�For HTS to succeed , the innovation in space must be matched on the ground and this drives Newtec ’ s strategy . �
2018 SPECIAL
Satellite growth in Asia driven by HTS
Sjoerd De Clerck , Newtec ’ s vice-president sales , Asia-Pacific , shares with APB how the company ’ s key strategies in Asia is evolving with technologies such as HTS .
Can you share with us your plans to expand Newtec ’ s business in Asia in 2018 , and what specific opportunities do you see in this region ? Sjoerd De Clerck : The continued growth of High Throughput Satellite ( HTS ) is opening up new opportunities and capabilities in numerous vertical markets across Asia-Pacific . This is especially true for areas such as mobility and maritime , as the need for data to be delivered everywhere will see ‘ Communications on the Move ’ becoming increasingly key . This includes In-Flight Connectivity ( IFC ), which we expect to see really take off following the first commercial flights featuring Panasonic Avionics ’ Newtecdesigned modem for IFC in 2017 .
Additionally , as governments continue to enforce Universal Service Obligations ( USOs ) for connectivity in rural areas , satellite over cellular backhaul is enabling mobile operators to bridge the digital divide and we predict this area will continue to grow . Our Newtec Dialog multi-service platform was deployed by several major operators to provide cellular backhaul in 2017 , with some networks preparing to deliver 4G services , as well as 2G and 3G connectivity .
Regionally , India will be a priority for Newtec . This follows our expansion in 2017 , which saw various strategic moves to fuel our growth in APAC , including : n Further investment in our customer service support with expansion of our Singapore team . n Expansion of our geographical reach through new partnerships in Indonesia , South Korea and other countries . n Continuous commitment to enabling community broadband in rural areas , including Indonesia .
All this contributed to our APAC business doubling in 2017 , compared with the year before .
Would you like to expand on Newtec ’ s strategy for HTS and how it is meeting the demand for the technology in Asia ? De Clerck : In the domestic sphere , Asia ’ s vast land mass — which includes many rural and isolated areas — means terrestrial broadband is not always an option when deploying high-speed services . This makes HTS ideal for service providers looking to offer competitive broadband packages .
Furthermore , HTS ’ wide-beam feature allows service providers to deliver connectivity to a specific area or location , enabling them to tailor their data services — proving increasingly beneficial for Asia ’ s aviation and maritime markets . This will allow those providers to offer new services for commercial markets , such as IFC , and meet increasing capacity demands in the maritime sector .
For HTS to succeed , the innovation in
�For HTS to succeed , the innovation in space must be matched on the ground and this drives Newtec ’ s strategy . �
— Sjoerd De Clerck
In Indonesia , the world ’ s largest island nation , satellites are providing the connectivity answers .
space must be matched on the ground and this drives Newtec ’ s strategy . It also drives innovation in our product development , and last year , we unveiled new HTSoptimised DVB-S2X wideband products as part of our Newtec Dialog multiservice platform . Designed to support the massive scalability required by HTS networks , this hub architecture provides higher throughput and density in a robust , carrier-grade package . The architecture is already being used in several HTS projects .
What other technology trends do you expect to impact the satellite industry in 2018 ? De Clerck : As viewing habits change , the broadcast landscape is shifting . In 2018 , we expect further demand for 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) content , meaning broadcasters must efficiently make the most of their existing space segment . Newtec ’ s high-performance satellite broadcast solutions are designed for this , enabling broadcasters to deliver more content at lower costs while maintaining high quality and — very importantly — reliability .
Throughout 2017 , broadcasters reaped the benefits of these solutions . BBC News , for example , leveraged IP connectivity over satellite via our Newtec Dialog platform , which allowed news teams to deploy mobile solutions capable of transmitting video , voice , files and general broadband services . Newtec Dialog also played a key role in the World Solar Car race , giving the Belgian Punch Powertrain Solar Team a global stage by enabling interviews and race footage to be streamed along the race track , even in the Australian Outback .
Another undeniable change is the rise of bandwidth-hungry broadband applications such as over-the-top ( OTT ) services — for which China is expected to be the main driver of revenues across the globe .
The Internet of Things ( IoT ) and 5G will also bring change and opportunity . For IoT , we believe satellite will play a key role as the long tail of the connectivity graph with satellite nodes serving as injection points to the cloud-based services IoT can deliver . For more advanced IoT applications such as connected cars , satellite is likely to act as a complementary connectivity tool . Connected to this is 5G , which is poised to radically change the connectivity and service landscape in the coming years . Again , satellite will be part of the communications suite enabling this ubiquitous connectivity .
What drivers do you see in this region fuelling the satellite industry in 2018 ? De Clerck : Throughout Asia , we see governments and regulators paying more attention to including the entire population in the economic boom Asia continues to enjoy . ‘ Connecting the Unconnected ’ acts as a driver for education , knowledge enhancement and information sharing , and forms the basis on which local entrepreneurship thrives .
We see this in Indonesia , the Philippines , Thailand , India and others in various formats , from USO for community Wi-Fi and mobile backhaul bringing sheer connectivity , over ATM and POS networks enhancing electronic trading , to remote education and healthcare networks benefiting the remote population , to connecting and integrating all government buildings and establishments for improved efficiency and higher security .
Satellite will continue to play a major role in these , and we are looking forward to another successful year !
32 An Supplement