The Latin American satellite market continues to grow in terms of applications such as Direct-to-Home (DTH), HDTV, Cellular Backhaul & Trunking,  and government programs aimed at bridging the Digital Divide.  International satellite operators such as SES and Intelsat are forced to review their strategy and are bringing more capacity to serve the region in the next 5 years to be better positioned for relevant growth in transponder capacity and to be able to meet the growing demands of the market.

There are those still working today who can remember where there was no competition in the satellite business, when it was completely dominated by treaty organizations or state-owned companies beholden to national governments and bound by monopoly regulations.  There are still wide swathes of the planet where monopoly conditions rule but the international market now contains a multitude of companies large and small, operating in space and on the ground, who compete fiercely for government, media, telecommunications, maritime and other business. 

Indonesia’s pay-TV market is taking off, speakers told a capacity crowd of delegates at CASBAA’s Indonesia in View: Growing Pay TV forum, held in Jakarta on February 29th. With more than 2 million paying subscribers at the beginning of 2012, a host of new distribution platforms coming online, and strong economic fundamentals, Indonesia is looking to become one of Asia’s fast-growth TV success stories.

Satellite operator Intelsat S.A. reported revenue of US $652.9 million and a net loss of $3.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011. The company also reported Intelsat S.A. EBITDAi, or earnings before net interest, loss on early extinguishment of debt, taxes and depreciation and amortization, of $495.5 million, and Intelsat S.A. Adjusted EBITDAi of $514.6 million, or 79 percent of revenue, for the three months ended December 31, 2011.

Several satellite industry assications repeated  its grave concerns over the proposed UNIDROIT Space Assets Protocol.

The most recent GVF-EMP Conference Partnership event in its Broadband Maritime Series, which for the first time co-located with an InterManager regional conference in its Shipping KPI Project, under the joint title of ‘Maritime Insights’,  concluded with an across-the-board acknowledgement of its success.  ‘Maritime Insights’ took place in two streams over 14th & 15th February 2012 at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore, and comprised the GVF-EMP ‘Broadband Maritime Offshore & Oc

Satellite operator SES reported an increase in recurring revenue and EBITDA increasing by 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively. Reported revenue remained essentially flat, with reported EBITDA decreasing slightly, due to the adverse evolution of the USD against the euro (average conversion rate in 2011 was 1.4035 compared to 1.3294 in 2010). Reported EBITDA also reflected the impact of the one-time reorganisation charge of  EUR 14.8 million.

The World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12)  concluded its deliberations today with the signing of the Final Acts that revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.Over 3000 participants, representing 165 out of ITU’s 193 Member States attended the four-week Conference, braving the extreme winter conditions prevailing in Geneva. Over 100 Observers from among ITU’s 700 private sector members along with international organizations also attended WRC-12.

Satellite operator EUTELSAT  reported first half results of fiscal year 2011-12 with revenue growth: of 4.6% at €602.4 million. EBITDA was reported to be up 3.4% to €478.5 million, generating EBITDA margin of 79.4%.

EUTLSAT reported record backlog of €5.3 billion up 9.6%. Its Fleet expansion program is on track with two successful satellite launches and the company completed a successful €1.8 billion refinancing in 2011.

Satellite operator THAICOM Public Company Limited (released its full-year 2011 operating results reporting  consolidated net operating profits for a second quarter in a row of 46 million Baht  (US$ 1.45 million), an increase of 186.7% over the previous quarter’s consolidated net operating profit of 16 million Baht (US$ 520,000) .