SatCom Basics

Virgil Labrador is the Editor-in-Chief of Los Angeles, California-based Satellite Markets and Research which publishes a web portal on the global satellite industry www.satellitemarkets.com, the bi-monthly Satellite Executive Briefing magazine and occasional industry reports called MarketBriefs and technical reports called TECHBriefs. Virgil is one of the few trade journalists who has a proven track record working in the commercial satellite industry. He worked as a senior executive for a teleport in Singapore, the Asia Broadcast Center, then-owned by the US broadcasting company CBS. He has co-authored two books on the history of satellite communications and satellite technology and contributed chapters in other books on mass communications and communication theory. His articles have appeared in numerous trade and academic publications including the Encyclopedia Britannica, where he wrote the section on “Satellite Communications.” Virgil is a regular participant in internation satellite industry conferences where he has served as chairman and moderator in various panels. He holds a Master’s in Communications Management from the University of Southern California (USC).

Bruce Elbert is the Founder and President of Application Technology Strategy LLC (ATS). He is a leading space technology and satellite industry expert, business innovator and successful marketer, project leader and consultant with over 50 years experience in communications and  space-based systems in the public and private sectors. Areas of expertise include space segment design and operation in all orbit domains, systems architecture and engineering, ground segment systems engineering, development and operation, overall system performance improvement, and organizational development. He has been an expert witness in legal proceedings related to radio communication system performance, patents, construction contracts, service agreements, RFI identification and resolution, and taxation. Bruce was engaged in several satellite networking projects where he led and advised teams of engineers and managers to evolve LEO and GEO systems to better address rapidly changing user requirements. Prior to founding ATS, he had an extensive space industry career and directed major satellite system projects and service organizations, and led business activities in the US and overseas. Bruce Elbert currently assists a broad range of client organizations, including satellite operators and wireless service providers, equipment manufacturers, investment managers, as well as enterprises and government agencies that employ satellite and radio communications systems. He wrote several popular industry books, presented at leading industry conferences, and conducted technical and business training around the world.

Before founding ATS in 1999, Bruce Elbert spent more than 25 years with Hughes Electronics (since acquired by Boeing, AT&T, and Intelsat), where he was senior vice president, project and systems development, in the international division. In this position, he led his team to develop innovative satellite and telecommunications projects for commercial customers in the US and overseas. Among his contributions was over US$ 3 Billion in new systems sales along with development of high-performance teams. He was heavily involved in program management of several Hughes space products, including design of HS-333, HS-376, HS-601HP and HS-702 space vehicles. Bruce also managed the introduction of Hughes’ advanced broadband and mobile satellite systems in the US, Asia, Latin America and Europe. His geostationary mobile satellite architecture was adopted for the Thuraya system. During the 1980s, he directed all engineering, marketing and operations for the Hughes Galaxy System (now part of Intelsat), the most successful satellite network at that time. Under his tenure, the Galaxy system increased from three to 12 operating satellites, while system revenues grew five-fold. Throughout, Bruce managed all ground staff and resources, spectrum and orbital plans, including relationships with the FCC and ITU, and created an environment wherein RFI and all other technical issues were identified and resolved before any services were degraded.

Kanaka Hidayat is a Senior Consultant in satellite technology developing various technology solutions for corporate and government clients, such as developing rural connectivity for Indonesia’s most remote areas through SATRIA satellite system and its associated infrastructure. Kanaka has also been involved in the development of next-generation PPDR (Public Protection & Disaster Recovery) System and next gen EOS (Earth Observation Satellite) constellation for Indonesia. Kanaka has more than 40 years of satellite industry experience in various functions from satellite engineering, operation, business development to marketing.

He started his career in telecommunications in 1985 in an aggressive technology company Research and Data Systems Corporation in Maryland, USA which lead him to INTELSAT, as an Engineer in Washington DC, USA, developing its Ground Network System. He has held many senior executive postions in various international satellite companies including Vice President of Satellite Operations for Satelindo. At Satelindo, he was responsible for the the operation of the Palapa-C satellite and later headed its Sales and Marketing. He then joined Speedcast as Director of Sales of Marketing. He also worked as Account Manager and subsequently Account Director for Motorola; General Manager of satellite teleport in BBSI (Broadcast & Broadband Service), a subsidiary of ABS (Asia Broadcast Satellite); Managing Director of Rumah Teknologi, a VSAT start up; Managing Director in Intelex Group, a fiber optic based ISP; General Manager of Paktel, VSAT system; Consultant for development of BRI Satellite, the first bank to have its own satellite; Consultant to Witelcom (Wireless Broadband); Consultant tor TEG (The Emergence Group) (Washington, DC). and WiMAX Forum Regional Director. Kanaka is also active in non-governmental organization such as MASTEL (Indonesian Tecommunication and Informatics Society) and ASSI (Indonesian Satellite Association).

He holds a BSc in Electronic Engineering from Capitol Institute of Technology, Maryland, USA and a MSc in Technology Management from the University of Maryland.