News Analysis

by Robert Bell

New York City, NY, April 2, 2020--Most of the attention surrounding the early success of the SES Networks’ MEO constellation and the pending arrival of LEO constellations has focused skyward.  It is all about the satellites and their orbits, interference with GEO and the economic potential and risks of delivering global coverage to a planet that is 70% covered by water.

New York City, NY, April 1, 2020-In life, it’s the connections that count. It’s the phone call and the text message.  The emails for work. The online shopping and the credit card in the store.  The visit to the ATM, the airplane trip, the medical emergency. Without those connections, life grinds to a halt. 

Melville, N.Y., April 1, 2020-Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) provided a business update on the impact of the coronavirus, including the withdrawal of its business outlook for its fiscal year ending July 31, 2020, and a status update on the Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. acquisition.

Al Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, April 1, 2020--AXESS Networks (AXESS)  signed a joint venture agreement with the Saudi Arabian communications provider Middle East Telecommunications Co. (METelecom). The intention is to provide end-to-end managed satellite communications solutions that are designed to enhance performances of customers operating in Saudi Arabia.

New York, NY, March 27, 2020--Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation operator OneWeb announced today that the company and certain of its controlled affiliates have voluntarily filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

by Elisabeth Tweedie

Washington, D.C. March 19, 2020--The industry's premier show, Satellite 2020 held from March 9-11 in Washington D.C., was almost a surreal experience. I don’t know the precise numbers, but from walking around the show floor, I would guess that attendance was down by 30-50%.  There were large gaps where booths should have been. 

Long Beach, California, March 16, 2020--Rocket Lab, a space systems company and the global leader in dedicated small satellite launch, has reached an agreement to acquire Sinclair Interplanetary, a leading provider of high-quality, flight-proven satellite hardware. Financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

Ottawa, Canada, March 16, 2020 - C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. (TSXV: CMI, OTC: CYSNF), a l provider of mobile auto-deploying satellite antenna systems, announced today financial results for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019. The company has generated revenues of CDN $13,977,909 and a net after tax profit of CDN $2,843,092 or 8 cents per share. This compared with 2018 total revenues of CDN $13,527,368 and a net after tax profit of  CDN $2,299,501 or 6 cents per share, representing an increase of 3.3% and 23.6% respectively.

Poway, Calif., March 9, 2020--Radeus Labs today announced the closure of its acquisition of the company product line of SSC, formerly Satellite Systems Corporation. “This acquisition supports the strategic expansion of our product line and further strengthens our ability to deliver comprehensive control system solutions for our business partners and customers,” said Radeus Labs’ CEO, Juliet Correnti.

by Krasimir Terziev

Sofia, Bulgaria, March 9, 2020--This month Satellite Executive Briefing welcomes the views of Krasimir Terziev, Head of International Sales for Satellite services at VIVACOM--Bulgaria’s largest telecommunications company.  He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Trakia University where is spearheading innovative training and educational initiatives in the telecommunications and satellite field. Follows are his insights: