The satellite communications industry is in an expansive phase. Fixed satellite service (FSS) revenues have grown at a compounded annual rate of 5.8 percent per year for the past 10 years. Mobile satellite service (MSS) revenues have grown at a rate of 3.6 percent, and direct broadcasting revenues in the United States have grown 11.6 percent per year over the same period. The growth of U.S. broadband satellite service revenues has been even more dramatic, with a compounded annual rate of more than 25 percent over the past seven years. Revenue growth has led to an acceleration of capital expenditures. About 115 geostationary communication satellites were procured in the past five years, and most of these have been much larger satellites than in the past. Satellite operators have ordered nearly 30 high-throughput satellites (HTS), and most replacement satellites have substantially greater capacity.
展开▼
