An important APSCC goal is improved international cooperation and the free flow of ideas and information across all satellite-related fields. Designed to help meet this goal, the APSCC Conference & Exhibition is a biennial event which provides a suitable platform for these issues as we head into a new era of convergence of communication and broadcasting. APSCC Conference & Exhibitions are excellent opportunities for experts and executives with interests in this region. We urge you to participate in future APSCC Conference & Exhibitions.

APSCC 2002 Conference & Exhibition, 6-8 November 2002

Under the theme “Convergence of Satellite Communication and Broadcasting”, the 6th Asia-Pacific Satellite Communication and Broadcasting Conference and Exhibition, APSCC 2002 Conference & Exhibition was held 6-8 November 2002 in Seoul, Korea at the Hilton Hotel. About 65 high-level officers, executives, and technical professionals from the satellite communication and broadcasting industry and from international organizations participated as speakers at the event. In

Former APSCC President Mr. Yasuo Otaki opened the Conference, highlighting the importance of the event in his address. He also emphasized the need to ‘take a look at how were we affected by the worldwide depression in the IT industry’, and the role of APSCC in promoting communication and broadcasting via satellite in the Asia-Pacific region through cooperation among member organizations and countries.

Many professionals and high-level officers in satellite communications and broadcasting industry from all over the world gave presentations on the Asia-Pacific Satellite Summit and Round Table, Regional Business Update, Satellite Business and Regulatory Issues, Launch Systems and Services, Satellite Broadband Applications, Digital Satellite Broadcasting Services, Content Delivery via Satellite, Satellite Multimedia Solutions, Satellite Broadcast Application Services, etc.

On the first day of the Conference there was an Asia-Pacific Satellite Summit and Round Table with high-level speakers such as Mr. Takehiro Izumi, President & CEO of B-SAT, Japan, Mr. Richard Lau, CEO of APT Satellite Telecommunications Ltd., Dr. Ali Atia, President of Orbital Communication International, Dr. Hiroshi Kimura, Executive Vice President, Space Communications Corporation, Japan, Mr. Timothy Shea, of Loral Skynet, Mr. Gwang-Ju Seo, Vice President of KT, Korea, Mr. Hak-Song Park, Vice President of Korea Digital Satellite Broadcasting. Dr. Eui K. Koh, then Vice President of New Skies Satellites, acted as moderator for the discussion.

At the same time, the APSCC 2002 Exhibition was held at the Seoul Hilton Hotel. A total of 19 companies set up booths at the exhibition, such as Arianespace, Boeing, KT, and SkyLife, to name just a few.

5th Plenary Meeting, 7 November 2002 & 6th Council Meeting, 5 November 2002

In the 5th Plenary Meeting held in Seoul on 7 November 2002, Dr. Eui K. Koh was elected as the new President for a two- year term from 2003. Dr. Koh, who has served as a member of the Executive Committee for the last four years from 1999, was nominated at the 6th Council Meeting held on 5 November 2002 for the approval of the Plenary Meeting, and unanimously approved.

Also, four new members were elected to the Executive Committee at the Council Meeting: Mr. V. P. Sinha, Senior Deputy Director General of Department of Telecommunications, India, Mr. Gwang-Ju Seo, Vice President of KT, Korea, Dr. Hiroshi Kimura, Executive Vice President of Space Communications Corporation, Japan, and Mr. Tim Shea, Vice President of Loral Skynet, Singapore as new Executive Directors. Dr. Robert J. Sirko, Director of Boeing Launch Services Inc., USA, Dr. Nongluck Phinainitisart, President of Shin Satellite Public Company Ltd., Thailand, and Mr. Liu Zhixiong, Vice President of China Great Wall Industry Corporation, China were re-elected for the next two years as members of the Executive Committee.

In the Council Meeting and the Plenary Meeting, the project plan and budget plan was approved for implementation and the Constitution was revised to allow the Council to consider membership fee reduction and membership terms and conditions.

Workshop on Satellite Broadband and Applications, 26-28 February 2002

One of the workshops organized periodically by APSCC, the Workshop on Satellite Broadband and Applications held in 2002 in Seoul, was aimed at executives, engineers, managers and other decision makers in the Asia-Pacific region. Its objective was to address a variety of issues relating to satellite broadband applications, with particular emphasis on those relevant to the Asia-Pacific region. These issues include the overall considerations of some Asian countries on the broadband service and application, technology development, regulation and access, business and revenue streams and challenges introduced by the converging environment.

The topics covered in the workshop were Asian Satellite Broadband Business Update, Satellite Internet Applications, Satellite Broadband Multimedia Services, Digital Satellite Broadcasting, Content Delivery via Satellite, Satellite Broadband Applied Technology, DAB & Datacasting, and Next Generation Application Service. During the workshop country reports were presented on nine Asian countries regarding their plans and the status of satellite broadband applications. The opening address was given by Mr. Yasuo Otaki, President, APSCC, with other addresses given by Mr. Sung Ok Lee, Director General, Radio and Broadcasting Bureau, Ministry of Information and Communication, Korea, and Mr. Gwang-Ju Seo, Vice President of Korea Telecom. Presentations were given by speakers from major satellite broadband service providers on issues crucial to satellite broadband systems.

6th Intensive Training Course on Digital Broadcasting & Multicasting via Satellite
29 May - 1 June, 2001

Held under the theme of “Digital Broadcasting and Multicasting via Satellite”, this training course was designed to address issues relating to these important new technologies in a rapidly changing environment. The 6th APSCC Intensive Training Course examined the factors important in achieving success in an internationally competitive field and the resulting system structure, operation and management processes.

Aimed at key players in the industry, the information offered by the Intensive Training Course enabled participants to expand the knowledge that they provide to potential broadcasters, contents and application providers, engineers /managers or e-commerce developers, and coordinators in this field. As a result of the course participants were better able to understand the big picture and not simply their own area of expertise, gaining a greater awareness of the overall management of new technology in this field.

APSCC gathered together experts, providers and professors, including those related to the broadcasting industry, to ensure that by the end of the course participants had gained a sound knowledge of the DBS system and solution analysis of digital broadcasting and multicasting via satellite.

The Course consisted of lectures, presentations, reports on policy trends, and analyses of broadcasting technology and services in the Asia-Pacific region. Professionals from the broadcasting industry gave presentations on case studies with solution analysis, as well as demonstrations in a curriculum which covered sessions on DBS system engineering, transmission and coding technology, and its satellite applications, set top box technology and multicasting via VSAT. Participants gained valuable knowledge on set top box technology via satellite. Also included was an industry tour, taken on the last day of the course. Participants visited set top box providers and the annual exhibition held by the Korea Broadcasting Association (KOBA).