Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) today reported its operating results for the first fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2018 and updated its fiscal 2019 guidance.Comtech said net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 were US$ 160.8 million as compared to the US$ 121.6 million achieved during the first quarter of fiscal 2018. It also recorded bookings during the first quarter of fiscal 2019 worth $157.4 million, with a company-wide book-to-bill ratio (a measure defined as bookings divided by net sales) of 0.98.

To get a pulse on the dynamic Latin American Satelltie market, we invited executives from the major satellite operators in the region to share their views on the trends and opportunities in the region.  Executives from satellite operators including ABS, Eutelsat, Hispamar/Hispasat, Intelsat, Iridium, SES and Telesat participated in the roundtable discussion.  Excerpts follows:

Professional basketball great Koby Bryant once said “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.” That is the story of 2018 for the global teleport industry.  It has been navigating a period of unprecedented change in market demands, applications, pricing, costs and investment needs – and it has been creating opportunities for a new wave of growth in the process.  Or as comic legend Milton Berle put it, “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”

Teleport Opportunities

NovelSat, a world leader in satellite transmission technology, today announced that Gary Drutin has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of NovelSat and as a member of the Board of Directors of the company. The Board has accepted the request by Itzik Wulkan to be released from his position as CEO, a role he has held since co-founding NovelSat 11 years ago.

LP Technologies (LPT), a manufacturer of spectrum analyzers and satellite-based spectrum monitoring software, announced today that a large US direct-to-home provider has signed a 5-year purchase agreement with LP Technologies.  The solution chosen is LPT’s ASM software with the WEB module and the LPT-3000RX4 8 port rack mounted spectrum analyzer.  The initial purchase in mid-September 2018 exceeded one million US dollars.

The Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC) has announced that Dr. Seong Joong Kim, who has led the organization for 8 years, will retire effective April 1, 2019. The industry organization has formed a committee to commence a wide ranging search for a candidate to replace Dr. Kim.

A year-end summary of key events is always a difficult task. How to select, which ones to highlight out of the many things that have happened and are still unfolding? This article focuses on Europe, the Middle East and Africa, (EMEA), so I have to start with Yahsat and Thuraya.

Fueled by a surge in global satellite transponder demand that is expected to reach US$ 28.65 billion by 2026, the Asia Pacific satellite industry, propped up by a projected 5.6% regional economic growth in 2018 and 2019, continues to be on the roll.  Today, there is a rush for High Throughput Satellite (HTS) with the opening of new opportunities and capabilities in numerous vertical markets across the region to fulfil the growing connectivity demands well into the future.

Founder and Executive Chairman of OneWeb, Greg Wyler, has been named SSPI UK Space & Satellite Personality of the Year. The Board of SSPI UK Chapter voted Mr. Wyler winner of this annual award for his contribution to the UK space and satellite sector and his recognition of the UK as an important space hub, selecting London as a base for his business.