The Asia Video Industry Association recently hosted the Satellite Industry Forum in Singapore on 28 May, attracting industry leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

The forum provided a platform for discussions on the evolving satellite landscape, addressing challenges, and exploring opportunities for innovation and growth.

The keynote address, delivered by Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, CEO of THAICOM, underscored the importance of adaptation and strategic partnerships in the face of emerging NGSO systems.

Suwansiri emphasized the relevance and profitability of the satellite broadband business, advocating for investments in newer technologies and satellites to sustain growth.

In subsequent discussions, industry experts explored the potential of Software-Defined High Throughput Satellites (SD HTS) in reducing investment risks and enabling new business models. Raymond Chow, Chief Commercial Officer of AsiaSat, highlighted the company’s focus on providing end-to-end services and adapting to changing customer demands for global connectivity.

Kenichi Shimotsuma, GM at SKY Perfect JSAT, recognized the evolving role of satellite broadcasting and emphasized the need to diversify into content delivery and connected TV services. The forum also delved into customer-centric approaches, with insights from Paul Mattear of Amazon Web Services and Huang Baozhong of APT Satellite.

Pranav Roach, President of Hughes Network Systems India, shed light on the facilitation of regulatory processes through the “Norms, Guidelines and Procedures” (NGP) document, benefiting private players in the sector. Discussions also revolved around ground segment adaptation, post-pandemic shifts, and the democratization of the commercial space industry.

The forum concluded with a high-level discussion on the future trajectory of the satellite industry, with inputs from senior executives such as Sanjay Duda of Planetcast Media Services, Neha Idnani of Eutelsat OneWeb, and Katherine Gizinski of River Advisers. Emphasis was placed on regulatory considerations, data security, and industry cooperation to address sustainability concerns.

The Satellite Industry Forum was proudly sponsored by Gold Sponsors SKY Perfect JSAT and MEASAT Satellite Systems, along with Silver Sponsors Arianespace, AsiaSat, COMSYS, Eutelsat, Gilat Satellite Network, Hughes, Integrasys, Marsh, Milbank LLP, Northtelecom, Rivada Space Networks, and Thaicom.