I was at CABSAT for the first time it seems in a long time and, as the first major satellite event of the year, it offered a gage of where the industry is at, and where it may be heading this year. What was noticeable is that pretty much everyone in the industry said the show had been quiet. It seems to reflect an unease in the industry.

The slowdown of GEO orders, the rush of new constellations, and the way business models are starting to evolve, signifies major changes in our industry the like of which we have not seen in a long, long time.

As someone who has been covering satellite for around 15 years, I have always been struck by the overall optimism within the industry. However, at the start of 2018, that is definitely starting to feel a little strained.

When talking about where satellite is headed this year, in this issue we are delighted to bring you exclusive interviews with Stephen Spengler, CEO of Intelsat, Karim Michel Sabbagh, CEO of SES, Rodolphe Belmer, CEO of Eutelsat, and Dan Goldberg, CEO of Telesat. Once again, Via Satellite is leading the way in trailblazing interviews with the industry’s main influencers. You certainly won’t see this line-up of interviews in other publications. This is what sets Via Satellite out from the pack, our reach, our editorial integrity, and bringing you the stories and interviews you most want to read.

Now, as we move on from CABSAT, thoughts turn to Washington, D.C. and the SATELLITE 2018 Conference & Exhibition, another key barometer for the industry. It promises to be a challenging year for many in satellite. Let’s hope everyone can rise to the challenge.