News Analysis

Dallas, TX, October 3, 2011--The number of U.S. consumers planning to purchase a smart TV has nearly doubled in less than a year, according to new consumer research from Parks Associates. The firm's Consumer Decision Process: Summer Update reports more than 10% of broadband households plan to purchase a smart TV in the second half of 2011, up from 6% in the first half. These households, representing 50% of the nearly one-fourth of U.S. broadband households planning to purchase a flat-panel TV, anticipate an average cost of $1,000 for the smart TV, defined as an HDTV with built-in Internet access capability.

by NSR

Cambridge, Mass.,  September 29, 2011- When EADS Astrium announced on August 1 they had purchased Vizada Networks for $960 million, the satellite world was puzzled: why would a satellite manufacturer and mostly government-focused fixed satellite service (FSS) provider buy a mobility centric-business like Vizada? With the Global Xpress contract for three Inmarsat-5 satellites going to rival Boeing, is this deal a way for EADS to get back ‘lost’ revenues? As economic conditions continue to be mediocre at best, is EADS just looking to diversify revenue streams? Whatever the motivation, the EADS acquisition of Vizada Networks begins the saber rattling in the next battle of Ka-band mobility.

Dulles, VA, September 28,2011--U.S. Space LLC completed a $291,159 study of feasible acquisition alternatives to satisfy military satellite communications needs that was contracted by the United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Military Satellite Communications Directorate. The U.S. Space study identified and examined alternative approaches to the existing military satellite acquisition model and recommended alterations that will enable faster, more cost-effective, and more efficient solutions to meet U.S. Government needs.

London, UK, September 27, 2011--The Broadband and IPTV Growth Report presented at the Broadband World Forum in Paris, shows that broadband continued to show healthy growth in the first half of 2011. Prepared for the Broadband Forum by industry analysts Point Topic, the figures reveal the broadband subscriber total at the end of June 2011 is now standing at 557.8 million subscriber lines, up by over 29M lines since the start of this year. The second quarter outperformed the same period last year, continuing the trend of stronger growth set in the first quarter’s results announced in June. The good news in broadband was compounded with the news that IPTV has passed a milestone: 51M customers now subscribe to IPTV services worldwide, with France in the lead as top IPTV country.

Montpellier, France, September 19, 2011--IDATE has just published its “World Internet Usages & Markets” report. This report provides data and forecasts on Internet services markets – usage and revenue, by country and region – and is structured around the following key services: search engines, social networking, e-commerce, video and online advertising, both fixed and mobile. It covers Europe, North America and Asia, and analyses both the major trends in each segment and the market’s key players.

London, September 12, 2011--The latest data from analyst firm Point Topic has revealed the current affordability of broadband around the world highlights a stark contrast in broadband prices which will challenge the industry as it looks to increase global penetration.  “Broadband prices can be over a thousand times higher in real terms in the poorer countries,” said Oliver Johnson, CEO at Point Topic.

by NSR

Cambridge, Mass, September 6, 2011--In NSR’s recently released Global Satellite Manufacturing and Launch Markets (GSMLM) report, a possible GEO Launcher over-supply, and thus the return to strong competition, was mentioned as a possibility in the launch market. However, recent developments from ILS/Krunichev and SpaceX may end up limiting the supply and the corresponding competition.