News Analysis

Singapore, June 19, 2014--Newtec announced today at CommunicAsia 2014 that satellite operator Thaicom has installed Newtec technology (M6100 Broadcast Satellite Modulators) on the platform of Thaicom-6, enabling its satellite to provide TV Broadcasting services in both C-band and Ku-band to serve customers with the best value and viewing experience.

Singapore, June 18, 2014 – SpeedCast, today announced the acquisition of Oceanic Broadband, an integrator and solutions provider in the Oceania region. The acquisition will strengthen SpeedCast’s growing leadership position in Australasia servicing the natural resource sector, a market which Oceanic has been successfully developing for several years.

Nonthaburi, Thailand, June 18, 2014 - Thaicom, Thailand's leading satellite operator, has become the first in the Asia Pacific region to introduce commercial In-Flight Connectivity Services using Ku-band to provide broadband on commercial flights. The deal has been agreed with Thailand's number one premium low cost airline Nok Air, which last year transported nearly six million passengers. With 48,000 flights per year the carrier will provide broadband Wi-Fi services on many of its aircraft starting in August - ranging from Internet access to other complimentary services in the future.

Friedrichshafen, Germany, June 17, 2014 – Vislink today announced it has entered into a cooperation with ND SatCom the satellite communication solutions supplier. The agreement gives the companies access to each other’s product portfolios, and the ability to offer suitable products to customers in their respective broadcast and surveillance markets.

Singapore, June 17, 2014–CASBAA welcomed issuance of the first authoritative study of the extent to which satellite C-band services provide socio-economic benefits to countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The study found that “C-band is extensively used for communication networks, often of critical importance to these countries’ economy, society or security.”

Mountain View, Calif., June 13, 2014--Google has entered into an agreement to buy Skybox Imaging for US$ 500 million in cash, subject to adjustments Skybox’s satellites will help keep Google Maps accurate with up-to-date imagery.

Wilmington, DE & London, UK –June 4, 2014 – NSR’s newly released Wireless Backhaul, Trunking and Video Offload via Satellite, 8th Edition finds the Asian region dominating the wireless backhaul, trunking and video offload market on an annualized basis, leading to over 27% of cumulative global revenues from 2013-2023. The large user base, the topographic challenges and key markets that include Australia, China, India and Indonesia are key elements favoring satellite usage compared to other regions.

Hong Kong, June 2, 2014--Satellite operator ABS is preparing for a major business expansion with the launch of ABS-2A & ABS-3A in 2014/2015 and further satellites to be added to the fleet in the following two years. ABS launched its sixth satellite, ABS-2 in February 2014, covering 80% of the world's population including the emerging markets of Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Russia / CIS. 

London, UK, May 28, 2014--Global pay TV revenues [subscription fees and on-demand movies and TV episodes] will climb to $209 billion in 2020, up from US$193 billion in 2013, according  to a new report from Digital TV Research. The Digital TV World Revenue  Forecasts report states that the fast growth years are over - as a point of  comparison revenues grew by $24 billion between 2010 and 2013.