satellitepro me november 2013
DESCRIPTION
Satellite Pro Middle East, a monthly publication from CPI Media Group, is the only regional print and online magazine addressing the satellite industry and related vertical markets across the Middle East and AfricaTRANSCRIPT
ISSUE 23 | NOVEMBER 2013
OIL RIG OF THE FUTURE
CONNECTED CARS
ADDRESSING INTERFERENCE
Modernised communications network is key
Satellite industry’s role in the market worth USD 63 billion
Carrier ID survey shows industry needs more awareness PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ
The first comprehensive Urban HeatIsland study takes place in Abu Dhabi
I’ve always gazed at the heavens. Where I’m from, we’re blessed with many things, one of which is the stirring African sky – there really isn’t anything else that can compare. During all my travels, I still watch the big blue. But since having joined SatellitePro ME, I now look at the stars differently.
One thing I am more aware of these days is that the sky is also looking back at us. Sometimes I wonder if any of the satellites out there can see me staring up above. Some people are understandably unsettled by the idea that there is an eye in the
sky. But as it’s always resembled an iris to me, it’s a little humourous that it can indeed see us. Interestingly enough, while pondering upon the stars the other day, I came across a few events being held at various planetariums. The most interesting finding was the public telescope viewing session on November 12, hosted by Armagh Planetarium in Armagh, Northern Ireland, which is part of its programme of free Open Nights.
Why was this remarkable? Because it seems that November 12 is destined to be a night with the stars. The same evening is our BroadcastPro Middle East Summit and Awards, which has a Special Satellite Segment. And I’m absolutely excited about it. It will be a night of revelry, where we celebrate the hard work, ingenuity and excellence produced within the industry. It is a night where we laud the award recipients as stars. And I expect it to be a bright and dazzling event.
I hope to see you all there. For those that don’t make it – tsk, tsk! – I’ll catch you next time.
Adrienne Harebottle Editor
EDITORIAL
A night with the stars
© 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
[email protected] +971 50 768 3435
EditorAdrienne Harebottle
[email protected]+971 55 105 3776
ADVERTISING
Publishing DirectorRaz Islam
[email protected]+971 4 440 9129
Group Sales ManagerSandip Virk
[email protected] +44 773 444 2526
Sales ManagerRodi Hennawi
[email protected] +971 50 714 0427
PRODUCTION AND DESIGN
Graphic DesignerGlenn Roxas
PHOTOGRAPHYJay Colina
Abdul Kader Pattambi
Database ManagerRajeesh M
[email protected] +971 4 440 9147
Production ManagerJames P. Tharian
[email protected] +971 4 440 9146
DIGITAL SERVICES [email protected]
Digital Services ManagerTristan Troy Maagma
Web DevelopersJoel Azcuna
Janice Fulgencio
Published by
Registered at IMPZPO Box 13700
Dubai, UAETel: +971 4 440 9100Fax: +971 4 447 2409
Printed by
Printwell Printing Press LLC
In this edition:
“The way we’re processing wars is very different. We’re putting more capability into the men at the tactical edge. And when you’re giving more capabilities, you need more information”Michael Abad-Santos, Senior Vice-President of Business Development for Global Government at Inmarsat– page 40
“Oil and gas companies must rethink how to manage their operations. One way these companies can improve is to modernise their VSAT communications network”Terry Neumann, Director of Market Strategy at iDirect– page 26
“In desert environments such as Abu Dhabi, this ‘Urban Heat Island’ phenomenon is frequently inverted, which means that urban areas are cooler than the surroundings” Michele Lazzarini, postdoctoral researcher at Masdar Institute– page 10
“ETL Systems has witnessed a huge increase in the use of modulation and bandwidth, enabling many more carriers to be delivered on a downlink”Dr Esen Bayar, Chief Technical Officer at ETL Systems– page 22
DRIVING GROWTH IN THE MIDDLE EAST
créd
it ph
oto
: Shu
tter
stoc
k
NUMBER ONE FOR BROADCASTINGEutelsat broadcasts more than 600 channels to over 30 million homes inthe 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
Mep 207 270 SP Middle East 08.2013_Mep 207 270 SP Middle East 08.2013 01/10/13 13:57 Page1
I’ve always gazed at the heavens. Where I’m from, we’re blessed with many things, one of which is the stirring African sky – there really isn’t anything else that can compare. During all my travels, I still watch the big blue. But since having joined SatellitePro ME, I now look at the stars differently.
One thing I am more aware of these days is that the sky is also looking back at us. Sometimes I wonder if any of the satellites out there can see me staring up above. Some people are understandably unsettled by the idea that there is an eye in the
sky. But as it’s always resembled an iris to me, it’s a little humourous that it can indeed see us. Interestingly enough, while pondering upon the stars the other day, I came across a few events being held at various planetariums. The most interesting finding was the public telescope viewing session on November 12, hosted by Armagh Planetarium in Armagh, Northern Ireland, which is part of its programme of free Open Nights.
Why was this remarkable? Because it seems that November 12 is destined to be a night with the stars. The same evening is our BroadcastPro Middle East Summit and Awards, which has a Special Satellite Segment. And I’m absolutely excited about it. It will be a night of revelry, where we celebrate the hard work, ingenuity and excellence produced within the industry. It is a night where we laud the award recipients as stars. And I expect it to be a bright and dazzling event.
I hope to see you all there. For those that don’t make it – tsk, tsk! – I’ll catch you next time.
Adrienne Harebottle Editor
EDITORIAL
A night with the stars
© 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
[email protected] +971 50 768 3435
EditorAdrienne Harebottle
[email protected]+971 55 105 3776
ADVERTISING
Publishing DirectorRaz Islam
[email protected]+971 4 440 9129
Group Sales ManagerSandip Virk
[email protected] +44 773 444 2526
Sales ManagerRodi Hennawi
[email protected] +971 50 714 0427
PRODUCTION AND DESIGN
Graphic DesignerGlenn Roxas
PHOTOGRAPHYJay Colina
Abdul Kader Pattambi
Database ManagerRajeesh M
[email protected] +971 4 440 9147
Production ManagerJames P. Tharian
[email protected] +971 4 440 9146
DIGITAL SERVICES [email protected]
Digital Services ManagerTristan Troy Maagma
Web DevelopersJoel Azcuna
Janice Fulgencio
Published by
Registered at IMPZPO Box 13700
Dubai, UAETel: +971 4 440 9100Fax: +971 4 447 2409
Printed by
Printwell Printing Press LLC
In this edition:
“The way we’re processing wars is very different. We’re putting more capability into the men at the tactical edge. And when you’re giving more capabilities, you need more information”Michael Abad-Santos, Senior Vice-President of Business Development for Global Government at Inmarsat– page 40
“Oil and gas companies must rethink how to manage their operations. One way these companies can improve is to modernise their VSAT communications network”Terry Neumann, Director of Market Strategy at iDirect– page 26
“In desert environments such as Abu Dhabi, this ‘Urban Heat Island’ phenomenon is frequently inverted, which means that urban areas are cooler than the surroundings” Michele Lazzarini, postdoctoral researcher at Masdar Institute– page 10
“ETL Systems has witnessed a huge increase in the use of modulation and bandwidth, enabling many more carriers to be delivered on a downlink”Dr Esen Bayar, Chief Technical Officer at ETL Systems– page 22
DRIVING GROWTH IN THE MIDDLE EAST
créd
it ph
oto
: Shu
tter
stoc
k
NUMBER ONE FOR BROADCASTINGEutelsat broadcasts more than 600 channels to over 30 million homes inthe 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
Mep 207 270 SP Middle East 08.2013_Mep 207 270 SP Middle East 08.2013 01/10/13 13:57 Page1
CONTENTS Issue 23 | November 2013
SatLead
12Handling the HeatWe find out about the first comprehensive study in Urban Heat Island phenomenon, which yielded a surprise inverted result
News
4Monkeys in space Upcoming launches, exclusive deals, free equipment…
Carrier ID: Are you ready?It’s mandated to be implemented by January 1, 2015, but the industry survey suggests greater awareness and collaboration is required
SatInterference
16
26Oil Rig of the FutureVSAT can improve situational awareness and increase operational productivity of oil and gas operations
SatVertical: Oil & Gas
32
12
26
Vortex Matrices boost Qatar Foundation Technology enables Aljazeera Children’s Channel to enhance educational offering
22SatEducation
40Day and NightSatcomms has enabled soldiers out in the field to not only have unprecedented capabilities, but to stay in touch with loved ones
SatGuest
SatMobility
32Connected Cars While satellite is the ideal solution, the industry doesn’t feature well in the market that is set to hit USD 63 billion in 2015. But potential and opportunities exist...
Nawras is introducing 4G mobile data to provide combined voice and data plans. Customers will be able to use this super-fast broadband service on
their 4G-compatible smartphones in addition to tablets and modems. The 4G service can easily be added to existing monthly data plans for a richer online experience. With a 4G handset, customers can benefit from the Turbocharged Network providing download speeds that are more than three times faster than 3G.
“We are excited to be o!ering our customers superfast 4G data plans,” says Musab Al-Haddabi, Nawras Mobile Data Senior Product Manager. “We know that our customers’ data needs are constantly changing – they want lots of data, fast and at an a!ordable price. Our high-speed 4G network is designed to support data-hungry applications for
video streaming, games, movies and much more. We know our customers want a great choice so we have a range of di!erent plans that can be easily activated and enjoyed straight away.”
Plans range from 1GB to 10GB of inclusive data. Business customers are able to select a high-speed 4G plan from a range that extends up to 100GB of data.
Nawras is the first operator in Oman to trial 4G mobile broadband and launched the service after extensive testing to ensure consistent delivery of a high-quality performance from end to end.
4 | SatellitePro | November 2013
INMARSAT ENSURES GX SERVICE WITH FOURTH INMARSAT-5 SATELLITE Inmarsat has announced that it has the option to purchase a fourth Inmarsat-5 satellite under its existing contract with Boeing Satellite Systems International. The programme schedule from Boeing has a satellite delivery date of mid-2016.
The fourth Inmarsat-5 satellite will have a dual strategic role. Initially, the satellite will serve to provide an early available spare in the unlikely event of a launch failure of any of the first three Inmarsat-5 satellites. As a result, Inmarsat will be able to achieve global service launch for Global Xpress (GX) more rapidly than if a replacement satellite were only commissioned following a launch failure. Where customer commitments and demand for GX requires a global network to be in place, the fourth satellite will, therefore, ensure the global network delivery date and this measure of redundancy is expected to encourage further commitments to GX.
In the event the satellite is not required as a launch spare, Inmarsat is developing an incremental business case to support the launch of the fourth satellite to increase capacity and strategically enhance network coverage.
SatNews
YahClick Service Partner SimbaNet and UAE-based satellite operator Yahsat are working together in order to reduce the
entry costs of acquiring YahClick high-speed, reliable and cost-effective satellite broadband internet services.
Following on from the positive uptake of the service in Kenya, SimbaNet, in partnership with Yahsat, is offering businesses free equipment and reduced installation charges for selected YahClick business service plans until December 19, 2013. These businesses will only be charged the monthly subscription fee, resulting in a saving of up to USD 1,150.
“YahClick has been received well in Kenya and we are now in a position to offer organisations special perks and offers, aimed at helping businesses thrive. Businesses have a lot to worry about, and good quality, affordable broadband internet shouldn’t be one of these worries. YahClick is designed to help drive regional economic development and empower individuals and communities to achieve their dreams, regardless of their location,” says Shawkat Ahmed, CCO at Yahsat.
Launched in late 2012 and now operational across 12 markets, YahClick provides satellite broadband internet connectivity to businesses, home users, government entities and non-
YahClick further boosts connectivity in Kenya by offering free equipment to businesses
yahclick.yahsat.com www.inmarsat.com
www.nawras.com
Oman’s Nawras launches super-fast 4G service for smartphones
governmental organisations, helping bridge the technological gap for unserved and underserved communities.
In Kenya, YahClick business subscription prices start from USD 157 (before VAT) for speeds ranging from 1 to 15 Megabits per second, with free equipment and installation on most business subscription plans.
Anil Hassan, YahClick Project Manager for SimbaNet, adds: “In 2012, the use of internet in Kenya rose by 95% showing tremendous growth in the country’s telecommunications sector. YahClick is adding to the development of the industry by contributing to the growth and enabling businesses to possess their own connectivity tools. With ownership of such tools, businesses in Kenya can continue thriving and extending their reach locally and internationally.”
project that is taking place within the region. Transmitting on an AMOS-5 Ku-band, the
broadcaster will provide both local and international content including news, sports, entertainment and family programming to the region.
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 5
www.isa.ir
www.sa.zain.com
ALCATEL-LUCENT, ZAIN KSA END AGILE OPTICAL NETWORK TESTING Alcatel-Lucent and Zain KSA have announced the completion of an Agile Optical Network to provide ultra-broadband access throughout Saudi Arabia.
The fibre-optic backbone network is based on converged wavelength division multiplexing/optical transport (WDM/OTN) technology, enabling Zain to provide 100-Gbps capability throughout the country’s main metros.
Zain and Alcatel-Lucent are also conducting a trial of 400-Gbps data transmission over an existing optical link carrying live network traffic in the major western city of Jeddah. Alcatel-Lucent’s 400 G optical solution, based on the 400-Gbps Photonic Service Engine (PSE) platform, supports the emergence of new high-performance high-bandwidth.
Zain has made the nationwide deployment of fibre-based mobile ultra-broadband access to support the increasing network capacity demands of 4G LTE. Alcatel-Lucent has provided its converged WDM/OTN platform, the 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS), to address the booming demand for high-bandwidth data services such as high-definition video streaming, next-generation mobile broadband applications and cloud services.
The 100-G fibre-optic technology takes advantage of the silicon innovations from Alcatel-Lucent’s Bell Labs and supports a capacity of up to 8.8 Tbps – the equivalent of 1.32 million HDTV channels streamed at the same time – over a single optical fibre.
According to Iran Space Agency’s (ISA) Deputy Head Hamid Fazeli, the satellites Tadbir, Sharif Sat and Nahid will be lifted
into space by March 20, 2014, the end of the current Iranian calendar year.
He added that the Tadbir satellite is being developed in co-operation with Iran University of Science and Technology, while Iranian students and academics from Sharif University of Technology are busy preparing Sharif Sat for lift-off, and Nahid is being developed in co-operation with Amir Kabir University of Technology.
The senior Iranian aerospace official said
in mid-October that Tadbir and Sharif Sat will be delivered to ISA within a month, noting that compatibility tests on both satellites will take about two months at the ISA.
Sharif Sat reportedly weighs less than 50 kilogrammes and will be launched onboard the indigenous Safir B-1 carrier and will capture images with a high degree of accuracy of less than 10 metres and then transmit them to stations on earth.
Tadbir is an upgraded version of the Navid-e Elm-o Sanat satellite, which was put into space earlier.
The satellite has GPS as well as higher precision in taking photos in comparison to its predecessor.
Iran plans to send a second monkey into space onboard the Iranian-built Pishgam II rocket by the end of November, Iran Space Agency (ISA) Director Hamid Fazeli was quoted as saying by local media on October 13. In January this year, Iran sent an indigenous bio-capsule containing a monkey onboard Pishgam I into space.
Fazeli said that while the first rocket was solid-fuelled, the Pishgam II will use liquid propellant, according to the Tehran daily.The sending of living creatures into space is part of the country’s preparations to send human beings into space within a course of five to eight years, said the Iranian official.Iran, a founding member of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, launched Omid, meaning ‘hope’, the country’s first domestically-made, data-processing satellite, in 2009. In June
Iran to launch three indigenous satellites within next six months
2011, Iran launched its 15.3-kilogramme Rasad (‘Observation’) orbiter into space with a mission of taking images of the Earth to be transmitted together with telemetry data to the ground stations. On February 3 last year, Iran also launched Navid-e Elm-o Sanat (‘Harbinger of Science and Industry’), another indigenous satellite.
Iran to send second monkey into space
www.amos-spacecom.com
Spacecom’s AMOS-5 satellite has won a five-year deal worth USD 5.9 million for providing broadcast services to a video service provider based in East Africa.
The customer will use capacity on AMOS-5 to provide both digital terrestrial transmission and direct-to-home operations for a digital migration
Spacecom’s Amos-5 wins broadcast contract in East Africa
Nawras is introducing 4G mobile data to provide combined voice and data plans. Customers will be able to use this super-fast broadband service on
their 4G-compatible smartphones in addition to tablets and modems. The 4G service can easily be added to existing monthly data plans for a richer online experience. With a 4G handset, customers can benefit from the Turbocharged Network providing download speeds that are more than three times faster than 3G.
“We are excited to be o!ering our customers superfast 4G data plans,” says Musab Al-Haddabi, Nawras Mobile Data Senior Product Manager. “We know that our customers’ data needs are constantly changing – they want lots of data, fast and at an a!ordable price. Our high-speed 4G network is designed to support data-hungry applications for
video streaming, games, movies and much more. We know our customers want a great choice so we have a range of di!erent plans that can be easily activated and enjoyed straight away.”
Plans range from 1GB to 10GB of inclusive data. Business customers are able to select a high-speed 4G plan from a range that extends up to 100GB of data.
Nawras is the first operator in Oman to trial 4G mobile broadband and launched the service after extensive testing to ensure consistent delivery of a high-quality performance from end to end.
4 | SatellitePro | November 2013
INMARSAT ENSURES GX SERVICE WITH FOURTH INMARSAT-5 SATELLITE Inmarsat has announced that it has the option to purchase a fourth Inmarsat-5 satellite under its existing contract with Boeing Satellite Systems International. The programme schedule from Boeing has a satellite delivery date of mid-2016.
The fourth Inmarsat-5 satellite will have a dual strategic role. Initially, the satellite will serve to provide an early available spare in the unlikely event of a launch failure of any of the first three Inmarsat-5 satellites. As a result, Inmarsat will be able to achieve global service launch for Global Xpress (GX) more rapidly than if a replacement satellite were only commissioned following a launch failure. Where customer commitments and demand for GX requires a global network to be in place, the fourth satellite will, therefore, ensure the global network delivery date and this measure of redundancy is expected to encourage further commitments to GX.
In the event the satellite is not required as a launch spare, Inmarsat is developing an incremental business case to support the launch of the fourth satellite to increase capacity and strategically enhance network coverage.
SatNews
YahClick Service Partner SimbaNet and UAE-based satellite operator Yahsat are working together in order to reduce the
entry costs of acquiring YahClick high-speed, reliable and cost-effective satellite broadband internet services.
Following on from the positive uptake of the service in Kenya, SimbaNet, in partnership with Yahsat, is offering businesses free equipment and reduced installation charges for selected YahClick business service plans until December 19, 2013. These businesses will only be charged the monthly subscription fee, resulting in a saving of up to USD 1,150.
“YahClick has been received well in Kenya and we are now in a position to offer organisations special perks and offers, aimed at helping businesses thrive. Businesses have a lot to worry about, and good quality, affordable broadband internet shouldn’t be one of these worries. YahClick is designed to help drive regional economic development and empower individuals and communities to achieve their dreams, regardless of their location,” says Shawkat Ahmed, CCO at Yahsat.
Launched in late 2012 and now operational across 12 markets, YahClick provides satellite broadband internet connectivity to businesses, home users, government entities and non-
YahClick further boosts connectivity in Kenya by offering free equipment to businesses
yahclick.yahsat.com www.inmarsat.com
www.nawras.com
Oman’s Nawras launches super-fast 4G service for smartphones
governmental organisations, helping bridge the technological gap for unserved and underserved communities.
In Kenya, YahClick business subscription prices start from USD 157 (before VAT) for speeds ranging from 1 to 15 Megabits per second, with free equipment and installation on most business subscription plans.
Anil Hassan, YahClick Project Manager for SimbaNet, adds: “In 2012, the use of internet in Kenya rose by 95% showing tremendous growth in the country’s telecommunications sector. YahClick is adding to the development of the industry by contributing to the growth and enabling businesses to possess their own connectivity tools. With ownership of such tools, businesses in Kenya can continue thriving and extending their reach locally and internationally.”
project that is taking place within the region. Transmitting on an AMOS-5 Ku-band, the
broadcaster will provide both local and international content including news, sports, entertainment and family programming to the region.
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 5
www.isa.ir
www.sa.zain.com
ALCATEL-LUCENT, ZAIN KSA END AGILE OPTICAL NETWORK TESTING Alcatel-Lucent and Zain KSA have announced the completion of an Agile Optical Network to provide ultra-broadband access throughout Saudi Arabia.
The fibre-optic backbone network is based on converged wavelength division multiplexing/optical transport (WDM/OTN) technology, enabling Zain to provide 100-Gbps capability throughout the country’s main metros.
Zain and Alcatel-Lucent are also conducting a trial of 400-Gbps data transmission over an existing optical link carrying live network traffic in the major western city of Jeddah. Alcatel-Lucent’s 400 G optical solution, based on the 400-Gbps Photonic Service Engine (PSE) platform, supports the emergence of new high-performance high-bandwidth.
Zain has made the nationwide deployment of fibre-based mobile ultra-broadband access to support the increasing network capacity demands of 4G LTE. Alcatel-Lucent has provided its converged WDM/OTN platform, the 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS), to address the booming demand for high-bandwidth data services such as high-definition video streaming, next-generation mobile broadband applications and cloud services.
The 100-G fibre-optic technology takes advantage of the silicon innovations from Alcatel-Lucent’s Bell Labs and supports a capacity of up to 8.8 Tbps – the equivalent of 1.32 million HDTV channels streamed at the same time – over a single optical fibre.
According to Iran Space Agency’s (ISA) Deputy Head Hamid Fazeli, the satellites Tadbir, Sharif Sat and Nahid will be lifted
into space by March 20, 2014, the end of the current Iranian calendar year.
He added that the Tadbir satellite is being developed in co-operation with Iran University of Science and Technology, while Iranian students and academics from Sharif University of Technology are busy preparing Sharif Sat for lift-off, and Nahid is being developed in co-operation with Amir Kabir University of Technology.
The senior Iranian aerospace official said
in mid-October that Tadbir and Sharif Sat will be delivered to ISA within a month, noting that compatibility tests on both satellites will take about two months at the ISA.
Sharif Sat reportedly weighs less than 50 kilogrammes and will be launched onboard the indigenous Safir B-1 carrier and will capture images with a high degree of accuracy of less than 10 metres and then transmit them to stations on earth.
Tadbir is an upgraded version of the Navid-e Elm-o Sanat satellite, which was put into space earlier.
The satellite has GPS as well as higher precision in taking photos in comparison to its predecessor.
Iran plans to send a second monkey into space onboard the Iranian-built Pishgam II rocket by the end of November, Iran Space Agency (ISA) Director Hamid Fazeli was quoted as saying by local media on October 13. In January this year, Iran sent an indigenous bio-capsule containing a monkey onboard Pishgam I into space.
Fazeli said that while the first rocket was solid-fuelled, the Pishgam II will use liquid propellant, according to the Tehran daily.The sending of living creatures into space is part of the country’s preparations to send human beings into space within a course of five to eight years, said the Iranian official.Iran, a founding member of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, launched Omid, meaning ‘hope’, the country’s first domestically-made, data-processing satellite, in 2009. In June
Iran to launch three indigenous satellites within next six months
2011, Iran launched its 15.3-kilogramme Rasad (‘Observation’) orbiter into space with a mission of taking images of the Earth to be transmitted together with telemetry data to the ground stations. On February 3 last year, Iran also launched Navid-e Elm-o Sanat (‘Harbinger of Science and Industry’), another indigenous satellite.
Iran to send second monkey into space
www.amos-spacecom.com
Spacecom’s AMOS-5 satellite has won a five-year deal worth USD 5.9 million for providing broadcast services to a video service provider based in East Africa.
The customer will use capacity on AMOS-5 to provide both digital terrestrial transmission and direct-to-home operations for a digital migration
Spacecom’s Amos-5 wins broadcast contract in East Africa
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced that its SAT Corporation subsidiary has been selected by Inmarsat to provide its carrier monitoring and interference detection system, Monics.
Monics combines hardware and software components to monitor satellite uplink and downlink performance, enabling operators to provide the best signal quality for their customers. Monics’ native scalability and flexibility enables a fully distributed, autonomous system for monitoring payload traffic against costly RF interference, including co-channel interference.
Global Xpress (GX) is the first satellite fleet from Inmarsat that will access Ka-band frequencies and allow for even higher bandwidth communication.
“As Inmarsat expands into Ka band, Monics will help assure the service levels its customers expect by reducing the costly effects of RF interference,” says Bob Potter, Chief Technology Officer of SAT Corporation.
“This high-speed global communications network will benefit from the advanced features and capabilities that have made Monics the industry leading RF carrier monitoring solution,” explained Potter.
www.arabsat.com
SatNews
6 | SatellitePro | November 2013
Arabsat and Sudan TV have signed a contract to add the Nileen sports channel to Arabsat bouquet on Badr-5
satellite exclusively and to be broadcast from Arabsat platform in Khartoum. Nileen channel has the exclusive rights to broadcast the Sudanese Premier League, one of the most watched sports channels in the country.
Arabsat also signed with Sudan TV a contract to broadcast the Sudanese TV
Arabsat, Sudan TV sign exclusive deal on Badr-5 for popular Nileen chanel
channels on Arabsat bouquet on Badr-5.Mohammed Hatem Suleiman, Head of
Sudan TV, said the relationship between the two companies is long lasting and continuous, and that he wishes to increase cooperation between the two parties to broadcast all Sudanese channels now and in the future on Arabsat’s wide-spread satellites.
The Global VSAT Forum (GVF) and the Satellite Interference Reduction Group (IRG) have announced they are actively engaging the military in interference discussions and initiatives.
Satellite services are widely used by military commanders to provide key tactical communications capabilities to their forces
anywhere in the world. Interference, either unintended or deliberate, is becoming a major threat to maintaining assured and reliable communications links.
“Interference is a potential issue for all satellite service users,” commented David Hartshorn, Secretary General of GVF. “However, for the military, it can literally be a matter of life and death if valuable communication links are severed, even if momentarily.”
As part of this global push, both groups planned to join Cobham Technical Services and Eutelsat for a pre-conference workshop alongside Global MilSatCom in London. The workshop, entitled ‘Conquering Interference: The Next Big SatCom Challenge’, was scheduled to take place on November 4.
“We are keen to engage the military and get them involved in our interference prevention initiatives,” says Martin Coleman, Executive Director at IRG.
“For these initiatives to work, we need full support from across the chain and the military is a crucial part of that. The workshop is the continuation of a wider campaign aimed at engaging the military,” he added.
www.sat.comwww.satirg.org
www.kratosdefense.comwww.gvf.org
IRG, GVF engage military on interference
SAT Corporation to provide interference detection for GX fleet
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced that its SAT Corporation subsidiary has been selected by Inmarsat to provide its carrier monitoring and interference detection system, Monics.
Monics combines hardware and software components to monitor satellite uplink and downlink performance, enabling operators to provide the best signal quality for their customers. Monics’ native scalability and flexibility enables a fully distributed, autonomous system for monitoring payload traffic against costly RF interference, including co-channel interference.
Global Xpress (GX) is the first satellite fleet from Inmarsat that will access Ka-band frequencies and allow for even higher bandwidth communication.
“As Inmarsat expands into Ka band, Monics will help assure the service levels its customers expect by reducing the costly effects of RF interference,” says Bob Potter, Chief Technology Officer of SAT Corporation.
“This high-speed global communications network will benefit from the advanced features and capabilities that have made Monics the industry leading RF carrier monitoring solution,” explained Potter.
www.arabsat.com
SatNews
6 | SatellitePro | November 2013
Arabsat and Sudan TV have signed a contract to add the Nileen sports channel to Arabsat bouquet on Badr-5
satellite exclusively and to be broadcast from Arabsat platform in Khartoum. Nileen channel has the exclusive rights to broadcast the Sudanese Premier League, one of the most watched sports channels in the country.
Arabsat also signed with Sudan TV a contract to broadcast the Sudanese TV
Arabsat, Sudan TV sign exclusive deal on Badr-5 for popular Nileen chanel
channels on Arabsat bouquet on Badr-5.Mohammed Hatem Suleiman, Head of
Sudan TV, said the relationship between the two companies is long lasting and continuous, and that he wishes to increase cooperation between the two parties to broadcast all Sudanese channels now and in the future on Arabsat’s wide-spread satellites.
The Global VSAT Forum (GVF) and the Satellite Interference Reduction Group (IRG) have announced they are actively engaging the military in interference discussions and initiatives.
Satellite services are widely used by military commanders to provide key tactical communications capabilities to their forces
anywhere in the world. Interference, either unintended or deliberate, is becoming a major threat to maintaining assured and reliable communications links.
“Interference is a potential issue for all satellite service users,” commented David Hartshorn, Secretary General of GVF. “However, for the military, it can literally be a matter of life and death if valuable communication links are severed, even if momentarily.”
As part of this global push, both groups planned to join Cobham Technical Services and Eutelsat for a pre-conference workshop alongside Global MilSatCom in London. The workshop, entitled ‘Conquering Interference: The Next Big SatCom Challenge’, was scheduled to take place on November 4.
“We are keen to engage the military and get them involved in our interference prevention initiatives,” says Martin Coleman, Executive Director at IRG.
“For these initiatives to work, we need full support from across the chain and the military is a crucial part of that. The workshop is the continuation of a wider campaign aimed at engaging the military,” he added.
www.sat.comwww.satirg.org
www.kratosdefense.comwww.gvf.org
IRG, GVF engage military on interference
SAT Corporation to provide interference detection for GX fleet
8 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatNews
Satellite communications specialist Newtec
and US commercial internet service provider SniperHill have deployed new satellite technology to provide increased throughput and service availability for Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) networks on US and NATO bases in Afghanistan.
The solution is enabling SniperHill, which is part of the DHI Telecom Group, to manage capacity and deliver increased throughput with dynamic allocation, shaping and prioritisation to multiple sites across a hybrid network of terrestrial optical fibre, wireless, satellite and microwave.
“From early on, we found the harsh operating environments in Afghanistan and Iraq were not suitable for standard enterprise solutions. Bringing in Newtec has lowered our Opex and enabled us to manage bandwidth at more efficient levels, whilst providing an even more robust service,” says Wallace Davis, President of SniperHill.
The Newtec EL501 Hub has been installed at SniperHill’s partner teleport facility in Germany operated by the CETel Group. From its location there, it enables high-throughput networks over satellite to operate at several locations across the Middle East for MWR programmes including internet WiFi access for
Newtec, SniperHill enhance network serving troops based in Afghanistan
www.inmarsat.com
INMARSAT TO LAUNCH SWIFTBROADBAND HDR
deployed US and NATO troops, contractors and personnel at FOrward Bases (FOB), camps and airfields.
“We are proud that CETel’s services support DHI’s operations in the long term. The co-operation and alliance between DHI and CETel Group along with the specifically implemented Newtec equipment for efficient satellite based C- and Ku-Band services
will allow both parties to provide more reliable and cost effective services throughout the corresponding coverage zones,” says Martin Terlunen, Managing Director of the CETel Group.
Over the past several years, DHI has integrated and deployed Newtec technology into its solutions on a number of different occasions. In this instance the technology was selected particularly for its FlexACM and Clean Technology.
“In 2009, we were able to increase capacity for SniperHill in Iraq and turn 74Mbps into 97Mbps. Now, with this even more extensive implementation (146Mbps forward, 32Mbps back) of our latest technologies, we are helping to make it the most efficient network possible, which is required given the harsh operating conditions in the region,” says Serge Van Herck, CEO of Newtec.
www.newtec.eu
Inmarsat announced the launch of SwiftBroadband High Data Rate streaming (HDR) at the NBAA Convention in Las Vegas. The new Inmarsat service offers enhanced streaming IP data rates for SwiftBroadband, delivering a step-change in performance for customers requiring higher data throughput.
SwiftBroadband HDR supports four new streaming rates, including asymmetric services to allow users to access the service configuration that most precisely meets their needs. Customers can, reportedly, benefit from the higher rate communications either to or from their aircraft, or bi-directionally, depending on their application requirements, and purchase only the bandwidth they need.
SwiftBroadband HDR is expected to be commercially available from November 2013.
SAF Tehnika, Waseela partner for MENA Waseela, a regional ICT and telecom system integrator, and SAF Tehnika, a manufacturer and supplier of customised IP Microwave solutions, have signed a partnership agreement, whereby Waseela will be SAF Tehnika’s strategic system integration and services partner for the MENA region.
Normunds Bergs, SAF Tehnika’s CEO, said: “SAF Tehnika is committed to the MENA market and is working to increase the level of its presence and support to its customers in the MENA region. With this partnership with Waseela, we provide our customers with credible system integrator that can deliver turnkey Microwave solutions in addition to local product support.”
Bergs added that this agreement comes as SAF Tehnika is witnessing increasing demand for its Microwave solutions from various market segments within the MENA region, including service providers, oil and gas and public safety.
www.saftehnika.com
www.waseela.com
Media Practice for PricewaterhouseCoopers. Additional re-electees include PCCW TV and New Media MD Janice Lee and GroupM APAC CEO Mark Patterson, who were given additional terms on the BoD.
www.casbaa.com
Casbaa, the Asia Pacific multichannel TV association, has announced the election of Celestial Tiger Entertainment CEO Todd Miller and AsiaSat President and CEO William Wade to the board of directors (BoD).
Re-elected as chairman of Casbaa was Marcel Fenez, Global Leader of Entertainment and
Tod Miller, William Wade join Casbaa BoD
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 9
The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST), part of a strategic initiative to inspire scientific
innovation and technological advancement in the UAE, has announced the winners of the Entaliq Scholarship. The scholarship aims to support talented high school and university students from various engineering disciplines.
University students Marwan Al Sharid and Ahmad Al Nuaimi both received the Entaliq 2013 scholarship in line with efforts to increase the number of EIAST engineers working in the field of satellite manufacturing. There are currently 45 UAE experts working on the DubaiSat-3 Satellite project on the ground, with satellite segments to be developed on UAE soil exclusively by Emiratis.
Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General at EIAST, says: “Investment into the UAE’s human capital is part of EIAST’s three-pronged strategy for advancing knowledge, infrastructure and manufacturing facilities in order to develop advanced satellite systems through the skills of UAE nationals. This is vital to advancing the UAE’s march towards excellence and becoming a regional hub and pioneer in global space technology. The Entaliq Scholarship focuses on promoting
EIAST announces Entaliq Scholarship winners, encourages sustainable development
www.eiast.ae
www.signalhorn.com
RICHARD MINTER JOINS SIGNALHORN AS COO, ANVER ANDERSON TO HEAD COMPANY’S GLOBAL SALES
Richard Minter has been named Chief Operating Officer of Signalhorn, a provider of satellite internet and network security solutions. Minter oversees the company’s engineering and operations in the global provision of network services and communications solutions to the company’s enterprise, energy, government and NGO, and maritime customers.
Minter has more than 25 years of experience in executive management, satellite network engineering and programme management. He also has extensive experience as an independent consultant to such organisations as Penn State University’s Applied Research Labs, DRS Technologies, and various US Government agencies.
Most recently, Minter held the position COO for SES Government Solutions. During his 10 years at SES, he held other executive roles including chief scientist, senior vice-president of engineering and intelligence programmes, corporate vice-president, vice-president of managed services engineering and vice-president of teleport operations.
The company has also named Anver Anderson as Chief Sales Officer, with responsibility for the company’s global sales and marketing outreach as well as its long-range business development initiatives.
Anderson has more than 20 years of experience leading international, multi-cultural, multi-disciplined business teams. For the past 10 years, Anderson has led a UK-based consultancy specialising in business development, strategic market planning, project management and product evaluation and development.
As part of his consultancy, Anderson served as vice-president of Asian operations for Newtec, managing the Singapore and Beijing offices as well as remote business development operations in Australia. He also led major consulting projects for Vislink Communications and ITN.
on the iDirect platform, enhances the way students learn and their overall education experience with internet-based tools such as streaming video, social media, email and educational programmes. For example, students can enhance reading levels by using uploaded video tutorials and online programmes, such as PRO reading technology and Total Reader.
www.skyvision.net
SkyVision, a global IP telecommunications service provider to emerging markets, has donated an iDirect-powered satellite network for the Crossover International Academy, a K-8 school located in the village of Tongor-Attokrokpo, Ghana.
The network was implemented as part of a joint effort between iDirect and SkyVision to help the academy improve its educational offering by providing underprivileged students with online educational resources.
SkyVision’s SkyDirect VSAT service, based
SkyVision gifts connectivity to school in Ghana
scientific and academic excellence in the field of space sciences and relevant engineering disciplines, which have become the backbone of sustainable development.”
The Entaliq Scholarship programme aims to support eligible students in pursuing higher education, accelerate the process of recruiting engineers according to the highest standards of academic excellence and technical development, and address projected vacancies of select departments at EIAST. EIAST provides both financial and moral support to winners of the scholarship.
8 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatNews
Satellite communications specialist Newtec
and US commercial internet service provider SniperHill have deployed new satellite technology to provide increased throughput and service availability for Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) networks on US and NATO bases in Afghanistan.
The solution is enabling SniperHill, which is part of the DHI Telecom Group, to manage capacity and deliver increased throughput with dynamic allocation, shaping and prioritisation to multiple sites across a hybrid network of terrestrial optical fibre, wireless, satellite and microwave.
“From early on, we found the harsh operating environments in Afghanistan and Iraq were not suitable for standard enterprise solutions. Bringing in Newtec has lowered our Opex and enabled us to manage bandwidth at more efficient levels, whilst providing an even more robust service,” says Wallace Davis, President of SniperHill.
The Newtec EL501 Hub has been installed at SniperHill’s partner teleport facility in Germany operated by the CETel Group. From its location there, it enables high-throughput networks over satellite to operate at several locations across the Middle East for MWR programmes including internet WiFi access for
Newtec, SniperHill enhance network serving troops based in Afghanistan
www.inmarsat.com
INMARSAT TO LAUNCH SWIFTBROADBAND HDR
deployed US and NATO troops, contractors and personnel at FOrward Bases (FOB), camps and airfields.
“We are proud that CETel’s services support DHI’s operations in the long term. The co-operation and alliance between DHI and CETel Group along with the specifically implemented Newtec equipment for efficient satellite based C- and Ku-Band services
will allow both parties to provide more reliable and cost effective services throughout the corresponding coverage zones,” says Martin Terlunen, Managing Director of the CETel Group.
Over the past several years, DHI has integrated and deployed Newtec technology into its solutions on a number of different occasions. In this instance the technology was selected particularly for its FlexACM and Clean Technology.
“In 2009, we were able to increase capacity for SniperHill in Iraq and turn 74Mbps into 97Mbps. Now, with this even more extensive implementation (146Mbps forward, 32Mbps back) of our latest technologies, we are helping to make it the most efficient network possible, which is required given the harsh operating conditions in the region,” says Serge Van Herck, CEO of Newtec.
www.newtec.eu
Inmarsat announced the launch of SwiftBroadband High Data Rate streaming (HDR) at the NBAA Convention in Las Vegas. The new Inmarsat service offers enhanced streaming IP data rates for SwiftBroadband, delivering a step-change in performance for customers requiring higher data throughput.
SwiftBroadband HDR supports four new streaming rates, including asymmetric services to allow users to access the service configuration that most precisely meets their needs. Customers can, reportedly, benefit from the higher rate communications either to or from their aircraft, or bi-directionally, depending on their application requirements, and purchase only the bandwidth they need.
SwiftBroadband HDR is expected to be commercially available from November 2013.
SAF Tehnika, Waseela partner for MENA Waseela, a regional ICT and telecom system integrator, and SAF Tehnika, a manufacturer and supplier of customised IP Microwave solutions, have signed a partnership agreement, whereby Waseela will be SAF Tehnika’s strategic system integration and services partner for the MENA region.
Normunds Bergs, SAF Tehnika’s CEO, said: “SAF Tehnika is committed to the MENA market and is working to increase the level of its presence and support to its customers in the MENA region. With this partnership with Waseela, we provide our customers with credible system integrator that can deliver turnkey Microwave solutions in addition to local product support.”
Bergs added that this agreement comes as SAF Tehnika is witnessing increasing demand for its Microwave solutions from various market segments within the MENA region, including service providers, oil and gas and public safety.
www.saftehnika.com
www.waseela.com
Media Practice for PricewaterhouseCoopers. Additional re-electees include PCCW TV and New Media MD Janice Lee and GroupM APAC CEO Mark Patterson, who were given additional terms on the BoD.
www.casbaa.com
Casbaa, the Asia Pacific multichannel TV association, has announced the election of Celestial Tiger Entertainment CEO Todd Miller and AsiaSat President and CEO William Wade to the board of directors (BoD).
Re-elected as chairman of Casbaa was Marcel Fenez, Global Leader of Entertainment and
Tod Miller, William Wade join Casbaa BoD
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 9
The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST), part of a strategic initiative to inspire scientific
innovation and technological advancement in the UAE, has announced the winners of the Entaliq Scholarship. The scholarship aims to support talented high school and university students from various engineering disciplines.
University students Marwan Al Sharid and Ahmad Al Nuaimi both received the Entaliq 2013 scholarship in line with efforts to increase the number of EIAST engineers working in the field of satellite manufacturing. There are currently 45 UAE experts working on the DubaiSat-3 Satellite project on the ground, with satellite segments to be developed on UAE soil exclusively by Emiratis.
Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General at EIAST, says: “Investment into the UAE’s human capital is part of EIAST’s three-pronged strategy for advancing knowledge, infrastructure and manufacturing facilities in order to develop advanced satellite systems through the skills of UAE nationals. This is vital to advancing the UAE’s march towards excellence and becoming a regional hub and pioneer in global space technology. The Entaliq Scholarship focuses on promoting
EIAST announces Entaliq Scholarship winners, encourages sustainable development
www.eiast.ae
www.signalhorn.com
RICHARD MINTER JOINS SIGNALHORN AS COO, ANVER ANDERSON TO HEAD COMPANY’S GLOBAL SALES
Richard Minter has been named Chief Operating Officer of Signalhorn, a provider of satellite internet and network security solutions. Minter oversees the company’s engineering and operations in the global provision of network services and communications solutions to the company’s enterprise, energy, government and NGO, and maritime customers.
Minter has more than 25 years of experience in executive management, satellite network engineering and programme management. He also has extensive experience as an independent consultant to such organisations as Penn State University’s Applied Research Labs, DRS Technologies, and various US Government agencies.
Most recently, Minter held the position COO for SES Government Solutions. During his 10 years at SES, he held other executive roles including chief scientist, senior vice-president of engineering and intelligence programmes, corporate vice-president, vice-president of managed services engineering and vice-president of teleport operations.
The company has also named Anver Anderson as Chief Sales Officer, with responsibility for the company’s global sales and marketing outreach as well as its long-range business development initiatives.
Anderson has more than 20 years of experience leading international, multi-cultural, multi-disciplined business teams. For the past 10 years, Anderson has led a UK-based consultancy specialising in business development, strategic market planning, project management and product evaluation and development.
As part of his consultancy, Anderson served as vice-president of Asian operations for Newtec, managing the Singapore and Beijing offices as well as remote business development operations in Australia. He also led major consulting projects for Vislink Communications and ITN.
on the iDirect platform, enhances the way students learn and their overall education experience with internet-based tools such as streaming video, social media, email and educational programmes. For example, students can enhance reading levels by using uploaded video tutorials and online programmes, such as PRO reading technology and Total Reader.
www.skyvision.net
SkyVision, a global IP telecommunications service provider to emerging markets, has donated an iDirect-powered satellite network for the Crossover International Academy, a K-8 school located in the village of Tongor-Attokrokpo, Ghana.
The network was implemented as part of a joint effort between iDirect and SkyVision to help the academy improve its educational offering by providing underprivileged students with online educational resources.
SkyVision’s SkyDirect VSAT service, based
SkyVision gifts connectivity to school in Ghana
scientific and academic excellence in the field of space sciences and relevant engineering disciplines, which have become the backbone of sustainable development.”
The Entaliq Scholarship programme aims to support eligible students in pursuing higher education, accelerate the process of recruiting engineers according to the highest standards of academic excellence and technical development, and address projected vacancies of select departments at EIAST. EIAST provides both financial and moral support to winners of the scholarship.
10 | SatellitePro | November 2013
Tavcom has announced the completion of its CCTV and control room operations training course conducted for 180 Kuwaiti students.
The contract to carry out the training course, which is part of a comprehensive two-year programme for Kuwaitis looking to take on security roles within the oil and gas sector, was awarded by Risk Management & Security Consultancy Co, a principle security and risk consulting company in Kuwait.
Carried out over a two-week period, the course comprised a mixture of classroom training and practical hands-on experience
using purpose-built workstations, which simulated a control room environment, as well as visits to the Shuiba Oil Refinery, which provided an opportunity for the students to gain an appreciation of a live control room.
Tavcom is a provider of BTEC certificated courses to installers, operators, managers and designers of CCTV, Network IP, intruder alarm, access control and fire alarm systems.
AsiaSat, a satellite operator in Asia, has announced that the AsiaSat 8 satellite is on target for its launch in
April next year.With the successful completion of all
the reference performance testing of the spacecraft’s payload and bus subsystems, AsiaSat 8 commenced SCTV (spacecraft thermal vacuum) testing, which is expected to be completed sometime in November.
AsiaSat 8 will be co-located with AsiaSat 3S/AsiaSat 7 at the orbital location of 105.5 degrees East, and will be launched by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in the United States.
“We are pleased to have achieved significant progress for our AsiaSat 8 programme. AsiaSat 8 will bring new Ku-
band capacity to AsiaSat 3S/AsiaSat 7’s orbital location of 105.5 degrees East, an established AsiaSat slot for DTH (direct-to-home), data broadcasting and telecommunications services. This new satellite will help meet the increasing demand for quality capacity from high growth markets in Asia and the Middle East,” said William Wade, President and CEO of AsiaSat.
AsiaSat 8, a Space Systems/Loral 1300 satellite, will have four Ku-band beams and one Ka-band beam. AsiaSat 8’s high-powered Ku-band coverage will be serving China, India, the Middle East and South East Asia. The satellite is equipped with inter-beam switching to meet specific customer requirements.
WTA announces research initiative Teleport Business BenchmarksThe World Teleport Association (WTA) has announced a new research initiative, Teleport Business Benchmarks. This new study seeks to develop a set of industry-wide financial and operating ratios for independent commercial teleport operations.
According to WTA Executive Director Robert Bell, the benchmarks will give teleport operators a way to gauge the revenue and profitability performance of their companies as well as their financial efficiency, compared with an average ratio of peers around the world. The benchmarks, according to Bell, will offer “essential help with investment, acquisition and divestiture decisions.”
“Most companies in the teleport sector are privately held. This creates a challenge for owners and executives who want to compare their financial and operating ratios to the rest of the industry,” explained Bell.
“We know how our members will value having access to industry-wide comparables. We also know that the only way for us to produce this is from proprietary financial data that our members agree to share with us in confidence. Like so much that we do, this is made successful by our members. Their willingness to participate helps them and the entire industry.”
WTA will soon begin contacting members to request data for use in this study. All the information attained will be kept proprietary. As with other industry studies that the association has previously produced, only averages and aggregates will be published.
SatNews
AsiaSat 8 on track for launch in H1 of 2014 after successful testing
www.asiasat.com.hk
www.worldteleport.orgwww.tavcom.com
Tavcom successfully concludes security systems training in Kuwait
We would like to thank you all our client andpartners for the great and successful
projects we have accomplished togetherin 2013
X SAT Global promises to continuedelivering the best telecommunication
solutions and excellent customersupport in 2014
Thank You
2013for
10 | SatellitePro | November 2013
Tavcom has announced the completion of its CCTV and control room operations training course conducted for 180 Kuwaiti students.
The contract to carry out the training course, which is part of a comprehensive two-year programme for Kuwaitis looking to take on security roles within the oil and gas sector, was awarded by Risk Management & Security Consultancy Co, a principle security and risk consulting company in Kuwait.
Carried out over a two-week period, the course comprised a mixture of classroom training and practical hands-on experience
using purpose-built workstations, which simulated a control room environment, as well as visits to the Shuiba Oil Refinery, which provided an opportunity for the students to gain an appreciation of a live control room.
Tavcom is a provider of BTEC certificated courses to installers, operators, managers and designers of CCTV, Network IP, intruder alarm, access control and fire alarm systems.
AsiaSat, a satellite operator in Asia, has announced that the AsiaSat 8 satellite is on target for its launch in
April next year.With the successful completion of all
the reference performance testing of the spacecraft’s payload and bus subsystems, AsiaSat 8 commenced SCTV (spacecraft thermal vacuum) testing, which is expected to be completed sometime in November.
AsiaSat 8 will be co-located with AsiaSat 3S/AsiaSat 7 at the orbital location of 105.5 degrees East, and will be launched by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in the United States.
“We are pleased to have achieved significant progress for our AsiaSat 8 programme. AsiaSat 8 will bring new Ku-
band capacity to AsiaSat 3S/AsiaSat 7’s orbital location of 105.5 degrees East, an established AsiaSat slot for DTH (direct-to-home), data broadcasting and telecommunications services. This new satellite will help meet the increasing demand for quality capacity from high growth markets in Asia and the Middle East,” said William Wade, President and CEO of AsiaSat.
AsiaSat 8, a Space Systems/Loral 1300 satellite, will have four Ku-band beams and one Ka-band beam. AsiaSat 8’s high-powered Ku-band coverage will be serving China, India, the Middle East and South East Asia. The satellite is equipped with inter-beam switching to meet specific customer requirements.
WTA announces research initiative Teleport Business BenchmarksThe World Teleport Association (WTA) has announced a new research initiative, Teleport Business Benchmarks. This new study seeks to develop a set of industry-wide financial and operating ratios for independent commercial teleport operations.
According to WTA Executive Director Robert Bell, the benchmarks will give teleport operators a way to gauge the revenue and profitability performance of their companies as well as their financial efficiency, compared with an average ratio of peers around the world. The benchmarks, according to Bell, will offer “essential help with investment, acquisition and divestiture decisions.”
“Most companies in the teleport sector are privately held. This creates a challenge for owners and executives who want to compare their financial and operating ratios to the rest of the industry,” explained Bell.
“We know how our members will value having access to industry-wide comparables. We also know that the only way for us to produce this is from proprietary financial data that our members agree to share with us in confidence. Like so much that we do, this is made successful by our members. Their willingness to participate helps them and the entire industry.”
WTA will soon begin contacting members to request data for use in this study. All the information attained will be kept proprietary. As with other industry studies that the association has previously produced, only averages and aggregates will be published.
SatNews
AsiaSat 8 on track for launch in H1 of 2014 after successful testing
www.asiasat.com.hk
www.worldteleport.orgwww.tavcom.com
Tavcom successfully concludes security systems training in Kuwait
We would like to thank you all our client andpartners for the great and successful
projects we have accomplished togetherin 2013
X SAT Global promises to continuedelivering the best telecommunication
solutions and excellent customersupport in 2014
Thank You
2013for
12 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatLead
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 13
Masdar Institute funded the very first comprehensive satellite-based study in Urban Heat Island phenomenon. Adrienne
Harebottle finds out what this entails and learns about the unexpected inverted result
HANDLING THE
HEAT
depth about the relationship between measured temperature with the building materials and energy consumption,” explains Lazzarini.
Not only is this the first comprehensive work done on the UHI effect, but what makes it really remarkable are the findings: it had an inverted result. Unlike in other parts of the world with a different climate and terrain, Abu Dhabi’s urban areas were cooler than the rural areas, reveals Lazzarini, adding that he was chosen to do this study based on his UHI experience in Europe. He has a background in the study of thermal trend and UHI from satellite, and was part of the team commissioned by European Space Agency to understand the UHI effect in Madrid and Athens.
“In dynamic environments such as urban areas, the changing landscape affects quality of life and it can have a significant impact on the local climate. The analysis of these changes is therefore essential for several decision-making processes.
“After analysing 10 years of the temperature of Abu Dhabi from satellite data (2000-2010), we ended with different conclusions as against the initial
In September 2011, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology commissioned the first phase of a
project to study the phenomenon of Urban Heat Island (UHI) in Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital city. UHI is the tendency of metropolitan areas to be significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas, generally due to the abundance of sealed surfaces such as concrete or asphalt, which trap the heat, explains Michele Lazzarini, postdoctoral researcher at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.
The project’s first phase was completed in the end of 2012 for which Lazzarini published a paper in Remote Sensing of Environment, an Elsevier publication, which is regarded as one of the most important providers of scientific information, products and services. While the first phase was purely scientific, Lazzarini says he has seen an interest from Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and other public bodies of the Abu Dhabi Government.
“Now we are finalising the procedure to extend our work to other cities with a similar climate, such as Dubai and Doha. Another important step is going into
12 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatLead
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 13
Masdar Institute funded the very first comprehensive satellite-based study in Urban Heat Island phenomenon. Adrienne
Harebottle finds out what this entails and learns about the unexpected inverted result
HANDLING THE
HEAT
depth about the relationship between measured temperature with the building materials and energy consumption,” explains Lazzarini.
Not only is this the first comprehensive work done on the UHI effect, but what makes it really remarkable are the findings: it had an inverted result. Unlike in other parts of the world with a different climate and terrain, Abu Dhabi’s urban areas were cooler than the rural areas, reveals Lazzarini, adding that he was chosen to do this study based on his UHI experience in Europe. He has a background in the study of thermal trend and UHI from satellite, and was part of the team commissioned by European Space Agency to understand the UHI effect in Madrid and Athens.
“In dynamic environments such as urban areas, the changing landscape affects quality of life and it can have a significant impact on the local climate. The analysis of these changes is therefore essential for several decision-making processes.
“After analysing 10 years of the temperature of Abu Dhabi from satellite data (2000-2010), we ended with different conclusions as against the initial
In September 2011, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology commissioned the first phase of a
project to study the phenomenon of Urban Heat Island (UHI) in Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital city. UHI is the tendency of metropolitan areas to be significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas, generally due to the abundance of sealed surfaces such as concrete or asphalt, which trap the heat, explains Michele Lazzarini, postdoctoral researcher at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.
The project’s first phase was completed in the end of 2012 for which Lazzarini published a paper in Remote Sensing of Environment, an Elsevier publication, which is regarded as one of the most important providers of scientific information, products and services. While the first phase was purely scientific, Lazzarini says he has seen an interest from Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and other public bodies of the Abu Dhabi Government.
“Now we are finalising the procedure to extend our work to other cities with a similar climate, such as Dubai and Doha. Another important step is going into
14 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatLead
assumption. In desert environments such as Abu Dhabi, this UHI phenomenon is frequently inverted, which means that urban areas are cooler than the surroundings. One of the main reasons for this inversion is the relatively high amount of vegetation in urban areas compared to the others, where bare ground and abundant sand trap more heat.”
Required skillsThe satellite data was provided by NASA, says Lazzarini, adding that the skills needed for analysis include photo interpretation and knowledge of certain software.
“Images are acquired by satellite in the visible to analyse land cover and urbanisation, in the infrared for vegetation studies, and in the thermal part of the electromagnetic spectrum to retrieve the surface temperature of the land. The images used for the project are sent to our archive from the NASA portal. We analysed satellite data with specific image processing techniques from commercial software and routines written in our group.
“You need skills as a photo interpreter because a satellite image in the end is a picture, and you should understand the physics behind it including why a surface might have a higher temperature than another. Programming skills to run the software are required as well.
of the work of our team that includes Dr Prashanth Marpu and Dr Hosni Ghedira.”
In addition the UHI phenomenon being frequently inverted in desert environments, the paper published in the scientific journal highlighted the importance of remote sensing technologies to study the UHI effects and the particular conditions of a desert city area such as Abu Dhabi, explains Lazzarini.
Following on from establishing the warmest areas of Abu Dhabi, the second phase of the project involves the relationship between energy consumption and building materials. The third phase will consider the mitigation scenarios including better isolation materials and the creation of green areas, explains Lazzarini.
Ambitions and achievements “My personal goal is to extend the use of remote sensing and satellite data to real-life applications. There are several fields where this sector can be exploited, but often there is a gap between scientific studies and applications for people. For instance, this UHI project could have the final aim to describe the areas of the cities with a very high temperature in near real time, in order to suggest people to avoid these areas.
“The same thing applies with other projects here in our group such as dust detection, with the final aim to detect dust storms in near real time and send an alarm, or for red tide, etc. I guess that the massive use of smartphones and apps could help in this way. Everyone can have a map on their phone in near real time nowadays.”
The group involved with this UHI project is the Earth Observation and Hydro-climatology Laboratory, which is getting increasing experience in UAE environment issues, says Lazzarini.
“We have gained credibility in the scientific environment on the understanding of our desert areas,” he says, adding that this success follows the group’s overcoming the challenges of having to conduct this research almost from scratch.
“There were only a few studies on this specific area of the world, so we had to start studying a very particular scenario almost from zero.” PRO
“On a personal level, this means a lot to me. The published paper in one of the most important journals in remote sensing is a certification of the quality of the work of our team” MICHELE LAZZARINI, postdoctoral researcher at the Masdar Institute
“In the frame of this project, we analysed data acquired in the visible, infrared and thermal part of the spectrum. We analysed the temperature of Abu Dhabi at two different spatial scales: we used NASA satellite with high revisiting time (MODIS images, every one to two days) to understand the temperature variation at city scale (1km), so we could obtain a long temporal series (10 years) to understand the annual variation of temperature at 1km resolution. Then we used spot observations from NASA satellites (ASTER and Landsat), which are medium resolution (60-100m), every couple of years to understand the variation of temperature at district scale and the impact of vegetation and different land cover (concrete and sand) on temperature trend.”
Computers and specific software were used to process the satellite data but the equipment needed for the project also included thermal cameras and a radiometer to measure the temperature of wall and different surfaces, explains Lazzarini.
“In our group we have a satellite ground station receiving raw real-time data, 200Tb storage system for data, state-of-the-art capability in satellite image processing, that being ENVI, MATLAB and ARCGIS, a big wall screen with a real-time monitoring and visualisation system, a portable thermal camera and a ground temperature radiometer for validating our satellite measurements,” he says.
According to Lazzarini, a benefit of the study was its economic impact.
“The first phase of the project involved identifying different temperatures in the area, which can be possible due to different micro-climatic conditions, different urban structure such as the presence of green areas or different materials used for building construction. Often, a higher temperature means higher energy consumption for AC systems, or that inappropriate materials were used for thermal isolation. Therefore, the project has an economic impact.
“However, on a personal level, this means a lot to me. The published paper in one of the most important journals in remote sensing is a certification of the quality
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 15
“In dynamic environments such as urban areas, the changing landscape affects quality of life and it can have a significant impact on the local climate. The analysis of these changes is therefore essential for several decision-making processes” MICHELE LAZZARINI, postdoctoral researcher at the Masdar Institute
14 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatLead
assumption. In desert environments such as Abu Dhabi, this UHI phenomenon is frequently inverted, which means that urban areas are cooler than the surroundings. One of the main reasons for this inversion is the relatively high amount of vegetation in urban areas compared to the others, where bare ground and abundant sand trap more heat.”
Required skillsThe satellite data was provided by NASA, says Lazzarini, adding that the skills needed for analysis include photo interpretation and knowledge of certain software.
“Images are acquired by satellite in the visible to analyse land cover and urbanisation, in the infrared for vegetation studies, and in the thermal part of the electromagnetic spectrum to retrieve the surface temperature of the land. The images used for the project are sent to our archive from the NASA portal. We analysed satellite data with specific image processing techniques from commercial software and routines written in our group.
“You need skills as a photo interpreter because a satellite image in the end is a picture, and you should understand the physics behind it including why a surface might have a higher temperature than another. Programming skills to run the software are required as well.
of the work of our team that includes Dr Prashanth Marpu and Dr Hosni Ghedira.”
In addition the UHI phenomenon being frequently inverted in desert environments, the paper published in the scientific journal highlighted the importance of remote sensing technologies to study the UHI effects and the particular conditions of a desert city area such as Abu Dhabi, explains Lazzarini.
Following on from establishing the warmest areas of Abu Dhabi, the second phase of the project involves the relationship between energy consumption and building materials. The third phase will consider the mitigation scenarios including better isolation materials and the creation of green areas, explains Lazzarini.
Ambitions and achievements “My personal goal is to extend the use of remote sensing and satellite data to real-life applications. There are several fields where this sector can be exploited, but often there is a gap between scientific studies and applications for people. For instance, this UHI project could have the final aim to describe the areas of the cities with a very high temperature in near real time, in order to suggest people to avoid these areas.
“The same thing applies with other projects here in our group such as dust detection, with the final aim to detect dust storms in near real time and send an alarm, or for red tide, etc. I guess that the massive use of smartphones and apps could help in this way. Everyone can have a map on their phone in near real time nowadays.”
The group involved with this UHI project is the Earth Observation and Hydro-climatology Laboratory, which is getting increasing experience in UAE environment issues, says Lazzarini.
“We have gained credibility in the scientific environment on the understanding of our desert areas,” he says, adding that this success follows the group’s overcoming the challenges of having to conduct this research almost from scratch.
“There were only a few studies on this specific area of the world, so we had to start studying a very particular scenario almost from zero.” PRO
“On a personal level, this means a lot to me. The published paper in one of the most important journals in remote sensing is a certification of the quality of the work of our team” MICHELE LAZZARINI, postdoctoral researcher at the Masdar Institute
“In the frame of this project, we analysed data acquired in the visible, infrared and thermal part of the spectrum. We analysed the temperature of Abu Dhabi at two different spatial scales: we used NASA satellite with high revisiting time (MODIS images, every one to two days) to understand the temperature variation at city scale (1km), so we could obtain a long temporal series (10 years) to understand the annual variation of temperature at 1km resolution. Then we used spot observations from NASA satellites (ASTER and Landsat), which are medium resolution (60-100m), every couple of years to understand the variation of temperature at district scale and the impact of vegetation and different land cover (concrete and sand) on temperature trend.”
Computers and specific software were used to process the satellite data but the equipment needed for the project also included thermal cameras and a radiometer to measure the temperature of wall and different surfaces, explains Lazzarini.
“In our group we have a satellite ground station receiving raw real-time data, 200Tb storage system for data, state-of-the-art capability in satellite image processing, that being ENVI, MATLAB and ARCGIS, a big wall screen with a real-time monitoring and visualisation system, a portable thermal camera and a ground temperature radiometer for validating our satellite measurements,” he says.
According to Lazzarini, a benefit of the study was its economic impact.
“The first phase of the project involved identifying different temperatures in the area, which can be possible due to different micro-climatic conditions, different urban structure such as the presence of green areas or different materials used for building construction. Often, a higher temperature means higher energy consumption for AC systems, or that inappropriate materials were used for thermal isolation. Therefore, the project has an economic impact.
“However, on a personal level, this means a lot to me. The published paper in one of the most important journals in remote sensing is a certification of the quality
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 15
“In dynamic environments such as urban areas, the changing landscape affects quality of life and it can have a significant impact on the local climate. The analysis of these changes is therefore essential for several decision-making processes” MICHELE LAZZARINI, postdoctoral researcher at the Masdar Institute
SatInterference
16 | SatellitePro | November 2013
If there were a simple way to mitigate satellite interference, the industry would quickly jump on board, right? A Carrier ID survey was conducted resulting in rather interesting findings
CARRIER ID: ARE YOU READY?
SatInterference
16 | SatellitePro | November 2013
If there were a simple way to mitigate satellite interference, the industry would quickly jump on board, right? A Carrier ID survey was conducted resulting in rather interesting findings
CARRIER ID: ARE YOU READY?
Satellite interference is an ugly, black stain on the industry, and it’s becoming an increasing problem. In a bid to create a solution to mitigate this, Carrier Identification, or CID, came about. CID is a signal that is embedded into a video or data transmission path. It allows satellite operators and end users to identify the source of an interfering carrier, rather like a number plate on a car that’s misbehaving on the roads.
From a satellite operator’s perspective, CID allows for an improved transmission quality of service experience while reducing operating expenses. The 2012 Olympics proved to be successful testing grounds; 50% of satellite operators’ transmissions were implemented with CID while at the same time there was a noticeable reduction in interference compared to previous sporting events and tournaments, where CID was not implemented. Based on this, strong interest in CID is expected for other major upcoming sporting events including the Winter Olympics, Fifa World Cup and the Commonwealth Games, says Steven Soenens, Vice-President of Product Management at Newtec.
As a tool to reduce satellite interference, CID is essential because it can quickly pinpoint the source, thereby enabling a faster solution to the problem, says Soenens. It is because of this that the World Broadcasting Unions-International Satellite operations Group (WBU-ISOG) issued a resolution in July this year that from January 1, 2015, satellite operators begin the transition to CID.
How it worksA modulator injects an identifier into the carrier at the uplink site. This identifier contains mandatory information including a 64-bit MAC address and a
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 17
vendor serial number, together with optional user-configurable data such as GPS coordinates, the carrier name and user contact coordinates.
In order to lower the impact on the throughput over the satellite, the carrier ID information is spread below the noise floor of the carrier. By using robust modulation, the carrier ID can be easily determined and read.
Special measurement receivers are installed at the satellite operator’s facilities. These receivers are able to read the contact information from the carrier at any incidence of interference, enabling for the source of interference to be identified and located.
While interference is something that the industry as a whole would like to see resolved, the question remains: are we ready for CID? Such a query prompted the Satellite Interference Reduction Group (IRG) together with Newtec to create a poll in order to gauge the industry’s understanding, experience, concerns and perspective relating to CID and satellite interference in general, says Martin Coleman, Executive Director at IRG. The survey, which was conducted in July
93% suffer from
interference at least once
a year
While none of the respondents from Africa have implemented CID to date, 31% plan to do
so within a year
31%
of satcom manufacturers have already
implemented CID
18%
18 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatInterference
this year, involved 500 respondents, who answered specific questions and shared their opinions.
“We had an overwhelming response to the survey, with nearly 500 respondents. It was also reassuring to see a good mix across industry sectors, with broadcasters (29%), service providers (28%), satellite operators (19%) and also responses from satcom manufacturers, government and defence, and integrators. Indeed, satellite interference touches the entire industry, and it will take participation from the entire industry to resolve it,” says Coleman.
One of the questions asked in the survey was how often do the respondents suffer from interference.
“As many as 93% of respondents said they suffer from interference at least once a year. And 27% suffer on a weekly basis. This is clearly a global problem, and the results showed a fairly even split across the world in terms of those suffering from it,” explains Coleman.
While the resolution issued by the WBU-ISOG intends to reduce these statistics, implementation of CID has already begun, says Coleman.
“Around 6% have already implemented CID. That may seem a small number, but it is more than expected and it shows the start of something. A further 10% say they will be implementing within six months and another 18% within one year. That gives us 34% that will be implemented by this time next year. The majority, however, still does not know their time schedule, which goes to show that still further awareness and education is indeed needed,” he says.
For and Against“We also looked at reasons ‘for and against’ implementation. The biggest argument against it was money, followed by the network simply not being ready. Here, we need an education piece – CID is already provided in most modulation equipment and the satellite operators are, on the whole, ready to introduce CID by 2015. Therefore, largely, over time and with natural technology refreshes for the user, the investment is minimal.”
The biggest driving factor, says Coleman, was improving the quality of service.
“On the other side of the coin, this was pleasing to see and demonstrates that the industry cares about this issue and wants to make operations better.”
As the Federal Communications Commission has already begun mandating CID for SNG transmissions in the United States, the subject of standards surfaced.
“So we asked about the importance of standards. A large majority (86%) cite standards as important or very important to overcome satellite interference. At our recent panel discussion at IBC, we discussed whether the industry should take that a step further towards mandating CID. The unanimous feeling was that we cannot simply mandate CID and expect the industry to be ready at a moment’s notice. Mandating implementation is, however, something that needs to happen in the future once CID has been rolled out over a number of years. It just can’t happen in one day!”
When asked what else needs to be done to combat satellite interference, the respondents raised the topic of training, says Coleman.
“Around 6% have already implemented CID. A further 10% say they will be implementing within six months. The majority, however, still does not know their time schedule, which goes to show that still further awareness and education is indeed needed.”
MARTIN COLEMAN, Executive Director at Satellite Interference Reduction Group
27% suffer from
weekly interference
North America is leading the way with 11% having implemented CID
11%
18 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatInterference
this year, involved 500 respondents, who answered specific questions and shared their opinions.
“We had an overwhelming response to the survey, with nearly 500 respondents. It was also reassuring to see a good mix across industry sectors, with broadcasters (29%), service providers (28%), satellite operators (19%) and also responses from satcom manufacturers, government and defence, and integrators. Indeed, satellite interference touches the entire industry, and it will take participation from the entire industry to resolve it,” says Coleman.
One of the questions asked in the survey was how often do the respondents suffer from interference.
“As many as 93% of respondents said they suffer from interference at least once a year. And 27% suffer on a weekly basis. This is clearly a global problem, and the results showed a fairly even split across the world in terms of those suffering from it,” explains Coleman.
While the resolution issued by the WBU-ISOG intends to reduce these statistics, implementation of CID has already begun, says Coleman.
“Around 6% have already implemented CID. That may seem a small number, but it is more than expected and it shows the start of something. A further 10% say they will be implementing within six months and another 18% within one year. That gives us 34% that will be implemented by this time next year. The majority, however, still does not know their time schedule, which goes to show that still further awareness and education is indeed needed,” he says.
For and Against“We also looked at reasons ‘for and against’ implementation. The biggest argument against it was money, followed by the network simply not being ready. Here, we need an education piece – CID is already provided in most modulation equipment and the satellite operators are, on the whole, ready to introduce CID by 2015. Therefore, largely, over time and with natural technology refreshes for the user, the investment is minimal.”
The biggest driving factor, says Coleman, was improving the quality of service.
“On the other side of the coin, this was pleasing to see and demonstrates that the industry cares about this issue and wants to make operations better.”
As the Federal Communications Commission has already begun mandating CID for SNG transmissions in the United States, the subject of standards surfaced.
“So we asked about the importance of standards. A large majority (86%) cite standards as important or very important to overcome satellite interference. At our recent panel discussion at IBC, we discussed whether the industry should take that a step further towards mandating CID. The unanimous feeling was that we cannot simply mandate CID and expect the industry to be ready at a moment’s notice. Mandating implementation is, however, something that needs to happen in the future once CID has been rolled out over a number of years. It just can’t happen in one day!”
When asked what else needs to be done to combat satellite interference, the respondents raised the topic of training, says Coleman.
“Around 6% have already implemented CID. A further 10% say they will be implementing within six months. The majority, however, still does not know their time schedule, which goes to show that still further awareness and education is indeed needed.”
MARTIN COLEMAN, Executive Director at Satellite Interference Reduction Group
27% suffer from
weekly interference
North America is leading the way with 11% having implemented CID
11%
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 19
“A quarter believed that CID will further reduce interference, and the remainder believes that new provisioning and monitoring technology will further reduce the impact of interference. This highlights that combating interference needs to be a collaborative approach, working with partner organisations such as the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) and the Radio Frequency Interference-End Users Initiative (RFI-EUI), as well as involving organisations from every cross-section of the industry, including the
operators, users and technology providers.” Despite the fact that additional awareness
needs to be raised, the results of the survey were “extremely reassuring”, says Coleman.
“Although they highlighted that there is clearly a global problem, they also indicated that the industry is keen to drive forward with various initiatives and reduce satellite interference. I certainly think the industry is ready to move forward with this transition.
“Indeed, we have come a long way over recent years. Last year, we had a big push for
the Olympics, which achieved 50% of carriers with ID. We now have an ETSI standard for the new CID technology and the beginnings of a CID database, which we are working alongside the SDA to automate the processes required to operate a CID environment. We need to keep that momentum going and make real progress towards full-scale implementation and where possible, this should be the new CID technology.
“In short, a lot has been discussed, now we need to make it happen!” PRO
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Broadcaster
Integrator/System House
CONTINUOUSLY ONCE A MONTH ONCE A YEAR
ONCE A WEEK ONCE EVERY SIX WEEKS NEVER
Satcom Manutacturer
Satelite Operator
Government/Defence
Service Provider
11%
8%
16% 16%
12%
34%
15%
20%18%
11%
3% 6%
14%
29%
32%
8%
11%
24% 24%
10%
19%
32%
22%
7%
14%
0% 0% 0%
29%
14%
21% 21%
27% 27%
20%
27%
How often do industry players suffer from interference?
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Commission (DFTC)
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for Audiovisual Media,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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SatEducation
22 | SatellitePro | November 2013
Technology enables Al Jazeera Children’s Channel to enhance its educational offering by accessing feeds from Asia and North America via satellite through heightened signal quality
ETL SYSTEMS’ VORTEX MATRICES BOOST QATAR FOUNDATION
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 23
In 1995, the Qatar Foundation, a non-profit organisation, was created with the intention to provide greater choice for the people of Qatar in education, health and social progress. Focusing on science, community development and education, the Qatar Foundation aims to “support Qatar on its journey from a carbon economy to a knowledge economy by unlocking its human potential.”
Its efforts invested into the education field resulted in a number of international universities establishing franchise institutions within Qatar. The arrival of these universities bolstered the Qatar Foundation’s goal of improving the education sector to the point that young people could develop the attitudes and skills required for the targeted knowledge economy.
Al Jazeera Children’s Channel, a member of the Qatar Foundation, plays an important role by providing programmes that enable children to strengthen their knowledge and values in the areas of education and science.
The Qatar Foundation selected ETL Systems’ equipment, which was installed mid-way through 2012, to expand and give further access to TV content from Aljazeera Children’s Channel. With experience in design and manufacturing of RF distribution equipment for satellite communications, ETL recommended the 4 off 16 input x 48 output L-band Vortex Matrices to help provide a dependable signal structure to access feeds from North America and Asia via satellite.
This project follows several successful Vortex projects that ETL has completed, including UK and Spanish Broadcasters, the US Government and a new Abu Dhabi-based news channel.
It was based on these previous successes in addition to its ability to deliver a strong quality of service that ETL was awarded the contract, says Rafik Sheikh, Operations Manager at ND Satcom.
“Choosing ETL Systems to provide the technology to support this project was simple; they deliver the best and highest quality signal technology, which we’ve had previous success with in numerous other international projects. Its technology fits well with our technical requirements and we will continue to use ETL for future projects,” says Sheikh.
For this project, a quality and stable satellite infrastructure was needed to receive integrated entertainment and educational content for all Arab children and families, says Dr Esen Bayar, ETL Systems’ Chief Technical Officer.
“The feeds would come from all over the world and will be used to support the existing Arabic-language Channel. The content received would be a mix of shows from other sources and original programming dubbed into English from the existing Arabic-language channel.”
Historically, satellite teleports did not handle the same number of live satellite feeds as seen today,” explains Bayar.
“ETL Systems has witnessed a huge increase in the use of modulation and bandwidth, enabling many more carriers to be delivered on a downlink. Previous designs of patch panels, fixed RF splitter systems and consumer multi-switch technology are constantly upgraded, which makes the modern satellite teleport a constantly evolving part of the industry.”
Three feeds for the Qatar Foundation were ready to be received through three satellites including birds from Arabsat and Nilesat as well as Eutelsat’s Hotbird. However, the feeds needed high-quality and stable technology in order to extend the reach of the signals, says Bayar.
“In order to extend the signal received from the satellites, the 4 off 16 input x 48 output L-band Vortex Matrices were used. ETL provided RF engineering advice and support during the design process of a new teleport. The installed technology ensured an extension to the feeds, which
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 23
In 1995, the Qatar Foundation, a non-profit organisation, was created with the intention to provide greater choice for the people of Qatar in education, health and social progress. Focusing on science, community development and education, the Qatar Foundation aims to “support Qatar on its journey from a carbon economy to a knowledge economy by unlocking its human potential.”
Its efforts invested into the education field resulted in a number of international universities establishing franchise institutions within Qatar. The arrival of these universities bolstered the Qatar Foundation’s goal of improving the education sector to the point that young people could develop the attitudes and skills required for the targeted knowledge economy.
Al Jazeera Children’s Channel, a member of the Qatar Foundation, plays an important role by providing programmes that enable children to strengthen their knowledge and values in the areas of education and science.
The Qatar Foundation selected ETL Systems’ equipment, which was installed mid-way through 2012, to expand and give further access to TV content from Aljazeera Children’s Channel. With experience in design and manufacturing of RF distribution equipment for satellite communications, ETL recommended the 4 off 16 input x 48 output L-band Vortex Matrices to help provide a dependable signal structure to access feeds from North America and Asia via satellite.
This project follows several successful Vortex projects that ETL has completed, including UK and Spanish Broadcasters, the US Government and a new Abu Dhabi-based news channel.
It was based on these previous successes in addition to its ability to deliver a strong quality of service that ETL was awarded the contract, says Rafik Sheikh, Operations Manager at ND Satcom.
“Choosing ETL Systems to provide the technology to support this project was simple; they deliver the best and highest quality signal technology, which we’ve had previous success with in numerous other international projects. Its technology fits well with our technical requirements and we will continue to use ETL for future projects,” says Sheikh.
For this project, a quality and stable satellite infrastructure was needed to receive integrated entertainment and educational content for all Arab children and families, says Dr Esen Bayar, ETL Systems’ Chief Technical Officer.
“The feeds would come from all over the world and will be used to support the existing Arabic-language Channel. The content received would be a mix of shows from other sources and original programming dubbed into English from the existing Arabic-language channel.”
Historically, satellite teleports did not handle the same number of live satellite feeds as seen today,” explains Bayar.
“ETL Systems has witnessed a huge increase in the use of modulation and bandwidth, enabling many more carriers to be delivered on a downlink. Previous designs of patch panels, fixed RF splitter systems and consumer multi-switch technology are constantly upgraded, which makes the modern satellite teleport a constantly evolving part of the industry.”
Three feeds for the Qatar Foundation were ready to be received through three satellites including birds from Arabsat and Nilesat as well as Eutelsat’s Hotbird. However, the feeds needed high-quality and stable technology in order to extend the reach of the signals, says Bayar.
“In order to extend the signal received from the satellites, the 4 off 16 input x 48 output L-band Vortex Matrices were used. ETL provided RF engineering advice and support during the design process of a new teleport. The installed technology ensured an extension to the feeds, which
24 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatEducation
was required in order to allow access to global programmes and distribution across the Qatar Foundation network.”
Extending the satellite signal has enabled access to programmes from North America and Asia and Europe, says Bayar.
Since implementing ETL’s matrices, the reliability and quality of the downlink feeds have been improved, says Bayar.
“Not only did the Vortex offer better RF performance, it also added the benefit of constant monitoring and reporting of status for peace of mind at the teleport.
“With new RF board designs and components, we were able to offer huge benefits to the Qatar Foundation project. Our in-house surface mount technology means that we are seeing better crosstalk, return loss, VSWR and flatness in much smaller housings. As the average satellite teleport is expanding fast, this means huge pressure on rack space, and technology has allowed ETL to offer
hot-swap, strong RF performing downlink distribution in a smaller chassis. The Vortex is a perfect example of this. We are delighted to have worked with the Qatar Foundation.” PRO
“As the average satellite teleport is expanding fast, this means
huge pressure on rack space, and technology has allowed ETL to offer hot-swap, strong RF performing downlink distribution in a smaller chassis. The Vortex is a perfect example of this” DR ESEN BAYAR, ETL Systems’ Chief Technical Officer
!“Choosing ETL Systems to provide the technology to support
this project was simple; they deliver the best and highest quality signal technology, which we’ve had previous success with in numerous other international projects”!RAFIK SHEIKH, Operations Manager at ND Satcom
Sultan Business Centre, 3rd floor, Office 331, P.O Box: 65523, Dubai, U.A.E.Tel: +971 4 3341900 Fax: +971 4 3341419, Email: [email protected] , http:// www.nstt.net
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SatVertical: Oil & Gas
26 | SatellitePro | November 2013 November 2013 | SatellitePro | 27
Oil and gas exploration and production is a high stakes venture. There are few industries that operate in more demanding physical environments, ones that need to coordinate efforts across more expansive remote areas and that face the same levels of operating cost.
Expensive rental rate costs and operations are the norm across the oil and gas industry. Data from IHS Petrodata shows that 2013 rental rates for jackup rigs are averaging between USD 100,000 and USD 200,000, depending on the age of the rig and the depth it is capable of drilling. For semi-submersible rigs drilling in over 5,000 feet of water, an average day rate is between USD 550,000 and USD 600,000 depending on location around the globe. Prolonging operations, by even a day, could add up to major overall expenses.
Oil and gas companies are pushing into more remote locations to search for new areas for oil. On the offshore side, the investment in deep water drilling has yielded new discoveries of crude oil and is providing increased growth throughout the industry. MarketsandMarkets, a full
service market research company and consulting firm, projects the effects of deep water and ultra deep water drilling will cause the oil and gas industry to grow to USD 121.1 billion by 2018.
For onshore operations, there has been an increase in activities, such as fracking, that has pushed operations into remote land locations, as well as increased exploration in new territories that are mainly in developing nations.
Oil and gas companies need to manage their complex operations while raising productivity, increasing safety and making faster, more accurate decisions. This includes making information between the drilling site and headquarters more accessible to increase visibility and collaboration. It also includes monitoring drilling equipment, real-time visual monitoring and connecting crew with production teams at headquarters. Automating operations and collaborating with teams off and on the drilling site helps to make quicker decisions and provides a safe working environment for crew – saving time, money and, potentially, lives.
VSAT can improve situational awareness and increase oil and gas productivity, explains iDirect’s Terry Neumann
OIL RIG OF THE FUTURE
SatVertical: Oil & Gas
26 | SatellitePro | November 2013 November 2013 | SatellitePro | 27
Oil and gas exploration and production is a high stakes venture. There are few industries that operate in more demanding physical environments, ones that need to coordinate efforts across more expansive remote areas and that face the same levels of operating cost.
Expensive rental rate costs and operations are the norm across the oil and gas industry. Data from IHS Petrodata shows that 2013 rental rates for jackup rigs are averaging between USD 100,000 and USD 200,000, depending on the age of the rig and the depth it is capable of drilling. For semi-submersible rigs drilling in over 5,000 feet of water, an average day rate is between USD 550,000 and USD 600,000 depending on location around the globe. Prolonging operations, by even a day, could add up to major overall expenses.
Oil and gas companies are pushing into more remote locations to search for new areas for oil. On the offshore side, the investment in deep water drilling has yielded new discoveries of crude oil and is providing increased growth throughout the industry. MarketsandMarkets, a full
service market research company and consulting firm, projects the effects of deep water and ultra deep water drilling will cause the oil and gas industry to grow to USD 121.1 billion by 2018.
For onshore operations, there has been an increase in activities, such as fracking, that has pushed operations into remote land locations, as well as increased exploration in new territories that are mainly in developing nations.
Oil and gas companies need to manage their complex operations while raising productivity, increasing safety and making faster, more accurate decisions. This includes making information between the drilling site and headquarters more accessible to increase visibility and collaboration. It also includes monitoring drilling equipment, real-time visual monitoring and connecting crew with production teams at headquarters. Automating operations and collaborating with teams off and on the drilling site helps to make quicker decisions and provides a safe working environment for crew – saving time, money and, potentially, lives.
VSAT can improve situational awareness and increase oil and gas productivity, explains iDirect’s Terry Neumann
OIL RIG OF THE FUTURE
28 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatVertical: Oil & Gas
The solutionAs these trends continue to develop, oil and gas companies must rethink how to manage their operations. One way these companies can improve is to modernise their VSAT communications network.
Oil and gas companies may be wary about investing more in VSAT since bandwidth is costly and could further increase production costs. However, advancements in VSAT can provide a sound business case for oil and gas companies.
First, the arrival of high throughput satellites (HTS) has changed the economics of bandwidth. HTS has increased throughput rates, which lowers the price of bandwidth dramatically, enabling crew to utilise more applications at a lower cost.
Second, energy companies can repurpose their VSAT network to support every segment of their operations, including offshore, onshore and pipelines. With VSAT, service providers can support a diverse set of applications from bandwidth-heavy
applications for offshore and onshore operations to narrowband applications for pipelines.
VSAT can also be used as a back-up solution in case terrestrial systems fail and also easily integrate with different technologies such as cellular, two-way radio and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), to provide a unified communications network for onshore and pipeline operations.
VSAT in actionLet’s take a look at what the VSAT network can support:
Offshore rig operators increase productivity with bandwidth-heavy applications such as seismic imaging and data transmission. Video applications such as video conferencing are implemented to increase collaboration on the rig. Video also allows crew to monitor drilling operations and equipment, control remotely operated vehicles and provide a visual inspection of an oil rig or the ocean floor. These activities can either be conducted on the offshore rig or
!The arrival of high throughput satellites (HTS) has changed the economics of bandwidth. HTS has increased throughput rates, which lowers the price of bandwidth dramatically, enabling crew to utilise more applications at a lower cost
28 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatVertical: Oil & Gas
The solutionAs these trends continue to develop, oil and gas companies must rethink how to manage their operations. One way these companies can improve is to modernise their VSAT communications network.
Oil and gas companies may be wary about investing more in VSAT since bandwidth is costly and could further increase production costs. However, advancements in VSAT can provide a sound business case for oil and gas companies.
First, the arrival of high throughput satellites (HTS) has changed the economics of bandwidth. HTS has increased throughput rates, which lowers the price of bandwidth dramatically, enabling crew to utilise more applications at a lower cost.
Second, energy companies can repurpose their VSAT network to support every segment of their operations, including offshore, onshore and pipelines. With VSAT, service providers can support a diverse set of applications from bandwidth-heavy
applications for offshore and onshore operations to narrowband applications for pipelines.
VSAT can also be used as a back-up solution in case terrestrial systems fail and also easily integrate with different technologies such as cellular, two-way radio and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), to provide a unified communications network for onshore and pipeline operations.
VSAT in actionLet’s take a look at what the VSAT network can support:
Offshore rig operators increase productivity with bandwidth-heavy applications such as seismic imaging and data transmission. Video applications such as video conferencing are implemented to increase collaboration on the rig. Video also allows crew to monitor drilling operations and equipment, control remotely operated vehicles and provide a visual inspection of an oil rig or the ocean floor. These activities can either be conducted on the offshore rig or
!The arrival of high throughput satellites (HTS) has changed the economics of bandwidth. HTS has increased throughput rates, which lowers the price of bandwidth dramatically, enabling crew to utilise more applications at a lower cost
30 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatVertical: Oil & Gas
from a central office location.For onshore operations, remote land-
based drilling requires many of the same applications that are used on offshore operations. VSAT allows employees to run operations more efficiently by automating equipment monitoring and transmitting data to headquarters. VSAT also supports broadband applications such as voice, data and internet for office applications such as VoIP, three-way calling and 9-1-1 support. Video surveillance is implemented to monitor operations and assess damage to critical assets when it occurs.
As more pipelines are deployed in remote, harsh environments there has been an increased need for monitoring these assets. VSAT supports real-time access to monitor applications such as SCADA information including flow rate, temperature and pressure. A VSAT network can backhaul this data back to a central computer at headquarters. If employees need to visit a SCADA or ERM site, VSAT can support hotspots, which enable employees to log onto the internet and stay connected to centralised company resources while in the field.
VSAT can also provide a safe and comfortable habitat for workers across offshore, onshore and pipeline operations. Automating operations like equipment monitoring, data transfer and SCADA improves both efficiency and reduces the headcount of people needed at a remote site. Implementing video surveillance and video monitoring can provide visual inspections of each site, which ensures safety for workers.
Additionally, if an employee is injured, remote telemedicine applications are available to provide initial diagnosis. VSAT improves crew welfare by supporting basic connectivity to crew onboard, allowing them to access email, stream video and connect with their family members.
Rig of the futureAs operations in offshore drilling continue to grow, the offshore rig will need to evolve. HTS and
advanced VST technology will need to support new capabilities on the rig that in the future will not only be required, but also expected. Harris CapRock Communications, a global provider of satellite and terrestrial communications solutions for remote and harsh environments, illustrates the requirements for the rig of the future, stating all offshore remotes will need to be connected and bandwidth demand will increase 100-fold compared to today’s offshore operations. These requirements are a must in order for energy companies to continue to make fast decisions, lower operating costs and provide a safer working environment for crew – ultimately improving improved situational awareness.
To achieve this vision, Harris CapRock is focused on aligning its services to prepare for these new requirements. The communications provider is, therefore, partnering with VSAT technology organisations to test the limits of what VSAT can bring to remote, harsh operations both offshore and onshore.
Harris CapRock’s goal is to provide the market with comprehensive solutions that can be scaled to fit customer needs no matter how big their operation. According to the organisation, the integration of value-added services such as remote monitoring and crew welfare solutions are the differentiating factors in the marketplace.
The payoffWith VSAT, oil and gas companies can improve their operations as they continue to explore for new areas for oil production. VSAT enables companies to support even more applications and control operations regardless of location. Additionally, HTS makes VSAT a more affordable solution and provides a strong business case for energy companies.
With VSAT helping to manage the lifecycle of offshore, onshore and pipeline operations, oil and gas companies have the communications to drive productivity and increase situational awareness. PRO
With VSAT helping manage the lifecycle of offshore, onshore and pipeline operations, oil and gas companies have the communications to drive productivity and increase situational awareness
30 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatVertical: Oil & Gas
from a central office location.For onshore operations, remote land-
based drilling requires many of the same applications that are used on offshore operations. VSAT allows employees to run operations more efficiently by automating equipment monitoring and transmitting data to headquarters. VSAT also supports broadband applications such as voice, data and internet for office applications such as VoIP, three-way calling and 9-1-1 support. Video surveillance is implemented to monitor operations and assess damage to critical assets when it occurs.
As more pipelines are deployed in remote, harsh environments there has been an increased need for monitoring these assets. VSAT supports real-time access to monitor applications such as SCADA information including flow rate, temperature and pressure. A VSAT network can backhaul this data back to a central computer at headquarters. If employees need to visit a SCADA or ERM site, VSAT can support hotspots, which enable employees to log onto the internet and stay connected to centralised company resources while in the field.
VSAT can also provide a safe and comfortable habitat for workers across offshore, onshore and pipeline operations. Automating operations like equipment monitoring, data transfer and SCADA improves both efficiency and reduces the headcount of people needed at a remote site. Implementing video surveillance and video monitoring can provide visual inspections of each site, which ensures safety for workers.
Additionally, if an employee is injured, remote telemedicine applications are available to provide initial diagnosis. VSAT improves crew welfare by supporting basic connectivity to crew onboard, allowing them to access email, stream video and connect with their family members.
Rig of the futureAs operations in offshore drilling continue to grow, the offshore rig will need to evolve. HTS and
advanced VST technology will need to support new capabilities on the rig that in the future will not only be required, but also expected. Harris CapRock Communications, a global provider of satellite and terrestrial communications solutions for remote and harsh environments, illustrates the requirements for the rig of the future, stating all offshore remotes will need to be connected and bandwidth demand will increase 100-fold compared to today’s offshore operations. These requirements are a must in order for energy companies to continue to make fast decisions, lower operating costs and provide a safer working environment for crew – ultimately improving improved situational awareness.
To achieve this vision, Harris CapRock is focused on aligning its services to prepare for these new requirements. The communications provider is, therefore, partnering with VSAT technology organisations to test the limits of what VSAT can bring to remote, harsh operations both offshore and onshore.
Harris CapRock’s goal is to provide the market with comprehensive solutions that can be scaled to fit customer needs no matter how big their operation. According to the organisation, the integration of value-added services such as remote monitoring and crew welfare solutions are the differentiating factors in the marketplace.
The payoffWith VSAT, oil and gas companies can improve their operations as they continue to explore for new areas for oil production. VSAT enables companies to support even more applications and control operations regardless of location. Additionally, HTS makes VSAT a more affordable solution and provides a strong business case for energy companies.
With VSAT helping to manage the lifecycle of offshore, onshore and pipeline operations, oil and gas companies have the communications to drive productivity and increase situational awareness. PRO
With VSAT helping manage the lifecycle of offshore, onshore and pipeline operations, oil and gas companies have the communications to drive productivity and increase situational awareness
SatMobility
ENTERTAINMENT
CONNECTIVITY
COMMUNICATION
32 | SatellitePro | November 2013 November 2013 | SatellitePro | 33
Connected cars are set to bring in more than USD 63 billion in 2018, according to global forecasts by market and technical research firm SBD. The forecast, which sees the market climbing considerably from its worth of USD 21 billion in 2012, includes any system developed by a car manufacturer and fitted at the factory line on passenger cars. This, however, excludes aftermarket solutions that are retrofitted after production and telematics in commercial vehicles.
This means that car manufacturers have 63 billion reasons to offer connectivity on wheels. It also means that satellite players have a swelling number of potential clients. Considering that mobile connectivity is needed and cars could potentially drive through remote, rural areas where fibre and
IS SATELLITE THE IDEAL ENABLER?
ground infrastructure is lacking, why wouldn’t satellite be the ideal solution for this growing market?
There are, of course, obstacles. However, the suitability of satellites to provide the mobile connectivity needed for cars is clear. So what slice of that USD 63-billion pie will go to the satellite industry? Based on its current involvement in the connected car market, things would need to change before this answer is clear. And this change centres on cross-industry collaboration and good old fashioned innovation, say industry players.
Apart from the use of GPS, satellites at present don’t feature in the current connected car industry. Reasons for this include privacy concerns, regulatory issues and that satellite communications needs a line of sight to the satellite to enable
Collaboration and out-of-the-box innovation are needed for satellite players to tap into the connected car market. VSAT may be the answer to also make car makers happy
CONNECTED CARS:
SatMobility
32 | SatellitePro | November 2013 November 2013 | SatellitePro | 33
Connected cars are set to bring in more than USD 63 billion in 2018, according to global forecasts by market and technical research firm SBD. The forecast, which sees the market climbing considerably from its worth of USD 21 billion in 2012, includes any system developed by a car manufacturer and fitted at the factory line on passenger cars. This, however, excludes aftermarket solutions that are retrofitted after production and telematics in commercial vehicles.
This means that car manufacturers have 63 billion reasons to offer connectivity on wheels. It also means that satellite players have a swelling number of potential clients. Considering that mobile connectivity is needed and cars could potentially drive through remote, rural areas where fibre and
IS SATELLITE THE IDEAL ENABLER?
ground infrastructure is lacking, why wouldn’t satellite be the ideal solution for this growing market?
There are, of course, obstacles. However, the suitability of satellites to provide the mobile connectivity needed for cars is clear. So what slice of that USD 63-billion pie will go to the satellite industry? Based on its current involvement in the connected car market, things would need to change before this answer is clear. And this change centres on cross-industry collaboration and good old fashioned innovation, say industry players.
Apart from the use of GPS, satellites at present don’t feature in the current connected car industry. Reasons for this include privacy concerns, regulatory issues and that satellite communications needs a line of sight to the satellite to enable
Collaboration and out-of-the-box innovation are needed for satellite players to tap into the connected car market. VSAT may be the answer to also make car makers happy
CONNECTED CARS:
34 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatMobility
transmission and reception of services. “One of the key concerns that has
been flagged by potential users is the fear of ‘Big Brother’ watching over them. There is discomfort for manufacturers and insurance companies to have so much visibility and control over their vehicles. Privacy concerns and protection of data have many customers reluctant to open their vehicles to internet connectivity,” says Sanford Jewett, Vice-President of Marketing at Thuraya, a specialist in mobile satellite services.
“There are also some challenges related to regulatory issues. Many governments closely regulate and monitor vehicular telematics service providers. These providers require security clearance and need to closely coordinate with the police departments to enable them to offer such services. Most governments also require the data servers to be kept locally and do not allow the transmission of the data to international hubs.”
Misconceptions and regional limitations aside, while the connected car market continues to grow so robustly, and while mobile satellite services (MSS) are ideal for this market, satellite players are keenly following advancements and developing solutions.
“MSS is ideal for providing
connectivity for connected cars driving across the footprint coverage,” says Jewett. “We’re following the connected car trend with keen interest. At Thuraya, we’re always looking to generate new ideas to extend user expectation of traditional connectivity to new realms. We’re seeing interest for satcomms-on-the-move (SOTM) terminals for vehicles by several sectors including VIPs, government, energy and NGOs. These professional users have specific requirements such as a border patrol unit requiring video image transmission to a remote headquarter, or an emergency response vehicle requiring communications anywhere. For each of these specific requirements, we step in to offer a solution.”
While there is already interest in SOTM terminals, many end users do not want satellite antennae mounted on the roof of their cars, which would be the case, explains Jewett. To overcome this eye-sore of a problem, there would need to be co-operation and collaboration between service providers and the manufacturers of cars and satellite equipment.
“Current vehicle satellite antennae are mounted on the roof of a vehicle, which is fine for professional users. However, most consumers will not
“Most consumers will not want to have an antenna mounted on the roof of their luxury car. As such, there needs to be close collaboration between the car manufacturers, satellite equipment manufacturers and satellite service providers to design a consumer-friendly solution” SANFORD JEWETT, Vice-President of Marketing at Thuraya
34 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatMobility
transmission and reception of services. “One of the key concerns that has
been flagged by potential users is the fear of ‘Big Brother’ watching over them. There is discomfort for manufacturers and insurance companies to have so much visibility and control over their vehicles. Privacy concerns and protection of data have many customers reluctant to open their vehicles to internet connectivity,” says Sanford Jewett, Vice-President of Marketing at Thuraya, a specialist in mobile satellite services.
“There are also some challenges related to regulatory issues. Many governments closely regulate and monitor vehicular telematics service providers. These providers require security clearance and need to closely coordinate with the police departments to enable them to offer such services. Most governments also require the data servers to be kept locally and do not allow the transmission of the data to international hubs.”
Misconceptions and regional limitations aside, while the connected car market continues to grow so robustly, and while mobile satellite services (MSS) are ideal for this market, satellite players are keenly following advancements and developing solutions.
“MSS is ideal for providing
connectivity for connected cars driving across the footprint coverage,” says Jewett. “We’re following the connected car trend with keen interest. At Thuraya, we’re always looking to generate new ideas to extend user expectation of traditional connectivity to new realms. We’re seeing interest for satcomms-on-the-move (SOTM) terminals for vehicles by several sectors including VIPs, government, energy and NGOs. These professional users have specific requirements such as a border patrol unit requiring video image transmission to a remote headquarter, or an emergency response vehicle requiring communications anywhere. For each of these specific requirements, we step in to offer a solution.”
While there is already interest in SOTM terminals, many end users do not want satellite antennae mounted on the roof of their cars, which would be the case, explains Jewett. To overcome this eye-sore of a problem, there would need to be co-operation and collaboration between service providers and the manufacturers of cars and satellite equipment.
“Current vehicle satellite antennae are mounted on the roof of a vehicle, which is fine for professional users. However, most consumers will not
“Most consumers will not want to have an antenna mounted on the roof of their luxury car. As such, there needs to be close collaboration between the car manufacturers, satellite equipment manufacturers and satellite service providers to design a consumer-friendly solution” SANFORD JEWETT, Vice-President of Marketing at Thuraya
36 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatMobility
want to have an antenna mounted on the roof of their luxury car. As such, there needs to be close collaboration between the car manufacturers, satellite equipment manufacturers and satellite service providers to design a consumer-friendly solution,” says Jewett.
“We’re keen to work with manufacturers to develop cost-effective flat panel antennae that have no mechanical parts and are aesthetically acceptable to consumers,” he adds.
One solution is to have an atenna and car roof in one, says Mazen Nassar, CEO at Mena Nets and Instructor at Global VSAT Forum (GVF).
“VSAT seems to keep finding its way into new markets, and I can argue
that soon, every car will have VSAT connectivity hardware installed, at least as an option. Why should we not have low-cost internet while we drive though the African Sahara? It would be cool if the roof of the car were a flat panel antenna giving the car continuous connectivity. That would be a great solution and it is possible,” explains Nassar.
In addition to getting car and satellite equipment manufacturers to collaborate, costs are yet another hurdle, adds Jewett.
“One of the key challenges for the satellite industry to overcome is the costs associated with the antenna and equipment and the installation and set-up costs required,” he says.
So what do end users expect in terms
of connectivity on wheels? Ultimately, the same that is enjoyed every day in the home and office, and anywhere else. Internet access is so increasingly commonplace; people want and expect to be connected anywhere, anytime. Why shouldn’t a driver in the digital age then expect to have reliable, high-speed internet while driving, even across the African Savanna?
These end user exactations present numerous opportunities for the satellite industry, says Jewett, explaining that it’s not just about connectivity but several additional services.
“With smartphones now being a normal accessory, expectations for connectivity are naturally extending to every realm, like surfing the internet on an aircraft or on a fast moving train. Connectivity in the car is no doubt extending beyond GPS route mapping and moving towards high-speed internet availability. There will be an opportunity for the satellite industry to offer a range of services including machine-to-machine (M2M) applications, internet access, satellite TV services and more,” he says.
Echoing the link between the increasing prevalence of smartphones and user expectations in cars is Ahmed Ali, Specialist of After Sales Systems at BMW Group Middle East.
“Long gone are the days where cars had only a radio for entertainment and wheel locks for security. Technology has advanced so much that in-car infotainment and state-of-the art safety and security systems now come as standard. Connectivity is what sets many cars apart – especially for younger buyers and professionals who are as concerned with connectivity.
“Experts are predicting the number of active smartphone users around the world to top 2 billion by 2015. As such, in-car connectivity is now part of the average motorist’s daily life and, therefore, a huge trend within the industry; automotive manufacturers are focusing more and more on innovations in this field to help make vehicles safer, leverage on-board diagnostics to connect
“VSAT seems to keep finding its way into new markets, and I can argue that soon, every car will have VSAT connectivity hardware installed, at least as an option”MAZEN NASSAR, CEO at Mena Nets and Instructor at Global VSAT Forum
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 37
the driver to the outside environment and vehicle, and very simply, to make the driving experience more engaging,” explains Ali.
While user experience, which includes infotainment usage, is imperative, a main driver of demand for connectivity on wheels is safety and security services, according to General Motors (GM), saying that the way we utilise and interact with our vehicles will be determined by how automakers manage car connectivity.
“At GM, we believe that built-in, high-speed connectivity will be a major competitive advantage in the near future. We’re confident that consumers want and need the types of services that can only be delivered through a truly connected vehicle, as opposed to one that depends on a third-party connection,” says Mary Chan, President of Global Connected Consumer at General Motors.
“Our job at GM is to realise the potential of this investment. We’re doing this in two ways. First, we are identifying and building the applications and capabilities that make our cars better and enable GM owners to do new things or to do things better. Second, we’re fostering an ecosystem of developers and third parties that will work with us to turn additional potential applications into realities.”
Combining the applications and capabilities together with on-board internet means you’re afforded all the conveniences enjoyed at any other time. Your car can become your mobile office with additional conveniences.
“BMW is the first automobile manufacturer to offer unlimited on-board internet access. Once the car has safely stopped, the driver can surf the web on the control display and use the iDrive Controller as a computer mouse. The driver can even set up a mobile office using a smartphone; importing contacts, set up as an external mailbox via BMW Online, and checking and reading emails. Furthermore, the Bluetooth Audio Streaming system allows the driver to play music from an MP3 player or smartphone via the car’s own sound
system with the ability to control the end device via the iDrive,” says BMW’s Ali.
As the primary focus is safety, drivers and passengers are afforded unprecedented services through car connectivity that could radically improve emergency response and save lives.
“A unique feature to AGMC, our importer partner in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, together with the Dubai Police, is BMW Assist Advanced eCall. If crash sensors detect that a vehicle has been involved in an accident, Advanced E-Call automatically contacts a BMW call centre and provides detailed information about
“We’re confident that consumers want and need the types of services that can only be delivered through a truly connected vehicle, as opposed to one that depends on a third-party connection”MARY CHAN, President of Global Connected Consumer at GM
36 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatMobility
want to have an antenna mounted on the roof of their luxury car. As such, there needs to be close collaboration between the car manufacturers, satellite equipment manufacturers and satellite service providers to design a consumer-friendly solution,” says Jewett.
“We’re keen to work with manufacturers to develop cost-effective flat panel antennae that have no mechanical parts and are aesthetically acceptable to consumers,” he adds.
One solution is to have an atenna and car roof in one, says Mazen Nassar, CEO at Mena Nets and Instructor at Global VSAT Forum (GVF).
“VSAT seems to keep finding its way into new markets, and I can argue
that soon, every car will have VSAT connectivity hardware installed, at least as an option. Why should we not have low-cost internet while we drive though the African Sahara? It would be cool if the roof of the car were a flat panel antenna giving the car continuous connectivity. That would be a great solution and it is possible,” explains Nassar.
In addition to getting car and satellite equipment manufacturers to collaborate, costs are yet another hurdle, adds Jewett.
“One of the key challenges for the satellite industry to overcome is the costs associated with the antenna and equipment and the installation and set-up costs required,” he says.
So what do end users expect in terms
of connectivity on wheels? Ultimately, the same that is enjoyed every day in the home and office, and anywhere else. Internet access is so increasingly commonplace; people want and expect to be connected anywhere, anytime. Why shouldn’t a driver in the digital age then expect to have reliable, high-speed internet while driving, even across the African Savanna?
These end user exactations present numerous opportunities for the satellite industry, says Jewett, explaining that it’s not just about connectivity but several additional services.
“With smartphones now being a normal accessory, expectations for connectivity are naturally extending to every realm, like surfing the internet on an aircraft or on a fast moving train. Connectivity in the car is no doubt extending beyond GPS route mapping and moving towards high-speed internet availability. There will be an opportunity for the satellite industry to offer a range of services including machine-to-machine (M2M) applications, internet access, satellite TV services and more,” he says.
Echoing the link between the increasing prevalence of smartphones and user expectations in cars is Ahmed Ali, Specialist of After Sales Systems at BMW Group Middle East.
“Long gone are the days where cars had only a radio for entertainment and wheel locks for security. Technology has advanced so much that in-car infotainment and state-of-the art safety and security systems now come as standard. Connectivity is what sets many cars apart – especially for younger buyers and professionals who are as concerned with connectivity.
“Experts are predicting the number of active smartphone users around the world to top 2 billion by 2015. As such, in-car connectivity is now part of the average motorist’s daily life and, therefore, a huge trend within the industry; automotive manufacturers are focusing more and more on innovations in this field to help make vehicles safer, leverage on-board diagnostics to connect
“VSAT seems to keep finding its way into new markets, and I can argue that soon, every car will have VSAT connectivity hardware installed, at least as an option”MAZEN NASSAR, CEO at Mena Nets and Instructor at Global VSAT Forum
November 2013 | SatellitePro | 37
the driver to the outside environment and vehicle, and very simply, to make the driving experience more engaging,” explains Ali.
While user experience, which includes infotainment usage, is imperative, a main driver of demand for connectivity on wheels is safety and security services, according to General Motors (GM), saying that the way we utilise and interact with our vehicles will be determined by how automakers manage car connectivity.
“At GM, we believe that built-in, high-speed connectivity will be a major competitive advantage in the near future. We’re confident that consumers want and need the types of services that can only be delivered through a truly connected vehicle, as opposed to one that depends on a third-party connection,” says Mary Chan, President of Global Connected Consumer at General Motors.
“Our job at GM is to realise the potential of this investment. We’re doing this in two ways. First, we are identifying and building the applications and capabilities that make our cars better and enable GM owners to do new things or to do things better. Second, we’re fostering an ecosystem of developers and third parties that will work with us to turn additional potential applications into realities.”
Combining the applications and capabilities together with on-board internet means you’re afforded all the conveniences enjoyed at any other time. Your car can become your mobile office with additional conveniences.
“BMW is the first automobile manufacturer to offer unlimited on-board internet access. Once the car has safely stopped, the driver can surf the web on the control display and use the iDrive Controller as a computer mouse. The driver can even set up a mobile office using a smartphone; importing contacts, set up as an external mailbox via BMW Online, and checking and reading emails. Furthermore, the Bluetooth Audio Streaming system allows the driver to play music from an MP3 player or smartphone via the car’s own sound
system with the ability to control the end device via the iDrive,” says BMW’s Ali.
As the primary focus is safety, drivers and passengers are afforded unprecedented services through car connectivity that could radically improve emergency response and save lives.
“A unique feature to AGMC, our importer partner in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, together with the Dubai Police, is BMW Assist Advanced eCall. If crash sensors detect that a vehicle has been involved in an accident, Advanced E-Call automatically contacts a BMW call centre and provides detailed information about
“We’re confident that consumers want and need the types of services that can only be delivered through a truly connected vehicle, as opposed to one that depends on a third-party connection”MARY CHAN, President of Global Connected Consumer at GM
38 | SatellitePro | November 2013
the accident: its precise location, the number of occupants, the crash severity and direction, the number of deployed airbags and seat belt status. Uniquely, Advanced E-Call also predicts the risk of severe injury using a knowledge-based algorithm known as URGENCY, which takes the above crash parameters into account, allowing emergency services to react even faster and prepare for the specifics of an accident before they depart for the scene,” says Ali.
While dependence on third parties for connectivity is clearly an obstacle, explains GM’s Chan, software is constantly evolving. This poses another challenge because the technology used in a car is locked in.
“A challenge is that when you buy a car, the vehicle feature functionality is really locked in at the time of your purchase, whereas in the PC world, the product gets smarter and better, and there’s a lot of flexibility through software. That’s where we need to bring that next phase of innovation in the automotive industry. Another challenge is taking the automotive industry, where the product development cycle is on a four-year interval, to the consumer electronics industry, where the innovation cycle is between 18 months, or less, to 24 months, and really making sure these two things come together,” says Chan.
A way to address the speed at which systems become ‘outdated’ is to have an AppShop built in, explains Chan, adding that the company is working to have built-in 4G LTE connectivity available in all markets.
“We are looking to bring a number of new applications to our vehicles through a built-in AppShop. This AppShop would allow a driver to download new apps to their vehicle over time, allowing for an updatable system. We recently announced our plans to bring built-in 4G LTE connectivity to all markets in which we sell GM vehicles. We’re starting with the United States and Canada next year and will rollout 4G LTE to other global markets down the line,” she says. PRO
“Experts are predicting the number of active smartphone users around the world to top 2 billion by 2015. As such, in-car connectivity is now part of the average motorist’s daily life and, therefore, a huge trend within the industry”AHMED ALI, Specialist of After Sales Systems at BMW Group Middle East
w w w . i t c . s a [email protected] +966 11 920 000 788
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38 | SatellitePro | November 2013
the accident: its precise location, the number of occupants, the crash severity and direction, the number of deployed airbags and seat belt status. Uniquely, Advanced E-Call also predicts the risk of severe injury using a knowledge-based algorithm known as URGENCY, which takes the above crash parameters into account, allowing emergency services to react even faster and prepare for the specifics of an accident before they depart for the scene,” says Ali.
While dependence on third parties for connectivity is clearly an obstacle, explains GM’s Chan, software is constantly evolving. This poses another challenge because the technology used in a car is locked in.
“A challenge is that when you buy a car, the vehicle feature functionality is really locked in at the time of your purchase, whereas in the PC world, the product gets smarter and better, and there’s a lot of flexibility through software. That’s where we need to bring that next phase of innovation in the automotive industry. Another challenge is taking the automotive industry, where the product development cycle is on a four-year interval, to the consumer electronics industry, where the innovation cycle is between 18 months, or less, to 24 months, and really making sure these two things come together,” says Chan.
A way to address the speed at which systems become ‘outdated’ is to have an AppShop built in, explains Chan, adding that the company is working to have built-in 4G LTE connectivity available in all markets.
“We are looking to bring a number of new applications to our vehicles through a built-in AppShop. This AppShop would allow a driver to download new apps to their vehicle over time, allowing for an updatable system. We recently announced our plans to bring built-in 4G LTE connectivity to all markets in which we sell GM vehicles. We’re starting with the United States and Canada next year and will rollout 4G LTE to other global markets down the line,” she says. PRO
“Experts are predicting the number of active smartphone users around the world to top 2 billion by 2015. As such, in-car connectivity is now part of the average motorist’s daily life and, therefore, a huge trend within the industry”AHMED ALI, Specialist of After Sales Systems at BMW Group Middle East
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40 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatGuest
Being in the government sector, the most noticeable change in the last 10 years has been in soldiers’ capabilities,
says Inmarsat’s Michael Abad-Santos. “Many of the soldiers that are out
fighting wars today are from a very digital world. When they’re home, they are on their smartphones, iPhones and iPads and the like, and they have this massive amount of data capability that is usually in these small form factors. So when they go away to war, they expect the same type of capabilities. In fact, not only do they expect them, but because it’s such an inherent part of their everyday lives, they ‘need’ the same type of capabilities.
“What we’re seeing currently is the satellite communications industry delivering more and more bandwidth to these soldiers out in the field. These soldiers are no exception; we’ve all become so addicted that
it’s completely in our culture to want, use and now need lots of data.
A sign of the digital age is the amount of smart devices that people fashion, seemingly everywhere, all the time. And the abundant availability of these devices makes giving soldiers the satellite connectivity they crave that much easier.
“The ability for an iPad to communicate through an MDM unit for welfare communications means a soldier can easily talk to his wife, friends or family back home. This has become so easy because all the devices that people are carrying around have a WiFi or GSM link. So a soldier uses this with an MDM unit, connected to BGAN, straight through the satellite and now he can literally be connected to anywhere in the world,” he says.
While being able to stay in touch with loved ones back home is obviously beneficial to the men out in the field, the impact of this
connectivity has elevated the capabilities of soldiers to unprecedented heights.
“Government and defence ministries are increasingly bringing in these technologies because the more information you have, the more alertness you have. If there is a UAV flying through doing reconnaissance, it’s feeding back to its command control facility, and that’s feeding it on to a soldier in the field. Using a digital pad or camera, for example, he can then see exactly what’s ahead of him. Compared to 10 years ago, the soldier today – the digital soldier – has capabilities that are hugely advanced.
“In short, the way we’re processing wars is very different. We’re putting more capability into the men at the tactical edge. And when you’re giving more capabilities, you need more information. The comparison between today’s digital soldier and what we had 10 years ago is night and day.” PRO
NIGHT AND DAYThe difference between today’s digital soldier and that of 10 years ago is radical, says Michael Abad-Santos, Senior Vice-President of Business Development for Global Government at Inmarsat. Increasing bandwidth is now an expectation as data, and lots of it, is what everybody ‘needs’
40 | SatellitePro | November 2013
SatGuest
Being in the government sector, the most noticeable change in the last 10 years has been in soldiers’ capabilities,
says Inmarsat’s Michael Abad-Santos. “Many of the soldiers that are out
fighting wars today are from a very digital world. When they’re home, they are on their smartphones, iPhones and iPads and the like, and they have this massive amount of data capability that is usually in these small form factors. So when they go away to war, they expect the same type of capabilities. In fact, not only do they expect them, but because it’s such an inherent part of their everyday lives, they ‘need’ the same type of capabilities.
“What we’re seeing currently is the satellite communications industry delivering more and more bandwidth to these soldiers out in the field. These soldiers are no exception; we’ve all become so addicted that
it’s completely in our culture to want, use and now need lots of data.
A sign of the digital age is the amount of smart devices that people fashion, seemingly everywhere, all the time. And the abundant availability of these devices makes giving soldiers the satellite connectivity they crave that much easier.
“The ability for an iPad to communicate through an MDM unit for welfare communications means a soldier can easily talk to his wife, friends or family back home. This has become so easy because all the devices that people are carrying around have a WiFi or GSM link. So a soldier uses this with an MDM unit, connected to BGAN, straight through the satellite and now he can literally be connected to anywhere in the world,” he says.
While being able to stay in touch with loved ones back home is obviously beneficial to the men out in the field, the impact of this
connectivity has elevated the capabilities of soldiers to unprecedented heights.
“Government and defence ministries are increasingly bringing in these technologies because the more information you have, the more alertness you have. If there is a UAV flying through doing reconnaissance, it’s feeding back to its command control facility, and that’s feeding it on to a soldier in the field. Using a digital pad or camera, for example, he can then see exactly what’s ahead of him. Compared to 10 years ago, the soldier today – the digital soldier – has capabilities that are hugely advanced.
“In short, the way we’re processing wars is very different. We’re putting more capability into the men at the tactical edge. And when you’re giving more capabilities, you need more information. The comparison between today’s digital soldier and what we had 10 years ago is night and day.” PRO
NIGHT AND DAYThe difference between today’s digital soldier and that of 10 years ago is radical, says Michael Abad-Santos, Senior Vice-President of Business Development for Global Government at Inmarsat. Increasing bandwidth is now an expectation as data, and lots of it, is what everybody ‘needs’
