Industry Keynote

David McGlade's industry keynote described the role that Intelsat and other commercial satellite operators play in meeting the needs of the U.S. military. As the largest supplier of bandwidth to the military, Intelsat has a great deal of experience with military requirements and expectations. However, McGlade warned that changes in the commercial satellite market are challenging the status quo, largely due to the explosion in demand for bandwidth among developing nations. This presents a challenge for satellite operators as they attempt to supply new commercial customers who are willing to enter into long-term contracts and military customers who are only authorized to enter into one-year contracts. One of McGlade's suggestions for the military is that it reconsider how it plans for and buys access to satellite services. An overarching theme of his address was the common interests that are shared between military and commercial space operators, and the importance of discussion on how to maximize the benefits for all involved.