EMEA Markets - Latest Developments
Eutelsat's financial results for the year ended 30 June 30, 2014 was in line with revenue growth objectives of the company. Revenue growth was 2.6%. EBITDA margin ws 76.7% and backlog reached record levels of €6.4 billion.
The Board of Directors of Eutelsat proposed dividend of €1.03 per share, payout ratio of 75%. Eutelsat's Board expects topline growth acceleration in next three years and high level of profitability maintained.
Rockwell Collins has completed the sale of its satellite communications business. The business, which designs, manufactures and services ground-based satellite communication systems primarily for military customers, will be renamed DataPath, Inc.
Details of the sale were not immediately released.
The company says in a statement the sale is part of a strategy to reshape its government systems business to focus on core products that will fuel future growth.
The sale includes operations in Duluth, Georgia, and Stockholm, Sweden, and includes about 365 employees.
BSkyB today announces it has entered into agreements with 21st Century Fox to acquire 21st Century Fox’s 100% stake in Sky Italia and its 57.4% interest in Sky Deutschland. The enlarged company will be a multinational pay TV provider that serves 20 million customers and brings together the leading pay TV businesses in three of Europe’s four biggest markets.
Satellite operator SES posted H1 revenues of EUR 938.9 million (2013: EUR 910.5 million) in the first half of 2014-an increase of 6.3% over the prior year period at constant exchange rates. EBITDA for the 1st Half of 2014 was EUR 693.8 million (2013: EUR 662.0 million)-- an increase of 7.4% over the prior year.
ABS has expanded its presence in Johannesburg, South Africa and formed a new Sales liaison office to support its growing business in the Africa continent.
This new office will house the sales and technical members of the Africa team, which will work alongside the regional Middle East office based in Dubai. ABS Africa will be responsible for business development, local sales liaison services and customer support throughout this region, according to the company.
IBC announced that this year’s IBC Leaders’ Summit will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2014. An exclusive and invitation-only event curated specifically for 150 of the most influential and visionary people at the top of the industry, the IBC Leaders’ Summit is now in its fourth successful year. Industry leaders from all over the world fly to Amsterdam to take part in its sessions which mirror and distill the agenda of the mainstream IBC Conference into a single day of high-powered, top-level discussions.
ABS and Arab Satellite Communication Organization (ARABSAT) announced today that they have signed a strategic commercial agreement for a multi-transponder lifetime Ku-band payload on the new ABS-3A satellite planned for launch in late 2014/ early2015. This Ku-band payload deal will provide ARABSAT with additional growth opportunities to serve their customers over the Middle East and North Africa regions.
According to Euroconsult's newly released executive report, Government Space Programs: Strategic Outlook, Benchmarks & Forecasts, government funding for space is expected to progressively recover as public finances regain their comfort zone and programs enter a new growth cycle. Following a critical period of cyclical low funding which concluded in a budget decrease in 2013 worldwide, moderate growth is expected moving forward which should bring world spending to $82 billion by 2023.
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.
Spanish satellite telecommunications operator HISPASAT has chosen Space Systems/Loral (SSL) to buil Hispasat 1F satellite, to be located at orbital position 30º West. Hispasat 1F will serve as a replacement for the Hispasat 1D and will give the group additional Ku band capacity, in the Andean region and in Brazil.
