Asia’s largest ICT and media industry event returns in June 2010 to offer global satellite service providers bigger push into Asia’s growing markets

Singapore, 5 March 2010 - Many of the world’s biggest satellite companies will congregate at CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia when the events return from 15 to 18 June 2010 to the Singapore Expo. These global players are eyeing the events as the choice business platform in Asia to help ramp up their presence and reach out to the region’s resilient satellite markets.

Growth Opportunities in the Asian Satellite Industry
Satellite services have evolved from just providing bandwidth and enabling broadcasting, to now include data and video delivery solutions that encompass broadband Internet, VoIP, mobile communications, and broadcasting. The exponential rise in mobile adoption in Asia, which now accounts for one-third of the four billion mobile subscribers in the world(1), is the key catalyst that is fuelling Asia’s demand for satellite services. 

While rapidly urbanised cities represent a large proportion of the growth of emerging markets in Asia, connecting rural communities beyond the reach of telecommunications infrastructure with cellular backhaul services has become an important untapped growing market eyed by major satellite players.  Satellite’s critical role in enabling safe and effective communications in disaster recovery, military operations and offshore setups also continue to be growth areas for the sector in the Asia Pacific region.

"Asia Pacific has always been a very important market for us," said Mr. John Warehand, PR Manager of Inmarsat. "For some of our services, such as our new mobile broadband BGAN X-Stream service, it is the fastest growing market. Our regular presence at CommunicAsia has been a consistently valuable part of our marketing activity. It has been the platform from which we have launched a number of different services and initiatives into the region.”

Warehand added, "This year, CommunicAsia will play a central role in the worldwide launch of our first global handheld service, the IsatPhone Pro. Our decision to debut the new service at CommunicAsia2010 is a reflection of the importance of the Asia Pacific market, and our belief in the show's ability to reach key regional audiences and beyond."

The recent trend of rising capacity demand for video services, in particular DTH (direct-to-home) TV broadcasting, propelled the growth of satellite operators. The popularity of television as an economical form of entertainment, especially during challenging economic times, has helped Pay TV operators maintain revenue streams and fuelled widespread of TV channels across Asia. 

Asian countries exhibiting relatively low Pay TV penetration rates, including India, Indonesia and the Philippines, reflect promising prospects for global satellite players, and many of them made the move to enter and explore business opportunities in these developing markets. India’s Pay TV subscribers in 2009 numbered 19 million subscribers across six platforms and occupy about 14 per cent of the global Pay TV market of 131 million subscribers(2).
 
“The fast growing demand from Asian TV platform operators for content, in particular HD content would be a driver for growth in the Asian satellite industry in the next few years,” said Ms. Sabrina Cubbon, General Manager of Marketing at AsiaSat. “Opportunities are enormous in markets such as India for DTH service and digital cable service; Asia is driving the economic growth in the world and our focus will be on all the markets in this region.”.

Cubbon added, “BroadcastAsia provides an excellent platform where we can meet our customers and service partners, and market our capabilities of coverage and access to the Asian media and broadcast community.  We also update our knowledge on the latest product development and service offerings on television broadcasting, content creation and distribution solutions showcased at the show.”

Combined with mobile Internet access, the GPS/LBS service applications are seen in the industry as valuable forms of revenue streams. Most handset manufacturers have launched GPS/LBS enabled handsets in the market, and revenues are projected to surpass US$14 billion by 2014.

“Satellite communications is an important sector to us,” said Mr. Victor Wong, Project Director of Communications Events from Singapore Exhibition Services, organiser of CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia. “Satellite exhibitors are gathered at a dedicated area in the exhibition to encourage closer business networking and knowledge sourcing activities. Our Asian buyers, presented with a comprehensive and convenient marketplace, are able to seek the latest products and, services, industry trends and insights offered by the world’s leading satellite players.”

Global Sellers Meet Asian Buyers at CommunicAsia2010 and BroadcastAsia2010
The event this year, projected to feature 10 per cent more exhibitors compared to last year, will see the return of many of the world’s leading satellite companies, including ABE, Alphatron Asia, AsiaSat, Asia Broadcast Satellite, C2Sat Communications, China Satcom, Comtech Telecommunications, Elber, Eutelsat, GlobeCast, iDirect, Inmarsat, Intelsat, MEASAT, Mircowave Radio Communication, Rover Broadcast & Instruments, SES WORLD SKIES, SpeedCast, SoftNi, ST Electronics, ST Teleport, TELEVES, Thaicom, and Vislink.

These companies, hailing from across the globe, regard CommunicAsia2010 and BroadcastAsia2010 as important platforms for them to network with key decision makers from the Asian business community, grow their business through forming key partnerships, and showcase their technologies and applications to the Asian marketplace.

Satellite services have played a predominant role in revolutionising the way we communicate today. By bridging the wide spectrum of satellite technologies and applications to present operators new and innovative ways to deliver data, video and voice content, CommunicAsia2010, together with BroadcastAsia2010, is well placed to play a vital role in accelerating the growth of Asia’s satellite industry.

***

(1)Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), “Asia on the rise: MMA predicts ten trends for mobile telecommunications in Asia that will dominate in 2010”, 5 January 2010
(2)Euroconsult; “Satellite TV Platforms, World Survey & Prospects to 2019, Growth through the Crisis”, 4th edition, January 2010

Shows at a glance:
CommunicAsia2010/EnterpriseIT2010:
Date: 15 - 18 June 2010
Venue: Singapore Expo, Halls 3 - 6
Opening Hours: 15 - 17 June: 10.30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
18 June: 10.30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission: Business and trade professionals only
Registration: http://www.communicasia.com

BroadcastAsia2010/InteractiveDME:
Date: 15 - 18 June 2010
Venue: Singapore Expo, Halls 7 & 8
Opening Hours: 15 - 17 June: 10.30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
18 June: 10.30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission: Business and trade professionals only
Registration: http://www.broadcast-asia.com/

About CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia

CommunicAsia is a global event where the business of technology comes to life, showcasing the latest digital technologies across mobile networks and applications, network infrastructure and satellite communications. www.CommunicAsia.com

BroadcastAsia, themed “Digital: The Journey Forward”, offers the latest in digital multimedia and entertainment technologies, addressing the value chain of content creation, management, and distribution. www.Broadcast-Asia.com

About Singapore Exhibition Services

Set up in 1976, Singapore Exhibition Services (SES) has established itself as one of the most innovative and respected exhibition and conference organisers in Asia. A pioneer in the Singapore exhibition industry, SES events have served as important platforms for companies aiming to forge new business contacts in Asia. With a portfolio of international tradeshows already serving the Communications, Engineering, Machinery and Lifestyle industries, SES continues to develop new events to meet market needs. SES events consistently attract a high level of overseas participation with foreign exhibitors accounting for almost 80% of the show floor. SES is a member of Allworld Exhibitions Alliance, a global network with over 50 offices worldwide. www.sesallworld.com.