DigitalGlobe, Inc. has reported first-quarter loss of $60.6 million or $0.96 per share, compared to a profit of $3.8 million or $0.08 per share in the same period last year. First quarter 2013 revenue increased 47 percent to $127.6 million, although it disappointed analysts who expected revenues of up to $136.80 million.

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. said revenues rose 8 percent to US$ 82.8 million while EBITDA increased to US$ 5.1 million, up 74 percent, during the first quarter of 2013.

On a non-GAAP basis, Gilat said its operating income for the first quarter of 2013 was $1.0 million compared to an operating loss of $0.3 million in the first quarter of 2012. Net loss for the period on a non-GAAP basis was $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $0.8 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, in the comparable period in 2012.

DirecTV increased its first quarter 2013 revenues by 8 percent to $7.58 billion beating analysts expectations, although net income was down $690 million or $1.20 per share compared to $731 million or $1.07 per share a year ago.

The satellite TV provider added 604,000 net subscribers in the first quarter with its Latin America division adding 583,000 surpassing 16 million total subscribers, extending the company’s lead as the largest pay-TV provider in the region.

SPACE TECH EXPO 2013, (www.spacetechexpo.com)  the West Coast’s major space industry gathering and one of the largest events of its type in the world, brings together global decision makers involved in the design, build, and testing of spacecraft, satellite, launch vehicle, and space-related technologies.

GVF’s recent Rio de Janeiro conference, Oil & Gas Communications Brazil 2013: Big Oil, the Deep-Water Ocean Expanse, and Big Data was lauded as a great success by attendees, speakers, and sponsors alike; a very satisfactory precursor to both the next event in the GVF-EMP Oil & Gas Communications Conference Series, and, indeed, to the GVF High Throughput Satellite (HTS) Roundtable.

Telesat Holdings Inc.’s first-quarter revenues increased by 12 percent year-over-year to US$217 million (CAD 219 million) while EBITDA increased 12 percent to US$ 168 million (CAD 170 million).

Telesat said revenue growth was principally the result of the successful deployment of the Nimiq 6 satellite in the second quarter of 2012 and higher equipment sales.

Operating expenses of US$49.6 million (CAD50 million) were 40% US$32.7 (CAD33 million) lower than for the same period in 2012. The adjusted EBITDA margin was unchanged at 78 percent. 

Iridium Communications Inc. on Friday reported a net income of $14.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2013 compared to $12.4 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2012. Operational EBITDA for the first quarter was $46.8 million compared to $43.9 million for the prior-year period, representing year-over-year growth of 7 percent and an OEBITDA margin of 53 percent.

The GVF High Throughput Satellite Roundtable – High Throughput Ka, Ku and C band Satellite Communications: On Planes, Trains, Ships,… in Cities, Villages and Living Rooms will take place at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Washington DC on May 21 & 22, 2013.

SpeedCast Ltd today announced the buyout of Pactel International, a satellite communications service provider based in Australia. Pactel provides satellite communications solutions throughout Australia and the Pacific.  The company focuses on servicing its customers’ requirements for Internet, private networking and voice services.  Founded in 1999, Pactel is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and has additional offices in Perth, Australia and Jakarta, Indonesia.   

Dish Network Corp. chairman Charlie Ergen is gambling big time again. He has just upped the ante on the bidding game for Sprint Nextel, the third-largest U.S. wireless carrier, to US$25.5 billion in an effort to elbow out Japan’s SoftBank US$20.1 billion offer. The move is a big Blackjack gamble that Ergen is used to but the deal is rife with danger. Even if Ergen wins this bet, it could end into a pyrrhic victory and bring Dish to the edge.