Americas Markets - Latest Developments


Dubai, UAE, May 22, 2024

CABSAT 2024, the Middle East’s flagship event for content, broadcast, satellite, media, and entertainment sectors, returns for a second day to promote innovative solutions, technologies, and ideas that are fundamentally reshaping the media and entertainment industry. 

Palm Bay, Fla., May 17, 2024 by Paul Scardino

Imagery and video now account for over 80% of the world’s online content. Video experts and everyday video consumers alike agree that today’s connected content requires more robust networks. Consequently, video compression and encryption are now essential to modern communication infrastructures. Maintaining high video quality is non-negotiable; however, video transmission is restricted due to challenges in bandwidth, security and latency, which can in commercial scenarios affect the quality of the experience and in mission-critical applications like defense, can influence mission success and even the safety of soldiers. 

New York City, NY, May 17. 2024 by Lou Zacharilla

If you happen to be driving in Iceland admiring its celestially-favored coastal landscape with deeply indented by bays and fiords, you will notice, as you head toward the inland plateau, that along the straight road of a major highway you, your automobile and the highway will slowly but surely curve widely for no apparent reason. No danger in the landscape justifies this arching curveball thrown into the road.  

Dubai, UAE, May 10, 2024

CABSAT 2024, the premier conference for the broadcast, satellite, and content sectors, is slated to revolutionise media and entertainment with its innovative exhibitions and features for participants. The latest edition of CABSAT, starting from May 21 to 23, 2024, at Dubai World Trade Centre, will present innovative hall experiences for all attendees, while also highlighting cutting-edge technologies and diverse content offerings that will shape the future of the entertainment landscape. 

Luxembourg and McLean, VA, April 30, 2024

Satellite  operators SES and Intelsat announced an agreement for SES to acquire Intelsat through the purchase of 100% of the equity of Intelsat Holdings S.a.r.l. for a cash consideration of US$ 3.1 billion (€2.8 billion) and certain contingent value rights. The combination will create a stronger multi-orbit operator with greater coverage, improved resiliency, expanded suite of solutions, enhanced resources to profitably invest in innovation, and benefit from the collective talent, expertise, and track record of both companies,, according to SES in a statement.

McLean, Va. April 18, 2024
Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) (“Iridium”), a leading provider of global voice and data satellite communications, today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2024 and reiterated its full-year 2024 outlook. Net income was $19.7 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2024, as compared to net income of $9.8 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2023. Operational EBITDA (“OEBITDA”)(1) for the first quarter was $115.0 million, as compared to $111.9 million for the prior-year period, representing a year-over-year increase of 3%. Net income benefitted from a year-over-year decrease in depreciation expense associated with the extension of the estimated useful lives of the Company’s satellites and continued growth in total commercial services revenue.
Los Angeles, Calif. April 15 2024
According to the latest statistics from Cloudflare, global internet traffic increased by 25% in 2023, and there are no signs that this growth is about to slow down.  Data from Cisco indicates that 82% of this traffic is video, a reflection, at least in part, of the continuing shift in consumer viewing habits.  The move to Over-the-Top (OTT) streaming video started many years ago in developed countries. In the US the crossover occurred in 2016 when the number of subscribers to streaming services surpassed the number of subscribers to traditional pay TV. This year will see the revenue crossover point, when both streaming services and traditional pay TV in the US will earn around US$17 billion.
Herndon, VA., April 8, 2024

Tyto Athene, LLC, a federal systems integrator of mission-focused digital transformation solutions, has completed its acquisition of Microtel LLC , a software development and systems engineering firm deeply embedded in long-term, space missions for NASA and international space programs. Tyto is a portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners , a Washington, D.C.-area private investment firm specializing in government regulated industries.