The Broadband Forum announced at CommunicAsia in Singapore the latest broadband and IPTV statistics, which show impressive growth in the face of the global economic downturn. Its report, prepared for the Forum by industry analysts Point Topic (GBS database at http://point-topic.com/home/gbs/), shows that broadband grew by 16.6 million lines globally in the last quarter alone, with more than three million being added across North America - while IPTV continues to expand strongly.

Research and Markets has announced the addition of Screen Digest’s new report "Mobile Market Monitor: TV H2 2008" to their offering.

The demand for mobile satellite services (MSS) in the maritime sector is expected to escalate due to crew welfare solutions, as users are beginning to expect Internet connectivity and access as the norm. As both equipment and solution prices reduce, smaller vessels are beginning to embrace satellite communication services. The new generation of Internet savvy seafarers expects connectivity wherever they are, to stay in touch with family and friends.Ship owners are actively adopting satellite communication to attract and retain skilled crew in this highly competitive marketplace.

In the course of my work as a consultant and executive recruiter based in Asia, I have spoken to over 150 satellite and digital broadcast sales, business development and senior management professionals in the last six months on the prospects of the Asian market. The consensus among key satellite executives is that the business of satellite communications in Asia continues to grow and is better off than other regional markets by "a significant margin."

The bleak market outlook in the last quarter of 2008 did not seem to deter the growth of pay TV. Service operators, especially those in mature high-speed Internet economies – many of which are in the Asia-Pacific region – continue to strive towards providing interactive bi-directional television. According to new pay-TV market data from ABI Research, APAC will continue leading subscription growth, delivering a 37% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) over the next three years.

The number of broadband enabled airplanes will increase from 25 in 2008 to 800 in 2009, reports In-Stat http://www.in-stat.com. As a result, broadband hungry airline passengers will generate over US$ 49 million worldwide in 2009. The in-flight broadband market is still emerging and will grow well beyond $1 billion annually by 2012.

Ovum’s newly released mobile broadband forecasts show that users accessing the Internet via mobile broadband enabled laptops and handsets will generate revenues of US $137 billion globally in 2014, over 450% more than in 2008. However, operators will need to content themselves with the fact that user growth will be far faster than revenue growth, meaning more users and more data traffic but declining ARPUs.

A report by Research and Markets entitled Taiwan - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband revealed that Taiwan has the second highest cable and satellite penetration rate in Asia with nearly 90 percent.

Teal Group Corp. announced at Satellite 2009 show, March 27 its revised figures for the Worldwide Mission Model survey of future space payloads.  The study encompasses 2,033 payloads proposed through 2009-2028.

by NSR