Manner has hit multiple milestones at EchoStar. She helped obtain all required regulatory approvals for JUPITER 3, the largest commercial communications satellite the company has built. She also dedicated time toward obtaining a resolution recognizing gender equality and equity for the Radiocommunications Sector of the International Telecommunications Union.
“It is critical that men and women are judged on similar criteria if there is to be the ability for more women to break through to the highest ranks of the public and private sectors.”
How do you believe convergence will change the industry? Increased technological convergence will likely be the key to the telecommunications industry growing beyond where it is today. While we have some convergence today—for instance, a mobile phone has cellular, GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities—this is just the beginning. With the inclusion of non-terrestrial technologies into the 5G standards at 3GPP and serious work beginning on 6G and the internet of the senses, we are moving to a world where anytime, anywhere capabilities will be available for every type of communication we require (e.g., voice, data, sensing). To be successful, this is going to require operators to work together and provide integrated products to users. This will likely mean that customer-facing Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) will be placed in a stronger position as the technology/telecom providers will have to work with the MNO to reach their customer base.
What often overlooked issue do you wish would get time on the 2024 presidential campaign trail? While brought up occasionally, few candidates focus on space and the issue of space sustainability. While almost all candidates support U.S. leadership in space, few, if any, recognize that space near Earth is not an infinite resource. With the U.S. in a leadership position, the candidates should include how to protect this valuable resource for the long run, how to share it with other nations, as well as how to ensure the protection of people and assets on Earth and in space as use continues to skyrocket. This is an issue that is going to be important for any candidate that is elected to office.
