[SatNews] Top executives of the global satellite communications industry will be looking back at another year of steady growth and profits as they gather in Paris from September 6th to 10th for World Satellite Business Week.

The week-long meeting draws more than 500 top executive delegates from 40 countries. The main event, the World Summit for Satellite Financing, is now in its 14th year, while the Symposium on Earth Observation Business is entering its 2nd year. The conference is produced by Euroconsult. The multi-billion dollar satellite industry is comprised of companies that build, launch, and operate satellites vital to the global networks used by broadcast companies, telecommunications networks, defense and security agencies, Earth observation firms and a wide range of service provider companies. Over the course of the week-long conference, top executives from these companies will share insights and opinions on where the industry may be headed for the coming year and what opportunities may lay ahead for firms that can secure financing for major new projects and expansions.

Despite the global economic downturn that began in late 2007, the satellite sector has continued to post a strong performance; with steady growth in most industry segments (see Table 1 below). Digital broadcasting and broadband satellite communications for a variety of uses continue to require increasing transponder capacity, driving growth in the years to come. New satellite projects from emerging regional operators and space countries continue to boost transponder supply and demand, with a record of 30 commercial GEO comsats ordered in 2009 and still solid prospects for 2010. Government demand for commercial satellite communications, driven by the conflict in Afghanistan, has reached record levels, as have security agency and environmental requirements for satellite imagery with government demand for commercial data projected to reach $2.6 billion by 2019, up from only $735 million in 2009.

Entering its second year, the Symposium on Earth Observation Business will examine the factors driving growth in this rapidly-expanding sector. Euroconsult forecasts that overall procurement of commercial satellite Earth observation (EO) data will reach over $4 billion by 2019.

World Satellite Business Week will open with a half-day session on September 6 for the 8th Symposium on Market Forecasts. The 14th World Summit for Satellite Financing will be conducted September 7-9 and the 2nd Symposium on Earth Observation Business will be held September 9-10. For a full conference program, please go to www.satellite-business.com.