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Global synergy

April 13-14th Moscow hosted a major satellite industry event – the 9th International Conference Satellite Russia & CIS 2017. This year, the forum gathered top executives from the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC), Gazprom Space Systems, Vnesheconombank, Russian Ministry of Communications and Rossvyaz.

The forum was endorsed by the Federal Communications Agency (Rossvyaz), the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, Global VSAT Forum (GVF), European Satellite Operator's Association (ESOA), NSR, the Franco-Russian Chamber of Industry and Trade, Russian Association of Aviation and Space Insurers, National Association of TV and Radio Broadcasters, Russian Association of Electronic Communications, International Academy of Communications.

General Partner of Satellite Russia & CIS 2017 was Gazprom Space Systems, Anniversary Partner – RSCC, Official Partner – the National Satellite Company (“Tricolor TV”), Golden Sponsors  – Airbus Defence and Space and SES, Bronze Sponsors – ABS, Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd, Hughes Network Systems, Ingosstrakh, Thales Alenia Space, Session Sponsors – Keysight Technologies, VT iDirect, Eutelsat, ISTAR. The event was also supported by Iridium Communications,  X SAT FZE Group and ISS-Reshetmev.

Andrey Svintsov, MP and deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee for information policy, IT and telecommunications, emphasized in his keynote speech that space industry is a priority for Russia, and the parliament is willing to support it in every possible way on the legislative level. Deputy Minister of Communications Rashid Ismailov congratulated the audience with the 50th anniversary of satellite communications in Russia and pointed out that our country remains one of the leaders of global satellite communications industry. According to Deputy Head of Rossvyaz Igor Chursin, the regulator is busy implementing the Federal Target Program for a new satellite constellation. “Last year we registered a negative growth rate in the satellite industry, and a slowdown in satellite operators’ revenue growth,” he reported. This is why, according to Chursin, Russian operators ought to seek new business approaches and also consider the possibilities of synergetic cooperation with other companies of the industry.

The Plenary session dedicated to the 50th anniversary of satellite communications in Russia gathered: Vladimir Akimov, consultant, State Radio Frequency Commission, Boris Bovin, Intersputnik chief of administration in 1974-1999, Prof. Lev Kantor, two times Winner of the USSR State Award, Senior Researcher at the Research and Development Radio Institute (NIIR), Gennady Kudryavtsev, last Minister of Communications of the Soviet Union, Yury Prokhorov, General Director, RSCC, and Alexander Chebotarev, General Director of the Special Design Bureau of the Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI). Panelists remembered about the events which preceded the launch of the Orbita system, how the Space Communications Station (today RSCC) was created, and also discussed the impact of Orbita on the evolution of fixed satellite communications market.

The first session was dedicated to the present and the future of satellite telecommunications in Russia and abroad and space programs in the CIS. Speakers included: Alexander Egorov, head of special projects at the Infrastructure Projects Department, Russian Ministry of Communications and Mass Media, Dmitry Payson, Director of Information and Research Senter of the United Rocket and Space Corporation, the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, Dmitry Sevastyanov, General Director of Gazprom Space Systems, Timur Sarsenov, Senior sales manager, SES Russia and CIS, and Chris Spore, Senior sales director EUROPE, ABS.

The second session was dedicated to satellite networks in the age of a new industrial revolution. Konstantin Lanin, head of representation office and regional director of Hughes Network Systems, reviewed the current state and outlook for the market. CTO of Gilat Satellite Networks Mikhail Pykhov outlined the new capabilities of satellite systems. Regional director of Thales Alenia Space Ashot Bakunts spoke about the company’s experience in Russia. Sales Director of Intelsat Global Sales & Marketing Ltd Artyom Shakhmin gave an overview of a service diversification concept based on a satellite constellation. Istar General Director Pavel Bakanov spoke about the evolution of VSAT as a reflection of the space revolution.

At the third session panelists discussed the outlook for VSAT market and new capabilities of satellite broadband. Session speakers were: Pyotr Korvyakov, First Deputy General Director, Gazprom Space Systems, Dmitry Tarasov, Sales Director Russia and CIS, Iridium Communications, Kirill Yanchenko, General Director, Eutelsat, Fyodor Kuznetsov, head of satellite business, Keysight Technologies, Nikita Demidenko, Sales Director in Russia and CIS, VT iDirect Inc., Gleb Larionov, General Director, X SAT FZE.

A parallel special session moderated by the President of the Russian Association of Aviation and Space Insurers Pavel Shutov was dedicated to protecting commercial interests of satellite operators. Questions discussed at the panel: specifics of investing into satellite assets, how space vehicle launch delays and postponement affect risk management investment and insurance programs, Innovative approaches to space risks and alternative insurance plans and some other topics very relevant to the industry today. Panelists included: Alexander Mikhailov, head of Space and Telecom business, Vnesheconombank, Alexander Podchufarov, VP, Ingosstrakh, Natalia Ramazanova, Deputy General Director for Economics and Finance, Gazprom Space Systems, Denis Nikolaev, Deputy head of economics and finance division, Reshetnev-ISS, and Sergey Makarenko, Head of Foreign Economic Relations, Khrunichev Space Center.

The first day of the forum concluded with a round table “Direct Satellite Broadcasting: On the Path to Ultra HD”, featuring: Oleg Kolesnikov, independent expert, Mikhail Goryachev, content director, National Satellite Company (“Tricolor TV”), Alexey Ivanov, General Director, STV (MTS Satellite TV) and Alexander Shirokikh, General Director, National Association of TV and Radio Broadcasters.

The second day of the forum kicked off with a session dedicated to changes in the satellite communications and broadcasting market and their impact on spacecraft manufacturing and launch industries. Session speakers included: Yulia Kulikova, Representative, European Satellite Operator's Association (ESOA), Martin Jarrold, Chief of International Programme Development, Global VSAT Forum (GVF), Maxim Zharenov, Acceleration Director, Skolkovo Foundation, Igor Novikov, Deputy Director of launch vehicle department,  the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities and Dmitry Latyshev, Head of Perspective Project Department, ISS-Reshetnev.

The following round table was dedicated to Satellite and broadband services from mobile units. Head of AltegroSky Sergey Pekhterev shared a special opinion on the matter, and other panelists included: Alexander Klimov, General Director, Gilat Satellite Networks, Andrey Kuropyantivo, General Director, Morsvyazsputnik, Vladislav Tamarkin, Deputy Director, Research Institute of Information, Communication and Automation in Rail Transport (NIIAS), Dmitry Tarasov, Iridium Communications Sales Director in Russia and CIS, and Yury Fomin, Hughes Network Systems Sales Director in Russia.

The conference concluded with a session entitled “Practical implementation of remote sensing and geo-information systems in Russia” and a round table on the outlook for remote sensing to serve the interests of business and government in Russia, featuring Valery Zaichko, Deputy Director of Navigation Space Systems Department, the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, Yulia Fedorkova, Research Center for Earth Operative Monitoring, Russian Space Systems, Bruno Bertolini, Sales Director Central Europe, Russia and Belarus,  Airbus Defence and Space, Intelligence Business cluster and Vladimir Lazutin, first deputy chief engineer for geo-information systems, Gazprom Space  Systems, and Andrey Shumakov, Global Markets Director, SCANEX.

Forum participants praised the high level of the event organization, compelling and relevant agenda, and excellent networking opportunities.