ITU TELECOM WORLD 2018
Durban, South Africa, 
10-13 September 2018

The key trends characterizing the Fourth Industrial Revolution — Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (I oT), and the Fifth Generation Networks (5G) — were the focus of the ITU Telecom World conference and exhibition held from September 13-15, 2018  in Durban where global leaders in government, technology, policy development, academia and entrepreneurship met to discuss the best way to manage this revolution in Africa.

Akash Systems, focused on resolving the explosive growth of data consumption by enabling smarter and lighter satellite systems, has appointed Brian Holz as chief architect.

Holz brings extensive space satellite experience from his work directing the design and construction of satellite constellations for leading commercial organizations.

According to Euroconsult's latest report, Prospects for Splace Exploration, global government investment in space exploration totaled US$ 14.6 billion in 2017, a 6% increase compared to 2016. Fifteen leading space programs worldwide are estimated to contribute to this global investment with the U.S. accounting for 74% of the total.

Comtech Telecommunications announced today that Michael Porcelain, the company’s senior vice president, chief financial officer, has been promoted to chief operating officer.

Porcelain will be succeeded in his role by Michael Bondi, who is currently the company’s vice president, controller. These promotions are effective October 1, 2018.

Boeing completed the acquisition of Millennium Space Systems, a provider of agile, flight-proven small-satellite solutions. Millennium Space Systems will operate under Boeing Phantom Works as a subsidiary called Millennium Space Systems, A Boeing Company.

It will retain an independent operating model while benefiting from Boeing's resources, scale, manufacturing capability and technology research as the leading provider of aerospace products and services.

The World Teleport Association (WTA) today released Factoring 5G into the Future, a new research report detailing the opportunities and challenges of the coming deployment of 5G mobile for teleport and satellite operators. The report explains the technology, the industry partnerships shaping the standards and the market-specific opportunities that deployment will bring, from expansion of IoT to communication with moving vehicles to the next step in video distribution.

NSR’s M2M and IoT via Satellite, 9th Edition report forecasts smallsat M2M/IoT constellations are set to propel market growth via low latency, low cost, albeit low ARPU, service.  NSR’s first time forecast for this emerging smallsat market shows tremendous potential with 3.7 million M2M/IoT in-service units projected by 2027, representing 37% of overall satcom terminals.

According to the 25th edition of Euroconsult's report, Satellite Communications & Broadcasting Markets Survey, due to be published later in September, the FSS industry continues to move towards telecom/data markets, as wholesale revenues derived from video markets continue to erode.

Consulting firm Euroconsult announced the recipients of both its Annual Awards for Excellence in Connectivity and Satellite Communications as well as Earth Observation and Information on the occasion of the World Satellite Business Week, its annual senior executive event, of which the 22nd edition took place in Paris from Sept. 10 to 14. These annual awards recognize companies and their management for their outstanding accomplishments.

Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) today announced the settlement of its previously announced tender offer  by its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A., to purchase any and all of its outstanding 7 ¼% Senior Notes due 2020.