I’m coming around on the idea that the satellite communications business is coming out of the last of its economic doldrums. People on the floor at IBC 2010 — the ones in the trenches of the satellite communications business —believe that the sector is about to see a spending resurgence as the enterprise sector around the globe begins seeking hardware and services again. One executive said to expect the revenues to begin flowing again during the third quarter.
    Service providers and system integrators are seeing tremendous demand for their new communications offerings, especially ones that provide reliable services to remote areas or help consolidate control and monitoring of operations. One system integrator claims its new system that provides cloud-based IT services via satellite has seen a near 100 percent order rate from test customsers.
    The only warning coming from the exhibitors is about the supply chain, which cut back so much during the economic slowdown that the players that make the most basic components may not be ready to meet an expected influx of orders. One equipment manufacturer said they are having trouble meeting their orders due to waiting for parts from its suppliers — and the prices for those parts have risen nearly 50 percent in the past few years.
    But that looks to be a minor problem. Enterprise customers look to be primed to begin spending again, and the satellite communications sector can return to facing other issues, such as battling terrestrial providers for shares of the returning revenue stream.