Milsatcom Middle East in Abu Dhabi with Space sector trends, technological developments in satellite deployment 01.05.2013: photo caption: Leading global players in the satellite communications sector will gather at Milsatcom

photo caption: Leading global players in the satellite communications sector will gather at Milsatcom Middle East in Abu Dhabi next week.


Leading global satellite players look to capitalise on US$17.4 billion military communications sector


A top line-up of international and regional experts in satellite communications will gather in Abu Dhabi next week to discuss the next steps forward in a global military communications market that is expected to reach US$17.4 billion this year.


According to a 2013 report by international market research analysts ASD Reports, the multi- billion dollar market will remain strong for the next decade due to new satellite communications technology, increased commercial partnerships and investment in Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) satellite systems that provide deployment as well as cost saving advantages for military communications.


The Middle East too remains a key focal point for military satellite communications technology and deployment, with the biggest names in the global satellite industry gathering at Milsatcom Middle East, taking place from 7-8 May at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal, Abu Dhabi.


They will be out in force to meet the satellite communications needs of Middle East military, government, and security agencies, discussing what their satellite operational requirements might be and how they can be best addressed using state-of- the- art satellite technologies.


Co-located with the Global Space and Satellite Forum, the two-day conference will begin with the inaugural address from H.H. Prince Dr. Turki Al-Saud, Vice President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, before the opening session discusses the exciting technological developments and trends that global space industry leaders foresee for the space sector in the next five years.


Frank Rose, Assistant Secretary for Space and Defense Affairs at the US Department of State; Stephen O’Neill, President of Boeing Satellite Systems; and Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman & CEO of Arianespace will headline the opening session, while other senior satellite industry representative speakers include Samer Al Halawi, CEO of Thuraya, and Sami Boustany, Chief Strategy Officer of the Abu Dhabi based satellite operator, Yahsat.



Ali Al Hashemi, Executive Director of YahService at Yahsat, said: “Yahsat is a provider of world-class satellite services for several different verticals, whether, commercial or government. Working with our partners, we are able to deliver YahService, which provides integrated satellite communications solutions by using Yahsat’s product capabilities, allowing us to deliver a complete solution throughout Yahsat's coverage area.


“Our participation at Milsatcom Middle East gives us a fantastic platform to showcase our product capabilities to the global military communications market, while highlighting the capabilities of our Y1A and Y1B satellites.


“Last year, we successfully completed trials of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) compatible Ka-band-capable terminals over the Y1A satellite on our dedicated government satellite service. This positions Yahsat as one of the only commercial satellite providers to have operationally proven its ability to deliver military Ka-band services to government entities in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.”


The growing needs of the Middle East military satellite communications will also be underlined by a dedicated exhibition at Milsatcom Middle East, where organisations will launch their latest COTS satellite systems ideally suited for the region’s military communication purposes.


Among them include Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc), a major satellite provider of broadcast and data services throughout Europe and the Middle East, who will use the platform to introduce its new THOR 7 Ka band satellite to the region.


Due for commercial operation in 2014, the THOR 7 High Throughput Satellite (HTS) payload will offer 6-9 Gigabits per second (Gbps), with a range covering the North Sea, Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.    


Jose Salame, Sales Manager, ME and North Africa for TSBc, and a speaker at Milsatcom Middle East, commented: “The THOR 7 Ka band payload has been primarily designed to provide optimum satellite coverage over key maritime regions but  it also has the capability of providing land based satellite coverage in the Middle East, which could be very interesting for the military sector.


“Since the Middle East is typically very dry with minimal rain, THOR 7 Ka band is ideal at offering high frequency satellite services that will not be affected by rain fade that is often the case for Ka band in other parts of the world.”


Organised by Streamline Marketing Group, Milsatcom Middle East and the Global Space and Satellite Forum and are supported by Space Reconnaissance, Emirates Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST), Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) and GVF.


Gold Sponsors include Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, Yahsat, Astrium, Thales, ThalesAlenia Space, and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). Further information about Milsatcom Middle East and the Global Space and Satellite Forum is available at www.gssforum.com / www.milsatcom.me.




- Total Communications Dubai - also photo