News Analysis

SpeedCast Announces Buyout of Pactel International

Sydney, Australia, April 22, 2013--SpeedCast Ltd today announced the buyout of Pactel International, a satellite communications service provider based in Australia.    Pactel provides satellite communications solutions throughout Australia and the Pacific.  The company focuses on servicing its customers’ requirements for Internet, private networking and voice services.  Founded in 1999, Pactel is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and has additional offices in Perth, Australia and Jakarta, Indonesia.   

Dish's Ergen Gambles on US$ 25 Bil. Bid for Sprint

by Peter Galace

Englewood, Colo., April 19, 2013 -- Dish Network Corp. chairman Charlie Ergen is gambling big time again. He has just upped the ante on the bidding game for Sprint Nextel, the third-largest U.S. wireless carrier, to US$25.5 billion in an effort to elbow out Japan’s SoftBank US$20.1 billion offer. The move is a big Blackjack gamble that Ergen is used to but the deal is rife with danger. Even if Ergen wins this bet, it could end into a pyrrhic victory and bring Dish to the edge.  

ITU Report Confirms Dramatic Growth in Data Volumes and Globalized Services

Geneva, Switzerland, April 18, 2013-- The 2013 edition of ITU’s flagship regulatory report ‘Trends in Telecommunication Reform’, released today, highlights the increasingly global nature of information and communication technology (ICT) regulation and the crucial link between effective regulation of the ICT sector and the range, quality and affordability of ICT services available to consumers and business users alike.

Consumers Taking Control of Their Entertainment Ecosystems

Las Vegas, Nevada, April 8, 2013-- Consumers are increasingly taking control of their entertainment experience, multitasking while watching television, integrating second screen devices into their viewing experience, and viewing more Internet-based content, according to a new survey released today at the NAB show in Las Vegas by Accenture.

Intelsat IPO Expected to Raise as High as US $823 Million

Luxembourg, April 3, 2013 – After months of eager anticipation, Intelsat Global Holdings S.A has finally announced details of its initial public offering this year. Intelsat said it was offering 21.74 million common shares and 3 million Series A mandatory convertible junior non-voting preferred shares in its IPO. 

Asia Pacific’s Pay TV Boom to Continue

London, UK, March 27, 2013--Pay TV revenues in Asia Pacific will be $12 billion higher in 2018 ($43.9 billion total) than in 2012, according to a new report from Digital TV Research. In fact,  the Digital TV Asia Pacific report estimates that pay TV revenues (subscriptions  and on-demand) will grow by $2.1 billion in 2013 to $33.9 billion. 

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SingTel Reviewing Strategy with Optus Satellite Business

Singapore, March 22, 2013 – Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) is conducting a strategic review of its Optus Satellite business to optimize value for its shareholders. SingTel said it has appointed Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley as financial advisors to assist with the review. 

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World Government Expenditures for Space Facing Short-Term Decline

Despite a challenging marketplace, new and emerging leaders display high-growth opportunities

Paris, France, March 18, 2013 – According to Euroconsult's newly released research report,Government Space Markets, World Prospects to 2022, government spending on space reached a peak in 2012 of $72.9 billion, a non-negligible increase compared to 2011 which followed two consecutive years of minimal growth. This upswing is attributed to increased activity of countries such as Russia, China, India and new world or regional leaders who compensated for budget uncertainties affecting North America and Europe. Euroconsult expects global government expenditures on space to decrease due to fiscal policies exerting continuous pressure on public finances; improvement is not expected before 2015.

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AsiaSat Net Profit Rises 11% to US$117.8 million in 2012

Hong Kong, March 14, 2013 — Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited reported on Friday turnover rose 10% to US$242.8 million (HK$1.884 billion) in 2012 while net profit grew by 11% to US$117.8 million (HK$914.491 million).

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World Teleport Association Publishes Satellite Operator Benchmarks 2013

New York City, March 13, 2013– The World Teleport Association today released Satellite Operator Benchmarks 2013, the third annual WTA global study. The study tracks, rates, and compares the operational and commercial performance of satellite operators, as experienced by teleport operators. The objective of the annual study, now in its third year, is to strengthen the global industry by encouraging self-improvement among all operating companies.

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