Subsea Cables & Internet Infrastructure

Let's be clear. LEO satellite service is an unproven business model. Obviously, if prices are high enough or the service is a monopoly, it will work. But no complete financial picture is public at this point. This is why the planned 2026 IPO is so interesting. The prospectus will reveal enough to make an informed judgment. But despite stubborn optimism to the contrary, there is no strong evidence that LEO Internet is highly profitable. I doubt even Starlink investors have the company's complete financial details except for a few high profile venture capitalists. Starlink does release an annual report. It is best characterized as a slick marketing pitch designed to give the impression that Starlink is an unstoppable juggernaut that reflects historical inevitability. All Bow to Caesar. What are the missing details? 1. Depreciation. 2. Customer acquisition costs. 3. Operating expenses. 4. Capital replacement costs. Depreciation is important because LEOs are like...

The LEO satellite business model is one of the most interesting topics in telecommunications today. LEO satellites are not a 'new technology'. It is really just a new approach to providing Internet access without any intellectual or patent moat to prevent the entry of new competitors. There could be a know how moat, but the number of LEO satellite networks entering the market over the next 5 year suggests it is very shallow. LEO satellites provide Last Mile access using low Earth orbits ranging from 300 kilometers (180 US miles) to 2,000 kilometers (1200 miles). Each bird as they are affectionately called in the industry takes only 90 to 120 minutes to complete an orbit. Their orbits can take a variety of shapes. For example, a LEO orbit could be elliptical in order to achieve a closer approach to the Earth at some points along the path for more detailed image or data collection. Or the LEO could fly longitudinally from North Pole to South Pole and back again. Hence LEO satelli...

Pay salesmen low salaries and 5% to 10% of on-net revenue. A good salesman does not need a high salary. He or she achieves high income by selling. It is what they enjoy doing. This is the standard Wall Street broker compensation package. New brokers end up sharing apartments with lots of other brokers and commuting from New Jersey. Real sales meritocracy is pay for performance.  Profits are not maximized by paying a high salary combined with low commission rates, and high quotas. It simply creates huge staff turnover as people charm themselves into a high paying job, produce only one or two deals over their first six to 12 months, and then jump ship just before they are going to fired. I have seen it happen time and time again. The empty suit charmers. The resume red flag is a sales guy or gal moving from carrier to carrier every 1 to 2 years. The resulting churn from these bad apples dramatically lowers sales revenue per employee. Plus it rewards a few select salesmen who were luc...