Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) announced today that during the Company’s third quarter of fiscal 2020, it closed an acquisition of NG-911 Inc., a pioneer of Next Generation 911 solutions for public safety agencies in the Midwest. NG-911 is one of the first Next Generation 911 solution providers in the Midwest and has successfully deployed regional Comtech Solacom systems in the past.

Communications in the aftermath of a disaster are a critical enabler for relief agencies to coordinate response efforts and to get help to those that need it. Yet connectivity is often difficult to establish, especially when terrestrial infrastructure is overloaded or has been destroyed, or simply unavailable. 

The Challenge

We live in a mobile world.  More and more, inhabitants of the developed world expect to be able to access data and video wherever they are, and at same connectivity speed that is available in their home or office.  High-speed internet access, has become a necessity.  In the developing world it paves the way to local commerce, education and economic growth.

New research from Parks Associates finds 67% of US broadband households own and use at least one internet-connected video device, either a smart TV, streaming media player, internet-connected gaming console, or connected PVR/DVR.

Dr. Peter Guggenbach, the long-standing Head of RUAG Space, has decided to leave RUAG and take up a new professional challenge. Luis De Léon Chardel will assume responsibility on an interim basis for the Space segment as of June.

In its latest research titled, “Prospects for Maritime Satellite Communications,” Euroconsult projects that the previously growing maritime connectivity market will experience a significant setback due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Maritime VSAT connectivity reached an all-time high of 28,200 connected vessels at the end of 2019 but because of the current health crisis, the previous projection of 49,300 terminals by 2023 has been reduced to 40,600 units.

IBC2020 has been cancelled due to concerns for exhibitor and attendee safety and the ability to deliver an event of the quality expected of IBC. IBC2020 was due to take place 11-14 September in Amsterdam, but with many countries in Europe still in lockdown, IBC chief executive Michael Crimp said there were “many unknowns.”

The global Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) market is projected to be positively impacted by the COVID-19 lockdowns, as consumers turn to SVoD services to fill increased viewing hours and restrictions on movie theater attendance. Disney’s arrival on the global streaming stage could not have come at a more opportune time, and it is projected to soon pass Amazon’s Prime Video viewership, and close the gap on first-place Netflix towards the end of 2025.

Global online TV episode and movie revenues will reach US$ 167 billion in 2025; double the US$ 83 billion recorded in 2019. About US$16 billion will be added in 2020 according to Digital TV Research.

Digital TV Research forecasts 35 million additional pay TV subscribers between 2019 and 2025, taking the global total to 1.06 billion. Based on forecasts for 138 countries, the number of pay TV subscribers passed 1 billion in 2018.