News Analysis

by Elisabeth Tweedie

Los Angeles, Calif., March 5, 2022--The satellite industry is no stranger to mergers and acquisitions, nor to new entrants. The last few years in particular have seen numerous startups enter the industry, indeed that is how the term “new space” originated. Suddenly the industry was no longer the sole domain of large well-established companies, advances in technology meant that the barriers to entry were rapidly being eroded.

by Virgil Labrador, Editor-in-Chief

Since the first commercial satellites were launched nearly sixty years ago, the potential for connecting the world’s population, especially those in remote, inaccessible areas, has always been touted as one of the key benefits of satellite technology.  With the growth of the internet and the development of satellites that can deliver highly reliable broadband services, it is widely recognized that satellites can play a key role in bridging the digital divide and making a substantial impact on meeting social development goals.  

Dubai, UAE, March 4, 2022--Demand for maritime connectivity has escalated over the past week as seafarers clamour to call home, reports digital communications specialist IEC Telecom.  The company advises that its usage figures for the past month show maritime comms traffic has risen by 30%, most of it over the previous seven days and attributable to extra calls to Ukraine. 

by Robert Bell

New York City, NY, March 3, 2022--The consulting firm Capgemini and the MIT Center for Digital Business first coined the term “digital transformation” way back in 2011.  They defined it as the use of technology to radically improve performance or the reach of businesses.
That year, 2011, is about a century ago in Internet Years.  And here in 2022, the teleport and satellite industries are finally prepared to take it seriously – meaning, to make serious and continuing investments in technologies to transform their own businesses and those of their customers.  

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 1, 2022--Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (“ADX”) under (SYMBOL: YAHSAT) (ISIN: AEA007501017) today announced its financial results for the 12-month period ended  December 31, 2021.  FY2021 revenue of AED 1.49 billion [USS 407.6 million], increased year-on-year driven by exceptional 4Q 2021 performance in which revenues grew 7.9% vs. prior year. Adjusted EBITDA of AED 883.2 million [US$ 240.5 million] generating a healthy EBITDA margin of 59.0%; Normalised Adjusted EBITDA of AED 898.5 million [USD 244.6 million], up 5.0% vs. prior year, delivering a margin of 60%.

Luxembourg, February 24, 2022--SES S.A. announces financial results for the year ended 31 December 2021. The company reported solid performance delivering revenue of €1,782 million and Adjusted EBITDA of €1,091 million at top end of financial outlook.

McLean, Va., February 23, 2022 – Intelsat S.A. announced today that it has successfully completed and emerged from its financial restructuring process as a private company with a substantially strengthened capital structure to support its growth as the leader in satellite communications. This final milestone follows receipt of regulatory approvals, completion of certain corporate actions, and satisfaction of other customary conditions.

Paris, France, February 22, 2022–The satellite industry is set for unprecedented transformation, with the impact of cloud-based systems, the introduction of next-generation NGSO broadband constellations, and convergence towards a unified 5G network architecture. However, ground segments will also have to play a pivotal role to allow the industry to fully embrace and benefit from these changes.

McLean,  Va., February 17, 2022--Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2021 and issued its full-year 2022 guidance. Net loss was US$ 5.9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2021, as compared to net loss of US$ 7.9 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2020. This improvement was primarily the result of higher commercial service revenue and lower interest expense. Operational EBITDA for the fourth quarter was US$ 93.4 million, as compared to US$ 84.8 million for the prior-year period, representing a year-over-year increase of 10% and an OEBITDA margin of 60%.