EchoStar CorporationECHO
▲ PositiveDemandCapitalrelevance
NIGCOMSAT selected EchoStar's Hughes JUPITER gateway for its satellites, adding international demand for EchoStar's infrastructure.
Impact on assets 2
Space Economy
EchoStar CorporationOthers
China Mobile Limited600941
Mentioned
Theme Impact 1
Off-coverage companies 2
Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT)Private▲ Positive
Demandrelevance
NIGCOMSAT selected EchoStar's Hughes JUPITER gateway to support its NIGCOMSAT-2A and 2B satellites.
Hughes Network SystemsPrivate▲ Positive
Demandrelevance
Hughes JUPITER gateway system was selected by NIGCOMSAT to support its NIGCOMSAT-2A and 2B satellites.
Related news
Israel▲
Gilat Wins Over $10 Million in Additional SkyEdge IV Orders
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. announced it has secured over $10 million in additional orders from a leading satellite operator for its multi-orbit SkyEdge IV platform, with deliveries scheduled over the next 12 months. The orders underscore continued customer investment in SkyEdge IV and support the growth of high-capacity satellite networks serving applications including In-Flight Connectivity. Ron Levin, President of Gilat Commercial Division, said the orders reaffirm the value of the SkyEdge IV platform and the confidence customers place in Gilat's technology. The company said the orders highlight continued adoption of the platform by leading satellite operators as they expand existing services and introduce new capabilities.
About megatrends
Space Economy › Satellite Broadband, MSS & Ground Equipment ▲Demand
Space Economy › Satellite Connectivity & Direct-to-Device ▲Demand
Canada
United States▲
TELUS and AST SpaceMobile Complete First Satellite-to-Smartphone Integration Test
TELUS and AST SpaceMobile have successfully completed their first integration test between TELUS' wireless network and AST SpaceMobile's space-based network, a milestone toward delivering broadband data, voice calls and text messages directly between smartphones and satellites. The service is expected to be available to TELUS customers within the next year, letting eligible smartphones connect beyond the reach of traditional cell towers. AST SpaceMobile's constellation features the largest communication arrays ever deployed in Low Earth Orbit. Nazim Benhadid, Executive Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer at TELUS, called the milestone a major step forward in extending cellular coverage to places where service isn't available today, while AST SpaceMobile Chief Commercial Officer Chris Ivory said the test reflects the strength and maturity of the company's technology. The partnership builds on TELUS' ongoing investments in its wireless network, including faster 5G+ and LTE speeds and expanded coverage across Canada.
About megatrends
Space Economy › Satellite Connectivity & Direct-to-Device ▲Technology
Space Economy › Direct-to-Device (satellite-to-cell) ▲Technology
Space Economy › Satellite Broadband, MSS & Ground Equipment ▲Technology
ASTS · Technology · Positive AST SpaceMobile's space-based network completed its first integration test with TELUS, validating its satellite-to-smartphone technology.
TU · Technology · Positive TELUS completed a first integration test linking its wireless network to AST SpaceMobile's satellite network, advancing direct satellite-to-smartphone service for its customers.
Peru▲
Gilat's Peru Unit Signs $28 Million Pronatel Broadband Deal
Gilat Satellite Networks said its Peruvian subsidiary, Gilat Perú, has signed a $28 million agreement with Pronatel, Peru's national telecommunications program, to upgrade broadband connectivity across the Ica region. Construction on the project is expected to be completed by mid-year 2027, after which a seven-year operational phase will follow. The award expands Gilat's footprint in Peru's regional connectivity buildout.
About megatrends
Space Economy › Satellite Broadband, MSS & Ground Equipment ▲Demand
Space Economy › Satellite Connectivity & Direct-to-Device ▲Demand
Gilat Perú · Demand · Positive Gilat Perú signed a $28M agreement with Pronatel to upgrade broadband connectivity in the Ica region, a concrete order expanding its footprint.
United States▲
Viasat Unit Wins US Space Force MECS2 Contract for Marine Corps SATCOM
Viasat Inc., through its subsidiary Inmarsat Government, Inc., was awarded the U.S. Space Force's MECS2 contract in September 2026, securing an initial US$42 million task order under a seven-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity agreement with a ceiling of up to US$307 million to provide fully managed global SATCOM services for the U.S. Marine Corps. The award deepens Viasat's role in secure, multi-orbit government communications and highlights the importance of its ViaSat-3-enabled Ka-band network and 24x7 managed services capabilities. The company's narrative projects $5.5 billion revenue and $626.3 million earnings by 2029, with forecasts yielding a $103.94 fair value, a 44% upside to its current price. Some of the lowest ranked analysts were far more cautious, assuming only about 3.9 percent annual revenue growth and continued losses. The MECS2 award looks incrementally positive for the investment thesis, reinforcing defense demand and multi-orbit capabilities, but it does not by itself resolve near term pressure from high ViaSat-3 and Inmarsat capex or the risk that broadband subscriber declines keep weighing on revenue quality.
About megatrends
Space Economy › Satellite Broadband, MSS & Ground Equipment ▲Demand
Space Economy › Satellite Connectivity & Direct-to-Device Demand
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Defense Electronics, EW & Sensors ▲Demand
Defense & Geopolitical Fragmentation › Space Defense & Missile Warning ▲Demand
VSAT · Demand · Positive Viasat's Inmarsat Government unit won the US Space Force MECS2 contract, a $42M initial task order up to $307M, for Marine Corps SATCOM services.
United StatesAST SpaceMobile Hit by Securities Class Actions Over Funding Disclosures
Law firms Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP and Rosen Law Firm have announced securities class action lawsuits against AST SpaceMobile, alleging misleading statements about its capital resources, competitive position and user adoption between March 4, 2025 and July 15, 2026. The cases focus on whether AST SpaceMobile misrepresented its balance of cash, debt and share issuance while scaling its satellite network, raising fresh questions about how robust its funding model really was during this critical buildout phase. The allegations land against the backdrop of the August 2026 launch of BlueBird satellites 11 to 13, which pushed the constellation further toward continuous coverage in initial markets. Before these lawsuits, the most pessimistic analysts already assumed revenue might reach about US$2.1 billion by 2029 while warning that heavy dilution and a possible 7 percent annual share count increase could still leave AST SpaceMobile trading at over 100 times earnings. AST SpaceMobile's narrative projects $2.2 billion revenue and $190.9 million earnings by 2029, requiring 165.5% yearly revenue growth and an $809.7 million earnings increase from -$618.8 million today.
About megatrends
Space Economy › Direct-to-Device (satellite-to-cell) ▼Capital
Space Economy › Satellite Connectivity & Direct-to-Device ▼Capital
Space Economy › Satellite Broadband, MSS & Ground Equipment Capital
ASTS · Regulation · Negative Securities class actions allege AST SpaceMobile misled investors about its capital resources, competitive position and user adoption.
United States▼
AT&T CEO Stankey Says SpaceX's Starlink Cellular Plan Won't Work, Touts Fiber
AT&T CEO John Stankey said Elon Musk-led Space Exploration Technologies Corp.'s plan to roll out a cellular network will not work, arguing fiber-based connectivity beats satellites. In an interview with Axios on Tuesday, Stankey said fiber is three times faster than satellite networks and that satellite, even at its best over the next 10 years, still will not beat fiber. Asked about SpaceX's plan to install cellular base stations alongside Starlink dishes, Stankey said it would cost as much as building a macro network to handle those capabilities, and that companies cannot radiate cellular signals from someone's house without permission. He cited a whole bunch of reasons why SpaceX's plan would not work. Earlier this month, SpaceX won Federal Communications Commission approval to provide international telecommunications services, boosting its plans for direct-to-cell 5G connectivity via the Starlink constellation, and the FCC is set to vote on September 30 on unlocking an additional 1,000 MHz of spectrum for satellite broadband.
About megatrends
Space Economy › Satellite Connectivity & Direct-to-Device ▼Competition
Space Economy › Direct-to-Device (satellite-to-cell) ▼Competition
Space Economy › Satellite Broadband, MSS & Ground Equipment ▼Competition
Cloud & Digital Infrastructure › Telecom Towers, Fiber & Colocation ▲Competition
T · Competition · Positive AT&T CEO touts fiber as superior to satellite and dismisses SpaceX's Starlink cellular plan, positioning AT&T's fiber connectivity as the winning approach.
SPCX · Competition · Negative AT&T CEO Stankey publicly argues SpaceX's Starlink direct-to-cell plan won't work and fiber beats satellites, casting doubt on the viability of SpaceX's cellular ambitions.