Numerous stories have been written about the growing swarm of Starlink satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) over the past few years, as astronomers grow increasingly worried about the crafts' impact on their observation equipment. Launched by Elon Musk's SpaceX, each satellite has the potential to disrupt astronomy through both radio emissions and light pollution - and as the number of satellites grows, so too does the amount of interference. Now, a new study by researchers at NASA is warning that obstructions caused by SpaceX and other private satellite companies are becoming so severe that not even the Hubble Space Telescope is safe.
A new UK-first pilot scheme is aiming to create fast and more reliable train wi-fi, using technology originally developed for Formula 1 cars. It will see a train in the Great Western Railway fleet use a hybrid system of both signals from mobile phone masts on the ground and low earth orbit (LEO) satellites in space to create a more reliable connection.
Seven-year-old Project Kuiper, Amazon's foray into the low-earth orbit (LEO) sector, has changed its name to Amazon Leo. It's a more down-to-earth name for two reasons. First, it includes the LEO technology it is hoping to harness. Second, the original name was taken from the Kuiper Belt, a ring of asteroids in the far reaches of the solar system. The Amazon post announcing the name change also provided an update on the progress the company says it has made so far.
The government has given itself until 2030 to build out reliable 5G phone coverage across the UK's railway network. However, it is exploring the use of low-earth-orbit satellites to enhance Wi-Fi services inside trains in rural areas where standard 5G coverage may be limited. In a written response to an enquiry from the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson, Clive Jones MP, the government's response was that their "ambition is for all populated areas to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030." A full decision on how and where coverage will be boosted is expected by the end of next year, giving phone companies just four years to roll out coverage upgrades in the selected key locations.
Data-hungry rail passengers will have to wait until at least 2030 before getting something like universal mobile data coverage across the UK, a minister confirmed this week. That might be a disappointment for trainspotters and commuters who were left excitedly looking down the track in June, when Network Rail announced plans and partners to roll out 4G and 5G on key lines by 2028. But full(ish) coverage across mainline trains will only come via low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, courtesy of a tender process that is just getting off the ground.
