News Analysis

How Are You Factoring 5G into Your Future?

by Robert Bell

New York, NY, October 3, 2018--Mobile backhaul and base station networking have long been an important business for satellite and teleport operators. It is humbling, then, to also acknowledge that satellites carried less than 1.4% of global mobile traffic in 2016, according to NSR.

From Capitol Hill, Via Geneva, to Accelerating the HTS “Teenage” Dynamic

by Martin Jarrold

London, UK, October 3, 2018--The fourth quarter 2018 calendar features two of GVF’s regular major events – one in Washington DC in October presented in partnership with COMSYS, the other in London at the beginning of December, part of the GVF-EMP portfolio – and in November we have another of the association’s important innovations, a Workshop Symposium collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union.

Change, Innovation and Flexibility

by Elisabeth Tweedie

London, UK, October 3, 2018--The key themes emerging from the three major conferences held in Europe this September, (World Satellite Business Week, IBC and VSAT Global and Next Generation Satellite Applications), were: change, innovation and flexibility.  Change is all around. Change for manufacturers as demand shifts from Geostationary Orbit (GEO) to Non Geostationary Orbit (NGSO). Change in the structure of the industry. Lockheed is tracking 975 new space startups. Change in the manufacturing process. Satellites are getting bigger, and smaller. Electric propulsion is now an accepted technology; software defined satellites are moving from concept to reality, although we are still some time away from an in-orbit fully reconfigurable satellite.

Avanti Reports Increased Revenue and EBITDA in 1st Half 2018

London, UK, October 1, 2018--Avanti Communications Group plc,  a provider of satellite data communications services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, released results for the twelve months ending June 30, 2018. The company reported revenue for the six months to June 2018 increased 23% to US$ 29.9 million (2017: $24.3 million) while EBITDA for the six months to June 2018 increased to US$4.7 million from an EBITDA loss in 2017 of US$ 26.2 million.

Boeing Completes Acquisition of Millennium Space Systems

El Segundo, Calif., September 26,  2018 - Boeing completed the acquisition of Millennium Space Systems, a provider of agile, flight-proven small-satellite solutions. Millennium Space Systems will operate under Boeing Phantom Works as a subsidiary called Millennium Space Systems, A Boeing Company.

Intelsat Announces Settlement of Tender Offer for Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A.’s Outstanding 7 ¼% Senior Notes due 2020

Luxembourg, September 19, 2018 — Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) today announced the settlement of its previously announced tender offer  by its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A., to purchase any and all of its outstanding 7 ¼% Senior Notes due 2020.

Opportunities Emerging from “New Space”

by Omkar Nikam

Across all regions, a plethora of “New Space” companies are bringing about innovative and affordable solutions to access space

The increased privatization of space activities has brought about a new generation of space companies. The most successful of these private companies have come about as a result of consistent cooperation with, and support from government agencies.

How Can Cube-sats Find Their Niche in the Satellite-Iot Market?

by Hub Urlings

 

Breakthroughs in cubesats and small sat technology have led to a lot of speculation on the impact it will have on the space industry in general and on specific markets like IoT in particular. Is it really going to be so disruptive that the old space GEO systems will become replaced by new space constellations of LEO satellites? Or will it just expand the existing satellite markets opening up new markets? In this article we will have a closer look at these questions, especially as we are now at the verge of a new era as a number of new cubesat base IoT systems will be launched in 4Q2018.

Global Invacom Acquires Assets and Development Team from Skyware Technologies

Singapore, Sept. 5, 2018 ― Global Invacom has announced the acquisition, in the ordinary course of business, of certain assets together with the associated IP, R&D team and inventory from a number of companies across the Skyware Technologies Group.