Intelsat has told its Chapter 11 bankruptcy court that it has achieved the support of some of its major debt holders. Intelsat says that it could lead to a “comprehensive” financial restructuring that would reduce the operator’s debt by more than half – from almost $15 billion (€12.7bn) to $7 billion. The proposal, which comes […]
StarTimes, the China-backed pay-TV system, has completed the second phase of its Uganda satellite TV project and says it has now reaches an extra 400 villages in the country. StarTimes will broadcast educational programming as well as conventional channels. Song Wei, project director at StarTimes, said connecting villages will start this month and end before […]
Findings from Leichtman Research Group indicate that the largest pay-TV providers in the US – representing about 95 per cent of the market – lost about 1,230,000 net video subscribers in Q2 2021, compared to a pro forma net loss of about 1,505,000 in Q2 2020. The top pay-TV providers now account for about 77.6 […]
London-based satellite operator Inmarsat says it is making a significant upgrade to its ELERA L-band network to specifically cope with a surge in demand from companies and governments wanting Internet of Things (IoT) services. Inmarsat says the fresh investment will triple the speed of the ELERA network. The operator adds that it will also introduce […]
The decision to place failed satellite Measat-3 into a graveyard orbit seems inevitable given that sources suggest the spacecraft ran out of its essential station-keeping fuel. Insurance experts say the in-orbit failure will result in an insurance claim of some $45 million. Measat, and the satellite’s builder Boeing, are still investigating the failure which first […]
Lockheed Martin is building a couple of small cube-sats as demonstration space-craft for its new LINUSS system (Lockheed Martin In-Space Upgrade Satellite System). The concept is designed show how even smallish satellites can help upgrade satellites and even provide in-orbit refuelling and rescue tasks. The initial concept is that LINUSS satellites will aid next-generation GPS […]
Charlie Ergen, speaking to analysts on the DISH Network post-results analysts call, again touched on the prospects for a merger between DirecTV and Ergen’s DISH, saying a combination was “inevitable”. While the question and prospects of a merger have been discussed for some time, Ergen told analysts that, as he had said before, “that those […]
Abu Dhabi-based satellite operator Al Yah Satellite, which trades as Yahsat, has reported an attractive set of financial results for its H1 trading period (to June 30th). The company has just wrapped its IPO (on July 14th). YahSat says that its Net income for the first half of 2021 was in line with the prior […]
Israel-based satellite networking specialist Gilat reported an impressive set of financials on August 10th and a significant recovery given that in-flight communication travel is only just recovering from the pandemic. Gilat says that its revenues of $56.9 million (€48.6m), represent a 49 per cent increase from $38.3 million in Q2 2020 and up 27 per […]
National Telecom (NT), the former Telephone Organisation of Thailand and TOT Corp, which merged earlier this year, are likely to bid for satellite orbital slots serving Thailand. News emerged that NT would not be bidding for the licences (according to comments from Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn). Had that decision remained, it […]