The 2nd Global Satshow | Newspaper

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SATELLITE EVENT OF THE YEAR

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2 Global SatShow: Satellite event of the year nd

HAKAN KURT CEO, MEDYACITY

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The second Global Satshow will give the satellite industry a voice before a truly international audience.

With an unprecedented line-up, the CEO Summit will reveal the plans of and direction taken by those shaping the market. Staying on the pulse of the industry, conference sessions on mobile connectivity, transportation, TV expansion and Mars missions will map out the route to the future of satellite.

The Global SatShow is the ideal platform for business development for each participant.

BY HAKAN KURT, CEO, MEDYACITY

hen we had the first meeting in Brussels with Aarti Holla, Secretary General of the EMEA Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), in retrospect, I clearly see that we are actually starting the world of satellite’s most focused business development. Today, I have great pride in our accomplishments, that we have a dedicated event focused on promoting satellite as a core business. We have taken great pleasure in gathering executives from the decision-making mechanisms of more than 50 countries, from China to the United States, and in creating an environment that will regulate the future of the satellite world.

Today, the second Global SatShow has opened its doors in Istanbul, home to thousands of years of history and the ideal meeting point for all people of the world, from the rapidly evolving Asia-Pa-

cific markets and MENA, to Europe and the United States. For this occasion, thousands of satellite professionals have met in Istanbul to address the current issues facing the industry and to see the perspectives on the future from the decision makers who are giving direction to the market as a whole.

Following the theme “smart connections”, the second Global Satshow will prove to be the ideal platform for all participants, providing opportune meetings for business development. As Istanbul bridges the West to the East, so will our CEO Summit, which boasts an unprecedented line-up of speakers and attendees, bridge those serving the satellite users with those influencing and shaping the industry. A vibrant showcase of technology, solutions and services, the exhibition will demonstrate this show’s prowess in this area. Conference sessions on the satellite industry, mobility, transportation, TV expansion and Mars missions, will

reveal the route to take for success today and in the future.

It is a great feeling to open the second Global Satshow – the culmination of our collective goals and efforts to create a voice, platform and home for the international satellite community. I give special thanks to the President of the Republic of Turkey Mr Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Mr Rupert Pearce, Head of ESOA, Mr Nail Olpak, the President of MÜSİAD, and Mr Cenk Sen, CEO of TÜRKSAT, for the support they have given in order to make the Global SatShow the industry event of the year. Many thanks go to Mr Masaki Sakuyama, Global CEO of MELCO, Masood Sharif Mahmood, CEO of Yahsat, and Ahmed Ali Al Kuwari, President & CEO of Es’hailSat, for sponsoring and enriching our event.

We wish you a successful and enjoyable time, and invite you back to the third Global SatShow on November 21-23 in Istanbul next year.

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Satellites are enabling the uber-connected world

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RUPERT PEARCE, CHAIRMAN OF ESOA, CEO OF INMARSAT

he promise of a truly connected world, in which people talk to people and machines talk to machines, has been a long time coming. In 2016, we can see that the world of ‘uber’ connectivity has not simply arrived but is driving change at an unprecedented rate.

IT research and advisory firm Gartner estimates that the Internet of Things (IoT) will have reached well over 20 billion devices by 2020. What is not always appreciated is that this genuine revolution is being driven largely through the unique capabilities of satellite-based telecoms. Satcoms is already an integral component of the infrastructure behind ‘uber’ connectivity. There are a number of key reasons why satellite-based telecoms has such an important part to play in the emergence of IoT. Terrestrial telecoms infrastructure, while it will always be a core component of connectivity, has a number of practical limitations. The most obvious is the inability of terrestrial networks to deliver universal cov-

Always an expanding business: Broadcast

Will satellite TV beat cable TV? What are the trends for digital broadcasting? Will broadcast be supplanted by the Internet? Key broadcasters and satellite operators will attempt to answer such questions during the “Worldwide Satellite TV Expansion” session. Leaders from established and new generation media organisations will come together on the same stage to outline the future of broadcasting.

MARKUS FRITZ VICE PRESIDENT, EUTELSAT

CARLOS TIBI CEO, ICFLIX

TURAN ERDOĞAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMITTEE, VESTEL

TV is an expanding business, both in mature markets where new channels continue to launch and in developing markets, many of which are still moving to digital. It’s also a changing business where broadcasters have to integrate the move to non-linear, watching the habits of the younger generation and the emergence of new players like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon. There are two key trends to follow. The first is engagement with viewers and knowing their viewing habits. The second is the move to higher resolution in order to enhance the viewing experience. Across the 6,300 TV channels that Eutelsat satellites broadcast, we see HD accelerating, both for pay and free content, and we are now broadcasting over 900 HD channels. We also see the emergence of Ultra-HD (UHD), which represents the next big step forward in audio and video clarity and which is mobilising the entire video industry. We expect the two key video platforms going forward will be satellite and IP. Cable will continue to be relevant but will probably develop into a more IP-centric delivery model. Satellite will remain a core platform due to its coverage, cost efficiency and bandwidth availability for higher resolution services such as HD and UHD. Online streaming services will become the future of TV. The Over-the-Top (OTT) landscape is growing. The number of connected devices such as tablets and smart TVs are fueling the demand for OTT because consumers love the convenience and accessibility of being able to watch what they want, when they want and where they want. With infrastructure improving and Internet speeds picking up across the Middle East and North Africa, people want high-quality video on any device and a seamless experience that carries across all their devices. Also with mobile devices readily available and extremely intelligent to stream content, and with the screens becoming larger with every new release from the major mobile manufacturers, consumers are becoming more inclined to leveraging their devices as their personal video viewing instruments. Satellite and cable TV will always be around for news and sports; however, online streaming will be the preferred viewing instrument for movies and TV shows by consumers, simply for their ease of use and lack of advertisements – all at a low fixed rate. Online streaming also provides an affordable form of entertainment on demand, giving flexibility to the users.

TV is at the centre of residential infotainment and will keep its unique position in the broadcast and content markets. Therefore, TV is the biggest and most important user interface of satellite broadcasting. In this regard, TV will adopt any improvements or developments in satellite and conform to the latest technologies. Innovation and development in TV technologies are perpetual and always a step ahead in life. Consumers are keen to have bigger TV screens with higher resolution and connected services, and today, TVs offer more than this, having already adopted the most sophisticated displays and broadcasting technologies including UHD, HDR and several other colour and contrast enhancements. We think UHD broadcasting will have great importance in the near future; rather than an SD to HD transition, in many cases, we will witness HD to UHD instead. It is obvious that most of these developments are also in line with broadcast technologies and require not only headed support but, more importantly, bigger bandwidth. Here, satellite has a great advantage; it can easily provide more bandwidth to better meet the requirements of UHD broadcasting. In short, we can say that UHD broadcasting via satellite will be the preferred option.

erage. Satellite telecoms have the ability to reach the most remote locations, where it is simply uneconomical to build and maintain terrestrial infrastructure, including in the air and on the oceans Only satcoms can transform the Internet of Everything into the Internet of Everywhere. Another unique attribute of satcoms is reliability. Relying solely on a ground-based infrastructure leaves us exposed, as seen with the recent hurricane in the Caribbean and East Coast of the United States. Originally conceived for government use, satellite networks are physical private networks in space with far fewer entry points than terrestrial networks.

They provide an invisible and resilient overlay for terrestrial networks that guarantee constant connectivity, even if a terrestrial connection fails. Because of their inherent security, satcoms are often the network of choice for critical infrastructures such as smart grids, even though adequate terrestrial coverage exists.

Satcoms also provide special capabilities, which cannot be achieved through terrestrial networks. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), which deliver vital capabilities such as GPS (Global Positioning System), is one of many examples where only satellite can deliver.

In a world where both physical and cyber threats are ever present, satcoms have two intrinsic advantages; greater inherent resilience to cyber security breaches and the ability to be deployed anywhere at a moment’s notice. Global IoT networks delivered via satellite are already providing effective border control solutions and can even support initiatives to collect biometric data to give forgotten citizens in developing countries an identity. According to Forbes, it is estimated that IoT will be worth some US $ 14 trillion to the global economy by 2022. If this is to be achieved, then no one should be left out of the reach of connectivity.

Unlike earlier generation networks, the next phase of investment cannot primarily serve an urban ‘elite’; it should be available to everyone, everywhere.

New societal and business opportunities are also being created through IoT – opportunities that will only be truly realised with the full participation of satellite connectivity.

Right now, satcoms are being deployed along side terrestrial networks to support the development of the first smart cities; enabling the secure management of a city’s assets.

Satellite-delivered services are also playing an important role in the development of smart transport networks and initiatives such as the connected car.Smart agriculture is considered one of the most important initiatives in a world where, by 2050, the human population is forecast by the US Census Bureau to reach 9.3 billion. Farmers can increase production through the use of ‘sensing’ technology, turning traditional farms into ‘intelligent farms’, and by using automated agricultural vehicles capable of ploughing or harvesting without a human driver at the wheel.

Rather than being considered a solution for niche services, satcoms has now entered the mainstream with even traditional telcos using satcoms to make their networks more efficient and extend their reach. Governments and regulators need to protect and nurture this industry if they are to drive economic growth and protect against vulnerabilities emerging from the universal reliance on connectivity.

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Turkey to “keep on producing and growing”

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NAİL OLPAK PRESIDENT, MÜSİAD

urkey’s economy has been growing without interruption for 27 quarters. Despite all the stories to the contrary, the figures for 2016 are no different.The performance of the second quarter has ranked Turkey fifth amongst OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and G20 countries.

Unlike other players who’ve achieved similar success, we’ve acquired these figures despite the baggage we’re carrying. The cross-border operations for the ongoing war in Syria and Iraq as well as for national security, the struggle against terrorist organisations, and being the country to open its doors to 3 million Syrian brothers and sisters whom the rest of the world has turned its back on; Turkey’s achieving continued growth while facing these challenges is a significant feat.

Recently, our country experienced an attack from a terror-

Near future reality: Connected transportations

Whether in a car, aircraft or on a ship, demand for always-on communications has been driving investments in the transportation sector and satellite industry. In addition to allowing end-users to stay online, connectivity also improves operations and efficiencies. From flat-antenna technology for cars to in-flight entertainment systems, the connected transportation market is one of the strongest growth opportunities for players in the communications ecosystem.

MARTIN JARROLD CHIEF OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT, GVF

JEAN P. GILLET CEO, INTELSAT

DİNÇER ÇELİK CEO, TEMSA

Connected cars, trains and aircraft have now joined maritime vessels high up on the connectivity agenda. Ships have long been connected using satellite technology that was well-suited to relatively narrowband communications, but now all these forms of transportation are becoming an integrated facet of the mobile broadband world served by the technologies of high-throughput satellites (HTS). Driverless trains, autonomous ships and self-driving cars (though not the pilotless passenger aeroplane, yet) are a near-term reality. But these vehicles’ complex systems generate massive volumes of performance-monitoring data that must be sent over satellite and analysed. For companies delivering products and services in a globalised world, this data means the ability to keep track of the physical assets that facilitate maximised productivity in the trading ecosystem. For an airline, it means using information to maximise the time an aircraft is flying and earning revenue. For a shipping company, it means maximising the time a vessel is fully loaded and plying the seas between ports as speedily and profitably as possible. For the cruise line passenger, it means uploading the video of the day’s excursions ashore to social media.

The social aspect of connectivity already is witnessed considerable improvements in how transportation can be shared and paid for in a convenient and intelligent manner. There is no doubt that cost savings can be achieved in many ways, obviously also in ways that we do not yet foresee, but a few things that we already anticipate include: better trained and informed crew on ships, potentially large reductions in fuel consumption, and reduced costs due to moving to report-based maintenance rather than by scheduled maintenance schemes. The current terrestrial networking technologies can and will provide some of this, but many of these networks are having to cope with a tremendous rise in connectivity demand, and over-the-air software upgrades to vehicles may also be delivered where terrestrial networking technology does not reach, where it doesn’t scale well for a mass market in an economic sense, or where terrestrial connectivity will be absent for some time to come. Additionally, satellite connectivity will improve in the coming years. Intelsat is adding global HTS satellite capacity to its existing fleet and is working with OneWeb for an additional layer of satellites capable of providing an unprecedented amount of connectivity by 2020.

In the near future, four mega trends, namely digitalisation, urbanisation, safety and climate change, will play a major role in the transport system. TEMSA envisions that those four mega trends will shape today’s transportation and customer attitudes. Future vehicle’s will be fuel efficient, connected, zero emission and integrated with technologies to serve drivers. TEMSA believes that changes in power train technologies, developments in lightweight materials, rapid advances in connected vehicles, shifts in mobility preferences and the emergence of autonomous vehicles will define the future of transportation. TEMSA Smart Mobility programme places great efforts to set standards for future of transportation with its smart vehicles, electric vehicles and digital production programmes. Connected transportation will make transit safer and secure, reduce operating and capital expenses, offer passengers new services, and deliver timely and accurate information.

Smart roadways connected to sensors will clear traffic jams before they even happen. Network analytics will keep passengers informed and ensure traffic safety and efficiency, generate and analyse operational data such as diagnostics, maintenance, fuel economy and carbon emissions.

ist network who decided to turn against its own countrymen.

FETO, which infiltrated the government in recent years, found the resistance of millions of Turks who put their hearts against the treacherous coup attempt. The elected government, all political parties and NGOs protected the future of this country.

Just as the will of the nation was consolidated on the night of July 15, so too has our economy proved to be just as solid. In contrast to what the traitors had hoped to achieve, since July 16, both everyday life and commercial activities have returned to normal. The status of our economy together with the heroic resistance and strength of the Turkish people is the most powerful response that this nation can give to the attack that was mounted against us.

The best way to describe Turkey’s robust economy is to contrast it to that of England. The British pound tumbled to its lowest level against the US dollar in 30 years following the vote to leave the European Union. From Turkey’s perspective, July 15 was a much bigger political jolt than Brexit, yet our economy did not even slip slightly during this “earthquake”.

After a state of emergency was declared following the coup attempt, news consistently spread resulting in misconceptions and negative speculations in the international press regarding this country and economy. Added to this was the decision of Moody’s to downgrade Turkey’s credit rating. Despite this, we remain buoyant; we know the best response is to continue working fearlessly and tirelessly.

We at MÜSİAD haven’t slowed down nor have we cancelled any of our projects since the attempts to reverse the progress that our country has made in recent years. Knowing that these attacks intended to create an environment of uncertainty only accelerates our efforts even further as we follow the motto: “keep on producing and growing”.

Following its middle-term strategy, Turkey has been increasing its domestic production in elevated, progressive and strategic sectors since 2004. From importing international hightech projects, Turkey is now able to shift to a more export-focused mode. Among the country’s aims for 2023 is increased national per capita income, a higher yield of high-tech production, and to be included amongst the top 10 economies. Our goal, as demonstrated in 2011, is to break free from the “Middle Income Trap.” We have been drawing attention to this topic since 2011 through the efforts we’ve made within the scope of our road map. In order to escape this trap, Turkey must insist on an added-value system of production based on high technology.

And when we look at the high-tech sector, we see two main elements in particular at the forefront: the satellite and space technologies sector and the defense and aviation sector.

At MÜSİAD, we have developed two projects in this context, both of which complement the vision that Turkey has set out to achieve over the last decade. One of these projects is the Global Satshow under the theme “Smart Connections”. We will be hosting the giants of the satellite-space world at this event, which has been made possible through collaboration with the EMEA Satellite Operators Association (ESOA). Seven renowned CEOs will attend the Global CEO Summit held under the title “Future Collaborations Between Global and Regional Satellite Operators.” Poised to be the industry event of the year, the Global Satshow is one of the most concrete indications of the successful technological revolution that Turkey has made over the last decade.

At MÜSİAD, which represents thousands of members who, in turn, represent tens of thousands of businesses at 86 domestic locations and 170 abroad, we will continue to work for the development of Turkey in all areas. We believe the country can beat the 4.4% growth target for 2017 and will continue working with all members, businesses and organisations to achieve this goal because MÜSİAD also represents Turkey.

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Turkey is stronger than ever in space

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he quick and versatile developments in technology are a phenomenon that almost everyone can see today. Technology provides a huge commercial advantage in determining a country’s level of development as well as in international competition. The world is divided in two; those who can produce technology and those who cannot, with the latter having to dependent on foreign countries. When examining the technological and socio-economic status of Turkey, it is clear that the country

CENK ŞEN CEO, TÜRKSAT

Settling on Mars: Humanity’s next passion

BAS LANSDORP CO-FOUNDER & CEO, MARS ONE

Who will be the first human to step foot on the Red Planet? What will it take to establish a colony on Mars?

Is this just a dream or can it come to pass? Mars One Co-founder and CEO Bars Lansdorp will answer all of these questions and more.

Exciting details on Lansdorp’s project will finally be revealed in his presentation on November 29 at the Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey. The third conference session, titled ‘Address: Colony Street, No: 2025, Mars’, will be attended by the teams that will go on to establish a colony on Mars.

Why should we set up a colony on Mars?

Why did Columbus travel west? Why did Marco Polo head east? It is because of that pull of the unknown, the prospect of adventure that compels humans to seek new frontiers to explore? There are a number of reasons to travel to Mars. The first is the realisation of an amazing dream. Sending a manned mission to Mars is a fantastic adventure. Imagine living on another planet, millions of miles from the Earth, looking up into the sky with the knowledge that one of the stars is actually the planet you were born on. Those who observed Neil Armstrong land on the moon all those years ago still remember every detail – where they were when it happened, who they were with, and how they felt. The moment the first astronauts land on Mars will be our moment to remember. A second reason is good old-fashioned curiosity. Where did Mars come from? Can it teach us about Earth’s history? Is there life on Mars? These are just three of the hundreds of burning questions for scientists all over the world.

Thirdly: progress. You could say that sending people to Mars is “the next giant leap for mankind.” This mission will jumpstart massive developments in all kinds of areas, a few examples being in recycling, solar energy, food production and the advancement of medical technology.

Mars One plans to send four people to Mars biannually starting in 2027. What are the criteria to be chosen for the first group? And in which group will you be?

Several months before the first human departure, the Mars One selection committee will determine which groups in training are ready to depart for Mars. At least six groups are expected to be ready for the trip. Because this mission is humanity’s mission, Mars One intends to make this a democratic decision. The whole world will get to vote on which of the four groups will be the first humans on Mars.

I am absolutely not qualified to be in one of the first crews:

I am stubborn, easily annoyed and impatient. These are all good qualities for entrepreneurs, but not for Mars settlers.

Perhaps when there are 20 people on Mars, the time will be right for me to go.

How will you finance this project and make it sustainable?

Our revenue model is based on the media value of that adventure, intellectual property rights, several other business cases, investments and donations. Mars One receives donations from over 100 countries every month. At this moment, the revenue generated from donations is not enough to finance the mission, but with every step Mars One takes and with every contract that is signed, more people donate and the average amount goes up. We expect that revenues from donations can contribute substantially to our mission by the time our first unmanned mission lands on Mars.

The mission to Mars will primarily be financed through investments. In March 2013, Mars One closed a very successful investment deal and is currently in the final stages of a much larger investment round. The next step for Mars One will be a listing on thestock exchange to enable supporters to “own” part of the mission to Mars.

People are investing in Mars One because they believe in a return on their investment. This return will come from several revenue streams, like media exposure and intellectual property rights. Designing, building and testing the hardware for our mission will result in new intellectual property rights, like recycling and growing food with less water and energy, for example.

What will your session “Address: Colony Street, No: 2025, Mars” involve?

My Mars One presentation deals with the why and the how of Mars exploration. Why should humans go to Mars? What would such a mission look like? How do you finance it? And how do you select teams for permanent settlement missions?

has the potential for collaboration and can spur regional development. When following technological developments, satellite requirements and technologies stand out; therefore, the need for satellites in all areas continues to increase.

In this context, Türksat intends to elevate a rapidly growing Turkey to a worthy place in the field of communications. It strives to provide technological development by investing in various activities through world-class projects that extend from information technologies to communications. The task belongs to Türksat to control the operation of satellite-orbiting rights, which corresponds in space to Turkey’s geopolitical position in Asia, Europe and Africa. By sending its seventh communications satellite into space, Türksat enters the same league as other leading international operators. As of today, Türksat has come to a state where it can provide service to 3 billion people in 118 countries.

In October of last year, the number of our operational satellites increased to four with the launch of Türksat 4B to the 50 degrees East orbital location.

Türksat 4B was successfully placed in orbit and began commercial operations in January of this year.

Turkey is strengthening its geopolitical position in Asia, the Middle East and Africa to become a regional leader. At this point, while making the market for satellite communications more competitive with its capabilities, Turkey has contributed to both improving the quality of service and the formation of a substantial market.

Our project continues with Türksat communications satellites 5A and 5B which will increase our abilities as well as improve the quality and distribution of our existing services.

Beginning production at the end of this year, Türksat 5A is planned for launch into space in the first half of 2019 and 5B in the last quarter of the same year.

Turkey has waited many long years to be able to produce its own domestic satellite and Türksat national communications satellite 6A is the realisation of this goal. The agreement for Türksat 6A was signed with the participation of our President on December 15, 2014.

With a completely domestic software design, Türksat 6A aims to be completed and launched into space in 2020.

In line with Turkey’s goal to take place among the world’s top 10 economies, Türksat also intends to be among the world’s top 10 satellite operators in a field of its own. As Türksat, we bring to fruition a new and innovative mission for satellite and space technology.

Another point that also needs to be emphasized is the chance for our nation to learn strategic technologies like satellites and space, to follow developments, and to have the human resources.

Türksat is performing an important duty in the sense of growing in the direction of satellite technology and also in the sense of creating human resources. Satellite technology, which is something few countries in the world possess, is an indicator of the country’s level of development itself.

Global SatShow Activities that began in 2015 will this year be merging continents and ideas in the international dimension to create a leading position in the sector. For this reason, it’s important for us to be a part of the activity. The importance that Turkey has because of its geographical position which bridges continents together will form a synergy between satellite operators, and will be exhibited at the Global SatShow and reflected in commercial interactions.

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Co-operation takes satellite to new heights

Co-operation and partnerships between satellite operators have, in recent years, been the most significant development for the sector in terms of revenue growth, technology transfer and greater innovation in satellite technologies. The Global CEO Summit, produced in partnership with the EMEA Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), will provide a platform to discuss how global co-operation can broaden the opportunities available to satellite operators to extend their reach, offer a wider variety of services and ensure satellite can play its rightful role in the future telecoms ecosystem.

Satellite is key to achieving world-wide stability

AARTI HOLLA SECRETARY GENERAL, ESOA

Today’s global instability can be directly related to the vast differences in opportunities made available to citizens and the subsequent suffering this brings. In its Outlook on the Global Agenda 2015, the World Economic Forum also noted this as a global trend in the form of “deepening income inequality”. It is well accepted that access to ICT has a direct and positive impact on economic development opportunities for citizens and here, satellite has a key role to play. Connecting the world is an important challenge

for policymakers and the telecoms industry, and is one to which satellite operators can absolutely respond given the global reach of satellite.

Even more so when partnering with each other, so improving access to a wider range of satellite services. The CEO Summit at the second Global Satshow will highlight what global collaboration can do to broaden the opportunities for policymakers to leverage satellites to connect the world and, in turn, reduce the inequalities that ultimately impact global stability.

Mutual benefits from cross-sector learning

MASAKI SAKUYAMA, GLOBAL CEO, MELCO

There are numerous examples of how the satellite or space industry has contributed to advancements in other industries.

For instance, in Japan materials in wide use today such as carbon fibre were initially developed for space applications.

On the other hand, the space sector itself is now working on adopting highly efficient production from other industries, and it is expected that the mutual benefits from this kind of cross-sector learning will continue in the future. Moreover, in recent years the collaboration between the space sector and other industries has taken a significant step forward. This

is not limited to satellites used for communication and earth observation, but also extends to high-precision positioning systems. The resulting technologies will not only contribute to the space industry itself but also open up new markets and significantly foster technical innovation in a multitude of other industries.With this as a background and in light of the strategic co-operation announced by the two governments, Mitsubishi Electric is working on further contribution to the development of the Turkish satellite industry and hopes to replicate similar co-operations in the Middle East.

KHALID BALKHEYOUR PRESIDENT & CEO, ARABSAT

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reviously, the satellite and space sectors didn’t have much interaction with end users because of their business-to-business (B2B) operational models.

This started to change over the past few years, and is due for a huge leap over the near term. The satellite industry now is witnessing unprecedented technological innovations that will bring it to the front of the end-user experience. The first wave will be noticed through the delivery of broadband services to end users at rates comparable to the telecom and ISP providers, due to the launch of new-generation high-throughput satellites. The second wave will be the interaction between TV and broadband services through over the top (OTT) and video on demand (VoD), where end users will no longer be a stand-by neutral viewer, but at the centre of events. This effect will clearly manifest itself with the development of satellite broadband infrastructures around the world. The third wave will be in the long run and will take place with association with telecom operators within the grand scheme of IoT and the revolutionary 5G concept. This will be when the technology becomes synonymous with connectivity to the end user with applications that derive a unique experience in our day-to-day lives, and when it enables new businesses and operational models that totally differ from what we have now.

As end user expectations change overtime, satellite operator and service provider expectations of manufacturers will also change.

End user behavior is totally different to B2B customers. It imposes more stress on satellite operators in terms of needing to continuously secure revenues from contacts on a yearly basis than the long secure revenues they have in their models right now.

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RASHAD NABIYEV CEO & CHAIRMAN, AZERCOSMOS

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ncreasing competition in the space and satellite sectors highlights the need for the space community to be ready for challenges in both technical and commercial aspects.

End users around the globe keep driving demand for connectivity and broadband. We can observe lots of integration and engagement of end users within social networks, and this plays a significant role in the increase of mobile connectivity, which becomes an all-source information source for people.

The satellite and space sectors are aiming to provide connectivity and optimised solutions for all remote areas and mobile applications. There is a need for innovations in technologies and methodologies as they become a future challenge for space agencies, industries and operators. From a technological point, it will lead to cost reduction. There is a need for significant funding for research and development by both governmental and private sectors in order for a cultural and technological revolution to take place.

The space industry is expecting decreasing costs and new technological solutions in areas such as processing power, micro-propulsion, solar array efficiency, data storage and camera technology as well as a variety of other space-related areas. The upcoming technological innovations will have an impact on Earth observations, telecommunications, and space science and technology. It is becoming a difficult task to address all the needs and requirements of the current and future market. In this environment, global co-operation and partnerships play a pivotal role in providing fully optimised solutions for customers. Combining several networks and capabilities in both space and ground segments is effective in a rapidly changing and expanding space business.

ALI AHMED AL KUWARI PRESIDENT & CEO, ES’HAILSAT

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atellites, with their ubiquitous coverage, have always been the ideal platform for service providers to reach consumers in a wide geographical area instantaneously and cost effectively. This unique value proposition for satellites over other platforms has not changed from the time services via satellites were commercialised. What have changed are the types of services, efficiency, reliability, and continued cost effectiveness.

The majority of video services are still delivered to end users via satellite, and it will remain that way for the foreseeable future. High definition and 4K, or UHD, channels will contribute to high usage of satellite capacity from the geosynchronous orbit. UHD channels will become more popular in time, as the costs for production and consumer 4K TV prices come down.

The viewing habits of consumers are evolving and as more consumers are exposed to high-quality high definition and 4K services available via satellite, consumers will want these services to be delivered directly to their homes. As virtual reality technology matures, satellites will once again be the ideal delivery platform for live events directly to a virtual space so that consumers can experience them from the comfort of their homes. However, over the last few decades a number of countries started their own satellite programmes primarily to support national interests. Although a few satellite companies still remain under the government umbrella, a large number have commercialised these national programmes and started competing with larger international operators in the regional and international arena. With the potential risk of oversupply exceeding the demand of the market, it is imperative for larger operators, who are highly leveraged and who may not be able to replace all of their aging satellites, and the smaller national or regional operators to either consolidate their businesses or work with other operators on condo-sat or shared payload models. These types of co-operation help the operators manage their risks, reduce financial stresses and also provide customers the best service, with wider coverage from a greater network of satellites and ground infrastructure.

CHRISTODOULOS PROTOPAPPAS CEO, HELLAS-SAT

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he new trend in ICT is the internet of things (ΙΟΤ). Since there are “things” which are in motion, wireless mobile Internet is the only way to connect them. Satellites will play a very important role in the near future offering voice and data connectivity to airplanes and ships, which are away from the terrestrial mobile networks. New technologies are emerging in low-Earth orbit satellites and new antennae and terminals are being created to communicate with these satellites. Additionally, new applications are being developed for maritime and air navigation asset management and control. The lives of end users will change tremendously because they will be connected everywhere.

In recent years, many national and regional geostationary projects have started offering excess satellite capacity. However, the market is not ready to absorb and exploit this excess capacity. As a result, most of the satellite operators will see a reduction in their revenues. Operators managing loans will be in a difficult position in the near future and will start thinking of merges and acquisitions. Many of the big satellite operators have been increasing their exposure to loans in recent years, and they are taking measures to retain their customers and reduce investments in the expansion of their fleet. They will only invest for the continuation of their business, abandoning their expansion plans. The result of this conservative approach will affect the future of satellite manufacturers and launchers. Global operations have great importance because they reduce operating expenses with synergies and increase revenues by removing competition. On the other hand, some small and regional satellite operators have their own particularities which have to be taken into consideration. The satellite industry is exceptional and more complicated than the fixed and mobile telecom industry, and all market players have to be careful with their next actions and movements.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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What co-operations will the industry see in the future?

In the satellite and space industries, research ventures, vertical acquisitions and many other partnerships are signed in order to boost technology transfer and bring in innovative and rapid manufacturing methods. Industry insiders reveal how they see future co-operations in the satellite industry evolving in the future.

SİNAN ŞENOL, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT UAV SYSTEMS, TAI

YAVUZ BAYIZ, VICE PRESIDENT, ASELSAN

PROF. A. ARİF ERGİN, PRESIDENT, TÜBİTAK

Future to bring more collaborating, less competing

Space systems: a challenging multidisciplinary issue

Spin-off satellite and space technology to benefit numerous sectors

One of the biggest advantages of space programmes is the consequent creation of new technology not only for space,but also for other sectors as well as our daily lives. For example, anti-icing systems, land mine removal and freeze drying technology were all created because of space programmes. In the near future, new satellite and space exploration programmes will help improve and elevate health, medicine, chemistry, security, transportation, automobile and food industries, among others. We should always keep track oftechnological trends and consider how we can benefit from them, with new technologies including miniaturisation, low power consumption, reduction in mass and volume, autonomy, robotics and space-grade production. The space programmes of today have evolved to highly challenging and multi-disciplinary programmes. Space programmes inherently facea lot of risks because of the short time schedules, very precise and specialised manufacturing processes and launching operations. This has resulted in companies collaborating much moreinstead of competing with each other.

Satellite services offer rapid access to accurate information from around the world without violating any country’s landsea-air space. Today, the space industry is not only a mature global market but also a key for countries to generate precious spin off technologies.A budget of more than $210billion was spenton more than 880 satellites between 2005 and 2014.The launch of almost 1,400 satellites is on the agenda for the 2015-2024 period withan allocated budget of around $255 billion. By a quickcorrelation, we may put a growth rate of about 21% for the commercial aspects and satellite production for the next 10 years.But, as many know, manufacturing space systems is a challenging multidisciplinary issue. For each complex issue, the industry needs to come up with multiple engineering solutions which are generally formed with the integration of electrical, mechanical, thermal, software, chemical, metallurgical and space engineering outputs based on the most recent advances of physics, mathematics and biological concepts.

The satellite and space sector is a leading high-technology intensive sector that benefits from strong and dedicated investments in research and development (R&D) activities. In addition, the manufacturing of space-related machinery is a high-tech industry that, most exceptionally, outperforms the R&D intensity of the total manufacturing sector. Developments in the sector are also successfully diffused to innovative applications in numerous economic sectors, including ultra-strong composite materials, location-based technologies in cars and smartphones, high-productivity solar cells, and real-time medical imaging technologies, among many others. In these ways, the pioneering role of the satellite and space sector will continue to provide spin-off benefits to multiple medium-high and medium-low technology manufacturing industries and continue to transform the future of manufacturing.

The brilliant profile of the satellite-space sector in providing enabling technologies to a diverse array of economic sectors will endure in enabling advanced solutions for manufacturing.

In future, we’ll likely say “stay connected” instead of “stay well” The future for mobility continues to brighten.

The “Mobility via Satellites” session features speakers from global mobility leaders, 5G technologies and M2M communications who will discuss upcoming satellite mobility solutions, including those focused on telecommunications, navigation and the current and future requirements of verticals, global and regional end users.

Sector leaders will share insights into the next generation mobility technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT).

SAMER HALAWI CEO, THURAYA

Thuraya will become the provider of choice for unified connectivity. We will innovate, disrupt and redefine, fulfilling the needs of our consumers of the future. Those consumers will be able to extend the use of their smartphones into places where terrestrial capability is either damaged or simply does not exist. They will be able to send emails and messages, and surf the web wherever they are and whenever they want. Being connected at all times, especially through their own devices which we will complement with satellite capability, will improve people’s lives – and in some cases save them. All machines will be connected, too. Beyond the reach of terrestrial networks, machines will communicate with one another via satellite. Thuraya will enable this, introducing all sorts of disruptive apps to provide services like never before. We will meet the needs of companies with operations in remote locations; we will serve NGOs and government clients; and we will deliver greater business connectivity by land, sea and air. The ability to save and improve lives will dwarf anything achievable today, and Thuraya will play its part in making this happen.

KAAN TERZİOĞLU CEO, TURKCELL

Mobility is at the centre of technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, cloud and IoT, which will change our daily lives and shape our future. Strong mobile infrastructure to enable devices and services is a major component of mobility. At Turkcell, we are providing this significant component by building the world’s strongest 4.5G, or LTE-A Pro, network in Turkey. Additionally, we are playing a critical role in providing another component vital to mobility: broadcast services. Today, millions of customers from every part of the world, even if they are not our subscribers, are using our services, including Turkcell TV+, BiP, lifebox and fizy. A new era for the mobility world will start with 5G for which the industry is about to determine the standards. Mobility fundamentally changes the way we live and work. Everybody is looking for better ways to coordinate and share information, and this continues when we are outside of our established locations and on the move. As an integrated telecommunications company, we believe we have to be the key enabler for these technologies and services.