Press Release 10

For Immediate Release
Contact: Charisma Burghouts
301-354-1753
[email protected]
Photos of winners available upon request

Via Satellite Announces Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium as 2018 Satellite Executive of the Year and Intellian’s v240MT Tri-band Antenna System as 2018 Satellite Technology of the Year

Awards were presented Wednesday, May 8 during a special awards luncheon at the SATELLITE 2019 Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C.

ROCKVILLE, Md. – May 8, 2019 — Via Satellite, the premier publication providing news and expert business analysis on the global satellite communications marketplace, announced Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium, as the winner of the prestigious 2018 Satellite Executive of the Year Award, and Intellian’s v240MT Tri-band Antenna System as the winner of the inaugural 2018 Satellite Technology of the Year Award today.

The successful replacement of Iridium’s Block 1 satellites and the full launch of its NEXT constellation was an astounding feat of technical, financial, and operational management — with everything falling into place under the leadership of CEO Matthew Desch. When Desch joined Iridium as its CEO in 2006, the Virginia-based operator was in poor financial shape. So much so, that its competitors were expected to buy out the company in order to dissolve it and salvage assets. Desch’s laser-focus on product and market development created an alternative path forward whereby a new constellation could be financed based on the company’s revenue and profit growth.

“Matt Desch is no stranger to this award,” said Mark Holmes, Editorial Director of Via Satellite. “Desch won Via Satellite’s Executive of the Year Award in 2012 for his innovative approach to worldwide mobile connectivity, his leadership during a six-year financial turnaround, and his vision for Iridium NEXT,” added Holmes. As the 2018 Satellite Executive of the Year, Matt Desch again joins the ranks of the best of the best in our industry. Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX was honored in 2017; Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace was honored in 2016; and the 2015 honoree was Michel de Rosen, CEO of Eutelsat.

Via Satellite has a longstanding history of recognizing the people leading the charge for the satellite industry, so the addition of the 2018 Satellite Technology of the Year Award is very fitting. Intellian’s tri-band v240MT antenna system wins the inaugural Satellite Technology of the Year Award.

Intellian’s multi-orbit and tri-band v240MT antenna system is the world’s first of its kind that enables communication services in three different frequency bands and tracks both Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites, as well as satellites in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). It delivers data rates exceeding 1 Gbps using a single 2.4-meter reflector. Most importantly, the antenna’s versatility allows it to access to virtually any satellite constellation within seconds.

“Via Satellite is dedicated to recognizing the technology breakthrough that has changed the way the satellite and connectivity industry worked in 2018 and for years to come,” said Holmes. “We’re proud to bestow the 2018 Satellite Technology of the Year award to Intellian’s v240MT Tri-band Antenna System for their achievements in the satellite community.”

The July 2019 issue of Via Satellite will honor Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium as Satellite Executive of the Year, and Intellian’s v240MT Tri-band Antenna System as Satellite Technology of the Year in a special awards issue.

About Via Satellite

Via Satellite is a monthly publication providing essential news and expert business analysis on the global satellite communications marketplace, including current and evolving applications, infrastructure issues, technology, and business and regulatory developments around the word reaches the most engaged community of satellite professionals and qualified industry decision makers.

About SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition

The SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition unites 15,000 aerospace and connectivity thought leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, engineers, end-users and enthusiasts from more than 100 countries for the largest and most important global satellite technology event of the year. Serving all industries looking to better their business operations or enhance their strategy through connectivity, the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition takes place on March 9-12, 2020 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

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