AST SpaceMobile is targeting several high-stakes deployments scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.

The FCC intends to eliminate surety bond requirements for constellations with fewer than 200 satellites provided those constellations are not part of a specific processing round.

The FCC adopted a Foreign Adversary Reporting Regime on January 29 requiring license holders to disclose ownership interests of 10% or more held by entities from specified nations including China and Russia.

Drew Svor is a Sheppard Mullin partner who outlined the FCC’s plan to replace Part 25 with Part 100 at the SmallSat Symposium.

Under the proposed rules, the public comment window would be seven days for applications meeting all bright-line criteria.

Under the proposed rules, compliant applications would be placed on public notice within 30 days of filing.

Under the proposed rules, the FCC aims to act on an application within 60 days after the public notice period closes or to justify any delay.

The NPRM proposes moving earth-station licensing toward a nationwide license model that allows operators to register individual antenna sites in a database after deployment.

The Part 100 rulemaking creates a Variable Trajectory Spacecraft System category intended for dynamic missions such as on-orbit servicing and manufacturing.

SpaceX filed a modification request on January 30 for a constellation of up to one million satellites to support an Orbital Data Center network.

The Part 100 proposal replaces narrative-based applications with a standardized, component-based licensing architecture that separates applications into modular components such as debris mitigation, spectrum usage, and ownership.

The Federal Communications Commission plans to retire legacy Part 25 rules in favor of a modular Part 100 framework.

The Variable Trajectory Spacecraft System category would allow operators to update trajectory data dynamically for missions that do not maintain fixed orbits.

The nationwide earth-station license model would allow operators to add or register additional antenna sites under a blanket license without applying for new licenses for each location.

The NPRM’s ground-station licensing changes directly support the Ground-Station-as-a-Service business model by enabling infrastructure providers to rapidly activate sites.

The Space Modernization for the 21st Century Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is the FCC initiative proposing the Part 100 framework.

More than 420 aircraft are online with Gilat’s Sidewinder electronically steerable antenna.

Gilat Satellite Networks reported $452 million in revenue in 2025.

Gilat is expanding the Gilat Defense sales team and increasing R&D investment in Gilat Defense.

Gilat is working to secure linefit for the Sidewinder antenna with both Boeing and Airbus.

Gilat Satellite Networks grew revenue by 48% in 2025 driven by in-flight connectivity technology and its acquisition of Stellar Blu.

Commercial revenue at Gilat Satellite Networks grew 81% year-over-year to $281 million in 2025.

Gilat does not expect Airbus linefit revenues for the Sidewinder antenna in 2026 because it is in the initial phases with Airbus.

Gilat Satellite Networks reported net income of $21 million in 2025.

Gilat Satellite Networks has a significant backlog of in-flight connectivity terminals to be delivered in 2026.

Gilat Defense achieved record awards in 2025 driven by increased demand from U.S. and allied defense customers for transportable satcom.

Gilat’s Defense business revenue grew just under 3% year-over-year in 2025.

Commercial operations, including the in-flight connectivity business, accounted for 62% of Gilat Satellite Networks’ revenue in 2025.

Gilat delivered 190 in-flight connectivity terminals during the fourth quarter of 2025.

Gilat’s revenue in 2025 landed at the high end of the company’s guidance of 36%–49% growth.

Gilat expects 2026 revenues between $500 million and $520 million, which represents approximately 13% year-over-year growth at the midpoint.

Gilat is prioritizing mergers and acquisitions focused on defense-related capabilities that complement its existing strengths.

The Sidewinder antenna acquired from Stellar Blu is compatible with the OneWeb constellation.

Gilat expects to pass Boeing certification for the Sidewinder antenna in the first half of 2026 and to start Boeing deliveries in the third quarter of 2026.

Gilat completed the acquisition of Stellar Blu in mid-2025.

The system will be manufactured and tested in Steißlingen and is expected to be delivered and commissioned at the Munich campus later this year.

The Q/V-band ground station project will be executed through the University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich (Universität der Bundeswehr München – UniBw M).

The contract expands the Munich Center for Space Communications to enable research into higher frequency ranges that offer larger bandwidths for feeder links and high-bit-rate data links for Very High Throughput Satellites.

The University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich operates one of Germany’s most versatile research facilities for over-the-air testing.

The Munich Center for Space Communications currently supports UHF, C, X, Ku, and Ka-band frequencies and currently lacks Q/V-band capabilities.

SatService GmbH is tasked with the end-to-end design, manufacturing, and testing of the Q/V-band ground station.

The new Q/V-band ground station will be integrated into the University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich’s terrestrial laboratory to support scientific research and modern military satellite communications.

The investment in Q/V-band capabilities aligns with broader European initiatives to secure sovereignty in space communications by diversifying frequency band access.

The ground station will serve as an educational platform for German Armed Forces trainee officers by providing hands-on experience with high-throughput connectivity.

SatService GmbH, a subsidiary of Calian Group Ltd. (TSX: CGY), was awarded a contract by the German Federal Ministry of Defence to deliver a full-service Q/V-band satellite ground station.

The ground station will demonstrate operational benefits of geostationary orbit, including continuous regional coverage and improved resilience against electronic interference.

Leonardo is shifting to treat satellites as edge nodes in a military network rather than as bent-pipe relays.

Leonardo has launches for its proprietary constellation slated for late 2027.

Dr. Marco Brancati is the Technical Director of the Leonardo Space Division.

Leonardo decided to build and operate its own infrastructure rather than wait for institutional contracts.