News Analysis

More Challenging Environment Ahead for the Satellite Communications Industry

Growth still robust in a number of segments and regions according to new Euroconsult report

Paris, August 11, 2011– According to Euroconsult’s just-published report “Satellite Communications & Broadcasting Markets Survey, Forecasts to 2020,” the fixed satellite sector grew both in terms of transponder demand (+4.4%) and revenue, which reached $10.8 billion in 2010. However, this is set against a backdrop of slowing growth rates and a more challenging business environment in the next several years. Euroconsult nevertheless maintains an overall positive outlook for the future of the satellite sector with television broadcasting and emerging markets continuing to drive growth and high throughput satellite (HTS) capacity systems contributing to growth as well.

Study Shows Broadcast Industry Is Recovering From Recession

Gloucestershire, U.K., July 28, 2011 — The IABM (International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers)  released the fourth edition of its "Broadcast and Media Technology: Global Market Valuation and Strategy to 2015" study. Based on original research commissioned from IHS Screen Digest, the study offers unique insights into the recovery and growth of the worldwide broadcast industry.

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Asian Manufacturers Stand to Gain from Asia-Pacific Set-top Box Growth

Scottsdale, Ariz., July 13, 2011--The Asia-Pacific region will lead set-top box growth for the next five years, with shipments approaching 50% of the set-top boxes sold worldwide in 2013-2015 before falling off slightly according to ABI Research. Established players delivering cable boxes to China, including Jiuzhou and Coship, stand to gain in market share as unit shipments and ASP increase in Asia. Huawei (through Huawei Devices) is also engaging service providers in the region, and ABI Research expects they will see success in this market.

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O3b: A Work in Progress

by NSR

Cambridge, Mass., July 12, 2011--O3b signed a "multi-year, multi-million dollar reseller agreement" with Sky Fiber Corporation in June 2011 following on a similar announcement with Mavoni Technologies, South Africa in May 2011. Yet, beyond these two recent contracts and one additional framework agreement with Etisalat, O3b has been fairly quiet in terms of client deals since it completed its funding in November 2010. NSR’s take on this period of contracting calm is that O3b has largely depleted the early adopter market, and most of the rest of the industry is now waiting for O3b to make concrete progress in the construction and launch of its network as well as - and especially key in NSR’s view - provide detailed information on the cost and performance of its upcoming Tier 2 ground equipment.

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Asia Dominates Global Broadband Subscribers with 42% Share

Singapore, 21 June 21 2011--With an increase of over 15.2 million subscribers in the first three months of this year, fixed broadband grew by 2.9%.  This was the biggest quarterly increase in the last two years and representing an annual growth rate of 11.93%, according to figures announced today by the Broadband Forum at its press conference at CommunicAsia 2011.  IPTV also shows exceptional growth rates with an increase of over 34% in the 12 months to the end of March 2011, based on the data prepared for the Broadband Forum by analyst firm Point Topic.

2010 SIA State of the Industry Report Shows Continued Growth

Washington, D.C., June 20, 2011 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA)  released its 2011 State of the Satellite Industry Report, showing a five percent growth in overall world satellite industry revenues in 2010. Global 2010 revenues for the satellite industry totaled $168.1 billion, for an 11.2 percent average annual industry growth rate over the past 5 years.

Asian Broadband Markets head to 50% Penetration, but Equal Access Set to be a Bigger Challenge than Better Bandwidth

Point Topic takes regional broadband pulse at CommunicAsia2011

Singapore, June 20, 2011-In a key presentation at the CommunicAsia2011 Conference in Singapore this week, leading telecoms analyst Oliver Johnson will detail the factors that could see fixed broadband household penetration in markets such as China, the Philippines and Vietnam surge past the 50% mark by 2020. Mr Johnson, CEO of specialist broadband analysis company Point Topic, will also discuss the prospect of a single regional Asian broadband market.

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The Social Dividends from the Indian Space Industry

by Riaz Lamak

Bombay, India, June 15, 2011--India’s space industry has achieved some major milestones including developing one of the most vibrant satellite manufacturing and launch sectors in the world today.  However, the Indian space industry has also made important inroads in social development and empowerment at the grassroots level.  The Government of India through the  Department of Space and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has made huge contributions to social programs. 

Hong Kong - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts - 2011

Dublin, Ireland, June 14, 2011--Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China, has built one of the most sophisticated and dynamic telecommunications markets in the world. Hong Kong's regulator, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, has played a major role in developing the telecom sector. The country has put in place substantial infrastructure which supports one of the world's highest penetrations of mobile and fixed telephone services at around 190% and 52% respectively.

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Multi-play Services Drive Global Pay-TV Service Revenue to $53 Billion in 1Q 2011, According to ABI Research

Singapore, June 9, 2011--The worldwide pay-TV industry continues to grow in terms of both subscriber numbers and service revenue. “At the end of first quarter of 2011, pay-TV service revenue generated from satellite, cable, terrestrial and telco TV totaled $53 billion. That is a 10% increase from the first quarter of 2010,” says Jason Blackwell, digital home practice director at ABI Research.

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