Project
This month, the FCC approved Microsoft’s plans for proof-of-concept (PoC) tests of the technology. Microsoft has a six-month license that allows it to access imagery and communications data from a satellite and download it. In the FCC application, the company points out it will gauge market interest before pressing ahead with a wider project: “If the demonstrations result in significant market interest, Microsoft will file an application for regular earth station authority with the International Bureau (IB) to support future commercial operations, and that application will include a request for U.S. market access for DEIMOS-2.”