Astrocast, a Switzerland-based Internet of Things (IoT) nanosatellite network, has secured US$ 9.2 (€8.3M)  Series A round of funding to accelerate production of IoT modules, to begin commercial phase and deployment of the its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) IoT network.

To date, Astrocast has raised CHF 16.6M in total funding. Founded in 2014 by the developers of SwissCube, one of the longest lasting, operational nanosatellites in space and led by Fabien Jordan, CEO, and José Achache, to develop an advanced nanosatellite network for the Internet of things (IoT). 

It will come as no surprise to anyone in this industry who is paying attention to what has been happening over the last few years, to hear me say that the industry is in a state of flux.  This is hardly news, but the pace appears to be accelerating and things that have been talked about for the last several years, are either reality or now very close to be becoming so.

The uncomfortable co-existence among science, technology and religion is a few centuries old.  For a long while the three disciplines tried to stay in their own lane and tried to avoid swerving into the others’ lane.  But a collision was inevitable.  The crash has given us a toxic political and social climate at times, and made us mistrust each of the three disciplines. 

SatADSL, a provider of professional VSAT services, has announced the completion of its capital increase and the appointment of Serge Van Herck as president of its board of directors.

Visitors at this year’s AfricaCom can expect even more than in previous years, with the launch of a brand-new show feature – the AfricaTech Centre Stage. This is a focused centrepiece at AfricaTech, a new zoned exhibition area dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, fintech, cloud, data and security, and cutting edge content, along with a host of excellent networking opportunities.

The Kudelski Group (SIX: KUD.S), a provider of media content protection and value-added service technology, has reported a net loss of US$20.4 million, which included US$13.7 million of restructuring costs, during the first half of 2019.

Coverage of the launch of Spacecom's Amos-17 satellite by Spacex at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, August 6, 2019 with Satellite Markets and Research Editor-in-Chief Virgil Labrador.

Shares of EchoStar Corp. declined 7.3% following the company’s 2Q19 earnings release, reflecting disappointment with the company’s subpar EBITDA performance and one-time charges. Following the decline, shares of EchoStar  are now trading at 4.9x the consensus 2020 EBITDA forecast, which represents a discount to both the stock’s long-term average and its closes peer group competitor Viasat.

Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), reported strong first quarter fiscal year 2020 performance with a year-over-year revenue increase of 22%, net loss decrease of 66% and Adjusted EBITDA growth of 115% for the fiscal first quarter ended June 30, 2019.