News Analysis

Paris, France, February 13, 2014--According to Euroconsult's newly released research report entitled "Profiles of Government Space Programs," global budgets for space programs dropped to US$ 72.1 billion in 2013 following peak spending at US$ 72.9 billion in 2012. This is the first time since 1995 that public space programs worldwide have entered a downward trend, a direct result of the cyclical nature of countries' investment in space-based infrastructures combined with governments' belt-tightening efforts during tough economic times.   

Oslo, Norway, February 12, 2014-- In the fourth quarter of 2013, Telenor Group reported revenues of NOK 28 billion (US$ 4.28 billion), representing an organic revenue growth of 1%. EBITDA before other items was NOK 8.99 billion, the EBITDA margin was 32.6%, and operating cash flow was NOK 4.42 billion (US$ 720 million).

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 11, 2014- Arabsat and Morgan for Information and Communications Technology (MICT) signed a contract where Arabsat will provide Morgan with Satellite capacities on Arabsat-5C at the orbital position 20° East, with full coverage to the African continent, in addition to Arabsat usual coverage to the Middle East and large parts of Asia and Europe.

Kourou, French Guiana, February 6, 2014--The ABS-2 satellite was successfully launched  at 6:30  p.m. Kourou time today. The satellite was launched on an Ariane ECA launch vehicle from the Guiana Space Center.

London, UK, February 6, 2014-- Arqiva announced today the acquisiton of Capablue, the Connected TV, video-on-demand and content solution provider. The two companies already have a relationship, having partnered on solutions including the development of pay capabilities for the Arqiva Connect TV platform.

Stockholm, Sweden, February 6, 2014--Ericsson today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Massachusetts-based Azuki Systems, Inc., a provider of TV Anywhere delivery platforms for service providers, content owners and broadcasters.

London, UK, February 4, 2014--Inmarsat today announced that Inmarsat-5 F1, the first in its fleet of three Global Xpress (GX) satellites, has successfully completed its orbital deployment stages on schedule.  Inmarsat and Boeing engineers, working from Inmarsat’s GX teleport in Nemea, Greece, are now beginning a month of comprehensive payload testing, in preparation for commencing live end-to-end testing of the high-speed, mobile broadband GX connectivity services, scheduled to start in March.

Houston, Tex., February 3, 2014--RigNet has completed a strategic transaction with Inmarsat involving the sale of substantially all of Inmarsat's Energy Broadband business to RigNet and the appointment of RigNet as a Value Added Reseller of Inmarsat's Global Xpress (GX) service and as a Distribution Partner for Inmarsat's L-band services to the energy sector worldwide.RigNet has acquired Inmarsat's Energy Broadband business for US$25 million in cash.

Geneva, Switzerland, February 3, 2014-- Satellite communications specialist Newtec and the operator of the world’s largest satellite and fiber live video network, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), have signed a multimillion-euro contract. The deal is to deploy Newtec’s satellite broadcast solutions as part of the EBU’s major pan-European news exchange network.

Izegem, Belgium, February 3, 2014 – Skyline Communications, a provider of end-to-end multi-vendor network management solutions for the IPTV, satellite, HFC broadband and broadcast industry, announced record sales figures for 2013 at its annual employee event last week. The company reported that it has achieved revenue growth averaging 25% per year in the last ten years.