Space Intel Report
• Peter B. de Selding
International regulators have granted Europe’s Open Cosmos more time to deploy its planned low Earth orbit broadband network, but effectively limited the constellation to half its intended size. The decision is a setback to the company’s deployment plans and constrains the scale of its proposed satellite service.
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International regulators have granted Europe’s Open Cosmos more time to deploy its planned low Earth orbit broadband network, but effectively limited the constellation to half its intended size. The decision is a setback to the company’s deployment plans and constrains the scale of its proposed satellite service.
Chinese commercial firm Star Vision has signed agreements covering the development, launch and operation of an AI-enabled satellite constellation for Oman. The announcement signals a commercial space partnership between a Chinese provider and an Omani customer, though the agreements’ scope, schedule and constellation size were not specified in the article.
The National Reconnaissance Office’s Cyber Protection Office has more than 600 staff and an annual budget of $250 million, Lt. Col. Luke Shibilski told CyberSat attendees. The disclosure comes as the White House warns of attacks accelerated by artificial intelligence, underscoring the security demands facing satellite operators.
AT&T and AST SpaceMobile have demonstrated a handoff between a cellular network and a direct-to-device satellite network. The companies described the test as a connectivity milestone, though the available report does not specify the test conditions, technical performance or plans for commercial deployment.
SpaceX has held preliminary talks with EchoStar about buying Boost Mobile or obtaining wholesale access to its wireless network, according to the reports. Either route could support a hybrid terrestrial-satellite service, though the discussions are early and no deal has been announced.
Globalstar has warned that Rocket Lab’s supplier relationship with Iridium could give Rocket Lab an incentive to favor Iridium at Globalstar’s expense. The concern echoes issues raised by SpaceX, according to the report, putting the commercial terms and competitive implications of the relationship in focus.
Space industry CISOs discussed a service disruption that cut Ukrainian forces off from Starlink and its military variant, Starshield, during combat operations with Russia. Speaking at CyberSat, they called for clearer service terms and greater sovereign control over critical satellite connectivity.
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