“We are expecting more than 310 satellite companies at CABSAT 2013”

The 2013 edition of CABSAT that runs from March 12 to 14 at Dubai World Trade Centre, will be moving into a new expanded format in Halls 1-8, says Andrew Ferreira, Project Manager, CABSAT in conversation with SatellitePro ME

“The worldwide market for data over satellite is growing at around 4% a year, but in the Middle East and North Africa region it is growing at a very healthy 10% a year” – Andrew Ferreira, Project Manager, CABSAT

Your team has reported a 15% increase in size since last year. What does this mean in terms of participation especially from the satellite industry?

We are expecting more than 310 satellite companies at CABSAT 2013. Following a sell-out 2012 edition, CABSAT will be moving into a new expanded format in Halls 1-8 at the heart of the venue in 2013. This move will facilitate greater sectorisation as well as dedicated product areas and conference areas. Newcomers in 2013 include Harris Caprock, Siemens, AsiaSat, TerraSat and Thuraya. The major satellite service providers such as Arabsat, Eutelsat, Yahsat, Intelsat and CISCO, among others are back at CABSAT.

Companies that have expanded their presence are NoorSat, Gulfsat, CeTel, Intelsat, SES, Talia, BSS Teleport, O3b Networks, Triax, Essel Shyam, Fulan, Elber, Conax, Appear TV, Advanced Media Trading, MediaCast, Future Art Broadcast Technology, AV Solutions, Vizrt, Qvest Media, Broadcast Solutions, Canon, Hitachi, First Gulf Company, Harmonic, Rohn Products and Creative Media Solutions, among others.

During CABSAT, are there any conferences being organised for the satellite sector?

The GVF MENASAT Summit will take place again at CABSAT 2013 on March 13 and 14: The MENASAT @ CABSAT Satellite Summit, presented by GVF in cooperation with DWTC as part of the CABSAT exhibition, has developed a reputation for in-depth and invaluable discussions covering the current hot topics for the satellite industry. This year, CABSAT will feature the importance of product quality as a key factor when selecting satellite communications earth station equipment.

What do you believe is driving the growth in participation among satellite service providers?

There are a number of applications beyond the two fundamental applications of satellite contribution – carrying live programmes around the world – and direct-to-home satellite broadcast.

One of the most obvious is the growing use of data over the internet. Simple two-way terminals from companies like Thuraya mean that high-speed broadband can be provided anywhere, without the expense of building overland infrastructure like laying fibre cables. That is particularly important in geographies where there are large distances between relatively small communities, such as deserts in the Middle East, and emerging economies in Africa.

The worldwide market for data over satellite is growing at around 4% a year, but in the Middle East and North Africa region it is growing at a very healthy 10% a year. This affordable, easy-to-set-up IP data communications platform is also increasingly used for broadcast applications. News crews can arrive at a news venue, wherever it is, quickly set up a simple Ka-band satellite station and be online to the base computer network, with voice over IP phones and deliver broadcast pictures and sound within just a minute or two, all with equipment that fits within the norms of a standard airline luggage allowance.