Satellite and Broadcasting

To connect Africans living in underserved areas with reliable mobile connectivity, fixed satellite solution and professional service provider, iSAT Africa and SES, the leader in global content connectivity solutions have joined forces to provide new 4G connectivity first via SES’s O3b medium earth orbit (MEO) constellation to subsequently migrate and expanded to SES’s next-generation MEO system, O3b mPOWER, in 2022. The development is the result of a three-year partnership agreement signed by the two companies.

SES has joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Direct Connect Delivery Partner programme through a technical and business review process, whereby AWS authenticated SES’s ability to deliver AWS services over its network of multi-orbit satellites. SES is the first satellite operator to achieve AWS Direct Connect Partner status.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) brought together national broadcasters and regulators from across Africa and its neighbouring countries to coordinate their spectrum use and identify new frequencies to avoid harmful interference as services expand.  A series of key regional frequency planning and coordination meetings, aimed at helping African countries expand the reach of their FM (frequency modulation) radio broadcasting services.

QMR-KWT, a 1U CubeSat that translates as “Moon of Kuwait”, is Kuwait’s first satellite that will be launched to space from the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle on June 24, 2021.

Azercosmos announced partnering with Satelliteherd, one of the leaders of the commercial space industry in China.

SES announced it will continue delivering Comcast Technology Solutions' Managed Satellite Distribution service, formerly known as Headend in the Sky (HITS), which reaches hundreds of multichannel video programming distributor systems across the US. SES recently renewed its long-term relationship with Comcast Technology Solutions (CTS), a division of Comcast Cable that provides media and entertainment technology to advertisers, agencies and content providers.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said he plans to invest up to 30 billion dollars to develop his ambitious Starlink satellite internet service.

SES announced its financial results for Q1 2021. Trajectory in video improved from -8.0% YOY in FY 2020 to -4.6% YOY in Q1 2021. In addition, the company showed a solid networks performance (flat YOY) in the COVID environment with strong prospects for future growth. SES registered a 7% YOY reduction in recurring operating expenses, reflecting S&A gains, supporting higher YOY Adjusted EBITDA margin (61%). Solid cash flow generation and financial discipline were recorded, supporting lower YOY leverage ratio of 3.1 times at 31 March 2021. Adjusted net profit was up 42% YOY to €75 million.

The government of Oman has initiated a bidding process inviting companies to help design and launch Oman’s first satellite by 2024.

SES announced progress in establishing its new and highly advanced O3b mPOWER satellite ground stations. Accordingly, the first three O3b mPOWER satellites are scheduled for launch in Q3 2021, with the next three in the first quarter of 2022.