There’s no question that 2021 will be the year of LEO constellations. In our first digital program of the year, we launch into all things LEO, including viewpoints from end-user markets. The LEO Digital Forum is part of the SATELLITE 2021 Conference and open to Executive All-Access pass holders only.

Tuesday, April 6 – The Industry Speaks

*All times in GMT-5

9:00am–9:30am	KEYNOTE PRESENTATION The opening keynote will discuss the LEO revolution and the role it will play in satellite communications going forward.
9:40am–10:30am	ANALYSTS’/JOURNALISTS LEO ROUNDTABLE Everyone has an opinion on LEO and these new constellations. Here we get some of the biggest names in terms of journalists/analysts in the sector and get a full and frank discussion on who the winners and losers might be when it comes to LEO.
10:40am–11:30am	LEO/MEO/GEO: THE NEW WORLD ORDER In a ground-breaking panel, some of the top influencers from the satellite sector come together to discuss the future landscape in light of recent announcements. How will the demand for satellite capacity change, and what role will GEO satellites have on this new landscape? How will LEO satellites will fit alongside GEO, and even MEO, satellites in the new world order? Speakers: – Rick Baldridge, CEO, Viasat – Rodolphe Belmer, CEO, Eutelsat – Steve Collar, CEO, SES – Pradman Kaul, CEO, Hughes
11:45am–12:30pm	INVESTORS EXAMINE RISK/REWARD IN INVESTING IN NEW SYSTEMS Investors debate how they see the risks/rewards of investing in all parts of the LEO eco-system. With a checkered history and uncertain future, what is the appeal here for investors? Speakers: – Mike Collett, Managing Partners, Promus Ventures – Sunil Nagaraj, Founding Partner, Uniquity Ventures
12:45pm–1:15pm	KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
1:30pm–2:15pm	VERTICALLY INTEGRATED BUSINESS MODELS: HOW WILL THIS CHANGE THE INDUSTRY? The likes of SpaceX and Amazon are changing the industry. New business models are emerging and companies are mixing manufacture/launch/operator in one business models. After the industry has been clearly defined for many years in silos, how will the changes in these new models affect the overall LEO and satellite industry? Speakers: – Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium Communications – Ronald van den Breggen, ex-CCO, LeoSat

Wednesday, April 7 – Sustaining a New Eco-System

9:30am–10:00am	KEYNOTE PRESENTATION Keynote Speaker: Dan Goldberg, CEO, Telesat
10:15am–11:15am	LAUNCHERS/MANUFACTURERS MEET LEO DEMAND With hundreds or thousands of satellites slated to launch in LEO, it could be a great time to be involved in the LEO supply chain. Some of the key launchers and manufacturers talk about the latent demand for LEO satellites and services.
11:30am–12:30pm	THE GROUND SEGMENT: CHANGES COMING The ground segment is a vital part of this equation. With more satellites going up, the terminal becomes ever more important. What will the terminal of the future look like and what might it cost?
12:40pm–1:10pm	KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Thursday, April 8 – The Customers Speak

9:00am–9:50am	MOBILITY AND LEO: THE NATURAL ALLIANCE Maritime, aero, road, rail. The opportunities for satellite and mobility seem impressive. These markets each have their unique dynamics – will the multi-faceted mobility market live up to the hype? Speakers: – Bertrand Hartmann, CEO, OmniAccess
10:00am–10:45am	THE GOVERNMENT PLAY The UK Government is investing in OneWeb. The US Government could also look at using LEO satellites. What is the government play in LEO and how could these satellites help government objectives?
11:00am–11:45am	NEW USE CASES FOR LEO As more complex AI and software becomes part of the satellite industry going forward, and as the pace of change increases, new use cases for IoT could emerge. Where does satellite make sense now where perhaps it didn’t in the past? How could companies benefit from a satellite play?
12:00pm–12:30pm	THE TELCO VIEWPOINT A major telco talks about the possibility of working with the satellite industry and why buying satellite capacity will be an important consideration going forward.
12:45pm–1:30pm	THE SATELLITE WORLD IN 2030: THE DECADE OF CHANGE While COVID has dampened some optimism right now, there was very much a feeling this would be a roaring 20s for the satellite sector. Despite a sluggish start to the decade, there is still plenty of opportunity in front of us. What will the mix of satellites be as the decade advances? How will GEO/LEO/MEO develop and how things might look at the start of the 2030s? Speakers: – William Chappell, CTO, Azure Global, Microsoft