A group of satellite operators has formed a trade body to represent their interests in the Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) sector. The founding members are Amazon, Iridium, Telesat and Globalstar in the SpaceConnect Association.

The aim is to represent and advocate for issues such as open markets, competitive choice, responsibility in space and global parity, according to the body’s Executive Director, David Redl who was previously head of the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA).

Redl is joined by another industry heavyweight, Julie Kearney as General Counsel. She was previously at the FCC serving as the Space Bureau chief.

“These companies saw a reason and a need to come together on issues like EPFD, where there was a gap in the current availability of trade associations to be able to advocate in the positions that they wanted. They came together to try to find a way to aggregate their voices to be more effective,” Redl said.

These initial four Non-Geostationary (NGSO) will take a somewhat different view than the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), where they remain as members.

“NGSOs and other parts of the satellite ecosystem don’t necessarily have complete alignment on the things that would protect their ability to compete and to have access to open markets,” Redl added. “What we’re looking at through Space Connect is representing the unique interests of NGSOs, in addition to working with other associations on the broader implications across the satellite ecosystem.”

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Categories: Articles, Satellite

Tags: Amazon, iridium, LEO, telesat