing framework must align with the ICT Sector Code, ITWeb reported. His remarks come after the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) said the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) would have to change, if Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes (EEIPs) were to be accepted as an alternative to direct black ownership requirements when issuing licences. In response, Malatsi said hi

UNITED STATES 19 MEI

Lynk Global joins Anterix to trial 900 MHz D2D satellite communications

Anterix and Lynk Global have got the go-ahead from the US Federal Communications Commission for a satellite direct-to-device (D2D) test programme aimed at validating services in licensed 900 MHz cellular broadband spectrum. The FCC's experimental approval lets Anterix and Lynk collaborate to perform trials in multiple market locations, using equipment ranging from telecoms devices to land mobile radios, smartphones, computers, advanced routers and edge appliances.

NIGERIA 19 MEI

Nigeria postpones FreeTV launch until 17 June after digital switch-over

The Nigerian government has announced the debut of FreeTV on 17 June following a postponement from the original 15 May launch date, CommunicationsWeek reported. Information minister Mohammed Idris said FreeTV will broadcast diverse programming including sports, news, education and children's content in various native Nigerian languages. Idris added that the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting is finally complete.

FINLAND 18 MEI

Finland to maintain printed nautical charts as back-up to avoid cybersecurity risks of digital navigation

Finnish transport and communications agency Traficom said printed nautical charts will retain a significant role in navigation despite rapid digitisation, especially in terms of contingency preparations, supply security training and situational awareness. Cybersecurity risks associated with digital navigation and disruptions in GNSS systems highlight the need for independent back-up systems, it said.

ARGENTINA 18 MEI

Inmarsat connects Glaciar Pesquera fleet to NexusWave platform

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, said it has partnered with Argentina-based Ingenieros Electronicos Asociados (IEA) to deploy its NexusWave connectivity service across the fleet of fishing firm Glaciar Pesquera. The move aims to improve operational efficiency and crew welfare by supporting the company's growing demand for data-driven services.

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