Workshops | 2018 Satellite Innovation

Developments in Mobile Satellite Markets

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Several significant developments are poised to disrupt the mobile satellite market. What are end users demanding for connectivity and how does the satellite industry fulfill these needs. The maritime, aero and connected car industries offer huge potential for satellite networks – this workshop will examine on which key elements the satellite industry needs to focus, and map out potential collaboration areas with terrestrial connectivity to serve those markets.

With the rollout of 5G projected for Q3 2018, October will be an intriguing month to discuss real-time updates on early market reports. Is the rollout on time, and performing as projected? If not, what is causing delays? What will 5G’s impact be on in-flight connectivity, maritime, or the connected vehicle? Furthermore, how will it impact the current satellite connectivity market? What are the timelines for these impacts, respectively?

How will advancements in HTS technology and availability coupled with the rollout of several next generation constellations be matched with various applications like delivery to mobile platforms? With major investments continually made in 4G networks and the vast majority of countries and populations still not served or underserved, is there more short term potential revenue in completing that rollout to undervalued markets? Where are the bottlenecks of 5G implementation, and what are some of the potential solutions?

COTS Implementation Considerations

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With government and satellite operators expressing their wish for satellites to be designed and produced faster and cheaper, the pressure on manufacturers intensifies. Are COTS products the answer? What Innovative new tools enhance the manufacturing processes.

COTS providers are finding a new role in space and terrestrial hardware as the demand to control costs escalates. How are manufacturers working with COTS providers and how are COTS providers adapting to new demands?

The DoD emphasis on using commercial components led to the discovery that many of these components are not suitable for military and space systems. What becomes necessary is costly testing, uprating, up-screening and protection from temperature extremes and radiation levels. Some of the newer designs, materials and quality will not successfully operate in the space or military environment. We examine what efforts are being expended to assure that performance is adequate. This workshop will be a comprehensive summary addressing what are the successful innovative practices for the use of COTS components.

Financing your Next Innovation

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The collision of finance and technology has produced both turbulent markets and spectacular innovations. Disruptive innovations create new markets. Who has bought, who will buy, and what will they pay? What are the most important criteria investors look for in choosing ventures to fund? Which markets represent the greatest opportunities hence what are the current and expected trends for industry consolidation and M&A transactions. Does private equity activity or debt financing play much of a role in funding startup operations and what effect does this have on management behavior?

There are many options for funding vehicles: banks, online lenders, crowd funding, venture capitalists, angel investors, exchange-traded funds, hedge funds, private lending institutions etc. Making the business case close is essential and hence how to structure your offering and present your leadership and partner options are important factors.

We will discuss what are the expected returns and financing terms and prospects for the short to middle term. Recently the industry has experienced sustained investments in new systems and more private equity activity focused on some of the larger players. Panelists will discuss how investors perceive the satellite industry. We will focus on different financial models and how operations including the overall positioning, level of vertical integration and cooperation with other industry stakeholders add to the value chain. What is the optimal way to secure capital for the startup phase of a venture and how does this differ from ongoing operations funding? Beyond the first funding round, how will investors approach adding capital to a maturing venture? What is the past and present performance of the sector and what are the current and expected trends for industry consolidation and M&A transactions?

This workshop will also discuss the many nuances of pricing in the industry today, including developments of contract length, bargaining power of key customers, and most importantly, the bottom line of how much is being paid per MHz/Mbps, and how this has evolved. We aim to pry open the industry's most closely-guarded secrets just a little bit to shed light on the most fundamental financial metric of any industry – what is the product or service worth.

Securing Satellite Systems

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Cyber Security Considerations and Techniques are the basic areas covered in this workshop. Where the threats are coming from, how satellite companies are targeted and how can they prepare for an increasingly complex cyber future.

As satellite data is relayed from the operator to third-party ground systems, then data aggregators, before reaching end users, what policies and solutions are needed to ensure data is delivered safely and securely? With satellites becoming more flexible, more technical and more creative in terms of their coverage, how are these satellites targeted and what type of investment is needed to keep them secure.

There are multiple entry points for hackers to get into either ground or assets in the sky and we will examine the best practices for safe guarding these assets, the role that people play in protecting content, how to anticipate a cyber breach and what to do if your security is compromised.