Speaker: Executive Roundtable: GEO Services Five-Year Forecast

Marcus Vilaça is the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Yahsat, the UAE based satellite communications company.
He joined Yahsat in April 2014 and his background includes over 35 years of experience in the satellite industry, and hands-on experience in the design of satellite communications systems for Embratel, SES and Inmarsat. He has experience in all aspects of satellite communications systems engineering, and has designed satellite systems for Fixed, Broadcast and Mobile applications, operating at L, S, C, Ku and Ka band.
Yahsat’s Technology Department includes the Engineering, Satellite Operations, Network Services, Network Operation, Product Development & IT divisions. Marcus leads the forward looking technology efforts within the company, and helps shaping Yahsat’s technology strategy. Since August 2018, Marcus has taken over the role of Thuraya CTO, and has been working on the integration of the Technology Department of the two companies.
His previous accomplishments include the conception, design and specification of the Inmarsat 4/BGAN and the Inmarsat 5/GX systems, and the technical lead in the negotiation of the Co-operation Agreement between Inmarsat and Ligado. Earlier in his career he was a key member of the Astra 1A/1B and Brasilsat A1/A2 teams.
Marcus received the MacRobert Award, from the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2010, and the Innovators Award, from the Mobile Satellite Users Association in 2008. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the IET, and a Chartered Engineer of the British Engineering Council.
He holds a BSc degree (First Class) in telecommunications engineering from Federal Fluminense University of Rio de Janeiro, an MSc degree in telecommunications systems from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and a Post Graduate degree in Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.