| As in every previous edition of the
GVF Directory, a close examination of the distinguished
companies highlighted this year suggests that, to a
large extent, the strength of an industry can be ascertained
by the diversity of Membership in the association that
represents its interests.
Indeed, if the growth of GVF Membership is any indication
– and if the international end-user community’s
increasing response tells us anything – it is
that the value of the global satellite industry is only
beginning to be fully realised. For example, as this
publication went to press:
- The GVF’s online portal (www.gvf.org), which
serves as a global focal point for end users seeking
communications systems and services - received an
average of 12,000 hits per day. Judging by the large
number of visits to the GVF’s online Membership
Directory, most of the traffic is potential users
and providers of satellite-based solutions;
Commercial inquiries received by the association –
and provided to the Members via the Member Services
section of the GVF website – averaged more than
30 per month, which was driven in particular by growing
demand from regions like the Middle East, Africa,
Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America (and we can
confirm that GVF Members converted many of those commercial
leads into contracts);
Participation in GVF seminars, workshops and conference
sessions was strong throughout every major region
of the world, where literally thousands of business
professionals met to do business both with satellite
companies and a new cadre of fixed and mobile system
and service providers;
Approximately 200 satellite-communications companies
from 100 countries in every major region of the world
have now joined the GVF. Increasingly, these companies
derive from newly deregulated markets, where supply
is rapidly emerging to meet unmet demand for communications.
As further affirmation of the global satellite industry’s
dynamism, growing numbers of professionals are engaging
the GVF Global Training Academy. In fact, thousands
of members of the international communications community
have now participated in GVF courses, which include
online VSAT and iDirect Installation & Maintenance
Training and Satellite Fundamentals (take the tour at
http://gvf.coursehost.com). In addition, there has been
strong demand for the classroom curriculum, which includes
Satellite Technology, Satellite Business, Satellite
Regulation & Policy, and more.
The satellite industry’s core strengths were also
evident when measured in the context of the international
regulatory and policy arena where, at last year’s
ITU World Radiocommunications Conference, a co-ordinated
global effort made by the satellite industry prevented
an attempt made by terrestrial-wireless interests to
seize spectrum. In the final analysis, government administrations
decided that the contribution being made to the communications
community by the satellite industry via this spectrum
was extremely valuable and that access to the frequencies
should be preserved for uninterrupted delivery of satcom
services.
Is this to suggest that the global satellite communications
industry has resolved the matter? Not entirely. The
challenge that remains for the industry is to ensure
that the decision is enforced and to heighten awareness
of the essential role being played by the satellite
sector throughout all spectrum bands.
That’s another reason why the industry’s
commitment to and participation in the GVF has never
been stronger. Members worldwide are using the association
as a valuable tool kit, a means of not only elevating
their promotional profile, training their staff and
customers, and expanding access to key markets, but
also assuring continuous availability of spectrum resources.
The value proposition also extends to technical matters;
millions of dollars in cost are being stripped out of
the satellite industry’s earth station type-approval
process, enabling more competitive pricing and faster
time to market. How? The GVF Mutual Recognition Arrangement,
a technical framework that streamlines terminal type
approvals. Evidence: More than $1 million in savings
were reported by a single GVF manufacturer Member.
These are just a few examples of how the entire spectrum
of interests in the international satellite community
– from industry to governments to end users –
are realising tangible gains through involvement in
the GVF.
But the most important role played by the GVF is to
introduce its extensive Membership to the international
end-user community. We welcome you to examine in greater
detail the many outstanding system and service providers
highlighted by this Directory. They represent the very
finest that the global satellite industry has to offer.
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