Category Archives: Satellite Communication

StarLink update – Power and Packages

Posted on 21/10/2024 by markhawkins

Last time, I introduced the new StarLink Mini. Since it’s introduction, there is a great deal of chatter on social media about how to power this new terminal using 12V DC. On the StarLink website, the technical specifications state that … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure, Satellite Communication | Leave a comment

Direct to satellite to mobile telecoms

Posted on 31/03/2024 by markhawkins

A few years ago, I wrote an article about new project from AST Space Mobile which uses satellites to provide services to standard mobile telephones. Since then, a lot of progress has been made, but whilst satellite-based connectivity for standard … Continue reading →

Posted in connectivity, Emergency Response, Satellite Communication | Leave a comment

How does ICT support disaster response?

Posted on 16/10/2017 by markhawkins

Across the aid sector, the opinion is divided about the sort of role ICT can play in disaster response. In some organisations such as WFP, technicians are sent with the first wave of responders as experience has proven that reliable … Continue reading →

Posted in Emergency Response, Satellite Communication | Leave a comment

How ICT can assist maritime search and rescue operations

Posted on 18/10/2016 by markhawkins

Conflicts in the Middle East and Africa has led to a significant movement of people. Each week, thousands of people are risking their lives to reach Europe by attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. So far and estimated number of … Continue reading →

Posted in Emergency Response, Navigation, Satellite Communication | Leave a comment

Is your organisation licensed to use radio and satcoms?

Posted on 18/03/2016 by markhawkins

Imagine being in a large room of a few hundred people speaking at once. This could be a social gathering such as a wedding or some other event. One person in that room has been designated to give a speech. … Continue reading →

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Internet from Space: Behind the scenes

Posted on 07/03/2016 by markhawkins

Each day, hundreds of NGOs and UN agencies access internet services which come from satellites in space. Generally these services are accessed by using large dishes at sites which are located in very remote locations. These dishes and their associated … Continue reading →

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Satellite Communications: The good and the ugly!

Posted on 09/12/2015 by markhawkins

Over the past 15 years, there has been a massive expansion in the availability of mobile networks in developing countries. Many NGOs have adopted mobile phones as a primary form of communication. The costs associated with running mobile are very … Continue reading →

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