Focus: Telecom

Echostar Communications Corp. posted a profit of $140 million on revenues of $2.5 billion in the 2006 third quarter, the company announced Nov. 7. In 2005’s third quarter, the satellite-TV provider recorded a profit of $209 million on revenues of $2.1 billion. The company posted a non-cash gain of $73 million in the quarter to...

Research and Markets announced the release of its "State of the Space Industry 2005" report on Nov. 7. Designed to provide industry, government, and financiers with an independent assessment of the trends and issues affecting the industry, "State of the Space Industry 2005" offers quantitative and qualitative analysis and commentary on developments in the space...

Microsoft Corp. announced Nov. 6 the launch of Virtual Earth 3D, a new online mapping interface providing consumers with a three-dimensional (3-D) experience to search, browse and explore the real world online. Using hybridized satellite and aerial imagery, visitors to Live Search (http://live.com) can post a query and click on a "maps" tab to get...

Norsat International Inc., a provider of compact portable satellite terminals, and TC Communications, a provider of integrated satellite communications systems, have formed a strategic partnership, Norsat announced Nov. 3. TC Communications will market and support Norsat satellite terminals in the Australian market.

XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. cuts its third quarter loss as revenues improved 57 percent, the company announced Nov. 6. XM lost $84 million in the 2006 third quarter, which closed Sept. 30, down from a loss of $132 million in the same period a year ago. Revenues jumped from $153 million in the 2005...

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. signed a contract with the National Space Research and Development Agency of Nigeria for a small Earth observation satellite, Surrey Satellite announced Nov. 6. Nigeriasat-2 will be based upon a new generation of small satellite technology and will become part of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC), Surrey Satellite said. Nigeria already...

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) upheld its earlier ruling that Canadian satellite-TV providers cannot include satellite radio services in their offerings, the CRTC announced Nov. 3. The ruling means that Expressvu and Star Choice cannot offer channels from Sirius Satellite Radio or XM satellite radio as part of their packages. The CRTC rules...

A Boeing Delta 4 rocket placed a Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite into orbit for the U.S. Air Force, Boeing announced Nov. 4. The launch of DMSP-17 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., was the second West Coast mission for the U.S. Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.

Northrop Grumman Corp. and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) filed complaints with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over pending approval of the United Launch Alliance (ULA). The joint venture, which received preliminary approval in October, would combine the government launch vehicle operations of Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. SpaceX, which would be a competitor...

Orbcomm Inc. priced its initial public offering (IPO) of 9.2 million shares of common stock at $11 per share, the company announced Nov. 2. The offering was scaled back, as Orbcomm had announced in October its plans to offer 11.2 million shares at a range of $12 to $14. The stock will trade on the...