News Analysis

O3b: A Work in Progress

by NSR

Cambridge, Mass., July 12, 2011--O3b signed a "multi-year, multi-million dollar reseller agreement" with Sky Fiber Corporation in June 2011 following on a similar announcement with Mavoni Technologies, South Africa in May 2011. Yet, beyond these two recent contracts and one additional framework agreement with Etisalat, O3b has been fairly quiet in terms of client deals since it completed its funding in November 2010. NSR’s take on this period of contracting calm is that O3b has largely depleted the early adopter market, and most of the rest of the industry is now waiting for O3b to make concrete progress in the construction and launch of its network as well as - and especially key in NSR’s view - provide detailed information on the cost and performance of its upcoming Tier 2 ground equipment.

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Asia Dominates Global Broadband Subscribers with 42% Share

Singapore, 21 June 21 2011--With an increase of over 15.2 million subscribers in the first three months of this year, fixed broadband grew by 2.9%.  This was the biggest quarterly increase in the last two years and representing an annual growth rate of 11.93%, according to figures announced today by the Broadband Forum at its press conference at CommunicAsia 2011.  IPTV also shows exceptional growth rates with an increase of over 34% in the 12 months to the end of March 2011, based on the data prepared for the Broadband Forum by analyst firm Point Topic.

2010 SIA State of the Industry Report Shows Continued Growth

Washington, D.C., June 20, 2011 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA)  released its 2011 State of the Satellite Industry Report, showing a five percent growth in overall world satellite industry revenues in 2010. Global 2010 revenues for the satellite industry totaled $168.1 billion, for an 11.2 percent average annual industry growth rate over the past 5 years.

Asian Broadband Markets head to 50% Penetration, but Equal Access Set to be a Bigger Challenge than Better Bandwidth

Point Topic takes regional broadband pulse at CommunicAsia2011

Singapore, June 20, 2011-In a key presentation at the CommunicAsia2011 Conference in Singapore this week, leading telecoms analyst Oliver Johnson will detail the factors that could see fixed broadband household penetration in markets such as China, the Philippines and Vietnam surge past the 50% mark by 2020. Mr Johnson, CEO of specialist broadband analysis company Point Topic, will also discuss the prospect of a single regional Asian broadband market.

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The Social Dividends from the Indian Space Industry

by Riaz Lamak

Bombay, India, June 15, 2011--India’s space industry has achieved some major milestones including developing one of the most vibrant satellite manufacturing and launch sectors in the world today.  However, the Indian space industry has also made important inroads in social development and empowerment at the grassroots level.  The Government of India through the  Department of Space and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has made huge contributions to social programs. 

Hong Kong - Telecoms, Mobile, Broadband and Forecasts - 2011

Dublin, Ireland, June 14, 2011--Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China, has built one of the most sophisticated and dynamic telecommunications markets in the world. Hong Kong's regulator, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, has played a major role in developing the telecom sector. The country has put in place substantial infrastructure which supports one of the world's highest penetrations of mobile and fixed telephone services at around 190% and 52% respectively.

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Multi-play Services Drive Global Pay-TV Service Revenue to $53 Billion in 1Q 2011, According to ABI Research

Singapore, June 9, 2011--The worldwide pay-TV industry continues to grow in terms of both subscriber numbers and service revenue. “At the end of first quarter of 2011, pay-TV service revenue generated from satellite, cable, terrestrial and telco TV totaled $53 billion. That is a 10% increase from the first quarter of 2010,” says Jason Blackwell, digital home practice director at ABI Research.

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Content Costs The Number One Concern for Asian Operators

Hong Kong, June 3, 2011--A recent survey conducted by CASBAA provides new insight into the issues of most concern for platform operators of cable TV, DTH, IPTV and other forms of video delivery to consumers across the Asia Pacific. Conducted amongst the 24 members of the CASBAA Operators Group, the seven-question survey provides an indication of the concerns that platforms in the region have.

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Annual Global IP Traffic Will Reach the Zettabyte Threshold by the end of 2015 according to Cisco

San Jose, Calif. June 2, 2011-Annual global IP traffic will reach the zettabyte threshold (966 exabytes or nearly 1 zettabyte) by the end of 2015 according to the latest Visual Networking Index by Cisco.   In 2015, global IP traffic will reach 966 exabytes per year or 80.5 exabytes per month.

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Saudi Arabia is the Arab World’s Most Competitive Cellular Market

by Arab Advisors Group

Amman, Jordan, May 18, 2011--The Arab Advisors Group released the results of its Cellular Competition Intensity Index 2011. The index ranks Saudi Arabia as the most competitive Arab cellular market. Jordan came in second, followed by Palestine.

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