Brussels, 27/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European satellite operators' association (ESOA) has announced the date of 27 September as Europe's satellite day. It also wants to draw attention to the key position that satellites have in the daily life of Europeans, and to the need for European policies to take better account of this - especially in the digital agenda.
The European satellite industry is very powerful. It comprises four world-leading operators and two big suppliers, and represents more than half of all commercial satellites at international level, ESOA states. However, the digital agenda does not take sufficient account of the attributes of this technology in the technological mix of communications, although satellites are more able to transfer very large volumes of data rapidly. ESOA's secretary general, Aarti Holla, said to the press during a conference on this subject as part of Europe's satellite day that there is too much focus on fibre and a lack of technological neutrality. ESOA is waiting for a European legislative framework that reflects this neutrality - in the digital agenda, in the interconnection mechanism, and in the approach of state aid. Holla says that the industry does not need financing but expects policies to have a more holistic approach because satellites are not there to compete with broadband but to complete it. (MD/transl.fl)