Articles tagged with "telecommunications"
7 of the world’s oldest tech companies still rewriting the future
The article highlights seven of the world’s oldest technology companies that have continuously reinvented themselves over the past 150 years, adapting to massive technological shifts and industrial changes. These firms began with early technologies such as telegraphs, glassmaking, and paper production, evolving into modern leaders in telecommunications, engineering, materials science, and digital infrastructure. Their histories provide insight into the long-term nature of innovation and resilience in the tech sector. Among the companies discussed, BT Group originated in 1846 as the Electric Telegraph Company and has transitioned from telegraph networks to broadband, mobile, and cybersecurity services in the UK. Siemens, founded in 1847, evolved from electrical telegraphy to a diversified engineering conglomerate involved in electrification, automation, healthcare imaging, and Industry 4.0 technologies. Corning, established in 1851 as a glass manufacturer, became a key player in specialty materials, producing innovations like Pyrex, Gorilla Glass, and ultra-pure optical fibers essential for modern communications.
energymaterialstelecommunicationsindustrial-automationfiber-opticsglass-manufacturingdigital-transformationSpaceX gets FCC approval to launch 7,500 more Starlink satellites
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved SpaceX's request to launch an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, bringing the total authorized number to 15,000 worldwide. This approval not only allows SpaceX to expand its high-speed internet coverage but also permits Starlink satellites to operate across five different frequency bands. Additionally, the decision enables Starlink to provide direct-to-cell connectivity outside the United States, along with supplemental coverage within the U.S. While SpaceX initially sought approval for 15,000 more satellites, the FCC has deferred authorization for the remaining 14,988 proposed Gen2 Starlink satellites. The commission has set launch deadlines requiring SpaceX to deploy 50% of the approved satellites by December 1, 2028, and the remaining half by December 2031. This phased rollout underscores the FCC's regulatory oversight in managing satellite deployments and spectrum use.
IoTsatellite-technologyStarlinkSpaceXtelecommunicationswireless-connectivityFCC-approvalStarlink rival launches world's largest commercial satellite to space
Texas-based AST SpaceMobile has launched BlueBird 6, the world’s largest commercial communications satellite, aboard India’s LVM3 rocket on December 23. This next-generation satellite is roughly three times larger than its predecessors, with an unfurled array measuring 2,400 square feet (223 square meters), making it the biggest commercial satellite currently in Earth’s orbit. BlueBird 6 is designed to provide 5G smartphone coverage directly from space, supporting 10 gigahertz of bandwidth and speeds up to 120 megabytes per second, as part of AST SpaceMobile’s effort to create the first space-based cellular broadband network and compete with SpaceX’s Starlink. Since launching its first satellite, BlueWalker 3, in 2022—which successfully conducted the first 5G phone call from space—AST SpaceMobile has deployed six BlueBird satellites, with plans to launch 45-60 more by 2026 to expand 5G coverage across the US and other regions
IoTsatellite-technology5G-connectivityspace-based-networkstelecommunicationsbroadbandAST-SpaceMobileWindstorm disrupted US atomic clock sync by 4.8 microseconds last week
A severe windstorm in Colorado on December 17 caused a rare power failure at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratory in Boulder, disrupting the synchronization of the US master atomic clock by 4.8 microseconds. While this tiny delay—less than five-millionths of a second—was imperceptible to the general public, it posed significant risks to high-precision sectors such as satellite navigation, telecommunications, finance, and power grid management, where even microsecond-level accuracy is critical. The NIST facility, which houses 16 ultra-precise atomic clocks using hydrogen masers and cesium beams, experienced a failure of both its primary power and backup generator, temporarily knocking offline the systems that synchronize and broadcast official time. To mitigate the issue, NIST advised users to switch to alternative time sources and employed “common-view time transfer” via GPS satellites to maintain synchronization through secondary clocks in Fort Collins. The outage was resolved after activating a secondary diesel generator, restoring backup
energyatomic-clockstime-synchronizationpower-failureNISTGPStelecommunicationsCheap fiber helps scientists link two quantum networks for first time
Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have demonstrated a pioneering quantum network prototype that merges two independent quantum networks into a single, reconfigurable system supporting eight users. This network can route, distribute, and teleport quantum entanglement on demand, marking a significant advancement in the development of scalable quantum communication systems. The team’s approach leverages a low-cost, commercially available optical fiber—costing under £100—using the natural chaotic scattering of light within the fiber to create a high-dimensional entanglement router. By programming the input light, the fiber acts as a multi-port device capable of dynamically switching entanglement distribution patterns and supporting multiplexing, allowing multiple users to share the same fiber simultaneously. A key highlight of the demonstration was multiplexed entanglement teleportation, where entanglement was swapped between four distant users across two channels simultaneously, showcasing unprecedented flexibility in quantum network routing. This breakthrough suggests a practical pathway toward linking smaller quantum processors into larger, networked quantum supercomputers, which
IoTquantum-networksoptical-fiberentanglementquantum-computingmultiplexingtelecommunicationsWorld Mobile Stratospheric and Britten-Norman pioneer airborne 5G to connect the unconnected
World Mobile Stratospheric (WMS), a joint venture between World Mobile Group and Indonesia’s Protelindo, has partnered with aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman to pioneer airborne 5G connectivity aimed at bridging the global digital divide. The initiative will use a Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Islander aircraft as a test platform for a novel 5G communication system operating from the stratosphere. Flight trials are planned for mid-2026 from Britten-Norman’s UK test facilities, supported by BT’s research team, to validate the telecom payload and assess coverage and performance of 5G links delivered from aircraft altitude. This project represents a foundational step toward establishing a stratospheric connectivity platform. The airborne 5G system aims to provide reliable internet access to remote and underserved regions, particularly in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, and rural Europe, where traditional ground-based infrastructure is economically unviable. By leveraging decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), the model distributes
IoT5Gairborne-connectivitydigital-infrastructuretelecommunicationsremote-internet-accessstratospheric-communicationEU considers law to phase out Huawei and ZTE equipment from bloc’s telecom networks
The European Commission is intensifying efforts to enhance the security of the EU’s telecommunications infrastructure by proposing legislation to phase out equipment from Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE in 5G and future networks. This move builds on a 2020 recommendation advising member states to avoid “high-risk” vendors, with EC Vice President Henna Virkkunen now seeking to make these guidelines legally binding. If adopted, EU countries that fail to comply could face infringement actions and financial penalties. The proposal also aims to restrict Chinese firms’ participation in fiber network projects, aligning with broader goals to accelerate broadband deployment while safeguarding critical infrastructure. This initiative reflects growing concerns within the EU about China’s influence amid deteriorating diplomatic relations. Several member states have already taken steps in this direction: Germany plans to ban key Huawei and ZTE components starting in 2026, and Finland is expanding its restrictions on Huawei’s 5G equipment. The EU’s stance parallels actions by the U.S. and other allies like the U.K.
IoTtelecommunications5Gnetwork-securityHuaweiZTEEU-regulationsGoogle partners with Ambani’s Reliance to offer free AI Pro access to millions of Jio users in India
Google has partnered with Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries to offer its AI Pro subscription free for 18 months to eligible Jio 5G users in India, initially targeting those aged 18 to 25 before expanding nationwide. This collaboration provides access to Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro AI model, enhanced AI image and video generation tools, expanded study and research capabilities via Notebook LM, and 2 TB of cloud storage across Google services. Valued at approximately $396, the offer aims to accelerate AI adoption among India’s vast internet user base and reflects Google’s strategy to deepen its AI presence in emerging markets. Beyond consumer access, Reliance and Google Cloud are collaborating to expand AI infrastructure in India, with Reliance Intelligence becoming a strategic partner to promote Gemini Enterprise among Indian organizations and develop AI agents on the platform. This partnership complements Reliance’s broader AI initiatives, including a joint venture with Meta to strengthen AI infrastructure through a ₹8.55 billion ($100 million) investment.
IoTAI5Gcloud-computingtelecommunicationsartificial-intelligencetech-partnershipsSatellites found exposing unencrypted data, including phone calls and some military comms
Security researchers from UC San Diego and the University of Maryland have uncovered that up to half of all geostationary satellites are transmitting sensitive consumer, corporate, and military data without encryption. Using an off-the-shelf satellite receiver over a three-year period, they intercepted unencrypted information including private phone calls, text messages, in-flight Wi-Fi internet traffic, and communications from critical infrastructure systems such as energy, water suppliers, and offshore oil and gas platforms. The researchers have spent the past year notifying affected organizations, prompting some, like T-Mobile and AT&T’s Mexican network, to begin encrypting their satellite transmissions. However, many entities, including certain critical infrastructure providers, have yet to secure their data, leaving substantial amounts of satellite communications vulnerable to eavesdropping for the foreseeable future. This ongoing exposure highlights significant security risks in satellite data transmission that require urgent attention.
energysatellite-communicationdata-securitycritical-infrastructureIoT-securitytelecommunicationscybersecuritySatellites are leaking private messages and sensitive military data
A recent study by researchers at UC San Diego and the University of Maryland has uncovered a significant security vulnerability in global satellite communications. The team found that approximately half of all geostationary satellite signals transmit sensitive data—including personal calls and texts, corporate information, and military communications—without any encryption. Using a relatively inexpensive setup costing under $800, the researchers intercepted thousands of private messages and data streams that were never intended for public access. Their findings highlight a widespread assumption within the satellite industry that no one would scrutinize or attempt to intercept these transmissions, a security approach the researchers describe as dangerously complacent. The study revealed that telecom companies often use satellites to connect remote cellular towers to their core networks, a process called backhaul, which frequently lacks encryption. This exposed unprotected data from major carriers such as T-Mobile, AT&T Mexico, and Telmex. More alarmingly, the researchers intercepted unencrypted communications from U.S. and Mexican military and law enforcement agencies, including sensitive information like ship identifiers
IoTsatellite-communicationdata-securityencryptionmilitary-communicationstelecommunicationscybersecuritySpacecoin beams blockchain transaction through space in bid for decentralized internet
Spacecoin recently demonstrated the successful transmission of encrypted blockchain data via its first prototype satellite, CTC-0, launched in December 2024 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare. This proof-of-concept involved beaming secured cryptographic signatures and encrypted data from Chile to Portugal, validating the satellite’s capability to execute encrypted transactions in orbit. Founder Tae Oh emphasized that this milestone is critical for building a decentralized network of communication satellites and enabling permissionless connectivity. Following CTC-0, Spacecoin plans to launch progressively larger satellites (CTC-1 series) to enhance network performance. Unlike existing satellite broadband providers such as SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper, which operate managed networks, Spacecoin aims to create a decentralized internet infrastructure based on “tokenized access.” Their upcoming network, called Starmesh, promises encrypted internet traffic that supports safe, untraceable browsing and access to decentralized web services. The system will operate on the Creditcoin blockchain, allowing users to pay
IoTsatellite-technologyblockchaindecentralized-internetencrypted-communicationspace-technologytelecommunicationsAndrew Yang took inspiration from Mark Cuban for his budget cell carrier Noble Mobile
Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang has launched Noble Mobile, a budget wireless service provider operating as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) using T-Mobile’s infrastructure. Noble Mobile offers a $50 monthly plan with unlimited talk, text, and 5G data, but with a unique twist: customers who use less than 20 GB of data in a month receive “Noble Cash” rewards, redeemable for goods or cash at roughly $1 per unused GB below the threshold. This model incentivizes reduced data usage, aligning with Yang’s goal of encouraging people to spend less time on their phones. Noble Mobile aims to provide a more affordable alternative to traditional carriers, whose average monthly bills are around $83, by leveraging wholesale network access to keep costs low. Yang drew inspiration from entrepreneur Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs model, which sells generic medications at a modest markup without relying on pharmacy benefit managers, thereby reducing prices for consumers while maintaining profitability. Similarly, Yang sees Noble Mobile as a “Cost Plus
IoTmobile-networks5Gwireless-serviceMVNOdata-usagetelecommunicationsWhy SpaceX made a $17B bet on the direct-to-cell market
SpaceX has made a significant strategic move in the satellite-to-phone market by acquiring a large portion of wireless spectrum from EchoStar for $17 billion, split evenly between cash and SpaceX stock. This acquisition centers on securing valuable spectrum—a limited range of radio frequencies essential for wireless communication. The deal follows the FCC’s 2024 approval of the Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) framework, which allows satellites to extend terrestrial carrier networks using existing phone spectrum. Unlike previous arrangements where satellite operators had to partner with terrestrial carriers, SpaceX now holds the spectrum license directly, positioning itself to more aggressively expand its Starlink Direct-to-Cell service, which it began offering to T-Mobile users as a premium add-on. While SpaceX focuses on building rockets and satellites rather than cell phones, CEO Elon Musk has hinted at entering the phone market through his other venture, X, potentially challenging established players like Apple, which currently partners with Globalstar for satellite-enabled iPhone services. SpaceX’s spectrum acquisition may
IoTsatellite-communicationwireless-spectrumDirect-to-CellStarlinktelecommunicationsSpaceXReOrbit lands record funding to take on Musk’s Starlink from Europe
ReOrbit, a Helsinki-based European space tech startup founded in 2019, has secured a record-breaking Series A funding round of approximately US $53 million. The company aims to provide nations with sovereign control over their satellite communications as an affordable alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink. Unlike Starlink, which serves private users and enterprises, ReOrbit emphasizes full ownership and sovereignty for its clients by sourcing hardware from trusted suppliers and controlling it through its proprietary software platform. This platform, comparable to an operating system like iOS, supports both geostationary and low earth orbit satellites, addressing the growing need for secure space infrastructure critical to national defense and security. ReOrbit has already signed a major contract worth hundreds of millions of euros with one country and multiple memoranda of understanding with others, demonstrating strong market traction. Although the startup did not require external funding due to these contracts, it pursued the Series A round to accelerate growth, targeting €1 billion in order books within four years. The funding round was
IoTsatellite-technologyspace-techtelecommunicationscybersecuritydefense-technologysoftware-platformsPhilippine Telco Provider Shifts More Than 3000 Cellsites To Renewable Energy - CleanTechnica
Philippine telecommunications company Globe is transitioning over 3,000 of its cell sites and low-energy facilities in Metro Manila and the CALABARZON region to 100% renewable energy by 2028. This initiative, enabled by the Philippine Energy Regulatory Commission’s Retail Aggregation Program (RAP), allows Globe to bundle the power demands of multiple small sites to procure clean electricity from a single retail supplier. The move is expected to source 80 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity annually and reduce Globe’s greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 5,500 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent each year. This transition supports Globe’s commitments under the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aiming for a 42% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2030 and a 90% reduction across all scopes by 2050, using 2021 as the baseline. The collaboration with energy supplier ACEN RES, part of the Ayala Group, reinforces a
energyrenewable-energysolar-powertelecommunicationsclean-energy-transitiongreenhouse-gas-reductionsustainabilityNASA has sparked a race to develop the data pipeline to Mars
NASA is transitioning from operating its own Mars data relay orbiters to purchasing connectivity as a service, similar to how it contracts launch and astronaut transport. This shift aims to replace the current patchwork relay network—primarily relying on aging spacecraft like Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and MAVEN—with a mixed infrastructure combining NASA assets and commercial providers. NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking capability studies to develop an interoperable marketplace for lunar and Mars communications, focusing on end-to-end data transfer from surface assets through orbiters to Earth. The challenge involves overcoming vast distances, latency, solar interference, and fault tolerance requirements. Several major companies have entered the race to provide these next-generation relay services. Blue Origin proposes a Mars Telecommunications Orbiter based on its Blue Ring platform, aiming for deployment as early as 2028. Rocket Lab has presented its own Mars telecom orbiter concept, integral to its Mars Sample Return mission architecture. NASA
space-communicationMars-missionsNASAsatellite-relaydeep-space-networktelecommunicationsspace-explorationStarlink suffers rare global blackout, Elon Musk promises fix
Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, experienced a rare global outage on July 24, 2025, disrupting connectivity for thousands of users across multiple continents including North America, Europe, and Africa. The outage began around 3:24 pm ET, with reports peaking at over 58,000 users affected according to Downdetector. Starlink acknowledged the issue on social media, stating they were actively working on a solution and promising updates. Musk personally apologized for the disruption on X (formerly Twitter), assuring that the root cause would be addressed to prevent future occurrences. The company’s website also went temporarily offline during the outage, compounding user frustration. The blackout coincided with Musk’s recent announcement about Starlink’s expanding “Direct to Cell” service, which enables smartphones to connect directly to satellites, though no direct link between the update and the outage has been confirmed. The disruption had significant impacts, particularly in remote regions such as Canada’s North, where Starlink supports critical
IoTsatellite-internetStarlinknetwork-outageElon-MuskconnectivitytelecommunicationsLaser converters transmit power to remote locations with 53% efficiency
Researchers at the University of Ottawa, in collaboration with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute, have developed advanced laser power converters capable of transmitting electrical power to remote locations via optical fibers with over 53% efficiency, producing more than 2 volts at their maximum power point. These photonic power converters, which convert laser light into electricity, utilize a multi-junction design that stacks semiconductor junctions to absorb more light and achieve higher voltages and efficiencies. This innovation significantly improves power and data transmission over distances exceeding one kilometer, overcoming limitations of traditional power-over-fiber systems that suffer from high light loss and low efficiency. The technology operates at telecom infrared wavelengths (1.3–1.6 μm) that experience low attenuation in fiber optics, enabling longer transmission distances and integration into existing fiber infrastructure. This advancement promises to enhance connectivity and communication reliability in remote and harsh environments, benefiting applications such as smart grid monitoring, lightning-proof wind turbine sensors, underwater sensors, and remote video camera links. The researchers also
energyphotonic-power-converterslaser-power-transmissionremote-power-solutionsfiber-optic-infrastructuretelecommunicationssmart-grid-monitoringChina claims its high-orbit laser communication tops Starlink speed
Chinese scientists have reportedly achieved a breakthrough in satellite laser communication by transmitting data at 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) from a geostationary satellite to Earth using a low-power 2-watt laser. This speed is claimed to be five times faster than SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, which typically delivers speeds of only a few Mbps from much lower orbits (about 550 kilometers above Earth). The main obstacle in satellite laser downlinks—atmospheric turbulence that distorts and weakens signals—was addressed through a novel “AO-MDR synergy” technique combining Adaptive Optics (AO) and Mode Diversity Reception (MDR). This method was tested at the Lijiang observatory in China, where a 1.8-meter telescope equipped with 357 micro-mirrors corrected the distorted laser light, which was then processed through multiple channels to select the strongest signals using a “path-picking” algorithm. The researchers, led by Professor Wu Jian and Liu
IoTsatellite-communicationlaser-communicationadaptive-opticsdata-transmissionoptical-technologytelecommunications