There is absolutely no doubt that the Internet of Things (IoT) is a rapidly growing business.  Whether we’re consciously aware of it or not, digital transformation is impacting all aspects of daily life.  Connected devices are becoming pervasive; from refrigerators that let you know when you’re going to run out of milk, to sensors monitoring the moisture content of soil; from self-driving cars, to tags tracking the movement of containers, across oceans and continents.  A recent study from Fortune Business Insights projected that the global IoT market would reach US$ 1,854.76 Billion by 2028

Kymeta and Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL), a leading global provider of next-generation 911 emergency systems and secure wireless communications technologies, announced today a technology and business development partnership.

Vector Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: VACQ), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company backed by leading technology investor Vector Capital, today announced that Vector’s shareholders voted to approve its proposed merger with Rocket Lab USA, Inc., at its annual general meeting of shareholders held on August 20, 2021. Vector also announced that holders of less than 3% of its Class A ordinary shares have properly exercised their right to redeem their shares in connection with the proposed merger.

Leichtman Research Group (LRG) found that the largest pay-TV providers in the U.S.– representing about 95% of the market – lost about 1,230,000 net video subscribers in 2Q 2021, compared to a pro forma net loss of about 1,505,000 in 2Q 2020. 

The top pay-TV providers now account for about 77.6 million subscribers – with the top seven cable companies having 42.6 million video subscribers, other traditional pay-TV services having about 28.2 million subscribers, and the top publicly reporting Internet-delivered (vMVPD) pay-TV services having about 6.8 million subscribers.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announded today that it will be requring proof oof vaccination for all attendees of the NAB show to be held in Las vegas from October 9-13, 2021.

Spire Global, a global provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, today announced it has completed its previously announced business combination with NavSight Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NSH)  to take Spire public. The combined company has been renamed “Spire Global, Inc.” and its shares will commence trading on the New York Stock Exchange on August 17, 2021, under the ticker symbol “SPIR” for Spire common stock and “SPIRW” for Spire warrants.

Telesat today announced its financial results for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2021. Adjusted EBITDA was CDN$ 149 million, a decrease of 10% ($16 million) or, when adjusted for foreign exchange rates, a decrease of 3% (CDN$5 million). The Adjusted EBITDA margin1 for the second quarter of 2021 was 79.2%, compared to 79.1% in 2020.

Note: All amounts below are in Canadian dollars.

“And now for something completely different.”  Words first uttered by John Cleese in 1971, and repeated by Lorraine Whitfield, Chief Events and Marketing Officer, Euroconsult, at the opening of this year’s World Satellite Business Week.  Words that sum up, not only this conference, being the first time that WSBW has been a virtual conference, but words that also sum up this year for most of us.   

SpaceX is acquiring the small-satellite data provider Swarm Technologies, absorbing the startup’s roughly 30 employees and its network around 150 tiny satellites. The deal is extremely rare for SpaceX, which normally manufactures its rocket and satellite hardware in-house or hires subcontractors according to analysts.

Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, will deliver SATELLITE 2021’s opening keynote address on Thursday, September 9th at 8:30 am ET at the Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.