Today: 8 February 2026
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Connecting Colombia: Bridging the Digital Divide from Cities to the Amazon

Connecting Colombia: Bridging the Digital Divide from Cities to the Amazon

As of early 2025, 41.1 million Colombians were internet users, representing about 77% of the population. By 2025 Colombia had 78.3 million cellular mobile connections in service, roughly 147% of the population. The urban–rural gap remains wide: 63.9% of households had internet in 2023, 28.8% of the rural population were online, and fewer than 13% of rural households had fixed internet subscriptions. Claro dominates the market with about 37% of fixed broadband subscriptions and around 45% of mobile subscribers; Movistar has ~17% fixed and ~25% mobile; Tigo ~17% fixed and ~18% mobile; WOM ~7% mobile. Starlink entered Colombia and went
6 June 2025
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Satellite Technologies FAQ

Satellite Technologies FAQ

Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, was the first artificial satellite. Explorer 1 became the United States’ first satellite in 1958. As of 2025, there are roughly 11,000+ active satellites orbiting Earth, with tens of thousands of pieces of inactive satellites and debris. Geostationary satellites orbit about 35,786 km (22,236 miles) above the equator and stay fixed over one ground spot. Most satellites use solar panels with large arrays and rechargeable batteries to power their instruments and systems, including during eclipses. The first known accidental collision of two satellites occurred in 2009. Starlink is SpaceX’s
6 June 2025
Where Satellite Phones Are Illegal?

Where Satellite Phones Are Illegal?

Bangladesh bans satellite phone use; possession can lead to arrest and imprisonment. North Korea prohibits all unauthorized communication devices, foreigners must surrender phones and privacy is not guaranteed, with detention possible. India restricts satellite phones to government‑approved Inmarsat devices, requiring a license (No Objection Certificate) from the Department of Telecommunications before bringing one in. China maintains a de facto ban on private sat phones, requiring registration for limited state use and has deployed jammers in some areas to block unapproved devices. Chad bans satellite phones under any circumstances, with Thuraya explicitly outlawed and Iridium sometimes tolerated. Myanmar (Burma) effectively bans
6 June 2025
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Eyes in the Sky: How Satellites Are Revealing Our Changing Climate

Eyes in the Sky: How Satellites Are Revealing Our Changing Climate

Radar altimeters on TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, Jason-2, Jason-3, and Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich have provided a global mean sea level record since 1992, showing a rise of about 3.3 millimeters per year and roughly 10 centimeters over 30 years. Arctic summer sea ice extent has declined by about 12% per decade since the 1980s, with the Arctic minimum shrinking from about 7.5 million km² in 1980 to 4.4 million km² in 2023. GRACE and GRACE-FO gravity missions have revealed that Greenland and Antarctica are losing hundreds of billions of tons of ice each year, contributing to sea level rise. NASA’s PACE mission,
6 June 2025
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Chad’s Digital Desert: The Shocking Truth Behind the Country’s Internet Revolution

Chad’s Digital Desert: The Shocking Truth Behind the Country’s Internet Revolution

As of 2025, Chad has about 2.74 million internet users (13.2% of the population), with roughly 87% of Chadians still offline. There are about 14.5 million active mobile subscriptions in Chad (roughly 70% of the population) in 2025, with many people owning multiple SIM cards. Chad has just one Internet Exchange Point in N’Djamena, and as of 2025 about 33% of the country’s networks exchange traffic locally at DJAMIX. Fixed broadband is virtually non-existent in Chad, with zero fixed subscriptions and mobile networks providing the main internet access, where 2G covers about 85% of the population and 3G/4G only about
6 June 2025
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Everything You Never Knew You Needed to Know About Differential and Precise Point Positioning

Everything You Never Knew You Needed to Know About Differential and Precise Point Positioning

DGNSS improves GNSS accuracy by using stationary reference receivers to broadcast corrections to rovers, transforming standalone GPS accuracy from about 5–15 m to sub-meter or centimeter levels, with SBAS like WAAS (USA) and EGNOS (Europe) delivering about 1–3 m for aviation. Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) uses carrier-phase measurements and double-differencing to fix integer ambiguities, delivering centimeter-level accuracy in real time, with highest performance when the base is within about 10–20 km. Early differential GPS (DGPS) yielded about 1 meter accuracy within tens of kilometers of the base, with degradation of roughly 1 m per 150 km. Precise Point Positioning (PPP) provides
6 June 2025
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Internet Access in Cape Verde: Current Status and Outlook

Internet Access in Cape Verde: Current Status and Outlook

As of early 2025, about 73.5% of Cape Verde’s population were internet users, roughly 387,000 people out of ~526,000. Fixed broadband subscriptions totaled about 38,000 in 2023, approximately 7 per 100 people. Cape Verde Telecom (CVTelecom) reported passing over 22,000 FTTH homes by the end of 2021, primarily in urban areas. There were over 600,000 mobile cellular connections active in early 2025, about 115% of the population, with 91% of connections broadband-capable (3G/4G). Total internet subscription density reached about 90 per 100 inhabitants in mid-2023, while around 73% of people were online. In early 2024, the median fixed broadband download
6 June 2025
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Global Navigation Showdown: How GPS III, Galileo, BeiDou & GLONASS Upgrades Will Change How You Navigate

Global Navigation Showdown: How GPS III, Galileo, BeiDou & GLONASS Upgrades Will Change How You Navigate

GPS III, first launched in 2018, delivers three times the accuracy and eight times the anti-jamming performance of previous GPS generations, with a GPS III satellite named Katherine Johnson launched by SpaceX in 2025. GPS modernization includes the L1C common civil signal for interoperability with Galileo and a Next Generation OCX ground system to handle new signals and security. Galileo is planned as a 30-satellite constellation, with 27 in orbit by late 2024 and the full 30-satellite fleet expected by the end of 2025. Galileo’s HAS began in 2023, delivering about 20 cm horizontal and 40 cm vertical accuracy, while
6 June 2025
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The Space Race for the Internet: Inside the Billion-Dollar Satellite Mega-Constellation Boom

The Space Race for the Internet: Inside the Billion-Dollar Satellite Mega-Constellation Boom

As of mid-2025, Starlink operates about 7,500 active satellites, the largest fleet in history, accounting for more than 60% of all active satellites. Starlink’s next-generation satellites (v2) weigh about 800 kg each, vs 260 kg for v1, and use inter-satellite laser links to route data across continents. Amazon’s Project Kuiper plans 3,236 LEO satellites at roughly 600 km altitude, with more than $10 billion invested, the first 27 operational satellites launched in April 2025, and a target to deploy half the constellation by July 2026. OneWeb completed its Gen1 constellation with 618 of 648 satellites in 1,200 km polar orbits
5 June 2025
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DJI Matrice 4E and Matrice 4T Series Drones: Comprehensive Report

DJI Matrice 4E and Matrice 4T Series Drones: Comprehensive Report

The DJI Matrice 4 Series was launched in January 2025 and comprises two models, Matrice 4T (Thermal) and Matrice 4E (Enterprise), both with foldable airframes and about 1.22 kg takeoff weight. The Matrice 4T adds a radiometric thermal camera (640×512 px, 12 µm, 30 Hz) and a built-in near‑IR spotlight with a 6° field of view, covering roughly 100 m range. The Matrice 4E targets geospatial tasks, pairing a 20 MP wide camera with a 4/3″ sensor and mechanical shutter, plus 48 MP medium and 48 MP tele cameras enabling up to 112× hybrid zoom. Both drones use the O4
5 June 2025
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Inside America’s Silent Sentinels: The Untold Story of GSSAP in Space Surveillance

Inside America’s Silent Sentinels: The Untold Story of GSSAP in Space Surveillance

GSSAP-1 and GSSAP-2 were launched on July 28, 2014 aboard a Delta IV M+(4,2) from Cape Canaveral, accompanied by the ANGELS experimental satellite. The GSSAP satellites operate in near-geosynchronous orbit roughly 35,900 km (22,300 miles) above Earth and function as a “neighborhood watch” for the GEO belt, providing space situational awareness to USSPACECOM. Built by Northrop Grumman on the GeoStar-1 bus, GSSAP satellites are three-axis stabilized and carry high-resolution optical sensors capable of rendezvous and proximity operations with other GEO objects. Each GSSAP spacecraft carries limited onboard propellant, meaning its maneuvering life spans only a few years before it must
5 June 2025
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Mega-Constellations Exposed: How Swarms of Tiny Satellites Are Taking Over Low Earth Orbit

“No Signal? No Problem!” – Next‑Gen Satellite Phones Set to Change Everything

In 2022, Apple’s iPhone 14 introduced Emergency SOS via satellite, later expanded in the iPhone 15 to support satellite texting via Globalstar. In April 2023, AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 demonstrated a two-way 4G call using a standard smartphone on Earth with a 64 m² satellite antenna. Lynk Global demonstrated the first direct satellite text to an unmodified phone in 2022 and is partnering with mobile operators in over 40 countries to fill coverage dead zones. SpaceX’s Starlink Direct to Cell uses 2023-generation satellites with advanced antennas to connect to ordinary phones via terrestrial bands, with a plan to offer basic
5 June 2025
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Orbiting at Zero Speed: How Geostationary Satellites Rule Global Communications

Orbiting at Zero Speed: How Geostationary Satellites Rule Global Communications

Geostationary orbit sits at about 35,786 km above the equator and completes a sidereal day (~23h56m), so satellites appear fixed over one longitude; Arthur C. Clarke popularized it in 1945, giving the region the nickname the Clarke Belt. A GEO satellite remains stationary relative to the ground, allowing ground antennas to point at a fixed spot without tracking. Three GEO satellites spaced roughly 120° apart can provide near-global coverage, excluding polar regions. Syncom 2, launched in 1963, reached a geosynchronous orbit with a slight inclination, while Syncom 3, launched in 1964, was placed over the equator with zero inclination and
5 June 2025
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Connected Canada: A Comprehensive Look at Internet Access in 2025

Connected Canada: A Comprehensive Look at Internet Access in 2025

By early 2025, about 93.5% of Canadian households have access to high‑speed internet (50 Mbps down/10 Mbps up), up from 79% in 2014. The Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) started in 2020 with a $3.225 billion budget and targets 98% of households with 50/10 by 2026 and 100% by 2030. Bell Canada had fiber passed to about 7.3 million premises by mid‑2023, while Telus passed more than 3.1 million premises with fiber in British Columbia and Alberta. Rogers Communications became Canada’s largest broadband provider after acquiring Shaw in 2023, serving roughly 7 million internet customers, with the combined Rogers/Shaw passing about
5 June 2025
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Mega-Constellations Exposed: How Swarms of Tiny Satellites Are Taking Over Low Earth Orbit

Mega-Constellations Exposed: How Swarms of Tiny Satellites Are Taking Over Low Earth Orbit

By 2024, small satellites accounted for over 95% of all satellites launched annually. SpaceX’s Starlink operates the world’s largest constellation with over 7,000 active satellites in orbit as of late 2024. Starlink’s initial shell consisted of about 4,400 satellites at roughly 550 km altitude and 53° inclination, with FCC approval for about 12,000 satellites and potential expansion to 42,000. Iridium uses 86.4° near-polar orbits in six planes at ~780 km to achieve global coverage including polar regions. OneWeb’s Gen1 network aimed for ~1,200 km orbit with ~86–87° inclination and had deployed 618 satellites by March 2023, before merging with Eutelsat
5 June 2025
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Military Satellite Services: Complete Guide to Secure Communications

Military Satellite Services: Complete Guide to Secure Communications

The United States operates the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) constellation, delivering jam-resistant, global, protected military communications including nuclear command and control links. Navstar GPS is a 31-satellite global navigation system that provides precise positioning, navigation, and timing to guide munitions such as JDAM and to synchronize encrypted networks. Defense Support Program (DSP) and the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) form the U.S. early-warning constellation that uses infrared sensors to detect missile launches worldwide. U.S. Keyhole KH-11 optical reconnaissance satellites (and successors) provide high-resolution imagery from space. Russia operates the Liana ELINT constellation, including Lotos-S1 in low orbit and Pion-NKS in
4 June 2025
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Aviation Satellite Services: Benefits, Providers, and New Technologies

Aviation Satellite Services: Benefits, Providers, and New Technologies

By late 2022, more than 10,000 aircraft worldwide were equipped with in-flight connectivity, and about 65% of airlines planned further IFC investments in the next few years. Aireon’s space-based ADS-B payloads on Iridium NEXT have been operational since 2019, enabling global real-time tracking and supporting ICAO’s 15-minute GADSS position reporting standard. COSPAS-SARSAT, a global satellite distress system, relays 406 MHz ELT signals from aircraft to ground stations to coordinate search and rescue and has saved thousands of lives. Global Navigation Satellite Systems—GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), BeiDou (China)—provide precise positioning, while SBAS like WAAS and EGNOS offer 1–2 meter
4 June 2025
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Maritime Satellite Services: Complete Guide to Ship Connectivity & Communications

Maritime Satellite Services: Complete Guide to Ship Connectivity & Communications

L-band MSS terminals, such as Inmarsat FleetBroadband and Iridium Certus, provide global coverage with compact antennas but limited data throughput. Ku-band VSAT (12–18 GHz) has been the maritime workhorse, Ka-band HTS (26–40 GHz) offers higher capacity, while C-band deployments are restricted near shore due to interference and large dish requirements. GEO satellites offer broad coverage with about 600 ms latency, while LEO Iridium NEXT, a 66-satellite constellation upgraded 2017–2019, provides true global L-band coverage and was recognized as a GMDSS provider in 2020. SpaceX Starlink and OneWeb have emerged as disruptive LEO players in maritime, with Starlink signing on nearly
4 June 2025
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How Satellite Internet Is Revolutionizing Disaster Response and Humanitarian Relief

How Satellite Internet Is Revolutionizing Disaster Response and Humanitarian Relief

Hurricane Maria in 2017 damaged 95% of cell towers in Puerto Rico, leaving the island largely without phone service. SpaceX’s Starlink uses a low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation of hundreds to thousands of satellites, lowering latency to about 20–40 ms with ~600 ms for geostationary satellites. Starlink can deliver 100–200 Mbps per user, versus about 25 Mbps on legacy satellite links. Ground terminals are plug-and-play, roughly pizza-box-sized dishes that require only a power source and a clear view of the sky to connect. In Ukraine since 2022, SpaceX shipped thousands of Starlink terminals, with tens of thousands in operation, becoming essential
4 June 2025
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Internet Access in Cameroon: The Race to Connect a Nation

Internet Access in Cameroon: The Race to Connect a Nation

As of early 2025, about 12.4 million Cameroonians were internet users, representing 41.9% of the population. As of 2024, roughly 60% of Cameroonians live in urban areas, with internet access heavily concentrated in cities and rural areas almost inaccessible. Cameroon’s fiber backbone extends over 12,000 kilometers and is connected to five landfall cables: SAT-3, WACS, ACE, SAIL, and NCSCS, with SAIL linking Kribi to Brazil. Plans are underway to add more than 4,000 kilometers of fiber, expanding the backbone to about 17,000–22,000 km and improving regional redundancy. The mobile market is dominated by Orange Cameroon (about 11.7 million subscribers, 39.6%
4 June 2025
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Stock Market Today

Barclays share price jumps into earnings week: what to watch before Tuesday’s results

Barclays share price jumps into earnings week: what to watch before Tuesday’s results

8 February 2026
Barclays shares closed up 2.71% at 479.1 pence on Friday, ahead of full-year results and a targets update due Tuesday. Barclays and NatWest have both submitted offers for Evelyn Partners, with a deal announcement possible this week, according to Reuters. Mary Francis will retire from the Barclays board in May. Investors are watching for signals on costs, credit quality, and capital returns.
Rolls-Royce share price ends week higher on buyback update as RR.L eyes turn to results

Rolls-Royce share price ends week higher on buyback update as RR.L eyes turn to results

8 February 2026
Rolls-Royce Holdings shares closed at 1,229p on Friday, up 1.78%, as the FTSE 100 gained 0.59%. The company reported buying 742,570 shares on Feb. 5 as part of its £200 million buyback, bringing total repurchases to 12.66 million shares. Rolls-Royce will attend the World Defense Show in Riyadh, noting over 80% of its Saudi workforce are nationals.
Vodafone share price: Buyback kicks off, but Germany recovery is the next test for VOD.L

Vodafone share price: Buyback kicks off, but Germany recovery is the next test for VOD.L

8 February 2026
Vodafone (VOD.L) bought 27.1 million shares this week as its new buyback began, with the stock closing Friday up 1.47% at 110.6p after a sharp drop the day before. Investors remain focused on Germany’s service-revenue growth and the pace of buybacks ahead of Monday’s open. The company maintained full-year guidance after reporting 5.4% group service revenue growth in Q3, with Germany up 0.7%.
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