Main GVF training catalog

On 4 June, 1997, leading members of the VSAT business arranged a meeting in London, where they agreed that the industry had been fragmented for too long and that a unified voice - a non-profit, international association - was needed globally to represent the interests of VSAT system and service providers, as well as end users. The promotion of the technology and the services it supports was also seen as an important role for the industry's new organisation.

On 31 March, 1998, the Global VSAT Forum was officially launched during an International VSAT Congress held in Rome, Italy, where the association's first permanent General Secretary, David Hartshorn, was introduced to the Membership.

Since then, the GVF has grown into the single and unified voice of the global satellite communications industry.  It brings together organisations engaged in the delivery of advanced broadband and narrowband satellite services to consumers, and commercial and government enterprises worldwide.

Headquartered in London, with a regional office in Washington DC and global affiliates, the GVF is an independent, non-partisan and non-profit organisation with 230+ members from more than 100 countries.  The broad-based membership represents every major world region and every sector of the satellite industry, including fixed and mobile satellite operators, satellite network operators, teleports, satellite earth station manufacturers, system integrators, value added and enhanced service providers, telecom carriers, consultants, law firms, and users.