PRESS RELEASE

SIXTEENTH TRIPARTITE MEETING AMONG INTERGOVERNMENTAL SATELLITE ORGANIZATIONS

The Sixteenth Tripartite Meeting of the Heads of the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (EUTELSAT IGO), the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) and the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO), took place on 4 December 2025 at EUTELSAT IGO Headquarters in Paris, France. Hosted by Mr Piotr Dmochowski-Lipski, Executive Secretary of EUTELSAT IGO, the meeting was attended by Mr Laurent Parenté, Director General of IMSO, and by Dr Renata Brazil-David, Director General of ITSO, who participated remotely.

During the meeting, the Heads of the three organisations reviewed their respective developments, challenges, and successes since their last encounter in November 2024 in Washington DC (USA).  Views were exchanged on the evolving satellite telecommunications sector, which comprises the rise of LEO constellations, the development of multi-orbit solutions and the generalised use of AI solutions in space. These developments have significantly restructured the competitive environment in which the satellite companies operate, accelerated the consolidation of the entire sector and contributed to a redefinition of the relationships between the companies and the international satellite organisations.

The discussions highlighted that, despite a shared historical background, a partially overlapping membership, and several converging interests, the three intergovernmental organisations remain institutionally distinct. The differences are not only related to their respective missions, which have been gradually adjusted to the recent changes faced by the companies they oversee, but also to the sources of their funding and the institutional levers at their disposal to ensure compliance with the international treaties that underpin their mandates.

Considering the international geopolitical context on the one hand and the differing global vs regional reach of each inter-governmental entity on the other, the three Heads agreed that despite these differences, strong synergies remained including their role vis-a-vis their Member States to safeguard the public interest of satellite connectivity and the need to continue to explore areas of cooperation in order to contribute to the advancement and growth of satellite technology in a sustainable manner.

The next Tripartite Meeting will take place in London, United Kingdom, at the invitation of IMSO during the second half of 2026.

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About EUTELSAT IGO
EUTELSAT IGO is the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization. Established by an international treaty, the intergovernmental organisation is headquartered in Paris and comprises 49 Member States. Its primary mission is to ensure that the company Eutelsat S.A. complies with the Basic Principles of the EUTELSAT Amended Convention. It also ensures continuity of the rights to use radiofrequencies and orbital locations which were assigned collectively to the Member States and the Organization by the International Telecommunication Union. EUTELSAT IGO is an active contributing member of the international telecommunications and space communities.
For more information, visit www.eutelsatigo.int

About IMSO
IMSO (The International Mobile Satellite Organization) is the intergovernmental organization which oversees certain public satellite safety and security communication services provided via the Inmarsat satellites and also co-ordinates the System for the Long-Range Identification and Tracking of ships (LRIT). IMSO is established under the provisions of the Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization which also defines the public services, such as satellite services for the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS), which is subject to international oversight. Headquartered in London, UK, IMSO currently has 98 Member States.
For more information, visit www.imso.org

About ITSO
ITSO is an intergovernmental organization with 149-member states, that incorporates the principle set forth in Resolution 1721 (XVI) of the General Assembly of the United Nations, which established that communication by means of satellite should be available to the nations of the world as soon as practicable on a global and non-discriminatory basis. Originally established in 1973 as INTELSAT, the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization was restructured in 2001. The restructuring led to the creation of a private entity, Intelsat S.A. and to the continuation of the intergovernmental organization with a new acronym (ITSO). ITSO’s mission is to monitor the performance of Intelsat’s public service obligations and to safeguard the Parties’ Common Heritage.
For more information, visit www.itso.int