Business with ESA Telecom

Business with ESA Telecom

BR-206August 2004

BrochureNEW 8/27/04 3:07 PM Page 1

2CONTENTSBusiness with ESA Telecom

http://telecom.esa.int


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1 ESA’s Achievements in

Satellite Communications

2 About ESA Telecom

3 How the Programme is Organised

a. Programme Developmentb. Technologyc. User Segmentd. Multimedia Systemse. Mobilityf. Large Platform Missiong. In-Orbit Demonstrationsh. Inter-Satellite Links

4 Working with ESA Telecom

a. Start-up Initiativeb. User Support Office (USO)c. Special Interest Groupsd. Frequently Asked Questions

5 Latest Information from

ESA Telecom


ESA’s Achievements in Satellite Communications

The European SpaceAgency has beenactive in the satellitetelecommunicationsfield since the 1970s,when its predecessor,ESRO, started thedevelopment work thatled to the EuropeanCommunications Satellite(ECS) System.

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OTS, the Orbital Test Satellite,launched by ESA in 1978, pioneeredthe use of three-axis stabilisationand of the Ku-band for TDMAtelephony and FM televisiondistribution. OTS was theprogenitor of the ECS satellites andled to the formation of Eutelsat,which now providescommunications, broadcasting anddata distribution services over anextended European region.

In parallel, ESRO/ESA’s work onmaritime communications, and itsMarots and Marecs satellites withtheir advanced systems andtechnology, were importantcontributors to the early Inmarsatsystem. The later Olympus satellitepioneered Direct-to-Home TVbroadcasting and the use of the Ka-band for communicationbetween VSATs.

More recently the Artemis

satellite, launched in July 2001,demonstrated the value of the latest technology developed by

ESA. This mission, which wasinitially thought lost due to alaunch problem, was ultimatelyrescued thanks to the novel ionthrusters that the satellite wascarrying for technology-demonstration purposes. As aconsequence, Artemis is nowsuccessfully providing advancedservices, employing a range ofadvanced technologies:

• Optical data relay with France’s Spot-4 and Japan’s OICETS satellites.

• Data relay at Ka-band for ESA’s Envisat satellite, and in the near future for the AutomatedTransfer Vehicle (ATV) and the International Space Station (ISS).

• Medium- and low-rate data relay at S-band.

• L-band land-mobile coverage for Europe, North Africa and parts of the Middle-East.

• Navigational support for the EGNOS (European Navigation Overlay Service) project.


About ESA Telecom

ESA's primary aim inthe satellite communi-cations field is tocontribute to thecompetitiveness ofthe European andCanadian privatesector by providing alead in research anddevelopment (R&D) activitiesand by forging partnershipswithin the industry.

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ESA Telecom is the Agency’sDepartment responsible for co-ordinating, shaping and supportinginnovation in satellite communi-cations. The Telecom team solicitsinputs from commercial businesses(such as equipment manufacturers,system developers, satelliteoperators, service providers andapplication developers) andacademic organisations (such asresearch institutes and universities)to produce a single, prioritisedR&D plan. The implementation of such plans allows ESA Telecom to play an important role bysupporting the development of newsatellite systems and technologiesin preparation for future services.ESA’s financial contribution isnecessary to offset the inherent risksassociated with advanced spaceprojects, which often detercommercial investors.

The Telecom Programme, which forms part of ESA’s EU andIndustrial Programmes Directorate,is currently supported by 18participating countries: Austria,Belgium, Canada, Denmark,Finland, France, Germany, Greece,Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,Norway, Netherlands, Portugal,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and theUnited Kingdom. Each country'ssubscription determines the level ofparticipation of its own industrial

sector in the programme, with thenational interests of each countrybeing represented by theirrespective delegation.

ESA’s TelecommunicationsProgramme is market-focused. Thismeans that the great majority of theAgency’s Telecom resources aredevoted to supporting Europeanindustry through a variety of whatare called ‘near-term’ mechanisms.New technology is also acornerstone of ESA’s developmentplanning, recognising that asuccessful strategy must also bebased on a solid foundation thatensures sustainability in the longterm.

By providing specialisedtelecommunications knowledge,ESA can assist European andCanadian industry in furtheringtheir ambitions. Moreover, byacting as a catalyst for theformulation of a coherent Europeanposition, ESA can also drive thedevelopment of new standards forcommunications services.

In carrying out its mission, ESAdoes not operate in isolation, butpursues its goals within a complexindustrial/political environment inwhich many different interestsinteract. For achieving those goals,therefore, ESA maintains a constant




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ESA Telecom reacts to thechanging needs of EuropeanindustrySince late 2001, the globaltelecommunications market hasbeen experiencing a severe crisis.Stagnating demand has caused areduction in the use of in-orbitsatellite capacity and has delayedthe foreseen introduction of large-capacity broadband interactivesystems. The reduction in satelliteorders has critically reduced theactivities of satellite manufacturers.

In this troubled environment, therole of ESA has become moreimportant. The Agency has tailoredits actions to adapt its Long-TermPlan to the new market conditions. It is reinforcing its support toEuropean industry by getting itready to emerge from this crisiswith the capabilities andcompetitiveness that will berequired when the upturn in themarket cycle occurs and growthreturns.

dialogue with the key players. ESATelecom's remit includes:

• undertaking development and testing, as well as the in-orbit demonstration, of new satellite systems, equipment and services

• ensuring that new technologies are successfully transferred to, and exploited by, service providers and applications developers

• harmonising the needs at European level with the relevant national priorities

• promoting agreement on standards, to ensure that the benefits of interoperability of systems across Europe and Canada are achieved


How the Programme is Organised

Historically, the Programmewas divided into ‘Elements’,within a framework known asARTES - Advanced Research inTelecommunications Systems.Since the ESA MinisterialCouncil in Edinburgh inNovember 2001, it has beenrestructured into ‘ProgrammeLines’ that cover the mainstrategic areas and reflect theevolution from the conventionalARTES Elements to a morepragmatic and topic-related approach.

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A total of eight programme lines have been identified into which all of thenecessary actions have been mapped:

1. Programme Development (Preparatory Activities Programme andStandardisation) – this activity constitutes the strategy component of theESA Telecommunications Programme. 2. Technology - an important part of ESA’s role in telecommunicationsis to research new technologies of a very advanced nature which requirelong-term vision about their eventual application. 3. User Segment – support to applications, ground networks and userterminals which are critical for the successful introduction of new servicesand the opening of new markets. 4. Multimedia Systems – the deployment, demonstration and earlyoperation of GEO multimedia projects, leveraging ESA’s existinginvestments in multimedia technologies and services. 5. Mobility – development of the technologies for and promotion of theearly deployment of the next generation of mobile services. 6. Large Platform Mission – development of the large Europeanplatform, with a mass greater than 7000 kg and capable of providingpower levels in excess of 20 kW. 7. In-Orbit Demonstrations – flight qualification of new payloadand platform components plays a vital role in removing the risk fromdevelopment programmes and speeds commercial adoption.8. Inter-Satellite Links – ISL technologies provide the opportunity toincrease the capabilities of next-generation satellite networks.

Given the present telecommunications market conditions, activitiessupporting the Telecom Strategy (Programme Development), the User

Segment, Multimedia Systems and the Large Platform development, aswell as Technology, are among the Agency’s highest priorities in thecoming years.

A lower ESA Telecom priority is the demonstration of a future generationof Mobile Systems. Because the In-Flight Demonstration of Inter-Satellite

Links and the development of a new Small Geo-Platform have not yetreceived sufficient financial support, and because they are not yet matureenough for short-term implementation, ESA Telecom is going to keep thisimplementation flexible through a continuous process of work-planassessment and adaptation.


Programme Development

Programme Development (referredto as ‘Preparatory Activities andStandardisation’ in the Long-TermPlan) is a strategic component ofESA’s telecommunicationsactivities, identifying andevaluating opportunities, futuresystems and concepts within thespace and terrestrial telecom-munications markets.

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Objectives The main aim is to sustain a strong

competitive position in the longterm. This is achieved through constant monitoring of the

markets, generating original

concepts for new systems andservices, and promoting effective, standards-based solutions.

Mission, system and other studies in order to prepare andcontinuously update ESA’s mediumand long-term programmes in thetelecommunications field, and thetechnological developmentsnecessary for the execution of theESA TelecommunicationsProgramme are defined.

ActivitiesProgramme Development providesan analysis of the evolution andcompetitiveness of the space andterrestrial telecommunicationsmarkets, which helps ESA Telecomto refine its strategy. New systemarchitectures are evaluated,providing insight into therequirements for new technologicaldevelopments. System studies

are carried out to encourage thedevelopment of synergies and

co-operation with other satelliteapplications, such as navigationand Earth observation.

By providing the strategic

framework to interface withoperators and service providers,ESA takes their requirements intoaccount in the orientation its R&D planning and technologydevelopment. It is crucial to assessand anticipate the real needs of themarket through consultations withoperators, service and applicationsproviders (satellite and terrestrial),users’ forums, manufacturers ofterrestrial and satellite equipment,institutions, and others. Some ofthese consultations are conductedvia formal consultative bodies or, in very specific cases, via co-operations leading to joint pilotprojects with pre-commercialobjectives.

Standardisation is a key factor in the success of satellitecommunication services, Europeanindustry and operators. Significanteffort is therefore dedicated topromoting the emergence ofEuropean-led telecommunicationsstandards.

ARTES 1 ARTES 3 ARTES 4 ARTES 5 ARTES 8

Programme • •Development

Activities in this programme line are 100% funded by ESA


Technology

The Technologyprogramme linefocuses on thedevelopment ofequipment andsubsystems forevolving satellitetelecommunicationssystems.

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ObjectivesThe objective of the Technologyprogramme line is to maintain and enhance the competitive position ofthe satellite telecommunicationsindustry and operators bydeveloping new technologies thatimprove the performance and costefficiency of equipment, subsystemsand systems.

ActivitiesWorking closely with industry,ESA co-ordinates and sponsorsthe R&D necessary to bringnew technologies to near-

market-readiness.

By investing in newtechnological avenues theAgency helps European

industry to develop andexploit emerging products,

services and markets. It is ESA’stask to carry out the development

of equipment and services thatcorrespond to the futurerequirements of operators andusers. At the same time, animportant part of ESA’s role intelecommunications is to researchand develop technologies andconcepts of a very advanced naturewith high application potential forthe longer term.

The resulting strength of Europe'stechnology base has enabled itsindustry to command 50 percent ofthe geo-communications satellitemarket, while ground-segmentproviders have formed some of theworld's leading Digital VideoBroadcasting (DVB) set-top-boxcompanies. ESA's R&D effortcontinues to seek to maintain andeventually improve Europe's lead

in the future.

The many ESA-sponsoredinnovations that have already beendeployed operationally include:high-performance satelliteantennas, on-board processingunits, radio-frequency equipment,solar arrays, power units,propulsion subsystems, avionicsequipment, mechanisms, structuralelements and ground-terminalequipment.


Technology • • • •

Given the nature of the Technology programme, which focuses on long term technologies as well as on short termtechnologies for immediate market opportunities, theprogramme covers most of the ARTES elements.


User Segment

The User Segmentprogramme linepromotes near-to-market developmentactivities in the areaof satellite communi-cations that have adirect impact on theuser community. User Terminals andApplications are thetwo main lines ofdevelopment.

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Objectives Traditionally, ESA has focusedprimarily on the development ofthe space infrastructure andtechnology. Today, the success of asatellite communications venturerelies on the appropriatecombination of all system elements,particularly those that are accesseddirectly by the end users.

In a saturated TV market, operatorsand service providers are seekingways to enlarge their product/service offerings. This can onlyhappen if new applications anduser terminals are developed.

ActivitiesLooking at the User Terminals,

there are essentially three mainareas of activity:

1. The Professional Internet (DVB-

RCS) group, focusing on the high-end corporate market.

2. The Consumer Internet (Light

DVB-RCS) group, focusing onADSL-like Internet access to theconsumer market.

3. Interactive TV (iTV)

The following six Application areasare currently active:

• Information services for

communities/groups

• Distance learning

• Infrastructure/platform: this

area covers the development/

enhancement of satcom systems

in terms of hardware and/or

software

• Disaster/emergency relief

• Business to Business and

Business to Consumer

• Telemedicine/Medical education.

HighlightsOne project within this programmeis ‘Satmode’. ESA has joined forceswith a team led by SES Astra(Luxembourg) to develop a satelliteinteractive system providing‘always-on’ connectivity betweenthe digital TV set and contentproviders.

The Satmode system is set to enable permanent, real-timeresponses by millions of TVviewers to content provider’sprogrammes. It will also allowprovision additional services suchas SMS, of tele-voting, management of personal video recorders, accesscontrol, pay per view and otherimpulse transactions.


User Segment • • • •


For the development andlaunching of complete state-of-the-art interactivemultimedia satellite systemsand services, ESA maintainsthe Multimedia Systemsprogramme line. It is wellequipped to meet a broadrange of future market needsfor European companies.

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ObjectivesThe Multimedia Systemsprogramme line aims to:• create industrial partnerships

to undertake this project• design, launch and operate

separate multimedia satellite

services for pre-operational deployment starting in 2004

• design, launch and operate a number of smaller systems based on piggy-back payloads to be flown on future satellites.

Once successfully demonstrated inorbit, the services will be ready forfull market development. Theirearly deployment will satisfy theunmet demand for multimediaservices caused by currentbottlenecks in the terrestrialtelecommunications infrastructure,and establish open standards formultimedia systems, encouragingmaximum future Europeaninvolvement in this sector.

ActivitiesEach service will be fully deployed,demonstrated and followedthrough to early operations. Playersacross the entire value chain will beincluded in the demonstrations: all

the necessary payloads, ground-control segments and userterminals need to be completed.ESA will pursue the establishmentof partnerships with operators and industry in readiness for thedeployment of these pre-operational systems. The firstlaunch is planned for 2004.

The systems developed will be co-funded with industry. Satelliteoperators, in particular, will sharethe risk during development, inleading the pre-commercial phase,and later market development.Prime contractors will be appointedfor each service to lead consortia.

Always open to and interested in new ideas, ESA Telecomencourages the submission of ideasrelated to elements or subsystemsof the projects.

HighlightsAn early product of thisprogramme line is the AmerHisproject, a new approach to satellitetransmission. AmerHis will worklike a switchboard in space,making it possible to use satellitecapacities much more efficiently.The AmerHis system is intended to provide high-performanceinteractive multimedia servicesthrough Hispasat’s Amazonassatellite in its four Ku-bandcoverage zones: North America,South America, Brazil and Europe.


Multimedia • • •Systems


Mobility

The Mobility programmeline works to shape thefuture of advanced mobilesatellite services. It focuses onsystem concepts for next-generation regional mobilesystems, one example being aseamlessly integrated satelliteelement - Mobile SatelliteSystems (MSS) and DigitalAudio Radio Services (DARS).Development and adoption ofappropriate standards andcompatibility with terrestrialinfrastructure are a priority.

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ObjectivesThe Mobility programme line hasthe following objectives:• to develop optimised system

architectures and subsystem specifications based on the inputs provided by operators and industry, aiming at improved integration and operability with existing and future networks

• to support European industry in standardisation and regulatory activities

• to develop the necessary innovative key technologies to ensure independence from systems or equipment from non-European suppliers

• to develop, demonstrate and promote advanced mobile satellite systems that use technologies developed in Europe

• to develop and demonstrate applications and services that use these advanced mobile satellite systems and facilitate satellite integration with terrestrial networks and hybrid satellite/terrestrial localisation systems.

ActivitiesSystem-architecture studiesinitiated under this programme linewill be used to develop the nextgeneration of mobile services,systems, equipment and userterminals.

A special task force dedicated toAdvanced Mobile Satellite System

(ASMS) has been set up, withmembers selected by a number of mobile telecommunicationsoperators and industry. It supports European standardisation and

regulatory activities, co-ordinates acommon vision for development,and helps industry build on theexisting infrastructure. This activitywill help to give European mobilesatellite services a stronger footholdand protect the industry fromdependence on US-based systems.


Mobility • • • •


Large Platform Mission

The Large Platform Mission(also known as AlphaSat) iscentred around the developmentof a new European multipurposeplatform (also known asAlphaBus) to accommodate largetelecommunications payloads,initially with power require-ments of 12 to 18 kW, but withgrowth potential to 25 kW. Theprogramme is based on strongcooperation with CNES, AlcatelSpace and Astrium.

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ObjectivesLarge satellites are expected toaccount for 30% of the geo-marketin 2010. The consolidation ofEuropean industry combined with the development of enablingtechnology will provide a credibleEuropean alternative for satcomoperators. This will also have theadded effect of overcoming thecompetitive gap in the worldmarket. The success of theprogramme will secure Europeanindependence in the sector andstimulate future telecomapplications requiring intelligentpayloads with high powerrequirements.

The ESA programme line has thefollowing objectives:• Initiate ESA-funded pre-

development contracts to secure enabling technology and to assist the emergence of ‘second-source’ hardware suppliers able to match the market needs of the Large Platform.

• Develop and qualify, together with CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) and Industry, a generic production line for AlphaBus based on ground qualification of development and engineering models.

• Place an ESA procurement contract for the proto-flight model of AlphaBus.

• Consolidate a Large Platform Mission combining ESA-funded payloads (ARTES 3) with institutional and/or commercial payloads, allowing the in-orbit demonstration of a proto-flight large platform by 2007/8.

ActivitiesThe Large Platform Missionprogramme line presently involvesthree mainstream activities:• Pre-developments.

• AlphaBus: the development of a generic line of large platforms.

• AlphaSat: the mission-definition study with the prime contractors focusing on an institutional mission in co-operation with the European Community, and the need to match an innovative public service with the unique capabilities of the AlphaBus.

The decision to procure theAlphaBus protoflight model isde-coupled from the overallAlphaSat mission definition,allowing the work on AlphaBusand AlphaSat to proceed inparallel.


Large • •Platform Mission

ARTES 8 has been specifically created for the Large PlatformMission programme line.


In-Orbit Demonstrations

The In-Orbit Demonstrationsprogramme line enables Europeanand Canadian industry todemonstrate new payload andplatform components in orbit and ona small scale. This will demonstratenew satellite telecommunicationssystems and help to bridge thecredibility gap associated with theintroduction of new technologies. It will have the added benefit ofspeeding up commercial uptake.

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In-Orbit • •Demonstra-tions

This programme line is currently in a definition phase. Severalfeasibility studies are taking place. The full launch of thisprogramme line will depend on a demonstrated market and onthe availability of financial support from the Member States.



Inter-Satellite Links

The Inter-SatelliteLinks programmeline supports thedevelopment ofon-board ISLterminals, andenables satellitesto be linkedtogether in orbit,thereby increasingtheir effectiveness.

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ObjectivesThe Inter-Satellite Linksprogramme line aims at developingand demonstrating radio-frequency

and optical inter-satellite links.

Most of today’s communicationssatellites only have links to theirground station(s), which means asignal destined for another satellitehas to be relayed via that groundstation. Inter-satellite links promiseto greatly increase the capabilitiesof next-generation satellites,enabling operators to establish fullbroadcast services across the globewithout the added complication ofrelaying signals via groundstations.

ActivitiesESA has been researching anddeveloping the inter-satellite linktechnique for more than twentyyears, first with radio-frequencylinks and most recently with laserlinks. On 21 November 2001, theFrench Spot-4 satellite successfullytransferred data to ESA’s Artemisspacecraft using the Agency’sSILEX modulated-laser system.Laser links have a greater carryingcapacity than RF links, are lessvulnerable to signal interference,and are extremely secure anddifficult to intercept.


Inter-Satellite • •Links


Working with ESA Telecom

ESA TelecomInvitations to Tender(ITTs) are issuedagainst differentbudget lines - calledARTES Elements -governed by differentrules and fundinglevels. Participation isopen to all firms residingwithin those Statesparticipating in the ARTESElement concerned.

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Before considering responding toan ITT, a company should ensurethat:• The company and its sub-

contractor(s) are located within the Participating States listed under the applicable ARTES Element.

• The National Delegation will support the proposal (applicable to ARTES 4 and ARTES 5 Elements only).

Fully funded budget lines(100%)

ARTES 1Austria, Belgium, Canada,Denmark, Finland, France,Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway,Portugal, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, United KingdomARTES 5Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland,France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain,Sweden, SwitzerlandARTES 8*France, Germany, Luxembourg,Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland

Partially-funded budget lines(50%)

ARTES 3Austria, Belgium, Canada, France,Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands,Norway, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, United KingdomARTES 4Austria, Belgium, Finland, France,Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands,Norway, Sweden, Spain,Switzerland, United KingdomARTES 8*France, Germany, Luxembourg,Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland

ITTs are generally issued in opencompetition. Restricted-competitionand direct-negotiation ITTs areissued in some specific cases. Apartfrom the current opportunities,there is a continuous open call forunsolicited proposals for allprogramme lines in ARTES 4.Detailed conditions can be found in the ITT Conditions of Tender. For detailed information about theITT process and how to participatein ESA Telecom’s currentopportunities, please refer to: http//telecom.esa.int

*ARTES 8 has both 100% and 50%

funding profiles. Details can be

obtained by contacting the

contracts officer.

ESA will fully fund (100%) projects in the early stages ofinnovative-technology development where there is aperceived high commercial and/or technical risk. ESA willpartially fund (up to 50%) projects related to the integration

and demonstration of activities based on existing technologiesthat are tailored to pre-operational products, systems and

applications with identified market opportunities.


Start-up Initiative

In addition to theregular ITTs, ESATelecom is offeringexciting opportun-ities for start-upprojects - an opendoor for businessinnovation. The Start-upInitiative aims to support anumber of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) throughthe early development stages ofresearching and refining abusiness proposition.

SMEs are defined, using European Commission criteria, as

companies that:

• have fewer that 250 employees

• have either an annual turnover of less than 40 million

Euros or an annual balance-sheet total of less than

27 million Euros

• are independent, i.e. not more than 25% owned by a larger

(non-SME) company

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The field of satellite communicationscan be a tough one for smallerbusinesses to enter. The technical and commercial risks, as well as theperceived complexity of the area, can act as strong deterrents toentrepreneurs and potentialfinanciers alike. However, satcomprovides many exciting possibilitiesfor new technology, applications andservices in areas such as mobilecommunications, the Internet,multimedia, broadcast and location-based communication systems. Andit is not only the large enterprisesthat can exploit these opportunitiessuccessfully!

In 2001 ESA launched an initiativedesigned to help smaller companies

enter the satcom sector or to developnew business ideas in the field. Theresults have encouraged ESA toexpand and refine the scheme tobuild on the initial success. Thelatest initiative supports SMEsthrough the awarding ofdevelopment contracts, with one oftwo funding levels availabledepending on the commercialmaturity of the proposition:(a) financial support up to 100%(max. 300 000 Euros) for validationof concepts in the early stages ofdevelopment involving innovativetechnologies with perceived highcommercial and/or technical risks(b) financial support of up to 50%(max. 150 000 Euros) for integrationand demonstration activities basedon existing technologies tailored topre-operational products, systemsand applications, with identifiedmarket opportunities.

In addition to the financial support,

ESA will also use its expertise

and contacts to bring togethercomplementary ideas and venturesin the satcom field. The aim of theStart-up Initiative is to ensure that atthe conclusion of the project,

companies are in a position toprogress the commercialexploitation of their proposal, eitherindependently or possibly throughone of ESA's alternative schemes,e.g. the Multimedia programmeline. Furthermore, ESA Telecomoffers satellite capacity and ground

infrastructure to the most promisingprojects.

Who is eligible? Any small or medium-sizedbusiness from a countryparticipating in ESA'sTelecommunications Programme is eligible to apply. These countriesare Austria, Belgium, Canada,France, Finland, Germany, Greece,Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway,Netherlands, Portugal, Spain,Sweden, Switzerland and the UnitedKingdom (please, check specifictender documents). Particularattention will be paid to proposalsfrom companies who have neverhad a contract from ESA before.

How do I apply? The application process has beendivided into two steps to allowfeedback on initial ideas (Step 1:Outline Proposal) before a fullproposal (Step 2: Complete Proposal)is required. Initial ideas, described inless than two pages of text, have tobe submitted using an online form.These ideas will be evaluated by ESATelecom and companies will beinformed about the outcome of thispre-selection process. Selectedcompanies will then be invited tosubmit full proposals according tothe schedule of the tender. Again, anevaluation period will follow toselect the proposals that are deemedvaluable enough to receive acontract.

For more information and the datesfor the next round, please refer to: http://telecom.esa.int/startup


User SupportOffice (USO)

The User SupportOffice (USO) functionsas a single point of contactfor all firms wishing to workwith the Agency in the fast-moving satellite communi-cations sector - with aparticular focus on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises(SMEs). In addition to thissupport, the USO makesavailable a suite of fullyremotely accessible services thathave been developed to meet theneeds of ESA Telecom partners.

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The USO provides tools to supportcompanies in their work before,during and after an ESA Telecomproject. These include web-based

training courses about currentsatcom technology and how towork with ESA Telecom, along with document templates and the project

management software eProjectEnterprise.

A dedicated Call Centre providesrapid troubleshooting, while a web-based Bulletin Board

facilitates co-operation betweendifferent projects. Online expert

groups provide a forum in which todiscuss specialist issues of interestto project partners, fromtelemedicine to digital cinema.

The USO also provides access to awide range of ESA resources, fromuplink stations to leased satellitecapacity. A Europe-wide network ofLocal Agents is available tofacilitate co-ordination betweenindustry, national delegations and

the Agency in order to match USOinitiatives with the differentnational situations. The USO is alsolooking beyond the traditionalhorizons of telecom initiatives tohelp projects prepare the ground forthe follow-on to the successful R&Dactivities.

A specific Market Development

Support function has beenimplemented to provide initialguidance on typical businessmatters: pricing strategy, publicrelations and fund raisingguidelines are now available in theBusiness Toolbox for telecomprojects – but much more is inpreparation!

Further information and a brochureabout the User Support Office areavailable on the ESA Telecomwebsite:http://telecom.esa.int/uso or via e-mail: [email protected].



Special Interest Groups

With its Special InterestGroups, ESA is developing anopen environment forexchanges between operators,service providers, applicationsproviders (satellite andterrestrial), users' forums,manufacturers of terrestrialand satellite equipment,institutions, etc.

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With the Special Interest Groups,ESA develops an open environmentfor exchange between operators,service providers, applicationsproviders (satellite and terrestrial),users' forums, manufacturers ofterrestrial and satellite equipment,institutions, etc.

Special Interest Group objectivescover : • Common industry-wide

vision/position documents • Common system/component

specifications • Common positions vis-à-vis

standardization regulatory bodies • Recommendations to ESA on the

orientation of R&D planning and development

• Industrial expert advice to ESA• Implementation of joint pilot

projects with pre-commercial objectives.

Among the standardization/specialinterest groups are:

Satlabs GroupThis is an international, not-for-profit association whose membersare committed to bringing thedeployment of the DVB-RCSstandard to large-scale adoption.The main objective of the SatLabsGroup is to ensure interoperabilityamong DVB-RCS terminals andsystems and the availability ofsolutions for interoperability testingand certification.

Another objective of the Group is toachieve lower user terminal costs by exploiting commonalitiesbetween different systems, definingand developing common criticalcomponents and technologies, anddefining common practices andrecommendations.

AHG-RSATOn ESA’s initiative, and with the co-operation of the main interestedparties, the Ad-Hoc Group (AHG-RSAT) was created with the aim ofdeveloping recommendations thatcould form the basis for standardsfor satellite terminals to be designedto operate within a variety ofRegenerative Satellite MultimediaSystems (RSMS). The basis of thetechnical work was the DVB-RCSETSI Standard.

ASMS-TFThe Advanced Satellite MobileSystems Task Force (ASMS-TF) is an independent, industry-led body,committed to the successfulintroduction and development ofadvanced (including 3G andbeyond) mobile satellitecommunications systems andservices.

Interested? Then please visit the ESA Telecom website http://telecom.esa.int/specialinterest for more information ormembership application.


Frequently Asked Questions

4d4dWho can participate in ESA Telecom programmes ?Participation is open to all firms residing in the ESA Member Statesparticipating in the ARTES Element concerned. For ARTES 4 and 5,the national Delegate has to support the proposal in writing.

What is ARTES?ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems)constitutes a set of legal and financial frames that allow theimplementation of R&D activities with different degrees oftechnical and commercial maturity. For the relationship betweenESA’s programme lines and the ATRTES programme elements,please consult the ESA Telecom website: http://telecom.esa.int

How do I find out who the Delegate for my country is?A list of all national Delegates can be found on the ESA Telecomwebsite: http://telecom.esa.int/delegates.

How do I find out about current opportunities toparticipate in ESA Telecom programmes?A list of all ESA Telecom opportunities for which a proposal can besubmitted can be found online on the ESA Telecom website: http://telecom.esa.int/opportunities



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What is EMITS?EMITS is ESA’s official electronictendering system, to which everycompany in the Agency’s MemberStates is allowed access. To applyfor a password, go to: http://emits.esa.int/ and clickon "Registration Request".

What do I have to keep inmind when I prepare aproposal for ESA Telecom?Guidelines for the preparation offully or partially funded projectscan be found online at: http://telecom.esa.int/proposalpreparation.

Is it possible to communicatewith the ESA TechnicalOfficer to explain myproposal during the tenderingperiod?No. Any questions relating to theITT should be addressed in writingto the Contracts Officer. Theproposal must be written ascarefully and clearly as possible,addressing every single pointrequired by the ITT. The proposalas submitted will form the solebasis for evaluation according tothe evaluation criteria.

How does the User SupportOffice help SMEs and newentrants?The USO was created to fostergrowth of SMEs and small start-upventures in the field of satcom-based technologies andapplications. Its services aim tofacilitate access for SMEs and newentrants to ESA Telecom’s projects,to assist them during the executionof the project, and finally to provideaccess to the business-developmenttools needed to bridge the gap

between the concept feasibility/sustainabilitydemonstration stage (typical of an ESA Telecom project)and commercial readiness.

Where is the User Support Office located? The USO staff are located in the TelecommunicationsDepartment of the ESA Application Directorate, at ESTECin Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Unlike more traditionalbusiness-incubator concepts, the USO does not provideoffice facilities, but the full range of its services areaccessible from the website or the contact points.

What is eProject?eProject is a web-based project-management andcollaboration tool freely available to all companies thatare under an active contract with ESA Telecom. Pleaserefer to your ESA Technical Officer for more informationon how to use it.

What is a project web page?Projects under ESA Telecom contract are represented onthe ESA Telecom website http://telecom.esa.int with aproject web page, which gives the contractors, contacts,objectives and current status of the project. The projectweb page is a contractual delivery and the template canbe downloaded from: http://telecom.esa.int/uso/projectsupport/doctemplates/projectwebpage.

I am looking for a sub-contractor or partnerfor my proposal. Does ESA Telecom offer anysupport in finding one?The USO has created a Bulletin Board. It is accessiblefree of charge for companies under ESA Telecomcontract and offers you the opportunity to explore thesharing of resources among projects or offers a startingpoint for exploring new partnerships. You can also offeror search for equipment or hardware and look for newteam members or knowledge.

Does ESA Telecom offer satellite capacity?Yes. ESA is currently leasing 10 MHz of capacity on the F3 transponder of Eutelsat SESAT, located at 36 degrees East orbital position. This capacity can bemade available to Telecom projects subject to availabilityand co-ordination among the different user groups.Access to ESRIN and ESTEC Uplink Stations is alsooffered to Telecom projects free of charge, in order toexploit the Eutelsat transponder capacity leased by ESA.


Latest Information fromESA Telecom

Would you like to bekept up to dateregarding currentopportunities, theStart-up Initiative,Calls for Ideas andthe many other thingshappening at ESATelecom? If so, subscribeto the ESA Telecom website andyou will regularly receiveinformation, simply by completinga short webform and selecting thetype of information you wish toreceive: see http://telecom.esa.int/subscribe.

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'CONNECT' : The latest version of the Telecomnewsletter in hard copy.

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Including opportunities to participate in ESA Telecom initiatives

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Note: the e-mail alerts and thehardcopy of CONNECT areintended for companies andinstitutes in ESA ParticipatingStates


BR-206August 2003

Prepared by: Ninja Menning

Published by: ESA Publications Division

ESTEC, PO Box 299

2200 AG Noordwijk

The Netherlands

Editor: Bruce Battrick

Design & Layout: Leigh Edwards

Copyright: © 2003 European Space Agency

ISSN: 0250-1589

ISBN: 92-9092-651-1

Printed in

the Netherlands

Price: 7 Euros



Documents

Business with ESA Telecom