European satellite operators today underlined the crucial role that satellite plays in the roll-out of future digital infrastructures. The European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), represented by its Secretary General, Aarti Holla, and by the CEO of SES, Karim Michel Sabbagh, participated in a high-level meeting between leading EU political and business representatives in Venice.

CASBAA, the Asian association of the pay-TV industry, lauded Indian police action in busting up a ring of streaming-TV pirates and arresting four conspirators in Hyderabad a week ago.  The activities of the ring were aimed at diverting the signals of Indian pay-TV broadcasters onto the internet, and retransmitting their signals globally to hundreds of thousands of viewers who paid for a “Jadoo TV” streaming media box.  

CASBAA’s highly anticipated annual multichannel TV industry convention will take place from October 27-30, 2014 at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. A popular stop on the Asia Pacific broadcasting calendar, this year’s event will explore the theme “Beyond the Box.”

Reflecting the evolution of the television industry, this year’s CASBAA Convention theme looks at what the future holds for broadcasting – while never losing sight of the core business of linear TV.

Forum discussions at the upcoming ITU Telecom World 2014 event in Doha, Qatar, will delve deep into the driving forces behind the ongoing radical transformation of the ICT industry, exploring three major future scenarios and how they will impact our businesses and lives:

Disruption :Will the ICT sector suffer further disruption? Or will it be the disrupting force for others such as broadcasting? How might sector convergence take shape? And what other disruptive scenarios lie on the horizon?

Top industry experts gathered in Singapore for the annual CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2014, recently concluded on June 16 at the Shangri-La Singapore. Over 230 speakers, delegates and media were on hand to explore how the satellite industry will be “Remaining Relevant in a Time of Transition.”

Newtec announced today at CommunicAsia 2014 that satellite operator Thaicom has installed Newtec technology (M6100 Broadcast Satellite Modulators) on the platform of Thaicom-6, enabling its satellite to provide TV Broadcasting services in both C-band and Ku-band to serve customers with the best value and viewing experience.

Thaicom, Thailand's leading satellite operator, has become the first in the Asia Pacific region to introduce commercial In-Flight Connectivity Services using Ku-band to provide broadband on commercial flights. The deal has been agreed with Thailand's number one premium low cost airline Nok Air, which last year transported nearly six million passengers. With 48,000 flights per year the carrier will provide broadband Wi-Fi services on many of its aircraft starting in August - ranging from Internet access to other complimentary services in the future.

SpeedCast, today announced the acquisition of Oceanic Broadband, an integrator and solutions provider in the Oceania region. The acquisition will strengthen SpeedCast’s growing leadership position in Australasia servicing the natural resource sector, a market which Oceanic has been successfully developing for several years.

Vislink today announced it has entered into a cooperation with ND SatCom the satellite communication solutions supplier. The agreement gives the companies access to each other’s product portfolios, and the ability to offer suitable products to customers in their respective broadcast and surveillance markets.

CASBAA welcomed issuance of the first authoritative study of the extent to which satellite C-band services provide socio-economic benefits to countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The study found that “C-band is extensively used for communication networks, often of critical importance to these countries’ economy, society or security.”