Government Sales Dominate Satellite Marketplace

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Continued strong growth in sales of transponders to government and military customers, coupled with strong, sustained numbers at DBS and satellite companies, will continue to drive worldwide satellite industry revenues.

Kalpak Gude, chairman of the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), said during a “State of the Industry” report that opened the third annual ISCe 2004 Satellite & Communications conference earlier this week cited research figures from research firm Futron Corp. in showing revenue growth within the satellite industry in 2003.

Futron’s numbers revealed growth in the subscriber/retail segments of 15 percent; growth of 7 percent in transponder leasing, driven by increased government and military spending; flat growth in the satellite manufacturing sector; very slow growth in the launch services sector; and steady performance in the ground equipment suppliers.”