Innovation News 20 June 2025 - 28 June 2025

Xona’s Pulsar constellation plans to deploy 250–300 small LEO satellites at about 326 miles (525 km) altitude to deliver centimeter-level PNT. Pulsar signals are encrypted and authenticated, with satellites orbiting ~40× closer to Earth than GPS to produce about 100× stronger received signals. A ‘cloud architecture for atomic clocks’ coordinates timing from ground stations instead of placing ultra-expensive clocks on every satellite, delivering nanosecond-level timing. Most existing GPS chipsets can access Pulsar signals with a firmware update, enabling rapid, near-term adoption. The system targets GPS vulnerability by defending against jamming and spoofing, branding Pulsar as an unhackable alternative. In June

WorldSpace, founded in 1990, launched the first satellite radio broadcasts in October 1999 over Africa and the Middle East, with India accounting for 90% of its subscribers before filing for bankruptcy in 2008 and ceasing broadcasts in 2009. XM Satellite Radio launched its first satellite in March 2001 and began broadcasting to U.S. customers on September 25, 2001. Sirius Satellite Radio rolled out in February 2002 in select U.S. cities and reached nationwide service by July 2002. Sirius signed Howard Stern in 2004 in what it described as “the most important deal in radio history.” XM secured a $650 million