Stefano Agnelli is Director of European Institutional Affairs at Eutelsat, one of the world's leading satellite operators based in Paris. Previously he has held various technical and commercial positions within the company. Currently he promotes the role of satellite services in advocacy towards policymakers and other stakeholders within the ICT arena.

Previously Stefano worked in Italy with Telettra (now Nokia), FIAR (now Finmeccanica) and CEFRIEL.

Holding a degree with honours in Telecommunications from the Polytechnic of Milan and an Executive Masters from the IAE Paris-Sorbonne Graduate Business School, Stefano Agnelli has thirty-two years international experience in telecommunications.

The European Commission recognises that satellites can provide cost-effective solutions as part of future 5G networks, in particular to connect assets and people in remote and offshore areas, where numerous applications and services using space data will also require uninterrupted connectivity.

Satcom-based services have some key characteristics, such as ubiquity, mobility, cost-effectiveness and scalability, quick deployment, predictable QoS, reliability and resilience, which can improve business performance and be critical for 5G success. In other words, incorporating satellite-based solutions into 5G networks where they will make a difference contributes to creating a reliable and ubiquitous system that is highly secure and cost-effective.

In order to ensure that the full potential of the satcom contribution is exploited, satcom systems need to be integrated as plug-and-play solutions in the 5G end-to-end system and in the general service offer.

The credibility of satellite operators as partners in enhanced integrated services and as reliable sources of technology support deserves some effort in trials, R&D and standardisation, namely to integrate satcom systems into a common network management system and to adapt protocols and functions extensions to take into account satcom capabilities and requirements.