News Analysis

McLean, Va. October 17, 2024 – Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM), a provider of global voice and data satellite communications, today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2024 and updated its full-year 2024 outlook. Net income was US$ 24.4 million, or US $0.21 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024, as compared to net loss o fUS $1.6 million, or US$ 0.01 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023. Operational EBITDA (“OEBITDA”)(1) for the third quarter was a record US$ 124.4 million, as compared to US$ 121.3 million for the prior-year period. Net income benefitted from the year-over-year increases in service revenue, engineering and support revenue and equipment sales. In the third quarter, Iridium also had lower operating expenses compared to the prior year period primarily due to a decline in depreciation expense associated with the extension of the estimated useful lives of the Company’s satellites.

Oslo, Norway, October 15, 2024 - Marlink,a managed services provider of business-critical ICT solutions has acquired 100% of Port-IT, a leader in cyber security solutions tailored for the maritime industry.

Los Angeles, Calif. October 1, 2024 - DIRECTV  and EchoStar (NASDAQ: SATS) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which DIRECTV will acquire EchoStar’s video distribution business DISH DBS , including DISH TV and Sling TV, through a debt exchange transaction. The transaction will provide consumers with compelling video options while separately improving EchoStar’s financial profile as it continues to enhance and further deploy its nationwide 5G Open RAN wireless network.

Traverse City, MI​., September 4, 2024 – ATLAS Space Operations, a world leading provider of ground station services for satellite communications, has raised US$15 million in its latest growth investment round.

Calgary, Alberta, September 3, 2024 – Network Innovations, a leading global technology integrator of critical communications and related services, today announced the acquisition of Infosat Communications, a satellite services company focused on serving the remote business operations sector for more than 25 years. The transaction was completed between Network Innovations and Infosat’s parent company, Telesat (NASDAQ and TSX: TSAT), one of the world’s largest and most innovative satellite operators. The sale will close in phases due to the required regulatory approvals, with the first closing for the vast majority of the Infosat assets having occurred on September 1, 2024.

Geneva,  September 2, 2024 - ​​The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) released today an updated version of the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the global use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits. 

The September-October 2024 issue of the Satellite Executive Briefing is now available.  Featuring:

The Changing Video Market for Satellites by Elisabeth Tweedie

The Satellite IoT Market by Hub Urlings

Executive Roundtable on the Latin American Broadband Market featuring Juan Pablo, Regional Vice President, Americas, Eutelsat Group; Daniel Losada, VP International Division at Hughes; Dolores Martos, Regional VP Sales Latin America & Caribbean, Telesat; and Leandro Gaunszer, General Director of Viasat Brazil.

How Satellite Technology is Transforming Climate Action by Bogdan Gogulan

Case Study; Maximizing Uplink Performance:TEAM:MEDIA's Collaboration with  Orbital Connect and Terrasat 

iKOMG: From Trailblazing Startup to Market Leader in Content Distribution 

 Company Spotlight: RF Design

Plus  Products and Services MarketPlace Guide to IBC 2024, Market Trends, Executive Moves, Vital Stats and many more. Click here to read or download the file

by Bogdan Gogulan, Managing Director of NewSpace Capital

Luxembourg City, August 29, 2024--Wildfire season is upon us, and due to global warming, we can anticipate one of the worst on record. Canada, which is training extra firefighters, warns of an ‘explosive’ season. Greece is doubling its firefighting crew and adopting new tactics. Portugal has banned bonfires, barbecues, and the use of machinery that can trigger sparks, such as chainsaws and trimmers. And it isn’t just wildfires that are cause for concern. The risk of massive floods in cities like New York, Shanghai and Kolkata increases each year. Summers get hotter, winters get colder. Hurricanes and cyclones get stronger – and more destructive.

Bethesda, Md., August 15, 2024 --  Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Terran Orbital [NYSE: LLAP], a provider of satellite-based solutions primarily supporting the aerospace and defense industries.

by Bruce Elbert, President, Application Technology Strategy, Inc.

Austin, Tex., August 15, 2024--Space may be the final frontier, but the principles of its exploitation have not changed since Russia and the US launched the first artificial satellites before 1960. Our best approach is to view space as a complex technical domain where objects made by humans are launched in earth orbit (and potentially beyond) by vehicles that burn chemical fuel to coexist with an environment very different from what we find on our planet (or any other planet for that matter).