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GlobalCoMMunICatIonS

The Global Communications Infrastructure (GCI) is designed to transmit raw data from the 337 facilities of the International Monitoring System (IMS) in near real time to the International Data Centre in Vienna for processing and analysis. The GCI is also designed to distribute to States Signatories analysed data and reports relevant to verification of compliance with the Treaty. Digital signatures and keys are used to ensure that the transmitted data are authentic and that no one has tampered with them.

Using a combination of satellite and terrestrial communication links, this global network enables the exchange of data by IMS facilities and States in all areas of the world with the CTBTO Preparatory Commission. The GCI is required to operate with 99.50% availability for satellite communication links and 99.95% availability for terrestrial communication links, and to provide data within seconds from transmitter to receiver. It began provisional operation in mid-1999.

highlights in 2010

Continuing improvement in GCI availability

Increase in satellite and terrestrial capacity of the GCI

addition of three very small aperture terminals (vSats)

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expanDInG Global CoMMunICatIonS

In 2010, the main GCI operation and maintenance activities were focused on the improvement of site infrastructure, such as replacing AC powered systems with more reliable DC powered systems. Maintenance activities also included removing obstacles to the line of sight to satellites and relocating VSAT sites.

The satellite and terrestrial capacity of the GCI was increased in the Pacific Ocean, North and Central America, and Europe and Middle East regions. The increase was trig-gered by higher data volumes from upgraded IMS stations and a larger number of active National Data Centres (NDCs) requesting data andproducts from the IDC. The addition-al capacity improves the capability of the GCI to transport IMS data and IDC products in the three regions.

© Worldsat International Inc. 1999, www.worldsat.ca. All rights Reserved.

GCI teChnoloGy

IMS facilities and States Signatories in

all but near-polar areas of the world

can exchange data via their local earth

stations fitted with a VSAT through one

of six geostationary satellites. The satel-

lites route the transmissions to hubs on

the ground and the data are then sent to

the IDC by terrestrial links.

A virtual private network (VPN) utilizes

existing telecommunications networks

to conduct private data transmissions.

Most of the VPNs for the GCI use the

basic public infrastructure of the Inter-

net together with a variety of special-

ized protocols to support private and

secure communications. In situations

where VSATs are still not in use or not

operational, VPNs provide an alterna-

tive means of communication. VPNs

are also used at some sites to provide a

backup redundant communication link

in case of failure of a VSAT link.

Currently, the GCI includes 212 VSAT

stations, 2 stand-alone VPN links,

14 backup VPN links, 5 independent

subnetworks on terrestrial links using

multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), a

terrestrial MPLS link for US stations

located in Antarctica, 4 satellite hubs

(2 in Norway and 2 in the USA),

6 satellites, a network operations cen-

tre (Maryland, USA) and a service man-

agement desk (Vienna). All of these are

managed by the GCI contractor. In

addition, there are 29 VPN links man-

aged by the PTS. The satellites cover

the Pacific Ocean, North Pacific

(Japan), North and Central America,

Atlantic Ocean, Europe and Middle

East, and Indian Ocean regions.

Satellites and satellite hubs of the Global Communications Infrastructure.

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Three new VSATs and two new VPN links were installed in 2010. The volume of data traffic carried by the GCI and by special links to the IDC increased during the year, as did the flow of data in the other direction from the IDC to remote sites.

GCI operatIonS

Various improvements in incident management involving the GCI contractor and enhancements in network monitoring were intro-duced in 2010. As a result of these and other activities the link availability of the GCI continued to show improvement.

A number of new network management systems were introduced which allow enhanced monitoring of independent subnetwork communication links, of the core infrastructure of the GCI man-aged by the PTS and of PTS Internet traffic. The new systems were integrated into the state of health system used in the IDC Operations Centre.

The Southbury Teleport (Connecticut, USA), which covers the Atlantic Ocean (West and East) Region and parts of the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean regions. (Courtesy of Vizada)

Above: Setting up the GCI satellite terminal at the nDC in abuja, nigeria.Below: GCI servers in the computer centre of the preparatory Commission.

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