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Tag: SpaceX

  • India launches its heftiest satellite yet

    India launches its heftiest satellite yet

    SRIHARIKOTA: India just flexed its space muscles. On 2 November, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) hurled its heaviest communications satellite ever into orbit from home soil—a 4,400 kg behemoth called CMS-03 that will keep the navy’s ships, submarines and aircraft chattering across the Indian Ocean. The launch from Sriharikota at 5:26 pm marked the end of an embarrassing era: no longer must India send its bulkiest satellites abroad for a lift.

    The rocket doing the heavy lifting was LVM3, ISRO’s most powerful launcher and now nicknamed “Bahubali” for its Herculean payload capacity. This souped-up version sports a beefier cryogenic upper stage—the C32, carrying 32,000kg of fuel and belching 22 tonnes of thrust, a 10 per cent upgrade on the previous model. It can now haul 4,000kg to geosynchronous orbit and 8,000kg to low Earth orbit without breaking a sweat.

    Until now, India’s chunkier satellites hitched rides with foreigners. France’s Arianespace launched the 5,854kg GSAT-11 and 4,181kg GSAT-24. Elon Musk’s SpaceX ferried the 4,700kg GSAT-20. No more. Isro chairman V Narayanan crowed about the mission being “a shining example of Atmanirbhar Bharat”—self-reliant India, in case the point wasn’t clear enough.

    The CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, isn’t just heavy; it’s clever. Bristling with indigenous components, the multiband satellite will provide encrypted voice, data and video links for 15 years, giving the Indian Navy real-time situational awareness across a vast oceanic region. The navy called it a testament to national self-sufficiency in maritime defence.

    This was LVM3’s eighth consecutive successful launch, following triumphs like Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 (which made India the first nation to land near the lunar south pole), and OneWeb satellite deployments. The upgraded rocket also feeds directly into Isro’s Gaganyaan programme, which aims to send astronauts into space. Three uncrewed missions are planned first, including one carrying Vyommitra, a robotic astronaut, later this year.

    Narayanan said the space organisation is eyeing seven more launches by March 2026, with another LVM3 mission slated for December. India’s space sector, he declared, is “soaring high.

    With launches this meaty, it’s hard to argue.

  • Europe shoots for the stars with home-grown satellite internet

    Europe shoots for the stars with home-grown satellite internet

    MUMBAI: Space, it seems, is the final frontier for European ambition. Constellation Technologies & Operations (CTO), a plucky French outfit with grand designs on satellite internet, has inked a memorandum of intent with the European Space Agency (ESA) to conduct orbital experiments that could shake up the cosmic connectivity game.

    The partnership will see the duo test the world’s first regenerative 5G payload operating in the mmWave band from low Earth orbit, with a satellite launch pencilled in for June 2025. It’s a bold gambit to prove that Europe can play with the big boys—namely America’s SpaceX and China’s expanding constellation of internet satellites.
    Whilst Elon Musk’s Starlink and Chinese competitors dominate the space internet market, CTO is championing what it calls a “made in Europe” alternative. The company’s pitch is seductive: a shared, neutral infrastructure that lets telecom operators beam high-speed, low-latency internet from space without breaking the bank on massive capital investments.

    CTO CEO & founder Charles Delfieux isn’t mincing words about the venture’s ambitions. He stated:  “This alliance with ESA reflects a shared ambition: to build a competitive European sovereignty in space connectivity, powered by bold technology designed and developed in Europe. We’re proving that it’s possible to compete on a global scale without compromise—giving telecom operators back control over their future in space. Space is the new frontier for telecoms!”

    The technical wizardry involves using very low Earth orbit satellites to leverage telecom operators’ existing 5G mmWave spectrum, creating what the companies describe as a “hybrid connectivity ecosystem.” Rather than building entirely new networks, operators could complement their terrestrial infrastructure with space-based coverage—particularly handy for remote, rural, or crisis-hit areas where laying fibre is either impossible or prohibitively expensive.

    ESA  director of connectivity & secure communications Laurent Jaffart sees the collaboration as part of Europe’s broader push for “technological sovereignty.” He said: “This agreement aligns with ESA’s strategy to support the rise of innovative European players and jointly build resilient connectivity. The upcoming tests with CTO will pave the way for new hybrid use cases at the intersection of terrestrial and space networks.” 
    The upcoming tests, conducted jointly between CTO’s French-developed regenerative payload and ESA’s experimental facilities in Oxfordshire, represent what both parties hope will be a “major step forward” in the race for European space independence.

    As satellite internet becomes increasingly crucial for everything from military communications to rural broadband, Europe finds itself uncomfortably dependent on foreign providers. CTO’s proposition—a competitively priced, operator-friendly alternative—could offer a lifeline for European telecoms companies looking to expand their reach without surrendering control to American or Chinese constellations.

    Whether this ambitious European venture can actually deliver on its promises remains to be seen. But with ESA’s backing and a clear launch timeline, CTO is certainly putting its money where its mouth is. In the high-stakes game of space internet, Europe is finally ready to make its move.

  • Jio Platforms rides the 5G wave: revenues, profits, and ambitions soar in FY’25

    Jio Platforms rides the 5G wave: revenues, profits, and ambitions soar in FY’25

    MUMBAI: Reliance’s digital juggernaut, Jio Platforms Limited (JPL), wrapped up FY25 in style, clocking quarterly revenues of Rs 39,853 crore, up 17.8 per cent year-on-year, and an EBITDA surge of 18.5 per cent to Rs 17,016 crore. The subscriber base swelled to 488 million, with over 191 million True 5G users, as India’s data appetite drove traffic to an eye-watering 185 exabytes – a 24 per cent jump.

    Average revenue per user (ARPU) climbed to Rs 206.2, thanks to tariff hikes and a posher customer mix. Net profit rose a muscular 25.8 per cent to Rs 7,023 crore for the quarter ended March 2025, fuelled by strong EBITDA flow-through and despite a modest uptick in depreciation and finance costs.

    Jio’s operating revenue (net of GST) grew on the back of mobility tariff hikes and a surge in home broadband and digital services. EBITDA margins stayed a steady 50.1 per cent, while churn was the industry’s lowest at 1.8 per cent. Data consumption hit a per capita monthly average of 33.6 GB, with total data traffic rising nearly 20 per cent year-on-year.

    Jio signed an agreement with SpaceX to retail Starlink broadband in India, pending regulatory green lights. It also rolled out a cricket season blitz – free JioHotstar and JioFiber/AirFiber deals to woo mobile and home users alike.

    The telco flexed its tech muscle at the Mahakumbh mela, handling 400 million data service requests and 20 million voice calls on peak days without breaking a sweat. In parallel, partnerships with AMD, Cisco, Nokia, and Ericsson are fuelling its next big play: an Open Telecom AI Platform designed to slash operational costs and turbocharge network efficiency using cutting-edge agentic AI.

    Jio’s IP prowess didn’t go unnoticed either, with wins at the National Intellectual Property Awards and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Trophy, further burnishing its credentials as India’s poster child for homegrown innovation.

    Reliance Jio Infocomm chairman Akash M Ambani summed it up, saying: “Jio continues to drive consistent outperformance with best-in-the-world network technologies and a wide bouquet of digital services. Our work at the Mahakumbh and plans to enable large-scale AI infrastructure reaffirm our commitment to serving India’s digital future.”

  • Jio hops onto SpaceX’s StarLink bandwagon close on the heels of Airtel

    Jio hops onto SpaceX’s StarLink bandwagon close on the heels of Airtel

    MUMBAI:  In a strategic move that follows arch-rival Airtel’s recent partnership, Jio Platforms has entered into an agreement with SpaceX to offer Starlink’s satellite internet services to Indian customers.

    The agreement, announced Wednesday, will see India’s data traffic heavyweight join forces with the world’s leading low Earth orbit satellite operator in a partnership that promises to reach even the most remote corners of the subcontinent.

    “This deal isn’t just about connecting the unconnected—it’s about transforming digital access,” says an industry analyst. “With Airtel and now Jio partnering with Starlink, SpaceX has strategically orchestrated its entry into one of the world’s most competitive telecom, internet and data delivery markets.”

    Jio’s retail network will soon showcase Starlink equipment alongside installation and activation support, creating a significant expansion of connectivity options that complement existing JioAirFiber and JioFiber services.

    Mathew Oommen, group chief executive at Reliance Jio, emphasized the company’s mission to provide “affordable and high-speed broadband” to all Indians, while Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership—pending government authorisation. “We are looking forward to  to provide more people, organisations and businesses with access to Starlink’s high-speed internet services.”

    The satellite internet competition has intensified in India, with both telecom giants now aligning with Elon Musk’s constellation. Industry watchers suggest this competition could revolutionise connectivity across rural India, where terrestrial infrastructure has traditionally been inadequate.

    Beyond immediate internet provisions, both companies are exploring additional collaborative ventures to boost India’s digital ecosystem in what Oommen described as “this AI-driven era.”

    For millions of Indians lacking reliable internet access, these satellite partnerships promise to be a significant breakthrough—one that now has not just one, but two major telecom providers driving forward.

  • Airtel signs up with SpaceX to bring Starlink services to India

    Airtel signs up with SpaceX to bring Starlink services to India

    MUMBAI; In a dramatic move set to shake up India’s telecommunications landscape, Airtel has today inked an agreement with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink’s lightning-fast internet services to the subcontinent.
    The landmark deal—the first of its kind in India—hinges on SpaceX securing regulatory approvals  to peddle Starlink services in the country. Once green-lit, the partnership promises to dramatically expand high-speed connectivity to even the most far-flung corners of India.

    Under the ambitious arrangement, Airtel shops could soon display Starlink equipment, whilst the telecom giant will offer Starlink services to its business customers. The collaboration aims to connect remote communities, schools and health centres currently languishing in digital darkness.

    Airtel and SpaceX will also explore how Starlink could help expand and enhance the Airtel network, as well as SpaceX’s ability to utilise and benefit from Airtel’s ground network infrastructure and other capabilities in India.

    Airtel managing director Gopal Vittal  hailed the partnership as a “significant milestone” in the company’s quest to deliver “world-class high-speed broadband to even the most remote parts of India.”

    “This collaboration enhances our ability to ensure that every individual, business, and community has reliable internet,” Vittal declared. “Starlink will complement and enhance Airtel’s suite of products to ensure reliable and affordable broadband for our Indian customers—wherever they live and work.”

    “Technology is always evolving and we’re committed to staying at the forefront of innovation so that we can continue to bring the best connectivity experience for our customers. This includes collaborating with global leaders like SpaceX to extend our reach and add new coverage to customers throughout all of India.”

    SpaceX’s President Gwynne Shotwell matched Vittal’s enthusiasm, stating: “We are excited to work with Airtel and unlock the transformative impact Starlink can bring to the people of India. We are constantly amazed by the incredible and inspiring things that people, businesses and organizations do when they are connected via Starlink. The team at Airtel has played a pivotal role in India’s telecom story, so working with them to complement our direct offering makes great sense for our business.”

    The deal represents a clever strategic move for Airtel, which already boasts over 550 million customers across 15 countries. By adding Starlink to its portfolio alongside existing partner Eutelsat OneWeb, Airtel strengthens its position as India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider.

    Starlink, which operates the world’s first and largest low Earth orbit satellite constellation, delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, gaming and video calls to users worldwide. The service is engineered and operated by SpaceX, the world’s leading rocket launch provider.

    The collaboration signals a new chapter in India’s digital transformation saga, potentially bridging the stubborn digital divide that has long hampered the nation’s development ambition

  • MEASAT to distribute Starlink services

    MEASAT to distribute Starlink services

    Mumbai: MEASAT Global Berhad (“MEASAT”) – Malaysia’s premier satellite solutions provider has officially signed with Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) to become the official authorised reseller for Starlink Hardware and Services in the markets that MEASAT serves. The agreement was formalised in December 2023.

    The official authorised reseller status enables MEASAT to solidify its position as a one-stop provider for customers in pursuit of the most suitable satellite services and solutions that address their needs. Meanwhile, Starlink will be able to benefit from  MEASAT’s established market presence and strong on-ground customer service and technical support, including a 24×7 helpdesk operated by in-country personnel and onsite support and maintenance. MEASAT’s customers have long benefited from end-to-end inclusive packages for last-mile logistics and installation services, as well as repair and maintenance, which will now extend to Starlink products offered by MEASAT.

    “MEASAT is delighted to work with Starlink as the official authorised reseller in our markets. As the leading Malaysian satellite solutions provider, we have always been open to working with other entities to deliver the benefits of satellite technology to our customers which include government agencies, commercial enterprises and rural  residents via a diverse portfolio of solutions to meet evolving needs. For example, by infusing Starlink’s capabilities into MEASAT’s CONNECTme NOW satellite broadband service, we are able to further enhance high-speed Internet services for the last three per cent of Malaysians lacking terrestrial connections. In addition, our capacity to offer fit-for-purpose, high-availability services for MEASAT’s client base in the oil & gas, maritime, and enterprise sectors will be expanded,” said MEASAT chief commercial officer Ganendra Selvaraj.

    “Our new status as an official authorised reseller for Starlink marks a milestone in our ongoing growth journey, being the first non-geostationary orbit (“NGSO”) satellite products offered through our on-ground network, as we continue exploring other potential NGSO solutions for our suite of services,” he elaborated.

  • Cyrus Broacha’s apology to Kapil Dev and the launch of ‘Bluntly Streaming’ podcast with Sumedha

    Cyrus Broacha’s apology to Kapil Dev and the launch of ‘Bluntly Streaming’ podcast with Sumedha

    Mumbai: Cyrus Broacha, the iconic talkative personality who has entertained audiences since the ’90s, was on top of his witty and sarcastic best in the debut episode of the brand-new podcast, “Bluntly Streaming.” Inside the cracking 21-minute of the episode hosted by Sumedha Malhotra, the original “Bakra Boy of India” offered an unexpected apology that set off a series of thumbs up for him on social media.

    Broacha’s humor has always been known for its sharp wit and satirical edge. In the same spirit, his recent comparison of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, to an Indian politician left the twitter world rolling in laughter. This unusual pairing can only be Broacha’s brainchild 🙂 As candid as he can be, he also is compassionate and recounted how he once felt compelled to apologize to Kapil Dev, acknowledging that his words could be misinterpreted.

    The incident belongs to a time when Cyrus’ Dad, the renowned lawyer Mr. Broacha, who he recently lost, had reprimanded him. He’d apparently warned Cyrus to stay away from insulting and demeaning a legend like Kapil Dev in any way whatsoever. The joke was supposed to be humorous and satirical, but Cyrus understood that it may have been misinterpreted by many people who saw it. “Mr. Kapil Dev’s contributions to cricket and his country are immense and they deserve nothing but respect from me and everyone else on this planet. I deeply regret any offence my comments may have caused.” He approached Kapil Dev.

    The aftermath of the apology left fans and the media in suspense, appreciating his down to earth demeanour. Amidst all this, Broacha continued to do what he does best – making people laugh and scratch their heads. His most recent suggestion to shut down the internet for six months is just one of his many absurd propositions. And while some laughed, others seriously pondered its implications on modern life as a poignant point.

    “Bluntly Streaming” is not digging out a controversy; it offers relief as a hilarious and insightful journey into the life and experiences of a true entertainment icon. In the debut episode, Broacha candidly discusses a range of topics, from his thoughts on Bigg Boss and how it wasn’t the bickerings but the foodie’s nightmare meals that made him lose weight

    The conversation covers Broacha’s erstwhile weekly show, “The Week That Wasn’t,” that drew ire from politicians, his early days at MTV, his acting experiences, and humorous anecdotes from his career. He even touches upon topics like reality shows, Elon Musk’s influence on the world, and the addictive nature of smartphones. In summary, “Bluntly Streaming” promises to provide laughter and entertainment in every episode.

    For those interested in a good dose of laughter and entertainment, “Bluntly Streaming” is a must-listen podcast. It’s hosted by Sumedha, who brings a fresh and candid perspective to the show with a new guest every time, pun at a time.

  • Tesla’s Elon Musk unlikely to buy Twitter; may face legal consequences

    Tesla’s Elon Musk unlikely to buy Twitter; may face legal consequences

    Mumbai: After a lot of speculation, Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk has pulled out of the $44 billion deal to buy Twitter which he inked back in April.

    Musk stepped back with an announcement, in a regulatory filing, on Friday that he would drop his $44 billion offer to buy Twitter. Musk’s lawyers stated that Twitter has failed to respond to their multiple requests for information about fake accounts.

    According to a letter sent to Twitter on behalf of the Tesla chief’s, Elon Musk is terminating his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter, citing multiple breaches of the purchase agreement. The letter said that Musk is terminating the merger agreement because Twitter violates several provisions of that agreement.

    Also Read: The Twitter-Elon Musk tussle: To be ‘bot’ or not to be

    Reacting to this, Twitter chairman Bret Taylo, said the board will take a legal route to enforce the merger agreement. He tweeted, “The Twitter Board is committed to closing the transaction on the price and terms agreed upon with Musk and plans to pursue legal action to enforce the merger agreement.”

    According to the agreement, Musk will have to pay $1 billion if he fails to make the complete transaction for the deal.

    Musk had threatened to cancel the transaction unless the business could demonstrate that less than 5 percent of members on the social media platform were made up of
    spam and bot accounts.

    The billionaire and the 16-year-old San Francisco-based corporation are likely to engage in a protracted legal battle as a result of the ruling.

  • Starlink India country director Sanjay Bhargava steps down

    Starlink India country director Sanjay Bhargava steps down

    Mumbai: Sanjay Bhargava has stepped down as country director and chairman of the board of satellite broadband company Starlink India. His last working day was 31 December 2021.

    The announcement was made on LinkedIn where he posted, “I have stepped down as country director and chairman of the board of Starlink India for personal reasons… my last working day was December 31, 2021. I will have no comments for individuals and media so please respect my privacy.”

    Starlink is a division of aerospace company SpaceX led by billionaire Elon Musk. The company announced that it would launch its services in India by 2022 pending regulatory approvals.

    Bhargava’s resignation comes weeks after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) ordered the company to refund the deposits it had collected from Indian customers who had pre-booked a connection. It stated that Starlink was not licensed to offer satellite-based internet services in India and advised consumers to refrain from subscribing to its services until it was granted the requisite permissions.

  • Discovery to broadcast NASA launch of Spacex’s crew dragon capsule

    Discovery to broadcast NASA launch of Spacex’s crew dragon capsule

    MUMBAI: Discovery and Discovery Plus announced their plans to document history in the making at the NASA launch of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule on Saturday, 30 May at 3:22 PM EDT from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The event marks the first crewed space mission to be launched into orbit from US soil since 2011. SPACE LAUNCH: AMERICA RETURNS TO SPACE, a multiplatform event, will take viewers inside the launch, set to be showcased on Discovery, Science Channel on June 08 at 9 PM. Viewers can also stream the show by downloading the Discovery Plus app. The multiplatform event will also feature some of the biggest names in entertainment with appearances by global superstar Katy Perry, TV and Internet personality Adam Savage, former NASA engineer and YouTube sensation Mark Rober and other surprise celebrity guests. It will also include expert insight by former astronauts Mike Massimino and Karen Nyberg; active astronauts Jessica Meir and K. Megan McArthur and; NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine as well as an interview with Astronaut Chris Cassidy from the International Space Station (ISS).

    “Discovery and Science Channel have spent over a year documenting SpaceX’s race to become the first private company to launch American astronauts into space. Our special offers both incredible access for the launch, and expert insight from SpaceX Founder and Chief Engineer Elon Musk and other leading aerospace professionals. In our two-hour documentary, we show the unbelievable engineering and scientific feats achieved by SpaceX in making such an historic launch happen,” said Scott Lewers, executive vice president of Multiplatform Programming, factual & head of content, science.

    “In these unprecedented times of isolation, we are excited to bring our viewers together to experience this event in a way they won’t see anywhere else, in the comfort of their own homes.”

    The multiplatform event will take viewers along the mission to launch veteran astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the ISS on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The mission, known as Demo-2, will use a Falcon 9 rocket, also built by SpaceX, to propel it. Discovery and Science Channel coverage will feature commentary from astronauts, engineers and other special guests, as well as unprecedented coverage during launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

    The broadcast and accompanying two-hour documentary are made in partnership with The Washington Post and staff writer Christian Davenport, whose depth of experience allowed him to gain inside access to key players – including a rare in-depth interview with SpaceX Founder and Chief Engineer Elon Musk – and captures their incredible stories about this historic space achievement.

    Washington Post reporter and Peabody award-winning journalist Christian Davenport is one of the country’s leading chroniclers of the space industry. His background and experience will add keen insight to the day’s event, as a co-host of the broadcast.

    Davenport joined The Post in 2000 and was on a team that won a Peabody Award in 2010 for its work on veterans with traumatic brain injuries and has been on reporting teams that were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize three times. He is the author of two books, “The Space Barons: Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos” (2018) and “As You Were: To War and Back with the Black Hawk Battalion of the Virginia National Guard” (2009). He has also served as a Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a fellow at the Alicia Patterson Foundation.

    TV personality Chris Jacobs will host the three-hour special from Los Angeles.

    Emmy Award-winning journalist David Kerley will also be part of the reporting team on the ground at Kennedy Space Center. Kerley has reported on aviation, railroads, the automobile industry and space for all ABC News broadcast and digital properties since 2004, including "World News Tonight," "Good Morning America," "Nightline," ABC News Radio and ABCNews.com. His work has been recognized with Peabody and Edward R. Murrow awards as well as the prestigious Joan Barone award from the Capitol Hill Radio and Television Correspondents Association.

    The networks are also announcing a special 2-hour documentary NASA & SPACEX: JOURNEY TO THE FUTURE featuring exclusive access to the incredible journey leading up to this launch, airing Friday, June 12 at 7PM IST on Discovery, Science Channel and Discovery Plus. The film crew was granted unprecedented access to NASA and to SpaceX headquarters – giving viewers a rare glimpse inside Launch Control and first-hand accounts from SpaceX Founder and Chief Engineer Elon Musk, Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. The documentary reveals the behind-the-scenes action with the teams of SpaceX engineers, NASA employees and scientists as they fulfill the SpaceX mission to “fly, test, and fix” their way to the ISS – with the goal of eventually flying to the moon and to Mars.

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