There is no doubt that ambitious business plans in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) will have a key say in how successful the overall industry will be over the next few years. In this edition, we look at the LEO debate from a number of different angles as we examine the future in a LEO world.

As you know over the last year, Via Satellite has consistently been number one for getting big name interviews, with the likes of Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson. This time, we have another absolute cracker for you. My colleague Jeffrey Hill got the chance to sit down recently with the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Ajit Pai, for one of the most comprehensive interviews he has ever given as he talks all things satellite — and how the FCC sees the future of LEO. It is a great interview and we hope you all enjoy it.

We also discuss other aspects of the LEO debate. Tereza Pultarova looks at the latest developments in antenna technology, and whether it is able to meet the demands of LEO operators. We also talk to a number of leading figures from operators building these systems and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Of course, SpaceX and its plans for its Starlink constellation could well turn out to be the ‘X’ factor here. While its plans are still somewhat shrouded in secrecy, it could bring unprecedented change, the way it did in the launch market.

As for me, I find it is all fascinating. There are so many satellites potentially going up — thousands upon thousands of satellites. I still wonder who will potentially buy all this bandwidth, but you certainly can’t accuse the industry of having a lack of ambition.

This edition brings everything you need to know about the LEO satellite revolution. We hope you enjoy.