SАTCOMRUS 2020, the 25th anniversary international conference of operators and users of Russia’s satellite communication networks, took place online on October 8, 2020. The event was held with the support of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, the Federal Communications Agency and the Roscosmos State Corporation. Over 400 specialists from Russia, Great Britain, USA, Canada, Israel, Italy, France, Indonesia, Nigeria, India, Azerbaijan took part in the digital conference.

Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM)today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2020 and updated its full-year 2020 outlook. Net loss was US$ 4.0 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2020, as compared to net loss of US$ 18.0 million, or US$ 0.14 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2019.  This decrease in net loss was primarily the result of lower net interest expenses related to the refinancing of Iridium's credit facility and high-yield notes from the year ago period. 

C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. (TSXV: CMI, OTC: CYSNF), a provider of mobile auto-deploying satellite antenna systems, announced today its financial results for the third quarter ended August 31, 2020. C-COM generated revenues of CDN $1,773,918 and net after tax income of CDN $210,856 or 1 cent per share. This compared with revenues of CDN $1,453,446 and a net after tax loss of CDN $346,290 or -1 cent per share for Q3, 2019 - representing increases of 22% and 161% respectively.

AAC Clyde Space has reached an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the shares in SpaceQuest, Ltd in an all shares deal in a payment of 24,000,000 new AAC shares to the current owners of Space Quest. The acquisition is subject to approval by the AAC Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

The Satellite Mobility market consists of three key verticals: the aeronautical/in-flight;  maritime and land mobile communications on the move (COTM) markets.  Of those three markets that cover the air, sea and land, two of those verticals are probably the hardest hit sectors of the satellite industry by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.

The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) held its annual Satellite Industry Forum (SIF) as a virtual conference, from 24 – 25 September, which allowed for truly global participation with delegates from around the world in attendance. The event also saw over 100 new companies register to be part of the two-day discussions on Video in the Satellite World.

Momentus, a commercial space company offering in-space transportation and infrastructure services, today announced it has signed a definitive merger agreement with Stable Road Acquisition Corp. that will result in the company becoming publicly listed.

Upon the closing of the transaction, the combined operating company will be named Momentus Inc. and its securities will be listed on Nasdaq and trade under the ticker symbol “MNTS.”

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (Nasdaq: CMTL)  and Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq: GILT; TASE: GILT)  announced today that the companies have agreed to terminate the merger agreement first announced on January 29, 2020 and have settled all pending litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery. In connection with the termination and settlement agreement, Comtech has agreed to make a payment of US$ 70.0 million to Gilat.

The best advice I ever got for dealing with things that terrified me was from a teacher in New York 30 years ago.  She said, “Try leaning into your fears.” 

The GVF Webinar Series has been an innovative response to the dictates of a variously locked down world and its various themes have been well received by a global audience. Whilst, as noted in my previous column, 69 has been the least number of countries dialing-in to any one individual Zoom event, the total number of nations reached across the series to date has now exceeded 120.