Intelsat increases EBITDA margin to 78 percent of revenue

Intelsat Q3 2017 revenueIntelsat posted revenue of $539 million (–1 percent), net loss of $30 million against net income of $196 million and EBITDA of $420 million (+4 percent) in Q3 2017.

Intelsat said EBITDA margin was 78 percent of revenue in Q3 compared to 75 percent of revenue in the third quarter of 2016 largely driven by a fee recognized by our media business and lower overall operating costs.

Intelsat generated revenue of $211 million (–5 percent) from network services, $237 million (+9 percent) from media and $85 million (–13 percent) from Government. Intelsat generates 39 percent of revenue from Network services, 44 percent from media and the balance 16 percent from Government.

Intelsat CEO Stephen Spengler said: “Our network services business is continuing to move toward a high-throughput satellite model of greater volume and lower price applications, such as mobility, while our media and government businesses are generally performing according to plan.”

Intelsat launched two satellites, completing its schedule for the year. Intelsat 35e entered into service in August. Intelsat 37e, fifth Intelsat EpicNGsatellite, launched on September 29, is expected to enter service in the first quarter of 2018.

“Our emphasis is on commercializing Intelsat EpicNG and promoting Intelsat EpicNG -enabled managed services, such as IntelsatOne Flex, to improve the dynamics in our fixed and mobile broadband businesses,” Stephen Spengler said.

Intelsat said its average fill rate on approximately 2,025 station-kept wide-beam 36 MHz equivalent transponders was 78 percent at September 30, 2017, consistent with 78 percent as of June 30, 2017. Separately, its fleet includes approximately 825 36 MHz equivalent units of high-throughput Intelsat EpicNG capacity.

Intelsat’s backlog, representing expected future revenue under existing contracts with customers, was $7.9 billion, as compared to $8.2 billion at June 30, 2017.