How Much Do We Really Know About Satellites?
Michele Franci, Chief Technology Officer of Inmarsat
Space in all its infinity is sometimes bewildering to humans. But Space is also about satellite technology and communication, which we all use everyday! This year, Seedstars World has decided to include a Space Prize to its competition to reward the best startup that uses satellite technology in an innovative way. To help us in this mission, we have partnered with Inmarsat, the industry leader and pioneer of mobile satellite communications, who will award a USD 50K grant to the winning startup. We had a chat with Michele Franci, Chief Technology Officer of Inmarsat, who sheds some light on the more intricate aspects of satellites.
SSW: Space is a hot topic right now, why do you think people are suddenly so interested?
Michele Franci: I actually think that in terms of the general public, it’s really the Silicon Valley effect. Space has regularly been in the news these past 50 years, but it was always more related to scientific progress and rockets. There was some contextual background and the technology was there, but Space wasn’t branded like it is today. Thanks to Richard Branson, Elon Musk and others, Space has become the hot topic and, having worked in this field my whole life, I’m very pleased about this!
SSW: Why is Inmarsat interested in getting closer to the different startup ecosystems around the world?
Michele Franci: We have been toying with the idea of working with startups for a while now. Inmarsat has traditionally always been in the mobile communications industry (providing access in remote areas), and today, the world is all about individuals and systems connecting with one another, wherever they are. So it makes even more sense for us to work with the different startup communities, supporting innovation and business opportunities. Today, we have a new generation of mobile satellite communications infrastructure that is being introduced (the new Global Xpress satellite constellation) and we are building a toolkit platform that allows any developer to build applications based on our underlying technology.
With our infrastructure, entrepreneurs have endless opportunities to build new products and services; ones that connect people in a modern and innovative way. There are literally countless opportunities out there! This is why it is important for us to partner with Seedstars World, as we need to inform the various communities around the world of the opportunities linked to the new generation of communication satellites being launched.
SSW: What would you say is the most significant shift in the Space industry?
Michele Franci: The industry is currently witnessing the most important cultural shift. For a long time, the applications (such as direct-broadcast satellite television) were democratically distributed, but the basic infrastructure was very complicated to operate. It was a special group of people who were able to understand and work within this environment. Right now, thanks to technological advancements, we are making the satellite an internet node in the sky. From a developer perspective, it’s something that they all understand, it’s the same “language”. The complexity is hidden, so you no longer need to be a satellite engineer anymore to use it.
SSW: Satellites are often associated with high-tech, heavy R&D and deep pockets. How does Inmarsat plan on democratising this technology and breaking down commercial barriers?
Michele Franci: It is still very costly to develop space infrastructure and it is definitely not a garage startup! But when we designed the infrastructure for our new generation of satellites, a high priority was to ensure that it would be much easier and cheaper to build applications to run on it. We can look at it this way: Today, an iPhone is several hundreds of dollars, and still, it’s built and sold in millions. A few years ago, people would have thought that this was a crazy amount for a phone, but today, who doesn’t have a smartphone? I think there are almost as many smartphones as people right now! So the best way to lower the individual cost for us is to have the infrastructure shared amongst the broadest group of users. Our terminals are still built in thousands, not millions, but by extending the number of end users able and wishing to use our network, there is much economy of scale brought to bear which will drive down the cost of the equipment. And this is true for all businesses.
SSW: Is the Space industry gradually switching from B2B to B2C to get closer to the general public?
Michele Franci: It’s an interesting question because if you think about it, the general public has for a while now been exposed to Space but in an indirect way. Think of direct-broadcast satellite television, where many were already part of the Space community. However the application layer of Space is definitely going towards B2C, which is a very good thing, as it is the only way that we will really make a difference and have an impact on a global level.
Azimuth, one of the winning startups of Seedstars World Cape Town 2015
SSW: Do the technologies involved in making satellite-based communications differ depending on the industry? (i.e. aviation, maritime, etc.)
Michele Franci: The infrastructure is the same, however there are differences due to the certification and the operational environment. For example, ships will be exposed to much harsher environmental conditions so we will need to adjust our technology accordingly, whereas for planes, the certification is very complicated as everything you put on an aircraft needs to be tested, checked, etc.
SSW: The world is becoming a pervasive digital society. Is there an ethical limit to how much penetration satellites should be allowed to have?
Michele Franci: A lot of movies show satellites as being the “Big Brother” in the sky. The reality is that the Big Brother effect, if there is one, is more likely to come from the GSM networks than commercial communications satellites. It is relatively easy to track someone using their smartphone. I don’t think that commercial communications satellites fit into this category.
SSW: Do you have a satellite phone?
Michele Franci: Actually I don’t! We have some at the office here and we take them with us if we go to potentially remote places, like hiking in the mountains. But I don’t have a personal one.
SSW: And has it always been reliable?
Michele Franci: Oh yes, absolutely! But it’s the kind of thing that you don’t want to need to use! (laughs)
SSW: What is the last book that you read?
Michele Franci: The last book I read is by Modiano, who is a French author that won the Nobel prize in Literature last year. I spent a lot of time in Paris and it’s a really interesting way of writing.
SSW: Finally, in terms of management, how do you keep your team hungry and motivated?
Michele Franci: I overload them with work! (laughs) No, I mean I give them a lot to think about in terms of ideas and opportunities. So they’re all very stretched, which actually keeps them pretty motivated. I think that if you’re lucky enough to have a good team around you, which I have, it’s the best way to push your limits. The worst thing that can happen to you in the engineering world is boredom, so you have to keep it interesting!
Interview by Alisée de Tonnac
