Hong Kong listed satellite services provider APT Satellite Holdings has reported a 6.9% decline in profit for 2014 to HK$508 million ($65.5 million), even as turnover grew 9.6% to HK$1.25 billion.
“Despite the fierce market competition in 2014, the Group continued to strengthen its business structure and expanded its customer base to boost business potential,” APT Satellite executive director Cheng Guangren said.
“Stable, reliable and quality service drove constant growth in operating results and generated significant returns for shareholders.”
During the year, the company's satellites had an average transponder utilization rate of 76.8%. The company also started leasing transponders of APSTAR 9A ahead of the launch of its replacement satellite APSTAR 9, which is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of this year.
“Looking into 2015, the supply of traditional transponders will increase rapidly, and high through-put satellite projects will emerge in the market. The market competition of the satellite industry in the Asia Pacific Region, Middle East and African region will intensify,” Cheng said.
“Under such circumstances, the transponder utilisation rates of the Group’s satellites will still be maintained at a high level, however, the impact on utilisation rates and prices will impose higher pressure on the Group’s revenue and profit.”
APSTAR currently operates four in-orbit satellites – APSTAR 5, 6, 7 and 9A – covering around 75% of the world's population across Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia.
In other satellite news, Inmarsat has revealed it has teamed up with Quicklink to provide broadcast-quality Skype over Inmarsat's BGAN network.
Inmarsat has certified and approved the use of the Quicklink TX hardware and software broadcasting solution as part of the Inmarsat Certified Applications program.
Quicklink TX enables broadcasters, producers, engineers and studio manage to manage Skype video and audio for broadcast purposes.