COMARA is compiling periodically a collection of links to news articles about the satellite industry to help our members keep abreast of key developments. Publications that require a paid subscription to view their articles are excluded.
We welcome suggestions of additional articles that you feel will be of interest to our members. They can be sent to [email protected].
February 2026
SpaceX has filed plans with the FCC to launch up to one million satellites into low-Earth orbit to act as an orbital data center to power artificial intelligence. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spacex-plans-to-launch-one-million-satellites-to-power-orbital-ai-data/
The FCC quickly advances the SpaceX application to public comment: https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/05/spacex_1m_satellite_datacenter/
Amazon has asked the FCC for more time to meet a deadline that requires the company to deploy roughly 1,600 internet satellites by July 2026: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/30/amazon-asks-fcc-to-extend-satellite-limit-as-it-buys-more-spacex-rides.html
Amazon expects to spend $1 billion more on expenses for the Amazon Leo constellation in 2026, leadership advised investors in its recent financial reporting: https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/02/09/amazon-expects-to-increase-spending-on-amazon-leo-by-1b-in-2026/
SES warns of risks for airlines adopting Starlink: https://www.advanced-television.com/2026/01/16/ses-warns-of-risks-for-airlines-adopting-starlink/
Viasat sees orbital data center partnership opportunities: https://spacenews.com/viasat-sees-orbital-data-center-partnership-opportunity/
Viasat reported modest 3% year-over-year revenue increase in the company’s third quarter, driven by its defense segment: https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2026/02/06/viasat-expects-f2-satellite-to-enter-service-in-may-posts-3-revenue-growth-in-q3/
Satellite insurance firms are now integrating real-time orbital tracking and AI-powered predictive analytics to assess collision probabilities dynamically as a result of the increasing problem of orbital congestion: https://news.satnews.com/2026/02/08/satellite-insurers-driving-costs-in-a-hyper-congested-orbital-environment/
Recent maneuvers by Russian satellites near European geostationary satellites have highlighted the risks to unencrypted command links and data transmissions: https://www.military.com/feature/2026/02/09/russian-satellite-activity-exposes-gaps-satellite-communications-security.html
January 2026
Moody’s has downgraded the credit assessment of SES, citing weaker pro forma results for the first nine months of 2025 and the high integration and restructuring costs for the Intelsat acquisition: https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/12/18/moodys-ratings-downgrades-ses-rating-ses-responds/:
SES has provided information to investors in an attempt counter the Moody assessment: https://news.satnews.com/2026/01/04/ses-to-receive-billions-from-fcc/
SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh discussed the evolving landscape of satellite communications at the DOW Commercial Satcom Workshop. : https://www.executivebiz.com/articles/ses-ceo-al-saleh-satcom-convergence-new-space
SES has added Infinite Orbits to its satellite life-extension roster, with five missions now scheduled between 2026 and 2029.: https://spacenews.com/ses-adds-to-geos-busiest-servicing-pipeline-with-infinite-orbits-contract/
Viasat has integrated its Ka-band Global Xpress fleet with select partner satellites, enabling a unified Ka-band network that is fully interoperable with MILSATCOM Ka-band networks: https://www.viasat.com/news/latest-news/government/2025/government-unified-global-kaband-network/
AST SpaceMobile has successfully launched its BlueBird 6 satellite, the largest commercial satellite currently in orbit: https://interestingengineering.com/space/starlink-rival-launches-worlds-largest-commercial-satellite
Western intelligence services are raising alarms over a suspected Russian effort to develop an anti-satellite capability that could cripple LEO networks such as Starlink: https://usaherald.com/russias-alleged-anti-satellite-plans-raise-new-fears-for-starlink-and-global-space-security/#google_vignette
The Pentagon has issued new rules on cybersecurity measures that commercial satellite operators must employ if their products or services are used by U.S. intelligence agencies or military services: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/new-rules-cybersecurity-pentagon-commercial-satellite-vendors/
A bipartisan bill has been reintroduced to help commercial satellite owners and operators defend against growing cybersecurity threats: https://industrialcyber.co/regulation-standards-and-compliance/lawmakers-revive-satellite-cybersecurity-bill-to-shield-commercial-space-systems-from-rising-threats/
SpaceX has announced plans to relocate roughly half of its current Starlink fleet to lower altitudes throughout 2026 to enhance space safety protocols. : https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/spacex-lowers-starlink-satellites/
A Spanish military communications satellite launched in October was struck by what its operator described as a “space particle,” potentially jeopardizing the spacecraft’s mission: https://spacenews.com/new-spanish-communications-satellite-suffers-space-particle-impact/
Project Kuiper has been rebranded “Amazon Leo”: https://payloadspace.com/project-kuiper-becomes-amazon-leo/
November 2025
Joe Pelton recently updated the articled called “COMSAT, INTELSAT, and the start of the Global Commercial Space Industry“, providing a wonderful synopsis of how our beloved satellite industry got started.
July 2025
Via Satellite talks to several financial analysts about how the Intelsat acquisition will impact SES: https://www.satellitetoday.com/connectivity/2025/07/17/ses-completes-intelsat-deal-analysts-assess-points-for-integration/
Capacity Media examines the impact that the SES acquisition will have on Starlink, Viasat, and the broader satcom industry: https://www.capacitymedia.com/article/ses-acquisition-intelsat
Comara Board member Roger Cochetti discusses how SES’ acquisition of Intelsat marks a new chapter in the history of the space age: https://www.satellitetoday.com/opinion/2024/06/04/ses-acquisition-of-intelsat-marks-a-new-chapter-in-the-history-of-the-space-age/
The Washington Times raises potential security concerns that the SES/Intelsat merger could pose to the US: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jul/21/merger-european-us-satellite-companies-raises-fears-chinese-access/
Intelsat’s David Broadbent is appointed president and CEO of SES’s Space & Defense Organization following closing of the acquisition: https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/SES-SA-APPOINTMENT-2fd34d53-105b-46c7-9aba-c0eb6ba8e2df
Viasat is identified as victim in Chinese Salt Typhoon cyberespionage: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/viasat-identified-victim-chinese-salt-typhoon-cyberespionage-bloomberg-news-2025-06-17/
The French and British governments announce capital investments in Eutelsat: https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-will-invest-190-million-french-satellite-group-eutelsat-2025-07-10/; https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/france-tightens-grip-eutelsat-through-135-bln-euro-shares-sale-2025-06-19/
CNBC talks to industry experts about whether Eutelsat is likely to become Europe’s answer to Starlink: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/29/eutelsat-europe-starlink.html
In spite of the Trump/Musk falling out, US Government reliance on Starlink continues to grow: https://fedscoop.com/starlink-us-government-elon-musk-donald-trump/
The Trump Administration reportedly shifts focus from Elon Musk to Jeff Bezos’ Project Kuiper to build Golden Dome system: https://americanbazaaronline.com/2025/07/22/trump-administration-shifts-focus-from-elon-musk-to-jeff-bezos-project-kuiper-to-build-golden-dome-system-465403/
Chinese researchers reportedly use a 2-watt laser to transmit 1 Gbps of data over a distance of 36,000 km with minimal signal degradation: https://indiandefencereview.com/chinese-satellite-pulverizes-starlink-with-a-2-watt-laser-from-36000-km-above-earth/#google_vignette
May 2025
EU antitrust regulators will decide by June 10 whether to clear SES acquisition of Intelsat: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/eu-antitrust-regulators-decide-ses-intelsat-deal-by-june-10-2025-05-02/
As part of its review of the potential acquisition, the EU asks SES and Intelsat customers whether Starlink is a credible rival to them. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/eu-regulators-ask-if-starlink-is-credible-rival-ses-intelsat-2025-05-12/
Via Satellite examines how how mobile and satellite convergence has the potential to create truly global connectivity: https://interactive.satellitetoday.com/via/march-2025/bridging-the-horizon-how-mobile-and-satellite-convergence-will-create-truly-global-connectivity?utm_source=Via+Satellite+Email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DNF+Email
SES posts stable Q1 revenue, expects 30% capacity increase from new O3b satellites: https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/04/30/ses-posts-stable-q1-revenue-expects-30-capacity-increase-from-new-o3b-satellites/
SES is in talks with EU over long-term option to complement Starlink: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/satellite-firm-ses-talks-with-eu-over-long-term-option-complement-starlink-2025-04-30/
Space News interviews SES’ CEO about how SES is positioning itself to stay ahead in the evolving satellite industry: https://spacenews.com/qa-ceo-adel-al-saleh-pushes-ses-into-new-multi-orbit-territory/
Seeking Alpha looks at Viasat’s financial outlook after its acquisition of Inmarsat: https://seekingalpha.com/article/4778064-viasat-stock-after-inmarsat-potential-sustained-profitability
Eutelsat appoints Orange veteran as its new CEO: https://spacenews.com/telecoms-veteran-to-lead-eutelsat-amid-europes-sovereign-broadband-push/
U.S. Space Force officials remain unconvinced about the capability of refueling commercial satellites in orbit: https://spacenews.com/space-force-remains-skeptical-on-satellite-refueling-show-me-the-military-advantage/
U.S. Space Force is slowly taking over management responsibility from the Defense Information Systems Agency for contracting commercial satellite services for DoD: https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/space-force-transitioning-satcom-contracts-from-disa/
March 2025
Eutelsat shares quadruple following US pause in military aid to Ukraine as investors bet on OneWeb satellites as a European option to Starlink: https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/could-europes-eutelsat-help-replace-starlink-ukraine-2025-03-05/
SES moves to reassure investors about its financial stability after Moody’s downgraded the company’s outlook from stable to negative. https://spacenews.com/ses-defends-financial-outlook-after-moodys-downgrade/
Via Satellite announces this year’s nominees for Satellite Executive of the Year: https://interactive.satellitetoday.com/via/march-2025/satellite-executive-of-the-year-nominees-for-2024
Eutelsat takes a 535 million euro ($560 million) goodwill impairment on its GEO assets, expecting lower future cashflow from GEO. https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/02/14/eutelsat-logs-560m-impairment-on-geo-assets-in-first-half-of-2024-25/
Eutelsat has held its Q2 earnings call. To read about highlights from the call: https://www.tipranks.com/news/company-announcements/eutelsats-earnings-call-strategic-wins-amid-financial-hurdles
Viasat has restructured its executive team: https://www.satellitetoday.com/people/2025/01/22/viasat-shakes-up-executive-team-gowrappan-to-leave-company/
Motley Fool looks at possible reasons for the 18% drop in Viasat share price on February 11: https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/02/11/why-viasat-stock-just-crashed-18/
The demise of Intelsat 33e exposes vulnerabilities in the space domain: https://spacenews.com/intelsat-33e-demise-exposes-vulnerabilities-in-the-space-domain/
Ligado has sued Inmarsat for breach of contract in 2007 spectrum deal: https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/01/08/ligado-sues-inmarsat-for-breach-of-contract-in-spectrum-deal/
Intelsat and OneWeb expand multi-orbit services in Alaska: https://spacenews.com/intelsat-and-oneweb-expand-multi-orbit-services-in-alaska/
Eutelsat resolves OneWeb leap year software glitch after two-day outage: https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-resolves-oneweb-leap-year-software-glitch-after-two-day-outage/
Eutelsat orders 100 LEO satellites to replenish OneWeb constellation: https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-orders-100-leo-satellites-to-replenish-oneweb-constellation/
November 2024
Several articles discuss the October 19 breakup of the Intelsat 33e satellite and the associated impacts: https://spacenews.com/intelsat-33e-loses-power-in-geostationary-orbit/
https://spacenews.com/exoanalytic-observes-500-pieces-of-debris-from-intelsat-33e-breakup/
US DOD is increasing its projected spending on LEO satellite internet services more than tenfold, responding to surging demand from across the military, according to SpaceNews: https://spacenews.com/pentagons-commercial-satellite-internet-services-program-soars-to-13-billion/
Viasat is in advanced talks to buy broadband capacity from Telesat’s future LEO satellites as competition from Starlink competition mounts: https://spacenews.com/viasat-seeking-telesat-leo-capacity-as-starlink-competition-mounts/
The Motley Fool analyzes the economics behind Amazon’s Project Kuiper and concludes that it is likely to be a money-losing venture: https://www.fool.com/investing/2024/10/13/prediction-amazoncom-will-lose-money-on-project-ku/
The European Commission picks a consortium led by SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat to deploy the IRIS² satellite constellation: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2024/11/04/europe-picks-consortium-for-sovereign-satellite-constellation-iris/
Logos Space has early financial commitments needed to deploy 1,000 satellites for global broadband coverage, according to ex-Google executive behind the startup: https://spacenews.com/ex-google-exec-attracts-financial-backers-for-leo-megaconstellation/
Australia scraps a defense satellite program because of the threat of new technology that can “shoot satellites out of the sky”; plans to use instead a mesh of micro satellites: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/australia-scrapped-satellite-because-tech-033521387.html
Fortune Magazine looks at how Elon Musk’s $130 million investment in Trump’s victory could reap a huge payoff for Starlink, Tesla and the rest of his business empire: https://fortune.com/2024/11/06/elon-musk-donald-trump-tesla-spacex-xai-boring-neuralink/
Apple plans to inject $1.7 billion into Globalstar for a new constellation to improve space-based communications for iPhones: https://spacenews.com/globalstar-soars-on-apples-1-5-billion-satellite-investment/
World’s first wooden satellite, developed in Japan, heads to space: https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/worlds-first-wooden-satellite-developed-japan-heads-space-2024-11-05/
Former Intelsat executive Ramu Potarazu joins Lynk Global as CEO: https://spacenews.com/former-intelsat-executive-joins-lynk-global-as-ceo/
September 2024
Gogo to acquire Satcom Direct, owner of the residual COMSAT Mobile Communications business: https://www.satellitetoday.com/mobility/2024/09/30/gogo-acquires-satcom-direct-to-offer-multi-orbit-ifc-solutions/
Joe Pelton has just prepared a presentation called “The Future of Space” that he presented at the Alliance for Collaboration in the Exploration of Space (ACES Worldwide)
NATO awards SES contract for MEO services for US and Luxembourg: https://www.satellitetoday.com/government-military/2024/09/11/nato-awards-ses-contract-for-meo-services-for-us-luxembourg/
SES’s CEO discusses why the company plans to steer clear of the Direct-to-Device market: https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/ses-ceo-mulls-its-role-crowded-d2d-space
SES wins $46 million U.S. Air Force contract for satellite services: https://spacenews.com/ses-wins-46-million-u-s-air-force-contract-for-satellite-services/
Viasat is awarded Blue Force Tracker (BFT) Network Services Contract by Defense Information Services Agency (DISA): https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/viasat-awarded-potential-150-million-blue-force-tracker-bft-network-services-contract-by-defense-information-services-agency-disa-302239034.html
Inmarsat to incorporate Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO network into maritime services: https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Inmarsat_to_incorporate_Eutelsats_OneWeb_LEO_network_into_maritime_services_999.html
Eutelsat’s US subsidiary unveils the new executive team for Eutelsat America Corp. and OneWeb Technologies (EACOWT): https://www.satellitetoday.com/people/2024/09/19/eutelsats-us-subsidiary-debuts-new-exec-team-for-combined-company/
Roger Cochetti examines the Global Digital Compact, a major international agreement on the Internet, artificial intelligence and high-tech: https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/4831121-global-digital-compact-tech-policy/
Tim Lee is the newly elected President of IEEE. Please click on his name to read more.
Joe Pelton has just prepared a presentation called “The Future of Space” that he presented at the Alliance for Collaboration in the Exploration of Space (ACES Worldwide)
June 2024
COMARA Board member Roger Cochetti discusses in Via Satellite how the SES acquisition of Intelsat represents a new chapter in the history of the Space Age: https://www.satellitetoday.com/opinion/2024/06/04/ses-acquisition-of-intelsat-marks-a-new-chapter-in-the-history-of-the-space-age/
SES explains the strategy behind the Intelsat acquisition: https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2024/04/30/ses-explains-the-strategy-behind-its-long-anticipated-acquisition-of-intelsat/
SES begins providing broadband communications with its first six O3b mPower satellites: https://spacenews.com/boeing-built-o3b-mpower-satellites-begin-service/
Viasat buys capacity from OneWeb for maritime customers in the latest multi-orbit challenge to Starlink’s growing dominance: https://spacenews.com/viasat-taps-oneweb-to-provide-multi-orbit-maritime-broadband/
Inmarsat rolls out an integrated multi-network satcom service: https://maritime-executive.com/article/inmarsat-rolls-out-an-integrated-multi-network-satcom-service
EU’s plans to develop an independent satellite network runs into problems: https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/05/europes-ambitious-satellite-internet-project-appears-to-be-running-into-trouble/
Scientists in Japan plan to launch first wooden satellite in space, aiming to explore ways to reduce pollution generated when satellites burn up upon reentry to earth: https://www.iflscience.com/worlds-first-wooden-satellite-to-launch-this-year-could-combat-space-pollution-74559
April 2024
Intelsat’s CEO discusses how the company is refocusing its business, including potential deals relating to MEO, land mobility, and direct-to-handset: https://interactive.satellitetoday.com/via/satellite-2024-show-daily-day-2/intelsat-ceo-wajsgras-previews-deals-in-meo-land-mobility-and-direct-to-handset/
Intelsat expands partnership with OneWeb for LEO capacity: https://spacenews.com/intelsat-expands-oneweb-leo-partnership/
Intelsat executive makes the case for multi-orbit inflight connectivity solutions versus LEO-only: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/02/intelsat-multi-orbit-versus-leo-only/
ViaSat provides update on ViaSat-3 during its February 2024 earnings call: https://spacenews.com/viasat-preparing-to-start-services-from-hobbled-viasat-3-satellite/
ViaSat teams with Northrop Grumman on the Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) program: https://spacenews.com/viasat-links-up-with-northrop-grumman-for-air-force-communications-experiment/
Eutelsat decides to hold off deploying significantly upgraded OneWeb broadband satellites: https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-scales-back-oneweb-gen-2-upgrade-plan/
Iridium announces plans to acquire GPS backup provider Satelles: https://spacenews.com/iridium-to-take-over-gps-backup-provider-for-115-million/
House Democrats open investigation of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, examining whether the company implemented adequate safeguards to prevent Russia from deploying its Starlink satellite internet service in eastern Ukraine: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/03/07/starlink-musk-spacex-russia/
Satellite manufacturers insist that demand for GEO satellites has not gone away: https://spacenews.com/satellite-manufacturers-defend-diminished-geo-market/
COMARA Director Roger Cochetti’s recent editorial for The Hill newspaper examines how global trade negotiations taking place this week may well be moving away from such longstanding Internet principles as the free flow of information and prohibitions on Internet trade tariffs: https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/4496916-for-25-years-the-wto-has-protected-the-free-flow-of-information-online-this-year-that-could-change/