Tristan represented at Small Satellite Business Conference
Report and photos from Tristan Government UK Representative Chris Carnegy
A Small Satellite Business Conference was held on 4th July 2019 at the European Space Agency facility in Oxfordshire. Businesses involved in the emerging small-satellite sector gathered to look at opportunities and challenges for the future.
Chris Carnegy with Christian von der Ropp outside the ESA building
A finance panel discussed business models and I asked whether a market as small and remote as Tristan might attract operators to offer direct broadband service from space. Some delegates are involved in providing internet access to remote and developing economies, and suggested that there are models where the ‘customer’ is not the same as the ‘end user’ - so a business, or a non-profit organisation, might sponsor the connection.
The prospective under-water cable to St Helena was described by telecoms consultant Christian von der Ropp.
It would make possible a south Atlantic ground-station for satellite operators such as OneWeb
- this picture shows him explaining how their footprint would reach Tristan.
Delegates network over lunch