Jerry Petersen
Dave Wajsgras, CEO of satellite services provider Intelsat and seven-time Wash100 awardee, recently said he sees the company’s multi-orbit strategy as having a significant impact on the industry.
He told Constellations in an interview published Monday though Intelsat is the operator of over 50 satellites in geostationary orbit — such as the recently launched G-37/H-4 communications spacecraft — it also partners with operators of satellites in low-Earth orbit.
“LEO providers are making inroads and ramping up manufacturing, which we believe will generate new partnership opportunities for Intelsat,” Wajsgras said.
The executive noted how such partnerships drive multi-orbit connectivity for airlines. In 2022, Intelsat allied with LEO operator and competitor OneWeb to provide in-flight internet access to commercial airlines. Just recently, Air Canada entered into an agreement with Intelsat to take advantage of that service.
Wasjgras added that Intelsat is looking to develop a constellation in medium-Earth orbit, though the company is currently in the process of analyzing the business case for such a constellation with the help of customer and industry input. At the recent 2023 World Satellite Business Week event, Wajsgras said his company would make a decision regarding the constellation in six months.