SatMagazine (SM)
Please tell our readers about your Company’s business focus, and history, within the various European market segments.
MITEQ develops and manufactures a broad range of microwave equipment for satellite Earth stations. We supply almost every microwave component from the output of the modem to the input of the antenna. In addition to our state-of-the-art upconverters and downconverters in every standard and many non-standard frequencies we supply beacon receivers, uplink power controllers, low-noise amplifiers, solid state and TWT based high power amplifiers, and test translators as standard equipment.
MITEQ also develops and supplies the industry with a broad range of non-standard microwave equipment to help our customers offer systems out of the ordinary and cutting edge. Our equipment is available with coaxial, waveguide, and fiber optic interfaces to optimize the connectivity and overall performance. Europe is MITEQ’s largest export market and our European customers are critical to expanding our product line through their requirements for new and innovative technologies.
SM
What European SATCOM sectors do you believe offer the most potential for Company growth and why?
Howard Hausman
The demand for wireless ubiquitous Internet connectivity is increasing with no near term limit. To satisfy this demand the satellite industry has turned to using the Ka-band allocated frequency range which has much higher capacity than the previously used spectrum at lower frequencies.
Every satellite provider has assets in Ka-band or is thinking about having assets in Ka-band, to keep up with, or go ahead of, their competition. MITEQ’s vast engineering resources designs microwave components that give the customer the ability to optimize their Ka-band spectrum and deliver the most efficient quantity and the highest quality of data.
SM
How is your Company coping with the euro fluctuations?
Howard Hausman
The fluctuations of the euro in the downward direction have put pricing pressures on our products, but MITEQ technology and quality continue to be valued highly and have, therefore, mitigated most of these effects. We thoroughly understand that our customers have to evaluate all aspects when they acquire equipment so we continue to upgrade our technology adding value that weighs their decision in our favor.
So far, MITEQ is fairing well during these turbulent times because we focus on our customer’s needs, which help make our customer’s projects successful. MITEQ maintains cautious optimism that we will continue to grow in the satellite communications sector.
SM
How will the European markets impact global, as well as your Company’s business opportunities?
Howard Hausman
The European community is MITEQ’s largest market outside the United States and is, therefore, critical to our growth. The need for communications is increasing in Europe as well as the rest of the world. European satellite companies are major players in providing the world’s connectivity and we are happy to be partners in providing that service. We believe Europe’s communications infrastructure will continue to grow and we are prepared to make sure that we have products available that will help that growth.
SM
What obstacles do you see facing your Company in the European market? How do you plan on overcoming such challenges?
Howard Hausman
Foreign markets are filled with obstacles such as ITAR regulations, local competition, fluctuation of currency, local economic conditions, and so on. We have been successfully dealing with issues for many years but none as difficult as the present. All U.S. companies need government understanding and support to increase international trade.
MITEQ overcomes these challenges now as we have done in the past, by delivering better products that are cost effective. Technology is the key to growth, we always look to improve our products and provide our customers with greater overall value.
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?
Howard Hausman
MITEQ is increasing our breadth of products in Ka-band. We are making them more agile and therefore easier to adapt to changing customer requirements, improving the frequency response characteristics resulting in lower Bit Error Rates (increasing throughput), and increasing the available power allowing for higher data rate carriers. We are also increasing our capabilities in Q- and V-band in preparation for the next generation of satellite communication systems.
About the author
Howard Hausman directs the four divisions of the corporation, Microwave Electronics Components and Systems, Microwave Amplifiers, Satellite Communication Systems, and Microwave High Power Amplifiers. Reporting to Mr. Hausman are corporate finances, corporate services, quality assurance, operations and marketing.