SM
Please tell our readers about your Company’s business focus, and history within the various European market segments.
Newtec was founded 27 years ago in the heart of Europe by two engineers whose vision has produced a satcom company with more than 300 employees in five continents. Today, our team of specialists continue to set the standards by designing, developing and manufacturing the most efficient, most scalable and most economical technology in the industry. As a result, over two billion people watch TV thanks to Newtec equipment.
Newtec provides its customers with products and technologies for satellite applications such as; DTH satellite broadcast; video contribution and DSNG; IP trunking and backbone; satellite broadband access; SME & Enterprise VSAT systems; government application and more. Broadcasters, service providers, satellite operators and governmental organisations worldwide rely on the performance of our equipment such as Gateway Hubs and modems, modulators, frequency converters and network optimization software. With its strong relationship with the European Space Agency (ESA), Newtec remains in the forefront of technological development.
SM
What European SATCOM sectors do you believe offer the most potential for Company growth and why?
Thomas Van den Driessche
We continue to work closely with the broadcast industry in providing DTH, news and sport contribution and satellite distribution networks for DTT towers. The market penetration in the DTH segment is high, in part due to our strong OEM relationship with the major system houses that provide satellite based head-end solutions based on our modulation equipment. Closing the “digital divide” is still going on and Newtec’s Sat3Play® satellite broadband access solution is playing a key role in that ambition supporting growth for Newtec.
SM
What have been among your most successful projects for this market and why? What makes the European market segments so unique?
Thomas Van den Driessch
One particularly successful project has been providing the equipment for SES and the largest satellite broadband access network on the continent, SES Broadband. In France (and many other European countries) Newtec assisted the broadcast network operator TDF with the satellite implementation of the DTT network, which continues to remain a satisfying activity.
SM
The challenges are numerous for entry into, and for business sustainment within, this area of the world. What do you see as among the most formidable challenges to surmount?
Thomas Van den Driessche
In Europe, quality and sustainability are key. If we take an example from the DTH marketplace, we continue to come up with new functionality improving the application. Europe remains a multi-cultural and multil-lingual place where country presence and good customer support is highly appreciated.
SM
How will the European markets impact global, as well as your Company’s business opportunities?
Thomas Van den Driessche
I see Europe playing two mayor roles in the global market place: One role is Europe as the gateway to Africa and other emerging regions; and the second role is as an evangelist for innovation and design, spreading technology around the globe.
SM
How is your Company coping with the euro fluctuations?
Thomas Van den Driessche
As Newtec is very active in both the euro and dollar zones fluctuations in the currency do not necessarily affect the overall result. Obviously, the exchange rate is being closely monitored in order to provide the most competitive product offering.
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?
Thomas Van den Driessche
Newtec is announcing a brand new portfolio of modems (Newtec MDM2200, MDM3100 and MDM6000) that match the different speed and application requirements in the satellite industry. At IBC2012, Newtec will also launch a new high-speed modem, the Newtec MDM6000 Satellite Modem, which adds Wideband (for use on 72MHz transponders), new modulation and Forward Error Correction (FEC) codes up to 64 APSK, and combines the latest Newtec technologies (Clean Channel Technology™ (CCT), FlexACM®, Equalink®). By increasing the amount of data that can be transferred per transponder, the MDM6000 modem effectively increases business opportunities for service providers.
On the system gateway side a new release of the now commonly deployed Sat3Play Hub provides SME and Enterprise functionality and is gaining interest very fast in the B2B VSAT market in addition to its consumer broadband install base.
SM
What obstacles do you see facing your Company in the European market? How do you plan on overcoming such challenges?
Thomas Van den Driessche
As the focus on satellite communication is shifting from one market to the other, the sweetspots for Newtec shift as well. What we are good at today we may need to change tomorrow. Such keeps us innovating and close to the market.