[Satellite TODAY 03-15-13] The SATELLITE 2013 conference and exhibition is set to kick off Monday, March 18 with full-day pre-conference sessions focusing on the industry’s latest technical and engineering challenges.

   The 32nd annual conference will be held March 18-21 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. This year’s annual event will attract more than 12,000 delegates from 75 countries and features more than 350 exhibiting companies plus a full conference program led by more than 300 communications via satellite experts and innovators. The 2013 conference features focused forums on broadcast, enterprise, military and emerging regions.

   The SATELLITE 2013 management group confirmed that this year’s show continues its streak of increased attendance rates. In January, the conference’s exhibition show floor was 93 percent sold-out with 80,000 net square feet of exhibit space. New participants include O3b Networks and Northrop Grumman, as well as Russian satellite manufacturer Reshetnev, Nigerian operator NigComSat, antenna technology developer Kymeta, RF equipment manufacturer Mini-Circuits, and other communications solution providers.

   “SATELLITE 2013 presents a 360-degree view of the satellite communications marketplace providing a unique opportunity for anyone looking to comparison shop products, applications and technology in one convenient location,” SATELLITE 2013 Show Director Lindsey Fuller said in a statement. “There will be solutions that encompass the needs of the entire satellite community – from military and government officials to C-level executives, broadcasters, engineers, and telecommunications professionals.”