IBC is delighted to announce the launch of IBC365 at www.ibc.org, a new online community platform and weekly e-bulletin that will share IBC’s unparalleled business knowledge and insight through fresh and original content, throughout the year. 

Crystal, a provider of advanced software control systems, has completed the acquisition of Video Design Software, Inc. (VDS) a New York-based broadcast control and graphic data insertion software company. 

Tough times continue in Eastern Europe, with poor job prospects forcing many to seek work abroad. This migration married with low birth rates mean that populations will fall in 15 of the 22 countries covered in the Eastern Europe Pay TV Forecasts report between 2016 and 2022.

NSR’s Satellite Operator Financial Analysis, 7th Edition, released today, finds in an industry fraught with falling prices and indebted behemoths, satellite operators are playing a more aggressive game to find growth. A shift in emphasis, away from the broadcast-dominated days, into a brave new world of HTS, LEOs and MEOs, with radical and sometimes risky changes that are expected to move operator financials forward.

Rohit Talwar, Futurist and CEO of Fast Future Research, will deliver this year's CommunicAsia2017 Summit Visionary Address titled 'Artificial Intelligence vs. Genuine Stupidity ? Navigating Exponential Technologies to Create a Very Human Future?,' on 24 May at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

'AI coupled with the other rapidly accelerating fields of science and technology will drive large-scale change and transformation of existing businesses and industries while also enabling the creation of entirely new sectors?,' says Talwar.

The World Teleport Association (WTA) today released Satellite Operator Benchmarks 2017, a new research report. This is the seventh report in WTA's annual Satellite Operator Benchmarks series, for which FutureSource provides the field research.

Key findings from the report include:

As Asia continues down the path of digital transformation and its cities get increasingly connected, CommunicAsia and EnterpriseIT 2017, to be held from 23 – 25 May, will add brand new feature zones to address the growing need for data security and the budding startup culture in the region.

Qvest Media, a systems architect for broadcasting and media technology, is expanding its business in the UK and Northern Europe and has appointed Thomas Birner as Head of Sales for these regions. With immediate effect, he will be responsible for strengthening and establishing the company’s activities in these markets.

NSR’s Big Data via Satellite report, released today, finds over $580 Million in 2016 retail revenues attributed to Big Data via Satellite applications across seven key verticals, and by 2026 retail revenues will approach nearly $2.4 Billion.  Achieving that growth, however, will require on-going developments by satellite players to integrate, process, and analyze an ever-increasing range of data from both Earth Observation and M2M/IoT sources.

Thuraya Telecommunications Company announced that Mr. Ahmed Al Shamsi, Chief Technology Officer has been appointed as temporary Acting Chief Executive Officer of the company, assuming the role immediately.

Al Shamsi has been a key member of Thuraya’s leadership team since its inception in 1997. He was directly involved in all phases of its development, from concept initiation to complete deployment, operation and evolution.