Sky's the Limit?

The article informs that a pair of new satcom operators north and south of the U.S. border are poised to reinforce a close operational partnership involving direct broadcasting system provider EchoStar and wholesaler SES Americom. But with EchoStar also accelerating its own satellite procurement plans, some are wondering about the future of the arrangement. Both of the ventures are partly owned by SES Global, which acquired Americom at the beginning of the decade to form the nucleus of a network in the Americas. Analysts predicted such a move could change the economics for the U.S. satellite broadcast market, bringing operators like EchoStar and archrival DirecTV into competition with SES, Telesat and other wholesalers.