News Analysis

Mclean, Va., Jan. 16, 2019 – Aireon LLC today announced it has signed a credit facility agreement for US$200 million with a group of several independent investor funds, led by Deutsche Bank. This credit facility provides Aireon with the resources to fund various company initiatives and to continue to pay Iridium for the costs related to the integration, launch and hosting of the AireonSM payload on each of the 81 Iridium NEXT satellites.

London, UK, Jan. 15, 2019 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced its investment in Isotropic Systems Ltd., a London-based startup pioneering next-generation solutions to better connect people and enterprises around the globe.

Madley, Herefordshire, UK, Jan. 15, 2019 – ETL Systems, a designer and manufacturer of RF equipment for satellite communications today announced it has acquired  Atlantic Microwave, a provider of microwave components and satellite communication test equipment.

Vanderberg Air Force Base, Calif., Jan. 11, 2019 – Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) announced today that at 07:31 am PST (15:31 UTC) SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base and delivered the final 10 Iridium NEXT satellites to low earth orbit (LEO). All 10 satellites have successfully communicated with the Iridium Satellite Network Operations Center and are preparing to undergo initial on-orbit testing. This was the eighth and final launch for Iridium’s historic launch campaign with SpaceX, seeing a total of 75 new satellites deployed over less than two years.

New York, NY, January 10, 2019- -The World Teleport Association (WTA) today published its annual rankings for the Top Teleport Operators of 2018. 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. 

The January-February 2019 issue of  the Satellite Executive Briefing magazine  focusing on a Year-end review of the top stories and key trends in the global satellite industry  sponsored by The Spaceconnection Featuring:

Opportunities in the Satellite Ground Segment Market by Dan Freyer

Developments in the 5G Ecosystem by Elisabeth Tweedie

Guess Who is 'Minding the Gap'? by Lou Zacharilla

The Satellite Value-Add in Geneva and Dubai by Martin Jarrold

Executive Spotlight interview with Mitja Lovsin, General Manager, STN

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

By Lou Zacharilla*

New York City, January 3, 2019--I cannot say truthfully that the taste of kava will rival Veuve Clicquot, a smooth Italian Amarone or a glass of New York City tap water for that matter.  But kava does give you a sedating buzz that is a combination of novocaine on top of an hour of Zen meditation.

by Dan Freyer

Los Angeles, Calif, January 3, 2019--The Satellite Executive Briefing spoke with executives from large and emerging ground equipment supplies about challenges and opportunities they are seeing in global and European markets.

Hong Kong, December 17, 2018--Speedcast International today announced that on December 14, 2018 it completed the acquisition of Globecomm Systems for cash consideration of US$ 134 million net of cash acquired.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 16, 2018 – Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), a satellite operator based in the United Arab Emirates and wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Hughes Network Systems (Hughes), a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (EchoStar) (NASDAQ: SATS), today announced the completion of a joint venture arrangement to provide greater access to commercial Ka-band satellite broadband services across Africa, the Middle East and Southwest Asia.