About Us
The MSSA is a non-profit industry association that seeks to advance global mobile connectivity for Direct-to-Device (D2D) and IoT services. MSSA will bring significant scale and choice to promote and advance the emerging D2D ecosystem by utilizing over 100 MHz of L-band and S-band spectrum that is already allocated and licensed for mobile satellite services (MSS). This spectrum is well-suited for integration into a broad range of mobile devices, and enabling satellite connectivity into consumer mobile devices is a transformative opportunity for the satellite industry.
MSSA intends to align with 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards – and other applicable standards – to extend terrestrial mobile coverage globally for both Mobile Network Operator (MNO) and Over-the-Top (OTT) internet services.
Founding members Viasat, Terrestar Solutions, Ligado Networks, Omnispace and Yahsat are working alongside one another to recruit other key stakeholders to join this newly formed industry effort. MSSA members support a vision of integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial network (NTN) services to deliver scalable, sustainable and affordable connectivity to any device, anytime, anywhere.
MSSA Board
Mark Dankberg
MSSA Chairman of the Board
(CEO of Viasat, Inc.)
Mark is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Viasat, Inc. He co-founded the Company in 1986. Mark focuses on advancing the strategic technology and business direction of Viasat. He is responsible for the executive and operational leadership of the company, with an emphasis on building and growing a customer-centric organization that will continue to deliver compelling global services and products. Mark is an acknowledged industry expert in aerospace, defense, and satellite communications. He is the leading visionary for a new generation of high-capacity satellite systems. He has co-authored several military standards on satellite networking and holds several patents in communications and satellite networking technologies. He has participated on Department of Defense advisory panels and was invited to testify before a Congressional committee on high technology growth companies and IPOs.
Jacques Leduc
MSSA Board – Treasurer
(CEO of Terrestar Solutions)
Jacques was appointed President and CEO of Terrestar Solutions in 2020. He previously served as CFO, a position he held since co-founding the company in 2008. Jacques brings over 30 years of experience in the mobile satellite and mobile telecommunications industry in a variety of strategic, financial and operational roles. Throughout his lengthy career, he held several senior management positions in finance and taxation for influential Canadian and international firms. He also sat on the boards of numerous publicly held companies in the U.S. and Canada and served as chairman of several audit committees. A results-driven, innovative and diplomatic executive, Jacques is a seasoned negotiator, offering solutions with thoughtful strategy for optimal value creation paths.
John Janka
MSSA Board – Secretary
(Chief Officer, Global Government Affairs & Regulatory at Viasat, Inc)
John is the Chief Officer of Global Government Affairs & Regulatory at Viasat, Inc. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing a global team focused on strategic regulatory, licensing and transactional initiatives around global spectrum strategies, coordination and allocations; space safety and sustainability; and other critical international government and regulatory issues. John has been consistently recognized as a leading communications lawyer. Both Chambers USA and The Legal 500 US ranked John as a leading lawyer in the telecommunications, satellite and broadcast areas, noting his creativity, vast experience and reputation as one of the leading lawyers in the satellite industry. In 2017, John was inducted into The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame, which highlights individuals who have received “constant praise by their clients” and who are at the “pinnacle of their profession.”
Doug Smith
MSSA Board Member
(President and CEO of Ligado Networks)
Doug has led Ligado Networks as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2012 and brings over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry in a variety of strategic, technology and operational roles. He previously served as the Chief Network Officer at LightSquared from 2010-2012 and as Senior Vice President of Network Operations at Clearwire from 2008-2009. While in these roles, Doug managed the functional organizations responsible for 4G technology vendors, network deployment and network operations. From 1993 to 2007 he held various executive positions at Sprint, Nextel and GTE, serving in leadership roles that managed the deployment and operations of nationwide carrier networks that supported tens of millions of mobile customers.
Ram Viswanathan
MSSA Board Member
(President and CEO of Omnispace)
As President and CEO of Omnispace, Ram Viswanathan sets the strategic direction for the company that is redefining global, mobile connectivity. Ram brings decades of industry experience in the telecommunications and satellite industries to Omnispace, which is key to aligning the company’s vision to integrate satellite and mobile cellular networks into a one seamless connected experience. Prior to Omnispace, Ram pioneered the development of India’s satellite-terrestrial broadband internet and media services platform, Devas Multimedia. Previous work included leading Cidera’s strategic partnerships and business development, along with spearheading WorldSpace’s U.S. joint venture into XM Satellite Radio. Early in his career, Ram held positions in U.S. and European telecom and tech practice at McKinsey & Company, and in investment banking at Goldman Sachs & Company. Ram is also an advisor to Columbia Capital, Telcom Ventures and Adelphi Capital.
Ali Al Hashemi
MSSA Board Member
(Group Chief Executive Officer of Yahsat)
Ali Al Hashemi is Chief Executive Officer of the Yahsat Group, and previously served concurrently as General Manager of Yahsat Government Solutions (YGS) and CEO of Thuraya. He is Chairman of AMMROC and Vice Chairman of GAL – leading companies in aerospace and military aircraft MRO services – and a board member of the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC). Ali successfully led the Yahsat Group’s initial public offering (IPO) in 2021 and oversaw its listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). Yahsat’s share sale was the second largest-ever on the Abu Dhabi bourse. In 2023, he was appointed Vice Chair of the CEO-driven Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA), and Ali’s leadership and achievements have garnered widespread recognition: for example, he was selected by Forbes Middle East among the Top 100 CEOs of 2023 and recognized as a 2023 Sustainability Leader.
Frequently Asked Questions About MSSA
Why is there a need for an MSS-focused association?
This is a rapidly emerging market, and there is a significant need to:
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- Unite efforts to foster global support for MSS Spectrum Holder solutions.
- Accelerate market adoption and innovation.
- Provide a forum to coordinate and drive advocacy for space sustainability and regulatory goals of the MSS operators.
- Establish a neutral platform for working, code of conduct, and identifying viable technical solutions and processes.
- Create an open forum for jointly developing and coordinating 3GPP and other standards submissions and responses.
- Bring the industry together through the development of common technical standards and enhancement of regulatory frameworks
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What are the key goals of the MSSA?
MSSA is focused on achieving the following fundamental goals:
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- Unlocking interoperable architectures and standards for use in multi-orbit satellite systems, ground infrastructure, and end user equipment
- Enhancing seamless global roaming between terrestrial and multi-orbit satellite networks through the development of recommended specifications
- Achieving scale through improved coordination and cooperation mechanisms among MSS operators to maximize the utility of over 100 MHz of already available and licensed global MSS spectrum in nations desiring advanced NTN services
- Maximizing scarce multi-orbit space and spectrum resources and employing sustainable network design and operation to enable affordable advanced NTN services
- Advocating for policies, laws and regulations, including those related to rational, efficient, safe and sustainable uses of spectrum and orbits, and where appropriate, objective and quantitative metrics regarding all objects in orbit around Earth
- Providing a neutral forum for coordination of 3GPP NTN and other international standards activities
- Supporting the integration of space networks into national telecommunications infrastructure via trusted local partners and within sovereign regulatory and national security frameworks
- Supporting mechanisms for individual nations to participate in the new space economy via open standards and architectures, and via the space networks supported by MSSA
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Why is the formation of MSSA important for mobile customers?
MSSA aims to foster and create an environment where satellite connectivity is an integrated part of available consumer mobile services globally. Through alignment and commitment from non-terrestrial-network (NTN) providers, MSSA will advance Direct-to-Device capabilities and facilitate the evolution of seamless, integrated networks that will offer consumers affordable high-performance cellular-like services to any device, anytime, anywhere in the world.
Who can join the Mobile Satellite Services Association?
The MSSA will drive initiatives to foster D2D ecosystem support for MSS-based 3GPP services and support the objectives of all prospective MSSA members, including:
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- Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and MVNOs
- L- and S-Band Spectrum Rights Holders
- Mobile Phone Manufacturers
- Automotive OEMs
- Network Infrastructure Providers
- Satellite Operators
- Chipset Vendors
- Application Developers
- IoT Companies
- Government Stakeholders
- Test Equipment Vendors
- Standardization Bodies
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What is the expected outcome during the Association’s first phase?
MSSA embraces the power of satellites to help bridge the digital divide by becoming a truly integrated part of cellular communications. Initially, MSSA will create an open forum for collaborative development of technical specifications and best practices for terrestrial/satellite interoperability. On behalf of the MSS ecosystem, MSSA will also support important 5G-New Radio (NR)-NTN and NB-NTN initiatives including augmentation of current L- and S-band capabilities.
The Association embraces collaboration in developing space-based services in a sustainable and responsible manner through marketing initiatives, market awareness, advocacy, regulatory efforts, and standards coordination.
What is the process to join the Association?
How do I get more information?
Please email us at help@mss-association.org.