News Analysis

Berlin, Germany, February 23, 2012--Several satellite industry assications repeated  its grave concerns over the proposed UNIDROIT Space Assets Protocol. Delegates of UNIDROIT and its member states will convene on February 27 in Berlin, Germany, for the Diplomatic Conference on the Draft Space Assets Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment, the European Satellite Operators’ Association, the Satellite Industry Association of Washington, D.C., the Space Industry Association of Australia and the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia today urged delegates and Member States to defer any consideration of the Protocol due to an absence of support from the global satellite industry.

Geneva, Switzerland, February 17, 2012--The World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12)  concluded its deliberations today with the signing of the Final Acts that revise the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.Over 3000 participants, representing 165 out of ITU’s 193 Member States attended the four-week Conference, braving the extreme winter conditions prevailing in Geneva. Over 100 Observers from among ITU’s 700 private sector members along with international organizations also attended WRC-12.

Luxembourg, February 17, 2012—Satelltie operator SES reported an increase in recurring revenue and EBITDA increasing by 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively. Reported revenue remained essentially flat, with reported EBITDA decreasing slightly, due to the adverse evolution of the USD against the euro (average conversion rate in 2011 was 1.4035 compared to 1.3294 in 2010). Reported EBITDA also reflected the impact of the one-time reorganisation charge of  EUR 14.8 million.

Paris, France, February 16, 2012--Satellite operator EUTELSAT  reported first half results of fiscal year 2011-12 with revenue growth: of 4.6% at €602.4 million. EBITDA was reported to be up 3.4% to €478.5 million, generating EBITDA margin of 79.4%.

Nonthaburi, Thailand, February 16, 2012--Satellite operator THAICOM Public Company Limited (released its full-year 2011 operating results reporting  consolidated net operating profits for a second quarter in a row of 46 million Baht  (US$ 1.45 million), an increase of 186.7% over the previous quarter’s consolidated net operating profit of 16 million Baht (US$ 520,000) . The overall performance for the year, with a net loss of 130 million Baht (US$ 4.23 million)  carried over from the first half of the year, on normalized business operations, was an 83.9% improvement over the previous year’s results, when a loss of 806 million Baht (US$ 26.24 million) was recorded.

El Segundo, Calif., February 16, 2012--DirecTV, the largest satellite TV provider in the United States, reported a 16 percent increase in fourth-quarter profit amid rising subscriber numbers in Latin America. Net income rose to $718 million, or US$1.02 a share, from US $618 million, or 74 cents, a year earlier, according to the company fourth quarter 2011 financial results.

San Jose, Calif. February 14, 2012--Mobile video exceeded 50 percent of global internet trafficfor the first time in 2011 according to the latest The Cisco® Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update.  Global mobile data traffic grew 2.3-fold in 2011, more than doubling for the fourth year in a row. The 2011 mobile data traffic growth rate was higher than anticipated. Last year's forecast projected that the growth rate would be 131 percent. This year's estimate is that global mobile data traffic grew 133 percent in 2011. Among its findings include:

New York City, February 10, 2012--Americans spend more than 33 hours per week watching video across the screens, according to the latest Nielsen Cross-Platform Report. But how they’re consuming content—traditional TV and otherwise—is changing. Demonstrating that consumers are increasingly making Internet connectivity a priority, 75.3 percent pay for broadband Internet (up from 70.9% last year); 90.4 percent pay for cable, telephone company-provided TV or satellite. Homes with both paid TV and broadband increased 5.5 percent since last year.

Hauppage, NY, February 8, 2012--Globecomm reported fiscal 2012 second quarter revenues increasing by 35.5% to a record US$95.2 million as compared to US $70.2 million in the same period last year. Revenues from service increased 15.6% to a record $54.7 million, as compared to $47.3 million in the same period last year. The increase in service revenue was primarily driven by the company’s acquisition of ComSource, completed on April 2011, which contributed $6.4 million, coupled with an increase in scope on a major government program in the Middle East.

Paris, February 6, 2012-- Euroconsult announced today that it expects prospects for the satellite industry to remain favorable over the decade in a variety of areas. The next ten years should see continued growth for commercial markets, while at the same time stagnating growth for government spending should be expected at least through mid-decade.