Mike Cook
Senior Vice President
Hughes Network Systems

Mike Cook is Senior Vice President of the North America Division at Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES).  Mr. Cook was responsible for the development and launch of the Hughes SPACEWAY™ 3 broadband satellite system, and is part of the executive team running the North America business with specific responsibility for sales and marketing across the enterprise, government, SME, and consumer markets.  Prior to moving to the United States, Mr. Cook was the leading member of the team that founded HOT Telecommunications Group—Europe's leading VSAT service provider and served as its Managing Director.  Initially a joint venture with Olivetti Telecommunications, HOT became a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes in September 1998. Mr. Cook was named Vice President of HNS Europe in April 1999.

Mr. Cook has more than 30 years’ experience in telecommunications, having worked previously for Cable & Wireless and Alcatel Business Systems.  At Alcatel, he held a variety of roles including Director of Business Development, in which he was responsible for the initial introduction of Alcatel telecommunication products into the UK.  During his last two years with Alcatel, Mr. Cook was Director of the Data Systems Division.

Mr. Cook has taken an active role in the development of the VSAT industry. He represented Hughes Network Systems as a founding member of the Global VSAT Forum and served as a Director of the Forum. He has long been a leading advocate for the development and deployment of broadband satellite systems and has contributed as an industry representative in proceedings, both in the UK House of Commons and in the US Congress.

Mr. Cook holds a first-class B.S. (Honors) degree in mathematics from Exeter University.

Speaker: General Session - IP via Satellite: What Every Telecom Company Should Know