News Analysis

Kourou. French Guiana, June 25, 2013--O3b’s first four satellites were successfully launched aboard the Arianespace Soyuz launch vehicle on Tuesday marking the start of telecommunications and Internet services over Asia, Africa, South America, Australia and the Middle East that combine the global reach of satellite coverage with the speed of a fiber-optic network. 

Cambridge, Mass., June 25, 2013--NSR's just released Wireless Backhaul via Satellite, 7th Edition report finds the industry at the cusp of an evolutionary step. The impending launch of O3b and global HTS program deployments are leading the industry to dramatic and long term change with a strong potential for industry revenue to hit $2.9 billion by 2022, growing more than three-fold from today’s $830+ million revenue base.

Madrid, Spain , June 20, 2013 —The Hispasat Group closed fiscal year 2012 with revenues of €200.3 million (US$265.29 million), representing a 6.85 percent increase over 2011, €196.6 million (US$260.47 million) of which were derived from leasing space capacity.

Bry-Sur Marne, France, June 19, 2013 — Euro Media Group, a provider of broadcast services across Europe, has acquired the technical resources of Alfacam, a Belgian firm specializing in the recording and broadcasting of live events worldwide.

London, UK- June 20, 2013--Based on forecasts for 97 countries, global pay TV revenues [subscription fees and on-demand movies and TV episodes] will climb to $203 billion in 2018, up by $19 billion on 2012. According to the Digital TV World Revenue Forecasts report the fast growth years for the sector are over, with annual growth hovering at below 2% from 2015. Growth in 2013 will be 3.2%.

Washington, D.C., June 17, 2013-The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today  released its 2013 State of the Satellite Industry Report, showing a 7% growth in  world satellite industry revenues in 2012, up from 5% growth in 2011. Globally, 2012 revenues for the satellite industry totaled $189.5 billion, up from $177.3 billion  the previous year. All four industry sectors grew, led by satellite services, the  traditional driver for the industry. Both satellite manufacturing and launch services  saw significant revenue increases, and satellite ground equipment revenues also  continued to expand.

London, UK. June 17, 2013--This week the European Commission updated its Digital Agenda Scoreboard, measuring progress with respect to the targets set out in the Digital Agenda. A new study completed by Point Topic shows that whilst nearly all households in Europe could access basic broadband services at the end of 2012, significant challenges still remain in delivering high-speed broadband to all.

Athens, Greece, June 13, 2013 — The Greek government announced on Wednesday it was replacing Hellenic Broadcasting Corp. with New Hellenic Radio, Internet and Television, shortened to NERIT, which is expected to launch in August.

London, UK, June 12, 2013--Global pay TV households will reach nearly 1 billion by 2018, up from 772 million  in 2012 and 814 million in 2013. According to the Digital TV World Household  Forecasts report, the Asia Pacific region will contribute 59% (587 million) of the  global total by 2018.

Denver, Colo., June 10, 2013--Liberty Global plc has completed its acquisition of British cable operator Virgin Media Inc. in a stock and cash merger valued at approximately US$ 24 billion (€18.26 billion) following shareholder approvals, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.