IBC2020 has been cancelled due to concerns for exhibitor and attendee safety and the ability to deliver an event of the quality expected of IBC. IBC2020 was due to take place 11-14 September in Amsterdam, but with many countries in Europe still in lockdown, IBC chief executive Michael Crimp said there were “many unknowns.”

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) marks the anniversary of the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 17 May 1865, when the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris. The theme of this year's World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is “Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."

Eutelsat Communications (ISIN: FR0010221234 - Euronext Paris: ETL) today reported revenues for the Third Quarter and Nine Months ended 31 March 2020.  Third Quarter Operating Verticals revenues down 1.6% year-on-year; up 1.2% quarter-on-quarter while broadcast showing resilience, with return to slight growth quarter-on-quarter.

Satellite operator Intelsat has filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division. The company said the bankruptcy filing is part of a "financial restructuring" that is "intended to enhance the company’s liquidity and will likely result in a substantial reduction of Intelsat’s legacy debt burden, allowing for Intelsat to emerge with a strengthened balance sheet to complement its strong operating model and future growth plans."

National Association of Broadcasters President and CEO Gordon Smith delivered the annual NAB Show State of the Industry address during NAB Show Express, taking place May 13-14. Smith said that "broadcasters endure" amid the COVID 19 pandemic.

Flat panel antenna manufacturer Phasor Solutions UK has filed for bankruptcy in the UK according to various media reports.  The company is based in Arlington, Virginia in the US and has a technology development center in the UK.  The company has previously filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection in the US in 2017.

Amergint Technology Holdings today announced it has acquired Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI), a leader in new space solutions for the small satellite market. The transaction will bring together Amergint Technologies, Inc. and TUI to provide integrated end-to-end solutions for satellite communications and in-space services to the space market.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

This month the Satellite Markets and Research asked executives of satellite companies from all over the world on what impact has the global COVID-19 pandemic has had on their business and what measures have they taken to respond to the crisis and how they see their companies emerging from all these.  The companies represent a cross-section of the various segments of the industry including manufacturers and service providers.  Here are their responses:

Manuel Lobeira, CEO
ACORDE Technologies
Santander, Spain

They can call it what they want.  I call it “UNsocial distancing.” Let’s face it, living life online sucks.  It always has.  It always will.  I’m sorry.  I just like being with people.  I like schmoozing.  I like talking – about anything. I even can tolerate close talkers who spit a little – although not these days!  

If there’s one thing the global business community has learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to ebb, flow and unfold on the daily, wreaking having on bottom lines in every corner of the world in its wake, it’s the outright imperative for companies to be agile “from top to bottom.”  In fact, agility is rapidly establishing itself as “the great equalizer,” asserting its unbridled authority over which companies—from global conglomerates to mom and pops...and EVERYTHING in between—will survive another day.