Page 63 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023
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SATELLITE UPDATES  SAMENA TRENDS

        New Zealand Gives Starlink a Bye on Telecoms Fees


        New  Zealand’s  Commerce  Commission   levy. Submissions  on the  Commission’s   Commission  increased  Spark’s  payment
        finalized  the  amount  each  telecoms   draft proposal from  the  country’s  Internet   from NZD3.4 million to NZD3.5 million, with
        operator will  pay  to  the  government’s   Service Providers Association and  the   the operator accounting for 31.1 per cent of
        Telecommunications  Development  Levy   Wireless  Internet  Service  Providers  industry revenue in fiscal 2022 to 2023. One
        (TDL), which increased to NZD11.3 million   Association  called  for  Starlink  to be   NZ  is  liable  for  NZD2.7  million  compared
        ($6.9  million)  for  the  fiscal  year  ending   classified as liable to be assessed for the   with NZD2.6 million the previous year and
        30  June  2023  from NZD10.5  million  the   levy and included in the final allocation of   2degrees NZD2.2 million (NZD2.1 million).
        previous year. Spark, One  New Zealand,   payment. The Commission stated it would   The funds are used to pay for infrastructure
        Chorus and  2degrees  will  collectively  pay   engage  with  Starlink  and  others  as  part   and  services  which are  not  commercially
        about  87  per  cent  of  the  total  levy,  with   of  the  fiscal  2023  to  2024  TDL  process.   viable,  including  a  relay service  for the
        21 smaller companies responsible for the   One NZ has an agreement with Starlink to   hearing-impaired, broadband for rural areas
        remainder. But the Commission declined to   boost rural coverage using LEO satellites.   and  improvements  to  the  111-emergency
        levy fees on Starlink, deciding it did not meet   Spark and  2degrees  are  working  with   service.
        the minimum annual revenue threshold of   Lynk  Global,  which  was  also  excluded
        NZD10 million needed to be subject to the   from the Commission’s  assessment.  The



        Globalsat Group to add Rivada LEO Connectivity to Its Americas Coverage



        Globalsat  Group,  a  provider  of  mission-  first satellite launch of  Rivada's OuterNET   infrastructure  used  to carry it  in terms of
        critical  satellite  and  wireless  connectivity   is set for 2025, with global service starting   latency,  bandwidth,  speed  and  security.
        solutions  is  partnering  with  satellite   in  2026.  Globalsat  is  an  industry  leader   Which, it  seems,  is  where  Rivada  comes
        network operator Rivada  Space Networks   in  mobile  and other satellite  services,   in.  Rivada's  global  low-latency  point-to-
        to  provide  access  to  a  next-generation   providing  specialized  voice,  data,  M2M/  point  connectivity  network  of  600  low
        data network for customers in the energy,   IoT, software, and hardware throughout the   earth  orbit  (LEO)  satellites,  the  OuterNET,
        government, NGO, agriculture, utilities and   Americas since 1999. Most customers use   is  described  as  a  unique  next-generation
        transportation  sectors throughout the   its services where life or infrastructure are   architecture combining inter-satellite laser
        Americas and  beyond. Rivada's  OuterNET,   at stake or  in  exceptional  circumstances   links  with  advanced  onboard  processing
        as  the  forthcoming Rivada service is   when or where other connectivity networks   that provides unique routing and switching
        known,  will,  say  the  partners,  offer  high-  cannot operate reliably or at all. Globalsat   capabilities  to create  an  optical  mesh
        speed,  low-latency  and  highly  secure   says increasing  demand for  resilient   network in space. This approach to ‘orbital
        connectivity with full global coverage. The   connectivity is  fast  outpacing the  current   networking’,  in  which data  stays  in  space
                                                                                 from origin to destination, is described as
                                                                                 creating  an  ultra-secure  satellite  network
                                                                                 with  global  coverage,  offering  end-to-
                                                                                 end  latencies  much lower  than terrestrial
                                                                                 fibre  over  similar  long  distances.  And  by
                                                                                 routing  traffic  on  a  physically  separated
                                                                                 network, it provides a layer of defence for
                                                                                 any  organization  that  needs  to  securely
                                                                                 share data over a large distribution of sites.
                                                                                 Globalsat  Group says  it  will  add  Rivada's
                                                                                 OuterNET seamless  connectivity  to its
                                                                                 diverse roster of mission-critical solutions,
                                                                                 as  an  option  to ramp up performance
                                                                                 and  increase  customer  efficiency.  This
                                                                                 connectivity  is  particularly  well  suited
                                                                                 to remote geographic installation  use
                                                                                 cases requiring real-time applications and
                                                                                 monitoring  regardless  of location,  when
                                                                                 high  bandwidth,  reduced  latency  and
                                                                                 improved security are required.



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