The 2nd Global SatShow presented five satellite industry awards on the final day of the annual exhibition and conference, which ran from November 29 to 30 in Istanbul, Turkey. The accolades, known as SILA – the Satellite Industry Leader Awards – are to honour the companies, innovations, personalities and achievements that are shaping the market and bettering the world. The five award categories included Satellite Operator of the Year; Disruptive Innovator of the Year; Industry Influencer of the Year; Satellite Business of the Year; and Satellite Humanitarian of the Year.

During a prestigious awards ceremony, Hakan Kurt, CEO of the Global SatShow, presented the accolades to the winners. Satellite Operator of the Year was awarded to Es'hailSat for its commitment to raising core expertise in satellite technology and investing in developing future leaders. Es'hailSat CEO, Ali Al Kuwari, received the award on behalf of the company.

Intelsat received the Disruptive Innovator of the Year award for its EpicNG platform, which enables broadband access at higher performance rates without costly hardware upgrades in currently underserved and emerging markets. Jean Philippe Gillet, Vice-President of EMEA at Intelsat, received the award on behalf of the company.
Aarti Holla, Secretary General of the EMEA Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), was the recipient of the Industry Influencer of the Year award for her commitment to serving her community, promoting the benefits of satellite communications, and for her dedication to creating a better environment in which users can best exploit satellite services.

TurkSat received the Satellite Business of the Year award, which was received by Cenk ?en, TurkSat CEO, on behalf of the company, for its strategic partnerships which led to the strengthening of the company and the broadening of its portfolio.

Thuraya Telecommunications Company received the Satellite Humanitarian of the Year award for its contributions made in philanthropic areas, including the generosity shown in Zambia, and its rescue and recovery efforts made after the earthquake in Nepal and during the floods in Sri Lanka this year. Samer Halawi, CEO of Thuraya, received the award on behalf of the company.

The winners of SILA 2016 were chosen by an independent panel of judges comprising analysts, researchers and journalists.

Attended by a wide range of satellite industry professionals from around the world, the 2nd Global SatShow was held at Haliç Congress Center, a glamorous venue complemented by a picturesque riverside backdrop, setting a new standard in satellite tradeshows. Alongside the exhibition was the two-day conference, comprising five key sessions and a CEO Summit, which saw some of the industry's biggest players take to the stage to address the challenges, trends and opportunities that are defining the shape of the satellite industry.