Read all about the emerging satellite IoT industry, a hacker group allegedly hacking a Russian satellite communication provider, the Space Development Agency seeking bids to build 100 new satellites and so much more!
The satellite IoT industry is expected to grow from $2.2 billion in 2022 to $7.8 billion by 2030, driven by the declining cost of satellite launches, the rise of small satellite operators, and the increasing demand for global IoT connectivity. Incumbent satellite operators currently dominate the market, but the many emerging start-ups offering low-power and low-cost IoT connectivity are expected to gain ground in the coming years.
Satellite operators are facing increasing competition from Starlink, which is rapidly expanding its constellation. To stay ahead of the competition, operators are launching high-capacity satellites, forming partnerships, and adopting a multi-orbit strategy. Some operators are also shifting their focus to LEO constellations, which offer lower latency and faster speeds than traditional GEO satellites.
A group of hackers claiming to be affiliated with the Wagner Group has attacked the Russian satellite communications provider Dozor-Teleport. The attack began on Wednesday evening and has so far caused Dozor's network to be offline for several days. The hackers claim to have damaged some of Dozor's satellite terminals and leaked confidential information, including 700 files containing documents and images. The authenticity of the leaked documents has not been verified.
DARPA's INGOTS program is a three-year initiative that aims to develop new techniques to identify and fix high-severity vulnerabilities in software and hardware. INGOTS will use program analysis and artificial intelligence to measure the exploitability of vulnerabilities, and to identify potential chains of vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.
Very small aperture terminals (VSAT) are two-way satellite ground stations with a dish antenna that is smaller than 3.8 meters. VSATs access satellites in geosynchronous orbit or geostationary orbit to relay data from small remote Earth stations (terminals) to other terminals (in mesh topology) or master Earth station "hubs" (in star topology).
SES Space & Defense, a subsidiary of SES, has been awarded a five-year, X-Band, Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with an estimated value of $134 million in support of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The company will partner with industry leaders to deliver global X-Band satellite capacity, teleport and network services, and other ancillary services.
The U.S. Space Force's budget request for fiscal year 2024 is $30 billion, a 15% increase from last year. However, House GOP appropriators warn that the growth may not continue due to funding shortfalls and acquisition risk. The House Appropriations Committee notes serious shortfalls in core programs and expects them to be fully funded in future budgets. Concerns are being raised about underperforming acquisition programs, including the GPS Next Generation Operational Control Segment (OCX). The committee demands improved management and accountability for troubled programs and requests regular updates on corrective actions.
The Space Force's Space Development Agency is seeking bids for 100 new satellites to expand its low Earth orbit constellation. These satellites will provide high-speed, high-volume data communications for military users worldwide. The Transport Layer, which will consist of 300 to 500 interconnected satellites, is part of a larger network called the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. This network aims to make targeting difficult for enemy attacks. The Tranche 2 Transport Layer will include missile warning/missile tracking satellites in addition to the Transport Layer satellites.
