IBC today announced a new strategic partnership with EIT Culture & Creativity – the institutional partnership for culture and creativity, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) – appointing it as its European Innovation Partner for 2026. Announced at the IBC Accelerator Media Innovation Programme’s Kickstart Day 2026, the partnership reflects the two organisations shared commitment to advancing the broadcast and audiovisual industry and has the potential to meaningfully accelerate collaborative progress. Together, the two organisations aim to create clearer pathways from proof-of-concept to deployment across the global media and entertainment (M&E) ecosystem – starting with the Accelerator Programme.

Applied Aerospace & Defense announced its acquisition of Vestigo Aerospace known for its innovative product line of Spinnaker™ deorbit systems. Spinnaker™ drag sails are designed to deorbit satellites and launch vehicle components operating in low Earth orbit. They enable space system operators to comply with new licensing and regulatory requirements intended to mitigate the growing problem of orbital debris. Prior to the acquisition, Vestigo trusted Applied as a critical supplier of advanced materials for thin-film polymer sails and the deployable booms used in its products.

The Board of Directors of Eutelsat Communications (ISIN: FR0010221234 ‑ Euronext Paris / London Stock Exchange: ETL), chaired by Éric Labaye, releasead the financial results for the Half Year ended December 31, 2025.Total revenues for H1 2025-26 stood at €592 million, down 2.4% on a reported basis and stable like‑for‑like. Revenues of the four Operating Verticals (excluding ‘Other Revenues’) stood at €574 million, down by 0.6% on a like-for-like basis. LEO revenues amounted to €111 million, up 59.7%¹, and now represent c. 20% of revenues.

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: GILT, TASE: GILT),  today reported its results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025.  The company reported 2025 Revenue of US$ 451.7 million, GAAP Operating Income of  US$ 23.4 million and a Adjusted EBITDA of US$ 53.2 million.

SpaceX has acquired xAI,  an artificial intelligence firm founded by Elon Musk three years ago, in a  deal that combines the two privately held firms into a company with a US $1.25 trillion reported valuation. The combined company is planning am Initial Public Offering (IPO) this year.

by Jason Bates

Traditionally, the mission profile and business model for satellites was determined by the operators and customers before the manufacturing process began. This approach was successful for decades, but the transformation of the communications sector requires the satellite world to evolve as well. Going forward, the flexibility of software-defined satellites (SDS) promises to transform how satellite operators design, deploy and manage space segment. 

Leonardo, through its subsidiary Leonardo US Corporation, has signed an agreement to acquire Enterprise Electronics Corporation (EEC), a US company specializing in developing, manufacturing and servicing weather radar instruments, and satellite receiving stations for meteorology, hydrology, research and aviation for applications in the military and civilian sector. 

The January-February 2026 issue of the Satellite Executive Briefing is now available.  Featuring:

The New Space Economy by Bruce Elbert

Update on the China Satcom Market by Blaine Curcio

Serving the Software-Defined Satellite Market of the Future by Jason Bates

Plus  Company Spotilight on Integrasys, Product Spotlights, Market Trends and many more. Click here to read or download the file

by Bruce R. Elbert

You can’t get into space without investment, and as the adage goes, you can’t make money if you don’t spend money. But first you need an idea or vision of what space can do for you and ultimately for a market. We got here through decades of innovation that put satellites in orbit, sent missions into space to the Moon and beyond, and found ways to use these for a variety of applications of value to mankind. The particular mix changes from time to time and today we see that LEO broadband and D2D have permanently changed satellite communications as a medium and a business. The rest of space is involved with earth observation, science and exploration. But some have suggested space commerce as a new way to make a buck off planet, so to speak.

Intuitive Machines, Inc. (Nasdaq: LUNR) (has completed its acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems (“Lanteris”), formerly Maxar Space Systems. The acquisition, first announced on November 4, 2025, was completed for US$ 800 million before closing adjustments, consisting of US$ 450 million in cash and $350 million in Intuitive Machines Class A common stock.