Focus: Telecom

[Satellite Today – 2-1-08] Alliant Techsystems (ATK) will file an Investment Canada Act registration relating to its planned acquisition of the space businesses of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA), ATK announced Jan. 31. The companies announced Jan. 8 that ATK had agreed to acquire MDA’s Information Systems and Geospatial businesses for $1.3 billion dollars.    ...

[Satellite Today – 2-1-08] Avanti Communications reported a 60 percent increase in revenues for the six-month period that closed at the end of December, the company announced Jan. 31.     The company recorded revenues 2.5 million British pounds ($5 million), compared to 1.5 million pounds ($3 million) in the final six months of 2006. However,...

[Satellite Today – 2-1-08] Craig Cooning has been named vice president and general manager of the Space and Intelligence Systems unit within Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems unit, the company announced Feb. 1.     He previously served as vice president and deputy general manager of Space and Intelligence Systems and replaces Howard Chambers, who has begun...

[Satellite News – 2-1-08] Star One hopes to become more of a force in the Latin America region with the launch of a pair of new satellites, Gustavo Silbert, the president of Star One told Satellite News.     The Brazilian operator closed 2007 with the launch of its Star One C1 satellite in November and...

The recent turmoil in credit markets has caused acquirers and their lenders in several high-profile pending merger and acquisition transactions to seek ways to withdraw from or renegotiate signed deals, because the expected financing either is not available or available only on terms that substantially reduce the deal’s economic attractiveness. Agreement provisions are being scrutinized...

[Satellite Today – 1-31-08] SES Americom, an SES company, has introduced satellitewiki.com, a Web site devoted to the satellite industry which allows users to add and edit content collectively, the company announced Jan. 31.     Satellitewiki.com uses the same software used to power Wikipedia, and allows browsers to explore the history of man-made satellites, definitions...

[Satellite Today – 1-31-08] Canalsat, the French DTH platform, had more than 5.2 million subscribers at the end of December, its parent company Vivendi said Jan. 30. Vivendi owns 100 percent of the Canal+ Group, which runs the Canalsat platform. This was one of the highlights of Vivendi’s full-year results. Canalsat has increased its subscriber...

[Satellite Today – 1-31-08] Raytheon Co.’s Space and Airborne Systems division posted a 6 percent increase in net sales, from $1.17 billion in the fourth quarter of 2006 to $1.24 billion in the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, 2007, the company announced Jan. 31.     For the year, the division posted a 1 percent drop...

[Satellite Today – 1-31-08] Hughes Network Systems LLC has signed Embarq to be a licensed reseller of HughesNet broadband satellite Internet access, Hughes announced Jan. 31.     HughesNet offers service packages with download speeds from 700 kilobits per secondto 2 megabits per second via a compact satellite modem connected to a small outdoor antenna at...

[Satellite Today – 1-31-08] SES, through SES Astra, has increased its stake in SES Sirius, the operator said Jan. 31. SES announced under an agreement with Swedish Space Corp. (SSC), it has exercised an option to transfer to SES Astra an additional 15 percent equity stake in SES Sirius. The transaction increases SES’existing shareholding interest...