Our Space Café “33 minutes with Markus Fritz ” about Mobility and Space – is Europe too late to win the Race? took place on Tuesday, 31 January 2023.
Markus Fritz is the owner and Managing Director of ADVISORIO, a boutique management consulting firm specializing in go-to-market and top-line growth strategy, business and market development, sales, marketing, product launch, and lifecycle management, M&A, and strategic partnerships, business platform, and eco-system building and orchestration. ADVISORIO is working as Senior Advisor for leading industry players from different industries including Satellite Communication, Telecom, Automotive, and Mobility as well as Governmental Agencies and Institutions. Markus Fritz has over 25 years of international management experience in the satellite, ICT, video, data, and consumer electronics industries. He has worked for over 20 years in leading positions in the satellite industry at SES Astra, Arabsat, and Eutelsat. His mandates always included strategic management roles, including P&L responsibilities such as Managing Director for DACH region and Italy, SVP for Commercial Strategy, Marketing & Strategic Development EMEA, Regional VP for Africa, Global EVP for Commercial Strategy, Marketing, Market Development & Strategic Partnerships. In addition, he held leading roles at the Executive Board Level of ZVEI, the Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association, Board member of EU Brazil, Ambassador of SAMENA Council, UAE, and was also Vice President of the Board and Director General of Digital Europe, an association representing the digital technology industry and was a driving force behind different technology standardization and interoperability initiatives in the ICT and broadcast industry.
In the first part of the conversation, the two discussed the current state of the satellite industry and the challenges it faces. Fritz explained that the industry is in the midst of a transformation and is facing many challenges, such as the cost of launching satellites and the competition between traditional satellite companies and new players entering the market.
Further, they discussed the importance of connectivity in various industries, particularly in the automotive industry. Fritz said that as cars become increasingly connected, access to connectivity will become a critical success factor for the industry. He also mentioned that the automotive industry is currently facing two philosophies in terms of how to manage the connectivity of cars, either by creating a private cloud in the car or using cloud intelligence from the back end.
The third part of the conversation focused on the role of satellites in providing connectivity. They discussed the various benefits of using satellites to provide connectivity, including the ability to reach remote areas and the potential for reducing latency. Fritz also explained that while satellites are an important part of the overall connectivity solution, they need to be combined with other technologies, such as low Earth orbit (Leo) satellites and 5G to provide a complete solution.
Next, they discussed the importance of spectrum and whether there is enough spectrum to support the growing demand for connectivity. He explained that while there is some spectrum available, it is not always easy to access and may require significant investment and development to make it usable. Fritz also discussed the importance of edge computing and cloud computing in the satellite industry and the challenge of balancing regulatory compliance with the need to be closer to where the data is needed.
Finally, in the last part of the conversation, the two discussed the future of the satellite industry and the potential for growth. Fritz explained that the industry is undergoing a significant transformation and that there are many opportunities for growth, particularly in the areas of providing connectivity and edge computing. However, he also warned that the industry will face challenges such as regulation and competition and that companies need to be prepared to adapt and evolve to succeed in the future.
In conclusion, the conversation provided valuable insights into the current state of the satellite industry and its future. The discussion highlighted the importance of connectivity in various industries, the role of satellites in providing connectivity, the challenges associated with accessing spectrum, and the potential for growth in the industry. The conversation serves as a reminder that the satellite industry is undergoing a significant transformation and that companies need to be prepared to adapt and evolve to succeed in the future.
To listen to the Space Café WebTalk’s insights, you can watch the full program here:
