An official release informs that the units represent key opportunities for growth in fixed satellite services and all are sectors in which Intelsat's market presence is substantial. The creation of these business units will help sharpen the company's marketing and customer service focus on these segments. It is also in alignment with senior management appointments announced last month.

The new units will report to Intelsat president and COO Ramu Potarazu. Intelsat Video Solutions, headed by Jon Romm will streamline all video operations at Intelsat, with the goals of accelerating response times to broadcasters and other video customers while continuing to provide them with high-quality customer service.

The new Video Solutions unit is identifying opportunities to grow Intelsat's video business across all regions around the world and introduce the latest video products and services to customers. A dedicated Video operations centre has also been created to manage all video customer bookings, inquiries and billing.

As president of the Data, Carrier and Internet business unit, John Stanton will concentrate on the strategic development of these key Intelsat customers, who comprise the largest customer base. The business unit will encompass Intelsat's regional sales teams and will focus on the changing needs of telecommunications companies around the globe.

Stanton and his global team, operating from 12 office locations around the world, will drive new solutions to current customers as well as those emerging in the marketplace.

Intelsat Government Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intelsat USA Sales Corporation will focus on maintaining and developing government customers located in North America and Europe. Susan Miller will serve as president of this unit.

Intelsat, which has been providing communications services to governments worldwide for decades, attributes approximately 10 per cent of its total revenue to this customer segment. Intelsat Government Solutions will continue to provide specialised and complete satellite-based solutions - bandwidth, infrastructure and networking to government agencies.

Explaining the rationale behind the organisational restructure Potarazu was quoted as saying: "By creating these new business units with in-house expertise in key growth segments, we will continue to diversify our product offerings and expect to increase shareholder value by visualising emerging customer needs and providing solutions that meet them."

In order to support the three new business units, a centralised strategy, business development and global marketing group, led by Amer Khouri, VP strategy and global marketing, has been created to drive Intelsat's corporate strategy.

By combining Intelsat's strategy, planning and marketing functions, the group will drive growth by focusing on new business and product development and all other elements comprising Intelsat's "go-to-market" strategies.