TITLE: Resilient Connectivity via Satellite: Crisis Requirements and Regulatory Complexities   

This two-part workshop brings together operational insight and strategic foresight, exploring both the practical realities of emergency communications on the ground and the regulatory landscape shaping the existing and future of satellite services. 

Session I: Emergency Communications – Ground Realities 

Effective emergency communications save lives, but deploying them in crisis environments is rarely straightforward. This session takes a ground-level approach, unpacking the operational steps required to establish communications during disasters and examining the real-world administrative, regulatory, and logistical blockages encountered by countries. 

Participants will explore: 

• The practical steps in deploying emergency communications infrastructure 

• Common barriers: licensing delays, customs bottlenecks, spectrum access challenges, and coordination gaps.   

• Case-based reflections on national experiences 

• Why the Tampere Convention matters and how its implementation can remove critical obstacles 

The session will provide both technical and policy perspectives, highlighting how streamlined frameworks and preparedness can dramatically improve response time and effectiveness. 

Session II: Satellite Frameworks – Opportunities & Emerging Complexities

The second session turns toward the future, focusing on regulatory frameworks, licensing considerations and the increasingly complex satellite landscape. 

Key themes include: 

• Evolving satellite regulatory frameworks 

• Satellite licensing challenges 

• The growing intersection of satellite, terrestrial networks, and emerging technologies 

This session will equip participants with a clearer understanding of the rapidly evolving satellite ecosystem, where regulatory frameworks, licensing models, and technological convergence are increasingly interconnected.  

Together, these sessions will provide a comprehensive look at both immediate operational challenges in emergency communications and the longer-term strategic decisions that will shape global connectivity. 

TARGET AUDIENCE  

The workshop is designed for a multi-stakeholder, policy–technical audience involved in telecommunications, emergency response and spectrum governance. Based on the content and objectives, the target audience comprises the CTU and GSOA members and stakeholders who would derive the most direct value, including:  

1. Government Policymakers & Regulators  

• Ministries responsible for ICT, telecommunications and national security  

• National Telecommunications Regulatory Authorities  

• Spectrum management authorities  

• Officials involved in World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) preparations  

2. Emergency Management & Disaster Response Agencies  

• National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs)  

• Regional Disaster Management Agencies 

• Emergency response coordinators  

3. Technical Experts & Engineers  

• Telecommunications engineers (public and private sector)  

• Network operators and infrastructure specialists  

• Satellite communications engineers  

4. Satellite & Telecommunications Industry Stakeholders  

• Satellite operators (GSO and NGSO)  

• Mobile network operators (MNOs)  

• Internet service providers (ISPs)  

• Equipment vendors and service providers  

5. Regional & International Organisations    

• Entities such as the ITU and World Food Programme  

• Regional bodies (e.g. CDEMA) 

• Development partners and donors  

6. Legal & Policy Advisors  

• Experts in telecommunications law  

• Advisors working on international treaties (e.g. Tampere Convention)  

7. Academia & Research Institutions  

• Universities and research centres in ICT, disaster resilience and space policy.  

The workshop targets mid- to senior-level professionals across government, regulatory bodies, emergency response agencies and the telecommunications and satellite industry, with a focus on those involved in both operational deployment of emergency communications and strategic spectrum and satellite policy development.  

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CTU-GSOA-CDEMA SATELLITE CONNECTIVITY WORKSHOP

Resilient Connectivity via Satellite: Crisis Requirements and Regulatory Complexities 

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TUESDAY 19TH MAY 2026
Time	Item	Representative
09:00	Welcome and Opening Remarks	Mr. Rodney Taylor Secretary-General, CTU Ms. Isabelle Mauro Director General, GSOA
Session I: Emergency Communications – Ground Realities This session takes a ground-level approach, unpacking the operational steps required to establish communications during disasters and examining the real-world administrative, regulatory, and logistical blockages encountered by countries.
9:10	Presentations: Emergency Telecommunications: Saving Lives & Interactive Working Segment: ·        The practical steps in deploying emergency communications infrastructure ·        Common barriers: licensing delays, equipment clearance bottlenecks, spectrum access challenges, and coordination gaps. ·        Case-based reflections on national experiences ·        Why the Tampere Convention matters and how its implementation can remove critical obstacles.	Facilitator: Mr. Tariq Mohammed, CTU Consultant   Mr. Courtney King, Senior Programme Officer, CDEMA Ms. Lena Bock, Head of TEC/Regional ETC Coordinator, Technology Division World Food Programme Ms. Maritza Delgado, Programme Officer, BDT/DNE/ Climate Change and Emergency Telecommunication Division, ITU Lessons learned conversation: Mr. Ryan Johnson, Sr. Director, Global Government and Regulatory Affairs, Viasat Mr. Alejandro Jordan, Hispasat
Session II: Satellite Frameworks- Opportunities & Emerging Complexities This second session turns toward the future, focusing on regulatory frameworks, licensing considerations, and the increasingly complex satellite landscape.
10:35	Presentation: Satellite Licensing Best Practices	Ms. Natalia Vicente, GSOA Mr. Allan Ruiz, Eutelsat Ms. Michelle Caldeira, SES Mr. David Tejeda, AST Space Mobile Ms. Madi Lottenbach, Amazon
11:05	Presentation: Satellite Licensing Best Practices &Interactive Working Segment: ·        Evolving satellite regulatory frameworks ·        Satellite licensing challenges ·        The growing intersection of satellite, terrestrial networks, and emerging technologies	Facilitator: Natalia Vicente, VP Public Affairs, GSOA   Lessons learned conversation: Dr. Maria Myers Hamilton , JP Managing Director Spectrum  Management Authority, Jamaica Mr. Richard Womersley, Spectrum Manager, Utility Regulation and Competition Office, Cayman Islands Mr. Conrad Toby Manager, Spectrum Planning and Broadcasting, Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
11:45	Next Steps and Wrap Up	Tariq & Natalia
12:00	END OF CTU-GSOA SATELLITE CONNECTIVITY WORKSHOP

OPEN IN NEW WINDOW

1
Lena Bock	Regional ETC Overview and Partner Coordination
Courtney King	CTU GSOA Virtual Workshop Emergency Communications Ground Realities
Richard Womersley	Cayman Islands Licensing Framework

Head of TEC Unit/Regional ETC Coordinator, World Food Programme Lena Bock Lena BOCK is a Business Transformation Officer with the World Food Programme (WFP), based in Bridgetown, Barbados. She serves as Head of Technology (TEC) for WFP’s Caribbean Multi‑Country Office and acts as Regional Coordinator for the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC), supporting governments and partners across the Caribbean in strengthening emergency communications preparedness and response. Lena leads regional initiatives on emergency ICT readiness, and satellite‑enabled connectivity, working closely with humanitarian partners, private‑sector providers, and national disaster management agencies. Her work focuses on translating technology into practical, scalable solutions for crisis contexts, ensuring business continuity. She brings a strong operational perspective to discussions on satellite services, partnerships, and preparedness for humanitarian and disaster response environments

Senior Program Officer - Telecommunications - Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency Courtney King Courtney King is the Senior Programme Officer for Emergency Telecommunications at CDEMA, leading regional efforts to strengthen interoperable communications across 21 Participating States. A 26‑year veteran of the Barbados Defence Force, he was seconded to CDEMA as Communications Officer before joining the agency full‑time in 2019. Mr King is the coordinator of the annual Exercise RegionRap, testing RF, satellite, IP‑based, and uncrewed aerial systems. He led emergency telecom responses to Hurricane Beryl (SVG, 2024) and Hurricane Melissa (Jamaica, 2025). He contributed strategically to the CDEMA Regional Emergency Telecommunications Strategy and Plan, the Regional Resilient Mobile Communications System, and the establishment of the CARICOM Emergency Telecommunications Team (CETT). He also conceptualised the UAS4CDM Programme, standardising drone operations across the region. His recent qualifications include Barrett installations, GSMA Spectrum Management and Non‑Terrestrial Networks, TESS+ Satellite D2D, Satellite PTT, and UN Security Communications System Power Backup Systems. He is a licensed Amateur Radio Operator and a Level 1 Drone Pilot.

Chief Executive Officer - National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission ( NTRC) - Grenada Timothy Scott Timothy Scott is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) of Grenada, bringing over 18 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. He began his career at the NTRC in 2007 as a Telecommunications Engineer, where he played a key role in several national telecommunications and ICT initiatives, including the coordination of emergency telecommunications systems and services. Mr. Scott holds academic qualifications in Telecommunications and Electronic Engineering, as well as a Master of Business Administration in International Business (MBA/IB). In addition to his role as CEO, he serves as Chair of the National Emergency Telecommunications Committee in Grenada, where he is responsible for coordinating the availability and resilience of telecommunications resources during disasters and national emergencies. He also served as Grenada’s focal point to the International Telecommunication Union (2007–2022) and the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission on matters relating to spectrum management, telecommunications policy, and the advancement of national ICT initiatives.   Regionally, Mr. Scott contributes to spectrum management development as Vice Chair of the Caribbean Spectrum Management Task Force, supporting collaborative efforts to strengthen spectrum governance, enhance regional coordination, and advance ICT initiatives that promote digital transformation across the Caribbean.

Sr. Lead, Licensing & Regulatory Affairs, Amazon Leo Madeleine “Madi” Lottenbach Madeleine “Madi” Lottenbach is Senior Lead, Licensing and Regulatory Affairs for Amazon Leo — Amazon’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system built to deliver fast, reliable internet to customers and communities beyond the reach of existing networks.  In this role, Madi engages with regulatory authorities and policymakers worldwide to shape frameworks that enable satellite broadband deployment and advance Amazon Leo’s mission of connecting unserved and underserved communities. Prior to joining Amazon, Madi was a Partner at Wiley providing counsel to clients in the tech and telecom sectors.  Madi earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and B.A. in International Affairs and Political Science from the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University.  She lives in Falls Church, VA with her husband Claudio and daughters Gabriella (age 6) and Silvia (age 4).

Senior Legal & Regulatory Counsel, SES Michelle Caldeira Michelle Caldeira has over 20 years of experience in the satellite and telecommunication sectors. She has been the Senior Legal & Regulatory Counsel at SES since 2015.  Ms. Caldeira manages government-related activities in Brazil, Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on spectrum, regulatory, and policy matters. She holds a Master’s degree in Law from the Public Law Institute (IDP-SP), a post-graduate degree in Business Management and Business Law from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).

Director General, GSOA Isabelle Mauro Isabelle Mauro is Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA) that represents the interests of the satellite industry ecosystem. Under Isabelle’s leadership, GSOA and its member CEOs lead the effort to showcase the benefits of satellite communications for a more inclusive, sustainable and secure society – vital to bridging the world’s digital divide, achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and realizing the full potential of the 5G & 6G ecosystem. Isabelle has 25 years’ experience in the Telecoms and Technology sector, starting at the GSMA, where she was responsible for International & External Affairs for fifteen years. In 2015 she moved to New York to join the World Economic Forum as Head of the Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Industry. Isabelle is passionate about inclusion and sustainability. She is a Commissioner of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. She also sits on the Advisory Board of Women in Tech.

VP Public Affairs, GSOA Natalia Vicente Natalia Vicente is Vice President of Public Affairs at GSOA, where she works closely with the Director General and the CEOs of GSOA Member companies to drive forward high-level advocacy for the satellite communications sector. Specifically, Natalia focusses on the Development Agenda working with international organisations to ensure nation states benefit from the value of leveraging available satellite communications services to bridge digital, education and health divides. Natalia has over a decade of experience in the digital sector, focusing on public policy, government relations and building international partnerships. Natalia is a qualified lawyer with an LLM from the University Autonoma of Madrid and holds a Master of Business Administration specialised in Marketing. She is a Spanish national, lives in Brussels and speaks 5 languages.

Senior Manager, Latin America and Caribbean Regulatory Affairs and International Strategy, AST Spacemobile David Tejeda Méndez Telecommunications Engineer with a Master’s Degree in Telecommunications Regulation and Economic Competition, with experience in the administration, planning and optimization of the radio spectrum, as well as in the granting and management of concessions in the telecommunications sector. Expert in the design and implementation of regulatory and technical strategies for the efficient use of spectrum and orbital resources. Noted for his participation in international forums such as the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-R), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), leading negotiations and developing key recommendations on telecommunications issues.

Programme Officer, BDT/DNE/CET, International Telecommunication Union Maritza Delgado Maritza Delgado is a Programme Officer in the Climate Change and Emergency Telecommunications Division of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT). As an international expert in emergency telecommunications, she supports countries in leveraging digital technologies to strengthen disaster risk reduction, response, and resilience. Her work includes the development and implementation of National Emergency Telecommunications Plans, early warning systems as well as the promotion of enabling regulatory, policy, and legal frameworks. She also contributes to key projects, guidelines, and reports that integrate digital innovation into national disaster preparedness and response strategies. Maritza leads the ITU Response Programme, which provides support to countries in the immediate aftermath of disasters. She holds a university degree in Electronic Engineering and Telecommunications and brings over 25 years of experience in disaster management.