The corporate feud over satellites that pittedthe west against China
Image © The Financial Times
How a clash of cultures — and geostrategic interests — sank a German-Chinese joint venture competing in the new space race
"The history of litigation dogging the project deterred many would-be investors from wading into what the industry describes as a “paper fight” over the satellite licences, Spott says. Then he met Declan Ganley. The Irish entrepreneur is founder of a US telecoms company, Rivada".
"Rivada plans to launch 600 satellites that will circle the earth at an altitude of 1,050km, delivering a faster connection than traditional geostationary satellites that move with the planet’s rotation at a fixed position around 36,000km above the ground".
"If Ganley pulls off the project, it could launch Rivada into the elite league of LEO satellite players". "Ganley is upbeat about the prospects of his “very strong team” completing the project. The Ofcom regulator, the authority with the ultimate power to assign and revoke satellite licences from companies, has greenlighted Rivada’s access to the licences".
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