The 234th meeting of the ESA Joint Board on Communication Satellite Programme took place last 17-18 September at ESA’s offices at ECSAT in Harwell, United Kingdom.
The topics considered included evolution of the satellite communications (satcom) market, specifically market prospects for geostationary satellites vis-à-vis the expected fabrication and launch of mega-constellations, the Chinese satcom market, whose growth is a cause for concern among the European space industry, and the eventual future structure of the ESA’s telecommunication programmes (ARTES).
The rolling 2019 workplan of the Future Preparations programme, ARTES Core Competitiveness – Advanced Technology, and the kickstart activity of the Integrated Applications Programme (IAP) were approved. Also debated were strategic issues concerning ESA’s relationship with the European Commission, with respect to coordination between space and ground components for implementation of 5G networks as well as secure satellite communications in the scope of the Govsatcom programme.
The next JCB meeting is scheduled for 12-13 November in Toulouse, France.
