Several satellite industry assications repeated  its grave concerns over the proposed UNIDROIT Space Assets Protocol.

The most recent GVF-EMP Conference Partnership event in its Broadband Maritime Series, which for the first time co-located with an InterManager regional conference in its Shipping KPI Project, under the joint title of ‘Maritime Insights’,  concluded with an across-the-board acknowledgement of its success.  ‘Maritime Insights’ took place in two streams over 14th & 15th February 2012 at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore, and comprised the GVF-EMP ‘Broadband Maritime Offshore & Oc

Satellite operator SES reported an increase in recurring revenue and EBITDA increasing by 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively. Reported revenue remained essentially flat, with reported EBITDA decreasing slightly, due to the adverse evolution of the USD against the euro (average conversion rate in 2011 was 1.4035 compared to 1.3294 in 2010). Reported EBITDA also reflected the impact of the one-time reorganisation charge of  EUR 14.8 million.

The World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12)  concluded its deliberations today with the signing of the Final Acts that revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.Over 3000 participants, representing 165 out of ITU’s 193 Member States attended the four-week Conference, braving the extreme winter conditions prevailing in Geneva. Over 100 Observers from among ITU’s 700 private sector members along with international organizations also attended WRC-12.

Satellite operator EUTELSAT  reported first half results of fiscal year 2011-12 with revenue growth: of 4.6% at €602.4 million. EBITDA was reported to be up 3.4% to €478.5 million, generating EBITDA margin of 79.4%.

EUTLSAT reported record backlog of €5.3 billion up 9.6%. Its Fleet expansion program is on track with two successful satellite launches and the company completed a successful €1.8 billion refinancing in 2011.

Satellite operator THAICOM Public Company Limited (released its full-year 2011 operating results reporting  consolidated net operating profits for a second quarter in a row of 46 million Baht  (US$ 1.45 million), an increase of 186.7% over the previous quarter’s consolidated net operating profit of 16 million Baht (US$ 520,000) .

DirecTV, the largest satellite TV provider in the United States, reported a 16 percent increase in fourth-quarter profit amid rising subscriber numbers in Latin America. Net income rose to $718 million, or US$1.02 a share, from US $618 million, or 74 cents, a year earlier, according to the company fourth quarter 2011 financial results.

These are exciting times for TV in Sub-Saharan Africa. A new Research and Markets report entitled "Digital TV Sub-Saharan Africa"  by Simon Murray said: "governments are opening up to investment, which involves several pioneering foreign TV players. Populations are growing fast and incomes per capita are on the rise, creating a burgeoning number of middle class consumers."

Published in February 2012, this 100-page report is the most comprehensive to ever be published on the region. The PDF and excel report comes in five parts:

SingTel posted 9.6% decline in net profit to S $ 902 million  (US$ 715 million) for the third quarter 2011 covering October to December 2011.  The company has posted a net profit of S$ 998 million  (US$ 792 million) for the same period a year ago.  This was the fourth consecutive quarter that SingTel has posted a decline in its net profit.

Mobile video exceeded 50 percent of global internet trafficfor the first time in 2011 according to the latest The Cisco® Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update.  Global mobile data traffic grew 2.3-fold in 2011, more than doubling for the fourth year in a row. The 2011 mobile data traffic growth rate was higher than anticipated. Last year's forecast projected that the growth rate would be 131 percent. This year's estimate is that global mobile data traffic grew 133 percent in 2011. Among its findings include: