satellitepro me august 2013

GOOD COMMUNICATION

EMBRACING CHANGE

Super-giant Rumaila gets fully redundant end-to-end network

Broadcast industry sees new trends, roles, titles and creativity

SUPERFAST BROADBANDMaritime end users to benefit from unprecedented flexibility

WISEBANDS AHMED HASSAN DISCUSSES HIS ROLLOUT PLAN FOR AUTO-DEPLOY ANTENNA FRANCHISES

ISSUE 20 | AUGUST 2013

UPPING THE ANTENNA

EDITORIAL

Success isnt possible without a beginning Ghana made history in May when it launched its first ever satellite as part of its new space programme. Carried into the sky by nothing more scientific than a large balloon, the Deployable CanSat will collect photographic imagery and other data from its flight. While it is hoped that the historic event will stoke the countrys long-term space ambitions, the launch has had further-reaching impact.

Cosmic inspiration has caused sparks in Uganda, some 5,700km away from Ghana. Determined to see his nation enter the space race, and

working from his mothers back yard with a team of student volunteers, 28-year-old scientist Chris Nsamba has set out to build and launch Ugandas maiden space observer. The launch itself would involve a helium weather balloon carrying the probe up to 120,000 feet, when thrusters would kick in. Roughly the shape of a beach ball, the probe is equipped with solar panels, a camera and a single passenger a rat.

The set-up is far from Nasa. But why should it be? Some of mankinds greatest achievements have had humble origins: Benjamin Franklin used a simple kite to prove his theory that lightning is electricity and Apple Inc was born in a spare bedroom at Steve Jobs parents house hit google and youll find numerous other examples.

What is paramount about Nsambas project is that its home-grown. Satellite technology is key for the development of a country; going beyond access to internet in fibre-free areas and applications used in agriculture, education and healthcare, it plays an important role in a nations military operations. And on the subject of security, what are the risks involved with relying on a foreign country for satellite technology advancements? The fact is that while a nation needs satellite technology, it also needs to be self-reliant.

There are, no doubt, numerous challenges facing Nsamba, but if he continues as he is currently going, he will, at the very least, have made a giant leap for his countrymen. So, Chris Nsamba, to infinity and beyond!

Adrienne HarebottleEditor

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] +971 4 440 9126

EDITORIAL

Group Editor - Broadcast DivisionVijaya Cherian


EditorAdrienne Harebottle

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In this edition:

We are expecting our first franchised antenna to be delivered in early 2014. We already have three franchises secured: two in Asia and one in South America.- Ahmed Hassan, CEO of Wiseband page 10

We believe 4K will enable a new premium tier of programming made available by selected large programmers.- Peter Ostapiuk, Vice-President of Media Product Management at Intelsat page 44

The real success for us will be in delivering satellite communications to those who need it most, not just those with the biggest budgets.- Kyle Hurst, Director of Market Development Maritime at Thuraya page 36

We still believe there will continue to be an important place and increasing demand for classical C and Ku bands.- Simon Gatty Saunt, Regional Vice-President of Data and Mobility Services at SES page 26

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CONTENTS Issue 20 | August 2013

News

4PartnershipsMilitary deals, new product and satellite launches, historic achievements and more

SatLead

10The McDonaldesque antenna franchise A multi-year licence comes with training, antenna kits, insurance, technology updates and purportedly a lower price tag

SatEvents

22Broadcast industry changes: surviving and thriving IBC keynote speakers to address the hottest topics and industry trends

SatVertical: Maritime

16Global Xpress makes waves in maritime sector Broadband service to offer world-wide coverage, higher performance and unprecedented flexibility

SatLaunch

32Serving the other 3 billionO3b is on its mission path to provide high-speed, affordable internet to the worlds unconnected or underserviced population


36Thurayas game-changing MBBCompany claims to have bridged the gap between quality and value

SatVertical: Broadcast

444K: hype or a reality?While the satellite delivery chain is ready, content, production set-top boxes and business cases remain obstacles

SatVertical: Oil and Gas

38Super-giant Rumaila gets well connected Hermes Datacommunications provides constant access to communications no matter what


38Is live video chat onboard ship feasible? Despite rising quantities of bandwidth and airtime, video and VoIP applications must still be optimised


26Riding out the wavesNew Ka-band services are touted as being able to revolutionise the sector. But some industry players say L band is here to stay 36

16

10

CONTENTS Issue 20 | August 2013

News

4PartnershipsMilitary deals, new product and satellite launches, historic achievements and more

SatLead

10The McDonaldesque antenna franchise A multi-year licence comes with training, antenna kits, insurance, technology updates and purportedly a lower price tag

SatEvents

22Broadcast industry changes: surviving and thriving IBC keynote speakers to address the hottest topics and industry trends


16Global Xpress makes waves in maritime sector Broadband service to offer world-wide coverage, higher performance and unprecedented flexibility

SatLaunch

32Serving the other 3 billionO3b is on its mission path to provide high-speed, affordable internet to the worlds unconnected or underserviced population


36Thurayas game-changing MBBCompany claims to have bridged the gap between quality and value

SatVertical: Broadcast

444K: hype or a reality?While the satellite delivery chain is ready, content, production set-top boxes and business cases remain obstacles

SatVertical: Oil and Gas

38Super-giant Rumaila gets well connected Hermes Datacommunications provides constant access to communications no matter what


38Is live video chat onboard ship feasible? Despite rising quantities of bandwidth and airtime, video and VoIP applications must still be optimised


26Riding out the wavesNew Ka-band services are touted as being able to revolutionise the sector. But some industry players say L band is here to stay 36

16

10

4 | SatellitePro | August 2013

SatNews

Baghdad-based Iraqi Media Network has built a satellite TV broadcast platform to broadcast

on Arabsat satellites at its Hot Spot 26 degrees East .This bouquet includes radio and TV programmes for all TV channels currently operating from Iraq, which crown the mutual cooperation efforts between Arabsat and the Iraqi Media Network to develop AV media infrastructure in Iraq.

Mohammed Abdul Jabbar Al Shabout, Director General of the Iraqi Media Network, stated that launching this bouquet will enable Iraqi and Arab viewers to watch all their favourite channels on a single frequency across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as large parts of Asia and Europe. Its advantages

Iraqi Media Network launches satellite broadcast platform

Arabsat partners with Geolink

UAE buys French military surveillance satellites

www.arabsat.com

www.geolink.com

www.imn.iq

www.arabsat.com

include granting free and competitive subscriptions and dispensing the fixed broadcasters, satellite middleware, which will counter high operating costs for each channel, with the continued high reliability transmission as Arabsat has a full back-up in orbit on its exclusive Hot Spot.

Khalid bin Ahmed Balkheyour, President and CEO of Arabsat, says: Launching the Iraqi bouquet comes in line to build a digital satellite broadcast platform in Baghdad. We hope to see more joint ventures between Iraqi Media Network and Arabsat.

Geolink Satellite Services, part of CETel Group, has signed a multi-year transponder contract with Arabsat on 5A satellite, located at 305 East.

The additional capacity is required to enlarge Geolinks VSAT satellite networks and to serve the growing demand in the African market.

With over 4,000 active terminals worldwide, state-of-the-art teleport facilities in Germany (CETel) and a network operations centre in Paris, Geolink is a leading provider of satellite communications on C, Ku, L and Ka bands.

We are pleased to work with a top-tier satellite operator like Arabsat on a long-term basis, says Christophe Pacilly, President of Geolink Satellite Services. The 5A satellite coverage over the African continent for C band gives us a unique opportunity to service our customers from the energy industry, mining, media and www.thalesgroup.com

www.astrium.eads.net

The UAE ordered two military surveillance satellites from France on July 23 in a deal worth more than 700 million

euros, or USD 913.2 million.The Falcon Eye deal, signed in Abu Dhabi

over competition from Lockheed Martin of the United States, includes the supply and launch of two high-resolution Helios surveillance satellites, a control station and training for 20 UAE engineers.

The two satellites will be built by Astrium, the space division of EADS, and Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between French Thales and Italian Finmeccanica.

The deal comes with an annex agreement between the two governments, stating that French military personnel will help their Emirati counterparts in interpreting images and sharing received intelligence, said a member of the team of the French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

This evening, we reached a milestone, which is the building of trust, said Le Drian, adding that he found relations between the two countries broken when he took o!ce in May 2012.

Trust was broken. Nothing was happening.Le Drian succeeded in reviving dialogue

after holding several meetings with UAE o!cials, including talks earlier this month with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The last significant military orders received by Paris from the UAE a traditional customer of France, date back to 2007, when the Yahsat contract was signed.

It featured the delivery of two communication satellites, and the purchase of three Airbus Military MRTT tanker aircraft.

In 2009, France opened in the UAE its first military base outside Africa, with some 700 personnel stationed permanently.

humanitarian sectors. In the region, where capacity is scarce, 5A allows us to meet the growing demand of the African telecommunication market.

August 2013 | SatellitePro | 5

Thuraya Telecommunications Company and its global service partner Astrium Services have

agreed to strengthen their alliance through a deal that will see Astrium add IP+, SatSleeve and the newly launched Maritime Broadband (MBB) to its portfolio.

The companies, having already been partners for over 13 years, hope that this new agreement will help to extend their reach to a more diverse set of customers and service partners around the world.

Astrium, which is connected to the Thuraya network infrastructure, will now be able to provide its full range of value-added services including messaging, prepaid cards and interconnection to corporate networks

Boeing to offer eXConnect to government customers

Thuraya, Astrium sign agreement to strengthen partnership

Thuraya launches iPhone 5 SatSleeve adaptor Thuraya Telecommunications Company has launched the SatSleeve adaptor for the iPhone 5. It is now available from all its service partners.

All users have to do is slide their iPhone 5 into the new SatSleeve adaptor for full walk-and-talk capability in satellite mode. Available in 12 different languages, the SatSleeve app allows users to easily integrate iPhone contacts when making satellite calls and SMS.

SatSleeve works across the entire coverage area of the Thuraya satellites network, which covers 140 countries.

www.astriumservices.com

www.panasonic.com

www.thuraya.com

www.boeing.com

www.thuraya.com

www.interlsat.com

via the Thuraya satellite services. Danny Ct, Head of Business

Communications Enterprise for Astrium Services, adds: Thurayas latest range of products is highly anticipated by our customers. We see strong potential in Thurayas SatSleeve, which dramatically reduces the entry barrier to mobile satellite communications. We see potential growth coming from Thuraya IP+ in the broadcast media and government sectors, where there is a need for a portable, lightweight terminal as well as additional security for the people who are working in these demanding locations.

Boeing and Panasonic are preparing to open a new market for eXConnect, Panasonics secure, satellite-based, in-flight broadband service. Under a new agreement, Boeing will offer eXConnect to government customers within and outside the United States.

While final terms are still being negotiated, the companies have agreed on a framework for Boeing to offer the in-flight broadband service and sell aeronautical terminals to the government market, including the eXConnect terminal being deployed commercially today.

This alliance will expand Boeings ability to offer in-flight broadband to government aircraft operators, many of whom operate Boeing aircraft, with a competitively priced service, says Paul Geery, Vice-President of C3 Solutions

for Boeing Electronic and Information Solutions. The eXConnect service will augment other Boeing C4ISR capabilities, providing customers with seamless situational awareness.

By combining the strengths of our global Ku-band aeronautical network with Boeings extensive experience working with secure network customers such as the US Government, we will together be able to provide significantly improved service to this important industry, says Paul Margis, President and CEO of Panasonic. We look forward to working with Boeing to offer in-flight connectivity to this exciting market.

Intelsat, Ericsson demo end-to-end 4K TV transmissionIntelsat and Ericsson successfully demonstrated a true 4K UHD, end-to-end video transmission over satellite to Turner Broadcastings facilities in Atlanta in the Unites States. This was the first transmission of a UHD signal over satellite in North America, and proves the satellite delivery chain is ready to accommodate the next-generation signals.

During the demo, Intelsats Galaxy 13 satellite delivered a 4:2:2 10-bit, 4K UHD signal at 60 frames per second. The 100Mbps video feed was encoded and decoded in real time by Ericsson, using its AVP 2000 contribution encoders and RX8200 receivers capable of 4K UHD operations as well as HD and SD contribution at the highest quality. Newtec provided the modulation and demodulation hardware and Turner Broadcasting provided the downlink antenna.

SatNews

Morgan Stanley drops SES to underweight

www.SES.com

Morgan Stanley has moved SES to an underweight rating, citing a number of risks that

could affect the operator in the near future. Patrick Wellington, a satellite equity analyst at Morgan Stanley, listed some reasons for the new rating in a research note, adding that overcapacity could be more of a problem than anticipated by the industry.

We calculate [that] the proliferation of traditional satellite launches, coupled with the rollout of high throughput satellites (HTS), could increase the total marketable transponder capacity globally by up to 75% by 2016. We think the risk that HTS, which have a more powerful and cost-effective technology than traditional satellites, drive price deflation in data (c.30 percent of sales) could be greater than consensus expects, notes Wellington.

The recent research report also noted the potential impact that HTS could have on SES fiscal health. While 70% of SES business is from video, the remaining 30% could very possibly

KEY APPOINTMENTS

www.yahlive.tv

www.yahsat.ae

www.absatellite.net

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company, known as Yahsat, has appointed Sami Boustany as Acting CEO of YahLive, the HD television satellite platform for the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South West Asia regions. This is in place of the former CEO Mohamed Youssif.

Sami Boustany appointed as YahLive CEO

Masood Mahmood promoted as Yahsat CEO while Tareq Al Hosani joins Board of Directors

Mohamed Youssif leaves YahLive, joins ABS

be prone to sharp pricing pressure as superior HTS technology hits the data market en masse. This is something that is reflected neither in our model nor in consensus expectations since HTS are driving a paradigm shift that is extremely difficult to model, says Wellington.

The US military vertical could add to SES challenges, adds Wellington. We believe the weakness of US military demand creates an additional source of potential downside, or at least a lack of upside surprise. We estimate SES generates just under 10% of revenue from military activities. Budget constraints, sequesters and troop withdrawals have had a negative impact on this segment over the past 18 months, and we do not expect an uptick in the short to medium term.

Despite having noted several challenges, Wellington still considers SES to be a strong business, explaining that its new underweight rating was just a relative call.


Yahsat has appointed Masood Sharif Mahmood as CEO while Tareq Abdel Raheem Al Hosani has joined its Board of Directors.

Mohamed Youssif has been appointed as COO of Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) and President and MD of the Middle East.www.absatellite.net

SatNews

Morgan Stanley drops SES to underweight

www.SES.com

Morgan Stanley has moved SES to an underweight rating, citing a number of risks that

could affect the operator in the near future. Patrick Wellington, a satellite equity analyst at Morgan Stanley, listed some reasons for the new rating in a research note, adding that overcapacity could be more of a problem than anticipated by the industry.

We calculate [that] the proliferation of traditional satellite launches, coupled with the rollout of high throughput satellites (HTS), could increase the total marketable transponder capacity globally by up to 75% by 2016. We think the risk that HTS, which have a more powerful and cost-effective technology than traditional satellites, drive price deflation in data (c.30 percent of sales) could be greater than consensus expects, notes Wellington.

The recent research report also noted the potential impact that HTS could have on SES fiscal health. While 70% of SES business is from video, the remaining 30% could very possibly

KEY APPOINTMENTS

www.yahlive.tv

www.yahsat.ae

www.absatellite.net

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company, known as Yahsat, has appointed Sami Boustany as Acting CEO of YahLive, the HD television satellite platform for the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South West Asia regions. This is in place of the former CEO Mohamed Youssif.

Sami Boustany appointed as YahLive CEO

Masood Mahmood promoted as Yahsat CEO while Tareq Al Hosani joins Board of Directors

Mohamed Youssif leaves YahLive, joins ABS

be prone to sharp pricing pressure as superior HTS technology hits the data market en masse. This is something that is reflected neither in our model nor in consensus expectations since HTS are driving a paradigm shift that is extremely difficult to model, says Wellington.

The US military vertical could add to SES challenges, adds Wellington. We believe the weakness of US military demand creates an additional source of potential downside, or at least a lack of upside surprise. We estimate SES generates just under 10% of revenue from military activities. Budget constraints, sequesters and troop withdrawals have had a negative impact on this segment over the past 18 months, and we do not expect an uptick in the short to medium term.

Despite having noted several challenges, Wellington still considers SES to be a strong business, explaining that its new underweight rating was just a relative call.


Yahsat has appointed Masood Sharif Mahmood as CEO while Tareq Abdel Raheem Al Hosani has joined its Board of Directors.

Mohamed Youssif has been appointed as COO of Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) and President and MD of the Middle East.www.absatellite.net

www.rcs-communication.com

www.inmarsat.com

www.o3bnetwroks.com

O3b Networks announced a major long-term capacity deal to provide high-speed, low-latency capacity to

RCS-Communication, an internet service provider in the Republic of South Sudan.

This deal will see customers in and around the capital Juba receive improved connectivity. Juba is home to more than 300,000 people, who, until now, had limited broadband connectivity. By delivering affordable and ubiquitous bandwidth with the performance and speed of fibre, the region will enjoy much improved connectivity, spurring both economic growth and social development, says O3b. This will benefit a broad range of customers, including corporates and NGOs.

Flippie Odendal, MD at RCS-Communication, says: RCS is always on the lookout for new technology solutions that can enhance their service offering... Our WiMAX network in Juba connects to

O3b satellites to improve connectivity in South Sudan

YahClick launches in UAE

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company, known as Yahsat, has launched Yahclick, its satellite broadband internet service. After having been launched in 10 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Central and South-West Asia, YahClick is now available to businesses and enterprises in the emirates.

YahClick will be distributed in the UAE by SkyStream, a member of the Atlas Telecom Group, and Safa Telecom, a member of the IEC Telecom Group. The service can be instantly deployed to provide high-speed internet anywhere in the country and is set to boost connectivity in remote locations and provide reliable back-up for broadband connection to business users. Local businesses such as those in the farming and agriculture sector will also benefit from advanced technology solutions that can meet the demands of their challenging terrains.

YahClick was originally launched in the Q4 of 2012 in Angola, Afghanistan, Iraq, South Africa and Nigeria with subscribers ranging from a mix of energy, construction, agri-based verticals, SME and NGOs all looking for more reliable internet connectivity and higher speeds.

YahClick is beamed through Yahsats Y1B satellite, which was successfully launched in April 2012. Y1B is the first satellite in the region to o!er internet connectivity through Ka-band multi-spot beams, with reusable frequencies to maximise spectrum e"ciency. YahClick will be fully operational across a coverage area spanning 28 countries throughout the Middle East, Africa, Central and South West Asia by the end of 2013 in partnership with 30 leading in-market service partners.

www.yahclick.yahsat.com


the internet backbone via geostationary satellite solutions, which are reliable but when compared to fibre, offers latency challenges. We believe that O3b brings something new to the satellite industry that uniquely addresses this limitation. O3b will enable us to offer higher speeds and a more responsive user experience.

Inmarsat demos L-TAC on-the-moveInmarsat successfully demonstrated its L-TAC on-the-move service in vehicles at speeds of up to 112kmph. The newly-launched L-TAC service will provide approved government customers with a low-cost Tactical UHF Satellite (TACSAT) capability solution, which allows soldiers on foot or in vehicles to communicate on the move, using their existing UHF tactical radios.

Available for order from July and for connectivity in August, Inmarsats latest offering is the next step in the expansion of mobile Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communications provided by the innovative technology behind its L-band satellites.

The L-band service uses smaller antennae than the UHF equivalent, making it practical to offer compact, inexpensive omni-directional antennae for mounted and dismounted use.

TACSAT is in demand by government

users as it easily and reliably extends tactical Push-to-Talk radio networks to wide area

BLOS operations, but existing networks are oversubscribed. Inmarsats L-TAC service, announced earlier this year, will complement existing capacity with a single-hop, low-latency voice and data service, providing additional capacity when UHF channels are unavailable. The powerful Inmarsat-4 constellation of satellites provides this capability across the globe. To access the service, users require only a small, light-weight adaptor to convert their existing radio to L band and an L-band replacement for their existing UHF antenna.


Eighteen days after leaving for the K2 expedition, Adrian Hayes, a UAE resident from Britain, and his team

reached base camp at K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth, on the border of Pakistan and China. Record-breaking explorer and adventurer, Hayes plans to reach the summit of the mountain by August, over a period of 60 days.

Hayes has been documenting his journey through his social media channels and on his website, where he recently posted an audio update using the Thuraya IP+ and the SatSleeve, sponsored by Thuraya and its service partner Xtra-Link. This marks the first time that the Thuraya IP+ and Thuraya SatSleeve have been used on such an expedition. Reaching the summit of K2 will make Hayes one of only three people in history to have summited the worlds two highest mountains and reached both poles a first for Britain.

Speaking of the expedition, Hayes said:

Thuraya IP, SatSleeve make history at K2 base camp

Mobile data consumption to explode in Middle East, Latin America

SES decries UK preoccupation with terrestrial broadband

www.xtra-link.com

www.thuraya.com

www.abiresearch.com

The trek has been challenging so far and we have experienced a few delays due to weather, unrest in Pakistan and health issues. However, we are looking forward to the next stage of the journey and its all systems go!

The Middle East, Africa and Latin America are the only three regions that will see a double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in mobile internet service revenue between 2013 and 2018. This is according to a report by ABI Research, a market intelligence company specialising in global technology markets.

This is underpinned by the strong per subscription data consumption increasing at CAGRs of 45-49%. In other words, data traffic doubles in less than every two years on average, thanks to the increased availability of affordable smart devices in the near future. In 2018, Latin America and the Middle East are expected to see an average user www.satelliteinternet.co.uk

www.ses.com

Patrick Biewer, MD of SES Broadband Services, has said the recent criticism of rural broadband in the UK by the National Audit O!ce

is overly focussed on terrestrial solutions, and that satellite services are now more than capable of filling the gap.

The truth is that there is a credible alternative for non-urban residents that want a speedy service without breaking the bank, but arent getting what they need via terrestrial networks, says Biewer.

One challenge that satellite broadband has never faced is geographic reach and now speeds and cost are not an issue either. We launched a new satellite late last year able to o"er download speeds of 20Mbps to pretty much anywhere in the country. This is almost twice the speed of the countrys average 12Mbps revealed by Ofcom in March.

SES has invested heavily in high-performance satellite capacity for broadband services, with the launch of Astra 2F late last year, which is soon to be joined by Astra 2E to widen the geographic reach yet further. The first internet service providers (ISP) are already o"ering competitively priced fast 20Mbps broadband services in the UK using the new satellites at a starting monthly fee of just over 20 (USD 20) per month.

Michael Locke, MD of Satellite Internet, one of the ISPs o"ering these services to the UK market, adds: The de-emphasis of the 2Mbps everywhere Universal Service Commitment means even after the delivery of the late superfast terrestrial network is complete, there will still be people disadvantaged. This is where satellite is perfect. Satellite can do 20Mbps everywhere right now, so if the government had adopted our satellite plan, this would already have been achieved.

contributing more than 2.5GB of traffic per month.

Low literacy rates have resulted in the low messaging volume

in Africa. However, with the fastest mobile subscription growth and over-the-top applications being less prevalent, it will be the only region to enjoy consistent positive messaging service revenue growth throughout the entire forecast horizon.

SatNews

Reaching the right audience comes down to a simple equation. Intelsat has

always been forward thinking when it comes to media. When we launched IntelsatOneSM,

we built the satellite industrys largest IP/MPLS fi ber network to create fl exible, hybrid

content delivery options for our customers. And now, were introducing Intelsat EpicNG,

our next generation satellite platform, which combines high-throughput spot beams, for

content regionalization and targeting, with wide beams, for total continent coverage.

Thats intelligent design. Good for your operations and your bottom line.

Meet with Intelsat during IBC 2013 at Stand 1.C71.

Learn how Intelsat can help you reach more viewers.

Visit www.intelsat.com/Forward-Thinking for details.

Designed for 2030. Launching in 2015.

6819-Satellite-Pro_Media.indd 1 7/25/2013 12:03:51 PM

SatLead


MCDONALDESQUE ANTENNA FRANCHISES

COMING SOON

Previously, Ahmed Hassan, Wisebands CEO, briefly discussed the plan to offer auto-deploy antenna franchises. Adrienne Harebottle delves deeper into this project to find out about these licences, the team behind them and the rollout plan


Across the Middle East and Africa, industry players have to rely on importing antennae. This is because technological advances need to be made before the manufacturing know-how is acquired in these regions, and manufacturers arent interested in bringing their technology here for production, says Ahmed Hassan, CEO of Wiseband.

Buying an antenna from abroad comes with additional costs. Not only do you pay for the antenna itself, but import duties and shipping costs, too, and you have to wait for it to arrive. It was these factors that facilitated Hassans plan of selling franchises for auto-deploy antennae. Receiving the materials, training and software needed to build, use or resell an antenna right at your doorstep means that customers save money and time. When you consider all the costs involved in importing an antenna, the amount for the end user is considerably higher than the price of an auto-deploy kit, says Hassan.

While the region may not be advanced in antenna technology at present, this does not reflect satellite-related activity or demand for high-quality equipment and products.

If you look around the Middle East and consider Yahsats satellites being launched and its ground segment in Abu Dhabi, as well as Qatars launching of its communications satellites, you must realise that there is going to be huge demand for high-quality antennae here.

While there is a gap in the market for auto-deploy antenna kits in the Middle East, other markets are of particular interest to Hassan, citing heavy import taxes and major upcoming events as some of the reasons.

In addition to the selling price, consider the other costs involved with an antenna made in America, for example. Its going to cost you about USD 3,500 just for air shipping and you still have concede the import taxes involved on top of everything else. Brazilian import duties, for example, nearly double the ownership cost. Brazil will be a huge market because of the World Cup and Olympics, but with that kind of


SatLead

tax on top of all other costs, thats a major problem for them.

UAE market, costs and benefitsDespite other markets being attractive, the UAE is potentially a very strong market, says Hassan, explaining that the laws of the country are very favourable.

Demand within the UAE is fueled by the laws protecting local industries: if you want to buy something and its produced in the country, then you have to buy it from the company manufacturing it here. If its not made here, then youre free to purchase it from outside the country. So, if a UAE-based company has the technology and production capability to make antennae locally, then it means theyre guaranteed a market share.

For a good quality auto-deploy antenna, youre talking about USD 15,000-30,000 depending on whether its vehicle-mount or fly-away, Ku or Ka band, VSAT or SNG application. This broad product range

and landed cost is a big barrier to acquire a significant portion of the market. So we are offering a range of high-quality, auto-deploy products at a low-cost. From a commercial point of view, were cutting the shipping costs and, most of all, the tax. Not to mention the new high-tech job opportunities that this creates. Technical and customer support is also going to be locally available for all customers with one of our antennae. If there happens to be some problem, support will come to the customer; the customer will not have to ship it abroad to have it repaired or worked on. Having to send your antenna somewhere else not only costs money but it costs you in time as well youre looking at around five to six weeks for a typical repair that has to be returned to the factory.

Franchising The franchise guarantees a multi-year technology and production licence with regional protection and insurance and


With this licence, we are committed to providing a new-generation antenna every two years. Insurance is also taken care of; our franchise contract guarantees that the antennae will work and will be accepted by all satellite operators.

technology updates every 24 months, says Hassan.

With this licence, we are committed to providing a new-generation antenna every two years. Insurance is also taken care of; our franchise contract guarantees that the antennae will work and will be accepted by all satellite operators. Our products have gone through quality assurance and approvals, and we can control quality builds through our two-month, mandatory production training.

To begin, Hassan and his team knew that they wanted a state-of-the-art product while maintaining a low-cost price. While developing this idea, they came up with the McDonaldesque concept.

We decided wed sell the recipe; the ingredients and the step-by-step know-how, so to speak. We also decided that this antenna could be used by anybody and in every vertical market; wed not be limited to supplying the government or military, or broadcasters. So we were

going to change the idea of auto-deploy antennae and how it was going to be sold and distributed. To do this, and in turn penetrate a bigger market share, wed have to change the mentality of the market. We then came up with the plan to sell a franchise. With this comes the capital equipment necessary for manufacturing the antennae, the training, the source code and the kits, which contain all the needed material and parts for assembly.

To date, we have invested a few million dollars in the project and expect to recoup our engineering investment with just a few franchises sold. The royalties will ensure the design, production technology, branding and future technology roadmap is strong for all franchise owners for the lifetime of the contract.

The team behind this consists of a 20-man outfit with people from a variety of countries, says Hassan, adding that they are the ones responsible for everything


SatLead

from the development to the brand to training and technical support.

Special softwareA dedicated development team is responsible for our antenna control software, which is the most crucial part of a highly reliable satellite acquisition. The software is custom-designed internally by programmers who understand satellite acquisition, and it utilises the latest in digital technology and user interfaces. In addition to auto acquire logic, the antenna has built-in regional operation controls to insure the franchise territory is protected.

Hassan attributes a lot of what has been achieved to this good team.

There is a lot of know-how today. Look around at how many companies are involved in VSAT currently and were far from the only ones offering auto-deploy antennae. Its not necessarily a matter of capital. Its about putting together a good team and combining great engineering and manufacturing technology with an effective go-to-market strategy.

In addition to the custom-built software, which was the biggest challenge, Hassan notes others that had to be overcome, namely international

standards for manufacturing processes, documentation, production tooling that can be produced and deployed anywhere in the world at a reasonable cost, and the formal training for the production personnel that is included mandatorily with the licence.

Testing, approvals, delivery Having been through a phase of prototyping and testing, the developed antennae then need to get approval from satellite operators, says Hassan.

Our antennae are compliant with regulators such as FCC, ETSI and ITU, and meet the requirements for satellite operator approval. In addition, we plan to certify with the Global VSAT Forum approval programme. By the end of 2013, we will have acquired the approval from all major operators. We are expecting our first franchised antenna to be delivered in early 2014. This is our target date. We already have three franchises secured: two in Asia and one in South America, so its important to have the international type approvals.

Getting approval from operators is critical and is a barrier to entry for other companies. Of course, you cannot transmit to a given satellite without the satellite operators approval; they must know and trust the make and model to ensure interference wont be an issue. So without the certification, my antennae are useless. But this is good for us because our certification and approval programme will reflect the quality of our product. In fact, a competitive advantage that our antenna has is the approval of all relevant satellite operators.

Around-the-clock support will be provided for customers in any location, says Hassan.

We offer world-wide, 24/7 support. We have our own server and our own trouble-shooting tools, enabling us to work from anywhere in the world at any time. This means that the time zones between Brazil and China, for example, arent a problem for us to provide support. We have sites in South America, Africa, Asia, China, the US and the Middle East. PRO

To date, we have invested a few million dollars in the project and expect to recoup our engineering investment with just a few franchises sold.

Touted as the first global superfast broadband, Global Xpress will offer worldwide coverage from a single operator while delivering a consistently higher performance of 50Mbps. The service claims to offer several pleasing factors, but the most important of all is the never-before-seen flexibility it is to deliver. Maritime applications are now able to leverage satellite bandwidth in an entirely new way



MAKING WAVES IN MARITIME SECTOR

Touted as the first global superfast broadband, Global Xpress will offer worldwide coverage from a single operator while delivering a consistently higher performance of 50Mbps. The service claims to offer several pleasing factors, but the most important of all is the never-before-seen flexibility it is to deliver. Maritime applications are now able to leverage satellite bandwidth in an entirely new way



MAKING WAVES IN MARITIME SECTOR


Global Xpress technology allows the deployment of a global satellite network in a much more cost effective way than previous VSAT systems.

Global Xpress, or GX, will be delivered over its three next-generation Inmarsat-5 satellites. Located over the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean regions, they will provide global coverage minus the poles and have a lifeline of more than 10 years.

The launch of the first satellite, called the Indian Ocean Region or IOR, is scheduled for the Q4 of 2013, and will provide coverage from Western Europe across the Middle East to the China Sea. The other two launches are scheduled for next year when commercial services begin, with full global service being delivered in 2015.

Moving away from C and Ku bands, the Inmarsat-5s are Ka-band satellites. This change is a natural progression of technology, says Shane Rossbacher, Director of Maritime Market Development for Inmarsats Global Xpress.

The higher frequency of Ka band provides higher throughput, better provision of service to customers, and a reduction in antenna size. C and Ku band require larger antennae, whereas for Global Xpress, it is going to typically be a 60-cm antenna.

As a technology, Ka band is used extensively in terrestrial TV, video and data services, and has proven itself a reliable, tried-and-tested satellite system. Global Xpress will introduce the first global coverage Ka-band network, designed specifically for mobile users.

Slashing pricesThe Ka spectrum also enables the company to offer reduced costs, as its used in conjunction with the GX satellites spot-beam architecture. When compared with Ku bands data rate per unit of bandwidth, GXs pricing is significantly lower.

Global Xpress technology allows the deployment of a global satellite network in a much more cost effective way than previous VSAT systems. The GX satellites use a spot-beam architecture, which allows us to reuse the frequencies across the entire footprint of the satellite, enabling more throughput than shaped

beams, which has been the dominant connectivity architecture to date. Spot-beam architecture combined with Ka bands higher data rate per unit of bandwidth, in comparison to Ku, will enable Inmarsat to offer double digit percentage savings in comparison to Ku-band services offered today.

The companys antennae are also contributing to the offerings competitive pricing.

Because these antennae are constructed specifically for use with GX, it has allowed for a simplification of the design. The result is a smaller, lighter and simpler antenna that can be introduced to the market at a lower cost.

In addition to the lower price of the equipment, GX will support a one-touch installation, which is very important. We want the installation experience to be similar to FleetBroadband, where a 60-cm GX antenna can be carried aboard, installed, and be up and running very quickly. This will also greatly reduce the cost of installation, which is often overlooked when comparing costs to Ku- and C-band systems.

Collaboration The design of GX has been a very collaborative process involving numerous companies.



In terms of the overall development of the Global Xpress network, Boeing, iDirect and Cisco are very important partners. Cisco is building the ground and shipboard networking infrastructure, working closely with iDirect on the development of the satellite communications infrastructure. This collaboration will provide the seamless switches between Ka- and L-band connections when required, and also introduces the more advanced features of the GX network.

For the antennae, Inmarsat has partnered with Intellian, JRC and Cobham for the Thrane & Thrane brands under Sea Tel.

Market reactionAlthough conceived several years ago, GX is essentially a five-year project, says Rossbacher. We are now in the last year and a half, he says, adding that the market response to GX has been very positive. While customers in general are attracted to the easy installation and maintenance afforded by GX, explains Rossbacher, the service is well positioned to revolutionise the vertical with applications such as HD Telemedicine, security surveillance and vessel performance monitoring. This is due to the GX service enablement platform, which is

partly the handiwork of Cisco, as it allows for new, flexible use of satellite bandwidth.

Applications such as HD Telemedicine, security surveillance and vessel performance monitoring are very interesting to the market. However, their usage patterns make them hard to plan for; when a critical incident happens, they require high amounts of bandwidth but just for a short time. Until now, this has meant that the ship owner needed to have a high bandwidth subscription, simply to be ready for any incidents. But now, with GX, applications can dynamically, in real time, request additional bandwidth, which is provided with no effect on normal business bandwidth. When the incident is resolved, the bandwidth can be returned to normal levels. This makes great economic sense for the ship owner, and works very well for these applications.

In addition to the lower price of the equipment, GX will support a one-touch installation, which is very important.

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Our customers are also looking forward to the easy installation and maintenance that GX is going to offer. Current VSAT systems are very hard to maintain and installation can be difficult due to compatibility issues. GX is going to be a plug-and-play system, which is very much built for purpose, meaning less problems when installing and setting up.

As GX is Inmarsats fifth constellation, the challenges associated with its development have been the same as those of previous satellite solutions, says Rossbacher.

There is, of course, new technology to be implemented with Ka band but in general, the design, development and launch of a satellite isnt anything particularly new for us its essentially business as usual.

What problems does GX solve?This service marks the first high throughput, global satellite designed specifically for mobility clients. However, customers are really more interested in what this new GX technology can do for them, says Rossbacher.

Customers are asking: What business problems will GX help me solve? The GX platform enables applications to leverage satellite bandwidth in an entirely new way. GX will add a whole

This isnt really about Ka band its more about the platform of GX. It delivers a new way of thinking, and the development done with Cisco and iDirect has really provided amazing levels of inherent flexibility in GX.

extra dimension, bringing a new level of flexibility and capabilities to application developers, and in turn, the maritime users.

To the customer, this will mean that their chart systems can be updated in bulk, across the entire fleet automatically using GXs multicast delivery capabilities. It means that critical applications like telemedicine and video surveillance will be able to dynamically open additional bandwidth as needed.

This isnt really about Ka band its more about the platform of GX. It delivers a new way of thinking, and the development done with Cisco and iDirect has really provided amazing levels of inherent flexibility in GX. We are actively working with maritime application developers to prepare for the capabilities that GX will introduce.

Being the first means that Inmarsat is not head to head with global Ka-band competition at present. This translates into a four-year window in which to capitalise on the service, explains Rossbacher.

We are essentially the only global Ka-band provider in the market, with no other company really ready to deploy a global solution. We feel very good about that!


The GX platform enables applications to leverage satellite bandwidth in an entirely new way. GX will add a whole extra dimension, bringing a new level of flexibility and capabilities to application developers.

A very important piece of the GX system is our ground infrastructure. Each of the three satellites has two Satellite Access Stations (SAS) in the region it covers. This means if there is any problem at one SAS site which may affect the performance, the system will automatically switch to the alternative ground station. This is a dramatic improvement over existing Ku- and C-band networks, which use only one ground station per satellite. For the first satellite being launched the Indian Ocean satellite SAS sites will be Greece and Italy.

Distribution Inmarsat has appointed Imtech Marine, GMPCS/Network Innovations, Telemar, Navarino, SingTel and NSSL as GX Value-Added Resellers.

Distribution has worked very well for our previous services; 85% of our revenue at Inmarsat is generated through distribution, and this figure continues to increase today. These are tried-and-trusted distribution partners, which customers are happy dealing with, so there was no reason to change.

SpeedTypically specified as a 60cm antenna, the GX terminal offers 50Mbps down (shore

to ship) and 5Mbps up (ship to shore), says Rossbacher.

Its important to note, though, that the satellites total capacity is far greater than this, and this noted speed is simply the maximum service to a 60cm antenna. The larger one-metre antenna can support higher speeds than this.

Maritime impact According to Rossbacher, the anticipated impact that GX will have on the maritime sector can be considered in three areas: bringing broadband in as a mainstream solution; having a much bigger capacity network; and having greater flexibility through the app platform.

This last point is one that could have the most impact for the maritime sector because it is more about enabling solutions than just another increase in speed. The extra dimension of allowing applications to leverage the power and flexibility of GX could lead to a different mindset on how applications can be used aboard ships.

The way that security, operations, and IT systems are managed aboard ships is changing, and we believe that the maritime industry is ready for this change. GX will be the first global satellite infrastructure that really lets this change become possible. PRO


SatEvents

BROADCAST CHANGES: SURVIVING AND THRIVING As the much awaited IBC Exhibition and Conference draws nearer, broadcast players ready to address the hottest topics pulsing through the industry. This years installment will provide a host of must-attend sessions centering on the changes and trends occurring in the sector

The internet, like the steam engine, is a technological breakthrough that changed the world. Peter Singer, an Australian moral philosopher, is quite right everything has changed. Is this really a profound statement, though? Most people born in the 1980s or earlier are well aware of the impacts. Weve discussed how children nowadays will never need to visit a library; how people have access to healthcare, education and retail offerings even without leaving their homes. Friends and family spread out across the globe can have a face-to-face chat at just the click of a button, and just about any question can be answered without actually speaking to anyone.

However, what we often overlook is the domino effect that a change can have. There certainly have been repercussions in broadcast. The worldwide impact of the internet has changed traditional TV, its led telcos to dance with broadcasters, its seen a flurry of new positions and designations that didnt exist several years ago, and its

The entrance of an increasing number of telcos into the broadcast market looks set to be a major disruptor and is an important facet of the whole subject of convergence.- John Dillon, Vice-President of Marketing at Rightster

forced the industry to rethink its budgetary process and creative approach.

The global impact of the internet on all aspects of traditional television has been immense and with the pace of change continuing to accelerate, convergence has become collision, says Bill Scott, Chief Operating and Commercial Officer at Easel TV. Scott will be tackling this subject in great details in a session on September 12.

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The big battleHow the big, established public service broadcasters adapt to the modern connected world is a pressing issue. There is much more to add to the diary though, including the battle between the national broadcasters and global platforms. We are very excited to explore how the fight is shaping up between national broadcasters (deep and local) versus big hitters like YouTube (thin and global), and understand what broadcasters are doing to defend their turf and to increase their relevance to their audience.

A peculiarity of the internet is that before we had it, we didnt need it. Now, however, we cant seem to get enough of it, and demand to have access anytime, anywhere is increasing. This had led to rising demand in content; an increasing number of telcos are spending vast sums of money buying content for delivery over 4G and LTE.

Telcos and BroadcastersAn outcome of this convergence of industries? Some telcos are flirting with broadcasters, explains John Dillon, Vice-President of Marketing at Rightster. Not everyone is rubbing shoulders, though. Other new entrants to the digital market are avoiding broadcasters altogether by taking the IP route, adds Dillon, who will discuss the matter in a session on September 14.

The entrance of an increasing number of telcos into the broadcast market looks set to be a major disruptor and is an important facet of the whole subject of convergence. One session in particular will look at whether telcos are the transformers of the future of TV. It will explore their changing role as content rights change, as 4G establishes itself in the marketplace and as mobile video usage expands and audiences move online.

The internet has led to always on demand, which has led to increased content delivery, which in turn affects not only budgets but also creative processes and approaches. Event television now has to be surrounded by Twitter feeds, Facebook pages and dedicated apps, says Andrew Jordan, Senior Vice-President of International Operations and Technology at NBC Universal. Jordan will address this theme on September 14.

This exciting theme brings the whole process together, from multiplatform commissioning, through technological innovation in creating content across platforms and adve

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