Industry pays tribute to winners at World Satellite Business Week in Paris
Paris, Washington D.C., Montreal, Yokohama, September 19, 2018 – Euroconsult, the leading global consulting firm specialized in satellite-enabled vertical markets, such as satellite communications, connectivity, broadcasting, and Earth observation, announced the recipients of both its Annual Awards for Excellence in Connectivity and Satellite Communications as well as Earth Observation and Information on the occasion of the World Satellite Business Week, its annual senior executive event, of which the 22nd edition took place in Paris from Sept. 10 to 14. These annual awards recognize companies and their management for their outstanding accomplishments. Winners are chosen by a panel of industry experts who assess candidates using rigorous qualitative (innovation, strategic decisions, impact) and quantitative (financial performance indicators, such as EBITDA or revenue growth or size/nature of a commercial agreement) criteria.
This year’s award categories and winners are:
- • Global Satellite Business (Satcom): Echostar, with Hughes Network Systems
- • Strategic M&A Transaction (Satcom): Yahsat
- • Strategic M&A Transaction (EO): Maxar Technologies
- • Global Connectivity / SmartShip: Carnival & Speedcast
- • Global Connectivity / SmartPlane: Emirates, Inmarsat & Thales InFlyt
- • Global Connectivity / Universal Broadband: Sprint, Intelsat & Gilat
- • Regional FSS Operator: China Satellite Communications
- • Newcomer EO Satellite Operator: Beijing Space View
- • Big Data Service Provider: Ursa Space Systems
“The World Satellite Business Week brings together the industry leaders and plays an important role in defining its future shape. It is gratifying to be able to recognize these outstanding achievements and the significant impact they have had on their respective sectors and the connected world,” said Pacôme Révillon, CEO of Euroconsult.
The distinguished winners share their thoughts:
Global Satellite Business of the Year
Pradman Kaul, President, Hughes Network Systems
“All of us at EchoStar and Hughes Network Systems are honored to be named ‘Global Satellite Business of the Year.’ This recognition reflects both our heritage in the industry and our ongoing commitment to powering a connected future around the world. Now more than ever, we are dedicated to delivering the technologies and services to support the on-demand, always-on economies and communities of today and tomorrow.”
Strategic M&A Transaction of the Year (Satcom)
Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, CEO, Yahsat
“On behalf of the Yahsat team, I would like to thank Euroconsult for their recognition of the significance of the Thuraya transaction. The award is a testament to the team’s phenomenal efforts in sustaining Yahsat’s position in the global industry. The acquisition will help grow and diversify our business, as we enhance our portfolio to feature unique Fixed Satellite Solutions and Mobile Satellite Solutions to better serve our customers in Government and Commercial fronts.”
Strategic M&A Transaction of the Year (EO)
Howard Lance, CEO, Maxar Technologies
“Maxar Technologies is at the nexus of the new space economy, committed to delivering innovation with a commercial mindset and building a better world. We believe that the timing was right to bring together our four leading space brands – MDA, DigitalGlobe, SSL, and Radiant Solutions – and we are honored by Euroconsult’s recognition of how the combination is creating value and accelerating growth at an exciting and transformative time for our industry.”
Global Connectivity / SmartShip Award of the Year
Reza Rasoulian, Vice President of Global Connectivity, Carnival
“We delivered our newest ship, Carnival Horizon, with a next-generation connectivity ecosystem that enables our guests to enjoy a frictionless, content-rich experience. Several years in the making, we’ve implemented a sophisticated platform that is second to none, working with industry partners to drive innovation end to end, across the spectrum of connectivity disciplines. Speedcast has been future tremendous partner to Carnival in helping us push the limits to deliver exceptional connectivity experiences to our guests and crew. We’ve set the bar high, and we’ve shown that land-like connectivity onboard our ships is possible which is great not only for Carnival, but for the entire industry. We are honored to accept this award in recognition of this achievement.”
PJ Beylier, CEO, Speedcast
“Carnival passengers are demanding an internet experience that is similar to what they have at home. Our teams have worked together to generate an amazing advancement, reaching over 3 Gbps to one ship, which has never been done before. Such an achievement was made possible by a best-of-breed and agnostic approach, selecting the best technologies and satellites. We thank Carnival for their trust in us to develop a solution that pushes the limits, and we appreciate Euroconsult for this recognition of our dedication to customer experience and innovation within our industry.”
Global Connectivity / SmartPlane Award of the Year
Philip Balaam, President, Inmarsat Aviation
“The selection of our next generation GX Aviation inflight broadband service by Emirates was an important milestone for Inmarsat. We are delighted to share this award with our partner Thales, which is providing GX Aviation as part of its state-of-the-art inflight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) offering on Emirates’ Boeing 777X fleet.”
Global Connectivity / Universal Broadband Award of the Year
Jean-Philippe Gillet, Vice President and General Manager, Broadband, Intelsat
“Intelsat’s Globalized Network was designed to support the broadening connectivity requirements of MNO customers in both developed and developing countries. We are very honored to be recognized alongside Sprint and Gilat for delivering 4G connectivity to the more rural areas of the United States. The work we are doing together is a testament of how the seamless integration of different technologies can work to the benefit of communities around the world and bring about a more digitally inclusive society. We have created a clear roadmap and solid foundation that will enable Intelsat’s market leading satellite technology to continue to lead and serve as a backbone to the hybrid networks of the future.”
Michal Aharonov, VP Commercial, Gilat
“We are honored to receive Euroconsult’s Universal Broadband Award of the Year in partnership with Intelsat, for the extension of Sprint’s mobile broadband coverage. This project, together with many other such projects of 4G backhaul, validates our vision that LTE backhaul over satellite provides ample, affordable, high quality broadband connectivity, and solidifies Gilat’s technological and services leadership in this growing market.”
Regional FSS Operator of the Year
Yao Fa Hai, Vice President, China Satellite Communications
“On behalf of China Satcom I would like to thank Euroconsult for this award. It is a great honor to our company and an affirmation of our commitment to satellite applications, especially in developing HTS applications. This will encourage us to try our best to serve our country, the region, and the world. China Satcom launched two satellites last year, one BSS satellite and one KA HTS satellite; next year we plan to launch two new satellites. We hope to launch by 2021 so as to continue to have the ability to provide good services to our customers both domestic and oversees in the future.”
Newcomer EO Satellite Operator of the Year
Lily Xu, CEO, Beijing Space View
“Currently, the data from four operational SuperView satellites has been successfully used in more than 280 projects in China, and also delivered to more than 19 countries and regions through more than 40 resellers worldwide. We have also provided lots of free data for disaster monitoring. We are thrilled that our efforts have been recognized by industry experts such as Euroconsult.”
Big Data Service Provider of the Year
Adam Maher, Founder & CEO, Ursa Space Systems
“We are thrilled to be recognized during World Satellite Business Week amongst so many companies doing tremendous work in this industry. The Big Data award is a special honor given Ursa’s core mission to connect information-rich satellite data with those who can use it to make better decisions. We’re very excited for what’s ahead, not just for Ursa, but for our industry as a whole and the wide range of applications for space-based data.”
World Satellite Business Week
The World Satellite Business Week is the unique executive meeting place for the global satellite business. It comprises three sub-events, each catering to different vertical markets: Summit for Satellite Financing, Earth Observation Business and SmartPlane. The summit brings together over 130 top-level speakers and 1,000 senior executives from the fixed, mobile and broadband satellite industry, the satellite imagery and information community and the financial community. Top business leaders participate in this must-attend summit to discuss strategy, make deals and strike partnerships. Visit www.satellite-business.com and www.earth-observation-business.com for further information.
