The
Mitsubishi Monitor talks with Masuyuki Annen,
President of Space Communications, about the implications
for the telecommunications and broadcasting services
provided by his company via its four SUPERBIRD geostationary
satellites. We learned that telecommunications and
broadcasting are converging under the shift to digital
technology, which is now poised to transform the
mainstream broadcasting sector.
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In Japan, terrestrial
digital broadcasting is being phased in between
December 2003 and July 2011. What is your strategy
to win the race in this new arena? |
I believe that telecommunications
will shift increasingly to the use of the Internet
protocol. The key to our growth is to adapt to this
environment and move into the Internet world. The
satellite industry has been a little slow in this
area, but our strength in wireless technology means
that we are suited to mobile services. Our first priority
is the creation of attractive platforms that allow
us to turn this advantage into company growth. If
we can create exciting platforms that everyone will
want to use, we can win.
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What do you mean
by “platforms”? |
Take our HitPops service as an
example. To avoid congestion on the terrestrial Internet
lines, broadband ISPs, such as CATV- and ADSL-based
providers, rely on SUPERBIRD satellites to transfer
high-volume data streams, including live concerts
and sports events, directly to the ISP—whereupon
the ISP delivers the content on its high-speed lines
to its customers' PCs.
Let's take another example. Last summer,
Boeing chose us for the Connexion by BoeingSM
(CbB) service, which will provide in-flight Internet
access services to airline passengers. CbB is the
platform that connects the planes to the terrestrial
Internet during the flight. The system will also improve
airline operational efficiency and enhance safety
by transferring aircraft operational data. We will
lease a transponder from a SUPERBIRD satellite to
CbB to cover the Asia-Pacific region and establish
and operate a gateway (ground station) to provide
a link between passengers on board and the terrestrial-based
Internet network. The service will be seen first on
Asia-Europe routes this May.
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So, the CbB is
a significant new platform for you? |
Yes, this order represents a major
step forward. Though we will function as a doorkeeper
in relation to the gateway, the expansion of access
means we will be able to move into terrestrial networks.
I want to use this wired/wireless hybrid to expand
and enhance our role as part of the information hub.
I believe that there is also a strong need for a similar
service on ships.
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What are your
other priorities? |
About one-third of our resources
go to the maintenance of service quality. Corporate
customers are reluctant to entrust their content to
platforms that lack effective security systems. Last
November, our satellite control operations were certified
under the Japanese Information Security Management
System, and under the British BS7799 certification
system, which is the de facto world standard
for information security. Thanks to the hard work
by all of our staff, we were the first in the world
to gain BS7799 certification for satellite control
operations. The efforts paid off when Boeing evaluated
our security. The process went extremely smoothly.
We now aim to obtain certification for all of our
operations.
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What is the key
element for survival under the changes in the
telecommunications and broadcasting industries? |
It is necessary to think globally.
There is a limit to what we can achieve just in the
Japanese market. Companies in Japan have to supply
world-class content to the rest of the world. We will
supply the platforms through which that content will
be distributed overseas.
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Every company
has a dream. What is yours? |
To be frank, our people all share
a deep love of the stars. Our momentum will continue
to carry us outward as we help to develop the full
potential of outer space.
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What is the relationship
of the Mitsubishi companies to Space Communications |
Our only shareholders are 28 Mitsubishi
companies. Our company is a product of the centripetal
force of the Mitsubishi spirit, and without that vision
and support we would not have survived and grown to
the point where non-consolidated earnings have been
positive for eight consecutive years. My mission is
to repay the support that we received from the Mitsubishi
companies by providing them with returns on investment. |
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