Forum discussions at the upcoming ITU Telecom World 2014 event in Doha, Qatar, will delve deep into the driving forces behind the ongoing radical transformation of the ICT industry, exploring three major future scenarios and how they will impact our businesses and lives:

Disruption :Will the ICT sector suffer further disruption? Or will it be the disrupting force for others such as broadcasting? How might sector convergence take shape? And what other disruptive scenarios lie on the horizon?

Top industry experts gathered in Singapore for the annual CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2014, recently concluded on June 16 at the Shangri-La Singapore. Over 230 speakers, delegates and media were on hand to explore how the satellite industry will be “Remaining Relevant in a Time of Transition.”

Newtec announced today at CommunicAsia 2014 that satellite operator Thaicom has installed Newtec technology (M6100 Broadcast Satellite Modulators) on the platform of Thaicom-6, enabling its satellite to provide TV Broadcasting services in both C-band and Ku-band to serve customers with the best value and viewing experience.

Thaicom, Thailand's leading satellite operator, has become the first in the Asia Pacific region to introduce commercial In-Flight Connectivity Services using Ku-band to provide broadband on commercial flights. The deal has been agreed with Thailand's number one premium low cost airline Nok Air, which last year transported nearly six million passengers. With 48,000 flights per year the carrier will provide broadband Wi-Fi services on many of its aircraft starting in August - ranging from Internet access to other complimentary services in the future.

SpeedCast, today announced the acquisition of Oceanic Broadband, an integrator and solutions provider in the Oceania region. The acquisition will strengthen SpeedCast’s growing leadership position in Australasia servicing the natural resource sector, a market which Oceanic has been successfully developing for several years.

Vislink today announced it has entered into a cooperation with ND SatCom the satellite communication solutions supplier. The agreement gives the companies access to each other’s product portfolios, and the ability to offer suitable products to customers in their respective broadcast and surveillance markets.

CASBAA welcomed issuance of the first authoritative study of the extent to which satellite C-band services provide socio-economic benefits to countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The study found that “C-band is extensively used for communication networks, often of critical importance to these countries’ economy, society or security.”

Google has entered into an agreement to buy Skybox Imaging for US$ 500 million in cash, subject to adjustments Skybox’s satellites will help keep Google Maps accurate with up-to-date imagery.

"Over time, we also hope that Skybox’s team and technology will be able to help improve Internet access and disaster relief — areas Google has long been interested in," said Google in a statement

More than 1600 participants including around 100 Government Ministers and leaders from international organizations, from business, civil society and academia are meeting in Geneva this week to review progress on the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) over the last ten years and to set priorities for the post-2015 development agenda.

European pay TV revenues will reach US$ 40.35 billion in 2014, up from US$ 36.87 billion  in 2010, according to a new report from Digital TV Research. The European Digital TV Databook (covering 39 countries) reveals that the 2014 total will only  increase by 0.6% on 2013 as ARPUs are hit by competition and the transition of  subscribers to double-play and triple-play bundles (which result in higher overall ARPUs for operators but lower TV ARPUs).