Photo: Axesat

In order to grow and be competitive in the satellite industry, companies must focus on creating opportunities — not only for their clients, but for partners and all actors across the value chain. In Latin America, we do this by identifying and developing relationships to empower all actors in the value chain, allowing them to work together. This way, they can find ways to connect people across new geographical locations and verticals that were previously unreachable.

As Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Axesat, I’m focused on making sure we’re always at the forefront of innovation, delivering solutions that help customers grow, expand into new markets, and gain competitive advantages. Most of all, we want these solutions to improve the quality of life and work for people — regardless of their location. And that’s what we’re achieving today through partnerships with key suppliers that share knowledge and technology, allowing us to generate more solutions for our customers.

Important actors in the value chain are creating partner programs to share knowledge, enabling us to better provide reliable and cost-efficient solutions for our customers. Also, as partners we receive technical and commercial support throughout the process of developing new opportunities.

Complex verticals, where connectivity is still a challenge, can now benefit from accessible solutions delivered with the help of our partners. That’s the case with maritime sector companies that now have a fully connected fleet with the power of next-generation satellite communications. These solutions can help differentiate companies from its competitors by allowing crews to reliably communicate with each other across vessels and with operation centers. Connected Internet of Things (IOT) devices are also deployable across ships, allowing companies to change the way they gather and analyze critical information in real time, such as the quality of refrigerated raw materials. These connected fleets are revolutionizing the commercial fishing industry, enabling companies who bet on key investments to improve crew wellbeing and safety, increase agility amid changing environmental conditions, reduce costs, and make faster, better decisions. This also allows them to develop opportunities and applications previously only possible on land.

Another vertical where this transformation is evident is in cellular backhaul, where our customers are delivering mobile coverage to communities throughout isolated areas over Latin America. Now cellular operators are offering unlimited 4G data plans that have doubled its subscriber base, elevated the user experience, and given those who work and live in those remote areas access to the same communications and opportunities as individuals that live in big cities. Delivering the solutions needed by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in a cost-efficient manner requires integrated efforts between us and other players in the value chain — our partners.

These are just a few examples of the transformational power partnerships have had on bringing fiber-quality connectivity to new markets and regions unreachable with traditional, terrestrial technologies. Alignment across the entire value chain has been an enabler for our business. Together, we are reshaping industries and leveling the connectivity playing field in Latin America, bridging the gap between the digital “haves and have nots” and bringing opportunity and access to more people every day — wherever they may be.

Mauricio Segovia is currently CEO of Axesat, a satellite telecommunications company with presence in Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Central America.