Satellite is the most agile and reliable of all the different types of connectivity, and as such, it is a critical component of the government and defence toolkit, enabling defence organisations to remain connected in some of the most remote areas of the world. That said, ensuring resilient and secure satellite networks remains a top priority.

The current geopolitical situation has forced every government around the globe to review their security, and as a result, defence spending has increased as nations look to better protect themselves against potential threats. Many governments are also actively working to move away from leaning on other states for their communications and connectivity, and are instead growing their own sovereign capabilities.

As threats have evolved, it’s also become increasingly clear that single satellite orbits can’t provide the levels of resilience and redundancy needed. Many governments and defence organisations are looking to multi-orbit solutions to create a more agile and resilient satcom network. The ability to switch between orbits as required provides higher redundancy and resilience. It also allows users to choose the orbit that best meets the requirements of the application, for example switching to low Earth orbit for an application that requires low latency.

We’re also beginning to see closer working between terrestrial telecommunications and satcom, which is paving the way for convergence of ground and space connectivity networks. This will in time enable hybrid networks capable of delivering not only highly resilient and seamless connectivity anywhere and on the move, but also the best mode of connectivity for the application in hand, at any precise moment in time.

Collaboration is key to maximising satcom’s capabilities

Although satcom is in the midst of a major innovation surge, its capabilities can only be maximised through collaborative working. Events such as the GOVSATCOM Conference in Luxembourg on 26^th February 2026 are vitally important because they help to facilitate open discussion and collaborative working between the key players across govsatcom, space and the defence sectors.  GOVSATCOM provides a much-needed platform for industry leaders to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and explore new ways to enhance satcom’s role in global security.

As a membership organisation that promotes discussions between industry operators and professionals in order to examine challenges and opportunities, collaborative working is of course also one of Satcoms Innovation Group’s (SIG) guiding principles. SIG aims to advocate for cooperation across the industry, furthering relationships between operators, manufacturers and solutions providers by providing a forum for debate.

It’s no surprise then that SIG representatives are heading to Luxembourg for the GOVSATCOM Conference again this year to participate in the discussions on the evolving role of satcom in defence and security. But that’s not all SIG will be doing in Luxembourg.

Bringing the industry together at the SIG, SSPI Luxemburg and Radical Moves networking event

Following on from the success of the 2025 networking event, SIG is thrilled to be co-hosting another networking evening alongside SSPI Luxemburg and Radical Moves. The event will be a brilliant opportunity for the industry to come together and connect ahead of the main GOVSATCOM Conference the following day.

The SIG networking event takes place on 25^th February 2026 from 7pm at The Game, Kirchberg. Numbers are capped at 140, and we expect the event to book up, so make sure you register to guarantee your space. 

We look forward to seeing you there.

Tell us about your company

At Babcock, we play a critical role in international defence. Operating globally, we set our sights across generations, approaching everything with a broad perspective. Forging close and committed partnerships with our defence and civil customers to deliver vital engineering that creates their big picture.

Our engineering and technology capability has been built up through decades, reinforced by intimate understanding of assets and their owners and we’re committed to building national engineering skills for our industry. Offering deeply pragmatic and integrated solutions to our customers in collaboration and with end-to-end vision, Babcock delivers lifetime engineering.

What industry challenges are having the biggest influence on your work at the moment?

One of the biggest challenges industry is facing at the moment is the skills gap in the UK across STEM. This is not just the satellite industry, but across the main areas of engineering. Therefore, we are focused on investing in our people, through upskilling, development and a place where they can truly find value.

What innovative solutions are you working on to address the issue?

We have STEM and University Engagement teams focusing on bridging the gap between industry and academia. The aim is to create a pipeline for university students into careers, and equipping them with the necessary skillsets for the future. This is through sponsoring and supporting various engineering societies, such as the IMechE’s Formula Student, and creating research projects for students to deliver in their final year of study.

Do you have any interesting plans for the next couple of months?

Babcock has several conferences coming up over the next few months, some of the main ones are:

1. 1. International Defence Esports Game Launch (IDG) – 21^st November
   2. Defence Space Conference – 2^nd December
   3. Space Comm Expo -4^th-5^th March 2026
   4. Why do you feel it is important to be a member of SIG?

The Satellite Communications industry is one of fastest growing and is full of creative and innovative solutions. One of our core principles is to Collaborate, and this is the perfect platform where we can meet and speak to the various organisations within Satellite Communications, and for us to contribute to the various workshops in the future! Being part of an organisation that focuses on this is incredibly important to Babcock.

Ledbury, UK, 05 November 2025 – Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) and SAE Media Group have announced that Melanie Stricklan is the winner of the second Women in MilSatCom Innovation Award. Melanie is co-founder of Slingshot Aerospace, Executive in Residence at Space Foundation, and Executive Director at Space Workforce for Tomorrow, and is a highly deserving winner of this award recognising women who are innovators across the military satellite communication industry.

The award was presented by SIG’s Managing Director, Helen Weedon, at the Women in MilSatCom Forum, during the Global MilSatCom Conference, in London. The Forum provides a platform for women across the milsatcom industry to connect, collaborate and celebrate the trailblazers driving innovation in defence and space.

With over 20 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Melanie brings unmatched operational insight to the commercial space sector. Melanie has redefined the operational backbone of milsatcom through her visionary leadership at Slingshot Aerospace, and has built a space domain awareness platform used widely by commercial LEO operators to prevent collisions, manage orbital traffic, and ensure mission continuity. Melanie has translated the knowledge and experience gained throughout her distinguished career into dual-use technologies now deployed by NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and allied defence agencies. Her work bridges the gap between commercial innovation and military readiness, accelerating the adoption of secure, interoperable satcom architectures.

Hester Castle, Conference Producer, SAE Media Group, commented: “It’s been a real privilege again this year to honour the remarkable women who are shaping milsatcom. By celebrating their excellence, we hope to inspire others to follow in their footsteps and contribute to this vital industry.”

Helen Weedon, Managing Director, SIG, added: “Now in its second year, this award recognises and celebrates the amazing women who are outstanding innovators across the milsatcom industry. I’m sure I speak for all the judges when I say that it was incredibly difficult to pick a winner because the nominations all showed outstanding merit. I would like to congratulate Melanie on winning the award which reflects her exceptional contribution to the industry.”

To view the full shortlist, visit the SIG website here.

Board Member and previous Executive Director of the Satcoms Innovation Group, Martin Coleman, has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Strategies in Satellite Ground Segment Conference and Exhibition.

Recognised for his tireless efforts to enable industry-wide collaboration, especially around mitigating Radio Frequency Interference and STEAM engagement. Anyone that has met Martin will understand his passion and drive for the industry and those initiatives he believes in.

As Executive Director of SIG, Martin put RFI firmly on the agenda and was responsible for getting modem manufacturers to not only talk to each other, but to work together to define a technology for inserting a Carrier ID into equipment. More recently, he has been extremely active in engaging with pupils, especially at his local school, trying to share some of his passion and enthusiasm for the industry with the next generation.

We cannot think of a more deserving person to have been recognised with this award. Congratulations Martin!

1. Tell us about your company

At ST Engineering iDirect, we are shaping the future of global communications through satellite innovation. We believe reliable connectivity is essential for economic opportunity, national security, humanitarian aid, and the daily flow of information that keeps our world moving.

Satellite technology is unique in its ability to extend connectivity where terrestrial networks can’t reach, keeping planes, ships, and remote operations reliably online. Our mission is to expand the possibilities of what satellite can do.

 

We empower satellite operators, service providers, and telcos to navigate industry change, unlock new business models, and deliver seamless, cost-effective connectivity to their customers. By pushing the boundaries of technology and empowering our partners, we ensure they are always ready to lead in a world of new possibilities.

 2. What industry challenges are having the biggest influence on your work at the moment?

The satellite communications industry is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven by several key challenges. One of the most significant is the sharp rise in customer expectations for seamless, global connectivity. This demand is creating increasingly complex network environments, requiring the ground segment to innovate and evolve. To meet these expectations, the industry must embrace agility, scalability, and intelligent connectivity solutions that deliver reliable performance anywhere in the world.

 

The proliferation of software-defined satellites (SDS) is another major factor reshaping the industry. SDS are revolutionizing satellite operations by enabling operators to dynamically allocate capacity in real time, precisely where it’s needed. This shift is driving a fundamental transformation in the ground segment, moving away from traditional hardware-based systems to software-driven, virtualized architectures. Ground systems and teleports must now adapt to this new reality, embracing digitization and cloud-native solutions to deliver the flexibility and responsiveness required to support SDS. As SDS adoption accelerates, upgrading existing infrastructure to be SDS-ready is no longer optional—it’s essential.

 

The rise of Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) constellations is also driving the need for multi-orbit solutions. Each orbit—Geostationary (GEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Low Earth Orbit (LEO)—offers unique strengths. GEO provides wide coverage and reliability, MEO delivers a balance of capacity and latency, and LEO offers low-latency, high-speed connectivity. To fully capitalize on these strengths, operators must adopt multi-orbit architectures that seamlessly integrate these systems. This approach ensures consistent, high-quality service delivery across diverse use cases, from enterprise applications to remote connectivity, while optimizing performance and cost efficiency.

 

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are also playing a pivotal role in the industry’s evolution. These technologies are unlocking new possibilities for smarter, more adaptive networks, enabling operators to optimize performance, predict demand, and enhance service delivery. While still in the early stages of adoption, AI and ML are sparking innovation across the satcom ecosystem. Experimentation and proof-of-concept initiatives will be critical to fully understand and harness their potential, but it’s clear that these tools will drive transformative change in the years ahead.

 

The integration of 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) is another transformative challenge. This development is reshaping both the satellite and telecommunications industries, as operators on both sides seek to bridge the gap between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. Satellite operators are looking for streamlined ways to integrate with terrestrial networks to expand their service offerings and reach new markets. Meanwhile, telco providers are increasingly incorporating satellite connectivity to enhance regional coverage and address underserved areas. The ultimate goal is seamless roaming between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for connectivity and innovation.

 3. What innovative solutions are you working on to address the issue?

Last year, we introduced Intuition, our next-generation ground system. Built on a cloud-native, multi-orbit architecture, Intuition is designed to address the evolving needs of satellite networks by unifying our industry-leading capabilities. It leverages automation, open standards, and the latest technologies to deliver flexibility, scalability, and seamless integration across diverse environments, empowering operators to meet rising connectivity demands with unmatched efficiency.

 

Intuition is designed to integrate with Software-Defined Satellites (SDS) and multi-orbit architectures, allowing operators to adapt to real-time changes such as beam configurations, capacity allocation, and frequency adjustments. By supporting multi-orbit orchestration, Intuition empowers operators to deliver consistent, high-quality services across diverse use cases while optimizing resource utilization.

 

A key milestone in our innovation journey has been achieving interoperability between our ground system and the 5G Core through our groundbreaking Interworking Gateway Function. This capability demonstrated a non-3GPP satellite network connecting seamlessly with the 5G ecosystem while appearing fully 3GPP-compliant. This proof of concept validates our hybrid strategy for 5G NTN, showcasing how satellite and terrestrial networks can be seamlessly integrated to deliver scalable, efficient global connectivity for operators.

 

To address the complexities of satellite networks, we established the Automation Advisory Council, a collaborative think tank where we work with partners, customers, and industry experts to identify challenges and co-create solutions. The council also serves as a platform for exploring the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Through a series of proof-of-concept initiatives, we are integrating AI/ML into our Intuition ground system to enable predictive analytics, intelligent traffic routing, and enhanced security protocols. These efforts are paving the way for smarter, more adaptive networks that can optimize performance, predict maintenance needs, and deliver unparalleled service reliability. This collaborative approach ensures our advancements align with industry needs while driving the boundaries of what’s possible.

 

We are also a founding and leading member of the Digital Intermediate Frequency Interoperability (DIFI) Consortium. With a long-standing heritage in standards development, we continue to play a pivotal role in evolving the DIFI standard alongside our fellow members. This commitment to open standards and interoperability reflects our belief that collaboration is essential to solving the challenges faced by the satcom industry.

 

At the core of our efforts is a commitment to innovation, collaboration, and delivering solutions that empower operators to navigate the complexities of modern satellite networks while unlocking new opportunities for global connectivity.

 4. Do you have any interesting plans for the next couple of months?

From an innovation standpoint, 5G is the next major milestone. Our goal is to  ensure operators can fully leverage their existing infrastructure as they transition.  That’s why we’re focusing on non-3GPP access and legacy satellite networks as the  starting point. From there, the progression is toward integrating 5G NTN  capabilities.

A significant part of this evolution is hybrid roaming, which allows seamless movement across multiple networks — not just within homogeneous networks. You won’t be confined to one platform or one vendor; instead, you’ll have the ability to roam freely across diverse networks. In parallel we will be introducing AI-driven applications. These will be groundbreaking for areas like global bandwidth management. Leveraging AI and ML, we’re developing intelligent controller functionalities that optimize network performance, enabling operators to adapt and make real-time decisions with unprecedented precision.

5. Why do you feel it is important to be a member of SIG?

We strongly believe in collaboration. Without sharing of information and experiences on a technical level, we can’t progress effectively and learn from each other. We see forums such as SIG as a critical means of overcoming the technical challenges we face as an industry, helping each other to succeed will enable our industry to move forward into a completely new era full of new opportunity and exciting innovation.

The University of Birmingham’s Department of Metallurgy and Materials played host to our very first SIG Academic Workshop last week and we’re sure it won’t be our last! We brought representatives of academia and business together to have an honest discussion on the engagement of young people in the satcoms sector and how we go about addressing the skills shortage that exists within our evolving industry as demands shift from hardware to software-based networks. Academia forms a key part of the answer to the conundrum of how we make satcoms more accessible and appealing to students. Our universities are where many of our engineers come from, and the alarming skills gap that has opened up is cause for great concern.

David Wilkinson of the National Space Academy kicked us off. The Space Academy was established with an aim to create a programme that could use inspirational contexts from across space science (exploration, astronomy and satellite applications) to utilise in the core science curriculum at high school level. The Academy has helped students to move on to apprenticeships with top aerospace companies such as Rolls Royce. It holds masterclasses, careers events and space camps and collaborates with overseas space agencies such as SANSA in South Africa to work together and offer opportunities to students.

Space Survey lifts the lid on challenges

David explained that the Space Sector Skills Survey had lifted the lid on the extent of the problem facing the industry. It was identified that software and data and commercial operations are where companies are most lacking in terms of skills, and the impact of the skills gap is worsening. There has been a 29% rise in major impact caused by lack of skills to companies over the last five years and, though there has been significant expansion in the space sector, this is also fueling the skills gap as there are simply not enough people to fill it.

There are a few major issues that are contributing to this problem.

• Lack of transferable skills such as presenting and project management.
• Smaller companies often don’t have time to spend with apprentices or the money to employ then, even on a short-term basis.
• Retention is becoming more difficult, especially in larger companies. This can be down to people exiting the industry for better paid employment, but it is also more due to poaching of individuals across organisations.

Does satcom have an image problem?

The extreme shortage of RF engineers in particular is a headache for companies and there is a problem with attracting electrical engineering students. The universities have noticed that students are struggling with the maths element of the courses and have even taken steps to reduce the amount of maths involved in electrical engineering courses. However, it has been the case for several years that many students decide to drop out of these courses and many don’t go on to specialise in electromechanics at all as they don’t think of how it can be applied to a career. RF itself forms only a very small part of the curriculum. When students do graduate with electrical engineering degrees and search for work, they are snapped up by large corporations and whereas the military used to feed talent into the satcom industry, this link no longer exists.

Not all rockets and astronauts

So perhaps satcom really does have an image problem. From a young age children are ‘inspired’ by talk about rockets and astronauts, but there’s not the same level of appreciation that satellites are an essential part of our daily life. They allow us to communicate, to navigate, to collect important data from a plethora of devices, to connect people in times of catastrophe. This needs to be included in the curriculum so that these real-world scenarios are being used to inspire rather than the age-old ‘do you want to be an astronaut’ conversation – still valid, yet unattainable for most.

Do universities and companies collaborate?

The group discussed how more industry-related projects for third and fourth year students would equal a huge improvement in terms of encouraging students to follow through with their degree all the way through to a career in the satcom space. The students must be made to feel that they are doing something that is of practical value. For many students, they see their course in the context of the university, whereas it has huge importance outside of the academic setting. If they are mentored by industry, then they can see the real-world relevance of their qualification which boosts engagement in their course and helps them to realise the potential for a future career.

Engaging with schools

Better engagement with schools by industry is fundamental to inspiring the next generation of satcoms engineers. There are some companies that produce contracts for staff that stipulate that they must visit local schools to engage with the students and to deliver meaningful sessions to inspire and encourage. There are also some excellent events that schools can become involved with that bring the industry together with young people but more funding is needed for this kind of outreach. At present, it is more volunteer focused and not made attractive for busy employees, yet its critical that this link is re-established to provide mentorship for students.

The Space Academy has recently started a series of space careers lessons comprising short videos that feature a space industry employee talking about their entire journey into the space sector and making this available to young people. Perhaps this could be replicated by aerospace companies or there could even be an opportunity to do this live, during an event that will bring the space workforce together with young people.

Times have changed, but we must adapt

The transformation of the space sector and the skills required has changed over the last decade but the way in which the industry interacts with young people and those drawn towards a career in space is of extreme importance. If we are going to inspire a new generation of engineers, it must start at a very young age and though tales of rockets and astronauts are very exciting, it’s critical that children understand what space and satellites do for us daily and why they are so important. There needs to be more emphasis on the importance of learning about software with more access to coding clubs in schools, for example. A more hands-on approach not only engages children, but it also gives them the confidence that they can achieve an end goal, whether that is writing some code or launching a smallsat. This must continue through high school along with engagement with satcom and aerospace companies that motivate young people to consider qualifications in satcoms after leaving school and then close engagement with universities to nurture and inspire undergraduates to use their qualification for a career in space.

The onus is on us as an industry to engage with schools and academia, to ask the right questions and to find the best ways to reach young people. It takes commitment and regular collaboration, but by coming together, we can start to build this incredibly important relationship, help inform the curriculum and support teachers, play a role in career decisions and eventually provide a path to employment through work experience and apprenticeships.

Tell us about your company

For over thirty years, Global Invacom has been a leading innovator and supplier of high-performance radio (RF), optical, and antenna products to the satellite ground segment industry. To date, 40million of our satcom antennas and 30million of our satcom radio products are deployed, powering the largest satcom networks in the world.​ Our high-performance design, cutting-edge technology, and low-cost manufacturing serves commercial, government, and defence markets globally.  

 

Our portfolio comprises of antennas, advanced satellite RF electronics, and mounts/mechanisms for precision positioning and tracking of signals and waveguides. All products are manufactured in-house, giving us total quality control and assuring our customers of optimal supply chain resilience.

What industry challenges are having the biggest influence on your work at the moment?

The satcoms industry is undergoing a significant transition, with more objects in orbit than ever before and a greater level of complexity. The way users access the ground segment is changing. We have recently announced the launch of eNexus Space Data, which delivers a Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) offering.  eNexus delivers data collected by satellites across multiple orbits for a wide range of applications, including earth observation (EO). This approach negates the need for operators to own and operate their own satellite ground stations, providing operational and financial advantages to these potential customers. This move represents a transition to the provision of services alongside our heritage of supplying satcoms equipment.

The technology at the ground segment is also adapting to reflect the changes in orbit. We have recently launched our XY antenna which allows multi-orbit capability across GEO, MEO, LEO & HEO. The antenna’s integrated system is unique on the market today, with no requirement for the transportation of multiple discreet feed elements and radio frequency units. This is all packaged into a transceiver that is attached to the back of the antenna reflector. The use of a transceiver brings huge advantages in terms of reduced size, weight, power and cost. It packs the equivalent of multiple BUCs, LNBs, and ports into one neat package.

We have also recently launched our XRJ transceiver to meet the surge in demand in the government and defence market. It covers the full extended Ka-band frequency range in both receive and transmit. It boasts 25 Watts of power, (and also comes in 5w, 10w and 20w variants), the highest of any transceiver on the market and supports connectivity in GEO, MEO, and LEO, enabling consistent communications for any application on land, sea or air. Fully Mil-STD 164C compliant, the XRJ is also exempted from International Traffic in Arms Regulations and covers full commercial and MilGov Ka-band with up to four sub bands and four different power levels available. It integrates a BUC, LNB, TRF and polarizer/orthomode transducer (OMT) to handle both transmit and receive of satellite signals.

What are your thoughts on spectrum management? And how are ground networks being affected?

Spectrum management is becoming far more complex as the ground segment becomes busier. High quality equipment has never been more important; a poor quality antenna can cause unintentional RFI and have a significant impact on throughput. This is also important when considering the introduction of flat panel antennas into networks. These incredibly complex pieces of equipment have multiple beams, can track satellites as they move across the sky, and can connect to multiple satellites at once. Accuracy is fundamental, and a poor performing antenna can have a hugely negative impact on services within an already technically challenging environment. The ground segment is expanding rapidly and, now more than ever, we must prioritise maintaining a high-quality RF landscape. Sourcing antennas and ground sector equipment from reputable, experienced suppliers ensures reliability, minimises the risk of interference, and supports the long-term resilience of satellite communications.

How do you think the industry is dealing with virtualisation?

Virtualisation is at the core of the modern ground segment. Hardware has historically been limited in its adaptability, meaning that equipment would need replacing to update capacity or performance. A virtualised ground segment allows for remote configuration of key capabilities, ensuring that gateways remain flexible and adaptable. Interoperability is imperative, hence why our ground equipment is OpenBMIP (and DIFI) compliant.

Another key benefit of virtualisation is its role in adapting satcoms to cloud-based networks. The cloud is integral to many industries, and having the capability to incorporate it within satcom allows for more efficient workflows. It also plays a key role in enabling the shift to GSaaSs. This corner of satcom is gaining momentum, as it removes the need for operators to own and operate their own satellite ground stations, giving them operational and financial advantages. Virtualisation is central to being able to provide these services.

Do you have any interesting plans for the next couple of months?

We are looking forward to introducing the XRJ transceiver and XY antenna at a number of events in the next few months. We will be attending:

IBC
Defence In Space
DSEI
Global Milsatcom
AUSA
Strategies in Satellite Ground Segment

Why do you feel it is important to be a member of SIG?

SIG is unique in that its focus is on bringing the technical members of our community together. As the industry pushes ahead with newspace, ensuring that technology remains at the forefront of the industry’s mind is crucial in ensuring a high quality satcom ecosystem. By bringing key players of the industry together, the industry stays aligned on the solutions being created to the problems shared by all of us.

In this instalment of our Meet the Member Series we hear from Es’hailSat.

Tell us about your company

Es’hailSat – The Qatar Satellite Company, incorporated in 2010, provides satellite, broadcast, teleport, and managed services. Es’hailSat is a private joint stock company wholly owned by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). Strategically located in Doha, Qatar, our coverage extends across the Middle East and North Africa, delivering critical communication solutions to broadcasters, telecommunications providers, enterprises, and government entities. Our satellites, Es’hail-1 and Es’hail-2, are co-located at the 25.5°/26°E orbital position, recognized as the prime TV broadcasting hotspot for the MENA region. Complementing this orbital infrastructure is our 50,000 sqm Tier-4 certified teleport facility, enabling the delivery of reliable, secure, and high-performance connectivity services.

What industry challenges are having the biggest influence on your work at the moment?

One of the most pressing challenges Es’hailSat faces is piracy in the MENA region. Unauthorized content distribution undermines revenue for broadcasters and disrupts service reliability. Es’hailSat is actively combating this through its role in the MENA Anti-Piracy Coalition, using advanced monitoring systems to detect and respond to piracy threats. This initiative helps maintain high service reliability and supports a fair media ecosystem.

Secondly, the rise of over-the-top (OTT) platforms and the limited growth opportunities in linear television have disrupted traditional satellite broadcasting models. Es’hailSat acknowledges these shifts but remains confident in the industry’s resilience and our own ability to adapt through innovation and strategic partnerships. Furthermore, the need for sovereign satellite capabilities, be it for broadcasting or connectivity, continue to offer pockets of demand that Es’hailSat has been working hard to tap across the region.

Lastly, in the MENA region, broadband costs remain high due to limited competition among ISPs and expensive satellite infrastructure. Es’hailSat sees satellite broadband as a key solution for underserved areas but emphasizes the need for public-private partnerships and infrastructure sharing to reduce costs. The company advocates for national-level broadband strategies that integrate satellite and terrestrial technologies.

What innovative solutions are you working on to address the issue?

On the broadcasting side, Es’hailSat now offers a full suite of playout services designed for broadcasters and content creators. These range from basic standalone setups to complete systems with media asset management (MAM), secondary event handling, and multi-format output capabilities. The platform supports UHD video, multiple audio formats, subtitling systems, ad marker detection, and remote monitoring. Customers can choose between Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) or fully managed service models.

The playout infrastructure is integrated with Es’hailSat’s teleport and broadcast center, ensuring 24/7 support and seamless delivery across satellite, IPTV, cable, and terrestrial platforms. This setup is ideal for launching new TV channels or upgrading existing ones with robust automation and compliance features.

We are also working on building our VSAT services into specific domains such as Maritime, Energy and Government. This is being done via a combination of partnerships with service providers and enhancing our own capabilities from our Teleport facility. Multi-orbit satellite solutions via a combination of GEO and NGSO systems is also an area of growth and exploration for us.

Es’hailSat’s teleport in Al Ghuwariyah, Doha, is certified by the World Teleport Association (WTA) as Tier-4 – the highest standard for uptime, security, and operational excellence 3. The facility spans 50,000 sqm and provides:

• Antenna Hosting: Space for up to 26 antennas (4M+), allowing customers to co-locate and manage their own uplink/downlink operations.

• Disaster Recovery Solutions: Redundant teleport connectivity enables 24/7 backup for playout, corporate data, and uplink/downlink services.

What are your thoughts on spectrum management?

Es’hailSat is actively updating its corporate and asset replacement strategy to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving satellite landscape. We are positioning ourselves as a multi-orbit player, with plans to expand beyond GEO into NGSO domains. This includes evaluating partnerships with other satellite operators, and other organic and inorganic business expansion opportunities.

Our strategy also involves reassessing the use of existing frequency bands and exploring new payload types and applications. Es’hailSat is particularly focused on ensuring that our spectrum rights are aligned with future satellite development plans, including the replacement or extension of Es’hail-1 and Es’hail-2, and the planned launch of Es’hail-3.

Es’hailSat has been studying the market to explore hybrid terrestrial-satellite networks, including 5G/6G and Direct-to-Device (D2D) services. We are in the process of assessing the feasibility and strategic fit of integrating 5G NTN capabilities into Es’hailSat’s service portfolio, particularly for IoT and mobility applications.

The company is also monitoring developments in the 3GPP standards for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), which are critical for aligning satellite services with terrestrial 5G deployments.

What is your view on Flat Panel Antennas?

Es’hailSat is actively incorporating FPAs into our hybrid VSAT network architecture, especially for mobility applications. In a recent case study, the company showcased a vehicle-based platform that integrates GEO VSAT terminals using Es’hail-1’s Ku-band coverage, LEO satellite connectivity for global reach, GSM radio units and SD-WAN routers for dynamic traffic routing. The FPA plays a critical role in this setup by offering a low-profile, discreet antenna solution that maintains vehicle aerodynamics and aesthetics. This makes it ideal for commercial fleets, emergency response vehicles, and other mobile platforms requiring reliable, multi-orbit connectivity.

Es’hailSat views FPAs as a key enabler of next-generation mobility services. Their compact form factor and electronic beam steering capabilities allow for seamless integration into platforms where traditional parabolic antennas would be impractical. FPAs also support rapid deployment and scalability, enhanced service continuity in remote areas and multi-orbit compatibility, especially in hybrid GEO-LEO networks. This aligns with Es’hailSat’s broader goals of expanding into NGSO services and supporting critical communications across sectors like oil & gas, defense, and logistics.

How do you think the industry is dealing with virtualisation?

Es’hailSat recognizes that virtualisation is no longer optional – it’s a foundational shift in how satellite ground infrastructure is designed, deployed, and managed. The company sees virtualisation as a way to increase operational agility by decoupling hardware from software, enable multi-orbit service delivery, especially as it expands into NGSO systems, reduce costs through shared infrastructure and cloud-native architectures and accelerate service provisioning for enterprise and government clients. This is particularly relevant as Es’hailSat expands into positioning as a hybrid service provider offering connectivity across verticals like oil & gas, defense, and for disaster recovery.

Es’hailSat’s Tier-4 certified teleport in Doha is already equipped with the foundational elements needed to support virtualised ground systems. These include redundant fiber connectivity to multiple telcos, breakout to MPLS, VPN, and public internet, 24/7 CMC and engineering support with secure bandwidth pools. This infrastructure allows Es’hailSat to host virtualised network functions, manage software-defined modems, and support containerised applications for satellite operations.

Do you have any interesting plans for the next couple of months?

The team at Es’hailSat is working on our new satellite program Es’hail-3, on topics such as 5G NTN, and optical ground stations to enhance flexibility and data throughput. We have also enabled and are expanding upon AI-powered diagnostics (such as via our partnership with Dataminer), which are being used to proactively manage network issues and improve service quality. The company is also exploring virtualized ground systems to reduce costs and support multi-orbit service models. In addition to these, new business models such as data analytics based on Earth Observation and various sensor information are also being worked on by the team.

Why do you feel it is important to be a member of SIG?

SIG’s core mission is to promote innovation in satellite communications by fostering collaboration among operators, manufacturers, and solution providers. Membership gives Es’hailSat access to a forum where technical challenges and operational inefficiencies are openly discussed, enabling the company to stay ahead of emerging technologies, influence industry-wide innovation agendas, reduce operational costs and improve service delivery. This aligns directly with Es’hailSat’s commitment to being a world-class operator contributing to Qatar’s National Vision 2030.

SIG provides a platform for tackling pressing issues such as spectrum sharing and interference mitigation, integration of 5G NTN and LEO systems and virtualisation of ground infrastructure. These are all areas where Es’hailSat is actively investing and evolving our strategy, making SIG membership a natural extension of its technical and regulatory engagement.

Odense, Denmark, 17th July 2025 – Quadsat, leading provider of precise spectrum intelligence and RF geolocation solutions for satcoms and defense, today announced a €5 million extension to its Series A round, led by Join Capital and North Ventures, alongside existing investors Seraphim Space, Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), Helge Munk Holding and TPC Management.

This investment enables Quadsat to accelerate its expansion into the rapidly evolving defense sector, enhancing capabilities critical for modern battlefield intelligence and electronic warfare.

Quadsat’s technology, which is platform agnostic, uniquely addresses critical defense challenges, including the precise detection and location of RF signals, interference and jamming. These capabilities are increasingly vital for military operations across air, land, sea, cyber, and space domains, known in the defense sector as Multi- Domain Operations.

Originally established in 2017, Quadsat quickly established itself by revolutionizing satellite antenna testing, counting major global satellite operators, including SES and OneWeb, among its clients. Its partnership with Skyeton, a UAV provider actively supporting operations in Ukraine, highlights Quadsat’s direct impact on operational resilience and intelligence-gathering in live conflict scenarios.

Joakim Espeland, President and Co-Founder of Quadsat, said: “Electronic warfare isn’t just critical; it’s an existential necessity in modern defense. This round is about doubling down. We’ve spent the last year deeply embedded in defense needs, refining a technology that pinpoints threats, like the interference of military installations, which is an absolute game-changer in the field.”

The global electronic warfare market, driven by increasing geopolitical tensions and rapid technological advancements across the domains of attack, protection and support, is expected to surpass $19.4 billion by 2028, growing 12.5% annually.

“Join Capital and North Ventures are on this journey because they see the strategic value in our solution and the vision our team has been pursuing relentlessly,” Espeland added. “In electronic warfare, clarity saves lives. Our drone-agnostic tech is all about turning battlefield chaos into actionable intelligence.”

Quadsat will use the funds to expand its commercial reach, accelerate product development specifically targeting defense applications, and significantly grow its presence in key NATO member countries. Join Capital, a venture firm renowned for defense and deep-tech investments, emphasized Quadsat’s alignment with urgent defense needs.

“We backed Quadsat because of the clear, strategic edge its RF spectrum monitoring solution delivers,” said Jan Borgstädt, Founding Partner at Join Capital. “From satellite calibration to operational readiness in contested environments, its solution is already proving its value in real-world defense scenarios. We believe Quadsat will define the next generation of spectrum intelligence.”

North Ventures, a Danish-based venture capital firm known for backing visionary founders, building technology-driven companies, noted the significant market opportunity in Quadsat – particularly as antenna calibration, spectrum analysis, and electronic warfare increasingly form part of critical infrastructure.

Mikkel Rørvig, Partner at North Ventures, commented: “Quadsat is addressing one of the most urgent challenges in today’s connected world – with a truly game-changing solution. Its technology is already delivering real impact, and with global demand accelerating, we see enormous potential in scaling Quadsat internationally. We’re proud to support the team on this journey – alongside the strong co-investors.”

Klaus Aude, CCO, Quadsat, concluded: “While the satcoms market remains important for us, we recognise that the defense sector is growing dramatically. The current geopolitical landscape means that defense organisations, more than ever, need solutions that can make the uncertain certain. We have the technology, and this latest investment round will enable us to get it to those actors faster.”