The State Street SPDR S&P Telecom ETF (XTL) is a smart beta ETF with $551.17 million in assets that tracks the S&P Telecom Select Industry Index. With a 0.35% expense ratio and year-to-date returns of 38.37%, it offers concentrated exposure to the telecom sector but carries medium risk with a beta of 1.17. Cheaper alternatives like VOX (0.09% expense ratio) and XLC (0.08% expense ratio) are available for investors seeking lower-cost options.

Viasat Inc. has been awarded an initial $42 million task order under a seven-year, up to $307 million IDIQ contract to provide fully managed, end-to-end global satellite services for the United States Marine Corps. The contract covers multi-orbit connectivity across L-, Ku, and Ka-bands, including access to Viasat's next-generation ViaSat-3 satellites, with 24x7x365 network and security operations support.

Space42 and Viasat have signed a binding agreement to establish Equatys, a shared satellite and ground infrastructure platform for direct-to-device (D2D) and advanced mobile satellite services. The two companies will commit up to $1 billion in combined equity, with each contributing $400 million initially and Space42 adding $200 million in a future third-party funding round. The platform will operate on a 'tower company' model, allowing multiple operators to share standardized infrastructure while maintaining independent customer relationships. Viasat will serve as the chief technology contractor.

Space42 and Viasat have signed a binding agreement to establish Equatys, a neutral shared space and ground infrastructure platform for Direct-to-Device (D2D) and advanced Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) connectivity. The companies commit up to $1 billion in combined equity investments, with Space42 and Viasat each investing $400 million initially, and Space42 committing an additional $200 million in future funding rounds. Equatys will operate on a tower company model, enabling multiple satellite operators to share infrastructure while maintaining independent frequency rights and customer relationships. The platform is designed to scale to 2,800 satellites across 60 orbital planes and 3 altitude layers.

Space42 and Viasat have signed a binding agreement to jointly establish Equatys, a shared space and ground infrastructure platform designed to provide direct-to-device (D2D) and advanced mobile satellite services (MSS) connectivity globally. The two companies commit up to $1 billion in combined equity funding. Equatys will operate on a tower company model, allowing multiple licensed operators to share satellite and ground infrastructure while maintaining their own frequency licenses and commercial relationships. The initial constellation is designed to expand to 2,800 satellites across 60 orbital planes and three altitude layers.

Space42 and Viasat have signed a binding agreement to create Equatys, a shared satellite and ground infrastructure platform for global direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity and advanced mobile satellite services (MSS). The two companies will commit up to $1 billion in combined equity capital, with Viasat serving as the primary technology provider. The platform will follow a Tower Company model, enabling multiple operators to share infrastructure while maintaining their spectrum rights and commercial independence. The initial constellation will eventually scale to 2,800 satellites across 60 orbital planes.

Space42 and Viasat have signed a binding agreement to establish Equatys, a joint space and ground infrastructure platform for global Direct-to-Device and advanced mobile satellite services. The companies commit up to $1 billion in combined equity, with Viasat serving as the primary technology contractor. The platform aims to leverage over 100 MHz of coordinated MSS spectrum and relationships with 400+ mobile operators worldwide to enable satellite connectivity on standard smartphones and IoT devices.

Redwire Corporation announced a strategic investment in August 2026 to accelerate development of phased-array antenna systems for military satellite communications across LEO, MEO, and GEO orbits. The technology will support dynamic beam steering and enhanced data throughput for warfighter communications. RDW builds on existing RF capabilities and has already delivered over 200 flight antennas, positioning itself to expand its role in distributed military satellite networks.

Rocket Lab has been selected for the U.S. Space Force's Space Data Network Consortium and secured two delivery orders worth $12 million to develop secure optical communications for military satellite operations. The company will demonstrate satellite-to-ground interoperability using its Photon spacecraft, with operational demonstrations expected in 2027. This strategic opportunity could lead to additional military satellite communications work.

ViaSat reported mixed Q1 fiscal 2027 results with earnings beating consensus estimates but revenues missing expectations. The company posted a narrower net loss of $51.7 million due to reduced interest expense from debt repayment, though revenues declined to $1.16 billion from $1.17 billion. Management expects mid-single-digit revenue growth for fiscal 2027, with DAT segment growth anticipated in the mid-teens. Shares have underperformed the S&P 500 by 13.7% since the earnings report, and analyst estimates have trended downward by 13.33%.

Viasat has partnered with Addvalue Solutions to integrate its Inter-satellite Data Relay Service (IDRS) into Viasat's HaloNet portfolio, expanding government-focused space communications capabilities. The integration leverages Viasat's GEO L-band network to maintain persistent links with LEO spacecraft, enabling faster response times for government missions. The unified offering combines terminals, connectivity, and mission support to simplify procurement for U.S. government agencies.

Rocket Lab announced participation in the U.S. Space Force's $981 million NITE-STAR program, but the actual value to the company is significantly less impressive. With 15 companies competing for task orders over a 10-year period, Rocket Lab can expect approximately $6.5 million annually—less than 1% of its current $770 million revenue. The analyst concludes this is insufficient to justify the stock's current valuation of 60x sales while unprofitable.