News Analysis

by Robert Bell

The teleport industry got its start in the days when monopoly telephone companies ruled and, in the US, COMSAT was the sole gatekeeper for access to domestic and international satellites.  Then the Reagan Administration’s Open Skies policy ended COMSAT’s lock on satellite access, and entrepreneurs jumped on the new opportunity.

New York City, NY, May 1, 2019 — The world is full of sharp disparities between the privileged and those struggling for access: access to good work, to knowledge, to the means to pursue their calling and preserve their communities. Around the world, dedicated people are using technology to close that gap. Technology that is literally out of this world.

by Virgil Labrador, Editor-in-Chief

Rugby, UK, May 1, 2019 — Having worked at a teleport at the beginning of my career, I never miss an opportunity to visit one. Teleports remind me of the very exciting times I spent working in one. There is something about the mix of high technology and innovative, geeky engineers that never cease to amaze me, so when I was invited to visit a teleport in England I didn’t hesitate to accept. But nothing prepared me for what I was about to see…

Tysons Corner, Va., May 1, 2019 — Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) reported today total revenues of US$ 528.4 million and net loss of US$ 120.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Mclean, Va., April 29, 2019 — Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) has reported a net loss of US$ 18.0 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2019, as compared to net income of US$ 11.5 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2018.

Ottawa, Canada, April 23, 2019  — C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. (TSXV: CMI), a global provider of mobile auto-deploying satellite antenna systems, said today the company generated revenues of US$2.192 million (Ca$2,948,252) and a net after tax profit of US$315,589.36 (Ca$424,404) or US$0.0074 (1 Canadian cent) per share during the first quarter ended February 28, 2019.

Sydney, Australia,  April 22, 2019 — Speedcast International (ASX:SDA) (FRA:7SC) (OTCMKTS:SPPDF) revenue grew 21% to US$623.1 million, including US$7.5 million contribution from two acquisitions completed in 2018 and the full year impact of acquisitions completed in 2017.

by Omkar Nikam

Dubai, UAE, April 15, 2019--The CABSAT 2019 conference, held in Dubai in March, brought together a wide variety of players from the satellite communications industry, namely satellite operators, service providers, broadcasters, and others. As one of the world’s premier satellite broadcast conferences, CABSAT has historically been just that — a predominantly satellite broadcast conference. However, in a sign of the times, recent years — and this year most notably — have seen a transition at CABSAT, from a primarily satellite broadcast conference to a satellite conference that has much emphasis on broadcast, but also perhaps equal emphasis on a surprisingly wide variety of other verticals.

Cape Canaveral, FL, April 12, 2019 — Arabsat 6A Satellite, the last of its 6th generation satellites, was successfully launched this morning by Space X’s Falcon Heavy from Cape Canaveral in Florida, completing the Falcon rocket’s first commercial launch. The Falcon-Heavy rocket was launched at 22:35 (GMT), carrying Arabsat 6A satellite, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, and was placed in the exclusive orbit of Arabsat 30.5 degrees East.

Kourou, French Guiana, April 4, 2019 — Arianespace has orbited the final four latest satellites in the first phase of SES’s O3b constellation. The launch took place on Thursday, April 4, at 2:03 pm (local time) from the Guiana Space Center (CSG), Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana (South America).