[Satellite TODAY Insider 03-10-11] Global aeronautical satellite communications market revenues improved about 25 percent to $1.3 billion in 2010 due to growing requirements from cockpit and cabin applications, according to a report from satellite research firm Euroconsult, issued March 9.
    According to Euroconsult Senior Consultant Wei Li, author of "Aeronautical Telecom Solutions by Satellite," the aeronautical satcom sector will continue to enjoy long-term growth, reaching $2.3 billion in bandwidth, terminals and value-added service revenues by 2020. Li said government users will continue to drive more than half of the sector’s total profits.
    "The market is being driven by everything from passenger Internet on commercial airliners to the bandwidth used in long-distance military operations. While commercial use will grow over the next decade, the government market for aeronautical satellite communications will grow just as rapidly and continue to represent the largest segment of the business," Li wrote.
    The government sector for aeronautical MSS satellite services includes use on military aircraft, reconnaissance and surveillance planes, head of state jets and helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. A large majority of these services are provided via L-band, and Euroconsult expects that trend to continue during the next 10 years.
    However, Li said that revenues generated from FSS high-throughput Ku- and Ka-band VSAT services are expected to grow at double-digit rates during the next decade.
    "As a consequence, Ku-band satellite capacity usage is expected to grow by more than 400 percent in the next decade. … At the satellite operator level, overall revenues for both MSS and FSS operators are expected to grow from $210 million in 2010 to almost $670 million in 2020, for a compound annual growth rate of 12 percent. For equipment vendors, the total revenue for L-, Ku- and Ka-band equipment is expected to reach $866 million in 2020, with over 97,000 terminals in operation," Li said.

Related Stories-

Euroconsult CEO: Satellite Video Transmission Market Set For Dramatic Ten-Year Growth Spurt    Satellite News   February 9, 2011
[Satellite News 02-09-11] Euroconsult expects the market value for video transmission services over satellite to reach $27 billion in 2020 up from $15.8 billion in 2010 driven by strong growth in video distribution services for TV channels and…

Morgan Stanley Sees Bright Future for Satellite Market in 2011    Satellite Today   January 11, 2011
[Satellite TODAY Insider 01-11-11] Morgan Stanley analysts expect the satellite industry s strong 2010 overall performance to continue in 2011, as satellite stocks rose by an average of 20 percent in 2010 with limited negative impact outside…

DirecTV’s Operating Cash Flow Breakdown May Answer Defying Growth Trend Questions    Satellite Today   November 15, 2010
[Satellite TODAY Insider 11-15-10] For the past year, satellite pay-TV provider DirecTV s financial growth has defied the logic of the consumer economy and baffled analysts. As its major cable rivals report historic losses attributed to consumers…