Small satellite manufacturer Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) has appointed Sam Francis as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), further strengthening its executive leadership team as the rapidly growing aerospace company continues to expand.

Francis brings more than 25 years of experience in financial leadership, capital markets and management of both buy- and sell-side M&A transactions. In his role at BCT, Francis will oversee all aspects of company finances including capital planning and management and make significant contributions to strategic planning and operations.

Following-on from the Aberdeen, Scotland, Oilfield Connectivity 2019 event back in May, the GVF-EMP Partnership will be presenting its next event – Cellular Backhaul 2019: Satellite and the 5G Journey (www.uk-emp.co.uk/current-events-zone/cellular-backhaul-2019/) – as an embedded feature of

The Yamal-601 telecommunications satellite, designed and built by Thales Alenia Space for the Russian operator Gazprom Space Systems (GSS), is now going through in orbit testing after its successful launch on May 30 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan by a Proton M/Breeze M rocket.

The satellite will provide fixed communications, broadcast and Internet access services.

Thales Alenia Space was program prime contractor, in charge of satellite design, production and turnkey delivery, along with control software for the ground segment.

With 21 commercial satellites at the geostationary orbit, Japan is still the largest satellite operating country in the Asia Pacific Region.

Broadcasting Satellite System Corp (B-SAT) currently operates four satellites, BSAT-3a, -3b, -3c and -4a, at 110 degrees east. Unique feature of BSAT-4a satellite is that it carries 12 brand-new left-hand circularly polarized Ku-band transponders in addition to traditional 12 right-hand version.

Reflecting the rising importance of the telcos, IPTV is gaining subscribers in Western Europe at the expense of the other pay TV platforms. IPTV overtook satellite TV in 2015 and will be approaching cable by 2024. IPTV will add 5.5 million subscribers between 2018 and 2024.

At Satellite 2019 in Washington, D.C. Satellite Markets and Research Editor-in-Chief Virgil Labrador interviewed key executives including  Mark Rigolle, CEO-Leosat, 

CANAL+ Group is acquiring M7, one of the largest independent pay-TV companies in Europe operating in Benelux and Central Europe. M7 is owned by Astorg, a leading European private equity firm. This acquisition is subject to the European Commission’s approval.

M7 is an aggregator and distributor of local and international channels via satellite and OTT platforms. It has developed a presence in the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania where it has a total of 3 million subscribers, of which 0.8 million to a basic access package.

Globecast, the global solutions provider for media, announced that Jack Braybrook has joined the content and distribution team as Account Manager, Distribution, and James Whittaker has joined the contribution team as Business Development Manager OU Sports and Events. Both are based in the UK with their roles effectively immediately.

LiveU, a provider of live IP video solutions, is pleased to announce that Francisco Partners, a global technology-focused private equity firm, together with co-investor IGP Capital, have acquired LiveU from its existing shareholders.

The commercial satellite ground segment market, including satcom applications, EO applications and user terminals for user applications, is going through significant expansion in terms of both capabilities and demand and will grow from US$ 264 million in 2018 to nearly US$ 360 million in 2028.