This session is the starting point for the non-technical manager working within the global satellite industry. Seminar leader, Dr. Mark R. Chartrand, will present a comprehensive program offering a study of the technology and issues surrounding satellites. Find out how satellites fit into the total telecommunications industry; who is doing what in satellite communications; major issues and trends in satellite delivered services; and what the ambiguous terms, jargon and acronyms used in the satellite business mean.

Military, government and commercial enterprises are increasing their use of Internet Protocols (IP) over satellite to support mission-critical applications. These applications must provide timely, reliable and secure information to users in remote locations. This seminar will address the major issues involved in building these networks. Attendees will learn packet switching fundamentals, what the Internet is, how the protocols work over satellite and how satellite systems interface with terrestrial Internets. Emphasis will be placed on quality of service and security issues and how to build networks that can support converged voice, video and data applications.

Specific topics include:

• Data networking fundamentals: frame relay, ATM, Ethernet DVB
• Packet routing in the Internet
• How satellites are used in data networking
• Basic issues with transporting IP over satellite, with special emphasis on the TCP/IP protocol
• The impact of bit errors and satellite delay in IP networks
• How voice, video and data can be transmitted over IP networks with specified quality of service
• How to build secure networks
• Building bandwidth on demand networks to reduce costs and optimize satellite bandwidth usage
• Satellite networking architectures used in mission-critical applications including corporate networks, military tactical networks, disaster recovery systems and broadcast networks
• The impact of new and improved satellite technology, including LEOs, Ka band, on-board processing, spot beams and dynamic coding and modulation

This educational and informative seminar is entirely interactive. It focuses on current and projected happenings in the space community, including commercial, civil and national security space. The presentation is designed for industry and government professionals working in the satellite arena. Seminar leader, Marshall Kaplan, offers an insider’s view of expected government actions and policy changes relevant to space applications. He starts with the fundamentals, explains the realities of space flight and delves into the dark side of space threats. Executives, managers and engineering personnel will gain insights not available elsewhere. Attendee will leave this session with an increased appreciation and understanding of how space works and an appreciation for what tomorrow might hold. This seminar is a must for all those currently working in the satellite community.

Specific topics include:

• The how and how much of space access
• Commercial, Civil and national security applications of space
• Revolutionary technologies that will change satellite design and applications
• Future space paradigms and how they will impact satellite operators
• Natural and man-made threats to space usage
• Space facts and fantasies 2009
• The next ten years in civil and national security space

The evolution toward delivery of managed network services has been accompanied by the stark recognition that what sells in one vertical market may get no traction in a different user group. As a result, satellite companies are redefining themselves – and they are redefining their offerings – so that they resonate with specific customer profiles. This workshop will begin with an overview of how, where and why the industry is succeeding, and leading experts will then “drill down” to reveal the inner workings of some of the most lucrative vertical markets in the world today.

Satellite, Wireless & “The Digital Community”

Traditionally, providing communications in non-urban areas of developing countries consisted of a village VSAT supporting a couple of phones and maybe a PC or two. The ability of this type of network to generate enough revenue to financially support the platform was typically a non-starter. The result: Attempts to “bridge the digital divide” were only sustainable so long as someone was willing to prop up the program with funds. An increasingly large contingent in the satellite industry is now moving to change that history. Building on proven satellite-backhaul architectures established by terrestrial-wireless operators, VSAT-supported GSM, Wi-Fi and Wi-MAX are being deployed to deliver narrowband and broadband solutions that consumers and enterprises can afford, are willing to pay for, and that are profitable. The workshop will review the latest opportunities and explain how the satellite industry is delivering on this promise.

Sink or Swim: Competing Effectively in the Maritime Market

Satellite and wireless technology enhancements have combined with mounting interest in offshore enterprises. The result is an unprecedented number of communication service providers who are “wading in” to this potentially lucrative vertical market. However, making money in maritime requires service providers to assure high reliability, extreme mobility… and in the face of entrenched competition. The workshop will show how satellite is being tailored to address maritime requirements for a variety of niches in the offshore environment.

Managing the Contingency Planning & Disaster Preparedness Food Chain

Threats to business continuity are not limited to large disasters – a simple cut of a fiber optic cable can stop all communications between offices if there is no backup for land lines. What has been learned in recent years is increasingly clear: Pre-positioning of satellite communications systems needs to be included in operational plans for both businesses and government agencies. Return on investment can be achieved through multi-purpose and shared satellite networks. This session will reveal how, when, where and why emergency management and business continuity professionals are collaborating with the satellite industry to increase effective network deployment and stimulate market growth.

The IP Technology pre-conference program, brought to you by the editors of Via Satellite magazine, drills down on all things IP, with a keen editorial look at what new applications are on the horizon, how the technology is shaping our future and most importantly, how our marketplace can monetize IP technology.

IP technology affects and is utilized in the leading market segments satellite technology serves - military, civil space, broadcast. IPTV is the hottest IP technology as it continues to show steady growth in markets around the globe, especially in Europe and the United States. The IP Technology program covers IPTV, along with hybrid networks, military applications and IP protocol in space.

Opening Session: IP and the Satellite Sector

With broadcasters wanting to meet the promise of delivering content, anytime, anywhere and bringing content to various sources, how will the market be transformed? How are broadcasters using IP to help their content strategies, both in terms of the mechanics of delivering real-time content and how this fits in with satellite technology. Is IP technology a friend or foe to the satellite marketplace?

IP Protocol in Space

The use of IP protocols in space promises to improve satellite communications, and both commercial and government interests are working on developing the technology necessary to make IP in space a reality. What are the challenges? What are the potential benefits? When will this become a full-scale reality?

IP Military

The Pentagon is at the forefront of efforts to develop IP-based satellite communications. Which military organizations are pushing these programs and what are their goals? How will the development of IP communications affect current military satellite programs? This session creates a forum for dialogue between those leading military R&D efforts and the technology and solutions providers.

IP and the Hybrid Network

IP-based communications will become another part of the hybrid networks that can be found throughout the globe. What are the different strategies that can be used to work IP communications into a hybrid network, and what technology are network operators seeking from suppliers?

IPTV: Lessons from Europe and Around the Globe

While the IPTV market in the United States is growing and certainly has the potential to become one of the biggest in the world, it still trails behind some European and Asian countries in both subscribers and market penetration. What lessons can companies working to establish a market in the United States learn from overseas markets who are dominating their market share?

While the satellite industry has had a string of growth years, the current economic situation can be expected to change that picture since credit market contractions affect capital intensive industries, such as the satellite industry, more dramatically and possibly for a longer period than others. Leading industry analysts give their perspectives on how these trends will impact the positioning of satellite companies now and for the future.

Profound changes in the global bank and capital markets have presented unprecedented challenges to the satellite industry. How are satellite companies – new and established – coping with credit constraints, market disruptions and alternative capital sources at a time of new markets for broadband, mobile services, satellite imaging and navigation and digital TV? The world's top satellite investment bankers will provide a hands-on commentary of the year's top satellite deals and provide their insights and prognosis on the current and future credit environment and related topics.

Changing market conditions are affecting both the availability of capital, and the cost of capital. What is the impact of this on satellite operators plans for new investments to replace existing fleets or start innovative businesses? CFOs of the major operators – and some new players – will address these issues and how they plan to pull it all together.

2008 was a mixed year for satellite launch providers, operators and their insurers. What changes are these companies making to address the current financial market challenges to ensure they meet the needs of diversified customer and investor interests? Insurance providers, operators, and investors offer their views on ways to identify, quantify, and minimize risk as companies continue to expand or build new businesses in a risk-averse environment.

How do CEOs continue to drive high performance in a time of growth with uncertainty? What steps need to be taken by new or established businesses to obtain the financing needed to support future growth? How does a CEO decide and proceed to seek out innovative partnerships and new markets? What sector of the industry will be next to seek new financial or strategic partners? This outstanding panel of senior executives will answer these questions and more.

Start the day off right with coffee and networking at SATELLITE 2009!

The chief executives at the top of the global satellite-enabled marketplace set the pace for industry innovation, new services, complex orbital architectures, and day-to-day operations. As 2009 approaches, some key bets have to be made. How much will rising spacecraft and launch costs affect the business case? Has HDTV really, finally, arrived, and what does it mean? What are the demand factors for satellite communications as fill rates in many locations and on many spacecraft reach or exceed 80 percent? And is there a danger that the exuberance many in the industry feel will not be sustained in this climate of economic uncertainty and restraint?

Sponsored by:

SATELLITE 2009 has the largest show floor of leading marketplace companies showcasing their products and services designed to help you achieve your goals. With more than 55,000 net square feet of solutions for the satellite end user, you’ll find it all on the Exhibition show floor.

WSBR will hold its heralded Flagship Lunch and Silent Auction during SATELLITE 2009. WSBR is pleased to announce Marine Corps General James E. Cartwright, Vice-Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as the keynote address. This lunch is a perfect opportunity to bring colleagues and customers to maximize all that you can learn and experience at SATELLITE 2009.

Since 1995, WTA has presented annual awards to companies and individuals who have dramatically demonstrated excellence in the field of teleport operations, development and technology. Celebrate the winners and network with colleagues during the Awards Luncheon.

Join your fellow colleagues as MSUA honors mobile satellite innovators and pioneers with the Pioneer Award. One ticket is included with your MSUA-6 Conference registration.

The mix of business on the world's satellite networks continues to change. TV and radio contribution and distribution still lead but by an ever-shrinking margin, with enterprise and government managed networks, mobile phone backhaul and non-broadcast content distribution coming up fast. Satellite service providers are counting on new lines of business and new markets to create tomorrow's new growth. What will be the most important new geographic, industry or application markets to watch in the next five years? This panel of visionary executives will share their views on where to place your bets.

With the first WGS spacecraft on line and defense budgets uncertain, what is the outlook for commercial satellite in the mix of Department of Defense connectivity requirements? What are the DoD’s ongoing requirements and how does commercial satellite fit in the balance of space requirements? Experts from both sides discuss and debate the future of this linchpin business.

The long battle of supremacy between cable, DSL, wireless and satellite platforms appears to have reached an inflection point. Rather than promoting any single technology, coverage is the core principle regardless of the technology utilized. A mixture of all technologies, oftentimes in hybrid configurations, is now the driving force behind service rollouts and supports a mix of current and projected applications. However, this trend raises a few questions: who owns the customer, which applications are driving the market, how does the requirement for broadband play into this trend, and where will satellite players “win”? These questions and more will be answered in this session in order to evaluate the state of play in the increasingly fragmented telecom world.

Satellite industry watchers say that C-band growth is slowing as Ku-band remains strong across all global regions. Ka-band continues to be a darling of the marketplace, with new spacecraft on order and new applications on the drawing boards. Regional operators continue to emerge and expand, and the FSS giants all agree that serving the legacy businesses will drive new capacity on orbit through the next decade. Where are the current supply-demand imbalances? Will the relentless growth of DTH strain some operators, in space or on the ground? And what role will evolving government and military applications play in the availability of commercial satellite capacity for world and regional markets?

Stretch your legs by strolling the Exhibit Show Floor while enjoying refreshments.

Communications is a business driven by technology change. But technology adoption is a double-edged sword. Demand for HDTV is booming on the one hand – but the terrestrial Internet is fast becoming a serious player in low-definition and even standard video. IPTV is growing fast as a new distribution channel and a technology upgrade for cable systems – but the dominant IPTV providers tend toward fiber for program contribution and distribution. Digital signage and digital cinema look like attractive new markets – but when will adoption reach a meaningful level? And if that weren't enough, game-changing satellite technology looks poised to drastically increase capacity in the sky, with unpredictable consequences for pricing and demand. In this panel, service providers and technologists debate the push-and-pull of technology adoption and offer their forecasts for change.

Anywhere access with critical content and soaring bandwidth demands – Department of Defense customers often present extraordinary challenges that satellite companies have been meeting. Experts outline what the Department of Defense needs and the satellite capacity and technology in the field to serve the warfighter.

WiMAX implementations are now hitting the marketplace in full stride. With the WiMAX hype now clearly behind us and actual implementations on the rise, satellite broadband, which has experienced increased market penetration over the past decade, is faced with competitive threats given that WiMAX is positioned in part as the enabler for bridging the digital divide. Yet, hybrid WiMAX/satellite implementations are likewise taking place. This session will examine technical and market issues surrounding the interplay between WiMAX and satellite broadband technologies and determine the criteria for deploying satellite, WiMAX or hybrid configurations to satisfy broadband demand.

The promise of high-definition broadcasting has kicked into high gear for the satellite-enabled communications marketplace. Some estimates of HD carriage via satellite project 1,000 channels in the near future, with more than 22,000 SD channels also in play. Requirements for HD delivery from programmers across the board, from military and government users, and from other customers, make HD a fast-growing segment of the revenue mix. Can satellite keep up with demand? What features of the satellite solution position it as the carrier of choice for HD? What innovations are needed? Are there non-traditional users as well who will help propel the evolution of HD into SD and feed into the satellite services success story?

Recent panels initiated a discussion among satellite builders, system operators and launch providers illuminating the interdependence of these vital segments of the satellite industry. This year's panel will continue to address the challenges of industry consolidation, entry of new participants, strong demand, and the uncertainties of delivery delays, launch slips and failures of launches and in-orbit. Who are those most affected by these issues? Come and hear this panel of industry veterans question each other and field questions from the moderator and the audience.

Research by WTA shows that satellite service providers are making mobile telephone backhaul one of their top priorities for business development. From an installed base of practically zero five years ago, satellite has accelerated into the mainstream when it comes to extending terrestrial mobile and wireless services into low-density and geographically remote markets. Increasingly, satellite-based networks are also providing overlays to operating networks where they can cost-effectively introduce advanced services that contribute to the carrier's top line. What technology improvements and market have opened this line of business, and how are satellite service providers getting into an unfamiliar market and delivering value? This panel of next-generation operators describes the opportunities in the market, the technology challenges and the factors powering their success.

What lies ahead for Department of Defense procurement of satellite services? The current contract expires in 2011 and change is likely – but which change? Have the DSTS-G integrators proved their mettle? This panel explores both lessons learned and what makes sense for the next key contract vehicle for satellite services to the Armed Services.

As consumer telecom and entertainment applications continue being adopted indistinctively in fixed-mobile contexts, television is considered “the next killer app” in mobile. Satellite broadcast can complement and expand terrestrial mobile TV by distributing entertainment to transmission towers and directly to handsets, media players and navigation systems outside urban areas. However, the audience-building success stories of free terrestrial services in Japan and Korea point to less emphasis on “the mobility premium”, challenging subscription offerings and increasing monetization pressures via advertisement and differentiation. This session will explore the latest experiences and trends and evaluate the way forward for the satellite play in this exciting, yet challenging consumer application.

The Society of Satellite Professionals (SSPI) will host its 25th annual Black Tie Reception and Dinner on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at the Grand Hyatt, Washington. The Gala is the satellite industry’s preeminent social and networking event of the year.

Start the day off right with coffee and networking at SATELLITE 2009!

In the wake of the XM-Sirius merger, attention has now turned to the possibility of consolidation in the MSS sector. At last year’s MSS CEO panel, only Robert Brumley of TerreStar was prepared to venture that there might be less CEOs participating in the session next year. However, we have already seen the announcement of a possible attempt to combine MSV and Inmarsat next year, and meanwhile Inmarsat has applied to the FCC for permission to take over Stratos in April 2009. However, MSS operators have continued to raise additional funding through 2008 despite extraordinarily difficult financial market conditions. Will this be enough to see them through the challenges and costs of launching new services, or will additional mergers prove to be the best way forward in 2009 and beyond? Hear from the industry’s CEOs as they talk about what’s gone right and what hasn’t for MSS over the last year and what changes they expect in 2009.

SATELLITE 2009 has the largest show floor of leading marketplace companies showcasing their products and services designed to help you achieve your goals. With more than 55,000 net square feet of solutions for the satellite end user, you’ll find it all on the Exhibition show floor.

Miss the Rise-n-shine service or need a mid-morning pick me up? Stop by the Exhibit Hall for a coffee break and check out the satellite marketplace's leading companies on the show floor!

Are the African and Middle Eastern satellite markets fundamentally sound? For much of the past decade, Africa recorded the highest satellite revenue growth rates of any region in the world. Likewise, the Middle East – primed largely by crude revenues – was rapidly challenging African growth statistics. Then a capacity crunch struck, forcing bandwidth prices up and driving satellite network operators’ revenues down. As preparations are made to launch new satellites, including additional indigenous African and Middle Eastern platforms, entrepreneurs are fighting for survival. How have they adapted their businesses, and what impact do current trends have on their long-term chances for success? This panel will provide answers.

Smaller, faster, lighter – the satellite industry has been delivering it all for the Department of Defense. Hear the latest in technology, portability, mobility and IP platforms that are keeping the warfighter – and the first responder – in touch while on the move.

Of the globe’s 6.7 billion people, at least 3.5 billion (or more than half of the world’s population) now have a mobile phone compared to 1.3 billion fixed line phones. In many countries, mobile phones far outnumber landline subscribers, and the gap is expected to widen over time. With urban usage having grown at a blistering pace and as metropolitan markets begin to saturate, it is clear that the market opportunity for wireless backhaul within the next 10 years lies in tapping the other 3 billion people (and growing). However, one significant challenge is in how to implement solutions to enable mobile and wireless usage for populations that reside in rural and more remote locations.

This session will discuss technical, economic, market and regulatory forces at play in tapping rural markets as well as other industry forces that need to experience concurrent development in order to realize the market potential and address pent-up demand. This session will likewise examine the evolution of urban markets where opportunities in WiMAX and 3G implementations may provide opportunities for satellite backhaul as well.

IPTV operators have many, many options when it comes to delivering their content. What are the standards for IPTV networks and what do equipment manufacturers need to provide to meet the market demand?

With seven different MSS operators implementing next generation broadband systems, the mobile satellite services market is moving rapidly to take advantage of new and more powerful hardware and software. As MSS satellites take users down the broadband road and provide increased capability for portable satellite communications, the thirst for high speed data rates is not about to go away. The steps taken by FSS operators to provide seamless VSAT maritime and aeronautical coverage are pitting them head-to-head with traditional MSS players and increasing competition for data and video services worldwide. This session will consider the various broadband mobile satellite services markets, how they fare with respect to wireless solutions and identify the opportunities for new MSS applications. It will discuss how users choose their mobile satellite solutions (MSS and VSAT) and how the migration to broadband solutions is taking place, and highlight the issues that will drive the current and future MSS broadband market into the next decade.

Don’t miss the marquee event of SATELLITE 2009! Via Satellite magazine presents its Satellite Executive of the Year 2008, honoring the top satellite industry executive who made significant business impact in the global satellite arena. Tickets to the event are included with your SATELLITE 2009 conference registration fee.

Latin America is not a market; it’s many markets, each characterized by unique demands from enterprise, SOHO, and consumer customers. But all that is beginning to change. Whether they are in the Caribbean, or North, Central or South America, the satellite sector is increasingly offering communications solutions that cut across portfolios… and borders. Broadcasting, multicasting, VSATs and mobile satellite services are the tools being used. Attend this dynamic session to learn how they are being applied to transform the map of the marketplace.

Europe’s military and defense forces now procure about one-fifth of their satellite communications capabilities from commercial sources. There is a growing tendency to look toward centralized procurement, mirroring in some regards the US DSTS-G model. Meanwhile, concerns abound regarding the availability of commercial capacity in the S-, X- and Ka-bands, even as new applications and requirements come to the fore. Senior officials of Europe’s leading defense ministries and industry experts will share their opinions and answer questions from the audience on the pace of change in this market.

HD programming has finally become a fact in North America, Western Europe and a number of other developed countries like Japan. It is no longer a question of when and how; instead HD is an essential cornerstone and competitive enabler in the TV markets in these countries. Of greater note, HD has also begun appearing on TV platforms in countries like Russia, Poland and Turkey in the last 12 to 18 months. This trend is accelerating around the world, and it could well be that the all HD Beijing Olympics will be remembered as the tipping point for making HD a must-have for TV viewers for the rest of the world, not just a fancy dream. This session will look at developments in HD in countries beyond the major, developed nations and seek to find business parallels and differences in what it means to introduce HD services in countries.

Video on demand is becoming a major driver of TV revenues, potentially putting direct-to-home satellite players at a disadvantage in the market. How will satellite operators respond to the challenge, or can they even provide a competitive option to other broadcasting options?

Integrated satellite-terrestrial networks are just one part of a continuing focus of some MSS operators to develop new consumer applications and exploit the ubiquitous coverage of satellite in a wider market. MSS operators are seeking growth via a wide range of potential applications, including Globalstar’s SPOT satellite tracker, which has achieved significant growth since its launch in late 2007, ICO’s MIM mobile video service and MSV’s planned satellite-cellular services. These new consumer-oriented applications are being designed to benefit enterprise and retail customers and government users, by enabling low-cost handsets and devices capable of serving the needs of traditional MSS markets and new industry segments such as telematics, the outdoor and adventure marketplace and the wireless industry. This session will discuss the different service offerings and the challenges still to be overcome before wider market success can be realized.

Stretch your legs, enjoy refreshments and check out the latest products and technologies from more than 280 marketplace leading companies.

Russia is a rising power not only in the geo-political arena, but also in the delivery of international satellite services. The increasingly deregulated CIS markets are squarely in Russia’s sights, and a new breed of value-added resellers is emerging to address pent-up demand. But Western European interests are looking for new growth sources. Is the stage set for a showdown in Eastern Europe? Do satellite broadcast and telecom customers stand to gain from intense competition? And is the Eastern European strategy for success based on a strong value proposition or on the lowest common denominator? These and other pressing issues will be closely examined.

With recent studies fearing an erosion of the U.S. manufacturing base, ITAR-free satellites marketed worldwide and ongoing criticism of the efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. export process, is it time to re-think how the U.S. regulates the export of its space technology? This panel gets to the root of the discussion, explores what can – or should – be reformed, and what the policy environment for change looks like in the new administration and new Congress.

This session will present data to show trends for development in satellite communications, including the implications of political shifts and economic disruption. Panel members will present data on the use of transponders, growth of demand for various services, the actual fraction of transponders in revenue producing service and numbers of subscribers to various MSS systems, DARS, DBS, broadband and other applications. New data collected specifically for presentation at SATELLITE 2009 will be interpreted, and forecasts will be discussed.

The satellite newsgathering marketplace has evolved from an interesting concept not too many years ago into a global phenomenon that embraces everything from broadcast-quality HD video to citizen journalists armed with high-tech cameras, instant access, and a sense of mission. What SNG role will satellite continue to play in an increasingly connected and IP-driven landscape? Is the satellite solution still the best and most versatile approach? Will lower cost access technologies and equipment relegate SNG to a niche position in the arsenal of broadcast journalism? What’s the future for satellite-based SNG on mobile platforms and even remotely-controlled robots?

Mobile Satellite Services have played a leading role in the response to disasters both in the US and overseas. The FCC has also cited the need for emergency backup communications provided by MSS as a key factor in justifying ATC authorizations and supporting the award of spectrum to new MSS operators. Conversely, these operators see first responders as a major market for their new services. This panel will examine the requirements of first responders and what MSS providers must do to expand this market in the future.

Recently, Asia has become one of the first regions to witness the introduction of a variety of pioneering satellite services: The rollout of consumer-class broadband; the provision of small-aperture Ku-band maritime services; and the delivery of cost-effective mobile satellite services are just a few. However, accompanying these new offerings are equally formidable challenges that include terrestrial competition, spectrum issues, and market-access barriers. This session will deliver progress reports from the top players, as well as insights on how they are overcoming the hurdles unique to the largest region in the world.

Satellite manufacturers are facing an increasingly complex marketplace. There are changing balances between commercial, military, and civil/scientific customers as well as between geostationary and non-geostationary systems. New technologies and suppliers are emerging around the world. New economic realities are forcing realignments among companies to meet business as well as regulatory challenges. Chief executives from the major manufacturers face off in a free-wheeling discussion of how they individually and the satellite industry as a whole can best evolve to accommodate the shifting market, add value to customers, and make a profit.

Use of commercial mobile satellite services by defense forces has grown significantly in recent years, particularly in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. New technologies, supporting Communications-On-The-Move, include BGAN and Blue Force Tracking systems supported on MSS networks, as well as newly developed mobile VSAT technologies. This panel will examine, from the user’s viewpoint, present and future military requirements and the role for both mobile and fixed commercial satellite systems in supporting the move to net centric warfare.

The ultimate networking event of SATELLITE 2009! Join the Satellite Executive of the Year for an evening reception in his or her honor. Tickets to the event are included with your SATELLITE 2009 conference registration fee.

Start the day off right with coffee and networking at SATELLITE 2009!

SATELLITE 2009 has the largest show floor of leading marketplace companies showcasing their products and services designed to help you achieve your goals. With more than 55,000 net square feet of solutions for the satellite end user, you’ll find it all on the Exhibition show floor.

After years of development and a lot of bluster, satellite broadband services are finally a competitive force in the marketplace. The customer base is still small compared to that of alternative media, but the future looks very bright. Several organizations and investors are taking bold steps to increase capability and capacity. Actively searching for and developing niche markets, these players are no longer shy of also taking on entrenched behemoths for market share. Leading executives and entrepreneurs will present in their views, achievements, lessons learned and plans for the future, covering business strategy, financing, technology and system architectures, market growth and opportunities.

Low data rate MSS services have now reached critical mass with well over 1 million terminals operational on the networks of Orbcomm, Inmarsat, MSV, Iridium and Globalstar. This number has doubled in the last two years and is likely to double again by the end of 2010. Particularly strong growth has been seen in heavy equipment monitoring and trailer tracking, with much larger opportunities in areas such as telematics potentially on the horizon. This session will discuss which segments of the market hold the greatest potential for future growth and which applications are generating the best return on investment for end users.

As SATELLITE 2009 winds down, keep yourself going with coffee and exciting product demonstrations on the show floor.

Innovation has always been a hallmark of the global satellite-enabled marketplace, with new technologies contributing to smaller packages and lower equipment costs, creative use and re-use of spectrum to expand services without requiring additional allocations, the introduction of viable applications for an expanding array of frequency options. At the same time, service providers have decried rising launch and spacecraft costs in an era of constrained budgets and customer cost-cutting. How will satellite continue to demarcate its top markets and services? Will turbulent economic times dictate a return to basics and a suspension of innovation as the marketplace rides the current downturn? Are other technologies or architectures poised to slice away portions of the satellite pie? And will industry leaders have the resources to continue the cycle of innovation that has characterized the satellite-enabled marketplace for more than four decades?

The mobile satellite industry today offers the end user a very broad array of services and equipment. These users are scattered around the world working in remote areas, and each has a specific set of unique requirements.

The challenge of identifying and implementing the solutions to those requirements typically falls to a front line distributor, dealer, or reseller who has both the appropriate resources and a direct and often local relationship with the end user. A good relationship with a knowledgeable MSS distributor can be of tremendous benefit to a user seeking to select from the wide range of services, pricing plans, terminals, and peripheral equipment to meet their requirements. This session will take a brief look at the evolution, structure and roles of MSS distribution channels and then focus on ways that end users can leverage the capabilities, resources and expertise of distributors in selecting services and equipment, integrating these with other hardware and software, and managing initial and on-going service costs. Panelists will include both end users and distributors with considerable experience in collaborating in this way.

Enjoy an exciting game of hockey with your colleagues as the Washington Capitals take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. SATELLITE 2009 has secured discounted ticket rates that are available only through the registration system.