Hong Kong − CASBAA’s annual Satellite Industry Forum is once again being held in Singapore at the beginning of June. The conference explores the latest developments and issues affecting the satellite industry in the Asia Pacific. Taking place on June 1st at the Grand Hyatt Singapore, the CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2015 is a one day event that brings together industry experts to examine a variety of hot topics and to exchange and discuss information critical to the development of the communications sector and related services across the Asia-Pacific.

The conference continues to grow from strength to strength with an impressive lineup of speakers and a good mix of Asian and global players in attendance. Last year around one hundred companies were represented with almost half of delegates coming from the U.S. and Europe – with most of the balance coming from Asia.

 “Satellite services are instrumental in delivering television signals to the bulk of viewers across the region, and the satellite sector is an integral component of the multichannel TV industry in Asia,” said Christopher Slaughter, CEO, CASBAA. “The annual CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum is an extremely important event in our calendar, a fact that is reflected by our very active Satellite Industry Committee, as well as by the number of satellite-related companies that are CASBAA members”.

This year’s welcoming Keynote will be delivered by Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General of the ITU.

“Zhao only took office in January this year so for many this will be the first opportunity for people to see him in this capacity”, said Kevin Jennings, Programme Director, CASBAA.

In addition, CASBAA announced that Stephen Spengler, Chief Executive Officer of Intelsat is delivering the Industry Keynote. Spengler is a satellite and telecommunications industry veteran with experience in the media, broadband, government and internet sectors and is a driving force behind Intelsat’s next generation of satellite solutions.

The Deputy  Minister of Communications and Information Technology Myanmar,  U Thaung Tin, will also speak at the Forum and discuss Myanmar’s plans to launch its own satellite and how a  the role of a sovereign satellite will impact the country.

The theme for 2015 asks “Is The Satellite Game Changing?” in acknowledgement of the ever-evolving industry landscape. The agenda for this year’s forum will touch upon the challenges the industry is facing as the very definition of television changes to embrace new technologies, delivery methods and consumer habits.

As well as speaking with game changers and new kids on the block, the forum will discuss whether high throughput satellites the answer to reducing costs for customers. Another panel session is provocatively titled “Staring the Future of TV in the Face – A Watershed for the Satellite Industry?”

The roster of speakers encompasses the whole value chain of the satellite industry including:

Mitsutoshi Akao, Exec Officer Space & Satellite Bus Group, SKY Perfect JSAT

PJ Beylier, CEO, SpeedCast

Terry Bleakley, Regional VP, Asia Pacific, Intelsat

Paul Brown-Kenyon, CEO, MEASAT

Thomas Choi, CEO, ABS

Gregg Daffner, CEO, GapSat;

Gonzalo de Dios, Associate General Counsel, Intelsat

Michel de Rosen, CEO, Eutelsat

Dr. Ali Ebadi, SVP, Space Systems Development, MEASAT

Vern Fotheringham, CEO, LeoSat

Yvon Henri, Chief, Space Services Department, ITU

Huang Baozhong, EVP, APT Satellite

Erwin Hudson, Programme Manager, ViaSat

Ferdinand Kayser, CCO, SES

Ethan Lavan, Director of Orbital Resources, Eutelsat,

Deepak Mathur, SVP Commercial, Asia-Pacific and Middle East, SES

Barry Matsumori, SVP, Commercial Sales & Business Development, SpaceX

Deepakjit Singh, MD, Asia, Encompass Digital Media

Soo Yew Weng, MD, Globecast Asia

Dave Ulmer, SVP& GM Asia, SeaChange International

Bill Wade, President & CEO, AsiaSat