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).

by Martin Jarrold, Chief, International Programs Development, GVF

Deployment of broadband satellite technologies is correctly recognized as an imperative to maximization of cutting-edge digital oilfield applications and to considerations of cost-effectiveness – it is a force multiplier, enabling return on investment, as well as facilitating mission critical communications links.

New multi-megabit-per-second Ku-Band satcoms-on-the-move (OTM or SOTM) products and service offerings, some employing technology originally vetted in military use, are being brought to market for commercial services. These exciting new service opportunities include live news video streaming from moving vehicles, rear-seat entertainment for cars,in-flight and in-train broadband services, as well as law enforcement and first-responder systems.

Keeping On Track

According to NSR’s new report, Global Direct-to-Home (DTH) Markets, 2nd Edition, satellite television has proven its resilience in tough economic climates, driven primarily by a larger section of viewers choosing television as a cost effective means of entertainment. A total of 99 DTH operators beam over 13,800 channels to 114 million subscribers generating over $65 billion in subscription revenue as of the end of 2008 – and the collective pie continues to grow.

Revenues of mobile satellite service operators grew to over $1.2 billion last year, despite the adverse impact of the economic crisis on some of the industry’s key vertical markets according to EuroConsult. Industry wholesale revenues are expected to continue growing over the next decade, by a rate of 8% (ten-year CAGR).

The Middle East market has seen the recent addition of new Fixed Satellite Serivces (FSS) operators who are betting on the potential of Direct-to-Home (DTH) and broadband services via satellite in the region. But is the market really there for these services?

What drives demand for FSS satellite capacity?

Strategy Analytics and D. I. S. Consulting announced at the IBC 2009 show in Amsterdam that their latest prediction for the global broadcast and professional media production market heralds a return to growth in 2010. After a severe downturn in most industry segments during 2009, the analysts expect global revenues to increase by 4.8% next year. The results was presented at Strategy Analytics’ annual Analyst Breakfast during this year’s IBC in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Sunday 13th September.

According to NSR’s new report, Global Assessment of Satellite Supply & Demand (GASD), 6th Edition, commercial satellite operators saw a very good year in 2008 with revenues up substantially. More importantly, most satellite operators have yet to report any substantial damage from the global economic crisis and, assuming recovery is solidly in place by the end of 2009, it appears that they will largely escape unscathed.

ABI Research expects Location Based Services revenues to grow at 156% from $1.7 billion in 2008 to $2.6 billion in 2009. By 2014 global LBS revenues will have surpassed $14 billion.

by Elisabeth Tweedie

On May 13, 2009 the EC announced the award of two S-Band satellite licenses. Thus opening the door for the winning operators - Solaris Mobile and Inmarsat - to provide broadcast mobile satellite TV and other services throughout Europe. Unfortunately the path leading from that door is beginning to look more like an obstacle course than an open road.