The key executives of nine European satellite operators met in Brussels on 1 March to sign the Articles of Association that form the European Satellite Operators Association.

ESOA, a non-profit organisation to be based in Brussels, will represent the interests of European satellite operators before key European organisations including the European Commission, Parliament, Council and the European Space Agency as well as any other relevant international organisations.

Founding members of ESOA are: Europe*Star, Eutelsat S.A., Hispasat, Inmarsat Ventures PLC, New Skies Satellites NV, Nordic Satellite AB, SES GLOBAL, Telenor Broadband Services AS and Telespazio.

The General Meeting appointed the Board of Directors, comprising the Chief Executive Officers or Chairmen of the Board of each of the operators.

The Board is led by Romain Bausch, President and CEO of SES GLOBAL, who has been elected Chairman of the Board of ESOA and Jacinto Garcia Palacios, CEO of HISPASAT and Salvatore Pinto, CEO of Telespazio, as Vice Chairmen of the Board, each of whom have been appointed for a one year term.

An Executive Committee to support the Board will meet regularly comprised of representatives of each satellite operator, and is led by Barry Saunders, Eutelsat S.A., Chairman, Andrew D’Uva, New Skies Satellites N.V., Vice Chairman and Christine Leurquin, SES GLOBAL, Treasurer.

ESOA will pursue five priorities in 2002:

  • Provide input into the development of a European space policy at the levels of both the European Commission and European Space Agency.
  • Represent the views of European satellite operators in Europe and around the world to help remove trade, regulatory and market access barriers facing them.
  • Actively support satellite service providers by stimulating the increase of research and development funding for ground equipment (satellite applications and low-cost interactive terminals).
  • Promote the role of satellites in the European Commission’s e-Europe broadband programme. e-Europe was launched in 1999 to bring Europe on-line and satellites, with their total coverage of Europe and multi-casting capabilities, are an excellent method of delivering rich content.
  • Appoint the Association Secretary General