An Inter-regional Workshop focused on preparations for the upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) opened in Geneva today.

Astrocast, a Switzerland-based Internet of Things (IoT) nanosatellite network, has secured US$ 9.2 (€8.3M)  Series A round of funding to accelerate production of IoT modules, to begin commercial phase and deployment of the its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) IoT network.

To date, Astrocast has raised CHF 16.6M in total funding. Founded in 2014 by the developers of SwissCube, one of the longest lasting, operational nanosatellites in space and led by Fabien Jordan, CEO, and José Achache, to develop an advanced nanosatellite network for the Internet of things (IoT). 

Outsourcing the manufacturing of your products is a very important decision for your company that can have a major impact on your bottom line. Outsourcing can undoubtedly have key benefits for your company.  The most tangible benefit is the cost savings in terms of labor costs and capex.  It also eliminates all the headaches of dealing with manufacturing processes and labor issues, so you can focus on research and development and marketing your products.  

It will come as no surprise to anyone in this industry who is paying attention to what has been happening over the last few years, to hear me say that the industry is in a state of flux.  This is hardly news, but the pace appears to be accelerating and things that have been talked about for the last several years, are either reality or now very close to be becoming so.

The uncomfortable co-existence among science, technology and religion is a few centuries old.  For a long while the three disciplines tried to stay in their own lane and tried to avoid swerving into the others’ lane.  But a collision was inevitable.  The crash has given us a toxic political and social climate at times, and made us mistrust each of the three disciplines. 

Bowenvale Limited and Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited (HKSE: 1135; 1135.HK  jointly announced that the proposal for the privatisation of AsiaSat by way of a scheme of arrangement has been approved at the court meeting today.

Today, Thailand's Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), and Ministry of Commerce (MOC) toggehter with the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) and TrueVisions hosted the Digital Content Anti-Piracy Summit which was held at the Ministry of Commerce Building in Nonthaburi. The anti-piracy summit was attended by over 130 delegates from government, the content industry and the media.

The Kudelski Group (SIX: KUD.S), a provider of media content protection and value-added service technology, has reported a net loss of US$20.4 million, which included US$13.7 million of restructuring costs, during the first half of 2019.

Coverage of the launch of Spacecom's Amos-17 satellite by Spacex at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, August 6, 2019 with Satellite Markets and Research Editor-in-Chief Virgil Labrador.

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited (SEHK: 1135) announced today its revenue dropped 5% to US$88.39 million (HK$693 million) primarily due to non-renewal of certain customer contracts in mid-2018 and the continued pricing pressures from capacity oversupply in some key markets.

Asiasat said first half 2019 profit attributable to owners, however, was up 4% to US$28.44 million (HK$223 million) as a result of cost controls, favorable currency fluctuations, and reduced tax expenses.