GovSat is a public-private joint venture between the Luxembourg government and SES, the world-leading satellite operator. Our mission is to provide secure, reliable and accessible satellite communication services for governments – addressing the demand for connectivity resulting from defence and civilian security applications. Dedicated entirely to governmental and institutional users, the GovSat-1 satellite features high-powered fully-steerable spot beams and an X-band Global beam. It is equipped with anti-jamming features, encrypted telemetry and control, and uses assured frequencies. This enables an array of applications such as connectivity for theatres of operation, interconnection of institutional or defence sites, border control, ISR, as well as various types of communications for air, land and maritime missions.
The GovSat-1 spacecraft was successfully launched into space on January 31, 2018 on board a flight-proven SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 04:25 PM EST from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The satellite entered operational service on March 19, 2018 and is now operated from Secure Mission Operations Centre in Luxembourg. Among the recent users of GovSat-1, can be counted the Belgian Ministry of Defence, using its connectivity, in support of the Belgian Navy's Godetia command ship missions. NATO were also among the first users, in particular NSPA. Indeed, GovSat supports missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Mali, as well as NATO Allied Command Operations in other Middle-East operations.
GovSat announced the signature of a long term commercial SATCOM contract to support the operational phase of NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS). Overall, the satellite is devised to provide services to NATO countries and its allies, and is available to be used by the UN, EU and other international organisations and institutions. The satellite capacity and services are leased on commercial business terms, on a full or fractional transponder basis (MHz) or platform services (Mbps).
Patrick Biewer was appointed Chief Executive Officer of GovSat, after spending 22 years at SES and holding different positions in the areas of Management, IT, Operations and Engineering. The appointment of Juergen Espanion as Chief Technical Officer and Paul Wells as Chief Commercial Officer followed shortly after.
The new satellite was ordered to Orbital ATK, which designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation systems for customers around the world, both as a prime contractor and merchant supplier. The launch agreement was signed with SpaceX, using the Falcon 9 rocket.
SES and the Luxembourg Government announced their plan to launch a dedicated satellite for governmental use, through the creation of a Luxembourg-based company, which would own and operate the new spacecraft. GovSat was born.
The Luxembourg Government and SES each invested EUR 50 million into GovSat, which also received an additional EUR 125 million bank loan from a consortium of Luxembourg banks to finance the satellite's procurement and launch.
Paul Wells is the Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of GovSat. Taking on the role in September 2016 he is responsible for working closely with our customers to develop offerings that match their needs using GovSat-1. Before joining GovSat he worked for QinetiQ where he created, developed and grew several highly successful businesses in the Communications, Security and ISR domains for Defence, Security and Commercial customers. Paul also spent time working in Government on creating and delivering highly challenging technical programmes into operational use. He has over 34 years of experience in secure satcoms for Defence and Security applications.
Jürgen Espanion is the Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of GovSat. Taking on this role in February 2016, he is responsible for the secure operation of all GovSat services, as well as the development of governmental and institutional products and services. Before starting with GovSat, he worked in various positions at SES. Jürgen has more than 27 years of experience in the satellite communications industry, during which he has held various positions in the engineering, operations, business development and sales departments for a variety of international corporations.
Patrick Biewer is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GovSat. He reports directly to the GovSat Board of Directors, and is in charge of all GovSat business activities, building customer relationships with international institutions such as the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Patrick has held a number of executive positions since he joined SES in 1993, including Managing Director of SES Broadband Services (SBBS). He is a Luxembourg national, and was educated in France and the UK. He holds a Master's Degree in Telecommunications from Université de Nancy and an MBA from the Open University.