Market Trends

by NSR

The satellite industry, NSR included, has not been shy in recent months about trumpeting the relative success the sector has had in sliding through the recent global economic turmoil relatively unscathed. It is certainly true that the satellite industry as a whole has managed continued strong growth in the face of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Still, the world "relative" is key because there have been some signs of weakness in a few key markets with North America, interestingly, seeing perhaps the greatest negative impact of any region from the point of view of commercial satellite operators operating therein.

The Society of Satellite Professionals International released December 17, 2009 the results of its first member survey. The report, "The Satellite Industry Workforce 2009," reveals some surprising and a few not so surprising results based on responses from SSPI members around the world.

UK consumers are continuing to embrace digital communications services and lead internationally as a digitally advanced nation, new Ofcom research reveals.

by NSR

Many countries around the world have a requirement for owning their own satellite system to apply Earth Observation (EO) to solve problems, meet new missions and reach goals - both inside and outside their territory. But not every one of them can or has the desire or political will to do it. There are however a rising number of developing countries that have projects underway such as Vietnam, Taiwan, Chile, Dubai, Algeria, and more recently in Malaysia, which puts them solidly on the EO map.

EO Satellite Manufacturing, Commercial Data and Value Added Services to Generate $6.2 Billion in 2018

 According to NSR’s new report, Global Satellite-Based Earth Observation (EO), the EO industry is in the midst of a significant growth phase slated to generate revenues for many segments of the satellite industry. With an expected increase in the total number of players (government and commercial), advancements in technology, both in sensors and image processing, and a greater political will by governments to embrace EO, the future holds much promise for this market.

 by B.H. Schneidermann

Latin America has a vibrant Direct-to-Home (DTH) market with services recently launched or rolling out in several countries in the next few months. The largest and most mature DTH market in the region is that of Brazil, which has the largest population and most extensive land area in South America.

When discussing the Ku-band commercial airline broadband access market, the image that comes to mind is that of a famous animation movie where a donkey travels to a faraway land constantly asking the ogre driving the carriage: "Are we there yet?" Today, the answer would be, "Just about there," to which the donkey’s reply would be, "Ahhh! Finally."

By 2014, 84 percent of all pay-TV net additions will come from emerging markets, however a successful pay-TV VoD service in these markets will depend on a variety of factors, according to a new report by Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com), the telecom research arm of Light Reading Communications Network (www.lightreading.com).

ITU’s latest statistics, published in The World in 2009: ICT facts and figures, reveal rapid ICT growth in many world regions in everything from mobile cellular subscriptions to fixed and mobile broadband, and from TV to computer penetration - with mobile technology acting as a key driver.

While 3DTV has its skeptics, the giants in the consumer electronics industry see huge potential, according to a new report from GigaOM Pro. As HDTV manufacturers face shrinking margins and a maturing market, big players like Sony and Panasonic see 3DTV as the way to rejuvenate their TV business. While the market is only in its infancy today, by 2013 up to 46 million 3DTV capable flat-panel HDTVs will head to consumer homes.