Comsys and DLA Piper Present

Satellite Communications for Non-Technical Professionals

A two-day in-person training seminar at
DLA Piper's office in the city of London

Transform your understanding of satellite communications.

This two-day seminar, led by industry expert Jeremy Rose together with leading guest speakers, will equip you with
the tools to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.

The satellite communications industry has undergone remarkable transformation over the past few years. The emergence of NGSO (Non-Geostationary) networks like Starlink and Kuiper have disrupted traditional geostationary operators, while the introduction of Direct-to-Device services promises to bring even more groundbreaking changes in the years ahead. Additionally, challenges around orbital resource management and debris removal are becoming critical to ensuring the long-term sustainability of space activities.

Why Attend?

Join us for a dynamic and engaging two-day seminar (presented by industry experts) designed to provide you with a practical and comprehensive understanding of the satellite communications industry. Explore key concepts, cutting-edge technologies, and the latest applications and services, all delivered in a clear, accessible format tailored for non-technical professionals.

Key Benefits:

Agenda Overview

Wednesday 26 March

  1. Introduction:
    • What is satellite communications?
    • Types of satellite:
      • Communications, broadcasting, government, and military, weather, scientific, earth observation
    • History of satellite communications
    • Terms and acronyms explained
    • Sources of information
  1. What is a Satellite?
    • Spacecraft descriptions:
      • Bus and payload
      • Stabilisation:
        • Three axis / spin stabilised
    • Payload description:
      • Transponders
    • Software-Defined Satellites
    • Antennas:
      • Fixed, steerable, phased array, unfurlable (umbrella and frame), digital beam forming and scanning spot beams
    • Footprints:
      • Global, regional, spot beams
    • Inter-Satellite Links:
      • Radio and optical
    • Missions:
      • Fixed services, mobile, TV broadcasting, audio broadcasting and DARS, multimedia satellites, navigation, GPS, low data rate messaging
    • Satellite Control:
      • Telemetry and tracking / telecommand
      • Attitude control
      • Station-keeping
      • Satellite lifetime / fuel
  2. Basic orbital mechanics:
    • How do satellites stay in orbit?
  3. Launch / transfer orbit / GSO insertion:
    • Geostationary (GSO):
      • Inclined orbit operation
    • Non-geostationary Orbits:
      • LEO, MEO, elliptical, polar
    • Space Debris
    • Radiation belts
  4. NGSO and GSO:
    • Typical orbits
    • Satellite lifetime
    • Latency
  5. Satellite Launches:
    • Reusable / expendable launchers
    • Chemical vs electric orbit raising
    • Launch sites
    • Launch cost trends
  6. Earth Stations:
      • Fixed satellite services
      • Gateway earth stations
    • Mobile services:
      • Luggable, briefcase size and handheld
    • Earth station antennas:
      • Typical sizes, geometry, applications, cost
    • Specialised applications:
      • Maritime and aeronautical
    • Subsystems and components:
      • RF and baseband description
  7. The Techie Bits:
    • The link budget:
      • EIRP and G/T, bandwidth, beamwidth, propagation, fade countermeasures, analogue and digital transmission, footprints, frequency bands, link margins, modulation schemes (PSK/QAM), multiple access schemes, (TDMA, FDMA, DAMA), error correction
      • Higher order modulation schemes
  8. Spacecraft manufacturers:
    • Old Space:
      • Boeing / Airbus / Lockheed Martin / Maxar / MDA / Thales Alenia Space / NSIL / CGWIC
    • New Space:
      • Astranis / SwissTo12 / Saturn / others
  9. Ground Segment:
      • Gateway earth stations
      • VSATs
      • Mobile earth stations (ESIMs)
  10. Service providers:
      • Teleports and Services:
      • VSAT Operators
  11. Satellite Finance: Portland Advisers
    • How to fund satellite projects:
      • Characteristics needed to attract investment and lenders
      • Types of funding available
      • Sources of funding, depending on business proposition, region, funding need
    • What to expect in a fundraising process:
      • Preparation
      • Due diligence process
      • Negotiation
    • Documentation

Thursday 27 March

  1. Applications:
    • Video broadcasting
    • Mobile satellite services:
      • Maritime
      • Aeronautical
    • Internet access
  2. Satellite Operators:
    • Global
    • Regional
    • National
  3. Regulatory / Orbits and Frequencies: DLA Piper
    • International Telecommunications Union
    • Regional and national regulators
  4. Space Junk and Sustainability: Astroscale
    • Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
    • Active Debris Removal (ADR)
    • End-of-Life Services
    • In-Orbit Servicing
  5. Legal and Regulatory: DLA Piper
    • “Market access” – service regulation and frequency regulation
    • Space licensing
    • Space sustainability
    • Export controls, security issues
    • Safety and radiation hazards
  6. New Developments:
    • NGSO:
    • Direct to Device:
    • More to Come?
  7. Introduction to space risk management and insurance: Marsh Space Projects
    • The satellite and space insurance market overview.
    • Failure scenarios:
    • Launch, transfer orbit, in-orbit
    • Historical failure rates for launch and in-orbit cover
    • Recent trends and the future
  8. My Life as a Satellite CEO (GE Satellites and AsiaSat): Andrew Jordan

Is This Seminar for You?

The Essential Satellite Seminar You Cannot Afford to Miss

Whether you are new to the industry or simply looking for a thorough, easy-to- understand overview of satellite communications, then this seminar is for you. This intensive structured, two-day series will examine the core principles and dynamics of satellite communications including satellite orbits, launches, earth stations, satellite technology, applications, commercialisation, finance, regulation, insurance, terrestrial competition, forecasting future trends and much much more! This seminar will provide a fast track of information essential in enabling today’s non-technical executive keep abreast of the current and changing marketplace.

In addition, you will also receive comprehensive seminar notes that will serve as a permanent reference source during and after the seminar, including extensive bibliography, graphs, glossary and full explanation of terms and acronyms.

Nowhere else will you gain such a practical and comprehensive overview of where satellites fit into the Global Information Infrastructure.

Who should attend?

  • Executives new to the satellite industry who need to gain a thorough understanding of satellite communications
  • Executives with a few years experience needing to catch up with the latest in satellite communications
  • Senior Executives looking at fine-tuning their understanding of the industry and updating themselves on current and emerging technology and market trends
  • Business Development and Strategic Planning Executives
  • Sales, Product Managers and Marketing Executives
  • Financial Analysts, Investment and Banking Executives
  • Insurance Brokers and Underwriters
  • Attorneys and Accountants
  • Human Resource and Public Relations Executives
  • Non – Technical Managers
  • Anyone whose business is involved or affected by satellite communications

What You Will Gain

A detailed understanding of satellite communications.

Insight into industry applications and real-world use cases.

Complete seminar notes with glossaries and diagrams.

Networking opportunities with professionals across industries.

Meet Jeremy Rose

Jeremy Rose is a globally recognised satellite expert with more than four decades of experience advising governments, satellite operators, and financial institutions. As a founder of COMSYS LLP, Jeremy combines deep technical knowledge with a passion for educating professionals. Jeremy first presented this seminar in 1998 and since then it has been held in London, Washington, Johannesburg, Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong, as well as many in-house locations

Guest Speakers

Over 100 man years of combined experience in the satcomms industry

Adam Sturmer
Managing Director
Marsh Space Projects
Andrew Faiola
Commercial Vice President
Astroscale
Christian Keogh
Senior Associate
DLA Piper
Nick Flitterman
Managing Partner
Portland Advisers
Andrew Jordan
CEO
Sonema

Secure Your Spot

Register

£ 2300 Plus UK Value Added Tax
  • In-person tuition for two days
  • Lunches and refreshments, plus end-of-day networking drinks and canapés.
  • Complete seminar notes with glossaries and diagrams

Discounts:

Discount of 20% for three or more registrations. Use code 3W6Y227D at checkout.

Our Partners

Frequently Asked Questions

Tuition, lunches, refreshments, and a seminar manual.

No, attendees are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodation.

If you are unable to attend, a replacement from the same company/organisation is welcome to take your place. Cancellations received in writing up to 20 working days before the seminar date will receive a refund less a service charge of 20%. Should your cancellation be received after this date, regrettably no refund can be made, but a complete set of documentation will be sent to you. Registrants who fail to attend and do not cancel will be liable for the full registration fee. We would appreciate final confirmation of substitute names at least one week in advance of the event if possible.

More questions? Get in touch!