The international research and analyst firm that specializes in the satellite and digital broadcasting sectors, Euroconsult, has announced that growth in the fixed satellite market has maintained its healthy pace, driven in particular by digital entertainment and emerging digital markets. Accelerated deployments of corporate networks, considerable needs for military communications, and broadband access uptake have also contributed to growth. According to Euroconsult’s recently-issued report “World Satellite Communications & Broadcasting Markets Survey, Market Forecasts to 2017” the fixed satellite sector grew in terms of both transponder demand (+8 percent) and overall revenues (+9.5 percent) with emerging satellite markets continuing to play an important role in this development.

Growth in transponder demand in nine of the twelve regions was at more than 5 percent in 2007, with double digit growth rates in Russia & Central Asia (+20 percent), South Asia (+20 percent), Central Europe (+20 percent) and Sub Saharan Africa (+19 percent). Regional operators (ie. operators excluding SES, Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Telesat) represent an increasing challenge for global operators. While regional operators represented 31 percent of total market revenues in 2007, they generated 37 percent of net revenue growth for the industry. In several regions operators have implemented ambitious procurement strategies in order to expand their satellite fleets and reach critical size. Another consequence of growth in emerging markets is the appearance of new satellite systems jointly backed by public and private funds. Encouraged by the opportunities offered in these markets, new satellite operators have stepped into the market in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Their first satellites should be in orbit in the next three years.

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