News Analysis

Barcelona, Spain, September 25, 2019–Supported by Aksiom Group Limited, a specialist in the development of high growth technical services companies, satellite service providers Latin American-based Axesat and German-based CETel, are combining to form AXESS Networks (AXESS).

Mountiain View, Calif., September 18, 2019--iDirect Government, a wholly owned subsidiary of ST Engineering iDirect, has acquired Glowlink Communications Technologies, Inc., a Mountain View, CA, a solutions provider for mitigating satellite interferences and improving the quality of satellite communications.

Englewood, Colo., Sept. 10, 2019 — EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ:SATS) has announced the completion of its previously announced spin-off and subsequent merger with DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH) of the portion of its business that manages, markets and provides (i) broadcast satellite services primarily to DISH, Dish Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. and their respective subsidiaries and (ii) telemetry, tracking and control services to satellites owned by DISH and a portion of EchoStar's other businesses, and certain related assets and business operations. 

Ecublens, Switzerland, September 4, 2019--Astrocast, a Switzerland-based Internet of Things (IoT) nanosatellite network, has secured US$ 9.2 (€8.3M)  Series A round of funding to accelerate production of IoT modules, to begin commercial phase and deployment of the its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) IoT network.

by Lou Zacharilla

New York City, NY, September 3, 2019--The uncomfortable co-existence among science, technology and religion is a few centuries old.  For a long while the three disciplines tried to stay in their own lane and tried to avoid swerving into the others’ lane.  But a collision was inevitable.  The crash has given us a toxic political and social climate at times, and made us mistrust each of the three disciplines. 

by Elisabeth Tweedie

Los Angeles, Calif., Sept. 3, 2019 — It will come as no surprise to anyone in this industry who is paying attention to what has been happening over the last few years, to hear me say that the industry is in a state of flux.  This is hardly news, but the pace appears to be accelerating and things that have been talked about for the last several years, are either reality or now very close to be becoming so.

The September 2019 issue of  the Satellite Executive Briefing magazine focusing on the European Broadcast Market market sponsored by Gazprom Space Systems is now available.  Featuring:

The Evolving Broadcast Market by Elisabeth Tweedie

Looking for a Strategic Manufacturing Partner?  by Peter Galace

Executive Roundtable: Flat Panel Antennas Market by Bernardo Schneiderman

Satellite IoT: A Game Changer for the Industry? by Hub Urlings

Show Reports: World Summit on Information Society and AI for Good Summit by Roxana Dunnette

Angels, Arianes and English Roses by Lou  Zacharilla  

A Holistic Approach to Teleport Services by Virgil Labrador

The Pacific Endeavor by Martin Jarrold

Executive Spotlight: Interview with Vladimir Rangelov, Senior Sales Manager Broadcast Services, VIVACOM

PLUS Products and Services MarketPlace Guide to IBC 2019, Mergers and Acquisitions, Executive Moves, Market Briefs, Vital Statistics, Satellite Markets 20 Stock Index and many more. Click here to read or download the file

Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland, Aug. 21, 2019 — The Kudelski Group (SIX: KUD.S), a provider of media content protection and value-added service technology, has reported a net loss of US$20.4 million, which included US$13.7 million of restructuring costs, during the first half of 2019.

Carlsbad, Calif., Aug. 8, 2019 -- Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), reported strong first quarter fiscal year 2020 performance with a year-over-year revenue increase of 22%, net loss decrease of 66% and Adjusted EBITDA growth of 115% for the fiscal first quarter ended June 30, 2019.

Englewood, Colo., Aug. 8, 2019 -- Shares of EchoStar Corp. declined 7.3% following the company’s 2Q19 earnings release, reflecting disappointment with the company’s subpar EBITDA performance and one-time charges. Following the decline, shares of EchoStar  are now trading at 4.9x the consensus 2020 EBITDA forecast, which represents a discount to both the stock’s long-term average and its closes peer group competitor Viasat.