Satellite Pro Middle East

ISSUE 18 | MAY 2013

INTENTIONAL INTERFERENCE

EVOLUTION, NOT REVOLUTION

Abu Dhabi Milsatcom conference to highlight solutions

Jean Yves Le Gall of Arianespace on space launches

DIFFICULT TO HACKMSS operators defend the satellite phone

Maritime Roundtable on June 3, 2013, at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, DubaiREGISTER PUBLICATIONLICENSED BY IMPZ

COMMERCIAL SATCOM RESPONDS WITH PROTECTED ARCHITECTURESTHAT SPAN THE SPACE, GROUND AND TERMINAL FRONTIERS

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EDITORIAL

On clearing desksIt is not just about clearing your desk and deleting personal files on the computer – you have to be concerned about your digital afterlife.

What will it say about you? Your quirks, the secret life we all lead… the truth is, unless you are the Boston bomber, no less, very few people are going to really care.

All you need to worry about is your socks matching the next time you travel in case they ask you to remove your shoes. However high tech the world gets around us, our worries will remain utterly grounded in everyday stuff. Jean Yves Le Gall of Arianespace is not a man to be swayed by the talk of making space travel as ordinary as air travel. He knows it will come. In the meantime, he has clients waiting for their satellites to be launched on a tried-and-tested platform. We are cautious people. An intrepid president of India can dream of connecting colleges throughout India via satellite. However, Riaz Lamak, the satellite solutions provider knows he has to do the hand-holding for people on the ground, or otherwise expensive equipment will lie unused. Amidst the daily grind, there are good men like Martin Coleman of IRG who will keep prodding the industry to collaborate to mitigate interference and give the customer no reason to complain about satellite connectivity. The satellite industry is an unfolding story of tradition, collaboration and sparks of rebellion. These contrasting values will be on display in various measures at the Global Space and Satellite Forum (GSSF) in Abu Dhabi on May 7-8, 2013. We are media partners for the GSSF, and you will meet my colleague and new editor of SatellitePro ME, Adrienne Harebottle, at the event.

Supriya SrinivasEditor

© Copyright 2013 CPI. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this

magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.

Publisher Dominic De Sousa

Group COONadeem Hood

Managing DirectorRichard Judd

[email protected] +9714 440 9126

EDITORIAL

Group Editor - Broadcast DivisionVijaya Cherian


EditorSupriya Srinivas

[email protected]+971 55 105 3776

ADVERTISING

Publishing DirectorRaz Islam

[email protected]+9714 440 9129

Group Sales ManagerSandip Virk


Sales ManagerRodi Hennawi

[email protected] +971 4 440 9106

PRODUCTION AND DESIGN

Head of DesignFahed Sabbagh

[email protected]

Graphic DesignerGlenn Roxas

[email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHYJay Colina

Abdul Kader Pattambi

Database ManagerRajeesh M


Production ManagerJames P. Tharian


DIGITAL SERVICES [email protected]

Digital Services ManagerTristan Troy Maagma

Web DevelopersErik Briones

Je!erson de Joya

Published by

Registered at IMPZPO Box 13700

Dubai, UAETel: +971 (0) 4 440 9100Fax: +971 (0) 4 447 2409

Printed by

Printwell Printing Press LLC

In this edition:

“Communications via satellite is not the mission, it is just the means to make the mission a success”- Nicolas Stephan, General Manager, LSE Space Middle East– page 10

“Satellite students cannot restrict themselves to one specialty... other than lectures, you need hands-on expertise”- Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim, Ph.D candidate, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan– page 32

“As with all interference, technology is key...using better predictive techniques will help”- Martin Coleman, Executive Director, IRG– page 36

“A core team of 45 UAE experts and engineers will lead the development of DubaiSat-3”- Eng. Salem Al Marri, Assistant Director for Scientific and Technical Affairs, EIAST– page 40

Global Space and Satellite Forum on May 7 - 8, 2013, at

Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi P36

EDITORIAL

On clearing desksIt is not just about clearing your desk and deleting personal files on the computer – you have to be concerned about your digital afterlife.

What will it say about you? Your quirks, the secret life we all lead… the truth is, unless you are the Boston bomber, no less, very few people are going to really care.

All you need to worry about is your socks matching the next time you travel in case they ask you to remove your shoes. However high tech the world gets around us, our worries will remain utterly grounded in everyday stuff. Jean Yves Le Gall of Arianespace is not a man to be swayed by the talk of making space travel as ordinary as air travel. He knows it will come. In the meantime, he has clients waiting for their satellites to be launched on a tried-and-tested platform. We are cautious people. An intrepid president of India can dream of connecting colleges throughout India via satellite. However, Riaz Lamak, the satellite solutions provider knows he has to do the hand-holding for people on the ground, or otherwise expensive equipment will lie unused. Amidst the daily grind, there are good men like Martin Coleman of IRG who will keep prodding the industry to collaborate to mitigate interference and give the customer no reason to complain about satellite connectivity. The satellite industry is an unfolding story of tradition, collaboration and sparks of rebellion. These contrasting values will be on display in various measures at the Global Space and Satellite Forum (GSSF) in Abu Dhabi on May 7-8, 2013. We are media partners for the GSSF, and you will meet my colleague and new editor of SatellitePro ME, Adrienne Harebottle, at the event.

Supriya SrinivasEditor

© Copyright 2013 CPI. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this

magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein.

Publisher Dominic De Sousa

Group COONadeem Hood

Managing DirectorRichard Judd


EDITORIAL

Group Editor - Broadcast DivisionVijaya Cherian


EditorSupriya Srinivas

[email protected]+971 55 105 3776

ADVERTISING

Publishing DirectorRaz Islam

[email protected]+9714 440 9129

Group Sales ManagerSandip Virk


Sales ManagerRodi Hennawi

[email protected] +971 4 440 9106

PRODUCTION AND DESIGN

Head of DesignFahed Sabbagh

[email protected]

Graphic DesignerGlenn Roxas

[email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHYJay Colina

Abdul Kader Pattambi

Database ManagerRajeesh M


Production ManagerJames P. Tharian


DIGITAL SERVICES [email protected]

Digital Services ManagerTristan Troy Maagma

Web DevelopersErik Briones

Je!erson de Joya

Published by

Registered at IMPZPO Box 13700

Dubai, UAETel: +971 (0) 4 440 9100Fax: +971 (0) 4 447 2409

Printed by

Printwell Printing Press LLC

In this edition:

“Communications via satellite is not the mission, it is just the means to make the mission a success”- Nicolas Stephan, General Manager, LSE Space Middle East– page 10

“Satellite students cannot restrict themselves to one specialty... other than lectures, you need hands-on expertise”- Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim, Ph.D candidate, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan– page 32

“As with all interference, technology is key...using better predictive techniques will help”- Martin Coleman, Executive Director, IRG– page 36

“A core team of 45 UAE experts and engineers will lead the development of DubaiSat-3”- Eng. Salem Al Marri, Assistant Director for Scientific and Technical Affairs, EIAST– page 40

Global Space and Satellite Forum on May 7 - 8, 2013, at

Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi P36

AT THE HEART OF YOUR VIDEO WORLD

DRIVING GROWTH IN THE MIDDLE EAST

With the launch of the EUTELSAT 7 West A satellite we have increased our resources at 7° West by 30%. We now broadcastmore than 600 channels to over 30 million homes in the Middle East and North Africa. Reach your target audience via Eutelsatand be part of the number one broadcasting position in the region.

New office in Dubai:EUTELSAT MIDDLE EAST FZ-LLCThuraya Tower II – Dubai Media City

www.eutelsat.ae

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AT THE HEART OF YOUR VIDEO WORLD

DRIVING GROWTH IN THE MIDDLE EAST

With the launch of the EUTELSAT 7 West A satellite we have increased our resources at 7° West by 30%. We now broadcastmore than 600 channels to over 30 million homes in the Middle East and North Africa. Reach your target audience via Eutelsatand be part of the number one broadcasting position in the region.

New office in Dubai:EUTELSAT MIDDLE EAST FZ-LLCThuraya Tower II – Dubai Media City

www.eutelsat.ae

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Mep 207 270 SP Eutelsat-CPI-Cabsat 01.2013_Mep 207 270 SP Eutelsat-CPI-Cabsat 01.2013 20/02/13 14:15 Page1

CONTENTS Issue 18 | MAY 2013

News

4

SatVertical: Military

18

Technology and products38

Beyond the line of sightSatcom industry enables extended reach for the tactical phone

New channels, in-flight connectivity, satellite imagery

SatEducation

32Nano building blocks in space“It drives innovation,” states Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim from the Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan

SatLaunch

28“Still launching, not just speaking”A first-person account by Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO, Arianespace

SatEvents

34Events in Abu Dhabi and SingaporeGlobal Space and Satellite Forum and SatComm @ Communicasia

SatGuest

40Developing DubaiSat-3 in the UAEEng. Salem Al Marri of EIAST on the advantages of the third satellite

YahLive, OnAir, SkyStream, Safa Telecom, Hughes, Eutelsat

SatLead

10Keeping in touch with militariesIncreased demand for bandwidth, satcom at tactical levels and demands for mobility: Experts weigh in on the current trends

SatVertical: Military

16MSS in conflict zonesIntercepting satellite phones is not easy, asserts David Moss of Thuraya

SatVertical: Government

22Satellites driving social developmentSolutions provider Riaz Lamak describes the landmark tele-education, tele-health and tele-medicine projects across India

34

22

10“The armed forces’ role has changed post the Cold War and after 9/11”

Meet the speakers at CommunicAsia2013 Summit

The Village Resource Centre (VRC) programme was facilitated purely by extended C-band

4 | SatellitePro | May 2013

SatNews

Fashion One, the international channel for fashion, entertainment and lifestyle, is available live across the Middle East

and North Africa on the YahLive television platform in 1080i native High Definition.

The channel debuts with two original programmes, ‘Design Genius’ and ‘Fashion Frontline’. ‘Design Genius’ is a reality series where designers from around the world are provided with unconventional materials from which they have to make haute couture garments within a strict time frame. ‘Fashion Frontline’ is a fashion news series delivering news related to fashion.

Viewers across the region can reportedly tune into Fashion One by adding a small 40-50 cm satellite dish directed at the YahSat Y1A satellite at 52.5° East. YahLive reportedly carries one-half of MENA’s approximately 100 HD channels and aims to add 15-20 more channels

Fashion One goes live on YahLive in high definition

SES partners with SkyStream

Es’hailSat launch ratified

www.yahlive.tv

before year-end 2013.Ashley Jordan, CEO of Fashion One stated:

“We are excited to launch Fashion One HD to our fans in the Middle East and North Africa and also to YahLive viewers who have a passion for fashion.”

SkyStream FZ LLC has renewed a multi-year deal on SES’ NSS-6 satellite at 95 degrees East to provide connectivity to its maritime and oil and gas customers via VSAT networks.

SkyStream will utilise the Ku-band capacity on the SES satellite to reportedly deliver corporate VPN services across Iraq, Afghanistan and other key countries.

“We started our business with SES years ago and their services were the first bricks of our expansion and success. We are privileged to work with a professional partner,” said Riyadh Al Adely, Managing Director, SkyStream.

www.sky-stream.com www.eshailsat.qa

www.thuraya.com

www.cobham.com

KEY APPOINTMENTS

Béranger will be occupying the board seat vacated by Charles Moore of Lockheed Martin, who recently retired in March 2013. According to Ahmad Julfar, Chairman of Thuraya’s Board, this appointment coincides favourably with the company’s strategies that are being mapped out. “We look forward to benefitting from Eric’s experience and contribution for Thuraya’s continued success.”

Béranger founded Astrium Services in 2003 and today the company is one of the world’s largest satellite service providers offering military, governmental and commercial telecommunications services.

The decks are clear for Qatar to execute its ambitious satellite project ‘Eshail’ announced early 2012, with the country joining the United Nations Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space.

The Emir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, issued a Decree (No 14 of 2013), approving Qatar joining the UN Convention (XXIX) of 1974. The decree will have the status of law, according to reports from Qatar News Agency (QNA).

The six-tonne satellite will be launched from Arianespace’s space port in Kourou, French Guyana.

Eric Béranger appointed to Thuraya’s Board of Directors

Hellebrand – currently Chief of Staff to the CEO and Group Director of Communications – reportedly brings more than 25 years of experience in project and programme management roles, working on development and aftermarket projects, while living and working in Europe, North America and Australia.

In his new position, Hellebrand will continue to report directly to the CEO, remain a member of the group executive committee, and work at the Wimborne site. He will retain his Chief of Staff duties in the near term and continue to be responsible for Group Communications until a successor is appointed.

Julian Hellebrand as EVP for Lifecycle Management (LCM) and Programme Management, Cobham

Ashley Jordan, CEO of Fashion One

Riyadh Al Adely, Managing Director, SkyStream

Ali Ahmed Al-Kuwari, CEO, Es’hailSat

May 2013 | SatellitePro | 5

The role of space technology in disaster management remains strategic and key, according to the

Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency, (NASRDA) Dr Seidu O. Mohammed.

Speaking at a one-day National Space Dialogue/Media Conference on Space Science and Technology in Abuja, organised by NASRDA in collaboration

Qatar Airways expands OnAir connectivity

Space technology key to disaster management

Satellite imagery helps fight locust plagues in North Africa

DMC International Imaging (DMCii) is reportedly helping The Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) to predict the spread of locust plagues across North Africa using satellite imagery.

The imagery, from the UK-DMC2 satellite, is used in conjunction with weather data to help create locust forecasts and focus the application of pesticides to prevent the spread of swarms

Every year, North Africa is subjected to locust plagues that threaten to decimate crops and endanger countries’ food security. Satellite imagery is used to assess vegetation conditions, which helps to predict the locations of locust breeding grounds. The imagery, from the UK-DMC2 satellite, is used in conjunction with weather data to help create locust forecasts and focus the application of pesticides to prevent the spread of swarms.

In 2012, in a six-month summer campaign to fight the spread of locusts, DMCii acquired monthly images of regions in Southern Algeria, Northern Mali and Northern Niger for ASAL. Now, imagery is being acquired before the summer season starts, to predict as well as monitor the threat of locusts.

Karim Houari, International Cooperation Director of the Algerian Space Agency commented: “The use of satellite imagery has helped us in the past, during the invasion period, to identify and control areas at risk of locust swarms. This year, in terms of locust risk prediction in remission period, we used DMCii data for the ecological assessment of locust breeding areas (biotopes).”

www.onair.aero www.dmcii.com

with the World Bank, Dr Mohammed said, “During disasters, access to the scenes is very difficult, it is only through space, the necessary information and solution can be possible.”

He cited the example of the 2012 flood disaster in the country where Nigeria Sat -2 satellite was tasked for image acquisition covering the affected states.

“In addition, the international charter on space and major disaster was activated three times for Adamawa, Kogi and Bayelsa to get images in these states. This was made possible through our partners and the satellite images received during the activations played a major role in implementing the response and rehabilitation phases of the disaster,” he added.

Qatar Airways will fit its next generation A350 and A380 fleets with mobile and internet connectivity from OnAir, a global in-flight connectivity services provider.

This follows the GCC-based airline operating OnAir’s GSM on its A320s for more than three years. In total, more than 150 Qatar Airways’ aircraft will reportedly have OnAir connectivity, including its Boeing 787s.

Qatar Airways’ passengers have the choice, the airline claims, of using either the GSM network or WiFi.

“We have been operating Mobile OnAir for more than three years on some of our aircraft and it’s clear that our passengers want, and

are coming to expect, in-flight connectivity,” said Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways.

“We have seen high levels of usage of the OnAir services on flights to and from Europe, as well as

on regional flights. The pattern emerging is that business travellers typically use mobile data. Leisure passengers are more likely to send text messages or update twitter and Facebook accounts.

“Qatar Airways is the first of four airlines to date to have selected OnAir for its A350 fleet, and our fifth A380 customer,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir.

www.nasrda.gov.ng

Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways


SatNews

Fashion One, the international channel for fashion, entertainment and lifestyle, is available live across the Middle East

and North Africa on the YahLive television platform in 1080i native High Definition.

The channel debuts with two original programmes, ‘Design Genius’ and ‘Fashion Frontline’. ‘Design Genius’ is a reality series where designers from around the world are provided with unconventional materials from which they have to make haute couture garments within a strict time frame. ‘Fashion Frontline’ is a fashion news series delivering news related to fashion.

Viewers across the region can reportedly tune into Fashion One by adding a small 40-50 cm satellite dish directed at the YahSat Y1A satellite at 52.5° East. YahLive reportedly carries one-half of MENA’s approximately 100 HD channels and aims to add 15-20 more channels

Fashion One goes live on YahLive in high definition

SES partners with SkyStream

Es’hailSat launch ratified

www.yahlive.tv

before year-end 2013.Ashley Jordan, CEO of Fashion One stated:

“We are excited to launch Fashion One HD to our fans in the Middle East and North Africa and also to YahLive viewers who have a passion for fashion.”

SkyStream FZ LLC has renewed a multi-year deal on SES’ NSS-6 satellite at 95 degrees East to provide connectivity to its maritime and oil and gas customers via VSAT networks.

SkyStream will utilise the Ku-band capacity on the SES satellite to reportedly deliver corporate VPN services across Iraq, Afghanistan and other key countries.

“We started our business with SES years ago and their services were the first bricks of our expansion and success. We are privileged to work with a professional partner,” said Riyadh Al Adely, Managing Director, SkyStream.

www.sky-stream.com www.eshailsat.qa

www.thuraya.com

www.cobham.com

KEY APPOINTMENTS

Béranger will be occupying the board seat vacated by Charles Moore of Lockheed Martin, who recently retired in March 2013. According to Ahmad Julfar, Chairman of Thuraya’s Board, this appointment coincides favourably with the company’s strategies that are being mapped out. “We look forward to benefitting from Eric’s experience and contribution for Thuraya’s continued success.”

Béranger founded Astrium Services in 2003 and today the company is one of the world’s largest satellite service providers offering military, governmental and commercial telecommunications services.

The decks are clear for Qatar to execute its ambitious satellite project ‘Eshail’ announced early 2012, with the country joining the United Nations Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space.

The Emir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, issued a Decree (No 14 of 2013), approving Qatar joining the UN Convention (XXIX) of 1974. The decree will have the status of law, according to reports from Qatar News Agency (QNA).

The six-tonne satellite will be launched from Arianespace’s space port in Kourou, French Guyana.

Eric Béranger appointed to Thuraya’s Board of Directors

Hellebrand – currently Chief of Staff to the CEO and Group Director of Communications – reportedly brings more than 25 years of experience in project and programme management roles, working on development and aftermarket projects, while living and working in Europe, North America and Australia.

In his new position, Hellebrand will continue to report directly to the CEO, remain a member of the group executive committee, and work at the Wimborne site. He will retain his Chief of Staff duties in the near term and continue to be responsible for Group Communications until a successor is appointed.

Julian Hellebrand as EVP for Lifecycle Management (LCM) and Programme Management, Cobham

Ashley Jordan, CEO of Fashion One

Riyadh Al Adely, Managing Director, SkyStream

Ali Ahmed Al-Kuwari, CEO, Es’hailSat


The role of space technology in disaster management remains strategic and key, according to the

Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency, (NASRDA) Dr Seidu O. Mohammed.

Speaking at a one-day National Space Dialogue/Media Conference on Space Science and Technology in Abuja, organised by NASRDA in collaboration

Qatar Airways expands OnAir connectivity

Space technology key to disaster management

Satellite imagery helps fight locust plagues in North Africa

DMC International Imaging (DMCii) is reportedly helping The Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) to predict the spread of locust plagues across North Africa using satellite imagery.

The imagery, from the UK-DMC2 satellite, is used in conjunction with weather data to help create locust forecasts and focus the application of pesticides to prevent the spread of swarms

Every year, North Africa is subjected to locust plagues that threaten to decimate crops and endanger countries’ food security. Satellite imagery is used to assess vegetation conditions, which helps to predict the locations of locust breeding grounds. The imagery, from the UK-DMC2 satellite, is used in conjunction with weather data to help create locust forecasts and focus the application of pesticides to prevent the spread of swarms.

In 2012, in a six-month summer campaign to fight the spread of locusts, DMCii acquired monthly images of regions in Southern Algeria, Northern Mali and Northern Niger for ASAL. Now, imagery is being acquired before the summer season starts, to predict as well as monitor the threat of locusts.

Karim Houari, International Cooperation Director of the Algerian Space Agency commented: “The use of satellite imagery has helped us in the past, during the invasion period, to identify and control areas at risk of locust swarms. This year, in terms of locust risk prediction in remission period, we used DMCii data for the ecological assessment of locust breeding areas (biotopes).”

www.onair.aero www.dmcii.com

with the World Bank, Dr Mohammed said, “During disasters, access to the scenes is very difficult, it is only through space, the necessary information and solution can be possible.”

He cited the example of the 2012 flood disaster in the country where Nigeria Sat -2 satellite was tasked for image acquisition covering the affected states.

“In addition, the international charter on space and major disaster was activated three times for Adamawa, Kogi and Bayelsa to get images in these states. This was made possible through our partners and the satellite images received during the activations played a major role in implementing the response and rehabilitation phases of the disaster,” he added.

Qatar Airways will fit its next generation A350 and A380 fleets with mobile and internet connectivity from OnAir, a global in-flight connectivity services provider.

This follows the GCC-based airline operating OnAir’s GSM on its A320s for more than three years. In total, more than 150 Qatar Airways’ aircraft will reportedly have OnAir connectivity, including its Boeing 787s.

Qatar Airways’ passengers have the choice, the airline claims, of using either the GSM network or WiFi.

“We have been operating Mobile OnAir for more than three years on some of our aircraft and it’s clear that our passengers want, and

are coming to expect, in-flight connectivity,” said Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways.

“We have seen high levels of usage of the OnAir services on flights to and from Europe, as well as

on regional flights. The pattern emerging is that business travellers typically use mobile data. Leisure passengers are more likely to send text messages or update twitter and Facebook accounts.

“Qatar Airways is the first of four airlines to date to have selected OnAir for its A350 fleet, and our fifth A380 customer,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir.

www.nasrda.gov.ng

Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways

SatNews


IEC Telecom Group expands in Central Asia

www.safa-telecom.com

O’Plus Telecom, a satellite telecommunications company in Kazakhstan has joined the IEC

Telecom Group.Recently re-branded O’Plus Telecom has

operated since 2001 under the name Thuraya Kazakhstan. The company reportedly offers a wide range of solutions to the military, security organisations, oil and gas, maritime, UN, government entities and corporate enterprises.

Elaborating on the new solutions and services to be offered by O’Plus Telecom, Nabil Ben Soussia, Managing Director at Safa Telecom (Abu Dhabi office), a regional office of IEC Telecom, stated: “Since IEC Telecom Group acquired O’Plus Telecom in April 2013, O’Plus has become a Thuraya Gold Partner. Our clients will benefit from better support and stronger partnership with Thuraya.”

IEC Telecom group reportedly delivers corporate-grade satellite telecommunications

Hughes expands AfDB Network

Arabsat’s profits grow 11%

www.hughes.com www.arabsat.com

Hughes has been awarded a contract by the African Development Bank (AfDB), with headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and operating from its Temporary Relocation Agency in Tunis, Tunisia, to expand managed satellite services for the AfDB and also to provide MPLS connectivity in the region.

AfDB has been a Hughes-managed services customer since 2008, employing a primary communications network of broadband satellite terminals installed in 32 AfDB field offices throughout Africa. The expansion contract calls for Hughes to provide MPLS circuits at four AfDB sites, with backhaul (STM1) services to the Tunisian headquarters from a teleport in Germany. Major applications include SAP, VoIP, video conferencing, and high-speed internet access.

Arabsat increased its annual profits in 2012 by 11% as compared to 2011, a Kuwaiti minister is quoted as saying in a report by the Kuwait News Agency.

Kuwaiti Minister of Communications and State Minister of Housing Affairs Salem al-Uthaina made that statement after attending the 36th session of Arabsat’s board of directors’ meeting, currently hosted by Qatar.

The Kuwaiti minister affirmed that Jordan and Mauritania will be accepted as new members to Arabsat and that Palestine will be relieved this year of paying its allotted dues to Arabsat because of the unstable political situation it is going through at this time.

KEY APPOINTMENTS

In this role, Lopez will lead all the broadcast, distribution and sales activities across the Measat and Africasat fleet of satellites. Lopez will also support the expansion of Measat into the African region.

Prior to assuming this role, Lopez was Measat’s Senior Director of Sales and Marketing.

Ashton – with more than 20 years of experience in aerospace and defence leadership roles, living and working in Asia, Europe and North America – will be based at Cobham’s corporate North America office in Arlington, Virginia. He will continue to lead the TC&S business until a successor is appointed.

Jarod Lopez as VP – Broadcast Sales, Measat

David Ashton as EVP for Business Development and Technology, Cobham

www.measat.com

www.absatellite.net

www.cobham.com

In this newly created position, Damiba will be responsible for business development and managing sales and operations for the African market. Damiba was the sales director at Comtech EF Data and reportedly has a strong track record for both commercial and government clients for the African region.

Felix Damiba as new Managing Director of Africa , ABS

and their multiple applications on a global basis, with facilities across Europe (Paris, Bristol and Oslo ) Africa (Pointe-Noire), the Middle East (Dubai and Abu Dhabi), Central Asia (Kabul and Almaty) and

South-east Asia (Singapore).Highlighting the company’s expertise,

Nabil Ben Soussia stated: “With customised and flexible solutions, we can offer crew calling services, secure VPN access through satellite, solutions for mobile operations and compression and optimisation of bandwidth, among other solutions.”

Nabil Ben Soussia, Managing Director, Safa Telecom (Abu Dhabi o!ce)

Number of aircraft providing in-flight connectivity to triple by 2022

www.euroconsult-ec.com

The global in-flight connectivity market is expected to grow over the next 10 years, with more than 12,000 commercial and 16,000 business airplanes to provide in-flight connectivity to passengers by 2022, according to a newly released Euroconsult strategic review titled: Prospects for In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity.

With a take-up rate of less than 5%, in-flight connectivity services generated less than USD 300 million in revenue from airline passengers last year. The market is expected to grow to USD 1.3 billion by 2022.

Besides the mature L-band and ATG networks, Ku and Ka-band satellite systems are increasingly being adopted by airlines. Capacity requirements from in-flight passenger traffic is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~42% over the next ten


Al Madar TV, a newly established private Iraqi satellite channel targeting Iraqi audiences, has begun

broadcasting reportedly over the entire MENA region from twofour54 – Abu Dhabi, a Media Zone Authority company.

twofour54 intaj has provided an HD and tapeless solution, that includes content acquisition, media asset management, post production, broadcast services and connectivity.

Working with twofour54 intaj, and using its playout services, Al Madar TV will be airing a mix of original and acquired TV shows to viewers across the Middle East with an emphasis on family general entertainment genres in full HD quality.

Al Madar TV broadcasts from twofour54

Eurochannel extends reach in sub-Saharan Africa

The range of channels broadcasting across sub-Saharan Africa via the Eutelsat 16A satellite has reportedly increased with the launch of Eurochannel, the international TV channel dedicated to European films and series.

Leveraging Eutelsat 16A’s Ku-band footprint across Africa, from Senegal in the West to Madagascar in the East, Eurochannel has joined a digital platform uplinked by Eutelsat and comprising more than 20 TV channels. Eurochannel is reportedly broadcasting programmes subtitled in English, French and Portuguese, with terrestrial headends its principal target.

Rodney Benn, Regional Vice-President Africa at Eutelsat, responded: “Eutelsat 16A has quickly established itself as a valued platform for content delivery to network headends and for DTH reception in Africa. Its reach of more than 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, combined with the services we are supplying from our Rambouillet teleport, enable us to satisfy a surge of new demand and we are delighted to welcome Eurochannel as the latest addition to the platform.”

www.maritimeinsight.comtwofour54.com

www.eutelsat.com

years, carrying close to 30 Gbps of traffic over commercial Ku and Ka-band satellites by 2022. About one third of the traffic is expected to be over oceanic regions.

Thuraya MarineComms sponsored Meerkat, owned by Hans Kuijt, CEO of Thuraya distributor Xtra-Link, during the recent Airbus Regatta in Dubai. A German-made Dehler 32, Meerkat, has taken part in a number of offshore races and is currently in second place overall in the UAE offshore classification. During offshore races, the boat is reportedly fitted with onboard Thuraya voice and data services.

SatNews


IEC Telecom Group expands in Central Asia

www.safa-telecom.com

O’Plus Telecom, a satellite telecommunications company in Kazakhstan has joined the IEC

Telecom Group.Recently re-branded O’Plus Telecom has

operated since 2001 under the name Thuraya Kazakhstan. The company reportedly offers a wide range of solutions to the military, security organisations, oil and gas, maritime, UN, government entities and corporate enterprises.

Elaborating on the new solutions and services to be offered by O’Plus Telecom, Nabil Ben Soussia, Managing Director at Safa Telecom (Abu Dhabi office), a regional office of IEC Telecom, stated: “Since IEC Telecom Group acquired O’Plus Telecom in April 2013, O’Plus has become a Thuraya Gold Partner. Our clients will benefit from better support and stronger partnership with Thuraya.”

IEC Telecom group reportedly delivers corporate-grade satellite telecommunications

Hughes expands AfDB Network

Arabsat’s profits grow 11%

www.hughes.com www.arabsat.com

Hughes has been awarded a contract by the African Development Bank (AfDB), with headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and operating from its Temporary Relocation Agency in Tunis, Tunisia, to expand managed satellite services for the AfDB and also to provide MPLS connectivity in the region.

AfDB has been a Hughes-managed services customer since 2008, employing a primary communications network of broadband satellite terminals installed in 32 AfDB field offices throughout Africa. The expansion contract calls for Hughes to provide MPLS circuits at four AfDB sites, with backhaul (STM1) services to the Tunisian headquarters from a teleport in Germany. Major applications include SAP, VoIP, video conferencing, and high-speed internet access.

Arabsat increased its annual profits in 2012 by 11% as compared to 2011, a Kuwaiti minister is quoted as saying in a report by the Kuwait News Agency.

Kuwaiti Minister of Communications and State Minister of Housing Affairs Salem al-Uthaina made that statement after attending the 36th session of Arabsat’s board of directors’ meeting, currently hosted by Qatar.

The Kuwaiti minister affirmed that Jordan and Mauritania will be accepted as new members to Arabsat and that Palestine will be relieved this year of paying its allotted dues to Arabsat because of the unstable political situation it is going through at this time.

KEY APPOINTMENTS

In this role, Lopez will lead all the broadcast, distribution and sales activities across the Measat and Africasat fleet of satellites. Lopez will also support the expansion of Measat into the African region.

Prior to assuming this role, Lopez was Measat’s Senior Director of Sales and Marketing.

Ashton – with more than 20 years of experience in aerospace and defence leadership roles, living and working in Asia, Europe and North America – will be based at Cobham’s corporate North America office in Arlington, Virginia. He will continue to lead the TC&S business until a successor is appointed.

Jarod Lopez as VP – Broadcast Sales, Measat

David Ashton as EVP for Business Development and Technology, Cobham

www.measat.com

www.absatellite.net

www.cobham.com

In this newly created position, Damiba will be responsible for business development and managing sales and operations for the African market. Damiba was the sales director at Comtech EF Data and reportedly has a strong track record for both commercial and government clients for the African region.

Felix Damiba as new Managing Director of Africa , ABS

and their multiple applications on a global basis, with facilities across Europe (Paris, Bristol and Oslo ) Africa (Pointe-Noire), the Middle East (Dubai and Abu Dhabi), Central Asia (Kabul and Almaty) and

South-east Asia (Singapore).Highlighting the company’s expertise,

Nabil Ben Soussia stated: “With customised and flexible solutions, we can offer crew calling services, secure VPN access through satellite, solutions for mobile operations and compression and optimisation of bandwidth, among other solutions.”

Nabil Ben Soussia, Managing Director, Safa Telecom (Abu Dhabi o!ce)

Number of aircraft providing in-flight connectivity to triple by 2022

www.euroconsult-ec.com

The global in-flight connectivity market is expected to grow over the next 10 years, with more than 12,000 commercial and 16,000 business airplanes to provide in-flight connectivity to passengers by 2022, according to a newly released Euroconsult strategic review titled: Prospects for In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity.

With a take-up rate of less than 5%, in-flight connectivity services generated less than USD 300 million in revenue from airline passengers last year. The market is expected to grow to USD 1.3 billion by 2022.

Besides the mature L-band and ATG networks, Ku and Ka-band satellite systems are increasingly being adopted by airlines. Capacity requirements from in-flight passenger traffic is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~42% over the next ten


Al Madar TV, a newly established private Iraqi satellite channel targeting Iraqi audiences, has begun

broadcasting reportedly over the entire MENA region from twofour54 – Abu Dhabi, a Media Zone Authority company.

twofour54 intaj has provided an HD and tapeless solution, that includes content acquisition, media asset management, post production, broadcast services and connectivity.

Working with twofour54 intaj, and using its playout services, Al Madar TV will be airing a mix of original and acquired TV shows to viewers across the Middle East with an emphasis on family general entertainment genres in full HD quality.

Al Madar TV broadcasts from twofour54

Eurochannel extends reach in sub-Saharan Africa

The range of channels broadcasting across sub-Saharan Africa via the Eutelsat 16A satellite has reportedly increased with the launch of Eurochannel, the international TV channel dedicated to European films and series.

Leveraging Eutelsat 16A’s Ku-band footprint across Africa, from Senegal in the West to Madagascar in the East, Eurochannel has joined a digital platform uplinked by Eutelsat and comprising more than 20 TV channels. Eurochannel is reportedly broadcasting programmes subtitled in English, French and Portuguese, with terrestrial headends its principal target.

Rodney Benn, Regional Vice-President Africa at Eutelsat, responded: “Eutelsat 16A has quickly established itself as a valued platform for content delivery to network headends and for DTH reception in Africa. Its reach of more than 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, combined with the services we are supplying from our Rambouillet teleport, enable us to satisfy a surge of new demand and we are delighted to welcome Eurochannel as the latest addition to the platform.”

www.maritimeinsight.comtwofour54.com

www.eutelsat.com

years, carrying close to 30 Gbps of traffic over commercial Ku and Ka-band satellites by 2022. About one third of the traffic is expected to be over oceanic regions.

Thuraya MarineComms sponsored Meerkat, owned by Hans Kuijt, CEO of Thuraya distributor Xtra-Link, during the recent Airbus Regatta in Dubai. A German-made Dehler 32, Meerkat, has taken part in a number of offshore races and is currently in second place overall in the UAE offshore classification. During offshore races, the boat is reportedly fitted with onboard Thuraya voice and data services.

As reliance on UAVs increase with the troop pullout in Afghanistan, demand for bandwidth continues

to remain high and will increase as operations shift to North Africa and possibly parts of Asia.

Conceding that the future needs of milsatcom are uncertain, Åke Jönsson, Sales Director, Rockwell Collins, recalls that the drivers for milsatcom during the 2003 operations in Iraq ranged from the international nature of the missions, the political and regional unrest that erupted as a result of the conflict, the net-centric warfare and the introduction of new sensor systems, notably the UAVs.

Satcom deployed at lower levelsA broad trend indicates that satcom is being used at lower levels. Experts believe that the use of milsatcom outside the higher strategic levels to a lower, tactical level imposes new demands on the terminals and the users. The users are typically mobile, working under severe mission critical restrictions in terms of space and time.

“The use of terminals,” observes Jönsson, “in today’s military operations, for instance, demonstrate certain trends. Satcom solutions are being deployed at the tactical levels, SOTM vehicles are still limited in use, Ku-band terminals continue to dominate and the rapid increase in satcom in ops underlines the critical importance of support by providers.”

Transition to network systems is a strong characteristic of the nature of satcom in today’s military operations,

The deployment of satcom at tactical levels, the need

for interoperability in a coalition environment and the sustained pressure of shrinking budgets are all

ingredients for an uncertain yet demanding milsatcom future. Our experts concur

that with the need for mobility anytime and

anywhere, satcom should enable, not constrain

SatLead


MODERNMILITARIES

KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH

states Jonsson. This is also being seen as a by-product of milsatcom being used at the tactical levels.

“The transition to IP networks is ongoing though there are still some point-to-point communications.

“The architecture typically follows the hub-and-spoke distribution paradigm with a range of serial and IP encryption solutions being used.”

More bandwidth for fewer troopsIn the new paradigm, milsatcom experts believe that communication is not only an enabler but is directly affecting the outcomes of wars. A top US army commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) was quoted as saying that

As reliance on UAVs increase with the troop pullout in Afghanistan, demand for bandwidth continues

to remain high and will increase as operations shift to North Africa and possibly parts of Asia.

Conceding that the future needs of milsatcom are uncertain, Åke Jönsson, Sales Director, Rockwell Collins, recalls that the drivers for milsatcom during the 2003 operations in Iraq ranged from the international nature of the missions, the political and regional unrest that erupted as a result of the conflict, the net-centric warfare and the introduction of new sensor systems, notably the UAVs.

Satcom deployed at lower levelsA broad trend indicates that satcom is being used at lower levels. Experts believe that the use of milsatcom outside the higher strategic levels to a lower, tactical level imposes new demands on the terminals and the users. The users are typically mobile, working under severe mission critical restrictions in terms of space and time.

“The use of terminals,” observes Jönsson, “in today’s military operations, for instance, demonstrate certain trends. Satcom solutions are being deployed at the tactical levels, SOTM vehicles are still limited in use, Ku-band terminals continue to dominate and the rapid increase in satcom in ops underlines the critical importance of support by providers.”

Transition to network systems is a strong characteristic of the nature of satcom in today’s military operations,

The deployment of satcom at tactical levels, the need

for interoperability in a coalition environment and the sustained pressure of shrinking budgets are all

ingredients for an uncertain yet demanding milsatcom future. Our experts concur

that with the need for mobility anytime and

anywhere, satcom should enable, not constrain

SatLead


MODERNMILITARIES

KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH

states Jonsson. This is also being seen as a by-product of milsatcom being used at the tactical levels.

“The transition to IP networks is ongoing though there are still some point-to-point communications.

“The architecture typically follows the hub-and-spoke distribution paradigm with a range of serial and IP encryption solutions being used.”

More bandwidth for fewer troopsIn the new paradigm, milsatcom experts believe that communication is not only an enabler but is directly affecting the outcomes of wars. A top US army commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) was quoted as saying that


“With the need for mobility anytime and anywhere, satcom should enable, not constrain. The interoperability element that is critical in a coalition environment is the new focus for the industry as governments and militaries find new ways to procure satcom capabilities”

networked forces rule the battlefield. Allowing for a reported ratio of one coalition soldier to 70 to 90 opposition soldiers, OIF saw the bandwidth usage increase from 100Mbps to almost 4Gbps – more bandwidth for fewer troops.

Though X and Ka-band usage are on the rise, Ku-band remains the main support, observes Jönsson.

“In terms of trends in frequency and bandwidth usage, commercial Ku-band is the main source. With the emergence of new satellites, X-band is now viable for smaller terminals and is being used for secure operations and while Ka-band availability is limited to-date, the usage is growing.”

In terms of bandwidth, the brigades would typically use megabits and the squads would be allotted kilobits. The widespread use of SOTM is around the corner and the future will take on the multiband approach, predicts Jönsson.

Diverse missions driving use of diverse tools“With continuously increasing needs for higher data rates, deployed down to the tactical level and operational demands for increased mobility and fast deployment, there is growing preference for suitcase terminals and manpacks with increased throughput – terminals that are essentially compact, easy to use and quick to air.”

It is widely acknowledged that today’s soldiers are not just fighters, but they are at times peace keepers, relief workers and so on. And as the military adapts to different operational needs, the standard work tools have changed dramatically, asserts Jönsson.

“ VoIP and video teleconferencing are standard work tools. There is an increased demand for quick access to sensor information and given the cost sensitivities of the time, we see trends such as bandwidth sharing and increased utilisation efficiency.”

The need for modularity and interoperabilityGiven the rapidly changing scenario, it is critical to define the satcom needs to

“With continuously increasing needs for higher data rates, deployed down to the tactical level and operational demands for increased mobility and fast deployment, there is growing preference for suitcase terminals and manpacks with increased throughput”- Åke Jönsson, Sales Director, Rockwell Collins


SatLead

enable future capabilities and modular-built terminals offer flexibility for current-day operations, states Jönsson.

“In terms of terminals, the ‘user-community’ has not clarified operational needs for SOTM. Terminals need to be designed for all environments. Aspects such as optimal power consumption need to be looked into as do designs that produce high performance antenna and efficient modulation to save bandwidth. As stated earlier, the systems should require minimal training for operators. There should be no need for babysitters.”

While the global nature of operations call for flexible solutions and this is particularly important when designing networks, there are mindset issues, observers Jönsson.

“IP-Encryption is still not ‘accepted’ as secure and there is the challenge to ensure compatibility of any new system with legacy terminals.”

Acknowledging the challenges, Andy Hide, Head of Strategy Middle East, Astrium, asserts: “Change is certain, responsiveness is key.

“With the need for mobility anytime and anywhere, satcom should enable, not constrain. The interoperability element that is critical in a coalition environment is the new focus for the industry as governments and militaries find new ways to procure satcom capabilities.”

Hide concedes that the need for interoperability in the coalition environment is not a unique challenge and is widely recognised as the “common aiming point”.

“But there are many different routes in terms of how to achieve interoperability and many lessons have already been learned. Multiple short-notice missions in a coalition environment drive a requirement for extremely dynamic communications capability. To combine this ‘dynamism’, with the integrity, security and robustness that the war fighter demands, implies that technology including management systems and advanced waveforms are part of the solution. There needs to be intimate understanding of how all

communication bearers and service–providing networks collaborate and interact in an operational environment.”

The aim is to make secure national capability, affordable, stresses Hide.

Collaboration between governments and commercial satcomOne of the oft cited examples of collaboration between commercial satcom and governments is the Skynet 5 military communications system owned and operated by Astrium Services since 2007, for the UK Ministry of Defence, through a Private Finance Initiative (PFI). The seventh Ariane 5 mission of 2012 carried the British military communications satellite Skynet 5D recently. Skynet 5D will join the existing three Skynet 5 satellites.

Another prime example of collaboration, this time between governments, is the U.S. military’s Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) constellation of X- and Ka-band satellites. While four WGS satellites are in operation in geostationary orbit, aided by two international partnerships with Australia and the other with Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Luxembourg and the Netherlands — the US Air Force has reportedly ordered six more spacecraft from manufacturer, Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems

of El Segundo, California. These satellites are scheduled to be launched between 2013 and 2018. As reported in the trade press, the five nations will benefit from a 25% reduction in the cost of their participation because the US Air Force was able to negotiate a better price from Boeing for the ninth WGS spacecraft, whose construction these nations are financing.

Underscoring the benefits of outsourcing operations and maintenance in milsatcom programmes, Nicolas Stephan, General Manager, LSE Space Middle East, begins with an everyday example saying “you do not fix your car yourself… you use a professional”.

“You do not fix a car yourself”“The armed forces’ role has changed post the Cold War and after 9/11. The international financial crisis has cut military budgets, and coupled with the difficulty in some countries to find the appropriate skilled manpower, to run more and more complex satcom systems.”

Outsourcing some aspects of the military missions becomes an option

“Multiple short notice missions in a coalition environment drive a requirement for extremely dynamic communications capability. To combine this ‘dynamism’, with the integrity, security and robustness that the war fighter demands, implies that technology including management systems and advanced waveforms are part of the solution”- Andy Hide, Head of Strategy Middle East, Astrium


Iraq1991

100

80%

40%20%

20%

60%80%

700

2,400

16,000

Iraq1991

Militarysatellites

Commercialsatellites

Afghanistan2001

Afghanistan2001

Iraq2003

Iraq2003

Source: Rockwell Collins, Inc.

2010 Requirement

Estimated military use of satcom

High reliance on commercial space segment

Exponential growth in satcom usage

Satc

om b

andw

idth

use

d: M

bps

Shar

e of

ban

dwid

th u

sed

allowing for the optimisation of your assets, states Stephan.

“There are two ways of outsourcing. The first option would be to buy the complete end-to-end satcom service which would typically mean buying capacity on a satellite. The second option would be to outsource operations and maintenance within the military premises.”

Outsourcing in milsatcom can be limited in scale owing to security and safety reasons, states Stephan, but there are many areas where outsourcing can be implemented.

“There is ample room for outsourcing from handling satellite operations per se to monitoring the network control centre and maintenance of anchor stations including RF, baseband, modems and maintenance of satellite ground terminals.”

Hurdles towards outsourcingThere are numerous misconceptions about outsourcing that more often than not hamper the process, states Stephan.

“Among the misconceptions include the fear of losing managerial control and that one would normally not outsource on the other side of the world where the operations are. One of the popular misconceptions is that outsourcing of satcom services could pose a threat to security and confidentiality issues. That’s why the management of cryptographic elements should remain under armed forces’ control.”

The need to ‘control’ the contractor also drives misconceptions on the part of militaries/governments vis-à-vis outsourcing. Stephan stresses the need for flexibility and trust and believes these misconceptions need to be overcome because the advantages of outsourcing outweigh the concerns that militaries typically have.

“The army can focus on core activities, with soldiers and officers focussing on their missions. Communications via satellite is not the mission, it is just the means to make the mission a success.

“With outsourcing, more staff can be allocated to the primary targets of the

The flexibility through open architecture, includes systems built on modularity that are easily adaptable, upgradeable and future proof


SatLead

enable future capabilities and modular-built terminals offer flexibility for current-day operations, states Jönsson.

“In terms of terminals, the ‘user-community’ has not clarified operational needs for SOTM. Terminals need to be designed for all environments. Aspects such as optimal power consumption need to be looked into as do designs that produce high performance antenna and efficient modulation to save bandwidth. As stated earlier, the systems should require minimal training for operators. There should be no need for babysitters.”

While the global nature of operations call for flexible solutions and this is particularly important when designing networks, there are mindset issues, observers Jönsson.

“IP-Encryption is still not ‘accepted’ as secure and there is the challenge to ensure compatibility of any new system with legacy terminals.”

Acknowledging the challenges, Andy Hide, Head of Strategy Middle East, Astrium, asserts: “Change is certain, responsiveness is key.

“With the need for mobility anytime and anywhere, satcom should enable, not constrain. The interoperability element that is critical in a coalition environment is the new focus for the industry as governments and militaries find new ways to procure satcom capabilities.”

Hide concedes that the need for interoperability in the coalition environment is not a unique challenge and is widely recognised as the “common aiming point”.

“But there are many different routes in terms of how to achieve interoperability and many lessons have already been learned. Multiple short-notice missions in a coalition environment drive a requirement for extremely dynamic communications capability. To combine this ‘dynamism’, with the integrity, security and robustness that the war fighter demands, implies that technology including management systems and advanced waveforms are part of the solution. There needs to be intimate understanding of how all

communication bearers and service–providing networks collaborate and interact in an operational environment.”

The aim is to make secure national capability, affordable, stresses Hide.

Collaboration between governments and commercial satcomOne of the oft cited examples of collaboration between commercial satcom and governments is the Skynet 5 military communications system owned and operated by Astrium Services since 2007, for the UK Ministry of Defence, through a Private Finance Initiative (PFI). The seventh Ariane 5 mission of 2012 carried the British military communications satellite Skynet 5D recently. Skynet 5D will join the existing three Skynet 5 satellites.

Another prime example of collaboration, this time between governments, is the U.S. military’s Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) constellation of X- and Ka-band satellites. While four WGS satellites are in operation in geostationary orbit, aided by two international partnerships with Australia and the other with Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Luxembourg and the Netherlands — the US Air Force has reportedly ordered six more spacecraft from manufacturer, Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems

of El Segundo, California. These satellites are scheduled to be launched between 2013 and 2018. As reported in the trade press, the five nations will benefit from a 25% reduction in the cost of their participation because the US Air Force was able to negotiate a better price from Boeing for the ninth WGS spacecraft, whose construction these nations are financing.

Underscoring the benefits of outsourcing operations and maintenance in milsatcom programmes, Nicolas Stephan, General Manager, LSE Space Middle East, begins with an everyday example saying “you do not fix your car yourself… you use a professional”.

“You do not fix a car yourself”“The armed forces’ role has changed post the Cold War and after 9/11. The international financial crisis has cut military budgets, and coupled with the difficulty in some countries to find the appropriate skilled manpower, to run more and more complex satcom systems.”

Outsourcing some aspects of the military missions becomes an option

“Multiple short notice missions in a coalition environment drive a requirement for extremely dynamic communications capability. To combine this ‘dynamism’, with the integrity, security and robustness that the war fighter demands, implies that technology including management systems and advanced waveforms are part of the solution”- Andy Hide, Head of Strategy Middle East, Astrium


Iraq1991

100

80%

40%20%

20%

60%80%

700

2,400

16,000

Iraq1991

Militarysatellites

Commercialsatellites

Afghanistan2001

Afghanistan2001

Iraq2003

Iraq2003

Source: Rockwell Collins, Inc.

2010 Requirement

Estimated military use of satcom

High reliance on commercial space segment

Exponential growth in satcom usage

Satc

om b

andw

idth

use

d: M

bps

Shar

e of

ban

dwid

th u

sed

allowing for the optimisation of your assets, states Stephan.

“There are two ways of outsourcing. The first option would be to buy the complete end-to-end satcom service which would typically mean buying capacity on a satellite. The second option would be to outsource operations and maintenance within the military premises.”

Outsourcing in milsatcom can be limited in scale owing to security and safety reasons, states Stephan, but there are many areas where outsourcing can be implemented.

“There is ample room for outsourcing from handling satellite operations per se to monitoring the network control centre and maintenance of anchor stations including RF, baseband, modems and maintenance of satellite ground terminals.”

Hurdles towards outsourcingThere are numerous misconceptions about outsourcing that more often than not hamper the process, states Stephan.

“Among the misconceptions include the fear of losing managerial control and that one would normally not outsource on the other side of the world where the operations are. One of the popular misconceptions is that outsourcing of satcom services could pose a threat to security and confidentiality issues. That’s why the management of cryptographic elements should remain under armed forces’ control.”

The need to ‘control’ the contractor also drives misconceptions on the part of militaries/governments vis-à-vis outsourcing. Stephan stresses the need for flexibility and trust and believes these misconceptions need to be overcome because the advantages of outsourcing outweigh the concerns that militaries typically have.

“The army can focus on core activities, with soldiers and officers focussing on their missions. Communications via satellite is not the mission, it is just the means to make the mission a success.

“With outsourcing, more staff can be allocated to the primary targets of the

The flexibility through open architecture, includes systems built on modularity that are easily adaptable, upgradeable and future proof


SatLead

mission, and critically more staff is available for deployment on the field.”

Outsourcing simply allows experts to deal with satcom issues ensuring efficiency in operations and maintenance, thus reducing costs, stresses Stephan.

“Outsourcing is a cost effective solution. Only limited training is required for military personnel, freeing them to concentrate on mission critical tasks. The contractor’s personnel already has experience in similar systems and technical pre-requisites and most importantly, with quality control and service delivery. Performance can be guaranteed with SLAs.”

Successfully outsourced operations such as Skynet in the UK, SatComBw in Germany and Syracuse in France depend on, according to Stephan, good relationships with the contractor, trust between parties, flexibility of the contractor, fairness of the armed forces and support of consultants to establish contracts.

One notable initiative in this regard has been launched by the European Defence Agency (EDA) to pool satcom demand and reduce costs by 10%. The EDA has awarded Astrium Services an initial three-year, !2.3 million (USD 3 million) contract to act as the commercial and operational interface with satellite operators.

One of the headline-grabbing initiatives towards collaboration between governments and commercial

entities is the growing acceptance of the hosted payloads. And for good reason. Government payloads usually take longer to develop than commercial satellites. Both industry and governments are working to make hosted payloads more acceptable. While the Pentagon is developing administrative models to make procuring and deploying hosted payloads easier, we have instances such as the Australian Defence Force hosting a USD 167 million military satcom payload on the Intelsat 22 satellite launched in 2012.

“Finding the right manpower should therefore not be a problem anymore for the armed forces around the world. Militaries should focus on the mission, not on the logistics behind it,” concluded Stephan.

The logistics of deploying modern militaries is only increasing in complexity, states Jönsson of Rockwell Collins.

As the satcom experts – both commercial and government - work towards improving bandwidth efficiency and seek interoperability for joint/coalition operations, the increased data rates will probably see the networks moving beyond terminals to SDR (Software Defined Radio), WiMax and mobile GSM base stations solutions. The consensus among the satcom experts is that global operations require multiple frequency bands.

Jönsson of Rockwell Collins elaborates: “The flexibility through open architecture, includes systems built on modularity that are easily adaptable, upgradeable and future proof. The need of the day is modular technology that takes into account terminals that have multiple antenna sizes, networks with multiple modem options and multiple transceiver options in terms of frequency/bandwidth solutions.”

“You don’t know where you will go tomorrow,” concludes Jonsson. PRO

Additional content: Presentations by speakers at SMI-organised Milsatcom MEA conference

“The army can focus on core activities, with soldiers and officers focussing on their missions. Communications via satellite is not the mission, it is just the means to make the mission a success”- Nicolas Stephan, General Manager, LSE Space Middle East


SatLead

mission, and critically more staff is available for deployment on the field.”

Outsourcing simply allows experts to deal with satcom issues ensuring efficiency in operations and maintenance, thus reducing costs, stresses Stephan.

“Outsourcing is a cost effective solution. Only limited training is required for military personnel, freeing them to concentrate on mission critical tasks. The contractor’s personnel already has experience in similar systems and technical pre-requisites and most importantly, with quality control and service delivery. Performance can be guaranteed with SLAs.”

Successfully outsourced operations such as Skynet in the UK, SatComBw in Germany and Syracuse in France depend on, according to Stephan, good relationships with the contractor, trust between parties, flexibility of the contractor, fairness of the armed forces and support of consultants to establish contracts.

One notable initiative in this regard has been launched by the European Defence Agency (EDA) to pool satcom demand and reduce costs by 10%. The EDA has awarded Astrium Services an initial three-year, !2.3 million (USD 3 million) contract to act as the commercial and operational interface with satellite operators.

One of the headline-grabbing initiatives towards collaboration between governments and commercial

entities is the growing acceptance of the hosted payloads. And for good reason. Government payloads usually take longer to develop than commercial satellites. Both industry and governments are working to make hosted payloads more acceptable. While the Pentagon is developing administrative models to make procuring and deploying hosted payloads easier, we have instances such as the Australian Defence Force hosting a USD 167 million military satcom payload on the Intelsat 22 satellite launched in 2012.

“Finding the right manpower should therefore not be a problem anymore for the armed forces around the world. Militaries should focus on the mission, not on the logistics behind it,” concluded Stephan.

The logistics of deploying modern militaries is only increasing in complexity, states Jönsson of Rockwell Collins.

As the satcom experts – both commercial and government - work towards improving bandwidth efficiency and seek interoperability for joint/coalition operations, the increased data rates will probably see the networks moving beyond terminals to SDR (Software Defined Radio), WiMax and mobile GSM base stations solutions. The consensus among the satcom experts is that global operations require multiple frequency bands.

Jönsson of Rockwell Collins elaborates: “The flexibility through open architecture, includes systems built on modularity that are easily adaptable, upgradeable and future proof. The need of the day is modular technology that takes into account terminals that have multiple antenna sizes, networks with multiple modem options and multiple transceiver options in terms of frequency/bandwidth solutions.”

“You don’t know where you will go tomorrow,” concludes Jonsson. PRO

Additional content: Presentations by speakers at SMI-organised Milsatcom MEA conference

“The army can focus on core activities, with soldiers and officers focussing on their missions. Communications via satellite is not the mission, it is just the means to make the mission a success”- Nicolas Stephan, General Manager, LSE Space Middle East

ARE SATELLITE PHONES SAFE TO USE IN CONFLICT ZONES?

David Moss, Director, Government Services – Thuraya, says intercepting and cracking satellite phone calls in the real world is very difficult


SatVertical: MSS

Making an impassioned argument in favour of the safety and security of using mobile satellite

services in crises zones, David Moss, Director, Government Services, Thuraya, refutes the media report published early in 2012 about the cracking of satellite phone encryption. The report published in the UK’s Daily Telegraph stated that there was a problem with GMR 1 and 2 – GSM-based protocols employing GSM protection engines. The report also stated that details were kept secret so security experts cannot test them and that satellite handsets’ built-in encryption on these calls is no longer secure. Moss pointed out that the GMR-1 details are actually published, and have been available for download on the internet for several years.

Moss disputes that intercepting and cracking satcom calls is, as the media report implies, as easy as it is made out.

“In real world environments it is actually very difficult. Scientists admitted they

“haven’t been able to eavesdrop on voice calls” yet. The hacks done to date have been exceptionally clinical with the scientists only being able to hack their own calls. And lastly, the report stated that the investigations had been conducted as scientists wanted to prove that the most secure voice telephony systems in the world can be hacked.”

Is this a problem? Moss responds with an emphatic no.

“Satellite IP data should be treated the same way as internet IP traffic. All voice calls should be addressed in the same manner as PSTN and separate encryption methods should be used. And lastly, military confidential information is never sent over an open system, unless it is being employed in conjunction with an accredited cryptographic device.”

Moss states that interception of voice traffic should not be confused with the interception of the call set-up information – different methods are needed to protect geolocation information to those needed

“Satellite IP data should be treated the same way as internet IP tra!c. All voice calls should be addressed in the same manner as PSTN and separate encryption methods should be used”


to protect the actual data. Protecting geolocation is agruably more important than protection of the data. Moss described how Thuraya does this for its government users.

“To protect individuals in large scale deployments, a code is transmitted during call set up which identifies the beam as opposed to the terminal GPS position. This specific protection has been implemented by Thuraya in our GL Service and it is restricted to military users from specific countries. Other methods are used by Thuraya to protect civilians in areas where risk to them is identified.”

Elaborating on the Thuraya GL Service, Moss underlines the significance of reporting a randomised GPS Position, as against reporting the true location of the user.

“Small deployments work covertly in hostile territory. Normally, users would have no option other than to use a standard service and report their GPS location. With our geolocation service, a random GPS position is reported between 50 and 200 kms from the true location of the user. It looks like a standard commercial terminal when reporting location and prevents the revealing of the geolocation of the user.”

Contrary to reports in the media, Moss reiterates that MSS usage by military forces does not pose a threat and that confidential information must be protected by accredited cryptographic products

Clarifying their stance on the issue, a statement by the UK MOD states: “All military users of mobile satellite communication systems are aware of the potential threats to such systems and are briefed explicitly that they are only authorised to pass unclassified information (both voice and data) over these systems.”

“In real world environments, it [hacking] is actually very difficult. Scientists admitted they “haven’t been able to eavesdrop on voice calls”- David Moss, Director, Government Services, Thuraya

Telecoms Sans Frontières (TSF) has set up an internet communications centre in war-torn Timbuktu to help restore normal life in the Malian city.

A team from the Inmarsat-sponsored agency has established an internet hub in Timbuktu’s town hall to help the authorities, emergency responders and aid organisations.

TSF’s communications specialists remain in the country, despite ongoing battles between rebels and Mali’s army in the north of the country and the relative calm in and around Timbuktu being shattered by a series of suicide blasts.

Emergency support“Until recently Timbuktu did not have reliable access to the internet because of damage to the landline network during the conflict,” said TSF spokesman German Mjaviya.

“Using it is critical to the work of authorities and agencies working to repair the damage to the country and restore normality.

“TSF’s internet centre provides the only public internet connections in Timbutku.”

Medical teamsThe internet hub is being used by government agencies and non-governmental organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières, Handicap International, the International Organisation for Migration, child rights organisation, PLAN International, and a variety of medical teams.

It provides support to emergency workers in Timbuktu, facilitating the exchange of information necessary for the management of their complex and dangerous missions.

Free callsTSF teams equipped with Inmarsat BGAN and IsatPhone Pro have worked in Mali since February, first offering free calls to the population, and later providing satellite connectivity in Timbuktu after the Malian army retook the city.

TSF specialists are also supporting Malians in refugee camps. PRO

Telecoms agency sets up internet centre in war-torn Timbuktu

ARE SATELLITE PHONES SAFE TO USE IN CONFLICT ZONES?

David Moss, Director, Government Services – Thuraya, says intercepting and cracking satellite phone calls in the real world is very difficult


SatVertical: MSS

Making an impassioned argument in favour of the safety and security of using mobile satellite

services in crises zones, David Moss, Director, Government Services, Thuraya, refutes the media report published early in 2012 about the cracking of satellite phone encryption. The report published in the UK’s Daily Telegraph stated that there was a problem with GMR 1 and 2 – GSM-based protocols employing GSM protection engines. The report also stated that details were kept secret so security experts cannot test them and that satellite handsets’ built-in encryption on these calls is no longer secure. Moss pointed out that the GMR-1 details are actually published, and have been available for download on the internet for several years.

Moss disputes that intercepting and cracking satcom calls is, as the media report implies, as easy as it is made out.

“In real world environments it is actually very difficult. Scientists admitted they

“haven’t been able to eavesdrop on voice calls” yet. The hacks done to date have been exceptionally clinical with the scientists only being able to hack their own calls. And lastly, the report stated that the investigations had been conducted as scientists wanted to prove that the most secure voice telephony systems in the world can be hacked.”

Is this a problem? Moss responds with an emphatic no.

“Satellite IP data should be treated the same way as internet IP traffic. All voice calls should be addressed in the same manner as PSTN and separate encryption methods should be used. And lastly, military confidential information is never sent over an open system, unless it is being employed in conjunction with an accredited cryptographic device.”

Moss states that interception of voice traffic should not be confused with the interception of the call set-up information – different methods are needed to protect geolocation information to those needed

“Satellite IP data should be treated the same way as internet IP tra!c. All voice calls should be addressed in the same manner as PSTN and separate encryption methods should be used”


to protect the actual data. Protecting geolocation is agruably more important than protection of the data. Moss described how Thuraya does this for its government users.

“To protect individuals in large scale deployments, a code is transmitted during call set up which identifies the beam as opposed to the terminal GPS position. This specific protection has been implemented by Thuraya in our GL Service and it is restricted to military users from specific countries. Other methods are used by Thuraya to protect civilians in areas where risk to them is identified.”

Elaborating on the Thuraya GL Service, Moss underlines the significance of reporting a randomised GPS Position, as against reporting the true location of the user.

“Small deployments work covertly in hostile territory. Normally, users would have no option other than to use a standard service and report their GPS location. With our geolocation service, a random GPS position is reported between 50 and 200 kms from the true location of the user. It looks like a standard commercial terminal when reporting location and prevents the revealing of the geolocation of the user.”

Contrary to reports in the media, Moss reiterates that MSS usage by military forces does not pose a threat and that confidential information must be protected by accredited cryptographic products

Clarifying their stance on the issue, a statement by the UK MOD states: “All military users of mobile satellite communication systems are aware of the potential threats to such systems and are briefed explicitly that they are only authorised to pass unclassified information (both voice and data) over these systems.”

“In real world environments, it [hacking] is actually very difficult. Scientists admitted they “haven’t been able to eavesdrop on voice calls”- David Moss, Director, Government Services, Thuraya

Telecoms Sans Frontières (TSF) has set up an internet communications centre in war-torn Timbuktu to help restore normal life in the Malian city.

A team from the Inmarsat-sponsored agency has established an internet hub in Timbuktu’s town hall to help the authorities, emergency responders and aid organisations.

TSF’s communications specialists remain in the country, despite ongoing battles between rebels and Mali’s army in the north of the country and the relative calm in and around Timbuktu being shattered by a series of suicide blasts.

Emergency support“Until recently Timbuktu did not have reliable access to the internet because of damage to the landline network during the conflict,” said TSF spokesman German Mjaviya.

“Using it is critical to the work of authorities and agencies working to repair the damage to the country and restore normality.

“TSF’s internet centre provides the only public internet connections in Timbutku.”

Medical teamsThe internet hub is being used by government agencies and non-governmental organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières, Handicap International, the International Organisation for Migration, child rights organisation, PLAN International, and a variety of medical teams.

It provides support to emergency workers in Timbuktu, facilitating the exchange of information necessary for the management of their complex and dangerous missions.

Free callsTSF teams equipped with Inmarsat BGAN and IsatPhone Pro have worked in Mali since February, first offering free calls to the population, and later providing satellite connectivity in Timbuktu after the Malian army retook the city.

TSF specialists are also supporting Malians in refugee camps. PRO

Telecoms agency sets up internet centre in war-torn Timbuktu

BEYOND THELINE OF SIGHTSatcom experts are enabling the convergence of technologies with beyond-the-line-of-sight reach for the tactical radio that offers militaries a cost-effective way to improve situational awareness for soldiers, states Andy Start, President, Global Government, Inmarsat in conversation with SatellitePro ME


SatVertical: MSS


Far removed from the ‘glamour’ of UAVs and its bandwidth hungry ways, it seems the satellite industry is paying attention

to the tactical radio. One military historian has described radio as the basis for the 20th Century’s communications revolution lending the soldier greater situational awareness. The capabilities have also improved phenomenally. Whereas 100 years ago, the radio could typically carry voice traffic, morse code and telegrams; tactical radios today carry voice, internet services and critical data for users at the tactical edge, and for command and control reach-back.

“When I started working 25 years ago,” recalls Andy Start, President, Global Government, Inmarsat, in conversation with SatellitePro ME, “we still had customers who were happy with 50bps, and now the army talks of megabits to gigabytes of capacity.”

Statistics tell us that just a decade ago, the US army would handle around 46 megabits of data-per-second across its communications networks, whereas today this figure is around 9.6 gigabytes-per-second.

The interplay between tactical radios and commercial mobile devices has already picked up pace with tactical radios, for instance, now incorporating commercial features such as email and chat. Since 2009, the USA’s Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications’ project has been investigating, driven by cost and familiarity factors, as to how to integrate tactical radios with COTS devices.

Compelling offer from the satellite industryThe satellite industry on its part approaches the tactical radio with a compelling

proposition – offering beyond-the-line-of-sight (BLOS) capability that Andy Start believes has profound implications for the soldier’s situational awareness on the frontline independent of terrain or local infrastructure.

“We have launched L-TAC, a new L-band service, which will deliver a ‘UHF-like’ tactical satellite capability for use with existing UHF tactical radios for approved government customers at low cost. This offers an exciting capability to a sector that is underserved.

“There is not enough UHF spectrum in the world – in fact there is so little - and it is dominated by the US and a handful of other countries. So what we are doing is launching a product that leverages the coverage provided by the Inmarsat-4 constellation of satellites. Militaries will be able to exercise greater command and control through existing tactical radios with small antennas for BLOS communications on the move. Very interestingly, even the nations that have access to UHF don’t have enough, and they are potential targets for this product.”

The demand for UHF satellite capacity reportedly exceeds supply by over 200%, this despite the launch by the US government, of the first of five next generation UHF satellites known as the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS).

The principle underlying the Inmarsat initiative, according to Start, is the very topical bring-your-own device (BYOD) concept that addresses the all-important demands among militaries for ease-of-use and interoperability.

“The way the L-TAC works from a user perspective is very simple. All they have to do is unplug the tactical radio antenna and

“Militaries will be able to exercise greater command and control through existing tactical radios with small antennas for BLOS communications on the move”- Andy Start, President, Global Government, Inmarsat

BEYOND THELINE OF SIGHTSatcom experts are enabling the convergence of technologies with beyond-the-line-of-sight reach for the tactical radio that offers militaries a cost-effective way to improve situational awareness for soldiers, states Andy Start, President, Global Government, Inmarsat in conversation with SatellitePro ME


SatVertical: MSS


Far removed from the ‘glamour’ of UAVs and its bandwidth hungry ways, it seems the satellite industry is paying attention

to the tactical radio. One military historian has described radio as the basis for the 20th Century’s communications revolution lending the soldier greater situational awareness. The capabilities have also improved phenomenally. Whereas 100 years ago, the radio could typically carry voice traffic, morse code and telegrams; tactical radios today carry voice, internet services and critical data for users at the tactical edge, and for command and control reach-back.

“When I started working 25 years ago,” recalls Andy Start, President, Global Government, Inmarsat, in conversation with SatellitePro ME, “we still had customers who were happy with 50bps, and now the army talks of megabits to gigabytes of capacity.”

Statistics tell us that just a decade ago, the US army would handle around 46 megabits of data-per-second across its communications networks, whereas today this figure is around 9.6 gigabytes-per-second.

The interplay between tactical radios and commercial mobile devices has already picked up pace with tactical radios, for instance, now incorporating commercial features such as email and chat. Since 2009, the USA’s Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications’ project has been investigating, driven by cost and familiarity factors, as to how to integrate tactical radios with COTS devices.

Compelling offer from the satellite industryThe satellite industry on its part approaches the tactical radio with a compelling

proposition – offering beyond-the-line-of-sight (BLOS) capability that Andy Start believes has profound implications for the soldier’s situational awareness on the frontline independent of terrain or local infrastructure.

“We have launched L-TAC, a new L-band service, which will deliver a ‘UHF-like’ tactical satellite capability for use with existing UHF tactical radios for approved government customers at low cost. This offers an exciting capability to a sector that is underserved.

“There is not enough UHF spectrum in the world – in fact there is so little - and it is dominated by the US and a handful of other countries. So what we are doing is launching a product that leverages the coverage provided by the Inmarsat-4 constellation of satellites. Militaries will be able to exercise greater command and control through existing tactical radios with small antennas for BLOS communications on the move. Very interestingly, even the nations that have access to UHF don’t have enough, and they are potential targets for this product.”

The demand for UHF satellite capacity reportedly exceeds supply by over 200%, this despite the launch by the US government, of the first of five next generation UHF satellites known as the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS).

The principle underlying the Inmarsat initiative, according to Start, is the very topical bring-your-own device (BYOD) concept that addresses the all-important demands among militaries for ease-of-use and interoperability.

“The way the L-TAC works from a user perspective is very simple. All they have to do is unplug the tactical radio antenna and

“Militaries will be able to exercise greater command and control through existing tactical radios with small antennas for BLOS communications on the move”- Andy Start, President, Global Government, Inmarsat


plug on an adapter developed by our partners the Spectra Group. (The Slingshot adaptor is expected to be commercially available in late Q2 2013). And as far as the user is concerned, it looks and works exactly the same as the UHF tactical radio.”

Considering that the number of radios just with the US army have increased three fold to more than 900,000 in past decade, it would seem that milsatcom is addressing this critical device relatively late. Start concedes that such products should have found its way to the military end-user much earlier given that the satellites always had the capability.

“With the restructuring of the company more than a year ago, we are focusing on market-facing verticals. With a dedicated global government business team that has a lot of experience in military comms, we could develop this product fairly quickly.”

The critical role that tactical radio plays in today’s military operations is underscored by the significant ongoing activity in this sector. To name a few: Thales’ Software Defined Radio (SDR) for the French armed forces; Cobham’s Internet Protocol Mesh Radio; Gilat Satcom’s Suricate Iridium link and Iridium Tactical Radio Dynamic Relay systems; General Dynamics’ AN/PRC-155 JTRS HMS radio; and Harris’ Falcon Networking System that reportedly allows video, data and command

and control services to be delivered to the user via cloud computing techniques. In a bid to extend scarce UHF capacity, Harris CapRock is working with Astrium Services to provide UHF solutions across the entire Skynet Fleet as a global channel partner.

Inmarsat, as per Start, is working with Harris to create a BGAN terminal that works with the Harris tactical radio allowing the user to enjoy high speed data and video conferencing capabilities.

In a cost-conscious environment, Start believes beyond-line-of-sight, push-to-talk networks using tactical radios enable governments to provide enhanced satellite and radio communications without large capital expenditure.

“Users will be able to lease the service for a fixed period with leases as short as one month. If you want the service in a particular country for a particular need you can turn it on for a month, so there is a huge cost advantage to governments.”

With customers in the maritime sector approaching satcom as an enabler and willing to be innovative about payment models, Start believes militaries are also at the critical juncture with more military end-users piggybacking on commercial satcom capacity and technology to save money with minimal risk. PRO

Beyond-line-of-sight, push-to-talk networks using tactical radios enable governments to provide enhanced satellite and radio communications without large capital expenditure

SatVertical: MSS

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SATELLITES DRIVING SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

It took an exceptional head of state to establish societal

programmes on a nationwide basis. With satellite as the

key driver of the programme, solutions provider, Riaz Lamak,

in conversation with SatellitePro ME, describes the far-reaching

programme across India that has endured a decade



Riaz Lamak remembers with pride the inauguration of a network at Rashtrapati Bhavan (official residence

of the President of India) connected with a hub at a university premises in the South Indian city of Coimbatore, India.

“At 3 am, my engineer got a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see the genial face of Honorable Dr. A.P.J. Kalam, the 11th President of India, under whose personal initiative some of premier institutes of the country were being connected via satellite. It was a huge honour for us to be part of the project.”

As President and Director of Mahdi Bagh Group of Companies, Riaz Lamak was one of the handful of satellite solutions providers chosen by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to set up remote earth stations and hub operations towards the execution of a range of social development programmes to be driven by Edusat, a satellite launched in 2004 with

Ku and extended C-band transponders with a footprint covering the whole of the Indian subcontinent.

“The main programmes on Edusat were distance learning and tele-education; tele-medicine; village resource centres and a disaster management system,” explains Lamak.

Distance learning via satelliteThe government underwrote the cost of installation, testing and commissioning of hardware and software, end-to-end connectivity, satellite bandwidth and O&M support. The main hub was housed at ISRO’s - Telemetry, Tracking And Command Network (ISTRAC) facility in Bangalore, and there were other independent hubs for statewide networks.

In the seven Northeastern states of India, where the central government wanted to alleviate poverty, the task was

(In pic: Dancers from Mizoram) The distance learning programme is currently operational in the Northeastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland


straightforward, recalls Lamak.“In addition to setting up a hub and

around 50 remote terminals in each of the states, we were tasked with running a Technical Support and Training Centre (TSTC) for a period of two years by ISRO – specifically by the Space Application Centre’s Development and Education Communication Unit. We put one support centre in Guwahati (see map) and in each of these Northeastern states except Manipur, we had one field engineer. This engineer’s job was to go from institute to institute and train the local operator at the institute over a couple of days. The idea was to ensure that the programme is hand held and taken forward.”

The hand-holding continued for a two-year period to end in December 2012. The distance learning programme is currently operational in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland.

“Initially there was a degree of indifference. The notion was that the equipment was complicated or at times, bureaucratic inertia would hinder acceptance. However, the hand-holding did help. Now people have begun to see value and are taking active interest in the implementation.

“The only constraint was satellite capacity. So ISRO gave us a schedule. And accordingly each network was given a morning or evening slot. The state of Assam, for instance, would have a session in the morning and Mizoram would use the same capacity in the afternoon. Initially, we saw two or three remote colleges logging in. When we ended our TSTC initiative, an average of 22 to 23 colleges were logging in depending on the subject being discussed.

“Every state had one hub for distance education and on an average 50 remotes were installed in each state. The project started seven years ago and there was a

“The only constraint was satellite capacity. So ISRO gave us a schedule. Accordingly each network was given a morning or evening slot. The state of Assam, for instance, would have a session in the morning and Mizoram would use the same capacity in the afternoon”

“We are currently supporting ViaSat Link Star in all the seven Northeastern states. In terms of other equipment, we had HP computers, Osprey cards to convert from digital to analogue and vice versa, Bosch amplifiers and mikes, Ahuja amplifiers, HP and BenQ projectors in classrooms. To overcome the problem of intermittent supply of power, each remote site had a UPS with four hours backup”

Riaz Lamak, President and Director, Mahdi Bagh Group of Companies

SATELLITES DRIVING SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

It took an exceptional head of state to establish societal

programmes on a nationwide basis. With satellite as the

key driver of the programme, solutions provider, Riaz Lamak,

in conversation with SatellitePro ME, describes the far-reaching

programme across India that has endured a decade



Riaz Lamak remembers with pride the inauguration of a network at Rashtrapati Bhavan (official residence

of the President of India) connected with a hub at a university premises in the South Indian city of Coimbatore, India.

“At 3 am, my engineer got a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see the genial face of Honorable Dr. A.P.J. Kalam, the 11th President of India, under whose personal initiative some of premier institutes of the country were being connected via satellite. It was a huge honour for us to be part of the project.”

As President and Director of Mahdi Bagh Group of Companies, Riaz Lamak was one of the handful of satellite solutions providers chosen by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to set up remote earth stations and hub operations towards the execution of a range of social development programmes to be driven by Edusat, a satellite launched in 2004 with

Ku and extended C-band transponders with a footprint covering the whole of the Indian subcontinent.

“The main programmes on Edusat were distance learning and tele-education; tele-medicine; village resource centres and a disaster management system,” explains Lamak.

Distance learning via satelliteThe government underwrote the cost of installation, testing and commissioning of hardware and software, end-to-end connectivity, satellite bandwidth and O&M support. The main hub was housed at ISRO’s - Telemetry, Tracking And Command Network (ISTRAC) facility in Bangalore, and there were other independent hubs for statewide networks.

In the seven Northeastern states of India, where the central government wanted to alleviate poverty, the task was

(In pic: Dancers from Mizoram) The distance learning programme is currently operational in the Northeastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland


straightforward, recalls Lamak.“In addition to setting up a hub and

around 50 remote terminals in each of the states, we were tasked with running a Technical Support and Training Centre (TSTC) for a period of two years by ISRO – specifically by the Space Application Centre’s Development and Education Communication Unit. We put one support centre in Guwahati (see map) and in each of these Northeastern states except Manipur, we had one field engineer. This engineer’s job was to go from institute to institute and train the local operator at the institute over a couple of days. The idea was to ensure that the programme is hand held and taken forward.”

The hand-holding continued for a two-year period to end in December 2012. The distance learning programme is currently operational in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland.

“Initially there was a degree of indifference. The notion was that the equipment was complicated or at times, bureaucratic inertia would hinder acceptance. However, the hand-holding did help. Now people have begun to see value and are taking active interest in the implementation.

“The only constraint was satellite capacity. So ISRO gave us a schedule. And accordingly each network was given a morning or evening slot. The state of Assam, for instance, would have a session in the morning and Mizoram would use the same capacity in the afternoon. Initially, we saw two or three remote colleges logging in. When we ended our TSTC initiative, an average of 22 to 23 colleges were logging in depending on the subject being discussed.

“Every state had one hub for distance education and on an average 50 remotes were installed in each state. The project started seven years ago and there was a

“The only constraint was satellite capacity. So ISRO gave us a schedule. Accordingly each network was given a morning or evening slot. The state of Assam, for instance, would have a session in the morning and Mizoram would use the same capacity in the afternoon”

“We are currently supporting ViaSat Link Star in all the seven Northeastern states. In terms of other equipment, we had HP computers, Osprey cards to convert from digital to analogue and vice versa, Bosch amplifiers and mikes, Ahuja amplifiers, HP and BenQ projectors in classrooms. To overcome the problem of intermittent supply of power, each remote site had a UPS with four hours backup”

Riaz Lamak, President and Director, Mahdi Bagh Group of Companies


“With a hub at the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking And Command Network (ISTRAC) facility in Bangalore, the tele-health programme is on the national network. Terminals are set up at the district level centres that connect to super speciality hospitals”

little lull because the satellite, Edusat, had reached its end of life. It has since revived with the alternate capacities provided by ISRO on Insat 4CR.”

The respective state governments reportedly foot the bill for the equipment, and the satellite capacity and bandwidth is provided free of charge by ISRO.

The tele-education programme, Lamak explains, has mainly two types of content delivery mechanisms: Satellite Interactive Terminals (SIT) and Receive Only Terminals (ROT).

“An SIT-based network has a hub, teaching centre and remote SITs. The remote SIT has two-way audio/video interaction between the remote station and the teaching end. Whereas an ROT-based network is one way and gets the lecture delivered at the remote end.”

Across 24 states in the country, sixty four networks have been set up so far on Ku– and C-band capacities. There are more than 3,300 SIT-based interactive classrooms and 31,000 plus ROT-based classrooms thus totalling more than 34,000 terminals.

Technology and equipmentFor every piece of equipment, ISRO had shortlisted at least two vendors, states Riaz.

“When the operations began in 2002-03, ISRO had shortlisted two platforms – Hughes and Viasat Link Star. We worked with BEL, the systems integrator for Viasat and we are currently supporting Link Star in all the seven Northeastern states. In terms of other equipment, we had HP computers, Osprey cards to convert from digital to analogue and vice versa, Bosch amplifiers and mikes, Ahuja amplifiers, HP and BenQ projectors in classrooms. To overcome the problem of intermittent supply of power, each remote site had a UPS with four hours backup.”

Every site posed a challenge in terms of installation, recalls Lamak.

“The places were remote and we often faced a local language barrier. The language barrier was especially pronounced with regard to the Village Resource Centre project.

“We mostly installed on the ground because of sloping roofs in these remote

areas in the Northeast that face heavy rainfull. Achieving the line of sight was difficult at times owing to trees. While cutting down a tree was never an option, at the most we would request for a slight trimming here and there. Installation included fencing of the area, cement blocks to secure the antenna, proper conduit pipes to protect cables and the all-important task of grounding so that there is no return current to pose a threat to the equipment.”

Reiterating that the network design and remote configuration had been thoroughly tested by ISRO scientists and engineers, emphasis was placed on optimising the bandwidth, asserts Lamak.

“Higher quality of video will eat up more bandwidth – 384kbps was allotted per terminal. With DVB S2 technology deployed there was no issue with the quality of transmission. It is a pooled bandwidth concept. Since tele-medicine and VCR were on the national grid, they were on extended C–band and distance education was facilitated via Ku-band spot beams. The terminals used were 1.2 mts for Ku-band and 1.8 mts for extended C-band. The latter

The tele-education programme has mainly two types of content delivery mechanisms: Satellite Interactive Terminals (SIT) and Receive Only Terminals (ROT)



Tele-health: Extending medical services

With an estimated 50% of the population in rural India having no access to basic medical facilities, the benefits of providing remote health care via satellite cannot be understated, asserts Lamak.

“With a hub at the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking And Command Network (ISTRAC) facility in Bangalore, the tele-health programme was on the national network. Terminals have been set up at the district level centres that would connect to super speciality hospitals. Patients requiring specialist care are called on specific days and our engineer onsite ensures two-way video conferencing with the patient connected to the relevant diagnostic machine.”

ISRO’s tele-medicine programme started in 2001. The programme connects remote district hospitals with super specialty hospitals in cities through a satellite

interactive link. This programme is broadly classified to provide tele-consultations and treatment; continued medical education; mobile rural health camps, especially for Ophthalmology and community health; and assistance during disasters through support and relief operations.

ISRO’s satellite-based interactive network has reportedly enabled 380+ hospitals, health centers and 15+ mobile units connected with 60+ super specialty hospitals in major cities. “These centres use remote diagnostic devices for measurement of basic parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, electrical activity of the heart and pulse rate.

“When you consider that 75% of the diagnosis and treatment can be done remotely, the significance of tele-medicine in a developing country such as India can truly be appreciated.”

has been challenging in terms of installation of antennas, but we have not faced much of interference issues because of the remoteness of the sites.”

Maintenance and after-sales serviceWith the distance education network, after the two years of hand-holding, a number of states hired their own staff to manage the network, states Lamak.

“For the Northeast, our engineers are at the hub – five in number. We have extra engineers too, to compensate for any absenteeism.

“Typically, for terminal maintenance, ISRO or the nodal agency maintain the spares. When we get a call from a particular state government, our engineer collects the necessary spares and heads to the site.” PRO

Riaz Lamak is the President and Director of Mahdi

Bagh Group of Companies based in India. He is also

associated with GVF activities, which he represents in

the region. For more information visit http://www.

mbcin.com/ or e-mail at [email protected]

Village Resource Centre: Disseminating expertise

The Village Resource Centre (VRC) programme was facilitated purely by extended C-band on the national beam. The hub was collocated with the tele-medicine hub in Bangalore with 50 plus regional networks that connects different linguistic groups.

“Typically NGOs with good track records such as the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation; Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society; Ramakrishna Foundation and so on, apply. ISRO has certain criteria and the NGOs are required to provide the space to put up the equipment. Once the equipment is put up in the designated expert centre, 12 to 50 remote centres are set up. At the expert centre, trainers impart different skills ranging from basket weaving to harvesting medicinal plants.”

As of now there are over 470+ VRCs all over India with multiple expert centres.

The Village Resource Centre (VRC) programme was facilitated purely by extended C-band on the national beam


“With a hub at the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking And Command Network (ISTRAC) facility in Bangalore, the tele-health programme is on the national network. Terminals are set up at the district level centres that connect to super speciality hospitals”

little lull because the satellite, Edusat, had reached its end of life. It has since revived with the alternate capacities provided by ISRO on Insat 4CR.”

The respective state governments reportedly foot the bill for the equipment, and the satellite capacity and bandwidth is provided free of charge by ISRO.

The tele-education programme, Lamak explains, has mainly two types of content delivery mechanisms: Satellite Interactive Terminals (SIT) and Receive Only Terminals (ROT).

“An SIT-based network has a hub, teaching centre and remote SITs. The remote SIT has two-way audio/video interaction between the remote station and the teaching end. Whereas an ROT-based network is one way and gets the lecture delivered at the remote end.”

Across 24 states in the country, sixty four networks have been set up so far on Ku– and C-band capacities. There are more than 3,300 SIT-based interactive classrooms and 31,000 plus ROT-based classrooms thus totalling more than 34,000 terminals.

Technology and equipmentFor every piece of equipment, ISRO had shortlisted at least two vendors, states Riaz.

“When the operations began in 2002-03, ISRO had shortlisted two platforms – Hughes and Viasat Link Star. We worked with BEL, the systems integrator for Viasat and we are currently supporting Link Star in all the seven Northeastern states. In terms of other equipment, we had HP computers, Osprey cards to convert from digital to analogue and vice versa, Bosch amplifiers and mikes, Ahuja amplifiers, HP and BenQ projectors in classrooms. To overcome the problem of intermittent supply of power, each remote site had a UPS with four hours backup.”

Every site posed a challenge in terms of installation, recalls Lamak.

“The places were remote and we often faced a local language barrier. The language barrier was especially pronounced with regard to the Village Resource Centre project.

“We mostly installed on the ground because of sloping roofs in these remote

areas in the Northeast that face heavy rainfull. Achieving the line of sight was difficult at times owing to trees. While cutting down a tree was never an option, at the most we would request for a slight trimming here and there. Installation included fencing of the area, cement blocks to secure the antenna, proper conduit pipes to protect cables and the all-important task of grounding so that there is no return current to pose a threat to the equipment.”

Reiterating that the network design and remote configuration had been thoroughly tested by ISRO scientists and engineers, emphasis was placed on optimising the bandwidth, asserts Lamak.

“Higher quality of video will eat up more bandwidth – 384kbps was allotted per terminal. With DVB S2 technology deployed there was no issue with the quality of transmission. It is a pooled bandwidth concept. Since tele-medicine and VCR were on the national grid, they were on extended C–band and distance education was facilitated via Ku-band spot beams. The terminals used were 1.2 mts for Ku-band and 1.8 mts for extended C-band. The latter

The tele-education programme has mainly two types of content delivery mechanisms: Satellite Interactive Terminals (SIT) and Receive Only Terminals (ROT)



Tele-health: Extending medical services

With an estimated 50% of the population in rural India having no access to basic medical facilities, the benefits of providing remote health care via satellite cannot be understated, asserts Lamak.

“With a hub at the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking And Command Network (ISTRAC) facility in Bangalore, the tele-health programme was on the national network. Terminals have been set up at the district level centres that would connect to super speciality hospitals. Patients requiring specialist care are called on specific days and our engineer onsite ensures two-way video conferencing with the patient connected to the relevant diagnostic machine.”

ISRO’s tele-medicine programme started in 2001. The programme connects remote district hospitals with super specialty hospitals in cities through a satellite

interactive link. This programme is broadly classified to provide tele-consultations and treatment; continued medical education; mobile rural health camps, especially for Ophthalmology and community health; and assistance during disasters through support and relief operations.

ISRO’s satellite-based interactive network has reportedly enabled 380+ hospitals, health centers and 15+ mobile units connected with 60+ super specialty hospitals in major cities. “These centres use remote diagnostic devices for measurement of basic parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, electrical activity of the heart and pulse rate.

“When you consider that 75% of the diagnosis and treatment can be done remotely, the significance of tele-medicine in a developing country such as India can truly be appreciated.”

has been challenging in terms of installation of antennas, but we have not faced much of interference issues because of the remoteness of the sites.”

Maintenance and after-sales serviceWith the distance education network, after the two years of hand-holding, a number of states hired their own staff to manage the network, states Lamak.

“For the Northeast, our engineers are at the hub – five in number. We have extra engineers too, to compensate for any absenteeism.

“Typically, for terminal maintenance, ISRO or the nodal agency maintain the spares. When we get a call from a particular state government, our engineer collects the necessary spares and heads to the site.” PRO

Riaz Lamak is the President and Director of Mahdi

Bagh Group of Companies based in India. He is also

associated with GVF activities, which he represents in

the region. For more information visit http://www.

mbcin.com/ or e-mail at [email protected]

Village Resource Centre: Disseminating expertise

The Village Resource Centre (VRC) programme was facilitated purely by extended C-band on the national beam. The hub was collocated with the tele-medicine hub in Bangalore with 50 plus regional networks that connects different linguistic groups.

“Typically NGOs with good track records such as the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation; Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society; Ramakrishna Foundation and so on, apply. ISRO has certain criteria and the NGOs are required to provide the space to put up the equipment. Once the equipment is put up in the designated expert centre, 12 to 50 remote centres are set up. At the expert centre, trainers impart different skills ranging from basket weaving to harvesting medicinal plants.”

As of now there are over 470+ VRCs all over India with multiple expert centres.

The Village Resource Centre (VRC) programme was facilitated purely by extended C-band on the national beam

PROTECTING IRAQ’S SAMARRALooking down from orbit is an attractive way of monitoring historical sites in remote or politically unstable regions – and can even help archaeologists, reports the European Space Agency, to make new discoveries


SatVertical: Earth Observation

“Monitoring sites like Samarra during periods of political instability is both difficult and dangerous for archaeologists. Satellites, however, offer a non-invasive solution to monitor these remnants of the past, and can even help to identify new areas to excavate”

The ancient city of Samarra was a powerful Islamic capital during the ninth century, located in what is

today Iraq. It is the only surviving Islamic capital that retains its original plan, architecture and arts, although only about 20% of the site has been excavated.

In 2007, during the height of the Iraq War, it was named a Unesco World Heritage Site in Danger because of the responsible authorities’ inability to control and manage its conservation.

That same year, insurgents launched a second attack on the city’s mosque and damaged the clock tower.

Vegetation marksMonitoring sites like Samarra during periods of political instability is both difficult and dangerous for archaeologists. Satellites, however, offer a non-invasive solution to monitor these remnants of the past, and can even help to identify new areas to excavate.

The most obvious way to keep tabs

on excavated sites from space is with high-resolution optical images. But new techniques reveal that satellites carrying radars can also see how underground structures influence the soil.

Radar is sensitive to properties like slight differences in soil density and water content – things the human eye cannot

see. Changes in soil moisture and in vegetation growth can also be detected by radar. These factors are influenced by underground structures and can be used to infer historical features.

Radar can also see through clouds and darkness, providing consistent observations day or night and under all atmospheric conditions.

Radar imagery is complex, so not all radar detections can be easily explained. But some of these detections may identify unexcavated sites.

Along the Nile River in Sudan’s Northern state, tombs, temples and living complexes make up the Gebel Barkal archaeological sites. Using the ‘polarimetric synthetic aperture radar’ technique, scientists were able to look at the pyramids and temples of Gebel Barkal in Sudan. Their observations not only allowed them to monitor the site remotely during a time of political instability, but revealed that there may be more beneath that soil that has not yet been excavated. PRO

PROTECTING IRAQ’S SAMARRALooking down from orbit is an attractive way of monitoring historical sites in remote or politically unstable regions – and can even help archaeologists, reports the European Space Agency, to make new discoveries


SatVertical: Earth Observation

“Monitoring sites like Samarra during periods of political instability is both difficult and dangerous for archaeologists. Satellites, however, offer a non-invasive solution to monitor these remnants of the past, and can even help to identify new areas to excavate”

The ancient city of Samarra was a powerful Islamic capital during the ninth century, located in what is

today Iraq. It is the only surviving Islamic capital that retains its original plan, architecture and arts, although only about 20% of the site has been excavated.

In 2007, during the height of the Iraq War, it was named a Unesco World Heritage Site in Danger because of the responsible authorities’ inability to control and manage its conservation.

That same year, insurgents launched a second attack on the city’s mosque and damaged the clock tower.

Vegetation marksMonitoring sites like Samarra during periods of political instability is both difficult and dangerous for archaeologists. Satellites, however, offer a non-invasive solution to monitor these remnants of the past, and can even help to identify new areas to excavate.

The most obvious way to keep tabs

on excavated sites from space is with high-resolution optical images. But new techniques reveal that satellites carrying radars can also see how underground structures influence the soil.

Radar is sensitive to properties like slight differences in soil density and water content – things the human eye cannot

see. Changes in soil moisture and in vegetation growth can also be detected by radar. These factors are influenced by underground structures and can be used to infer historical features.

Radar can also see through clouds and darkness, providing consistent observations day or night and under all atmospheric conditions.

Radar imagery is complex, so not all radar detections can be easily explained. But some of these detections may identify unexcavated sites.

Along the Nile River in Sudan’s Northern state, tombs, temples and living complexes make up the Gebel Barkal archaeological sites. Using the ‘polarimetric synthetic aperture radar’ technique, scientists were able to look at the pyramids and temples of Gebel Barkal in Sudan. Their observations not only allowed them to monitor the site remotely during a time of political instability, but revealed that there may be more beneath that soil that has not yet been excavated. PRO

“STILL LAUNCHING, NOT JUST SPEAKING”

In a first-person account, Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, underscores the evolutionary process of change in the satellite industry and broadcast vertical over the next decade


SatLaunch

Arianespace is at the very centre of the world’s commercial satellite industry. While the TV industry has expanded

wonderfully thanks to the growth and availability of satellite and cable broadcasting, I am not so sure we will see the same dramatic changes over the next 10 to 15 years.

In my own launch industry, we have seen some severe changes over the past few years. We have had companies struggling to achieve their business plans and entering Chapter 11 reorganisation, for example. This has had a dramatic influence on the launch business, creating many issues for satellite operators. While I hope we do not suffer too many of these sorts of challenges, we cannot ignore further brutal events like this in the future.

The very nature of the launch business takes time to develop the thousand and one technologies involved, and the risks are always high for any new entrant. In other words, I do not expect any newcomer to go suddenly from zero to making a huge impact in the business.

“Concepts [to be] flight proven”Ten years from now my view is that the launch industry will have much the same layers as it has today. The barriers to entry are high, and our customers at Arianespace are cautious in their adoption of brand new and unproven technologies,

Indeed, there is a risk that some players might even exit the business given the never-

ending downward pressures on launch prices.Technology improvements are taking place

every day, and while some countries promise breakthroughs in their launch operating systems, or can enjoy lower cost component manufacturing, I do not expect these aspects to create any sort of revolution in the launch industry. It takes years and years to perfect a launch system, and while in 10 or more years we might see new developments emerge, I suspect that our clients and their insurers will want to see these concepts flight proven before giving them complete acceptance.

“Look at the past to predict the future”I like to say that if you want to predict the future then look at the past. Go back in time


10 or 15 years and the picture was not so very different for the satellite launch industry to today. Ten years ago all my partners told me that the country to watch – so far as our industry was concerned – was China.

Today it is still China. There has been no real change despite the talk and work being done by other countries.

I’ve one other word on some of the competitive pressures we are said to face in the launch industry. For many years now, I have been saying “there are people who launch, and there are people who speak”. I want all our competitors to be successful, because competition is good for everyone, but year after year we are still launching, and not just speaking!

“Explosion of demand for broadband”So far as growth in demand is concerned, everywhere on the planet the focus is on broadband, and satellites are tapping into this huge explosion of demand. Great work is being done by satellite operators everywhere and we will also continue to see replacement satellites being launched for DTH television. And all its associated needs. Indeed, it is quite likely that it is only satellite technology that can help supply the capacity that some people suggest is going to be needed, even in urban centres.

I certainly expect there to be a greater demand in the mobile sector for capacity, and the way teenagers are seemingly soaking up every space slice of bandwidth,

the world is going to have to find new methods to satisfy this demand. One theory suggests that we might need a new type of satellite constellation just to handle the growth in SMS demand.

It isn’t that SMS messaging is a new technology, only that the growth in demand is enormous. I don’t think this demand is the only one. Technology is growing so fast that I am confident that other demands will also come to the forefront, and I am equally confident that satellite-based solutions will emerge.

Just look at the way people are using iPhones and other ‘smart’ devices. People are expecting more and more functionality from these devices. It isn’t just a device for telephone calls or even SMS, but a complete receiver for just about everything you want to live your life. They are wonderful devices, but they need greater connectivity.

These ‘smart’ applications are just a year or two old. The next 10 to 15 years will see other developments that we cannot begin to imagine. I am confident that satellites will play their part in these too.

Broadcasting is also part of this evolution. We are already seeing 3D television, and the Japanese are well ahead with their Ultra-HDTV developments. When you increase the size of a TV screen, and at the same time lower the cost of buying a unit, then consumers will buy larger TV sets. This means that the definition on these displays must also be improved.

One of our Japanese customers was

“It takes years and years to perfect a launch system, and while in 10 or more years we might see new developments emerge, I suspect that our clients and their insurers will want to see these concepts flight-proven before giving them complete acceptance”

“There is a risk that some players might even exit the business given the never-ending downward pressures on launch prices”

“STILL LAUNCHING, NOT JUST SPEAKING”

In a first-person account, Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, underscores the evolutionary process of change in the satellite industry and broadcast vertical over the next decade


SatLaunch

Arianespace is at the very centre of the world’s commercial satellite industry. While the TV industry has expanded

wonderfully thanks to the growth and availability of satellite and cable broadcasting, I am not so sure we will see the same dramatic changes over the next 10 to 15 years.

In my own launch industry, we have seen some severe changes over the past few years. We have had companies struggling to achieve their business plans and entering Chapter 11 reorganisation, for example. This has had a dramatic influence on the launch business, creating many issues for satellite operators. While I hope we do not suffer too many of these sorts of challenges, we cannot ignore further brutal events like this in the future.

The very nature of the launch business takes time to develop the thousand and one technologies involved, and the risks are always high for any new entrant. In other words, I do not expect any newcomer to go suddenly from zero to making a huge impact in the business.

“Concepts [to be] flight proven”Ten years from now my view is that the launch industry will have much the same layers as it has today. The barriers to entry are high, and our customers at Arianespace are cautious in their adoption of brand new and unproven technologies,

Indeed, there is a risk that some players might even exit the business given the never-

ending downward pressures on launch prices.Technology improvements are taking place

every day, and while some countries promise breakthroughs in their launch operating systems, or can enjoy lower cost component manufacturing, I do not expect these aspects to create any sort of revolution in the launch industry. It takes years and years to perfect a launch system, and while in 10 or more years we might see new developments emerge, I suspect that our clients and their insurers will want to see these concepts flight proven before giving them complete acceptance.

“Look at the past to predict the future”I like to say that if you want to predict the future then look at the past. Go back in time


10 or 15 years and the picture was not so very different for the satellite launch industry to today. Ten years ago all my partners told me that the country to watch – so far as our industry was concerned – was China.

Today it is still China. There has been no real change despite the talk and work being done by other countries.

I’ve one other word on some of the competitive pressures we are said to face in the launch industry. For many years now, I have been saying “there are people who launch, and there are people who speak”. I want all our competitors to be successful, because competition is good for everyone, but year after year we are still launching, and not just speaking!

“Explosion of demand for broadband”So far as growth in demand is concerned, everywhere on the planet the focus is on broadband, and satellites are tapping into this huge explosion of demand. Great work is being done by satellite operators everywhere and we will also continue to see replacement satellites being launched for DTH television. And all its associated needs. Indeed, it is quite likely that it is only satellite technology that can help supply the capacity that some people suggest is going to be needed, even in urban centres.

I certainly expect there to be a greater demand in the mobile sector for capacity, and the way teenagers are seemingly soaking up every space slice of bandwidth,

the world is going to have to find new methods to satisfy this demand. One theory suggests that we might need a new type of satellite constellation just to handle the growth in SMS demand.

It isn’t that SMS messaging is a new technology, only that the growth in demand is enormous. I don’t think this demand is the only one. Technology is growing so fast that I am confident that other demands will also come to the forefront, and I am equally confident that satellite-based solutions will emerge.

Just look at the way people are using iPhones and other ‘smart’ devices. People are expecting more and more functionality from these devices. It isn’t just a device for telephone calls or even SMS, but a complete receiver for just about everything you want to live your life. They are wonderful devices, but they need greater connectivity.

These ‘smart’ applications are just a year or two old. The next 10 to 15 years will see other developments that we cannot begin to imagine. I am confident that satellites will play their part in these too.

Broadcasting is also part of this evolution. We are already seeing 3D television, and the Japanese are well ahead with their Ultra-HDTV developments. When you increase the size of a TV screen, and at the same time lower the cost of buying a unit, then consumers will buy larger TV sets. This means that the definition on these displays must also be improved.

One of our Japanese customers was

“It takes years and years to perfect a launch system, and while in 10 or more years we might see new developments emerge, I suspect that our clients and their insurers will want to see these concepts flight-proven before giving them complete acceptance”

“There is a risk that some players might even exit the business given the never-ending downward pressures on launch prices”


SatLaunch

recently showing a very large screen with a definition that’s quite unbelievable. I am sure this sort of even-higher definition will soon be commonplace around the word.

“Evolution, not revolution: Reliability is key”At Arianespace, we are original in terms of innovation. We have added new launch systems to satisfy specific demands from clients. However, let us be clear on one aspect: most of our customers are not seeking innovation for the sake of innovation. They just want readiness and reliability.

Our launch calendar backlog continues to grow, and for us the future is clear – customers want us to launch their satellites when they are ready, and with reliability. Of course, they speak about affordability, as would any client. But nobody asks us for ‘next generation’ launches. They leave us to worry over those elements, and I do not see this changing. We are very much focused on evolution, not revolution! Reliability is the key to our offer.

What is exciting about the television and media industry is being connected. I have to confess that I spend a lot of my time, perhaps too much time, reading my email and being in contact with my team and customers like everyone else. I enjoy having a window on the world in real time. It might be a new broadcast or financial news, a personal message from the family or a clip on YouTube.

This, to my mind, is the most important

part of the information revolution, and being in direct contact.

Video connectivity is not so popular today but I see that changing. What video connectivity needs is an easier system, so that it becomes as easy as making a phone call. In theory, it exists today but it isn’t very user-friendly. This will change and I look forward to it.

Predicting changes in video demand, or even in hot topics such as social media, is very difficult. We can all see the impact on smart phones of the tiny Apps that make life so easy and fun. They barely existed two years ago, and so what might the next development be?

I am not the expert here, but I am confident that as long as there’s a demand for extra bandwidth, then satellites will be playing their part. And if satellites are around, then we’ll be around, playing our part in what I see as a very robust future. But I am also fairly sure that while our business at Arianspace will grow, develop and change, so will the role of broadcasters.

Ten and more years from now I am confident that most of today’s major broadcasters will still be around, although their businesses might have changed quite significantly. The survivors will be the ones who, like us, adapt to changing market demand. PRO

Excerpt from the book titled Even Higher: The Future of Broadcasting, by Chris Forrester

“Most of our customers are not seeking innovation for the sake of innovation. They just want readiness and reliability”- Jean-Yves Le Gall is Chairman and CEO of Arianespace. Le Gall is also chairman and CEO of Starsem, the company’s European-Russian subsidiary in charge of operating and marketing the Soyuz launch vehicle

“One theory suggests that we might need a new type of satellite constellation just to handle the growth in SMS demand”

NANO BUILDING BLOCKS IN SPACENanosatellites are breaking down

the cost barrier to innovation while building critical on-the-job

expertise in the rarefied realm of satellite technology, states

Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim, a Ph.D candidate at the Kyushu

Institute of Technology, Japan, in conversation with SatellitePro ME


SatEducation

“Reading books or attending lectures cannot result in a satellite,” states Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim .

Speaking to SatellitePro ME, Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim, a Ph.D candidate at the Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan, believes that aspirants to the space industry must experience the complete cycle of designing, building and testing. “Even better if the student can experience the launch and operations’ aspects as well,” he adds.

Currently completing his Ph.D at the Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan, as part of the Programme on Nanosatellite Technologies, known as the PNST, at Kyutech Japan, Ibrahim is gaining firsthand experience in building satellites. The Centre for Nanosatellite Testing was established in 2010 at the Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT) partially supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

Explaining the course, Ibrahim states: “The KIT nanosatellite project currently has about 25 graduate and undergraduate students working together and they are responsible for all the processes including conceptual study, design, fabrication, testing and operation. For the graduate student, the official educational programme includes learning systems engineering, space environment, project management though project-based learning and many other specialised courses, writing a Ph.D thesis and extracting a state-of-the-art research element from the project work.”

Ibrahim believes a university-like environment is more suitable for space education than space agencies or satellite manufacturing facilities.

Professor of Astronomy, John Clarke, the director of the Centre for Space Physics at Boston University, concurs. He believes that involving undergraduate and graduate students at the core of research projects should be a more widespread practice. He is currently at the helm of the BUSAT programme (Boston University Student Satellite for Applications and Training) that is a student-driven initiative. The team made up of students and faculty has been working for two years to develop a versatile, affordable satellite prototype.

Value of a long-term fellowshipEgyptian-national Ibrahim underscores the importance of creating a long-term fellowship

“Satellite students cannot restrict themselves to one specialty – they should know something about thermal design, mechanical design, electrical design and so on while specialising in one field. Other than lectures, you need hands-on expertise”

Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim, Ph.D candidate, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan

About Mohamed Mahmoud IbrahimHe received a B.Sc in Communication and Electronics Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Egypt in 2000. He worked in the development of small satellites for earth observation for 10 years with the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences/Egyptian Space Programme, Egypt. Currently he works as a research assistant at Kyushu Institute of Technology, KitaKyushu, Japan while pursuing his Ph.D. degree. He is the project leader of the Horyu-V Space Environment Exploration Satellite.


for satellite capacity building. “You learn through failures during the tests

and through the efforts necessary to correct the defects. The long-term fellowship enables students to study abroad and gain experience through on-the-job training and participate in a satellite project as a team member not as a guest. The experience is invaluable in terms of building a facility from scratch in the student’s home country.”

In 2009, KIT answered the UN-led call for collaborations during the 27th International Symposium on Space Technology and Sciences, held in Tsukuba, Japan, explains Ibrahim.

“The objective was to respond to the growing interest in many countries to establish indigenous capacities in basic space technology and promote international cooperation and information exchange in capacity building in basic space technology.

“The Centre for Nanosatellite Testing provides all the environmental test services with the exception of radiation, for nanosatellites up to 50cm x 50cm x 50cm and weighing 50 kgs. With equipment valued in excess of USD 2 million, around 15 nanosatellites have been tested for Japanese universities or industries.“

Need for comprehensive, standard curriculumIbrahim reiterates that you cannot teach students to build satellites through equations and lectures.

“It is crucial to educate the engineers on the entire process of building a satellite – satellite manufacturers would save considerably on costs. Some engineering colleges have a satellite engineering course, but they do not

Post-graduate Study

on Nano-Satellite

Technologies (PNST)

offer a complete curriculum. Now a global attempt led by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, is being made to arrive at a standardised satellite engineering curriculum.”

The programme at KIT has evidently found traction with nearly 83 applications worldwide for the class of 2013, reveals Ibrahim.

“Satellite students cannot restrict themselves to one specialty – they should

know something about thermal design, mechanical design, electrical design and so on, while specialising in one field. Other than lectures, you need hands-on expertise. In places like Surrey, Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT) and Tokyo University, students are actually building satellites. The interesting thing is the innovative solutions the Masters and Ph.D students are introducing that can be migrated to larger satellites.”

A bridge between satellite and commercial off-the-shelf technologyThe students at Boston University are, for instance, exploring the concept of plug and play that is ubiquitous in the world of personal computing but has yet to catch on in the rarefied field of satellite design.

STRaND-2, a twin nanosatellite mission from Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) and the University of Surrey tested a novel in-orbit docking system based on the Microsoft Xbox Kinect games-controller technology.

The launch of amateur radio satellite Horyu-2 was built by students at the Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT). Apart from demonstrating the first in the world 350V high voltage power generation in space without any discharge, the Horyu-2 mission aims at detecting the impact micro-debris has on the surface of satellites, among other objectives.

While KIT through the UN/Japan Long-Term fellowship is providing a multicultural learning environment for Japanese students, Ibrahim believes it helps build expertise in emerging countries such as his country, Egypt, as it embarks on its own ambitious space programme. PRO

“The Centre for Nanosatellite Testing provides all the environmental test services with the exception of radiation for nanosatellites up to 50cm x 50cm x 50cm and weighing 50 kgs”

NANO BUILDING BLOCKS IN SPACENanosatellites are breaking down

the cost barrier to innovation while building critical on-the-job

expertise in the rarefied realm of satellite technology, states

Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim, a Ph.D candidate at the Kyushu

Institute of Technology, Japan, in conversation with SatellitePro ME


SatEducation

“Reading books or attending lectures cannot result in a satellite,” states Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim .

Speaking to SatellitePro ME, Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim, a Ph.D candidate at the Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan, believes that aspirants to the space industry must experience the complete cycle of designing, building and testing. “Even better if the student can experience the launch and operations’ aspects as well,” he adds.

Currently completing his Ph.D at the Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan, as part of the Programme on Nanosatellite Technologies, known as the PNST, at Kyutech Japan, Ibrahim is gaining firsthand experience in building satellites. The Centre for Nanosatellite Testing was established in 2010 at the Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT) partially supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

Explaining the course, Ibrahim states: “The KIT nanosatellite project currently has about 25 graduate and undergraduate students working together and they are responsible for all the processes including conceptual study, design, fabrication, testing and operation. For the graduate student, the official educational programme includes learning systems engineering, space environment, project management though project-based learning and many other specialised courses, writing a Ph.D thesis and extracting a state-of-the-art research element from the project work.”

Ibrahim believes a university-like environment is more suitable for space education than space agencies or satellite manufacturing facilities.

Professor of Astronomy, John Clarke, the director of the Centre for Space Physics at Boston University, concurs. He believes that involving undergraduate and graduate students at the core of research projects should be a more widespread practice. He is currently at the helm of the BUSAT programme (Boston University Student Satellite for Applications and Training) that is a student-driven initiative. The team made up of students and faculty has been working for two years to develop a versatile, affordable satellite prototype.

Value of a long-term fellowshipEgyptian-national Ibrahim underscores the importance of creating a long-term fellowship

“Satellite students cannot restrict themselves to one specialty – they should know something about thermal design, mechanical design, electrical design and so on while specialising in one field. Other than lectures, you need hands-on expertise”

Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim, Ph.D candidate, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan

About Mohamed Mahmoud IbrahimHe received a B.Sc in Communication and Electronics Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Egypt in 2000. He worked in the development of small satellites for earth observation for 10 years with the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences/Egyptian Space Programme, Egypt. Currently he works as a research assistant at Kyushu Institute of Technology, KitaKyushu, Japan while pursuing his Ph.D. degree. He is the project leader of the Horyu-V Space Environment Exploration Satellite.


for satellite capacity building. “You learn through failures during the tests

and through the efforts necessary to correct the defects. The long-term fellowship enables students to study abroad and gain experience through on-the-job training and participate in a satellite project as a team member not as a guest. The experience is invaluable in terms of building a facility from scratch in the student’s home country.”

In 2009, KIT answered the UN-led call for collaborations during the 27th International Symposium on Space Technology and Sciences, held in Tsukuba, Japan, explains Ibrahim.

“The objective was to respond to the growing interest in many countries to establish indigenous capacities in basic space technology and promote international cooperation and information exchange in capacity building in basic space technology.

“The Centre for Nanosatellite Testing provides all the environmental test services with the exception of radiation, for nanosatellites up to 50cm x 50cm x 50cm and weighing 50 kgs. With equipment valued in excess of USD 2 million, around 15 nanosatellites have been tested for Japanese universities or industries.“

Need for comprehensive, standard curriculumIbrahim reiterates that you cannot teach students to build satellites through equations and lectures.

“It is crucial to educate the engineers on the entire process of building a satellite – satellite manufacturers would save considerably on costs. Some engineering colleges have a satellite engineering course, but they do not

Post-graduate Study

on Nano-Satellite

Technologies (PNST)

offer a complete curriculum. Now a global attempt led by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, is being made to arrive at a standardised satellite engineering curriculum.”

The programme at KIT has evidently found traction with nearly 83 applications worldwide for the class of 2013, reveals Ibrahim.

“Satellite students cannot restrict themselves to one specialty – they should

know something about thermal design, mechanical design, electrical design and so on, while specialising in one field. Other than lectures, you need hands-on expertise. In places like Surrey, Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT) and Tokyo University, students are actually building satellites. The interesting thing is the innovative solutions the Masters and Ph.D students are introducing that can be migrated to larger satellites.”

A bridge between satellite and commercial off-the-shelf technologyThe students at Boston University are, for instance, exploring the concept of plug and play that is ubiquitous in the world of personal computing but has yet to catch on in the rarefied field of satellite design.

STRaND-2, a twin nanosatellite mission from Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) and the University of Surrey tested a novel in-orbit docking system based on the Microsoft Xbox Kinect games-controller technology.

The launch of amateur radio satellite Horyu-2 was built by students at the Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT). Apart from demonstrating the first in the world 350V high voltage power generation in space without any discharge, the Horyu-2 mission aims at detecting the impact micro-debris has on the surface of satellites, among other objectives.

While KIT through the UN/Japan Long-Term fellowship is providing a multicultural learning environment for Japanese students, Ibrahim believes it helps build expertise in emerging countries such as his country, Egypt, as it embarks on its own ambitious space programme. PRO

“The Centre for Nanosatellite Testing provides all the environmental test services with the exception of radiation for nanosatellites up to 50cm x 50cm x 50cm and weighing 50 kgs”


SatComm Evolution Track @ CommunicAsia2013 summit

SatEvents

The SatComm Evolution track, a part of CommunicAsia2013 summit on June 18, will bring together Asian and global satellite operators as well as suppliers of satellite technology to discover ways to transform the satellite business to meet evolving needs of customers

The SatComm Evolution Track on June 18 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, will host a series of presentations and panel

discussions around the theme: The future of satellite business: Transcending borders. Some of the key presentations include:

Building a thriving satellite business

and successful roadmap for the future

– leading the way in the creation of new services and adoption of new technologies

opportunities in the changing landscape? A regional and sectoral analysis

Steve Spengler, Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Strategy, Intelsat

Transcending borders to build

a high growth global satellite

communications business

competition and growth drivers in Asia

consumer trends

Paul Brown-Kenyon, CEO, Measat

Panel Discussion: Where is the

satellite communications industry in

Asia Pacific heading?

Panelists:Scott Sprague, Chief Operating Officer, Asia Broadcast Satellite LimitedTerry Bleakley, Regional Vice President, Asia-Pacific Sales, IntelsatPhilip Balaam, Vice President, Sales, Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company LimitedYau Chyong Lim, Vice President of Business Development & Strategic Planning, Measat Deepak Mathur, Senior Vice President – Commercial, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, SES Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, Thaicom

Panel Discussion: “Reinventing”

the satellite business by

commercialising Ka- band satellites –

examining the outlook, opportunities

and implications

Panelists:Serge Van Herck, CEO, NewtecErez Antebi, CEO, Gilat Satellite Networks

Stefan Jucken, Director of Strategic Development, ViasatAnthony J. Colucci, Vice President Marketing & Sales, Space Systems Loral David Bettinger, Chief Technology Officer, iDirectRamesh Ramaswarmy, Vice President of Sales, Hughes

What does the future hold for

mobile and fixed global satellite

communications?

satellite communications world now and into

Drew Brandy, Vice President, Industry, Inmarsat

Panel Discussion: Delivering

services and solutions to the

maritime industry

Panelists:Pierre-Jean Beylier, CEO, SpeedcastLim Kian Soon, Head of Satellite, SingTelVivian Quenet, Vice President of Sales, Asia-Pacific, KVH IndustriesBilal El Hamoui, Head of APAC, Thuraya Communications CompanyPascal Piloyan, Head Maritime BU, Eutelsat

Steve Spengler, Intelsat

Paul Brown-Kenyon, Measat

Scott Sprague, ABS

Serge Van Herck, Newtec

David Bettinger, iDirect

Drew Brandy, Inmarsat

Pierre-Jean Beylier, Speedcast

Gold Sponsors:


SatComm Evolution Track @ CommunicAsia2013 summit

SatEvents

The SatComm Evolution track, a part of CommunicAsia2013 summit on June 18, will bring together Asian and global satellite operators as well as suppliers of satellite technology to discover ways to transform the satellite business to meet evolving needs of customers

The SatComm Evolution Track on June 18 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, will host a series of presentations and panel

discussions around the theme: The future of satellite business: Transcending borders. Some of the key presentations include:

Building a thriving satellite business

and successful roadmap for the future

– leading the way in the creation of new services and adoption of new technologies

opportunities in the changing landscape? A regional and sectoral analysis

Steve Spengler, Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Strategy, Intelsat

Transcending borders to build

a high growth global satellite

communications business

competition and growth drivers in Asia

consumer trends

Paul Brown-Kenyon, CEO, Measat

Panel Discussion: Where is the

satellite communications industry in

Asia Pacific heading?

Panelists:Scott Sprague, Chief Operating Officer, Asia Broadcast Satellite LimitedTerry Bleakley, Regional Vice President, Asia-Pacific Sales, IntelsatPhilip Balaam, Vice President, Sales, Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company LimitedYau Chyong Lim, Vice President of Business Development & Strategic Planning, Measat Deepak Mathur, Senior Vice President – Commercial, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, SES Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, Thaicom

Panel Discussion: “Reinventing”

the satellite business by

commercialising Ka- band satellites –

examining the outlook, opportunities

and implications

Panelists:Serge Van Herck, CEO, NewtecErez Antebi, CEO, Gilat Satellite Networks

Stefan Jucken, Director of Strategic Development, ViasatAnthony J. Colucci, Vice President Marketing & Sales, Space Systems Loral David Bettinger, Chief Technology Officer, iDirectRamesh Ramaswarmy, Vice President of Sales, Hughes

What does the future hold for

mobile and fixed global satellite

communications?

satellite communications world now and into

Drew Brandy, Vice President, Industry, Inmarsat

Panel Discussion: Delivering

services and solutions to the

maritime industry

Panelists:Pierre-Jean Beylier, CEO, SpeedcastLim Kian Soon, Head of Satellite, SingTelVivian Quenet, Vice President of Sales, Asia-Pacific, KVH IndustriesBilal El Hamoui, Head of APAC, Thuraya Communications CompanyPascal Piloyan, Head Maritime BU, Eutelsat

Steve Spengler, Intelsat

Paul Brown-Kenyon, Measat

Scott Sprague, ABS

Serge Van Herck, Newtec

David Bettinger, iDirect

Drew Brandy, Inmarsat

Pierre-Jean Beylier, Speedcast

Gold Sponsors:


SatEvents

The Satellite Interference Reduction Group (IRG) recently established a new working group to combat the challenging issue of intentional interference. Martin Coleman, Executive Director, IRG, gives us a glimpse into the challenges of devising technology to tackle intentional interference

Over recent years we have spent a lot of time discussing the issue of satellite interference. However,

we should remember that satellite is an extremely resilient solution, which is used in a wide range of applications and situations, many of which simply couldn’t be possible without satellite technology. Just look at Hurricane Sandy where satellite was the only communication service fully operational both during and after the hurricane.

Interference is a problem in our industry, but in actual fact only a minimal number of services are affected. That said, we as an industry are striving for perfection and we are working hard to ensure no services are affected by interference, whatever the cause.

Intentional interference is one part of the puzzle, but it is that piece of the sky where you observe a sea of blue and can’t quite work out where it fits!

FIXINGDIFFICULT INTERFERENCE


SatEvents

The Satellite Interference Reduction Group (IRG) recently established a new working group to combat the challenging issue of intentional interference. Martin Coleman, Executive Director, IRG, gives us a glimpse into the challenges of devising technology to tackle intentional interference

Over recent years we have spent a lot of time discussing the issue of satellite interference. However,

we should remember that satellite is an extremely resilient solution, which is used in a wide range of applications and situations, many of which simply couldn’t be possible without satellite technology. Just look at Hurricane Sandy where satellite was the only communication service fully operational both during and after the hurricane.

Interference is a problem in our industry, but in actual fact only a minimal number of services are affected. That said, we as an industry are striving for perfection and we are working hard to ensure no services are affected by interference, whatever the cause.

Intentional interference is one part of the puzzle, but it is that piece of the sky where you observe a sea of blue and can’t quite work out where it fits!

FIXINGDIFFICULT INTERFERENCE


Global Space

& Satellite Forum

More than 400 experts are expected to converge in Abu Dhabi for the Global Space & Satellite Forum, from 7-8 May 2013 at the Ritz Carlton Grand Canal.

The fourth edition of the forum is co-located with the Milsatcom Middle East conference, featuring speakers from the UAE Armed Forces, and Ministry of Defence and Aviation, Saudi Arabia. International speakers include those from the Ministry of Defence in the UK, US Department of State and Canadian Armed Forces.

IRG will be moderating a panel on intentional interference, which will discuss the technology enhancements needed to resolve this issue. The session takes place at 1pm on May 8 at MilSatCom Middle East.

“As with all interference, technology is key...using better predictive techniques will help; for example, keeping an eye on the politics involved around certain broadcasts and being ready with pre-set geolocation systems”

Technology, Technology, TechnologyAs with all interference, technology is key. Intentional interference is a specific instance of the difficult cases our industry faces from time-to-time. In order to be successful, we need to improve our techniques, trying to be one step ahead and be ready to resolve the interference before it happens. Using better predictive techniques will help; for example, keeping an eye on the politics involved around certain broadcasts and being ready with pre-set geolocation systems.

Indeed, geolocation is an extremely valuable tool in our toolkit, enabling operators to locate the source of all types of interference. By improving geolocation technologies, we can locate the source much more efficiently, and accurately, helping us to pinpoint a more precise location.

There is also a need to improve and standardise our geolocation procedures, data gathering and reporting, for all types of geo-located interference. The better records we keep and with a common format, the more we can understand it and spot the patterns that will enable us to resolve it more easily and improve our predictive techniques of when the interference may reoccur.

In addition, we need to investigate the need for coordinated reference monitoring for such incidents through registered earth stations, for example, via the ITU, but also include both satellite operator and private company facilities such that a “three-way, root cause analysis” can be achieved efficiently but in a cost effective manner. In addition, competent proof of the interference location needs to be added with standardised sets of results that both national entities and the ITU can thus use to present that evidence formally.

CollaborationOne thing that is clear; we can’t do this alone. As with all interference initiatives, it relies on the support and collaboration of the entire industry. However, by pooling resources to develop practical initiatives to gather evidence, we can begin to better combat all difficult cases of interference.

That work is already under way, with many organisations working closely together to feed information and improve the resolution of interference. IRG will be moderating a panel on intentional interference, which will discuss the technology enhancements needed to resolve this issue. The session takes place at 1pm on May 8 at MilSatCom Middle East. PRO

Adjacent Satellite

Monitoring Station

Primary Satellite

Interfering Satellite

“There is also a need to improve and standardise our geolocation procedures, data gathering and reporting for all types of geo-located interference”


Norsat International Inc. has introduced new Commercial-Off-The-Shelf and custom microwave products for airborne and Ka multi-band applications. All of the newly launched microwave products, which include Block Up/Down Converters (BUCs and BDCs), and Low Noise Blockdownconverters (LNB), are used in satellite signal transmission and reception.

The introduction of Norsat’s airborne portfolio is led with the launch of a BDC1000X-AIR, which has reportedly been lab and field tested for ruggedness and durability in airborne

applications. The BDC is compatible, the company claims, with current airborne service providers, and may be fully customised to meet specific customer requirements for frequency, size, shape, and more. The next addition to the Norsat airborne portfolio will be an airborne LNB, and the first custom units will be field tested later in 2013.

Norsat demonstrates new microwave product line

Advantech Wireless’ VSAT antenna Polaris K-Class

KVH’s new TracPhone V3-IP

The Polaris130KTM and Polaris155KTM antennas use the patent pending Roto-Lok Cartridge Drive System, specifically designed, the company claims, for no maintenance, ease of repair, and zero backlash.

Advantech Wireless’ latest technology, GaN-based up to 250W Ku-band redundant SSPA/SSPB system, can reportedly be installed directly on the boom. With Integrated Auto-Pointing ipointtm controller or separate indoor controller options, the new Polaris K-Class antenna acquires the satellite in less than three minutes. The ipointtm auto acquisition controller uses industry standard position transducers and a pattern recognition algorithm to confirm and refine its heading information using visible satellites.

KVH Industries is aiming to meet the demand for reliable, mobile broadband communications at remote well sites in the oil and gas industry with the new TracPhone V3-IP terminal for its mini-VSAT Broadband service. Unlike the one-metre antennas traditionally used for well site communications, the TracPhone V3-IP uses a compact 14.5-inch antenna dish, and does not have to be deployed, activated, or positioned onsite.

www.advantech.com

www.kvh.comwww.norsat.com

GPS Personal Locator Device (PLD) for ASD and Alzheimer’s patientsCalled the TRiLOC GPS Personal Locator, the device was developed after two years of research and reportedly many discussions with care-giving associations and parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The TRiLOC device helps caregivers locate and safeguard people with special needs while minimising the need for constant physical supervision.

The wristwatch encompasses machine-to-machine technology from Gemalto to www.gemalto.com.ph

power a GPS Personal Locator Device, which is used to track and locate those with ASD, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Gemalto’s solution reportedly transmits an individual’s precise location to their caretaker’s cell phone or computer while enabling hands-free, two-way voice calling when needed. A remote listening feature allows caretakers to detect when immediate help is required.


SatTechnology: Product Reviews

BYOD to sea with XchangeAstrium Services has released a new software version for its XChange connectivity platform, which reportedly allows crews to use their own smartphones on board.

Users can now connect their own devices to a vessel’s network over WiFi, to access e-mail, the internet and social media sites. The company claims that this development mirrors the growth of ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) policies on land, where many organisations now accept user-owned smartphones, tablets and laptops on corporate networks.

Personal internet usage can be managed, the company claims, by setting daily access limits for any user group. In order to ensure security whilst allowing access to crew and

Crystal’s SMR solution to defend spectrum for broadcasters

C-Com iNetVu deployed on Yahclick network

Crystal Solutions has claimed that its Spectrum Monitoring and Recording (SMR) solution will enable broadcasters to defend the 2 GHz Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS).

The 2025 to 2110 MHZ BAS (FCC Part 74) is under a spectrum challenge from the Cellular Telephone Industry Association (CTIA) to repurpose part of

this busy service band to mobile broadband usage. This would have a huge impact on broadcasters, across the globe, potentially interrupting important feeds.

The industry is currently mobilising to form a case against valuable spectrum being repurposed. Crystal Solutions’ SMR reportedly enables users to make that

case by observing, alarming and recording local activity on the BAS spectrum. All seven channels, polarities and carrier bandwidths/channel occupation can be detailed via common spectrum analyser inputs on same and switchable time-sharing inputs.

passenger devices, XChange v2.3 provides network control via white/black listing of network clients for internet access. It also reportedly separates the crew or passenger network from the corporate network.

The official release stated that new VoIP technology has also been included in XChange to enable bandwidth savings of over 50%, and that the platform has added compatiblity with Furuno Felcom satellite terminals, unavailable with the previous versions. XChange v2.3 is reportedly available free of charge as a firmware update, through a local file or via the embedded over-the-air update feature.

www.astrium.eads.net

www.crystalcc.com

www.c-comsat.com

www.calbay.com

Signal Interference Defence Instrument from Cal-Bay Cal-Bay Systems has introduced a Spectrum Defender, a new instrument that combines both spectrum monitoring and RF recording into one portable, off-the-shelf PXI-based platform.

Spectrum Defender reportedly equips engineers to monitor, analyse, troubleshoot and defend their spectrum and system performance against disruptions caused by these stray or hostile signals.

Cal-Bay’s instrument provides survey, record, play and review functions in a choice of standard, built-to-order or custom workflow configurations according to the user’s needs.

Com Satellite Systems Inc has announced that its iNetVuKa-98H antenna system, combined with the HNS 2W Dual IFL transceiver, is suitable to operate over the Yahsat’s Yahclick network.

A number of the iNetVu Ka-98H mobile antenna systems have already been deployed, the company claims, on Yahsat’s recently launched Y1B new generation high throughput Ka-band satellite, which covers the Middle East, Africa and South West Asia.

The Ka-98H mobile antennas will reportedly be sold directly by C-Com to service providers who will be integrating the antennas with their own solutions and reselling them to their customers over the Yahclick coverage areas.


Norsat International Inc. has introduced new Commercial-Off-The-Shelf and custom microwave products for airborne and Ka multi-band applications. All of the newly launched microwave products, which include Block Up/Down Converters (BUCs and BDCs), and Low Noise Blockdownconverters (LNB), are used in satellite signal transmission and reception.

The introduction of Norsat’s airborne portfolio is led with the launch of a BDC1000X-AIR, which has reportedly been lab and field tested for ruggedness and durability in airborne

applications. The BDC is compatible, the company claims, with current airborne service providers, and may be fully customised to meet specific customer requirements for frequency, size, shape, and more. The next addition to the Norsat airborne portfolio will be an airborne LNB, and the first custom units will be field tested later in 2013.

Norsat demonstrates new microwave product line

Advantech Wireless’ VSAT antenna Polaris K-Class

KVH’s new TracPhone V3-IP

The Polaris130KTM and Polaris155KTM antennas use the patent pending Roto-Lok Cartridge Drive System, specifically designed, the company claims, for no maintenance, ease of repair, and zero backlash.

Advantech Wireless’ latest technology, GaN-based up to 250W Ku-band redundant SSPA/SSPB system, can reportedly be installed directly on the boom. With Integrated Auto-Pointing ipointtm controller or separate indoor controller options, the new Polaris K-Class antenna acquires the satellite in less than three minutes. The ipointtm auto acquisition controller uses industry standard position transducers and a pattern recognition algorithm to confirm and refine its heading information using visible satellites.

KVH Industries is aiming to meet the demand for reliable, mobile broadband communications at remote well sites in the oil and gas industry with the new TracPhone V3-IP terminal for its mini-VSAT Broadband service. Unlike the one-metre antennas traditionally used for well site communications, the TracPhone V3-IP uses a compact 14.5-inch antenna dish, and does not have to be deployed, activated, or positioned onsite.

www.advantech.com

www.kvh.comwww.norsat.com

GPS Personal Locator Device (PLD) for ASD and Alzheimer’s patientsCalled the TRiLOC GPS Personal Locator, the device was developed after two years of research and reportedly many discussions with care-giving associations and parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The TRiLOC device helps caregivers locate and safeguard people with special needs while minimising the need for constant physical supervision.

The wristwatch encompasses machine-to-machine technology from Gemalto to www.gemalto.com.ph

power a GPS Personal Locator Device, which is used to track and locate those with ASD, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Gemalto’s solution reportedly transmits an individual’s precise location to their caretaker’s cell phone or computer while enabling hands-free, two-way voice calling when needed. A remote listening feature allows caretakers to detect when immediate help is required.


SatTechnology: Product Reviews

BYOD to sea with XchangeAstrium Services has released a new software version for its XChange connectivity platform, which reportedly allows crews to use their own smartphones on board.

Users can now connect their own devices to a vessel’s network over WiFi, to access e-mail, the internet and social media sites. The company claims that this development mirrors the growth of ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) policies on land, where many organisations now accept user-owned smartphones, tablets and laptops on corporate networks.

Personal internet usage can be managed, the company claims, by setting daily access limits for any user group. In order to ensure security whilst allowing access to crew and

Crystal’s SMR solution to defend spectrum for broadcasters

C-Com iNetVu deployed on Yahclick network

Crystal Solutions has claimed that its Spectrum Monitoring and Recording (SMR) solution will enable broadcasters to defend the 2 GHz Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS).

The 2025 to 2110 MHZ BAS (FCC Part 74) is under a spectrum challenge from the Cellular Telephone Industry Association (CTIA) to repurpose part of

this busy service band to mobile broadband usage. This would have a huge impact on broadcasters, across the globe, potentially interrupting important feeds.

The industry is currently mobilising to form a case against valuable spectrum being repurposed. Crystal Solutions’ SMR reportedly enables users to make that

case by observing, alarming and recording local activity on the BAS spectrum. All seven channels, polarities and carrier bandwidths/channel occupation can be detailed via common spectrum analyser inputs on same and switchable time-sharing inputs.

passenger devices, XChange v2.3 provides network control via white/black listing of network clients for internet access. It also reportedly separates the crew or passenger network from the corporate network.

The official release stated that new VoIP technology has also been included in XChange to enable bandwidth savings of over 50%, and that the platform has added compatiblity with Furuno Felcom satellite terminals, unavailable with the previous versions. XChange v2.3 is reportedly available free of charge as a firmware update, through a local file or via the embedded over-the-air update feature.

www.astrium.eads.net

www.crystalcc.com

www.c-comsat.com

www.calbay.com

Signal Interference Defence Instrument from Cal-Bay Cal-Bay Systems has introduced a Spectrum Defender, a new instrument that combines both spectrum monitoring and RF recording into one portable, off-the-shelf PXI-based platform.

Spectrum Defender reportedly equips engineers to monitor, analyse, troubleshoot and defend their spectrum and system performance against disruptions caused by these stray or hostile signals.

Cal-Bay’s instrument provides survey, record, play and review functions in a choice of standard, built-to-order or custom workflow configurations according to the user’s needs.

Com Satellite Systems Inc has announced that its iNetVuKa-98H antenna system, combined with the HNS 2W Dual IFL transceiver, is suitable to operate over the Yahsat’s Yahclick network.

A number of the iNetVu Ka-98H mobile antenna systems have already been deployed, the company claims, on Yahsat’s recently launched Y1B new generation high throughput Ka-band satellite, which covers the Middle East, Africa and South West Asia.

The Ka-98H mobile antennas will reportedly be sold directly by C-Com to service providers who will be integrating the antennas with their own solutions and reselling them to their customers over the Yahclick coverage areas.


SatGuest

“WE ARE DEVELOPING DUBAISAT- 3 IN THE UAE”

“First advantage is we are developing the satellite in the UAE,” stated Eng. Salem Al Marri, Assistant

Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs, EIAST, speaking to SatellitePro ME on the sidelines

of the launch announcement of DubaiSat-3.

“Not only will the resolution be higher and the clarity better, the amount of images we can take will be quadrupled. So we can take more of these

quality images and given the improved ability of the satellite to shift and turn, we will better target the

areas we want to cover. The speed of the movement of the satellite has increased significantly.

“DubaiSat-2 is estimated to be launched in the third or fourth quarter of this year and obviously it will be an advanced one-metre resolution imaging satellite

for the UAE, among other features.”

Plans are under way at EIAST towards developing its own clean room and satellite manufacturing

facilities, which consist of labs that keep the environment in the clean room free from dust and humidity, as part of preparations for the transfer of the DubaiSat-3 development to Dubai. EIAST’s Emirati engineers are expected to take the lead in the development of the project from the start and

SI will be assuming a consultative role.

“A core team of 45 UAE experts and engineers will lead the development of DubaiSat-3, the third

satellite programme to be undertaken by EIAST in collaboration with its partner, South Korea-based Satrec Initiative (SI), a solutions provider for Earth

observation missions.

“The satellite bus of DubaiSat-3 will be similar to that of DubaiSat-2, but there will be significant

changes in its payload and the size of the camera. It will also feature a new, highly sophisticated camera system, which works as an accurate

magnifier achieving a sub-metre resolution of 70 centimetres from a distance of 600 kilometres above the surface of the Earth. There will also be improvements in the download speed and

computing capabilities.

In conversation with Eng. Salem Al Marri, Assistant Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs, EIAST

Improvements in payload

and the size of the camera

Camera system with

sub-metre resolution of

70 centimetres from a

distance of 600 kilometres

above the surface of the

Earth

Improvements in the

download speed and

computing capabilities

Amount of images taken

to quadruple

(from left to right) His Excellency Mohammed Saif Almeqbali, Board Member, EIAST; Eng. Salem

Al Marri, Assistant Director for Scientific and Technical A!airs, EIAST; His Excellency Yousef Al

Sheibani, Director General, EIAST; Dr. Byong Jin Kim, President, Satrec Initiative; His Excellency

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Board of Directors, EIAST; Eng. Amer Alsayeg, Director

of the Space Systems Development Department at EIAST and the Project Manager of DubaiSat-3;

Abdulla Al Qemzi, Head of Media and External Communications, EIAST


SatGuest

“WE ARE DEVELOPING DUBAISAT- 3 IN THE UAE”

“First advantage is we are developing the satellite in the UAE,” stated Eng. Salem Al Marri, Assistant

Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs, EIAST, speaking to SatellitePro ME on the sidelines

of the launch announcement of DubaiSat-3.

“Not only will the resolution be higher and the clarity better, the amount of images we can take will be quadrupled. So we can take more of these

quality images and given the improved ability of the satellite to shift and turn, we will better target the

areas we want to cover. The speed of the movement of the satellite has increased significantly.

“DubaiSat-2 is estimated to be launched in the third or fourth quarter of this year and obviously it will be an advanced one-metre resolution imaging satellite

for the UAE, among other features.”

Plans are under way at EIAST towards developing its own clean room and satellite manufacturing

facilities, which consist of labs that keep the environment in the clean room free from dust and humidity, as part of preparations for the transfer of the DubaiSat-3 development to Dubai. EIAST’s Emirati engineers are expected to take the lead in the development of the project from the start and

SI will be assuming a consultative role.

“A core team of 45 UAE experts and engineers will lead the development of DubaiSat-3, the third

satellite programme to be undertaken by EIAST in collaboration with its partner, South Korea-based Satrec Initiative (SI), a solutions provider for Earth

observation missions.

“The satellite bus of DubaiSat-3 will be similar to that of DubaiSat-2, but there will be significant

changes in its payload and the size of the camera. It will also feature a new, highly sophisticated camera system, which works as an accurate

magnifier achieving a sub-metre resolution of 70 centimetres from a distance of 600 kilometres above the surface of the Earth. There will also be improvements in the download speed and

computing capabilities.

In conversation with Eng. Salem Al Marri, Assistant Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs, EIAST

Improvements in payload

and the size of the camera

Camera system with

sub-metre resolution of

70 centimetres from a

distance of 600 kilometres

above the surface of the

Earth

Improvements in the

download speed and

computing capabilities

Amount of images taken

to quadruple

(from left to right) His Excellency Mohammed Saif Almeqbali, Board Member, EIAST; Eng. Salem

Al Marri, Assistant Director for Scientific and Technical A!airs, EIAST; His Excellency Yousef Al

Sheibani, Director General, EIAST; Dr. Byong Jin Kim, President, Satrec Initiative; His Excellency

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Board of Directors, EIAST; Eng. Amer Alsayeg, Director

of the Space Systems Development Department at EIAST and the Project Manager of DubaiSat-3;

Abdulla Al Qemzi, Head of Media and External Communications, EIAST

Documents

Satellite Pro Middle East