EISC Workshop
Satellite Communications in support of Sustainable Development
Krakow, 14th May 2012
Aarti Holla
Secretary General
sg@esoa.net
www.esoa.net
Europe’s Satellite Operators
Services
161 satellites +
> €6 billion combined turnover
+
> 6000 employees
11 satellite operators (“Satops”) in 8 countries
 4 of the world’s largest Satops are European companies
 Ensuring global coverage with communications services
Europe’s Sustainable Future
- Why is Satellite Relevant?
REACH
RESILIENCE
LOW CARBON
Davos 2012:
World Economic Report
Global Risks Map
2012
SEVERE
INCOME
DISPARITY
Severe Income Disparity No. 1 Threat to Global Stability in 2012
REACH
 Sustainable Economic Development
Income inequality  Lack of skills in the workforce
Digital literacy  A basic skill
10m households  No Internet access at all
The Difference:
In income between rich & poor
Between being employed & not
Between having access to Internet NOW & having none!
Satellites Connect People Everywhere:
REACH
Islands/ mountains/ marshlands/ rural-remote-sparsely
populated areas
Reach means everything
Rural Citizens
- Romania
100 sites equipped throughout
Romania with satellite: rural
municipalities, schools, post
offices, police stations &
villages :
“More than 17.000 children
living in these rural
communities can have access
thanks to this project, to vital
information accessible through
the Web”
Dan Georgescu, President of
the National Authority for
Telecommunications, Romania
Isolated Villages
Rural Businesses
- Importance of Agriculture
Farmers use Internet to:
Apply for subsidies
Check crop prices/
weather forecasts
Broadband
Internet
Buy/ sell produce online
RESILIENCE
 Civil Protection & Secure Communications
Europe copes with diverse threats:
Terrorism/ smuggling/ drugs/ riots/ civil disturbances/ natural
disasters
Terrestrial networks are vulnerable:
Hurricanes/ floods/ fires
In times of crisis, communications are needed most
Satellites are Immune to Events on Earth:
RESILIENCE
RESILIE
NCE
When
other communications infrastructures are
damaged/ overloaded, satellite steps in to deliver 24/7
communications
Security Communications & Civil Protection
Border Control:
Governments/ EU use satellite
links with hidden surveillance
cameras/ sensors for border
surveillance 24/7
German Red Cross:
Equipped with satellite
terminals in case of
unforeseen event
(Frankfurt)
UK Cabinet Office
Project WATERMARK
LRA’s nationwide are equipped with
satellite terminals for unforeseen events
E.g. Floods in 2011
LOW CARBON
Satellites/ Energy Efficiency/ The Environment
Sustainable Development implies:
Less dependence on fossil fuels
Increased use of renewable energy
Minimum impact on the environment
Sustaining the environment
Satellites are:
Solar-powered
LOW CARBON
Non-intrusive
Far-Reaching
Resilient
Enablers
Solar Energy & Carbon Emissions
After launch, one
satellite can transmit to
1/3 of the earth’s surface
for 12-15 years using
nothing but solar energy
All the satellites in orbit
today together use less
energy than 1 terrestrial
TV mast
Once in orbit, 1 satellite
can provide 150 HDTV
channels across the
entire EU & release
ZERO CO2
Service Footprint: Massive  Carbon Footprint: Small
The Launch
Latest rocket
technology uses
“clean” O2 & H2 from
ethanol/ sea water
Only 10% of solid
rocket fuel is oil-based
The impressive smoke
is mostly water vapour!
Energy Generation & Distribution
Wind & Water
Italy’s largest power company uses
satellite to remotely control renewable
energy plants, often located in remote
areas
Dam Control
Dam Control
Sardinia, Italy:
All dams (more
than 100) are
fully monitored
using satellite
networks
Satellite –
A Non-intrusive Solution
Satellites do not require landscapes to be cleared in order to
install dishes/ modems
Protected areas in Poland
Satellites & Bio-Diversity
Researchers/ scientists communicate
data from isolated areas using mobile
satcom devices
Satellite tracking devices allow them to
follow movement/ migration of birds &
other protected species
Tracking rare ivory gulls with tiny
satellite transmitters in Norway
Tracking reindeer in Sweden
Climate Change
Monte Rosa, Italy
Satellite communications
providing surveillance &
monitoring for melting
glaciers as global
temperatures increase
THANK YOU