Tel Aviv, Israel, December 13, 2013--Israel-based satellite operator Spacecom issued a formal notice to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that it was open to offers for a sale – or merger – of its company. Spacecom operates the Amos fleet of satellites which covers Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Hauppaugge, NY, December 11, 2013--Globecomm Systems Inc. a leading communications solutions provider, announced today that an investor group led by Wasserstein & Co. has successfully completed the previously announced acquisition of Globecomm.  As a result of the merger, each share of Globecomm common stock (other than shares held by Globecomm as treasury stock and shares as to which holders properly exercised dissenters’ rights) was converted into the right to receive $14.15 in cash, without interest, and Globecomm’s common shares will no longer be publicly traded.

El Segundo, Calif., Dec. 9, 2013—In a sign of how profoundly Internet-based media is revolutionizing the way consumers access video entertainment content, more than 1.7 billion devices capable of accessing over-the-top (OTT) broadband content like Netflix and Hulu are set to ship by the end of 2013. Shipments of OTT-capable devices will rise 20 percent this year from 1.43 billion units in 2012, according to a new Consumer Electronics Topical Reportf rom IHS Inc.  

London, UK, December 9, 2013--The latest broadband forecasts from Point Topic have dropped the expected number of broadband lines in the UK by almost 8% at the end of 2016, from just under 26 million lines to 23.88 million.

New York, NY, December 5, 2013– The World Teleport Association (WTA) published its annual rankings for the Top Teleport Operators of 2013. The annual rankings of companies by revenue and revenue growth are compiled by surveying teleport operators around the world as well as referencing the published results of publicly-held companies. 

New York City, December 4, 2013 – Coordinating an alliance of the world’s leading industry trade associations, the Society of Satellite Professionals International announced  the launch of a global campaign to change the global conversation about satellite.  Called the Industry Message Summit, the effort aims to focus attention on the industry’s striking contributions to human welfare, safety and prosperity around the world.

 by Virgil Labrador, Editor-in-Chief

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, December 3, 2013- –Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) successfully completed its first geostationary transfer mission, delivering the SES-8 satellite to its targeted 295 x 80,000 km orbit at 5:41 pm local time.  After two previous attempts that were marred by technical glitches, Falcon 9 executed a picture-perfect flight, meeting 100% of mission objectives.  To view videos of the Pre-Launch briefing with Elon Musk and interviews with SES executives click here.

Petah Tikva, Israel, December 3, 2013--Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. today announced that it has completed the sale of its Spacenet Inc. subsidiary to Tulsa, Oklahoma-based SageNet. The aggregate consideration for the sale is approximately US$ 16 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments and expenses.

Paris, France, December 2, 2013 -- Vivendi, the French media and telecommunications group, has confirmed its plan to split in two by spinning off its SFR telecommunications company and list it separately on the stock market.