Above the Glass: Why Optical Inter-Satellite Links Are Reshaping LEO Architecture

Optical inter-satellite links exploit a basic fact of physics to build a space-based internet backbone — and every serious LEO constellation now has to have them.

June 22, 2026 · 6 min · Orbital Uplink

OneWeb, Eutelsat, and the Case for a Hybrid Constellation

Eutelsat OneWeb is betting that combining low Earth orbit with geostationary satellites beats going all-in on either — a different theory of the market.

June 15, 2026 · 3 min · Orbital Uplink

Amazon's Kuiper and the Cost of Being Second

Project Kuiper enters a market where a rival already has satellites, subscribers, and a head start — so its real challenge is not technology but timing.

June 8, 2026 · 3 min · Orbital Uplink

Direct-to-Cell Is the Riskiest Bet in Satellite Internet

Turning an ordinary phone into a satellite terminal is the most ambitious promise in orbital connectivity — and the one most constrained by physics.

June 1, 2026 · 3 min · Orbital Uplink

The Coming Fight Over Low Earth Orbit

As constellations multiply, the binding constraints on satellite internet are shifting from rockets and radios to orbital slots, spectrum rights, and collision risk.

June 1, 2026 · 3 min · Orbital Uplink

Welcome to Orbital Uplink

An independent home for tracking the satellite internet industry — the constellations, the economics, and the policy fights behind broadband from orbit.

June 1, 2026 · 2 min · Orbital Uplink