News & Press

World Teleport Association to Film New Interviews for its Executive Dialogue Series at CommunicAsia

Thu, 30 May 2013 16:44:29 GMT

(New York City, May 30, 2013) – World Teleport Association today announced the continuation of its Executive Dialogue Series, with more interviews scheduled to film June 18-21 at CommunicAsia. WTA’s Executive Dialogue Series offers views on critical issues in communications from the unique perspective of service providers who combine satellite and terrestrial capacity with innovative technologies to meet the needs of media, government, telecom, maritime and other customers.

The CommunicAsia 2013 portion of the Executive Dialogue Series is sponsored by Optus (www.optus.com.au).

Members of the press are invited to request interview time with teleport and satellite executives who will be speaking in the Dialogues. Interviews can be scheduled by contacting Randall Barney (rbarney@worldteleport.org).

The most recent installments to the Executive Dialogue Series were filmed at NAB 2013.All of the interviews from this event are now available on WTA’s site. Among the list of interviewees featured in this series are:

Bill Tillson & Ed Horowitz, Co-CEO's, Encompass Digital Media
Richard Buchanan, Vice President & General Manager, Comcast Media Center
Rick Mortellaro, Senior Vice President, EchoStar Satellite Services

The full list of interviewees can be found on WTA’s website.

About World Teleport Association

Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (www.worldteleport.org) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

For More Information 

Matthew Owen 

Communications Manager 

World Teleport Association 

mowen@worldteleport.org 

212-825-0218 x105

World Teleport Association Releases Executive Dialogue Series Interview Videos from NABSHOW 2013

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:27:42 GMT

(New York City, April 23, 2013) – World Teleport Association today announced the release of 22 new interview videos from its Executive Dialogue Series shot at NAB 2013. WTA’s Executive Dialogue Series provides the top leaders of WTA member companies with the opportunity to share their viewpoints, experience and technical knowledge with a global audience.

Among the list of interviewees featured in this series are:

Bill Tillson & Ed Horowitz, Co-CEO's, Encompass Digital Media
Lior Rival, Chief Marketing Officer, RRsat Global Communications Network
Richard Buchanan, Vice President & General Manager, Comcast Media Center
Roger Franklin, President & CEO, Crystal Solutions
Lisa Coelho, President, GlobeCast Americas
Rick Mortellaro, Senior Vice President, EchoStar Satellite Services

"The teleport industry is the connecting point for a vast percentage of the world’s contribution and distribution,” said WTA executive director Robert Bell. "At a time of tremendous change in the media marketplace, contribution and distribution technologies are also helping to shape today’s business strategies. The Executive Dialogues capture the insights of business leaders on a vital but often hidden part of the media marketplace.”

Also interviewed were:

Andrew Bond, Regional Sales Director, ETL Systems
Keith Buckley, President & CEO, ASC Signal
Gary Hatch, CEO, ATCi
Stefan Jucken, Director, Business Development, ViaSat
Jim Lyons, Managing Partner and VP, Strategic Development, Hawaii Pacific Teleport
Brian Morris, SVP, Media & Entertainment, Globecomm
Fred Morris, VP Global Sales Engineering, Comtech EF Data
Jaime Munera, Director of Product Development and IT, Newcom International
Joel Nirenberg, VP Strategic Solutions, ScheduAll
Diego Paldao, Vice President, Americas, NewSat Limited
Jose Sanchez, Director of Service Operations, Eutelsat
Steve Soenens, Director of Product Strategy and Product Management, Newtec
Mark Shadbolt, Sales Director, SIS Live
Martin Turner, Director of Media Business, Inmarsat
Jorge Villareal Schutz, CEO, Elara Communications
Elias Zaccack, SVP, Commercial, Americas, SES

All of the interviews are now available on WTA’s site. Videos will continue to be streamed on the WTA website for a full year following the event. All interviews will be provided to NAB for selected playout on their site as well. Video Coverage is generously provided by PSSI Global Services.

More interviews for the Executive Dialogue Series will be recorded on June 18-21 at CommunicAsia. If you would like to schedule an interview during this time, email Randall Barney at rbarney@worldteleport.org

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (www.worldteleport.org) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

For More Information 
Matthew Owen 
Communications Manager 
World Teleport Association 
mowen@worldteleport.org 
212-825-0218 x105

WTA Announces Winners of the Independent Teleport Operator and Teleport Technology Awards

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:17:34 GMT

du and Newtec honored for exceptional service

(New York City and Washington, DC, March 20, 2013) – The World Teleport Association yesterday announced the winners of the 18th Teleport Awards for Excellence during an exclusive luncheon at Satellite 2013. The awards are presented each year to organizations and individuals in the teleport industry whose achievements have been deemed exceptional by the international trade association and its awards committees, made up of industry members from across the globe.

The 2013 recipients are:

Independent Teleport Operator of the Year: du. As the new telecom operator in the UAE, du provides a variety of integrated services including quad-play data, video and content services over fixed as well as mobile networks to residential and enterprise customers across the UAE. du Broadcast Services (Samacom) provides world-class professional broadcasting and Internet/data services via satellites to customer operating not only out of Dubai (55.28E longitude and 25.22N latitude) but also to regional and international customers through its world class teleport Samacom covering all the five continents. Currently, du Broadcast Services (Samacom) uplink more than 171 TV channels on different DTH platforms.

Teleport Technology of the Year: M6100 Broadcast Satellite Modulator from Newtec. Newtec's M6100 Broadcast Satellite Modulator is the new generation DVB-S2, DVB-DSNG and DVB-S modulator specifically designed for broadcast direct-to-home (DTH), primary distribution to headends and contribution of television and radio content. The M6100 can be used in conjunction with set-top boxes, professional IRD’s or professional satellite demodulators such as the AZ910. Serge van Herck of Newtec was on hand at the luncheon to accept the award on behalf of Newtec.

The winners were selected by a volunteer committee of WTA members and previous Award winners based on nominations submitted during the first quarter of 2013.

In addition to the above honorees, WTA presented the previously announced Teleport Executive of the Year Award to Bill Tillson, Co-CEO of Encompass Digital Media, for the second year in a row. Mr. Tillson is the first person to win the Teleport Executive of the Year Award for a second time.

The 2013 Luncheon and Awards Ceremony, sponsored by SES, hosted many of the world’s leading teleport operators and previous winners of WTA’s Teleport Awards for Excellence. Chris Grogan, Senior Vice President, Customer Services Delivery, SES, gave the host’s welcome to the guests and finalists at the luncheon. He then joined WTA’s Director of Development Louis Zacharilla and WTA's Chairman, M. Brett Belinsky, to announce the winners.

Commenting on the 2013 Awards, WTA’s Director of Development Louis Zacharilla said, "We had five of six finalists for this year's awards who had never been nominated before. This tells you the type of energy and rise of smaller companies in the global teleport industry. The return of the Indie award to the Middle East speaks to the quality of du and the importance of the UAE to that region. Newtec continues to innovate and make the business of the teleport and satellite operator easier and more profitable. And with Bill Tillson being named Executive of the Year for the second time in a row, we see someone who has his 1200 employees operating at a very high level. The teleport industry has much to celebrate in 2013 and we were pleased WTA could make that celebration public."

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (www.worldteleport.org) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

For More Information
Matthew Owen
Communications Manager
World Teleport Association
mowen@worldteleport.org
212-825-0218 x105

World Teleport Association Publishes Satellite Operator Benchmarks 2013

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:01:05 GMT

(New York City, 13 March 2013) – The World Teleport Association today released Satellite Operator Benchmarks 2013, the third annual WTA global study. The study tracks, rates, and compares the operational and commercial performance of satellite operators, as experienced by teleport operators. The objective of the annual study, now in its third year, is to strengthen the global industry by encouraging self-improvement among all operating companies.

In the 2013 report, the "Big Three” of Eutelsat, Intelsat, and SES saw double-digit improvements in ratings of their commercial practices by teleport operators compared with 2011. In the area of operational performance, however, the world’s teleport operators perceived declines in the performance of three out of five satellite operators over the past 12 months.

There has been no let-up in competition within the satellite services business. All seven of the satellite operators covered by the WTA report were cited as a direct competitor to independent teleport operators in at least two-thirds of the total responses. This is a significant increase from 2012, according to WTA. The "Big Three,” however, saw double-digit improvements from 2012 to 2013 in how respondents perceived the fairness of that competition, an issue of particular concern to teleport operators. Arabsat and Telesat, meanwhile, declined in this area.

According to Robert Bell, WTA Executive Director, "When we began the Benchmarks reports three years ago, our goal was to speak for the teleport industry with a single voice about a sensitive issue. With the publication of our third annual Benchmarks report, we find that we now have established a genuine dialogue. Satellite operators have cooperated fully with WTA. They have listened to the concerns of their customers in the teleport sector and teleport operators have responded by giving them improved ratings in many areas. While there is much to be done, I am grateful for the progress that has been made through this partnership.”

The new report is available free to members of the Association, and for purchase by non-members, at www.worldteleport.org. WTA announced that any company that becomes a member before 19 March will receive a free copy.

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (www.worldteleport.org) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

For More Information
Matthew Owen
Communications Manager
World Teleport Association
mowen@worldteleport.org
212-825-0218 x105

WTA Names Encompass Digital Media’s Bill Tillson 2013 Teleport Executive of the Year

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:00:00 GMT

World Teleport Association Names Encompass Digital Media’s Bill Tillson 2013 Teleport Executive of the Year for Unprecedented Second Time

(New York City, March 11, 2013) – The World Teleport Association (WTA) announced that Bill Tillson, Co-CEO of Encompass Digital Media, has been named its 2013 Teleport Executive of the Year for the second consecutive year, a first in the 18 year history of the award. Mr. Tillson will be honored during WTA’s Teleport Awards for Excellence luncheon on 19 March during SATELLITE 2013. The Teleport Executive of the Year award is presented to an individual for demonstrated entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation in the development or operation of a teleport-based business.

According to the association’s Awards Committee, Mr. Tillson’s second consecutive award was due to the impressive growth Encompass has achieved through a series of acquisitions and strategic alignments by Mr. Tillson, beginning with the purchase of Andrita Studios in Los Angeles, and continuing through the company’s most recent acquisition, Teleport Internacional Buenos Aires (TIBA), in November of 2012. The Teleport Executive of the Year is determined by the WTA’s board of directors, who evaluate the CEO or leading executive among the associations "Fast 21” group of teleport operators for that year.

With teleport facilities and technical personnel in Atlanta, Buenos Aires, London, Los Angeles Metro, Minneapolis, New York Metro and Singapore, Encompass has succeeded where many other companies have failed: growing from a small teleport operator to a global leader in digital media services.

"Growth by acquisition has a rocky track record in our industry,” said WTA executive director Robert Bell, "with acquirers too often not fully understanding what they are buying and how the pieces being assembled can add up to more than the sum of the parts.” Bell added, "Bill Tillson deeply understands this business and how to apply financial leverage and clear strategic direction for success.”

During the 2013 Teleport Awards for Excellence luncheon ceremony, hosted by SES, WTA will also honor its Independent Teleport of the Year and Teleport Technology of the Year. The three finalists for these two major awards were announced on 27 February. The 18th annual Teleport Awards for Excellence luncheon begins at noon on the 19th of March. WTA’s Director of Development, Lou Zacharilla, will host the event for the 17th time. The luncheon is free to WTA members who register. Attendance is also available for a small cost to non-members. Registration is available online at www.worldteleport.org.

In addition to Mr. Tillson, the list of Teleport Executive of the Year alumni includes Adrian Ballintine, Founder and president of NewSat Ltd., Jaime Dickinson, President of NewCom International; Doug Tutt, Chief Operating Officer and President of Global Energy Services, CapRock Communications; the late Kenneth Miller, President and Chief Operating Officer, Globecomm Systems; David Rivel, Founder & CEO, RRsat Global Communications Network; Nick Thompson, Managing Director, Arqiva Broadcast & Media; Brent J. Gale, Vice President of Satellite and Broadcast Operations, EchoStar; and Norberto Alvarez Vitale, President, Teleport Internacional Buenos Aires. Click here for a complete list.

About World Teleport Association

For More Information

Matthew Owen

Communications Manager

World Teleport Association

mowen@worldteleport.org

+1 (212) 825-0218 x105

WTA Announces Finalists for the 2013 Teleport Awards for Excellence

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:41:42 GMT

(New York City, February 27, 2013) – The World Teleport Association today announced the finalists for its 2013 Teleport Awards for Excellence. From this group of finalists, WTA will name the winners at the 18th annual Teleport Awards for Excellence Ceremony and Luncheon on March 19 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

WTA selects its finalists from nominations submitted to the association by both members and non-members. Recipients are selected by committees of previous recipients, WTA Board members and management, and Industry Leader and Patron members.

2013 Finalists for Independent Teleport of the Year

NewCom International (USA)
du (UAE)
M-Three Satcom (Italy)

2013 Finalists for Teleport Technology of the Year

Newtec M6100 Broadcast Satellite Modulator
ModuMAX General Dynamics SATCOM Solid State HPA
Adtec Digital - EN-91 MPEG4 HD Encoder

The 2013 luncheon, sponsored by SES, will be attended by over 150 guests, customers of and representatives. Attendees include teleport, satellite and content distribution technology industry executives, as well as previous awards recipients from around the world. For the 17th time, WTA's Director of Development Louis Zacharilla will emcee the event.

"This year’s finalists represent both the excellence and geographic diversity of the independent teleport operator sector and the innovation that continues among the technology services providers which support them," said Louis Zacharilla. "Each of these finalists represent well the global teleport industry of 2013.”

In addition to honoring the winner from these two awards categories, WTA will present the Teleport Executive of the Year Award. The recipient of the 2013 Teleport Executive of the Year Award will be announced in early March.

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

For More Information
Matthew Owen
Communications Manager
World Teleport Association
mowen@worldteleport.org
212-825-0218 x105

World Teleport Association Appoints Industry Leaders to Board of Directors

Tue, 5 Feb 2013 17:00:00 GMT

(New York City, February 5, 2013) – The World Teleport Association announced the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Filling vacant seats on the Board are Roger Franklin, President & CEO, Crystal Solutions; Richard Hadsall, CTO, MTN Government Services; Scott Sprague, Chief Operating Officer, Asia Broadcast Satellite; and James Trevelyan, Sales Director, Arqiva Broadcast & Media.

"We are very excited to have Roger, Richard, Scott, and James join the WTA’s Board of Directors,” said M. Brett Belinsky, Chairman of WTA and Managing Director at Encompass Digital Media (EMEA). "These four experienced and accomplished industry leaders bring us expertise and experience that will help WTA deliver on its mission of advocating for teleport operators and promoting excellence in their operations, business and technology.”

Roger Franklin, President & CEO of Crystal Solutions (www.CrystalCC.com), began working for Crystal Solutions in 1993 as a Software Engineer. His ability to design and develop automation software to improve productivity helped him move up the ranks at Crystal Solutions, becoming the Manager of Research and Development, and eventually President and CEO of the company in February, 2007. Roger is globally recognized as an expert and advocate on satellite interference issues.

Richard Hadsall, CTO of MTN Government Services, a subsidiary of MTN Satellite Communications, began his career in 1976 when he founded Crescomm, a telecommunications product manufacturer and satellite common carrier. From there he went on to co-found MTN Satellite Communications, and develop its teleport facility in Holmdel, NJ as a video and data communications center. His accomplishments include being the first to broadcast live from a submarine submerged 50 feet below the Atlantic Ocean, and creating and deploying the "Bloom-mobile” for NBC, allowing anchor David Bloom to report live from Iraq and Kuwait. Hadsall won the 2011 Emmy Award for Technology & Engineering for his work with NBC and the Bloom-mobile.

Scott Sprague joined the executive team of Asia Broadcast Satellite in January 2012 as the Chief Operating Officer. He is responsible for managing the global sales, marketing, and operations of value added services for the company. Scott’s experience includes serving as Senior Vice President of Global Sales for SES, Vice President of Enterprise Sales for KPNQwest, Vice President of Channel Management for Infonet Service Corporation and General Manager for AT&T.

James Trevelyan, Sales Director at Arqiva, began his career in the industry in 2001, when he joined Kingston Communications Plc’s satellite division, Kingston Inmedia. When Arqiva purchased Inmedia in 2005, he became head of enterprise sales, Enterprise for Arqiva. He held that position until August of 2011, when he became the Sales Director at Arqiva. His experience prior to 2001 includes sales and marketing positions with Lexmark International, IBM, and Nortel Networks.

For More Information
Matthew Owen
Communications Manager
World Teleport Association
mowen@worldteleport.org
212-825-0218 x105

New Report From WTA Explores Best Practices in Teleport Valuation

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:38:11 GMT

(New York, NY January 29, 2013) -- The World Teleport Association released a new report, Best Practices in Teleport Valuation. The latest in the Four-Nines series of reports shares the insights of experts with experience in finance and law as well as experienced teleport and satellite executives. It explores how valuation is done, how owners can maximize value and buyers can avoid overpaying, and how to achieve success in financing a facility.

Best Practices in Teleport Valuation is based on confidential interviews conducted with financial analysts, legal experts and teleport and satellite executives who have done transactions in which the valuation of the property played a crucial role. The interviews explore:

The most important factors with an impact on valuation
The sometimes subtle issues that can push valuation up or down
The right process for obtaining an objective valuation
Strategic factors that make a teleport attractive (or unattractive) to a buyer
Mistakes to avoid in buying, selling, or financing a teleport
Pre-emptive steps that teleport operators can take to improve the value of their facilities as financial assets.

Best Practices in Teleport Valuation is available free to WTA members from the World Teleport Association website. Non-members may purchase a copy of the report from the site. WTA will provide a free copy of the report to accredited members of the press.

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (WTA) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

New Report From WTA Explores Best Practices in Buying Satellite Antennas and the RF Chain

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:38:40 GMT

(New York, NY December 13, 2012) -- The World Teleport Association released a new white paper, Best Practices in Buying Satellite Antennas and the RF Chain. The latest in the Four-Nines series of reports shares insights from WTA members on the trade-offs between cost and quality, standards-based and proprietary, and investment risk versus revenue opportunity of purchasing antennas and RF equipment. The report is made possible by the financial support of XipLink.

Best Practices in Buying Satellite Antennas and the RF Chain explores how to specify, negotiate and manage installation in order to obtain the greatest value and reduce the potential for costly errors, while making the technology provider a partner in the teleport's success. Satellite antennas represent a large expenditure with a long shelf life. For that reason, buyers put a substantial amount of time, care and energy into getting the purchase right. Getting it right involves multiple steps with multiple prospective vendors, and these steps form the basis of this report:

Specifying the purchase, from defining your requirements to writing clear specs and a statement of work.
Evaluating the proposals, including price, efficiency and total cost of ownership.
eciding on functional and design trade-offs that deliver the highest value for the lowest cost.
Integration and installation to ensure that your requirements are met in the final installed product.
After-market support to maintain maximum uptime and protect your investment.

Best Practices in Buying Satellite Antennas and the RF Chain is available free to WTA members from the World Teleport Association website. Non-members may purchase a copy of the report from the site. WTA will provide a free copy of the report to accredited members of the press.

World Teleport Association Publishes Top Operator Rankings for 2012

Thu, 6 Dec 2012 03:10:29 GMT

CORRECTION:
Due to an editorial error, one company was inadvertently omitted from the 2012 rankings. We apologize for the error and are re-issuing the 2012 rankings, which now include the Top Twenty-One Top Operators in each category.

(New York, NY, December 5, 2012) – The World Teleport Association published its annual rankings for the Top Teleport Operators of 2012. The annual ranking provides a unique look into the diverse teleport sector of the global communications industry. For the second year in a row, the teleport operators reported their total spending on satellite capacity. The Top Independent Operators in 2012 spent $830 million on satellite capacity, which represented 40% on average of their annual revenues.

Rankings were reported in three categories: the Independent Top Twenty, the Global Top Twenty, and what the association calls the "Fast Twenty.”

The Independent Top Twenty-one
The Independent Top Twenty-one ranks teleport operators based on revenue from all sources. The list focuses on the independent operators at the core of the business, excluding companies whose primary business is ownership and operation of a satellite fleet or terrestrial network. The Independent Top Operators, consisting of companies that do not own and operate satellites, had combined revenues of $2.3 billion and grew more than 9% from $2.1 billion the prior year. In order from largest to smallest, the Independent Top Twenty-one of 2012 are:

1.   Harris CapRock (USA)
2.   GlobeCast (France)
3.   Arqiva Broadcast & Media (UK)
4.   Globecomm (Services revenue) (USA)
5.   Encompass Digital Media (USA)
6.   TeleCommunications Systems Inc. (Govt Services revenue) (USA)
7.   RRsat Global Communications (Israel)
8.    Emerging Markets Communications (USA)
9.   Du (Emirates Integrated Telecom) (UAE)
10.   Signalhorn Trusted Networks (Germany)
11.   NewSat (Australia)
12.   Essel Shyam Communication (India)
13.   SatLink Communications (Israel)
14.   CETel (Germany)
15.   Jordan Media City (Jordan)
16.   CET Teleport (Germany)
17.   NewCom International (USA)
18.   STN (Slovenia)
19.   Elara Comunicaciones SA (Mexico)
20.   Cobbett Hill Earth Station (UK)
21.   Europe Media Port (Cyprus)

The Global Top Twenty-one
The Global Top Twenty-one ranks companies based on revenues from all customized communications sources and includes operators of teleports, satellite fleets and business-to-business fiber networks. The Global Top Operators of 2012 had combined revenues of US$11.3 billion and grew 4.5% from $10.8 billion the prior year. In order from largest to smallest, the Global Top Twenty-one of 2012 are:

1.   Intelsat S.A. (Luxembourg)
2.   SES (Luxembourg)
3.   Eutelsat (France)
4.   Telesat (Canada)
5.   SingTel Satellite (Singapore)
6.   Harris CapRock (USA)
7.   EchoStar Satellite Services (USA)
8.   GlobeCast (France)
9.   Arqiva Broadcast & Media (UK)
10.   Hispasat (Spain)
11.   AsiaSat (China)
12.   Globecomm (Services revenue) (USA)
13.   Encompass Digital Media (USA)
14.   Thaicom Public Company Ltd (Thailand)
15.   TeleCommunications Systems Inc. (Government Services revenue) (USA)
16.   RRsat Global Communications (Israel)
17.   MEASAT Satellite Systems (Malaysia)
18.    Emerging Markets Communications (USA)
19.   Gazprom Space Systems (Russia)
20.   Du (Emirates Integrated Telecom) (UAE)
21.   Signalhorn Trusted Networks (Germany)

The "Fast Twenty-one”
The Fast Twenty-one ranks all teleport-operating companies based on year-over-year revenue growth in their most recent fiscal years. Encompass Digital Media was the fastest of the fast with 117% growth, moving them up from the second slot in 2011. Ranked by revenue growth, the Fast Twenty-one of 2012 are:

1.   Encompass Digital Media (USA)
2.   Elara Comunicaciones SA (Mexico)
3.   CETel (Germany)
4.    Emerging Markets Communications (USA)
5.   TeleCommunications Systems (Govt Svcs)
6.   NewSat (Australia)
7.   Essel Shyam Communication (India)
8.   Thaicom (Thailand)
9.   Jordan Media City (Jordan)
10.   AsiaSat (China)
11.   Globecomm (Services revenue) (USA)
12.   Hawaii Pacific Teleport (USA)
13.   RRsat Global Communications (Israel)
14.   Emirates Integrated Telecom (Du)   (UAE)
15.   STN (Slovenia)
16.   EchoStar Satellite Services (USA)
17.   SingTel Satellite (Singapore)
18.   CET Teleport   (Germany)
19.   Eutelsat (France)
20.   Intelsat (Luxembourg)
21.   MEASAT Satellite Systems (Malaysia)

About the Top Operator Rankings
The association’s Top Operator rankings are compiled by surveying teleport operators around the world on their facilities, services and business results. These rankings provide a unique insight into the sometimes less glamorous realities of the teleport sector.

According to WTA Executive Director Robert Bell, "The results reflect the continuing challenges of the rocky global economic climate. In 2012, 79% of companies submitting data to WTA showed year-over-year growth while 21% experienced year-over-year decline in revenues. This compares with 84% reporting year-over-year growth in 2011 and 86% in 2010.”

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (WTA) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

World Teleport Association Publishes Inside the Top Operators Report

Tue, 6 Nov 2012 16:39:03 GMT

Analysis of pricing trends, major markets and top services from companies with $13bn in revenue, growing 7% per year

(New York, NY, November 6, 2012) – The World Teleport Association has published its annual Inside the Top Operators research report. The eagerly awaited report draws from data submitted to WTA by teleport operating companies around the world for the association’s 2011 Top Operator rankings, and offers a useful "snapshot” of the entire sector from independent operators large and small delivering service around the world.

The 2011 Top Operators, announced in November of that year, included companies with combined annual revenues of US$12.8 billion. Of this revenue, $9.7bn came from respondents that had submitted data to WTA consistently for the past five years. These companies posted a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.2% from 2007 to 2009, with total revenues rising $1.3bn over the period. But CAGR fell to 6.3% for the period from 2009 to 2011, when sales grew only $579m. For the five-year period, the group grew total revenues by $1.9bn for a CAGR of 7.6% - a still-impressive performance during the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

The report also shares data on facilities, services, markets, pricing and business results from the Top Operators, including:

Pricing Changes. One-quarter of independent teleport operators reported the ability to raise prices on their core services in 2011, up slightly from 2010, while 54% reported no price change for core services since 2010. More than 41% reported being able to increase prices for the resale of satellite capacity but only 18% said the same for terrestrial capacity.
Pricing Trends. An evaluation of responses to our pricing question since 2005 reveals that 2007-08 were bullish years for the teleport sector, when 40% or more of respondents reported being able to raise prices for core services. Since then, year-over-year pricing changes have resumed more normal levels, with 20-30% reporting price increases, 10-20% reporting price declines and the majority reporting stable prices.
Terrestrial and Satellite Transmission Pricing Continue to Head in Opposite Directions. The pricing of satellite capacity for resale has followed a similar trend to that of core teleport services but has been more prone to the upside and more volatile. By contrast, more teleport operators continue to report price declines for terrestrial capacity than price increases, which makes that capacity more competitive year after year.
Volume of Business Increases. Across all market segments, +60% of teleport operators reported that the volume of business increased from 2010 to 2011 while only 10-18% reported declines in total volume as measured by revenue.

The annual Top Operator rankings are developed by surveying teleport operators in many nations on their revenues and revenue growth and supplementing the results with financial data from publicly-traded firms. From this information, WTA publishes rankings of the Global Top 20 (companies by revenue including independents and satellite/fiber operators), the Independent Top 20 (companies by revenue excluding satellite and fiber operators), and the Fast 20 (based on year-over-year revenue growth, including independents and satellite/fiber operators).

Inside the Top Operators of 2011 is available free to WTA members from the World Teleport Association website. Non-members may purchase a copy of the report from the site. WTA will provide a free copy of the report to accredited members of the press.

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (www.worldteleport.org) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

World Teleport Association Appoints Industry Leaders to Board of Directors

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 17:51:46 GMT

(New York City, October 17, 2012) – The World Teleport Association announced the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Filling new seats created in an expansion of the Board are Mark Rathert, General Manager, Ground Operations (U.S.), SES; Kurt Riegelman, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Intelsat; Francis Rolland, CEO, GlobeCast UK; and Jose Sanchez Ruiz, Director of Service Operations, Eutelsat.

"WTA’s Board has become a true and representative mirror of our membership,” said M. Brett Belinsky, Chairman of WTA. "Independent teleport operators from the Americas, Europe and Asia fill the majority of seats, and with these appointments we are confirming the vital importance of their relationship with our vendors and partners in the satellite capacity business.”

Mark Rathert, General Manager, Ground Operations (US) for SES, brings more than 28 years of satellite industry experience, and over a decade of technical leadership experience, to his current position as General Manager, Ground Operations (U.S.). His current responsibilities include director-level leadership of all SES U.S. earth station facilities; including a ground operations, station management, and station engineering organization of thirty-four (34) SES associates. During his SES career, he has held positions of increasing responsibility in the areas of technical operations, systems engineering, transponder planning, broadband engineering, Six Sigma quality, product management, and ground operations management. Mark holds a degree in Electronic Engineering Technology and is both a GE Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Master Black Belt.

Francis Rolland, CEO of GlobeCast UK, has been a key driver in GlobeCast’s transition from a satellite service company to a provider of content management and delivery solutions. Mr. Rolland joined the London Branch of GlobeCast Europe in 1996 as the CFO, becoming Managing Director in January 2002. Prior to this appointment he was the CFO of France Telecom Network Services, the London subsidiary of Transpac. Previously, Rolland spent 5 years in New York as the financial controller of the Intelmatique operations in the USA.

As Intelsat’s Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Kurt Riegelman is responsible for all of Intelsat’s sales activities around the world, which include providing video, network and managed telecommunications solutions to businesses in approximately 200 countries and territories. As Intelsat’s former Senior Vice President, Americas Sales, Mr. Riegelman successfully led his teams through the challenges of integrating two global sales forces and delivered well in excess of the company’s revenue targets in the first year of combined operations. Mr. Riegelman brings nearly 25 years of experience in the satellite industry to his new WTA position.

Jose Sanchez Ruiz, Director of Service Operations for Eutelsat, the leading European satellite operator and one of the three top operators in the world for fixed satellite services. As Director of Service Operations, he is responsible for oversight of service delivery which covers both Satellite Capacity and Ground Network. He was responsible for engineering and operations of network and platforms, and the development of services combining satellite and ground infrastructure in his previous position. Prior to joining Eutelsat in 2002, he worked for several telecom operators in Spain. As CIO and CTO of a SW company (Optenet), he was responsible in developing security solutions for operators. He also played key role in some of the initiatives to deploy new submarine cables between Europe and the West African coast. José Sanchez Ruiz holds MS in Telecommunication Engineering at the UPM (Universidad Politecnica de Madrid) and an MBA at the EOI Business School.

"I am grateful that these senior executives understand the value that WTA contributes to the satellite services business and are willing to give their time and expertise to the association’s leadership,” said WTA Executive Director Robert Bell. "Our Nominating Committee did an excellent job in bringing them onboard.”

In addition to these new Directors, the members of WTA’s Board of Directors include: Chairman M. Brett Belinsky of Arqiva Broadcast & Media; Secretary General Norberto Alvarez Vitale of Teleport Internacional Buenos Aires; Adrian Ballintine of NewSat; Tomaz Lovsin of STN; Bill Tillson of Encompass Digital Media; Serge Van Herck of Newtec; M.N. Vyas of Essel Shyam Communication Limited; and Koby Zontag of RRsat Global Communications.

New WTA Report Explores Reported Problems with Occasional-Use Satellite Access

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:14:46 GMT

(New York, NY, October 15, 2012) – The World Teleport Association today released a new report, Delays in Occasional-Use Satellite Access. The report details results of a WTA investigation into problems reported by its members in gaining timely access to occasional-use satellite capacity. Based on survey responses from teleport operators and discussions with satellite operators, the report lays out the issues as well as offering preliminary conclusions and possible next steps.

At the end of 2011, WTA‐member teleport operators began reporting issues with gaining timely occasional‐use access to satellite capacity. In the television business in particular, OU access is time‐critical. Member teleport executives reported that they were experiencing increasing delays in completing access procedures, which they felt were putting at risk their ability to meet the needs of their customers. WTA set out to learn how frequent and serious the issue was for teleport operators providing OU services, and what the root causes might be.

While seventy percent of respondents have experienced delays that they did not expect in accessing OU capacity, the delays turn out to be infrequent. For more than half the sample, unexpected delays occur four or fewer times per year. Thirty-nine percent called it a serious problem, but 61% considered it only somewhat serious or not a problem.

The two biggest causes of delays in such standard procedures as setting cross-pol isolation or testing signal power are interference on the transponder caused by a third party and an attempt by the end-user to use capacity that had been scheduled, typically for full-time use, by a third party.

WTA Executive Director and report author Robert Bell adds, "There are clearly issues, and for a minority of teleport operators, they are serious. But respondents believe that only a relatively small percentage of such issues relate directly to the performance of satellite operator staff or systems.”

The study suggests three specific areas that could be addressed between teleport operators and satellite operators:

Better expectation‐setting for OU end-users
Examining procedures for providing access to capacity leased through third parties
Continue addressing satellite interference

"All the satellite operators contacted for this report,” added Bell, "appear eager to better understand OU-related concerns and to work collaboratively on improvements.”

Delays in Occasional-Use Satellite Access is available free to WTA members from the World Teleport Association website. Non-members may purchase a copy of the report from the site. WTA will provide a free copy of the report to accredited members of the press.

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (www.worldteleport.org) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

New World Teleport Association Report Explores The Role Of “Teleports In A Gigabit World”

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:58:40 GMT

(New York, NY, September 24, 2012) – The World Teleport Association today released a new white paper, Teleports in a Gigabit World, exploring how the continuing evolution of the Ka-band market and the technology race for gigabit throughput in C- and Ku-band are most likely to affect service providers. Based on interviews with senior executives of teleport, satellite and media companies, the report examines threats and potential opportunities and offers advice on what service providers can do today to defend against the downside as well as seize the upside.

Robert Bell discusses the new report.

High throughput satellite (HTS), a term coined in 2007 by research firm NSR, has pretty much been synonymous with the Ka-band of frequencies. But innovations in modem technology and satellite architecture are taking HTS mainstream, with big implications for the delivery of services to customers in media, government, military, oil & gas, mining, maritime and other markets.

WTA Executive Director and report author Robert Bell said, "In the short-term, service providers will implement HTS technologies as customer contracts renew and satellite leases come due. They will naturally include HTS in the options they offer to customers, and some customers will take the plunge. But those near-term opportunities should not blind service providers to the revolutionary impact of HTS on their business and the entire industry. Entry into the Gigabit World may be the biggest transition in the history of satellite.”

The report also lays out a specific steps providers should take to position their companies for the future:

Bet on Change. In both the short and long terms, HTS will create winners and losers in the market, and service providers need to think through what it takes to be on the winning side.
Prepare to Sell New Applications to New Customers. If the prophets of HTS revolution are correct, the satellite services business may well see its best growth opportunities in completely new lines of business. That is a major challenge to any company. You will need to stay alert to opportunities that might have seemed absurd in the past. They may still be absurd now, but they might just be a door opening to a new market.
Prepare to Compete with New Players. As HTS continues to evolve, satellite service providers are likely to compete with companies they have never faced before. Succeeding in these markets may require teleport operators to do something they have typically shied away from: investing in their own proprietary solutions. And creating your own technology solutions may require very different skills in business analysis, planning and operations.

Teleports in a Gigabit World is available free to WTA members from the World Teleport Association website. Non-members may purchase a copy of the report from the site. WTA will provide a free copy of the report to accredited members of the press.

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (www.worldteleport.org) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

Nominations are Now Open for the Top Operator Rankings of 2012

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:24:03 GMT

Each year, WTA publishes the world's only rankings of companies that operate teleports for commercial purposes, including independents, satellite carriers, fiber carriers and technology providers. Organizations that operate teleports principally for their own use, such as broadcast networks, are not included.

Rankings are based on total revenue from all sources and on year-over-year growth. They recognize that, to some extent, every teleport operator competes in the same marketplace – the biggest with the smallest – but that like all marketplaces, the teleport sector has segments in which even the smallest players can compete effectively and achieve strong growth.

This is your chance to have your company appear in the Top Operators of 2012 rankings. From the data provided by its members and other operators, WTA publishes an annual ranking of -

The Global Top Twenty - based on revenue from all sources and including all operators: from uplinkers to satellite carriers, fiber network operators to systems integrators, technology providers to specialized satcom service providers.
The Independent Top Twenty - based on revenue from all sources but excluding companies whose primary business is satellite fleet operations or terrestrial network services.
The Fast Twenty - based on year-over-year revenue growth in their most recent complete fiscal years, and including all operators.

The Top Operators announcement receives press coverage within the industry and provides valuable exposure to the operators included in the rankings. Nominations close on November 10, 2012. Click here for more information.

New Report from WTA Explores the Best Practices in Contracting for Satellite Capacity

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 19:42:25 GMT

(New York, NY, June 13, 2012) – The World Teleport Association today released a new white paper, Best Practices in Satellite Capacity Contracts, which shares first hand experience into the often complex contracts for satellite capacity.

Best Practices in Satellite Capacity Contracts is based on interviews with executives of teleport operators that purchase satellite capacity, and satellite operators that sell it. The report spells out the basics of satellite capacity contracts including those hot areas that need particular attention. According to the report, there are four key areas to watch:

Length of the lease. Satellite contracts contain multiple provisions – from SLAs and interference to preemption and protection – that can be out of alignment with a teleport operator's customer contract in ways both obvious and subtle. The result is unrecognized risk for the teleport operator.
Resale rights. While it’s understandable that satellite operators want protection from competition from their own customers, prohibitions against resale for non-video applications can be challenging for teleport operators who purchase wholesale capacity.
Unlimited liabilities. Satellite capacity contracts frequently require teleport operators to sign for unlimited liability in the event of trouble on the satellite. These uncapped liabilities can be the single largest concern other than the basic commercial terms.
Lessons from Experience. Experienced buyers seek specifics in the contract on orbital location, protection and redundancy, and technical specifications. Inexperienced buyers put more trust in the vendor and accept higher-risk capacity deals in exchange for lower pricing.

According to WTA Executive Director Robert Bell, "Satellite capacity is the biggest running cost of the teleport business model. In a report released last year we discovered that teleport operators spent an average of 47% of revenue on satellite capacity and capacity spending ranged from a low of 14% of revenues to a high of 79%. Contracts are, not surprisingly, a hot topic. By interviewing both teleport operators and satellite operators, we were able to identify a number of areas that can become significant pitfalls in establishing a mutually beneficial, long-term relationship.”

Best Practices in Satellite Capacity Contracts is available free to WTA members from the World Teleport Association website. Non-members may purchase a copy of the report from the site. WTA will provide a free copy of the report to accredited members of the press.

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (www.worldteleport.org) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

WTA Announces Winners of the Independent Teleport Operator and Teleport Technology Awards

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:29:23 GMT

Jordan Media City and NovelSat honored for exceptional service

(New York City and Washington, DC, March 13, 2012) – The World Teleport Association today announced the winners of the 17th Teleport Awards for Excellence during an exclusive luncheon. The awards are presented each year to organizations and individuals in the teleport industry whose achievements have been deemed exceptional by the international trade association and its awards committees, made up of industry members from across the globe.

The 2012 recipients are:

Independent Teleport Operator of the Year: Jordan Media City. Jordan Media City is a Free Zone broadcast facility based in Jordan. With 25 transponders on a range of satellites including ArabSat, NileSat, Yahsat, Hot Bird and AsiaSat 1A, JMC has established itself as a leader in providing DTH TV and radio services, standard definition in MPEG 2 and 4 as well as high definition in MPEG 4. JMC hosts a large playout Center originating 80 TV channels using Harris servers and Harmonic Pebble Peach automation system. In addition, JMC hosts two large studios (600 Square meters each) for drama and other productions, and two small studios ideal for interviews. Mr. Salah Hamzah, CEO of Nilesat, was on hand to accept the award on behalf of Jordan Media City from WTA Chairman, M. Brett Belinsky, Strategy & Business Development Director at Arqiva Broadcast & Media.

Teleport Technology of the Year: NS3™ from NovelSat. NovelSat’s NS3 satellite communication bandwidth optimization technology offers spectral efficiency based on new satellite modulation technology that boosts bandwidth over DVB-S2. NS3 increases satellite bandwidth capacity by 20%-78% and 55%-110% over current DVB-S2 and DVB-S standards, respectively. NS3 has made significant contributions to delivery of video and data, providing more bandwidth from the same space segment. NS3™ is an agnostic technology which applies to all satellite communication types (C, Ku, Ka, X) and segments (Video Contribution and distribution, data, cellular backhaul, defense and more) in this huge addressable market. NovelSat Co-founder and CEO Itzik Wulkan was on hand at the luncheon to accept the award.

The winners were selected by a volunteer committee of WTA members and previous Award winners based on nominations submitted during the first quarter of 2012.

In addition to the above honorees, WTA presented the previously announced Teleport Executive of the Year Award to Bill Tillson, President and COO of Encompass Digital Media.

The 2012 Luncheon and Awards Ceremony, sponsored by SES, hosted many of the world’s leading teleport operators and previous winners of WTA’s Teleport Awards for Excellence. Stewart Sanders, Senior VP, Customer Services Delivery, SES, gave the host’s welcomed guests and finalists to the luncheon and discussed the impact of Radio Frequency Interference on teleports. WTA’s Director of Development Louis Zacharilla announced the winners.

Commenting on the 2012 Awards, WTA’s Director of Development Louis Zacharilla said, "The Middle East is rapidly developing into a leader in satellite communications as exemplified by our two winners this year. Both of these companies have excelled in developing the technology and services to meet the emerging needs of their customers. In reviewing the applications, the committee commented that 'Jordan Media City is simply a teleport that knows how to perform for customers' and raises the bar in this key aspect of teleport operations.”

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (www.worldteleport.org) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

WTA Releases 2nd Annual Satellite Operator Benchmarks Report

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 02:37:11 GMT

Multinational and local teleports rate the technical, operational and commercial performance of the Big Four operators

(New York City, March 7, 2012) – The World Teleport Association today released the second annual Satellite Operator Benchmarks report, which covers interviews with over 80 teleport executives around the world who rated the commercial and operational practices of the major satellite operators. The new report is available free to members of the association.

The report tracks, rates and compares performance, as experienced by a major buyer segment of satellite capacity, and examines key elements of the relationship between teleports and satellite providers, including the quality of sales staff, customer communications, pricing consistency, and the degree and fairness of competition with teleports. WTA’s report also looks at operational availability, the handling of interference and of outages, both planned and unplanned.

In operational practice, all of the satellite operators received a strong ranking, on average, across all factors of the study.

As in the 2011 edition of the study, in commercial practice, there was a significant spread between the top and lower-ranked operators. Arabsat and Telesat were rated as the best performing commercial operators. SES performed in the middle of the rankings and Intelsat and Eutelsat were rated next, with the report indicating that teleport operators believe these providers can improve performance against the commercial parameters.

According to WTA, the 2012 Benchmarks report showed commercial and operational improvements in response to the results from the 2011 report.

Satellite Operators: Vendors and Competitors
Competition between teleport operators and satellite operators for the same business, however, remains a complex and lingering issue. Satellite operators are vendors to teleports. "But when they choose to compete directly for the same business, their control of the orbital asset gives them the power to offer prices no teleport operator can match,” the report states.

According to Robert Bell, WTA Executive Director, "Competition is complex, and there is no single right answer to competitive policy. We thank the teleport executives who contributed to the study. We believe that WTA can continue playing a constructive role in contributing to a better understanding of the issues across the industry. We remain commited to ensuring that teleport operators and satellite operators continue the dialogue so that their customers can profit."

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (www.worldteleport.org) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

WTA Announces Finalists for 2012 Teleport Awards for Excellence

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 18:19:12 GMT

Winners to be named in Washington on March 13th during SATELLITE 2012

(New York City, March 1, 2012) – The World Teleport Association today announced the finalists for its 2012 Teleport Awards for Excellence. From this group of finalists, WTA will name the winners at a luncheon ceremony on March 13 during the Association’s 17th annual Teleport Awards for Excellence Ceremony and Luncheon at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

WTA selects its finalists from nominations submitted to the association by its members. Recipients are selected by committees of previous recipients, WTA Board members and management, and Industry Leader and Patron members.

Independent Teleport of the Year

Jordan Media City, Jordan
NewSat Limited, Australia
RRsat Global Communications, Israel

Teleport Technology of the Year

NS3™ - NovelSat, Israel
Sentry™ Spectrum Monitoring - Crystal Solutions, USA
Vulcan L-band matrix (router). – ETL Systems Ltd, UK

The 2012 luncheon, sponsored by SES, will be attended by over 150 guests, customers of and representatives. Attendees include teleport, satellite and content distribution technology industry executives, as well as previous awards recipients from around the world. Stewart Sanders, Senior Vice President, Customer Service Delivery for SES, will give the Host's Welcome and present the awards to the recipients. The 2012 event will be emceed by WTA's Director of Development Louis Zacharilla for the 16th time.

In addition to honoring the winner from these two awards categories, WTA will present Bill Tillson, President and COO of Encompass Digital Media, with the Teleport Executive of the Year Award.

According to Louis Zacharilla, "The finalists and honorees for the Teleport Awards demonstrate once again that innovation is alive and well in the teleport industry, from more efficient use of spectrum to rapid-fire business growth.”

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

WTA Names Encompass Digital Media’s Bill Tillson its 2012 Teleport Executive of the Year

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:16:04 GMT

(New York, NY, February 29, 2012) – The World Teleport Association today announced that Bill Tillson, President and COO of Encompass Digital Media, has been named as its 2012 Teleport Executive of the Year. Mr. Tillson will be honored during WTA’s Teleport Awards for Excellence luncheon on March 13 during SATELLITE 2012. The Teleport Executive of the Year award is presented to an individual for demonstrated entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation in the development or operation of a teleport-based business.

Encompass Digital Media is the product of a series of acquisitions and strategic alignments by Mr. Tillson and Encompass CEO Simon Bax, beginning with the purchase of Andrita Studios in Los Angeles. Moving rapidly, the venture-funded team acquired Crawford Communications near Atlanta from its legendary owner, Jesse Crawford and the content distribution assets and business of Ascent Media to create a teleport operator and digital media services company with a global footprint. The company has also expanded its horizons beyond sports, media and entertainment by launching a government solutions unit that provides commercial satellite communications services for civilian government and military sectors including federal, state and local agencies.

"The history of mergers is littered with false hopes,” said WTA executive director Robert Bell, "and our industry is no exception. But skilled execution and relentless focus by Bill and the team he leads have kept Encompass delivering on its promises to customers.”

During this 2012 Teleport Awards for Excellence luncheon ceremony, sponsored by SES, WTA will also honor its Independent Teleport of the Year and Teleport Technology of the Year. The luncheon begins at noon on the 13th of March and is free to WTA members who register. Attendance is also available on a paid basis to non-members. Registration is available online at www.worldteleport.org.

Mr. Tillson joins a prestigious list of Teleport Executive of the Year alumni, including Adrian Ballintine, Founder and president of NewSat Ltd., Jaime Dickinson, President of NewCom International; Doug Tutt, Chief Operating Officer and President of Global Energy Services, CapRock Communications; the late Kenneth Miller, President and Chief Operating Officer, Globecomm Systems; David Rivel, Founder & CEO, RRsat Global Communications Network; Nick Thompson, Managing Director, Arqiva Broadcast & Media; Brent J. Gale, Vice President of Satellite and Broadcast Operations, EchoStar; and Norberto Alvarez Vitale, President, Teleport Internacional Buenos Aires. Click here for a complete list.

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

WTA New Report Provides Best Practices for Managing Local Connectivity

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:27:57 GMT

(New York City, January 24, 2012) – The World Teleport Association announced today the release of its newest report, How to Reduce Costs and Optimize Use of the Local Loop. The report shares the best practices of teleport operators for managing local connectivity, where costs, quality and availability can have a significant impact on business operations and financial results.

The local loop is a paradoxical part of a teleport's satellite and fiber connectivity. The distances covered are modest and the contribution to revenue from resale of local transmission is small. But teleport operators report that 90% of their problems in terrestrial transmission occur in the local loop, and that the cost and availability of high-quality service can become a deal-breaker for an otherwise promising opportunity.

WTA Executive Director Robert Bell notes, "This is an extremely competitive business and teleport operators are finding that understanding and optimizing their use of local connectivity can have an impact on their success far greater than the costs and revenues suggest. Executives interviewed for this report have been exploring alternatives from creating their own "meet-me rooms” to spur competition, to broadband wireless and ‘bonded’ 4G circuits. And, happily, meeting with success.”

How to Reduce Costs and Optimize Use of the Local Loop is available free to WTA members from the World Teleport Association Web site, thanks to the support of companies including Arabsat, Arqiva, Intelsat, RRsat Global Communications and SES. Non-members may purchase a copy of the report from the site as well. WTA will provide a free copy of the report to accredited members of the press.

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

World Teleport Association Announces Top Operator Rankings for 2011

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:45:32 GMT

(New York City, December 13, 2011) – World Teleport Association (WTA) announced its rankings of the Top Teleport Operators of 2011. The annual ranking provides a unique look into the diverse teleport sector of the global communications industry. For the first time in the history of the rankings, the teleport operators reported their total spending on satellite capacity. The total spending of the world’s Top 20 Independent Operators was nearly US$1 billion per year on transponder leasing, equal on average to 45% of their revenues.

Rankings were reported in three categories: the Independent Top Twenty, the Global Top Twenty, and what the association calls the "Fast Twenty.”

The Independent Top Twenty
The Independent Top Twenty ranks teleport operators based on revenue from all sources. The list focuses on the independent operators at the core of the business, excluding companies whose primary business is ownership and operation of a satellite fleet or terrestrial network. In 2011 four new operators joined the list – Cobbett Hill Earth station, Encompass Digital Media, Europe Media Port, and NewSat. In order from largest to smallest, the Independent Top Twenty of 2011 are:

Harris CapRock (USA)
GlobeCast (France)
Arqiva Broadcast & Media (UK)
Globecomm Systems (USA)
RRsat Global Communications (Israel)
Encompass Digital Media (USA)
TeleCommunications Systems (Government Services) (USA)
GE Satcom (Germany)
du (UAE)
Teleport Internacional Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Satlink Communications (Israel)
Essel Shyam Communciations (India)
NewSat (Australia)
Newcom International (USA)
Central Europe Telecom Services (Germany)
CET Teleport (Germany)
Jordan Media City (Jordan)
ATCi (USA)
Cobbett Hill Earth Station (UK)
Europe Media Port (Cyprus)

The Global Top Twenty
The Global Top Twenty ranks companies based on revenues from all customized communications sources and includes operators of teleports, satellite fleets and business-to-business fiber networks. Three companies make their debut on the Global Top Twenty list in 2011 – du, Encompass Digital Media and GE Satcom. In order from largest to smallest, the Global Top Twenty of 2011 are:

Intelsat (Luxembourg)
SES (Luxembourg)
Eutelsat (France)
Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (Norway)
Hughes Network Systems (USA)
Telesat (Canada)
Harris CapRock (USA)
EchoStar Satellite Services Corp. (USA)
GlobeCast (France)
Arqiva Broadcast & Media (UK)
Thaicom (Thailand)
Hispasat (Spain)
Globecomm Systems (USA)
AsiaSat (China)
RRsat Global Communications (Israel)
Encompass Digital Media (USA)
TeleCommunications Systems (Government Services) (USA)
Gazprom Space Systems (Russia)
GE Satcom (Germany)
du (UAE)

The "Fast Twenty”
The Fast Twenty ranks all teleport-operating companies based on year-over-year revenue growth in their most recent fiscal years. Newcomer Santander Teleport was the fastest of the fast with an impressive 531% growth – the kind of growth that only a startup company can generate in its first few years. Also new to the list are Encompass Digital Media, NewSat and SES. Ranked by revenue growth, the Fast Twenty of 2011 are:

Santander Teleport (Spain)
Encompass Digital Media (USA)
Europe Media Port (Cyrpus)
TeleCommunications Systems (Government Services) (USA)
Cobbett Hill Earth Station (UK)
Globecomm Systems (USA)
Newcom International (USA)
EchoStar Satellite Services Corp. (USA)
AsiaSat (China)
Teleport Internacional Buenos Aires (Argentina)
NewSat (Australia)
CET Teleport (Germany)
Jordan Media City (Jordan)
Eutelsat (France)
Essel Shyam Communciations (India)
Hispasat (Spain)
du (UAE)
RRsat Global Communications (Israel)
SES (Luxembourg)
Harris CapRock (USA)

About the Top Operator Rankings
The association’s Top Operator rankings are compiled by surveying teleport operators around the world on their facilities, services and business results. These rankings provide a unique insight into the sometimes less glamorous realities of the teleport sector.

"This year the Top Operators survey has an interesting story to tell,” said Robert Bell, WTA’s Executive Director. "The Global Top Twenty had combined revenue of $12.85 billion, while the Independent Top Twenty had combined revenues of $2.15 billion. In the 2011 survey, respondents reported on their total spending on satellite capacity in the most recent, complete fiscal year. The Independent Operators spent $927 million on satellite capacity, which represented 45% on average of their total revenues. In addition, companies with less than $25 million in total revenues spent an average of 54% of their total revenues on satellite capacity. It’s interesting to note that capacity spending as a percentage of revenues varied widely – from a high of 70% to a low of 17% – depending on the teleport operator’s type of business.”

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association (WTA) has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

WTA Opens Nominations for 2012 Teleport Awards for Excellence

Wed, 9 Nov 2011 19:31:09 GMT

Since 1995, WTA has presented annual awards to companies and individuals who have dramatically demonstrated excellence in the field of teleport operations, development and technology.

The three Categories are:

Independent Teleport Operator of the Year - Awarded to an outstanding operator of a commercial communications hub that uses a combination of satellite, fiber, and terrestrial wireless to provide value-added services to customers in broadcasting, enterprise, carrier or government markets.
Teleport Technology of the Year - Awarded to an organization whose technology has contributed to the business and operational success of teleports through lower costs, increased efficiency, new capabilities or access to new markets.
Corporate Social Responsibility Award - Introduced in 2011, the award honors satellite service providers on the ground and in the sky for using services, technology and expertise to make a positive impact on: educational attainment, public health, public safety or disaster relief, environmental sustainability, peace and security.

WTA will also present an award for Teleport Executive of the Year, to be selected by an awards committee of the association.

Click here for more information and to download application forms. The deadline for submission is February 10, 2012.

WTA New Report Forecasts How Service Providers May Gain or Lose from the Interactive TV Revolution

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:23:17 GMT

(New York City, September 28, 2011) – The World Teleport Association announced today the release of its newest report, Future TV and the Teleport. The report seeks to highlight the aspects of today’s TV revolution most likely to affect teleport operators and other service providers, to explore the threats and potential opportunities it will create and to offer advice on what service providers can do today to defend against the downside and seize the upside.

Few can argue that the traditional business of linear television is morphing. Services are changing – from HDTV to 3DTV – while platforms are multiplying to encompass Internet delivery to the computer or tablet, streaming to the handheld device, download to PVRs, and over-the-top services that embed a Web browser and Internet-delivered content into the familiar TV set. The report explores how the global television industry may change as a result, and how demand for content management and delivery services will change along with it.

WTA Executive Director Robert Bell notes, "The business of broadband delivery is going to become massively more important to content distribution companies of every stripe. It is likely to become an increasingly competitive business at the same time that the "walled garden" approach to delivering exclusive content comes under increasing pressure. Most of the service providers surveyed for this report saw a silver lining in the rising complexity and uncertainty about the future of TV. They expect it to be a net positive for the companies that host, manage and distribute video.”

Future TV and the Teleport is available free to WTA members from the World Teleport Association Web site. Non-members may purchase a copy of the report from the site as well. WTA will provide a free copy of the report to accredited members of the press.

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.

World Teleport Association Appoints Industry Leaders to Board of Directors

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:14:24 GMT

(New York City, September 21, 2011) – The World Teleport Association announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors during its September Board meeting. Adrian Ballintine, CEO of Newsat in Australia, Tomaz Lovsin, Managing Director of STN in Slovenia, and Bill Tillson, President and COO of Encompass Digital Media, headquartered in the U.S., were named to fill new seats created by an expansion of the Board approved by WTA’s members.

"WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of commercial independent teleport operators in order to promote their growth, long term sustainability, and excellence in business practice, technology and operations. We are thrilled that these acknowledged leaders have joined the Board of Directors as part of this advocacy," said M. Brett Belinsky, Chairman of WTA.

Adrian Ballintine is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NewSat Limited (ASX: NWT; OCT: NWTLY). With over 30 years of global technology experience and extensive knowledge of the satellite industry, Mr. Ballintine has successfully managed a number of technology start-ups prior to NewSat. Mr Ballintine was instrumental in the recent acquisition of the rights to seven premium orbital slots, which significantly progresses NewSat towards the launch of their fleet of next generation geostationary satellites as part of NewSat’s Jabiru Satellite Program. He was named 2011 Teleport Executive of the Year by WTA.

Tomaz Lovsin, Managing Director, STN has extensive knowledge of all aspects of the technical infrastructure and day-to-day challenges that occur in the teleport business. He was instrumental in the planning, purchasing and oversight of STN's current system integration business, which today covers over 400 TV & Radio channels, IPTV & Point to Point IP backbone links for clients spanning the globe.

Bill Tillson President and COO of Encompass Digital Media, has built an extensive career in broadcast facilities and operations, overseeing the launch of more than 200 cable television networks in North America, Asia, Latin America and Europe and negotiating facilities and transponder transactions in excess of $2.5 billion. Mr. Tillson is also the founder, CEO and principal of Broadcast Cable Services Inc., providing consulting services related to the facilities and satellite capacity that originate cable television channels worldwide since 1992.

"We are extremely fortunate to have the support of such an accomplished group of industry professionals,” said WTA Executive Director Robert Bell. "Their passion for the teleport industry drives the Association in providing the utmost value to members and the industry as a whole.”

In addition to these new Directors, the members of WTA’s Board of Directors include: Chairman M. Brett Belinsky, Strategy & Business Development Director, Arqiva Broadcast & Media; Secretary General Norberto Alvarez Vitale, CEO, Teleport Internacional Buenos Aires; Anita Currie, President, Edge Consulting Limited; Gary Hatch, CEO, ATCi; David Justin, GlobeCast America; Michael Noon, Senior Vice President, Ground Infrastructure, SES Engineering; Serge Van Herck, CEO, Newtec; M.N. Vyas, Director, Essel Shyam Communication Limited; and Koby Zontag, Senior Director, Sales & Business Development, RRsat Global Communications.

About World Teleport Association
Since 1985, the World Teleport Association has focused on improving the business of satellite communications from the ground up. At the core of its membership are the world's most innovative operators of teleports, from independents to multinationals, niche service providers to global carriers. WTA is dedicated to advocating for the interests of teleport operators in the global telecommunications market and promoting excellence in teleport business practice, technology and operations.