Philippine Telecommunication operators urge President Marcos to veto new legislation on satellite and data transmission
01 July 2025
The Philippine Chamber of Telecommunication Operators (PCTO) has called on President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to veto the recently ratified Konektadong Pinoy Act, warning that the legislation could undermine the competitive landscape in the country’s telecommunications sector.
The PCTO expressed concerns that the act’s provisions would relax requirements for new data transmission operators, particularly satellite service providers, potentially leading to an uneven playing field.
Find out more Vodafone Idea and AST SpaceMobile to bring space-based cellular connectivity to India
24 June 2025
Vodafone Idea has announced a strategic partnership with AST SpaceMobile, a company developing a space-based cellular broadband network that connects directly to standard smartphones. This collaboration aims to expand mobile coverage into India’s unconnected and hard-to-reach regions, complementing existing terrestrial networks.
India boasts over 1.1 billion mobile subscribers, with extensive 4G and emerging 5G coverage. However, AST SpaceMobile asserts that satellite connectivity can play a crucial role in bridging the remaining coverage gaps, particularly in challenging terrains where deploying traditional infrastructure is difficult or costly.
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Solomon Islands: Intelsat delivers enhanced connectivity through cellular backhaul
16 June 2025
Courtesy: Solomon Telekom
Geographically isolated island nations in the Pacific typically face unique and numerous challenges in ensuring that their entire population, particularly those living in remote and rural locations, have access to reliable connectivity. In addition to terrain and other logistical difficulties, the high costs of using traditional terrestrial connectivity and cellular backhaul to connect populations of a small size are difficult to justify from a business perspective.
Yet, mobile network operators are obligated to deliver connectivity and provide all citizens with equal opportunity to participate in a digitized future.
Find out more Intelsat acquisition by SES nears completion
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11 June 2025
The planned acquisition of Intelsat by SES is reportedly set to be finalised next week. The European Commission is widely expected to give its unconditional approval to the deal, which is valued at over $2.9 billion, following the British Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) approval granted on 2 June.
This merger is being viewed as a strategic move to establish a formidable European satellite player capable of competing with global giants like Starlink.
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