The commercial satellite industry continues to grow, according to a new report released at the International Satellite and Communications Conference and Exposition (ISCE) in Long Beach, Calif. last week.
The 2003 "State of the Satellite Industry" report details activities of the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), Satellite Broadcasting & Communications Association (SBCA), the Global VSAT Forum (GVF), revealing that (SIA) reported $91 billion in worldwide revenue for 2003--a six percent increase over 2002.
"Much of this year's growth is due to substantial increases in government and military spending on fixed and mobile satellite services, "said David Cavossa, acting director of SIA.
Among its findings:
* In 2003, subscription and retail services drove growth, increasing 15 percent overall;
* Satellite radio revenue growth increased over 400 percent;
* The U.S. launch industry increased 65 percent because of the upsurge of U.S. government customers;
* Global satellite manufacturing revenues dropped by 19 percent, while U.S. satellite manufacturing revenues grew by five percent.
"Today one in every five households in America is a satellite user and this trend is replicated around the world," said Richard DalBello, president SBCA.
