Press Release

Contact: William N. Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst
Phone: (203) 426-0800
Fax: (203) 426-4262
Web site: www.forecastinternational.com
E-mail: bill.ostrove@forecast1.com
Forecast International, Inc.
22 Commerce Rd. Newtown, CT 06470 USA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Capacity Demands Driving $52 Billion Satcom Production

NEWTOWN, Conn. [May 23, 2011] Forecast International projects that the worldwide commercial communications satellite market will be worth $51.9 billion from 2011-2020. Its "The Market for Commercial Communications Satellites" study, which tracks some 54 satellite production programs, projects that 461 individual communications satellites will be produced during that timeframe.

According to the study, demand for satellite services remains strong, despite the global economic upheaval. Satellite sales are being driven by major fleet upgrades by the large geosynchronous satellite operators such as SES and Intelsat, and by LEO operator Iridium Communications Inc. Growth in developing markets is also driving satellite purchases. Governments will be major buyers of commercial communications satellite services as they supplement their own capacity with capacity from commercial satellites. William Ostrove, Forecast International aerospace systems analyst and author of the study, said deliveries will reach a high in the middle part of the forecast period as deliveries of the upgraded Iridium fleet begin.

Developing regions are particularly important to the overall health of the communications satellite market. Ostrove points out that satellite operators have fewer barriers to entry in developing regions, which include Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and parts of Asia. "There are fewer services provided by terrestrial networks in those regions, and therefore satellites are not competing against well-established companies," Ostrove said. As those economies grow, more opportunities will arise for satellite operators.

The study adds that governments are increasingly feeling pressured to reduce budgets. So instead of purchasing new satellites, governments are turning to commercial satellite operators to provide communications services. Government payloads will increasingly be deployed on commercial satellites under a scheme known as hosted payloads. These demands from government users will increase the need for commercial satellite services.

Significant areas of growth for commercial satellite operators over the next 10 years include direct-to-home television broadcast, video distribution, networking, data transfer, and broadband Internet. As users demand more capacity, satellites will need to be produced to increase in-orbit capacity. This, too, will drive production over the next 10 years.

The top manufacturers in the commercial communications satellite industry over the next 10 years will include Space Systems/Loral, Thales Alenia Space, EADS Astrium, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin. Recently, Boeing and Lockheed Martin have increased their focus on the commercial market, as the demand for military satellites has shrunk.

Forecast International, Inc. (http://www.forecastinternational.com) is a leading provider of Market Intelligence and Analysis in the areas of aerospace, defense, power systems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, Conn., USA, Forecast International specializes in long-range industry forecasts and market assessments used by strategic planners, marketing professionals, military organizations, and governments worldwide. To arrange an interview with Forecast International’s editors, please contact Ray Peterson, Vice President, Research & Editorial Services (203) 426-0800, ray.peterson@forecast1.com. Proprietary Special Research is also available. Contact Jonathan Watson, Managing Director, The Forecast Consulting Group (j.watson@forecast1.com). Questions regarding Sales may be directed to sales@forecast1.com.