Asia-Pacific Markets - Latest Developments
The new edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report reveals thatmobile-data traffic will continue to grow significantly in the coming years, a trend driven mainly by video. Overall data traffic is expected to grow 12-fold by the end of 2018. Increasing usage is driven by continual growth in the amount of content available as well as the improved network speeds that come with HSPA and LTE development.
IDATE has published the 13th edition of its DigiWorld Yearbook with its theme "Embrace innovation: Evolve or die! IDATE experts provide a concise and easy to read reference manual of the digital world, including key figures and a look at the latest innovations and key events that marked telecom, internet and media markets during 2012.
Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (ST), Southeast Asia’s biggest telco, is seeking more than US$1.93 billion (Au$2 billion) starting bid for the sale of its Australian satellite unit, according to various media reports.
Among those companies that have reportedly shown interest for Optus Satellite are Eutelsat of Paris and private equity investors KKR, Carlyle Group, Blackstone Grp and Providence Equity Partners.
Under the royal patronage of HRH Princess Sumaya Bint El Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society, the 10th Convergence Summit, will take place in Amman on the 3rd and 4th of June 2013 at the Four Seasons Hotel. Her Royal highness will be addressing the summit at the opening ceremony.
Come 18 – 21 June this year, BroadcastAsia, Asia’s largest integrated trade show for the Film and TV industries will return with an impressive international line-up of exhibitors yet. The show has attracted more than 80 new exhibitors, in addition to repeat participation from top-notch companies from the industry, making up a total of more than 700 exhibitors from 45 countries and regions. The new exhibitors are Autodesk, Ericsson, Hybrid, Ikegami, Jebsen & Co, Orad, PCCW, RGB Networks, Siemens Convergence Creators GmbH, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Tsushinki, Yamaha Music (Asia) and more.
Thailand-based satellite operator Thaicom posted a net income of US$11.08 million (THB 330 million) in the first quarter, up from US$1.41 million (THB 42 million) in the year-ago period equivalent to an increase by almost 300 percent.
Total revenues were US$64.18 million (THB 1.91 billion) versus US$61.15 million (THB 1.82 billion) a year earlier but sales and services income slipped to THB 1.77 billion from US$59.47 million (THB 1.78 billion). Gross profit totalled US$23.55 million (THB 701 million), up from US$20.23 million (THB 602 million) in the year-ago quarter.
CASBAA’s annual Satellite Industry Forum will take place on 17 June 2013 at the Shangri-La, Singapore. The Association’s comprehensive forum on the thriving satellite market in the Asia-Pacific will examine An Industry in Transition this year, highlighting key issues top-of-mind with stakeholders in the region.
Singaporean telco StarHub has reported a 3 percent rise in Q1 net profit to US$73.24 million (S$91 million) compared with the same period a year ago. However, its group operating revenue for the period fell 2 percent to US$466.83 million (S$580 million) while EBITDA grew 3 percent to US$146.47 million (S$182 million) from US$142.45 million (S$177 million) previously.
Mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat has acquired TC Communications Pty Ltd. based in Australia. Inmarsat will integrate the company into its existing operations with a particular focus on supporting its expanding Global Government and Enterprise Business Units, according to a company statement.
Intelsat S.A. reported revenues of US$ 655.1 million and a net loss of US$ 7.8 million, or $0.09 per share, during the first quarter of 2013. Intelsat also reported an EBITDA or earnings before net interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization, of US$ 496.8 million, and Adjusted EBITDA1 of US$ 505.8 million, or 77 percent of revenue, for the first quarter. The company said it has contracted backlog amounting to $10.4 billion at the end of the quarter.
