Satellite News

Associated Press • Gerald Imray

Amazon Leo targets South Africa rollout by 2027 via Herotel deal

Amazon’s low-Earth-orbit satellite internet venture, Amazon Leo, has agreed with South Africa’s Herotel to distribute connectivity to residential customers under a new broadband offering. The service is positioned for a 2027 launch in South Africa, underscoring intensifying competition with providers such as Starlink.

12 Sources

2026-07-15T08:30:36.897441-07:00

Space Intel Report

Eutelsat FCC filing suggests its 440-satellite Airbus OneWeb order could add new capabilities

1 Source

2026-07-15T11:14:01.105739-07:00

Via Satellite

FCC considers allowing Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth-style unlicensed devices to connect directly with satellites for direct-to-device (D2D) s

1 Source

2026-07-15T13:46:08.686563-07:00

European Spaceflight

Europe tightens space-systems execution—from defense milsatcom schedules to direct-to-device ground infrastructure—while securin

5 Sources

2026-07-15T06:48:28.888867-07:00

Satellite Programs & Technology News Timeline

Via Satellite

1 source

FCC considers allowing Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth-style unlicensed devices to connect directly with satellites for direct-to-device (D2D) s The FCC is evaluating whether to permit unlicensed wireless devices—such as Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth—to communicate directly with satellites via direct-to-device (D2D) service. The proposal would shift connectivity models by enabling satellite links from common consumer device classes without requiring licensed handset transceivers.

2026-07-15T13:46:08.686563-07:00

FCC considers allowing Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth-style unlicensed devices to connect directly with satellites for direct-to-device (D2D) s

Space Intel Report

1 source

Eutelsat FCC filing suggests its 440-satellite Airbus OneWeb order could add new capabilities Eutelsat’s FCC filing tied to its Airbus Defence and Space order for 440 OneWeb satellites indicates the batch may not be a straight continuation of the current 640-satellite fleet. The filing points to potential additional features—such as optical inter-satellite links—that are not present across today’s satellites.

2026-07-15T11:14:01.105739-07:00

Eutelsat FCC filing suggests its 440-satellite Airbus OneWeb order could add new capabilities

Space Intel Report

None source

Eutelsat plans 528-satellite LEO constellation in addition to 440 satellites on order from Airbus

2026-07-15T11:14:01.105739-07:00

Eutelsat's 440-satellite order

Associated Press

12 sources

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Amazon Leo targets South Africa rollout by 2027 via Herotel deal Amazon’s low-Earth-orbit satellite internet venture, Amazon Leo, has agreed with South Africa’s Herotel to distribute connectivity to residential customers under a new broadband offering. The service is positioned for a 2027 launch in South Africa, underscoring intensifying competition with providers such as Starlink.

2026-07-15T08:30:36.897441-07:00

Amazon Leo targets South Africa rollout by 2027 via Herotel deal

European Spaceflight

5 sources

❗️

Europe tightens space-systems execution—from defense milsatcom schedules to direct-to-device ground infrastructure—while securin A set of Europe-focused moves highlights the region’s effort to counter SpaceX’s growing gravity in satellite networks. Germany’s defense space buildup is anchored on schedule adherence toward 2027, even as optical and NTN-related ground segments face launch delays, and ESA-backed security work targets verification gaps in scaling multi-orbit systems.

2026-07-15T06:48:28.888867-07:00

Europe tightens space-systems execution—from defense milsatcom schedules to direct-to-device ground infrastructure—while securin

Payload

2 sources

Loft Orbital buys additional satellite bus inventory to scale Apex offerings for higher-power payloads Loft Orbital said it is purchasing new satellite bus inventory to expand its Apex platform capability, positioning the company to serve larger, more power-hungry customer payloads. The move increases production flexibility for a bus family aimed at scaling spacecraft integration capacity.

2026-07-15T06:15:51.002237-07:00

Loft Orbital buys additional satellite bus inventory to scale Apex offerings for higher-power payloads

Payload

16 sources

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SDA to relaunch PWSA buildout with Falcon 9 launch of 21 York Space Systems data transport satellites after tech fixes The Space Development Agency plans to resume launches after a nine-month pause, sending a second (Tranche 1) batch of 21 York Space Systems transport-layer satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from California. SDA says it implemented tech fixes to restart momentum for its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and secure military/ally communications.

2026-07-15T05:52:31.043058-07:00

SDA to relaunch PWSA buildout with Falcon 9 launch of 21 York Space Systems data transport satellites after tech fixes

Space.com

1 source

SpaceX Starlink logs 355,000+ collision-avoidance maneuvers in a year as satellites dodge other objects almost weekly SpaceX’s Starlink satellites have executed more than 355,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers over the past year, with each satellite dodging other objects almost weekly. The frequency underscores the growing operational burden from nearby objects and the risk environment experts say could worsen.

2026-07-15T05:14:12.048378-07:00

SpaceX Starlink logs 355,000+ collision-avoidance maneuvers in a year as satellites dodge other objects almost weekly

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