News Analysis

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.

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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Annual Global IP Traffic Will Reach the Zettabyte Threshold by the end of 2015 according to Cisco

San Jose, Calif. June 2, 2011-Annual global IP traffic will reach the zettabyte threshold (966 exabytes or nearly 1 zettabyte) by the end of 2015 according to the latest Visual Networking Index by Cisco.   In 2015, global IP traffic will reach 966 exabytes per year or 80.5 exabytes per month.

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IP Trunking: A Three-Way Battle

by NSR

Cambridge, Mass. June 1, 2011-A recent agreement to build a submarine cable by 2012 between two Islands, (Vanuatu and Fiji) emphasizes a clear trend: remoteness of a territory is not a barrier for cable connections as long as the market is valuable. Another announcement from the ITU on the sharp decrease of fixed broadband prices (50% between 2008 and 2010) with the 10 countries in the world with the biggest relative change in price all located in Africa illustrates the effect of the many cable projects that were completed recently in Africa, formerly the last satellite IP trunking stronghold.

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Ovum Finds Investment in 3D content is Low Priority for Broadcasters

London, May 23, 2011--Broadcasters rate production of 3D content and channels as their lowest technology investment priority, and the lack of programming for consumers who have bought a 3D TV is set to continue, according to Ovum. In a new report analysing the state of the 3D market, the independent technology analyst unveils findings from its Media and Broadcast Technology Investment Strategies survey which reveal a clear lack of enthusiasm for 3D in the broadcast industry.

Entertainment Media Spending in North America and Europe on the Rise

El Segundo, Calif., May 19, 2011--Consumer expenditures on entertainment media in North America and Europe grew a mighty 69 percent to $234.8 billion in 2010, up from $138.8 billion in 2000, with cable and satellite television retaining its primacy as the leading form of entertainment media during the decade, according to IHS Screen Digest research.

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UK's Superfast Broadband Plans Faces Setback

by Point Topic

London, May 19, 2011--Britain’s ambitions to have the best superfast broadband in Europe have been hit by a double blow over the past six months according to leading broadband analysts Point Topic.  The roll-out of next-generation broadband technology by BT and alternative networks has lagged a long way behind plans and take-up of the services where they are available has been sluggish.

Saudi Arabia is the Arab World’s Most Competitive Cellular Market

by Arab Advisors Group

Amman, Jordan, May 18, 2011--The Arab Advisors Group released the results of its Cellular Competition Intensity Index 2011. The index ranks Saudi Arabia as the most competitive Arab cellular market. Jordan came in second, followed by Palestine.

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Electronic Warfare Linked Up With Space Communications

Space communications assets will be pivotal in supporting the net-centric capabilities required for tighter integration of EW and CIW, cyber/information warfare

Boston, May 5, 2011--Air, sea, and land electronic warfare (ASLEW) is waged within the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum to both attack and defend against enemy personnel and equipment. The Strategy Analytics Advanced Defense Systems (ADS) service report, “Space Communications Systems and Electronic Warfare,” predicts that space communications systems will play a strategic role as an electronic warfare force multiplier, as electronic warfare becomes increasingly integrated and net-centric.

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Rising Mobile Users Base Driving the Nigerian Telecom Market

Noida, India, May 3, 2011--According to a research report  by RNCOS Nigeria has emerged as the largest telecom market in Africa with continuous investments and reforms in its telecom sector. Mobile is playing a crucial role in the development of the Nigerian telecom market and the telecom players are continuously expanding their subscriber base & penetration rate in the country. Fierce competition among private telecom operators has been bringing about substantial benefits to the subscribers in terms of lower tariffs and enhanced choice. Thus, the number of mobile subscribers in the country is projected to grow at a CAGR over 13% during 2011-2014.

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