Google, Amazon, Netflix, Microsoft prepare ground for global ambitions

The Internet content delivery market will undergo huge changes over the next decade as major telcos and Internet giants, including Google, Amazon, Netflix and Microsoft, wrangle over the continuing over-the-top (OTT) Internet traffic content boom, according to a new Informa Telecoms & Media report Internet Innovation.

Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) is conducting a strategic review of its Optus Satellite business to optimize value for its shareholders. SingTel said it has appointed Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley as financial advisors to assist with the review. 

Industry officials attending the Satellite 2013 conference in Washington DC last week speculated that APT Satellite of Hong Kong, partly owned by ChinaSat, and Eutelsat of Paris could both be potential bidders for the Optus assets if they are bidded out.

Mobile satellite voice and data services provider Globalstar has reported that its fourth quarter revenues rose 10 percent from the year before to US$19.12 million while service revenue increased to US$15.3 million from US$13.6 million the year earlier.

However, the company still posted net loss of US$19 million for the three months ended December 31, 2012 compared to a net loss of US$33.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.

The way content is now delivered has rapidly advanced in leaps and bounds. Demand from viewers for better content on multiple platforms has prompted many producers in Asia to seek ways to produce good and right content that has global appeal. With the massive amount of content out there, good quality content has become essential in order to stand out among the competition, as well as pull in and retain viewers’ attention.

SES announced today that it has increased its reach in 2012, driven by strong gains, especially in India and Germany. SES now reaches 276 million TV homes worldwide, over 17 million homes more than in 2011.

 According to Euroconsult's newly released research report,Government Space Markets, World Prospects to 2022, government spending on space reached a peak in 2012 of $72.9 billion, a non-negligible increase compared to 2011 which followed two consecutive years of minimal growth. This upswing is attributed to increased activity of countries such as Russia, China, India and new world or regional leaders who compensated for budget uncertainties affecting North America and Europe. Euroconsult expects global government expenditures on space to decrease due to fiscal policies exerting continuous pressure on public finances; improvement is not expected before 2015.

Canada’s manufacturer of mobile auto-deploying satellite antenna systems, C-COM Satellite Systems Inc., announced on Thursday that the company continued to post eight consecutive profitable year although net profit for 2012 dropped by 29%.

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited reported on Friday turnover rose 10% to US$242.8 million (HK$1.884 billion) in 2012 while net profit grew by 11% to US$117.8 million (HK$914.491 million).

AsiaSat said its consolidated turnover in 2012 increased by US$21.5 million (HK$167 million) after the company disposed of its entire interest in SpeedCast, its 100% wholly owned VSAT operation, in September 2012. The sale resulted in a gain of US$15.33 million (HK$119 million) in the company’s net profit for 2012.

The World Teleport Association today released Satellite Operator Benchmarks 2013, the third annual WTA global study. The study tracks, rates, and compares the operational and commercial performance of satellite operators, as experienced by teleport operators. The objective of the annual study, now in its third year, is to strengthen the global industry by encouraging self-improvement among all operating companies.

According to NSR’s Energy Markets via Satellite, 3rd Edition report released today, Energy Markets are in the midst of a bandwidth revolution that will positively affect satellite companies over the next decade. More applications at  more remote locations continue to drive demand for satellite services, and Oil & Gas, Mining, and Utility end-users will demand over 25 Gbps of satellite capacity by 2022.