ITU/ITSO Workshop on Satellite Communications, AFRALTI,

Nairobi Kenya, 8-12, August, 2016

Basics of Satellite Communications

Presenter: E. Kasule Musisi

ITSO Consultant
Email: kasule@datafundi.com
Cell: +256 772 783 784

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 Topics Outline
• Birth of Satellite Communications
• Communication Links
• The Space Segment
• Satellite Design
• The Ground Segment
• Teleports
• Satellite Orbits
• Building and Launching Satellites
• Satellite Regulation
• Earth Station Registration
• Satellite Regulatory Organisations
• Satellite Operators
• Satellite Services
• Technology Trends
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 Birth of satellite communications 1/8

What is a satellite?
− In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which
has been placed into orbit by human endeavor.
Why is the above definition not quite accurate?
− Because we also have natural satellites such as the Moon.
To be more exact, the above definition is for artificial
satellites

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 Birth of satellite communications 2/8

A communications satellite actas as a repeater

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 Birth of satellite communications 3/8

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who invented satellites?

− Arthur C. Clarke, who went on to be a well-read author of science fiction
novels
2. When were satellites invented?
− The first satellites were experimented with in the late 1950’s and early
1960’s. Intelsat’s first satellite, which was called ‘Early Bird’, was launched on
6 April 1965. First satellite was launched in 1957 by Russia. It was Sputnik 1.
3. How big is a satellite?
− Based on the Intelsat 9 series , before liftoff it’s, about 4,500 kilograms!
Without fuel, it’s about 2,000 kilograms! The body is 5.6 meters, and the solar
panels are 31 meters wide – more than a 10-story building!
4. How many years can a satellite last?
− It varies by satellite type. The type of satellites that Intelsat owns can last
over 20 years, but typically their work life is approximately 15 years
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 Birth of satellite communications 4/8
Frequently Asked Questions (Cont’d)
5. How do you fix satellites if they get broken?
− The satellites send back ‘health check’ information to ground engineers all
the time. Pre-developed commands are sent to the satellite to perform
certain functions, such as firing a booster or changing the angle of a solar
panel, so that it can repair itself.
6. How does a satellite get its power?
− Mostly solar power collected by the solar arrays/panels There are also
batteries on the satellites for the times when the satellite passes through the
earths shadow. This is called eclipse.
7. How much power does it take to transmit a signal?
− The power used to send a communications signal to the Earth from a
satellite is about the same as a typical 60W light bulb, just like you have at
home.
8. What kinds of people work in the satellite industry?
− All kinds! Engineers, rocket scientists, sales people, writers, accountants
and lawyers
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 Birth of satellite communications 5/8

Communications satellites may be used for many applications:

• relaying telephone calls
• providing communications to remote areas of the Earth,
• TV direct to user broadcasting
• providing communications to ships, aircraft and other
mobile vehicles
• etc .

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 Birth of satellite communications 6/8

Benefits of Satellites

• Adaptable to customer requirements

• Mobility
• Cost advantage
• Not affected by geographical obstructions
• Quick implementation
• Alternate routing (backup) or redundancy
• Cost is independent of distance
• Cost effective for short term requirements

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 Birth of satellite communications 7/8

Satellites are complementary to cable for the following

reasons:
• Submarine cables (and landline fibre) are subject to cuts
• Interim solutions for cellular backhaul and internet
trunking
• Satellite systems utilizing MEO (Medium Earth orbit) have
both high capacity and high quality.

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 Birth of satellite communications 8/8
Types of satellites
• Communications satellites
• Weather satellites
− provide meteorologists with scientific data to predict weather conditions and
are equipped with advanced instruments
• Earth observation satellites
• Navigation satellites
− using GPS technology, these satellites are able to provide a person's exact
location on Earth to within a few meters
• Broadcast satellites
− broadcast television and radio signals from one point to another (similar to
communications satellites).
• Scientific satellites
− perform a variety of scientific missions e.g. The Hubble Space Telescope
• Military satellites
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 Communication Links 1/4

Uplink

Uplink - The transmission of signals to the satellite

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 Communication Links 2/4

Downlink s

Downlink - The transmission of information

from the satellite. Many Earth Stations can be
covered by one satellite footprint

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 Communication Links 3/4

NOTE:
− Satellites receive at a different frequency
than they transmit at
− Different wavelengths give different
radiation patterns on the antennae
− This causes slightly different footprints for
uplink and downlink
− For marketing reasons the patterns may
be different

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Communication Links 4/4

A satellite “footprint”

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 Satellite frequency bands

Source: Satellite Industry Association (USA), 2012

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 The Satellite Communication System

• space segment
• ground segment
• transmission medium (99% “free space”)

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 The Space Segment 1/4

A telecommunications satellite comprises of:

− A platform (or bus): propulsion system, fuel tanks,
batteries, solar panels, attitude and orbit control
functions, etc. It is usually standardized by the
manufacturer.
− A payload: the equipment used to provide the service
for which the satellite has been launched. Its is
customized for a given mission

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 The Space Segment 2/4

Propulsion System
Telemetry, Attitude Control,
Solar Arrays Commanding, Fuel, Batteries Solar Arrays
Power System/Thermal

D System

Down

Transponder
o
Converter
High
Power
Amplifier Transponder

Communications
Receiver Section e
Pre- Filter
Transmitter Section
Amplifier
Payload

Filter

Rx Antennas Tx Antenna

Block Diagram of a Communications Satellite

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 The Space Segment 3/4

The Transponder
This is the equipment which provides the connecting link
between the satellite’s transmit and receive antennas. It forms
one of the main sections of the payload, the other being the
antenna subsystems.

Satellite Transponder Capacity

Typically satellites have between 24 and 72 transponders. A

transponder bandwidth is typically 36 MHz, 54 MHz or 72 MHz

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 The Space Segment 4/4

A closer look at the Transponder

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 Satellite Design1/2

Key aspects of Satellite Design

•Electrical Power
•Station Keeping
•Attitude Control
•Orbital Control
•Thermal Control

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 Satellite Design2/2

Orbital Control

• Necessary keep the satellite

stationary with respect to all the
earth station antennas that are
pointed at it.

• Each satellite carries a thrust

subsystem to give it an occasional
nudge to keep it “on station."

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 The Ground Segment 1/6
Topic Outline
• Ground Earth Station (GES) components
• Factors governing antenna sizes
• The differences between a major earth station and a
VSAT
• Permissions required to install and operate a VSAT /
Earth station

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 The Ground Segment 2/6

GES Components- simplified list

1. Reflector
– Physical reflecting piece – focuses signal into the LNB assembly and / or
focuses the transmission signal towards the satellite
2. Feed horn
– Device to accept the focussed RF signals into the LNB or conversely to
output the RF signal to the satellite
3. Power amplifier
Device that accepts a signal from the modem and boosts it to a suitable level
for onward transmission to the satellite
4. LNA,B or C – Low Noise Amplifier
Receives the signal from the satellite,

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 The Ground Segment 3/6

GES Components- simplified list (Cont’d)

5. Modem
Converts a data signal to one suitable for transmission to the satellite
6. Up Converter
– Converts the modulated signals from RF to RF frequency
7. Down Converter
– Converts the modulated signals from RF to RF frequency
8. Mounting
– Some form of mounting to hold the antenna assembly vertical and pointed
correctly under most normal condition

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 The Ground Segment 4/6

Indoor Outdoor

Feed Horn
Router
Power Amplifier Reflector

UPS
Power Rigid Mounting

GES Components – generic simplified diagram

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 The Ground Segment 5/6

Uplink Block Diagram

Downlink Block Diagram

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 The Ground Segment 6/6

Feed horn assembly

RF Power amplifier
(SSPA)

Receive cable
From LNB modem
LNB
Transmit cable
From indoor modem
VSAT components
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 Factors Governing GES Reflector Sizes

Technical Factors
− Large earth stations have smaller beam width therefore point
more accurately
− Large antennas results in less RF signal wastage
− Large antennas have less co-satellite interference
− Link Budget requirement
Cost Factors
− A Larger antenna may be less than the cost of a lease with a
smaller antenna
Regulatory Factors
− Planning permission the Government or Local Authority may
limit the minimum or maximum antenna size ( e.g. for EM
safety or aesthetics)

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 Major Earth Station and VSATs 1/3

VSAT – Very Small Aperture Terminal:

• A VSAT is typically a small earth station 0.7M to 3.7M
• Usually operates a single service or application

Major Earth Station

• Typically A Major Earth station is sized from 3.7M to 16M+
weighing 20 T or mo re costing $1M+
• Basically same components in each station
• Supports multiple services
• All components redundant
• Can transmit and receive in multiple polarisations
• Usually configured with large RF power amplifiers
• Always connected to suitable Power supplies
• Usually connected to multiple terrestrial paths

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Major Earth Station and VSAT 2/3

Reflector

Ground Mount
with weights

Picture of a VSAT

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Major Earth Station and VSAT 3/3

Large earth station antennas

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 What is a Teleport

• Multiple large earth stations

• Well specified antennas
• Good power systems
• Ample Rack space for ancillary equipment
• 24X7 staff on-site to maintain systems
• Quality support and technical staff to assist with design,
install and operation
• Good terrestrial connectivity
• Preferably to more than a single fibre supplier

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A typical Teleport

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Permissions required to install & operate a VSAT / Earth station

Just because it can work does not necessarily mean you may
go out install and operate!
•Planning permission

Local Authority building departments

Zoning issues
•Landlord’s permission
Will the landlord permit your activity?
•Regulatory authority
Does the law allow you to build and operate?

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Satellite Orbits 1/6

MEO

LEO

GEO

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 Satellite Orbits 2/6
MEO

LEO

GEO

Type LEO MEO GEO

Low Earth Orbit
Medium Earth Orbit Geostationary Earth Orbit
Description Equatorial or polar
Equatorial or Polar orbit Equatorial orbit
orbit
Height 100-500 miles 6000-12000 miles 22,282 miles
Signal Visibility /
15 min 2-4 hrs 24 hrs
orbit
Lower launch costs Covers as much as 42.2% of
Short round trip signal Moderate launch cost the earth's surface Ease of
Advantages
delay Small round trip delays tracking
Small path loss No problems due to doppler
Tracking antenna
Tracking antenna required
required
Larger delays Large round trip delays
Disadvantages Short life, 5-8 years
Greater path loss than Weaker signals on Earth
Encounters radiation
LEO's
belts

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Satellite Orbits 3/6

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 Satellite Orbits 4/6

Inclined Orbits: Implications for

earth station tracking:
Stations must have tracking
systems so that their pointing is
adjusted to aim at the satellite all
during the day.

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 Satellite Orbits 5/6

Orbital Slot Registration

• The ITU Member States have established a legal regime, which is
codified through the ITU Constitution and Convention, including
the Radio Regulations

• All countries, including lesser developed countries, have an equal

right to orbital slots.

• At conferences in 1985 and 1988, the ITU did give all countries
the rights to an orbital slot directly over their territory,

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Satellite Orbits 6/6

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Building and launching a telecommunications satellite 1/4
GEO Satellite Launch

Multiple “burns” to achieve GEO orbit

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 Building and launching a telecommunications satellite 2/4

Generic Transfer Profile

Generic Transfer Orbit Profile

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Building and launching a telecommunications satellite 3/4

• It takes about 3 years to get a GEO telecom satellite built

and launched.
• Satellite payloads are customized for a given mission.
• Satellites are heavily tested on the ground in facilities that
reproduce the space environment:
− Mechanical, Thermal, Noise and RF tests
• Typical cost of a satellite is $150-$250 million
− Some satellites can cost as much as $500 million.
− Not including launch services ($55-$100 million) and
insurance

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Building and launching a telecommunications satellite 4/4

• As most satellite operators are for profit businesses, this

investment must be recovered from sale of services over
the satellite’s lifetime.
• The services may be sold directly to communication service
providers or through satellite service providers.

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 Levels of satellite regulation

1. Global: The Radio Regulations of the ITU done by the WRCs +

(Rules of Procedure done by the RRB)
2. Regional: Regional (continental) agreements, guidelines and/or
regulations, e.g. EU Decision No 626/2008/EC on the selection
and authorisation of systems providing mobile satellite services
(MSS).
3. Sub-regional: Sub-regional agreements, guidelines and/or
regulations e.g. the 2015 SADC decision on Sharing of the Ka
band (26.5 – 40GHz). Fixed service and Satellite service.
4. National: National regulations
5. (State/County: Limited scope regulations e.g. earth station
licensing) 46
 Earth Station and VSAT Registration 1/4

A licence is required by the national

telecommunications authority of a country where
any earth station as a part of a network, be it the
hub, a control station or a VSAT, is planned to be
installed and operated.

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 Earth Station and VSAT Registration 2/4

In the past, national telecommunication authorities have

required licensing of individual VSAT terminals in addition
to requiring a network operator’s license. Then, the US
Federal Communication Commission (FCC) implemented
with success a blanket licensing approach for VSATs
operated within the US.

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 Earth Station and VSAT Registration 3/4

Blanket licensing has since gained interest among

national telecommunications authorities all over the
world, as a result of equipment manufacturers
complying with the recommendations issued by
international standardization bodies, such as the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and
the European Telecommunications Standards
Institute (ETSI).

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 Earth Station and VSAT Registration 4/4

A licence usually entails the payment of a licence fee,

which is most often in two parts: a one-time fee for the
licensing work and an annual charge per station.
The licensing procedure is simpler when the network is
national, as only one telecom authority is involved.
For transborder networks, licences must be obtained from
the national authorities of the different countries where
the relevant earth stations are planned to be installed and
operated, and rules often differ from one country to
another.

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 Orbital positions and radio interferences
Control of Interference

ALLOCATION
POWER LIMITS
Frequency separation of
PFD to protect TERR services /
stations of different services
EIRP to protect SPACE services
/ EPFD to protect GSO from
REGULATORY PROTECTION Non-GSO
e.g. No. 22.2: Non-GSO to COORDINATION
protect GSO (FSS and BSS)
between Administrations to
ensure interference-free
operations conditions

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 Satellite regulatory organisations 1/2

ITSO
The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization is
an intergovernmental organization charged with overseeing the
public service obligations of Intelsat.

GVF
Global VSAT Forum is an association of key companies involved
in the business of delivering advanced digital fixed satellite
systems and services.

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 Radio regulatory organisations 2/2
ITSO
• ITSO is the continuation of INTELSAT, the intergovernmental
organization established by treaty in 1973.
• On July 18, 2001, the satellite fleet, customer contracts and other
operational assets of the Organization were transferred to Intelsat
Ltd, a new private company now registered in Luxembourg and
various amendments to the ITSO Agreement took effect.
• Under the ITSO Agreement, as amended , ITSO’s primary role was
that of supervising and monitoring Intelsat’s provision of public
telecommunications satellite services as specified in the Public
Services Agreement(PSA) entered into between ITSO and Intelsat.
• In addition, the Director General , on behalf of the Organization,
must consider all issues related to the Common Heritage. ITSO
currently has 149 Member States.” 53
Some International/Regional Satellite Operators

Iridium

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ITU Satellite radiocommunications services classifications1/2

1. Aeronautical mobile-satellite (OR) service

2. Aeronautical mobile-satellite (R) service
3. Aeronautical mobile-satellite service
4. Aeronautical radionavigation-satellite service
5. Amateur-satellite service
6. Broadcasting-satellite service
7. Earth exploration-satellite service
8. Fixed-satellite service
9. Inter-satellite service
10. Land mobile-satellite service
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ITU Satellite radiocommunications services classifications2/2

11. Maritime mobile-satellite service

12. Maritime radionavigation-satellite service
13. Meteorological-satellite service
14. Mobile-satellite service
15. Radiodetermination-satellite service
16. radiolocation-satellite service
17. Radionavigation-satellite service
18. Space operation service
19. Space research service
20. Standard freq. and time signal-satellite service

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 Industry Satellite Services Products1/2
Voice/Video/Data Communications Direct-To-Consumer
• Rural Telephony • Broadband IP
• News Gathering/Distribution • DTH/DBS Television
• Internet Trunking
• Digital Audio Radio
• Corporate VSAT Networks
• Tele-Medicine • Interactive Entertainment
• Distance-Learning & Games
• Mobile Telephony • Video & Data to handhelds
• Videoconferencing
• Business Television
• Broadcast and Cable Relay
• VOIP & Multi-media over IP

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GPS/Navigation Remote Sensing
• Position Location • Pipeline Monitoring
• Timing • Infrastructure Planning
• Search and Rescue • Forest Fire Prevention
• Mapping • Urban Planning
• Fleet Management • Flood and Storm watches
• Security & Database Access • Air Pollution Management
• Emergency Services • Geo-spatial Services

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 Technology trends 1/11

• Satellite capacity continues to grow despite fibre

deployment
• Potential shortage of capacity in some areas for certain
types of capacity due to heavy cutbacks in launches
• Bandwidth is ever increasing on a per link basis

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 Technology trends 2/11

Addressing the bottom line through the use of the latest

technologies
− DVB-S2 and DVB-S2x
− Adaptive Coding and Modulation
− Carrier Cancellation Technology (CCT) or “CnC”
− Lower Roll off factors
− Multi-demodulator Hub Cards

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 Technology trends 3/11

DVB-S2 & Extensions: A new standard enables true

convergence
• Excellent spectral efficiency:
− Up to 40% bandwidth saving compared to DVB-S
− Up to 2dB better than Turbo Codes
− HDTV enabler
• Unlike DVB-S, DVB-S2 is optimised for MPEG and IP
• Allows for DTH and DTT distribution in single carrier

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 Technology trends 4/11
Adaptive Coding & Modulation
• Higher throughput for the same
amount of resources
• When rain fade issues arise, the
modulation can adjust so as to ensure
the remote stays in the network
• Allows lower per Mbps price points to
be achieved, leading to more
competitive prices in the market
Maximum achievable data throughput by utilizing the most
efficient coding and modulation scheme at any moment in
time, depending on location within the satellite contour,
antenna size and atmospheric conditions
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 Technology trends 5/11

Carrier Cancellation Technology

T y p ic a l 8 P S K L in k
8PSK A => B B => A

O r ig in a l L in k s h o w n
fo r R e fe re n c e

8PSK Q P S K ( S p r e a d in g )
B a n d w id t h in c r e a s e s ,
QPSK A => B A => B P o w e r d e crea s es

C o m p o s it e L in k

A p p ly D o u b le T a lk C a r r ie r - in - C a r r ie r -
Q P S K - W it h C o m p o s it e C a r r ie r u s e s L e s s B a n d w id t h
D o u b le T a lk & L e s s P o w e r C o m p a r e d t o O r ig in a l
C a r r ie r - in - C a r r ie r

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 Technology trends 6/11

Roll Off
• Allocated BW directly proportional to Symbol
rate X Roll off
• Typical roll off – 35%
• Most recent roll off available 5%
• Drives efficiency

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 Technology trends 7/11

Multi-Demodulator Cards: Multiple inbound carriers in

one return card
− Reduces cost of equipment – fewer cards and less
chassis space
− Potential to pay as you grow with existing hardware
(only software required)
− Ease of manageability
− Far more common today across various platforms

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 Technology trends 8/11

Combination of Features: Equipment Vendors are

integrating options to their products
− DVB-S2 with ACM
• Satellite equipment vendors (eg. HNS, iDirect, Shiron)
− Carrier in Carrier
• Comtech EFData CDM-625/CDM-625A
• Viasat/iDirect PCMA
− DVB-S2, Carrier in Carrier with ACM
• Comtech EFData CDM-750
− Hub demodulator card
• iDirect, Comtech, etc

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 Technology trends 9/11

User demands
• Smaller terminals
• High throughput
• Enhanced capability
• Constellations
• Lower costs - $1000 now and
lower!
• Easier access to space segment
• Easier licensing regimes
• Open standards

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 Technology trends 10/11

Open Standards?
• Industry Players (Satellite Operators, Network
Operators, Equipment manufacturers and End-Users)
agree that Open Standards are good for everyone
• But which one is the best one or is it a multitude of
answers and solutions?

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 Technology trends 11/11

• Global usage and coordination

• Ka / Ku/ C Band
• Interference issues
• Global /Regional frequency coordination

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END

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