Staying Flexible in the Face of Ever-changing Markets

摘要

In 2008, Hispasat derived 60 percent of its annual revenue from European customers and 40 percent from Latin America. Seven years later, the reverse is true, a fact that illustrates why the Madrid-based satellite communications fleet operator must remain flexible enough to adapt rapidly to changing market conditions, Hispasat President Elena Pisonero said. That flexibility is particularly important because communications satellites are designed to last 15 years or more, which means markets can chance dramatically during a spacecraft's lifespan. Hispasat ID, for example, a satellite with 28 Ku-band transponders launched in 2002 to an orbital position of 30 degrees west longitude to serve Europe and the Americas, is slated to be replaced in 2017 by Hispasat IF, which is equipped with 40 Ku-band transponders, 10 C-band transponders and seven Ka-band spot beams.