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Hungarian investment Axiom Space boosts Hungary’s role in LEO

Ernest Pozzoni — article author

(Image credit: Axiom Space)

Hungarian investment Axiom Space marks a step for Hungary’s role in commercial space and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) infrastructure. Hungarian company 4iG Space and Defence has signed an agreement to take a stake in Axiom Space, a United States-based firm developing one of the first commercial space stations while also operating crewed missions to the International Space Station.

4iG Space and Defence is a subsidiary of telecoms and IT group 4iG, and the deal represents the first time a Hungarian company becomes an equity partner in a major U.S. spaceflight operator. The move is being presented in Budapest as a landmark for the national space ecosystem, reinforcing closer technological and industrial ties between Hungary and the United States.

Axiom Space has been steadily building its profile as a commercial partner to national space agencies, flying private and governmental crews to the ISS and preparing modular elements for Axiom Station, planned to operate initially as an attached segment of the ISS before serving as a standalone platform in LEO. Such stations are expected to host research, manufacturing and in-orbit services that support sectors from Aviation and Telemedicine to Disaster Recovery and Smart Agriculture, through enhanced observation and resilient global connectivity.

For 4iG, the partnership aligns its telecommunications and IT experience with a growing interest in space-based infrastructure, positioning the company within future constellations of commercial stations, satellites and ground systems. The company’s leadership has framed the move as both a symbolic and practical signal that Hungarian industry intends to participate directly in the next wave of space commercialisation, rather than solely as a customer of foreign platforms.

Axiom Space said the agreement is the beginning of a long-term relationship with a European partner that brings industrial capabilities, regional networks and a commitment to building sustainable space services. Earlier this year, the company also carried the second Hungarian astronaut, Tibor Kapu, on a mission to the ISS, underscoring an existing operational link between the two parties. With Hungarian investment Axiom Space aims to broaden its international shareholder base and further deepen collaboration with Central and Eastern Europe in the evolving LEO economy.

Hughes Ruggedised OneWeb Cases for Resilient Field Connectivity Solutions

Ernest Pozzoni — article author

(Image credit: Hughes)

Hughes Network Systems has introduced a new family of ruggedised transportable satellite terminal cases for the Eutelsat OneWeb network, underlining the growing demand for resilient field connectivity solutions. The new IP67-rated pop-up cases, engineered in partnership with C-COM Satellite Systems, house electronically steerable antenna (ESA) terminals that are designed to support rapid deployment in challenging environments.

The ruggedised cases extend the usability of Hughes’ transportable ESA terminals by protecting them from dust, water and impact during field operations. Certified by Eutelsat for communications-on-the-pause, the terminals enable broadband connectivity when stationary, serving teams that need reliable links for data, voice and video in remote or temporary locations.

With a plug-and-play design, users can set up the terminals quickly, helping reduce the time between arriving on site and establishing a live connection. This is particularly relevant for sectors that operate in austere conditions or where network availability is unpredictable. Use cases range from emergency response teams coordinating Disaster Recovery efforts, to land-based oil and gas operators engaged in Mining & Exploration activities in regions with limited terrestrial infrastructure.

The solution is also aimed at mobile network operators deploying cell-on-wheels (COW) units to restore or augment coverage after incidents or during high-demand periods. By integrating satellite backhaul, COWs can maintain services when fibre or microwave links are unavailable, ensuring continuity for public safety agencies, enterprises and communities.

Beyond crisis response, the terminals can support ongoing operations in industries such as Energy & Offshore, Maritime logistics, Infrastructure and IoT, Smart Agriculture and Remote Work sites, where consistent connectivity is required to link sensors, remote teams and central control centres. The combination of a transportable form factor, environmental protection and satellite coverage aims to give organisations more flexibility in how and where they connect.

As demand grows for robust, easily deployable satellite connectivity, solutions like these ruggedised transportable terminal cases are likely to play a role in expanding access to high-throughput services for both public and private sector users. By combining hardened hardware with low-Earth-orbit capacity, Hughes and its partners are positioning to meet evolving requirements for resilient field connectivity solutions.

Ofcom approves UK direct-to-device satellite framework

Ernest Pozzoni — article author

(Image generated with DeepAI)

The United Kingdom communications regulator Ofcom has set out a new UK D2D regulatory framework that will allow satellite direct-to-device services to operate using existing mobile spectrum bands. The move opens the door for mobile network operators to partner with satellite providers so that ordinary handsets can stay connected in areas with little or no terrestrial coverage. This is significant for sectors such as Maritime operations, Energy & Offshore projects and Disaster Recovery work, where reliable links are often difficult to maintain.

Published on 9 December 2025, the framework explains how mobile network operators can request changes to their licences in order to add direct-to-device capability. Ofcom has also detailed technical conditions designed to prevent harmful interference, including measures to protect air traffic control systems and to avoid disruption to mobile services in neighbouring countries. The regulator describes the framework as an important step towards extending connectivity without extensive new ground infrastructure.

Ofcom notes that mobile operators are already working to bring commercial services to market. The regulator highlighted initiatives that aim to make the United Kingdom the first country in Western Europe with broad access to satellite direct-to-device connectivity. By combining terrestrial and space-based networks, operators hope to offer more resilient communications for communities, businesses and public services, including those supporting Telemedicine, remote logistics and critical Infrastructure and IoT assets.

Internationally, the United States Federal Communications Commission adopted a similar framework in 2024, followed by Canada. Regulators in other regions, including parts of Europe, Africa and Asia, are now developing their own approaches. Ukraine has already launched nationwide services, with mobile operator Kyivstar collaborating with Starlink to support users in hard-to-reach locations.

In the British market, Virgin Media O2 plans to work with Starlink under its O2 Satellite initiative, while Vodafone has a commercial agreement with AST SpaceMobile that includes the U.K. At the same time, certain Apple smartphones already allow customers to send emergency texts and share locations via satellite outside this framework. The UK D2D regulatory framework is therefore intended to provide a clear basis for future services as satellite direct-to-device technology becomes more integrated into everyday communications.

Iridium powers global satellite IoT connectivity for Hyundai Hi MATE

Ernest Pozzoni — article author

(Image generated with DeepAI)

Iridium Communications has signed an agreement with HD Hyundai Construction Equipment to integrate global satellite IoT connectivity into the company’s Hi MATE remote monitoring platform. The collaboration, focused initially on construction machinery operating across Asia and other remote regions, is designed to extend reliable data links to equipment working beyond the reach of terrestrial mobile networks.

HD Hyundai Construction Equipment, part of the wider HD Hyundai group based in South Korea, manufactures excavators, wheel loaders and other heavy machinery used on large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects worldwide. Its Hi MATE system already enables fleet owners to track machine location, set geofences and access operational data via a centralised platform, helping management teams supervise diverse fleets spread across multiple countries.

Under the new arrangement, Iridium’s low Earth orbit satellite constellation will provide the underlying communications layer for Hi MATE units deployed in challenging environments. Using Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD), the system can transmit telemetry such as engine hours, fuel consumption, equipment status and alarms, even when machines are operating far from cellular coverage or in temporary project sites. This information can feed existing fleet management tools.

This capability is relevant for assets used in sectors such as Energy & Offshore, Mining & Exploration and large-scale Infrastructure and IoT projects, where equipment is frequently deployed in isolated or harsh conditions. It also supports contractors working on road and rail schemes, ports serving Maritime logistics, and construction activity tied to Disaster Recovery operations after extreme weather events.

By combining satellite connectivity with existing telematics features, HD Hyundai aims to give operators and owners more consistent visibility of fleet performance, utilisation and maintenance needs. Access to near real-time information can help improve scheduling, reduce unplanned downtime and support safer operation of machinery in remote locations.

The partnership also reflects a broader trend towards resilient connectivity for industrial equipment, ensuring that monitoring and management tools remain available regardless of geography. As construction and heavy equipment fleets take on more complex roles across global supply chains and critical infrastructure programmes, solutions built on global satellite IoT connectivity are becoming an important enabler for data-driven operations.

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Link Communications Systems is a London based telecommunications service provider and technology integrator that specialises in VSAT network design, integration and services in remote regions throughout the world. LCS provides Internet via Satellite, Private Networks, Maritime, Television broadcasting and other services.

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