News Analysis

Ariane Completes 250th Launch of TIBA-1 and Inmarsat GX5 Satellites on its 40th Anniversary

Kourou, French Guiana, November 26, 2019--For its fourth and final mission of the year, Ariane 5 placed two communications satellites in geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), lifting off from the European spaceport in Kourou (French Guiana) the Egyptian satellite TIBA-1 and Inmarsat GX5. It was launch No. 250 for Ariane, which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary on December 24.

 

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. Aquires UHP Networks Inc. for US$ 40.0 Million

Melville, NY,  November 21, 2019-- Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (Nasdaq: CMTL) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire UHP Networks Inc.  a leading provider of innovative and disruptive satellite ground station technology solutions, for a purchase price of approximately US$ 40.0 million. Founded in 2005, UHP is based in Canada and has developed revolutionary technology that is transforming the Very Small Apert ure Terminal (VSAT) market.

Gilat Reports Growth in Q3 2019

Petah Tikva, Israel, November 19, 2019 – Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ, TASE: GILT) today reported its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. GAAP Operating Income Increases 43.1% sequentially; Adjusted EBITDA reaches double digits totaling US $10.1 million.

Telesat Reports Increased Revenues but Post Net Loss for the 3Q 2019

Ottawa, Canada, November 5, 2019 - Telesat today announced its financial results for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019. All amounts are in Canadian dollars and reported under International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) unless otherwise noted. For the quarter ended September 30, 2019, Telesat reported consolidated revenue of $237 million, an increase of 4% ($10 million) compared to the same period in 2018.

Satellite, 5G, Cyber Security for a ‘Global Digital Ecosystem’

London, UK, November 4, 2019--Last month I spoke at an event for information technology security professionals in Riga, Latvia.  The theme of my presentation was a little off the mainstream of topics addressed during the several tracks of the program – unsurprisingly heavily focused on cyber security, but also covering the continuing evolution of 5G, the upcoming generation of terrestrial mobile broadband communications. 

Unlocking Africa’s Intelligence

by Lou Zacharilla

New York City, November 4, 2019--The boost in non-stop airline traffic between the USA and Africa is on the rise and access to the continent and its cities has as much to do with technology as it has to do with demand.  According to travel writer Shannon Sims, developments in plane construction makes it possible to fly longer routes.  And ultra long-haul flights, such as next month’s launch of a non-stop flight from Newark Liberty Airport to Capetown will provide access to South Africa three times per week.  Distances of  9,500 miles (15,300 kilometers) covered in less than 15 hours on a non-stop flight is truly a testament and deserves a genuflection to the wonders of engineering.

The November-December 2019 issue of the Satellite Executive Briefing magazine

The November-December 2019 issue of  the Satellite Executive Briefing magazine focusing on the African Satellite Market  sponsored by Comtech EF Data is now available.  Featuring:

A New Star over Africa by Virgil Labrador

Unlocking Africa's Intelligence  by Lou Zacharilla

Satellite, 5G and Cybersecurity for a Global Digital Ecosystem by Martin Jarrold

Linking Budgets, Linking Networks, Linking Capacities by Alvaro Sanchez

VIVACOM: A Teleport with a View to the Future by Virgil Labrador

Show Reports:  8th CSA-ISS Conference on Advanced Satellite Technologies, Shanghai, China and Satellite Innovation 2019, Mountain View, California

Product and Services MarketPlace Guide to Africacom 2019

PLUS Mergers and Acquisitions, Executive Moves, Market Briefs, Vital Statistics, Satellite Markets 20 Stock Index and many more. Click here to read or download the file

Eutelsat Reports Revenues Down in 1Q 2019

Paris, France, October 30, 2019–Eutelsat Communications (ISIN: FR0010221234 - Euronext Paris: ETL) reports revenues for the First Quarter ended 30 September 2019. First Quarter revenues of the Operating Verticals of €316.5 million, down 6.2% like-for-like , (ie, at constant currency and perimeter).

Intelsat Posts Third Quarter Net Loss of US$ 148.3 million

Luxembourg, October 29, 2019- Satelite operator Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. Intelsat reported total revenue of US$ 506.7 million and net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. of US$ 148.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019.

Iridium Reports Net Loss of US$ 18.0 million in 3Q 2019

McLean, Va., Oct. 29, 2019 --Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) ("Iridium") today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2019 and updated its full-year 2019 outlook.  Net loss was $18.0 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2019, as compared to net loss of $12.9 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2018.  This increase in net loss was primarily the result of a $12.4 million increase in depreciation and amortization expense compared to the year-ago period.  Operational EBITDA ("OEBITDA")(1) for the third quarter was $88.5 million, as compared to $79.4 million for the prior-year period, representing a year-over-year increase of 11% and an OEBITDA margin(1) of 61%.  OEBITDA primarily benefitted from higher government service revenue and strong growth in commercial IoT and hosted payload.