Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet network faces increased competition, with challenges from China’s state-backed SpaceSail and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Project Kuiper.

SpaceSail, ased in Shanghai, signed an agreement to enter Brazil in November and started work in Kazakhstan in January, with plans to expand to over 30 countries.

Brazil is also negotiating with Project Kuiper and Canada’s Telesat for high-speed satellite internet services.

The yearly LEO satellite launches by the USA, China, Europe, Russia (formerly the USSR), and other countries are contrasted in this graphic through 2024.

Since 2020, Starlink has launched more satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO) than all competitors combined, providing high-speed internet for remote communities, vessels, and militaries.

Beijing views Musk’s dominance in space as a threat and is heavily investing in rivals and military research to track satellite constellations. Last year, China launched a record 263 LEO satellites.

SpaceSail aims to deploy 648 LEO satellites this year and 15,000 by 2030, forming part of China’s international push into satellite broadband.

This rapid expansion has raised concerns among Western policymakers about Beijing’s potential influence on global digital infrastructure.

Smartcash Payment Service Bank (PSB), a subsidiary of Airtel Nigeria, has been recognised as the Outstanding Payment Service Bank of the Year 2024 (Fintech) at the New Telegraph Awards, reaffirming its continued growth and reach of the PSB within the last year.

The award ceremony, which took place at the Lagos Oriental Hotel recently, celebrated Smartcash PSB’s commitment to providing seamless, secure, and inclusive financial solutions aimed at driving financial inclusion across Nigeria.

During his welcome address, The Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph Newspapers, Ayodele Aminu, emphasized the need to recognize individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions across various sectors.

“The New Telegraph Awards was in place to identify and assess individuals or organisations who have played a significant impact in politics, governance, industry, and other sectors of life. We believe that acknowledging them will galvanize the awardees towards greater productivity and excellence in their various fields and we look forward to seeing the incredible impact they will continue to make,” he said.

Commenting on the award, Chief Executive Officer, SmartCash PSB, Ayotunde Kuponiyi said, “Receiving the Outstanding PSB of the Year 2024 (Fintech Award) from New Telegraph is a testament to our unwavering commitment to advancing financial inclusion and empowering MSMEs across Nigeria.

At SmartCash PSB, we remain dedicated to bridging the financial gap for underserved communities through innovative and accessible solutions. This recognition strengthens our resolve to drive economic empowerment and sustainable growth for millions of Nigerians.”

CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, remarked that the award was a reminder to the company of its commitment to excellent customer services. “The recognition by New Telegraph again reminds us as a business to remain dedicated to keeping the customer at the heart of our operations,” he said.

Since its launch, Smartcash PSB has continued to advance the digital payments landscape by offering secure payments, mobile banking solutions, and agent banking services, enabling seamless financial transactions for both urban and underserved communities.

The event had prominent guests in attendance, including former chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority and statesman Chief Bode George who was the chairman of the awards; Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, publisher of New Telegraph; Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation & Aerospace Development; and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State; among others.

Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has raised alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.

“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.

He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.

According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.

ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.

The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.

ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.