Teletimes interviews ABS CEO, Mark Rigolle

Tell us a little bit about your experience at ABS since you joined in May 2024. Are there major highlights that you’d like to share?
It’s been a rewarding and transformative period since joining ABS. What stood out immediately was the team’s deep commitment to our partners and the agility embedded in the way we operate. Over the past year, we’ve sharpened our commercial focus, renewed our emphasis on flexibility and partner-specific solutions, and brought more structure to how we support growth markets—particularly in emerging regions.

A key highlight has been building stronger alignment across regions while laying the groundwork for our future Ka-band strategy. We’ve also explored new business models and strengthened partnerships that position us well for long-term growth. Internally, there’s been a clear push to simplify, focus, and execute with precision. There’s strong momentum across the business, and I’m proud of the progress the team continues to make.

What are some of the key markets and industries where ABS sees the most growth opportunities?
We see significant growth opportunities in the government and defense sector, particularly in the U.S., where demand for reliable, secure communications remains strong. Our GEO capabilities are well suited to this. We’re also seeing continued momentum in cellular backhaul for MNOs, especially in Africa and the Middle East, as well as in Southeast Asia through USO-driven programs. On the mobility front, maritime connectivity is a growing segment, especially with cruise lines upgrading their networks. Broadcast also remains a core market for us, particularly with the ABS-2A Northern beam serving video customers across Asia and beyond.

How is ABS adapting to the increasing demand for flexible and high-capacity satellite connectivity?
Partner expectations have changed—they want more control, scalability, and reliability. ABS is responding by offering more adaptable service models. From guaranteed SLAs to bandwidth-on-demand and portability across beams, we’ve made flexibility a priority. For applications requiring higher throughput or specific latency profiles, we’ve established partnerships that allow us to combine GEO strengths with NGSO capabilities. It’s not just about capacity; it’s about delivering the right solution for the partner’s needs.

The satellite industry is evolving with new technologies like software-defined satellites, HTS, LEO/MEO constellations, and 5G integration. How is ABS positioning itself in this rapidly changing landscape?
We’re keeping a focused but open mindset. At ABS, we’re prioritizing Ka-band HTS development and evaluating software-defined payloads to future-proof our capacity. We’re also looking at innovative deployment models like hosted payloads or condo-sats to expand capabilities cost-effectively. On the ground, we’re ensuring our infrastructure can integrate with 5G and interoperate within multi-orbit networks. Our view is that not every technology is the right fit for every operator, but selective adoption—aligned with market demand—is key to staying competitive.

With the rise of private space ventures, how do you see the traditional satellite business adapting?
Private ventures and LEO constellations have introduced more competition and added complexity to the market, but they’ve also helped expand opportunities. For ABS, it’s about staying focused on what we do well—delivering tailored, high-reliability services through strong relationships and the right partnerships. We view LEO and GEO as complementary, not mutually exclusive. The future is hybrid, and traditional operators like ABS are adapting by being more agile, more efficient and more collaborative. It’s less about the orbit—and more about the outcomes we deliver together.

How has the demand for satellite broadband and enterprise connectivity evolved post-pandemic?
The pandemic reshaped how businesses and governments think about connectivity. Satellite moved from being a backup option to a primary enabler in many cases. We saw rapid adoption in rural broadband, telehealth and enterprise networking. Those trends haven’t slowed. Today, satellite is an essential layer in many organizations’ connectivity strategy. At ABS, we’ve responded by scaling capacity and expanding our service models to ensure we meet that demand reliably and efficiently.

What’s your outlook on the future of the satellite communications industry in the next 5–10 years?
The next decade will be defined by convergence—between orbits, networks and technologies. Partner expectations will keep rising, driven by cloud, IoT and mobile use cases. There will likely be an oversupply of capacity, especially in certain regions, which will drive prices down and encourage more innovation. That’s good for end users. ABS will continue to evolve by investing in relevant technologies, expanding our partnerships and focusing on delivering scalable, flexible solutions that address real partner needs. We’re optimistic about where the industry is headed—and confident in ABS’s role within it.