Via Satellite: Following the widespread effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted the daily lives of billions of people in the past year, the world is in a critical moment in history with regards the development of the broadband ecosystem and accelerated efforts to bridge the digital divide. Access to broadband services is increasingly recognized as a driver of economic growth, as it contributes to a country’s education and political systems.

Via Satellite: Government space budgets grew 10 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, demonstrating the highest yearly budget growth since 2009, according to Euroconsult’s Government Space Programs 2020 report, published in December 2020. Global government space budgets totaled $82.5 billion in 2020, and COVID-19 had no visible effect in 2020 as the pandemic occurred with budgets already in place. The 2000s were marked by rapid space budget growth before a flattening in 2010 as public finances came under pressure, due to the global financial crisis as well as defense budgets downcycling. Growth has resumed since 2015, and 2020 represented a historic high for government space budgets. But their sustainability post-COVID remains to be seen.

Via Satellite: In recent years, the satcom industry has been going through a transitioning period. It is now more competitive than ever, with this new landscape forcing players to adapt to remain relevant.

Via Satellite: Space in China has historically been associated with the state, and for good reason. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has been synonymous with space in China. With CASC being owned by the Chinese government, this has meant that effectively the entirety of the Chinese space industry, up until 2014, was CASC.

Via Satellite: Maritime broadband connectivity has been a growth story for the satellite industry in the last decade. This was largely built on the increasing value proposition of Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) solutions.

Via Satellite:Commercial satellite operators are experiencing significant changes that are part of a shift from a legacy Geostationary (GEO) communications satellite broadcasting business to more data-centric use cases.

Via Satellite: The global satellite communications industry is undergoing rapid change today, with price declines, large increases in capacity volumes, and a general pivot of the satellite operator business model towards selling lots of Mbps, as opposed to relatively few MHz.

Via Satellite: Spaceflight, a satellite rideshare and mission management provider, shared at Euroconsult’s World Satellite Business Week (WSBW) conference that it has procured upcoming launches to Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) – a popular destination for communications satellites. The company anticipates offering rideshare opportunities to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) approximately every 12-18 months, or as customer demand requires.

Via Satellite: With the aim to transform the domestic In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) market in China, Gilat Satellite Networks has announced a strategic partnership with Air Esurfing, a fully owned subsidiary of Air Media Group. The companies intend to use China’s Ka-band High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) capacity for domestic IFC services over mainland China.

Via Satellite: Certaines compagnies proposent déjà des services sans-fil aux passagers munis de leurs appareils électriques.