After two successful editions, i2CAT organized with Xona Partners the 3rd editon of the Space Intersects Internet Workshop

On Thursday 18th of November, the 3^rd edition of the Space Intersects Internet Workshop. After the first and second editions of the “Space Intersects Internet Workshop” celebrated last year, the i2CAT Foundation and XONA Partners continued delving into the possibilities of New Space with a third session devoted to the role of NGSO satellites in the evolved internet.

In this edition of the series, the workshop consisted of two-panel discussions by worldwide experts, featuring expert insights and a debate by ecosystem players on potential opportunities and competitive threats. The topics discussed during the events were:

• Emerging applications that include direct-to-device cellular service, IoT connectivity, and quantum key distribution
• Uncover the challenges they face and innovation they are in the process of commercializing
• Address the different market opportunities for the nascent LEO satellite ventures and their ability to develop a positive business case
• Review the investment landscape and investor appetite for the LEO satellite constellation and services

Sergi Figuerola, CTIO of i2CAT Foundation, introduced the event with Riad Hartani from Xona Partners, a boutique advisory services firm specialized in technology, media, and telecommunications. After the presentation, the first panel, named ‘The Role of LEO Satellites in the Evolved-Internet: Direct Satellite to Handset Market Opportunity’, started after the presentation. Chaired by Frank Rayal from Xona Partners, featured Tyghe Speidel, CTO and co-founder of Lynk, Maria Kalama, Business Development Director of Lacuna Space, Mina Mitry, CEO of Kepler Communications, and Stephane Anjuere, 5G Venture Lead of Thales Alenia Space. This panel focused on the role of LEO satellites in achieving ubiquitous cellular connectivity, the challenges in integrating LEO satellite integration with terrestrial cellular networks, and addressed the varying regional market requirements for connectivity: bridging the urban-rural divide and connecting hard-to-reach areas. The second panel, oriented to positive business cases that LEO satellite constellations can achieve, was chaired by Mònica Roca, the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce president. The panelists invited were Jordi Barrera Ars, VP Technology at Open Cosmos; Jaume Sanpera, CEO of Sateliot; Daniel Marco, Director General of Innovation and Digital Economy in the Government of Catalonia, Thomas S. Jensen, Senior Vice President at Satellite Communication of GateHouse SatCom, and Paul Febvre, CTO at Satellite Applications Catapult. It revolved around the critical impediments facing LEO satellite constellations and how to mitigate them, the impact of new technology and business model innovations on the LEO satellite business case and ground stations, the regulatory requirements on the LEO satellite market, and how to achieve lower user terminal costs and generate revenue quickly.

The event was streamed live through the i2CAT Foundation’s YouTube Channel, where the whole event can be found. The workshop’s first and second editions can also be found on Youtube for additional information on the series.