NSR’s Emerging Space Markets Analysis, 2nd Edition (ESMA2) report, released today, tracked over US$ 17.8 Billion invested in Emerging Space companies from 2000-2018 for the more than 600 companies founded over that period. The last 2 years (2018 and 2017 combined) saw tremendous growth with more than US$ 7 Billon+ investment in Emerging Space companies.

Merger and acquisition activity in the defence and security domains was valued at USD82 billion during 2018, representing a 36% increase of the 2017 USD60 billion total according to Jane's by IHS Markit. This is the second consecutive record year of the present decade.

The total was pushed to a new high by a series of market-changing transactions during 2018, as the trend for transformational deals continued. The number of ‘transformation deals’ (those valued at USD500 million or more) more than doubled year on year during 2018 to 13, compared to 6 in 2017.

Video delivery platform leader SeaChange International (NASDAQ: SEAC) has announced that it has acquired privately-held Xstream A/S, an over-the-top video and TV cloud platform provider based in Copenhagen, Denmark and Warsaw, Poland. SeaChange paid US$ 4.6 million in cash and 541,738 shares of SeaChange common stock, for a total transaction value as of February 6, 2019 of US$ 5.5 million.

Thaicom Public Company Limited (THCOM), Thailand’s first satellite operator, reported a consolidated net profit of US$7.31 million (Baht 230 million), an improvement from last year’s net loss of US$84.26 million (Baht 2,650 million). Thaicom said the recovery can be attributed to the recognition of gain from sales of shares of CS Loxinfo Public Company Limited (CSL), a decrease in depreciation and amortization after the recognition of satellite assets impairment in 2017, and an improved cost management.

Hughes Network Systems, a leading provider of broadband satellite networks and services, announced that the  IEEE has honored Dr. Lin-Nan Lee, vice president of Advanced Development at Hughes and Life Fellow at IEEE, with its “Distinguished Contributions to Satellite Communications” award.

To jump-start the 2019 year, Terrasat has recently surpassed shipping out 20K IBUCs worldwide, and it continues to charge forward by expanding its sales team. Terrasat welcomes Paul Gorton to the team as Director of Sales, EMEA, who will be combining forces with Ron Merritt, Regional VP of EMEA.

Iridium Communications has announced that COO Scott Smith has decided to retire effective March 15th and  the company is welcoming back to Iridium new chief operations officer Suzi McBride.

SES is streamlining customer support and services by forming a global services delivery team under the leadership of a Chief Services Officer (CSO). John Baughn, formerly executive vice president global services at SES Networks, is appointed to this newly created position.

SES said this move underscores the company’s commitment to place customers at the heart of its business and deliver exceptional customer experience following the successful implementation of two market-facing business units in 2017, SES Video and SES Networks.

CABSAT – the leading specialist event for the broadcast, satellite, digital media and filmed entertainment industries for the Middle East and North Africa –  is entering its 25th edition with a fresh, newly evolved format that will bring the full content creation, production, post production satellite, OTT video, e-sports, digital media and entertainment ecosystem to center stage.Taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), March 12th-14th, CABSAT 2019 will unite the media industry’s creative experts and most sought-after tech s

Ariane 5 placed the geostationary satellite 1/Hellas Sat 4 (HS-4/SGS-1) and GSAT-31 telecommunications satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), lifting off from the European spaceport in Kourou (French Guiana).