Welcome to our first ever edition of Via Satellite Russia. This is the first time we talk in-depth about this exciting market for satellite. And what better way to do this than with a bonus distribution at the SatComRus event, where a number of key influencers and decision makers come together to assess the state of the market and where it goes next.

While there has been a great deal of political instability in the region, what cannot be in doubt is that Russia, as a country, is a market where satellite can have a huge impact. Thanks to its expansive geography, and spread out population, the demand for satellite-based communications and video services is on the increase.

In our two articles in this edition, we look at the state of the Russian pay-TV market, as well as the overall state of the satellite services market. We look to assess the road ahead for Russia in terms of satellite demand.

This edition continues a trend of Via Satellite to present the best localized coverage of major satellite markets around the world. In recent years, we have produced dedicated Via Satellite editions for Latin America, Asia, Middle East & Africa, and now Russia. With a strong and well-informed audience in Russia, we are delighted to bring this edition to you, and I look forward to seeing many of you at SatComRus where we can talk more in-depth about this vibrant market.