SES

TeraWave combines 5,280 low Earth orbit satellites with 128 medium Earth orbit satellites—5,408 spacecraft in total—tied together via optical inter-satellite links. The design targets global coverage with two distinct performance tiers: up to 144 Gbps symmetrical RF links per enterprise customer using Q/V-band in LEO, and optical links in MEO delivering up to 6 Tbps for high-throughput trunking between hubs. Blue Origin positions the service for point-to-point private links and enterprise-grade internet access, with an initial target of up to 100,000 customers. The company intends to launch on its own New Glenn vehicles and leverage reusable engines to scale deployment.
The FCC has advanced a rulemaking that would free up a significant slice of upper C-band spectrum for 5G and future 6G services, setting the stage for a high-stakes auction and complex satellite transition by mid-2027. The Commission unanimously approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to clear and auction between 100 and 180 megahertz in the 3.98–4.2 GHz band (upper C-band) via competitive bidding. Because 3GPP band n77 already extends up to 4.2 GHz globally, much of the 5G device and radio ecosystem can support this expansion with minimal modification, accelerating time-to-market for carriers once licenses are granted.
A planned merger between Lynk Global and Omnispace aims to fuse spectrum assets, satellite technology, and SES’s multi-orbit infrastructure to scale 3GPP-compliant direct-to-device services worldwide. The combined company will pair Omnispace’s globally coordinated S-band holdings, about 60 MHz anchored by ITU filings and aligned to non-terrestrial network standards—with Lynk’s patented multi-spectrum D2D platform. SES, already an investor in both firms, will become a major strategic shareholder and provide access to its GEO and MEO assets and ground network to improve coverage, resiliency, and time-to-market. Lynk has already launched commercial messaging and alerting in small markets with a handful of LEO spacecraft.
India’s Digital Communications Commission has sent most of TRAI’s satellite spectrum recommendations back for review, signaling a tougher stance on pricing, compliance, and market safeguards. TRAI recommended that satellite internet providers pay 4% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) as spectrum usage charges, an additional Rs 500 per urban subscriber per year, and a minimum annual spectrum fee of Rs 3,500 per MHz when the AGR-linked payout falls short. At its September 16 meeting, the DCC—comprising senior DoT officials and representatives from finance, IT, and NITI Aayog—reviewed the satcom framework and withheld approval on most elements.
Satellite-mobile convergence is rapidly shifting from niche to mainstream, enabling global mobile coverage through Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). With direct-to-device (D2D) standards now supported by 3GPP Releases 17–19, traditional mobile phones can connect directly to satellites. This development has unlocked use cases in emergency response, smart agriculture, logistics, and IoT—paving the way for a future where 6G, edge AI, and multi-orbit architectures redefine connectivity. Learn how telecoms, enterprises, and regulators are navigating the path to a fully connected planet.
This edition dives into the evolving world of satellite technology and its synergy with modern communication networks, highlighting key developments and challenges. Seraphim opens the discussion with a detailed look at the global race in satellite connectivity, emphasizing its impact on the mobile phone industry. Astrocast then explores the economic aspects of Satellite IoT, underlining its growing importance in global connectivity.

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