O3b’s first four satellites were successfully launched aboard the Arianespace Soyuz launch vehicle on Tuesday marking the start of telecommunications and Internet services over Asia, Africa, South America, Australia and the Middle East that combine the global reach of satellite coverage with the speed of a fiber-optic network. 

NSR's just released Wireless Backhaul via Satellite, 7th Edition report finds the industry at the cusp of an evolutionary step.

A CASBAA spokesman commented on the favorable evolution of the situation in Vietnam’s pay-TV market in recent weeks. Following a period of confusion after new pay-TV regulations came into force on May 15, most international TV channels (including major global news channels) have been restored to all pay-TV platforms in Vietnam (subject to appropriate commercial contracts and operational arrangements).

The Asia-Pacific’s premier multichannel TV industry association, CASBAA, today announced the dates and theme of its flagship event, the CASBAA Convention 2013. Taking place from 21-24 October 2013 at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, the 20th edition of the Convention will celebrate the continually evolving broadcasting industry with Change is ON THE AIR.

CommunicAsia2013, EnterpriseIT2013 and BroadcastAsia2013, the most relevant and largest industry event of its kind in Asia, closed today after a week of fulfilling business interactions and knowledge exchange amongst like-minded industry professionals. The four-day event, held from 18 to 21 June at the Marina Bay Sands, saw more than 51,000 attendees from 100 countries/regions throng the exhibition halls and conference suites.

The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today  released its 2013 State of the Satellite Industry Report, showing a 7% growth in  world satellite industry revenues in 2012, up from 5% growth in 2011. Globally, 2012 revenues for the satellite industry totaled $189.5 billion, up from $177.3 billion  the previous year. All four industry sectors grew, led by satellite services, the  traditional driver for the industry. Both satellite manufacturing and launch services  saw significant revenue increases, and satellite ground equipment revenues also  continued to expand.

Companies from across the globe continue to leverage CommunicAsia2013 and EnterpriseIT2013 as Asia’s most established infocomm technology (ICT) platform and meeting point for industry leaders to present their latest products and solutions.

Asia-Pacific’s premier multichannel TV industry association turned the spotlight on the “land of smiles” with CASBAA Thailand in View 2013, recently held on 30 May at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld.

Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will be adopting  8K broadcasts, which is 16 times the resolution of current HDTV, by 2016, two years ahead of schedule. Japanese broadcaster  NHK said it already has plans to conduct trials 8K Super Hi-Vision TV in 2016. Reports say NHK is preparing to build a compact, more-easily managed camera that can capture in the double 4K resolution.

In the meantime, Japan has announced it will use 4K broadcast in July 2014 during the final match of the 2014 World Cup.

CASBAA  organised its ninth TV Upfronts in the region and the second in Malaysia on May 28, 2013 in Kuala Lumpur. The Upfronts promote multichannel TV as an ideal platform for marketers to reach their target demographics and the KL event attracted over 100 guests representing advertising agencies, clients, broadcasters and media.