The ABS-2 satellite was successfully launched  at 6:30  p.m. Kourou time today. The satellite was launched on an Ariane ECA launch vehicle from the Guiana Space Center.

Ericsson today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Massachusetts-based Azuki Systems, Inc., a provider of TV Anywhere delivery platforms for service providers, content owners and broadcasters.

Arqiva announced today the acquisiton of Capablue, the Connected TV, video-on-demand and content solution provider. The two companies already have a relationship, having partnered on solutions including the development of pay capabilities for the Arqiva Connect TV platform.

According to the new market research report entitled "C4ISR Market (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Land Systems, Airborne Systems and Naval Systems) Forecasts 2014 - 2019", the C4ISR market is estimated to be US$ 83.13 billion in 2014 and is expected to register a CAGR of 2.28% to reach US$ 93.04 billion by 2019.

Inmarsat today announced that Inmarsat-5 F1, the first in its fleet of three Global Xpress (GX) satellites, has successfully completed its orbital deployment stages on schedule.  Inmarsat and Boeing engineers, working from Inmarsat’s GX teleport in Nemea, Greece, are now beginning a month of comprehensive payload testing, in preparation for commencing live end-to-end testing of the high-speed, mobile broadband GX connectivity services, scheduled to start in March.

RigNet has completed a strategic transaction with Inmarsat involving the sale of substantially all of Inmarsat's Energy Broadband business to RigNet and the appointment of RigNet as a Value Added Reseller of Inmarsat's Global Xpress (GX) service and as a Distribution Partner for Inmarsat's L-band services to the energy sector worldwide.RigNet has acquired Inmarsat's Energy Broadband business for US$25 million in cash.

Geneva, Switzerland, February 3, 2014-- Satellite communications specialist Newtec and the operator of the world’s largest satellite and fiber live video network, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), have signed a multimillion-euro contract. The deal is to deploy Newtec’s satellite broadcast solutions as part of the EBU’s major pan-European news exchange network.

Skyline Communications, a provider of end-to-end multi-vendor network management solutions for the IPTV, satellite, HFC broadband and broadcast industry, announced record sales figures for 2013 at its annual employee event last week. The company reported that it has achieved revenue growth averaging 25% per year in the last ten years.

My previous column for Satellite Executive Briefing noted that I would be providing an update to the next event in the GVF-EMP Partnership Conference Portfolio, which takes place in London on 11th & 12th February. Connectivity 2014: Creating the New “New” Verticals – Air, Water, Surface & Rail (www.uk-emp.co.uk/emp-home/current-events/connectivity-2014/) is expected to be the first in a new series of the Portfolio, adding to the current

Euroconsult, a consulting firm specialized in satellite communications and broadcasting, announced the launch of LATSAT – the Latin American Satellite Communication & Broadcasting Summit. The first edition will be taking place in Mexico City on June 4-5 2014. LATSAT is also supported by the Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (Mexico’s Ministry of Communication and Transport).