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'MAKE OR BREAK' SATELLITE BROADBAND PROPOSITION
TO HEADLINE GVF SUMMIT AT SATELLITE EXPO 2006, ATLANTA

Industry Forum to Feature Hard-Hitting Roundtable Discussions on How Independent Retailers Can Survive – and Potentially Thrive - in New Satellite Broadband Business


October 13, 2005

Nashville,Tennessee – With billions of dollars invested in the rollout of broadband satellite services - and broadcasters jockeying for position to seize a prime position in the lucrative North American telecommunications marketplace - independent retailers are in line for a major commercial breakthrough… or are they? The answer to that key question will be provided during a GVF Satellite Broadband Summit to be held during Satellite Expo 2006.

Satellite Expo 2006, the annual conference, exhibition and training event for the North American independent satellite retailer community, will host the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) Satellite Broadband Summit in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 19th at the Georgia International Convention Center.

"Today, the independent retailer community finds itself standing at a crossroads with no map and no street signs," said Lee Gilliland, Show Director of SatExpo '06. "The GVF Satellite Broadband Summit will provide practical guidance on whether the latest interactive satellite business holds real commercial potential and, if so, how, when, where and why."

"From the independent retailer's perspective, the roll-out of satellite broadband is déjà vu all over again," said David Hartshorn, Secretary General of GVF, the non-profit international association of the satellite communications industry. "When DBS services were first being rolled out in the early '90s, there were more questions than answers and a lot of independent retailers got lost in the transition. Now, as major broadband interests position themselves to serve residential and enterprise subscribers, the role of the retailer is being redefined again."

The GVF Satellite Broadband Summit will focus on the latest technology and business trends and will identify new opportunities for independent retailers. The program will feature key players in the interactive services arena, including operators, manufacturers, value-added resellers, distributors and retailers. An open-forum format – led by expert moderators from the broadband marketplace - will enable independent retailers to participate directly in the industry dialogue and get answers to their most pressing questions.

The Summit coincides with unprecedented developments in the provision of new low-cost satellite terminals capable of delivering Internet, voice, video and other communications services. Major operators and broadcasters either have launched or are making plans to unveil offerings tailored for residential subscribers, as well as small-office/home offices, and small, medium and large enterprises.

Meanwhile, manufacturers of broadband Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) – which have traditionally been used only for large corporate or government telecommunications networks – have been redesigned to address a more diverse range of customers. Worldwide, more than 1 million VSATs have now been deployed; a volume that has driven interactive terminal costs to levels that are competitive with DSL. Value-added resellers, distributors and a host of related interests have also begun repositioning themselves to take advantage of the new opportunity.

"Change is in the air," Gilliland said. "With the GVF Broadband Satellite Summit, Satellite Expo 2006 is committed to help independent retailers make sure that it is change for the better."


About GVF:

GVF serves as the unified voice of the global satellite communications industry. Headquartered in London and with a regional office in Washington, D.C., GVF is a non-profit association that comprises more than 180 companies from 80 countries in every major region of the world and from all sectors of the industry, including satellite operators, earth station and sub-system manufacturers, integrators, teleports, network operators, and carriers, as well as consultants, law firms, and other organisations involved in the satellite industry.

About SatExpo 2006:

SatExpo was started as a grass roots effort to fill a much-needed niche in the satellite industry. What was initially viewed as a small regional effort has blossomed into "THE" industry event for independent satellite retailers and technicians. SatExpo shows feature a wealth of training and networking opportunities for all facets of the market. If it concerns satellite it's a safe bet it can be found at a SatExpo show. For more information visit our website at: www.SatelliteExpo2006.com