Pace plc, a global developer of technologies and products for PayTV  and broadband service providers, today announces the unaudited update for the financial year  ended 31 December 2013 ahead of preliminary results to be announced on 4 March 2014.  Pace is updating its forecast of  full year results ahead of the Board’s previous guidance.  Full year revenues expected to be up 2.4% to US$ 2,460 m (2012: US$2,403.4  m). 

In my previous column  I previewed GVF High Throughput Satellites 2013: Game-Changer in Action - The London Roundtable. I am very pleased to report that several participants in this latest program in the GVF-EMP Conference Partnership portfolio described the event as “A very successful conference, by any standard.” Here, in this contribution to the final edition of 2013, I wish to provide you, the reader, with the means to access at least some of the flavor of the series of great dialogs which took place in London on 5th and 6th December 2013.

EchoStar Corp. announced today that it has acquired 100% ownership of Solaris Mobile Ltd, a next-generation mobile satellite services (MSS) operator based in Dublin, Ireland and one of the European Union licensees of mobile satellite service with a complementary ground component (S band). 

CABSAT, the leading professional content management event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), has inked an alliance with the USA’s National Association of Broadcasters Show (NAB Show) which will see the world’s two biggest industry show brands in their field collaborate on a world-class content management conference programme covering the latest trends, technologies and innovations in the global broadcasting and media market.

Inmarsat today confirmed that it had completed regulatory and other approvals in relation to its US$ 45 million purchase of Globe Wireless, the Florida-basedprovider of value-added maritime communications services to the shipping market.  As a consequence, Inmarsat has now completed its acquisition of Globe Wireless.

Inmarsat’s acquisition includes the business and substantially all of the assets of Globe Wireless. In the twelve months ended June 30, 2103, Globe Wireless generated revenues of US$91 million and currently has an installed customer base of over 6,000 ships.

Eutelsat Communications today announced the closure of the transaction to acquire 100% of the share capital of Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (Satmex) having obtained all required government and regulatory approvals. As previously oreported, the transaction amounts to US$ 831 million.

The financing requirements in connection with the acquisition are covered following the issuance on December 13, 2013 of 6-year senior unsecured bonds for a total of €930 million which were secured at attractive terms.

Reportbuyer.com just published a new market research report entitled "Online TV & Video Forecasts" which predicts global online TV and video revenues (over fixed broadband networks) will reach US in 2018, a massive increase from the US$ 3.98 billion recorded in 2010 and the $15.94 billion expected in 2013, according to the Online TV and Video Forecasts report from Digital TV Research.

By 2018, 520 million homes in 40 countries will watch online television and video (both paid-for and ad-supported), up from 182 million in 2010.

Production house Endemol has acquired a 33% share of Reshet, one of Israel’s leading broadcasters. The move is Endemol’s second acquisition in the country after taking in April 2013 a controlling share in Israel’s leading independent producer Kuperman, which has now become Endemol Israel.

Aireon LLC, the developer of the world's first satellite-based global air traffic surveillance system, has entered into binding agreements with three new investors and major Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs): ENAV (Italy), the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), and Naviair (Denmark) for US$120 million in new equity into Aireon.

Astrium and Inmarsat have reached a strategic distribution partnership agreement which will see Global Xpress services made available to Astrium Services’s large partner and customer base. Astrium Services will deliver Global Xpress high-speed broadband services through its worldwide distribution channels. The strategic agreement will cover key vertical markets, including the maritime as well as the government and defence sector, initially in Europe.