Latest news with #Starlink
Tatler Asia
3 hours ago
- Business
- Tatler Asia
Which Asian airline has the fastest in-flight wifi? New global rankings revealed
Ookla's latest report spotlights Asia's top performer in in-flight wifi, as connectivity becomes a key travel feature In-flight wifi has long been the bane of air travellers, as it has generally always been unreliable, overpriced and painfully slow. But according to a new 2025 report from Ookla, some airlines are starting to get it right. While US and Middle Eastern carriers lead the pack, one Asian airline now delivers wifi speeds fast enough for real-time streaming. The rest, including some of Asia's most prestigious names, have work to do. With satellite tech evolving rapidly, the sky is becoming the next connectivity battleground. Read more: Airline rules for power banks—what you need to know Asia's most luxurious carriers may have mastered hospitality, but when it comes to in-flight wifi, most are still lagging in the digital age. According to Ookla's Q1 2025 Speedtest Intelligence report, Qatar Airways leads the wifi game globally with a median download speed of 120.6 Mbps, thanks to its rollout of Starlink's low-Earth orbit satellite network. That places it alongside Hawaiian Airlines as the only two truly high-performing global players. Singapore Airlines's in-flight wifi ranks 13th globally, with a median download speed of 25.55 Mbps—respectable, but far from transformative. EVA Air and ANA follow close behind, with 24.79 Mbps and 23.74 Mbps, respectively. Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines trail further, at 17.06 Mbps and 15.31 Mbps, putting them well into the bottom half of the rankings. These carriers primarily rely on GEO satellite systems or outdated LTE ground-to-air networks. That results in higher latency—often upwards of 700 milliseconds—making anything beyond email or messaging a test of patience. By contrast, Starlink's LEO satellites deliver vastly improved latency at just 44 ms, enabling smoother video calls, cloud work and real-time streaming. See also: Luxurious Escapes: 5 private islands to visit from Singapore with no flights needed
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Trump administration puts Amazon in frame for US missile defence contract in possible sign of Elon Musk's waning influence
It is courting Project Kuiper and big defence contractors as tensions with Elon Musk threaten SpaceX's dominance in the programme. The shift marks a strategic pivot away from reliance on Musk's SpaceX, whose Starlink and Starshield satellite networks have become central to US military communications. It comes amid a deteriorating relationship between US president Donald Trump and Mr Musk, which culminated in a public falling-out on June 5. Even before the spat, officials at the Pentagon and White House had begun exploring alternatives to SpaceX, wary of over-reliance on a single partner for huge portions of the ambitious, $175bn (€149bn) space-based defence shield, two of the sources said. SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment. Responding to a post about the Reuters story on X, Mr Musk wrote: 'Federal acquisition regulations require using the best provider at the best price. Anything else would be breaking the law.' Due to its size, track record and experience in government procurement, SpaceX still has the inside track to assist with major portions of the Golden Dome. Project Kuiper, which has launched just 78 of a planned constellation of 3,000 low-earth orbit satellites, has been approached by the Pentagon to join the effort, signalling the administration's openness to integrating commercial tech firms into national defence infrastructure and going beyond traditional defence players. Jeff Bezos, Amazon's executive chairman, told Reuters in January that Kuiper would be 'primarily commercial', but acknowledged 'there will be defence uses for these [low-earth orbit] constellations, no doubt'. A spokesperson for Project Kuiper declined to comment. The Pentagon declined to comment. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Golden Dome's ambitions mirror those of Israel's Iron Dome – a homeland missile defence shield – but a larger, more complex layered defence system requires a vast network of orbiting satellites covering more territory.
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Trump's Golden Dome looks for alternatives to Elon Musk's SpaceX
The U.S. Trump administration is expanding its search for partners to build the Golden Dome missile defense system, courting Project Kuiper and big defence contractors as tensions with Elon Musk threaten SpaceX's dominance in the program, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The shift marks a strategic pivot away from reliance on Musk's SpaceX, whose Starlink and Starshield satellite networks have become central to U.S. military communications. It comes amid a deteriorating relationship between Trump and Musk, which culminated in a public falling-out on June 5. Even before the spat, officials at the Pentagon and White House had begun exploring alternatives to SpaceX, wary of over-reliance on a single partner for huge portions of the ambitious, $175 billion space-based defense shield, two of the sources said. SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment. Responding to a post about the Reuters story on X, Musk wrote, "Federal acquisition regulations require using the best provider at the best price. Anything else would be breaking the law." Due to its size, track record of launching more than 9,000 of its own Starlink satellites, and experience in government procurement, SpaceX still has the inside track to assist with major portions of the Golden Dome, especially launch contracts, sources say. Project Kuiper, which has launched just 78 of a planned constellation of 3,000 low-earth orbit satellites, has been approached by the Pentagon to join the effort, signaling the administration's openness to integrating commercial tech firms into national defense infrastructure and going beyond traditional defense players. Jeff Bezos, Amazon's executive chairman, told Reuters in January that Kuiper would be "primarily commercial," but acknowledged "there will be defense uses for these [low-earth orbit] constellations, no doubt." A spokesperson for Project Kuiper declined to comment for this story. The Pentagon declined to comment. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Golden Dome's ambitions mirror those of Israel's Iron Dome, a homeland missile defence shield, but a larger, more complex layered defence system requires a vast network of orbiting satellites covering more territory. In the search for more vendors for the satellite layers of Golden Dome, "Kuiper is a big one," a U.S. official said. While SpaceX remains a frontrunner due to its unmatched launch capabilities, its share of the programme could shrink, two of the people said. Officials have reached out to new entrants like rocket companies Stoke Space and Rocket Lab are gaining traction and will be able to bid on individual launches as the programme matures, according to the U.S. official. Later in the development of Golden Dome "each individual launch is going to get bid, and we have to actually give bids to other people," besides SpaceX, the official said. There is an urgent need for more satellite production. Last year Congress gave Space Force a $13 billion mandate, up from $900 million, to buy satellite-based communication services in what was widely seen as one of many efforts to stimulate private sector satellite production. Amazon's Project Kuiper, a $10 billion initiative led by former Starlink managers dismissed by Musk for slow progress, Reuters has reported, has lagged behind SpaceX in deployment. But its potential defence applications, such as communications that could aid missile tracking, have drawn renewed interest as the administration prepares to allocate the first $25 billion tranche of funding authorised under Trump's sweeping tax and spending bill. Traditional defence giants Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and L3Harris are also in talks to support Golden Dome. L3Harris CFO Kenneth Bedingfield told Reuters in an interview the company has seen a surge in interest in its missile warning and tracking technologies, which are expected to play a key role in the system. Northrop, meanwhile, is pursuing several efforts including a space-based interceptor, a component that would enable missile strikes from orbit, Robert Fleming, the head of the company's space business, told Reuters in an interview. "Lockheed Martin is ready to support Golden Dome for America as a proven mission partner," Robert Lightfoot, president of Lockheed Martin Space, said in a statement. Golden Dome's initial outreach this spring invited smaller, newer Silicon Valley firms seen as nimbler, more sophisticated and potentially less expensive alternatives to the big defence firms to the table, but that was before the Musk-Trump feud upended that calculus. Several with close ties to Trump aside from SpaceX, including Palantir and Anduril, were considered early frontrunners to win big pieces of the $175 billion project. But the Musk-Trump feud has reshaped the competitive landscape. Musk recently launched the "America Party," a tech-centric, centrist political movement aimed at defeating Republicans who backed Trump's tax-and-spend agenda. Trump launched the Golden Dome initiative just a week into his second term, pushing for rapid deployment. Space Force General Michael Guetlein, confirmed by the Senate on July 17, is set to lead the programme with sweeping authority. Under a previously unreported directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Guetlein has 30 days from confirmation to build a team, 60 days to deliver an initial system design, and 120 days to present a full implementation plan, including satellite and ground station details, two people briefed on the memo said. Hours after Reuters published its story Tuesday morning, the Pentagon issued a press release acknowledging that an architecture for Golden Dome will be "developed within the next 60 days." The inclusion of commercial platforms like Kuiper raises security concerns. Its satellites would need to be hardened against cyberattacks and electronic warfare, a challenge that has plagued even SpaceX's Starlink network. In May 2024, Elon Musk said SpaceX was spending "significant resources combating Russian jamming efforts. This is a tough problem." Beyond the technical and political challenges, Golden Dome could reshape global security dynamics. A fully operational space-based missile shield may prompt adversaries to develop new offensive capabilities or accelerate the militarisation of space. Still, established defense players like Lockheed and RTX, formerly Raytheon, will likely be at the front of the line for contracts. Executives at RTX, maker of the Patriot missile defense system, said on Tuesday they believe the system is going to be integral to Golden Dome "especially if you want to make a significant impact over the next 2 to 3 years."
Business Upturn
9 hours ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Altucher Releases Urgent Presentation Potentially Linking August 13 to Starlink's Global Pivot
Austin, TX, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A newly released presentation by bestselling author and tech entrepreneur James Altucher is drawing attention for spotlighting a potential turning point in the rollout of Elon Musk's satellite network, Starlink. Altucher outlines a series of developments—some public, some behind closed doors—that appear to be converging around a single date: August 13, 2025. At the center of the story is what Altucher describes as 'a multi-decade plan' to create a satellite-based communications grid that could replace traditional systems and establish a new digital foundation for the modern world. The Architecture of a Quiet Revolution The presentation suggests this quiet build-up may soon enter a public phase, marking a moment Altucher believes many will miss—because they weren't paying attention. A Meeting That Sparked Everything Altucher first began connecting the dots after learning about a private meeting involving Elon Musk and industry insiders. Though the contents of that meeting remain undisclosed, the timing aligns with a series of recent media statements from Musk and his team—signals Altucher says have been overlooked by the public and press alike. Altucher's Warning As the presentation nears its conclusion, Altucher issues a clear message: the window may be closing. 'After this date, the window could slam shut—and you may never have this same chance again,' he writes, referring to August 13. He adds, 'This is about recognizing the moments when everything changes. Not years later— right now ' About James Altucher James Altucher is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and podcast host. He's launched more than 20 companies across software, media, and finance. Altucher has authored 25+ books including Choose Yourself , Reinvent Yourself , and Skip the Line . His writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal , Forbes , and TechCrunch , and he has been featured on CNBC, Fox Business, and major global platforms. His daily insights reach millions seeking clarity at the intersection of technology, power, and personal freedom. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
South China Morning Post
10 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Has the Qianfan satellite network – China's Starlink rival – run into trouble?
A Chinese mega-constellation of communications satellites is facing serious delays that could jeopardise its ambitions to compete with SpaceX's Starlink for valuable orbital resources. Only 90 satellites have been launched into low Earth orbit for the Qianfan broadband network – also known as the Thousand Sails Constellation or G60 Starlink – well short of the project's goal of 648 by the end of this year. Under international regulations to prevent spectrum hoarding, satellite operators must deploy a certain proportion of their constellation within set times after securing orbits and radio frequencies. Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology, the company leading the project, plans to deploy more than 15,000 satellites by 2030 to deliver direct-to-phone internet services worldwide. To stay on track, Yuanxin – which is backed by the Shanghai municipal government – would have to launch more than 30 satellites a month to achieve its milestones of 648 by the end of 2025 for regional coverage and 1,296 two years later for global connectivity. At the heart of the delay is a severe shortage of rockets, as China's manufacturing and launch capacity struggle to keep pace with the explosive demand for satellite deployment, according to a rocket engineer based in Beijing.
