SatMagazine (SM)
Please tell our readers about your Company’s business focus, and history, within the various European market segments.
Ever since the foundation of NovelSat, we have always focused on maximising satellite bandwidth within the broadcast, telecommunication and military sectors. We are dedicated to pushing the boundaries on satellite modulation, helping companies deliver the best services to their client base as well as offering them a better ROI. Our NS3 technology, which essentially replaces DVB-S2 as the industry standard, lowers satellite bandwidth usage by 20 percent, enabling 30 percent more throughput without the need for data compression.
NovelSat has provided clients with multiple hardware solutions to ensure they can future-proof their services. Our customer base includes EBU, IntelSat, Avanti Communications, RRSat, iDirect and PSSI. Our ground-breaking technology has been recognised by winning several awards such as WTA’s “Technology of the year 2012” and CSI award for “Best Satellite Contribution/Distribution/Transmission solution” in 2011.
SM
What European SATCOM sectors do you believe offer the most potential for Company growth and why?
David Furstenberg
Broadcasting is one of the key sectors to benefit from NovelSat’s technology. The lack of bandwidth is limiting providers as to the amount of content they can distribute. At a cost of around $5,000 a month for just 1MHz, purchasing additional bandwidth is just not a feasible option. With NovelSat, providers can squeeze more out of the bandwidth they have and use the additional bandwidth we provide to distribute more channels, and this contributes directly to their profitability.
In addition to the benefits outlined above, DSNGs are able to get additional functionality such as the use of multiple cameras over the same bandwidth, the use of smaller satellite dishes and HPA, as well as reduction in manpower.
Novelsat’s technology also helps VOIP providers and ISPs to transmit more data reliably and provide connectivity to wider areas. We enable a cost-effective and reliable solution that ensures connectivity to remote or geographically challenging areas (where fiber cables are not a feasible option). Our technology is even making the use of satellites a viable option for disaster recovery.
SM
How is your Company coping with euro fluctuations?
David Furstenberg
The lack of stability of the euro represents a challenge for everyone. For us, an obvious solution would be to base our prices on the US dollar because our payrolls and production expenses are already in USD. Although we have no such plans for the time being, we may be forced to reconsider our position in the future.
SM
How will the European markets impact global, as well as your Company’s business opportunities?
David Furstenberg
Europe, like every other continent, is hungry for bandwidth. Since our technology provides a viable, cost effective solution to the critical problem of lack of bandwidth, we don’t anticipate an impact on our business opportunities.
SM
What obstacles do you see facing your Company in the European market? How do you plan on overcoming such challenges?
David Furstenberg
The initial obstacles of becoming the solution of choice and being recognised as the only “forwards-compatible” technology are behind us. The current economic challenges in many European countries can reduce or even stop any Capex investment. However, savvy CEOs and CFOs actually view the current climate as the best time to invest in solutions that optimize satellite bandwidth, either by decreasing the bandwidth required for the same amount of data transmitted or by using the same bandwidth to carry more information. A truly compelling ROI would make this an opportunity not to be missed.
We anticipate that the majority of our orders will come from the drive to improve efficiency. A recessionary economy is typically good for companies that deliver cost-saving solutions that can accelerate net profits. We believe that if you stand by your customers during troubled times, they will become trusted partners, especially once the economic climate changes. And it will change!
SM
What new technologies/products will your Company be working on and/or releasing over the next few months that will drive additional business in Europe?
David Furstenberg
At IBC, we will be introducing our NS-3000 Modem. It enables a 20 to 50 percent savings in bandwidth that essentially translates into millions of dollars in bandwidth savings and return on investment in a matter of weeks or months rather than years. We also believe 2013 will be an exciting time for NovelSat as we have a surprise or two coming up, which we will announce at a later date.
About the author
David is Co-Chairman of the Board for NovelSat. He has served as CEO at various telecom companies, as well as the VP of Sales Global at Audiocodes and the VP of Global Strategic Relationships at Comverse. David has launched several start-up firms in home networking, automated PC fixing, and image processing, and he is personally committed to the success of the Company’s NS3™ product family. These products include the world’s highest quality Modulators, Demodulators, Modems, and ASIC. NS3™ is capable of boosting capacity by up to 78 percent in a wide range of satellite applications including Video broadcasting, Data, cellular backhaul, VSAT, Government, and ASIC. NS3™ removes the tuner limitation on support of 72MHz wide transponders while providing the highest data rate in the industry.