Welcome to the 28th SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition. This year’s theme “Solutions Start Here,” could not be more appropriate for today’s communications world, where customers do not want to create their own communications networks from scratch and instead are seeking complete solutions from their providers.

The pre-day schedule will help kickoff SATELLITE 2009 with a look at some of today’s most discussed issues. 

The Satellite Finance Forum returns to take an in-depth look at the issues satellite players face during these difficult times. Sessions such as “Financial State of the Industry – Positioning for Growth in an Economic Downturn,” “Bankers’ Perspective – Financing Through a Credit Crunch,” and “Securing Satellite Risk in Space and in the Markets,” will bring together banking and financial experts to discuss their perspective and what the satellite sector must do to navigate this period. CEOs from SES Americom-New Skies, Astrium Services, iDirect, ViaSat, AsiaSat and GeoEye also will gather to offer their perspective on the issues.

The new IP Technology Forum will examine all of the issues surrounding the use of IP technology and its impact on the satellite communications field. Sessions will provide an overall look at the future of IP and space and then break down individual areas such as “IP Protocol in Space,” “Utilizing IP Technology for Military Operations” and “IP and the Hybrid Network.”

Also be sure to join us for lunch, where keynote speaker Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, will discuss his vision of the future of launch services and how close he is to turning his dreams into the space industry’s reality. To close out the day join us at 5:30 p.m. on the L-Street Bridge for the Welcome Reception for a chance to network with your peers.

All of this services as just the precursor to three days of panels, 280 exhibitors and other events that will draw more than 9,000 professionals and executives from around the globe. Enjoy your time at this premier educational and networking event for the satellite communications community.