8 Fitting the pieces together: satellites, systems and operations 8.1 Introduction Having looked at the regulatory and administrative environment in which satellite newsgathering exists, we can now move on to examine some of the principal global and regional satellite systems, focusing on those that allow access for SNG, and how these can be accessed by SNG uplinks. It is not intended to detail every satellite that is in orbit, for that information changes quite often, preferring to describe what is in orbit at time of writing. It is best to consult the satellite operators directly, all of whom publish details of their cur- rent fleets on their websites (see Appendix J). It is also important to note that information given here for any satellite system is only current as at the time of writing (nor have we listed every satellite that organizations featured have launched over the years), and will probably have changed by the time you read this. Overall, there are a few global systems, and many regional systems. As well as carrying SNG traffic, these systems also carry services such as: Direct-to-home (DTH)/direct broadcasting services (DBS) for radio and TV Backbone video/audio distribution services Telephony and data, including Internet connectivity Private data networks for financial institutions, corporations and a wide variety of other businesses including retail outlets Many satellites are in orbit to provide only these other services (although there are some that cater for SNG as well as other services). The range of services is wide, and the demand in all these areas is growing, feed- ing a multi-billion US dollar global industry. With almost US$53 billion in revenue in 2005, satellite opera- tors constitute a dynamic business, made even more challenging by consolidation and new entrants, globalization and the search for added value in service provision. This in turn is applying pressure on spec- trum, and the result of this is that the number of geostationary satellites is increasing, with virtually all the satellite system operators expanding their fleets. There are also an increasing number of mergers and strategic alliances being formed to try to dominate as much of the market as possible; recent examples include Intelsat's acquisition of PanAmSat and SES's acquisition of New Skies Satellites (NSS). Table 8.1 shows the principal global and regional satellite systems that allow access for SNG uplinks. It is also worth noting that some companies both operate their own satellites and also buy lease capacity on a long-term basis on other satellite systems, usually in order to provide as diverse an offering of services and wide area of coverage as possible. These organizations tend to be smaller in size, without the resources to economically provide this added range. They may be in the process of expanding, and sub-leasing capac- ity from another operator is a stepping stone to fully developing their services. For other operators, it may be a way of offering some degree of service in an area that is only going to have a limited demand for them.