Dish Network has done nothing to address its lack of use of the 12 GHz band or comply with the terms of its multichannel video and data distribution service licenses, and the FCC Enforcement Bureau should wrap up any investigation it's doing into that, SpaceX said in docket 20-443 Thursday. SpaceX has repeatedly pushed the FCC to remove MVDDS encumbrances from the band (see 2205260055), "If Starlink is truly disappointed in the 12 GHz service for our current MVDDS licenses, then it should support making the spectrum usable for 5G service," Dish emailed. "Starlink's filing is just its latest attempt to distract the FCC from what is before it -- compelling and persuasive engineering studies demonstrating that 12 GHz can be used for 5G services without harmfully interfering with NGSO operations."
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With regulatory approvals in Nigeria and Mozambique, SpaceX's Starlink system "is now licensed on all seven continents," SpaceX tweeted last week.
IoT satellite operator Astrocast plans to purchase IoT service provider Hiber, it announced Monday. Astrocast said the deal would expand its distribution strategy, speed up its original equipment manufacturing strategy with more development of satellite-enabled IoT devices, increase Astrocast's product portfolio and add coverage of Americas region through Hiber's access to L-band spectrum via an agreement with Inmarsat. It said Hiber's expertise in the oil and gas market will also help Astorcast gain further presence there. "Hiber is recognised as a powerful IoT scale-up within the market" and its "focus on satellite-enabled IoT solutions, innovation and production aligns with Astrocast’s strategic go-to-market priorities for 2022 and beyond," said Astrocast CEO Fabien Jordan. Under the deal's terms, Astrocast will acquire all Hiber shares in exchange for new Astrocast shares, while Hiber's shareholders also will invest $11.2 million in Astrocast's forthcoming public offering.
Omnispace's Spark-2 satellite launch last week completes the deployment step for the Virginia satcom operator's planned 5G-capable satellite network. It said Spark-1, launched a month ago, and Spark-2 will be used to validate development and implementation of the network.
Turion Space's Droid.001 satellite, expected to launch in April, will be the first in a planned constellation for monitoring and deorbiting space debris and servicing other satellites, Turion said in an FCC International Bureau application Friday seeking OK for the satellite's launch and operation. Turion said Droid.001 will house a sensor only for imaging space objects.
SpaceX continues to lobby the FCC about removing the multichannel video distribution and data service encumbrance from the 12 GHz band, recapping meetings with the offices of Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Nathan Simington in docket 20-443 Thursday. They follow a similar meeting with Commissioner Geoffrey Starks (see 2205230042).
Representatives of Amazon's Kuiper urged FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and the regular commissioners to allow increased power levels and very-low-power device use in the 6 GHz band, per a series of docket 21-456 ex parte filings Wednesday. Amazon discussed how it was using the band for home network connectivity and its support for the FCC allowing downlinks in the 17 GHz band from non-geostationary orbit fixed service satellite systems.
A few changes to the FCC's rules governing the 70/80 GHz bands could go far toward maximizing their productive use while protecting co-primary fixed-satellite service users, SpaceX representatives told Wireless Bureau and Office of General Counsel representatives, per a docket 20-133 ex parte post Tuesday. Current gateway siting and application requirements are too complex and licensing should be dramatically streamlined by setting a maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power toward the horizon and letting satellite operators coordinate and register new gateway antennas under a light-licensing framework, it said.
SpaceX's Starlink service is "now available for RVs, campers & other large vehicle users (note, antenna too big for cars)," CEO Elon Musk tweeted Monday.
Inmarsat's SwiftJet aviation connectivity service, unveiled Monday, is expected to enter the market in the first half of 2023, it said. Inmarsat said SwiftJet would use its L-band network and offer speeds of up to 2.6 Mbps -- six times faster than its current L-band business aviation connectivity offering.