Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) today reported its operating results for the first fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2020 and updated its financial targets for fiscal 2021. The company reported consolidated net sales of US$ 135.2 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $14.3 million (or 10.6% of consolidated net sales) exceeded Comtech's expectation for its first quarter of fiscal 2021. 

Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Highlights

In its latest analysis of satellite manufacturing and launch services, “Satellites to be Built and Launched by 2029", Euroconsult anticipates almost a quintupling in satellite demand in the next decade with an average of 1,250 satellites to be launched on a yearly basis. In comparison to the 260 yearly satellites launched in the previous decade, this skyrocketing number cements the structural changes occurring in the market and the industry, not only in the number of satellites but also in terms of satellite missions and operators, both governmental and commercial.

The World Teleport Association (WTA) today published its annual rankings for the Top Teleport Operators of 2020. 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.

Jim Simpson will transition from his current role as CEO of Saturn Satellite Networks (SSN) to a member of the Board of Saturn at the end of 2020. Thomas Choi the Executive Chairman will also assume the role of interim CEO/President of Saturn.

SpaceLink announced it formed a corporation and named David Bettinger as Chief Executive Officer. With significant spectrum rights in the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and the backing of Electro Optic Systems of Australia (EOS), SpaceLink will provide a secure, continuous, high-capacity data relay service between near Earth space and the ground.

Virgin Orbit announced today that Jim Simpson has joined its executive team as the company’s Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). With the company rapidly approaching its second launch demonstration and nearing the start of commercial service, Jim’s addition will help the team keep a laser focus on meeting its commercial and government customers’ needs in the dynamic, global

Many things have happened in the satcom industry in 2020. We as an industry have responded to Covid with a flurry of webinars, virtual conferences, LinkedIn posts, and an endless variety of podcasts. Meanwhile, satellite operators have been evolving, with 5G spectrum reallocation moving full steam ahead in some markets (including my home market of Hong Kong, one of the world’s leading assassins of C-band for satellite). 

The GVF-Satellite Evolution 2020 Webinar Series draws to a close the day following my writing the final words of this column. With 15 events in the main webinar series and a further five produced for embedding within partner online events, it has been an interesting and rewardingly successful response to the practicalities and realities of the limitations on our opportunity to move around the globe physically as governments’ policies have responded to the pandemic.

Given the choice between wrestling a live alligator in a Florida pond and living through the events of 2020 again, I would take my chances with the gator.  As we finish our current orbit around the Sun, we have experienced 365 days, 5 hours, 59 minutes and 16 seconds that felt like a Martian year.  

And yet…….