Satellite Deals Of The Day

Pembroke, Bermuda-based Intelsat Ltd. just completed its acquisition of the customer contracts and other assets of end-to-end communications services integrator Comsat General Corporation for approximately $90 million in cash. The deal includes the rights to licenses from the Federal Communications Commission. Intelsat’s plan is to enhance its competitive position in providing U.S. and NATO users with satellite capacity and managed satellite-based services.
Comsat General has been providing satellite-centric telecommunications services and equipment for more than 30 years by concentrating on clients with quick-response and high-availability needs. This business generated approximately $156 million in revenue in 2003.

Conny Kullman, CEO of Intelsat, Ltd., said, “This acquisition brings us closer to key customers and creates new opportunities to increase the sale of core satellite capacity.”

GlobeCast signed a deal with the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) to provide full-time satellite services that deliver Voice of America (VOA) TV and radio programming to Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. IBB is a federal entity and the contract is a huge boost for GlobeCast.
The satellite operator will provide the IBB with full-time use of a transponder on the NSS-703 satellite at 57 degrees East Longitude, and capacity on Intelsat’s IS-907 satellite over the Atlantic region to complement IBB’s global multimedia network.

Earlier this week, GlobeCast announced the extension of its global fiber network to Japan. That arrangement stemmed from a deal struck with leading Japanese telco KDDI. Japanese and international broadcasters can now backhaul their ad hoc or permanent video feeds to Japan or they can distribute them from Tokyo to the rest of the world via GlobeCast’s global fiber network.

In addition, GlobeCast’s Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) Division announced it would help broadcasters cover Yasser Arafat’s hospitalization and treatment in Paris, beginning today. GlobeCast will provide tape playout, live positions and mobile satellite facilities. Immediate bookings are available through the company’s 24/7 international customer centers.

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