ISSUE 7 | JUNE 2012
plus
SPACE CRAFT Celebrating Yahsat’s Y1B launch
EXCLUSIVE Interview with Es’hailSat’s CEO HUB IN QATAR
Noorsat expands
risky BUSINESS
VSAT regulations boost RigNet’s operations in oil & gas
Bahrain-based operator upgrades playout
Satellite experts address challenges of innovation
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EDITORIAL Publisher Dominic De Sousa
On paying the right sort of attention...
Group COO Nadeem Hood Managing Director Richard Judd richard@cpidubai.com +9714 440 9126 Commercial Director Raz Islam raz@cpidubai.com +9714 440 9129 EDITORIAL Group Editor Broadcast Division Vijaya Cherian vijaya@cpidubai.com +97150 768 3435 Deputy Editor Supriya Srinivas supriya@cpidubai.com +971 55 105 3776 PRODUCTION AND DESIGN Design Director Ruth Sheehy ruth@cpidubai.com Art Director Kamil Roxas kamil@cpidubai.com +9714 4409112 Graphic Designer Glenn Roxas glenn@cpidubai.com Operations Director James Rawlins jamesr@cpidubai.com +9714 440 9108 Database Manager Rajeesh M rajeesh@cpidubai.com +9714 440 9147
Things become old hat far too quickly for comfort. One minute, our eyes are riveted on the big screen as the countdown ends, signalling the launch of the 24-hour news channel, Sky News Arabia. The presenter greets us on the large screen – but moments later – our attention is drawn back to the delicious canapés on offer. Not knowing Arabic was largely responsible, but I cannot help thinking that we are attention challenged as well. Happily, the team responsible for a launch – 24-hour news channels or satellites – can relive the enthusiasm with great ease as was evident, 19 days after the launch of Y1B, Yahsat’s second satellite. Under-reported amidst despots being dethroned and nations edging close to bankruptcy, the UAE and Qatar have entered the space race. In this issue, we celebrate the launch of Yahsat’s second satellite and travel to Doha to interview Es’hailSat’s CEO, Ahmed Ali Al Kuwari, on the preparations under way for the launch of Qatar’s first satellite. Personally I think that if ever there was a moment for flag waving and school children lining up on either side of the street cheering, then this is it. Though I admit the temperatures outside are a lot warmer than the day, in Houston, Texas, when President Kennedy made the ‘Choose to go to the moon’ speech. The teams at Yahsat and Es’hailsat have opted for quiet pride and pragmatic business plans to commercialise their respective space capacities. For those of us who like the odd flag waving, we’ll just have to wait for a football victory parade or the next SpaceX mission unfold.
Production Manager James P. Tharian james@cpidubai.com +9714 440 9146 DIGITAL SERVICES webmaster@cpidubai.com Digital Services Manager Tristan Troy Maagma Web Developers Jerus King Bation Erik Briones Jefferson de Joya
In this edition: “In addition to securing Ku-band continuity for Eutelsat and additional Kuband resources for Es’hailSat, Es’hail 1 will initiate a Ka-band capability to open business opportunities for both parties” Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, CEO, Es’hailSat – page 19
Published by
“While the regulatory framework has traditionally focused on terrestrial networks, satellite-based communications are relatively neglected” Morten Hagland Hansen, vice president, global engineering and operations, RigNet – page 29 1013 Centre Road, New Castle County, Wilmington, Delaware, USA Head Office PO Box 13700 Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 (0) 4 440 9100 Fax: +971 (0) 4 447 2409 Printed by Printwell Printing Press LLC
© Copyright 2012 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.
“In my view, innovation must be viewed from a system standpoint, considering simultaneously the launch vehicle, the satellite business and payload, the ground network and user equipment aspects” Dr. Phillipe Francken, vice president, risk management and innovation at SES – page 36 “We are very aware that many African countries are on the verge of upgrading their broadcast and telecommunications infrastructure, and so broadband via satellite is becoming the strongest option to achieve this quickly” David Roberts, industry group manager, CABSAT – page 42
Supriya Srinivas Deputy Editor, SatellitePro Middle East
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CONTENTS
Issue 7 | JUNE 2012
SatVertical: Oil & Gas
News
28
4
Regulations spur growth
Expanding horizons
RigNet’s Morten Hagland Hansen on the new iDirect Evolution hub in Doha, Qatar
Arqiva, Iridium, Yahsat, Thuraya, Astrium, HorizonSat, Paksat, NewSat and more
SatVertical: Marine
30
Cover Story
12
The perfect lift-off With the successful launch of Y1B, the Yahsat team sets about commercialising the capacity
Mission critical at sea
12
Marlink’s Magne Remoy on the challenges of offering global coverage at sea
SatTechnology
34
SatOperator
18
Risks of innovation Crystal Solutions’ Roger Franklin and SES’ Dr. Philippe Francken on innovations in the satellite industry
Es’hailSat: A Qatari star in the making Es’hailSat CEO Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari explains why Qatar embarked on a space programme
SatVertical: Broadcast
24
SatTechnology
18
38
Product reviews ProSat, Craftwork, Newtec, SkyWave, Voyage Manager, DEV, Paradise Datacom, Boatracs, Thrane & Thrane
Expansion at Noorsat Playbox Technology expands Noorsat’s playout facility to 120 channels
42 New exhibitor at CABSAT A lineup of speakers at VSAT2012 and catching up with CABSAT’s David Roberts
ISSUE 7 | JULY 2012
On the cover:
plus
SPACE CRAFT Celebrating Yahsat’s Y1b launCh
ExCLUsIVE Interview with Es’hailSat’s CEO HUB IN QATAR
NooRsAT ExpANds
RIsky BUsINEss
VSAT regulations boost RigNet’s operations in oil & gas
Bahrain-based operator upgrades playout
Satellite experts address challenges of innovation
A SUPPLEMENT OF BROADCASTPRO ME PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ
L to R: Tareq Al Hosani (Yahsat), Frank McKenna (ILS), Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi (Yahsat)
44 Should we be afraid?
24
Denis Bensoussan of Hiscox Lloyd’s Syndicate, assesses the vulnerability of satellites to space debris
June 2012 | SatellitePro | 3
SatNews
Yahsat and Coollink launch broadband service in Nigeria UAE-based satellite company Yahsat has launched its new broadband satellite service in Nigeria, with a pledge to reduce the cost of internet by 50%. Coollink has been chosen as Yahsat’s first service partner in Nigeria. Coollink will in turn sign on local resellers in all 36 states and Abuja to make the service available all over the country. Kevin Viret, regional director of Yahsat, said that the Ka-band spot beams that cover the frequencies of 26.5 to 40.0 GHz provide coverage over highly targeted areas, which eliminate issues with spectrum availability. Nadim Chidiac, CTO of Coollink, explained: “The cost of acquisition can be factored into the cost of monthly subscription that is spread over a period of time,” noting that subscribers need to make bulk payment to acquire connection hardware. The service plans offered by YahClick for home users reportedly cover email, web
L to R: Coollink group managing director, Amine Moussalli and Jassem Al Zaabi, CEO of Yahsat
browsing, Skype, Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms delivered at 256/1Mbps speed with 200Mb daily data usage amounting to around 6 GB monthly. Large businesses can transmit daily with download speeds of up to 15Mbps and upload speeds of up to 3Mbps. www.coollink.us
Mobile satellite Astrium receives technology at Satcom contract Everest Basecamp from Yahsat Everest Base Camp Al & Walt (EBCAW) will follow Iridium employee Walt Everetts and Al Lepore as they journey to the heart of Iridium employee, Walt Everetts the Nepalese Himalaya. Beginning April 27, the 20-day expedition will take the two men to traditional Sherpa villages, Buddhist monasteries,and the incredible viewpoints of Kala Patther and of the Everest Base Camp itself. Al and Walt will use Iridium communication devices to share this adventure. www.iridium.com 4 | SatellitePro | June 2012
Arqiva and Eutelsat expand video services in the Middle East
Astrium has been awarded a contract to provide airborne Satcom systems from Star Satellite Rashed Al Ghafri, Communications general manager, Company, a subsidiary YahService of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat). Initially, Astrium Services will supply Yahsat with airborne systems comprising modems, baseband equipment, cryptos, network management and ground segment. www.astrium.eads.net
Arqiva, the communications infrastructure and media services company, has signed a contract with Eutelsat Communications for additional satellite capacity to meet the growing demand for its occasional use satellite services. In this agreement with Eutelsat, Arqiva has taken up 36MHz of capacity on Eutelsat 7A. This reportedly provides Arqiva with overall coverage of Europe and specific coverage of the Middle East, Turkey and Russia. This new contract for one transponder further consolidates a longstanding partnership between the two companies. Arqiva reportedly has the infrastructure and experience to help rights owners, programme makers and broadcasters to create and capture content, and to manage and deliver high-quality television around the world. With a fleet of SNG trucks and more than 80 earth stations, Arqiva, according to a company spokesman, regularly enables the managed global delivery of live and special events including sports, news and entertainment. Barrie Woolston, commercial sales director at Arqiva, said: “As our occasional use business continues to grow, we regularly review our satellite coverage and capacity to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers.” www.arqiva.com
52 Thuraya launches mobile satellite services in Russia Thuraya Telecommunications Company, the international mobile satellite operator announced the launch of its mobile satellite services in Russia in partnership with GTNT. Thuraya is poised to serve the Russian maritime market with a special focus on the fisheries and the cargo sectors. The announcement was made at a press conference at the Congress Centre of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation in Moscow, attended by Thuraya’s chief executive officer, Samer Halawi, GTNT’s general director, Alexey Ostapchuk and invitees from the corporate and telco sectors. Through its partnership with GTNT, Thuraya will reportedly provide uninterrupted satellite communications services to federal, departmental and corporate users in energy, petrochemical, construction, logistics, forestry, relief and media sectors. GTNT is Thuraya’s
Samer Halawi, CEO, Thuraya
sole service partner in Russia authorised to distribute company products, solutions and services across the country. Thuraya’s CEO, Samer Halawi said: “We have joined forces with our trusted partner GTNT to expand our distribution network and reach out to our vertical industry consumers.” www.thuraya.com
Revenue to be earned by launch service providers between 2012 and 2021
HorizonSat increases its capacity for Middle East on Apstar 7 and Yahsat Due to the growing demand for capacity and services over satellite in the MENA region, HorizonSat Joel Lundahl, business has increased its development manager capacity by launching new services on two new satellites, Apstar 7 and Yahsat 1A. Apstar 7 located at 76.5° East has a very strong Ku-band coverage over the Middle East. “Due to the excellent coverage over the region and uplink from Europe, this capacity is the perfect choice for HorizonSat,” said Joel Lundahl, business development manager. www.horizonsat.com
SatNews
Sky News Arabia broadcast on Arabsat and Nilesat
Sky News Arabia, the multi-platform 24-hour Arabic rolling news channel, broadcast for the first time to reportedly 50 million homes across the Middle East and North Africa. At a launch ceremony hosted by the chairman of ADMIC and Sky News Arabia, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, more than 400 guests were witness to a live countdown of the launch from the Jumeriah Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi. Sky News Arabia has also concluded agreements with Eurostar, a leading provider of multimedia services, to make the channel available in hotels across the MENA
region as well as with Livestation. The news network will also broadcast freeto-air on Arabsat and Nilesat across the Arab world, and, subject to regulatory approvals, be carried on the BSkyB platform in the UK and free-to-air on Astra for viewers in the UK and Europe respectively. Sky News Arabia will be broadcast free-to-air on Nilesat 201, Transponder 14 and on ArabsatBadr 4, Transponder 15. The channel will be available on OSN channel 122 in HD and 123 in SD, Etisalat eLife channel 234 and du channel 16. www.skynewsarabia.com
Pakistan moves towards its first imaging satellite After the successful launch of the communication satellite Paksat-IR in 2011, the country’s space agency, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), is all set to launch an advanced high resolution remote sensing satellite system (RSSS) technology. As part of Space Programme 2040, the 6 | SatellitePro | June 2012
proposed satellite, next in the Badar series, will undertake a number of engineering and scientific experiments. Expanding Pakistan’s presence in space for commercial and strategic purposes, Suparco, has sent a proposal to the government for financing the RSSS project, through which the country can attain imaging facilities,
Usman Bajwa, CEO, PAKSAT
currently used by advanced countries for surveying and mapping purposes. www.paksat.com.pk
Four satellite Pay TV operators based in the Arab World offer 143 channels
New research and analysis by the Arab Advisors Group reveals that as of February 2012 the four satellite Pay TV operators, broadcasting from the region, offered a combined total of 143 channels. The four satellite Pay TV providers that broadcast from the Arab World are: Orbit Showtime Network (OSN), Al Jazeera Sports+, Abu Dhabi Sports and Al Majd. Al Jazeera Sports+ offers the highest number of sports Pay TV channels with 16 sports channels. Three of the four Pay TV providers offer HD channels: OSN, Abu Dhabi Sports and Al Jazeera Sports+. “By February 2012, the four Pay TV providers offered 143 channels. OSN had the highest number with 100 channels (including the three pay-per-view channels and one On-Demand channel), Abu Dhabi Sports came in second with 18 channels, while Al Jazeera Sports+ provided 16 channels dedicated to sports events. Al Majd TV provided nine encoded channels,” Zaid Abawi, Arab Advisors Research analyst wrote in the report. “Despite the promotions of Pay TV operators, most of the Arab world remains tuned to free-to-air satellite TV channels. Economically, many viewers seem to favour the free content of FTA channels rather than paying for TV content,” Abawi added. www.arabadvisors.com
108 Ancient network of rivers and lakes found in Arabian Desert Satellite images have revealed that a network of ancient rivers once coursed their way through the sand of the Arabian Desert, leading scientists to believe that the region experienced wetter periods in the past. Until now this part of the world has been largely ignored by scholars despite its critical location as a bridge between Africa and Eurasia. In a project funded by the ERC (European Research Council), a multidisciplinary team of researchers will study the effects of environmental change in the Arabian Peninsula over the last two million years. The systematic study of the Pleistocene to Holocene periods will be unique in its length and level of detail. Project leader, Professor Michael Petraglia, co-director of the Centre for Asian Archaeology at Oxford University’s School of Archaeology, said: ‘From NASA images taken of the Arabian Desert, we can see physical landscape features that are visible from space that denote a whole network of former river valleys and lake
Enabling Ka-band services for Saudi Arabia
H.E. Dr. Mohammed ibn Ibrahim Al-Suwaiyel, president of KACST Scientists from Oxford University have identified ancient lakes in the area (highlighted in blue), with archaeological sites dotted around the shore
basins. These lines and dips in the sand provide us with a map of the region upon which we will focus our research activity. The presence of water is an accurate indicator of where early humans and animals migrated to or settled.” www.erc.europa.eu
NewSat to provide satellite capacity for Middle Eastern partner NewSat of Australia has inked a satellite communications deal with a long-term US satellite partner.The partnership has increased the value of Jabiru’s total pre-launch service agreements to US$ 571 million, said CEO Adrian Ballintine. The contract pertains to the acquisition of US$ 13 million worth of satellite capacity that covers the Middle East. According to NewSat, its American customer has business ties
Number of satellites to be launched every year between 2012 and 2021
with US government agency and global companies and it has been growing in the Middle East. The Ka-band capacity on the upcoming Jabiru-1 satellite will cover not only the Middle East, but Africa and Asia as well. The geostationary satellite will be NewSat’ s first, scheduled to be operational by 2014. The satellite is currently being built by Lockheed Martin. Over the past months, NewSat has signed some of its biggest deals, including a US$
Adrian Ballintine, CEO, NewSat
32.4 million five-year deal with a Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) company and US$ 67 million, ten-year agreement with a Middle Eastern Telco. www.newsat.com
Representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is reportedly leading the transformation of satellite broadband in the KSA. KACST has selected the high-capacity Ka-band satellite system from ViaSat Inc. as the service platform for its National Satellite Data Network based on the system’s ability to reportedly deliver broadband speeds and a user experience similar to some of the fastest terrestrial broadband services for most applications. The KACST contract, valued at approximately US $70 million, includes gateways, network operation facilities, and end user terminals to implement the services using high-capacity hosted on the Arabsat-5C satellite. Arabsat and ViaSat collaborated on the development of Arabsat-5C to add a 10-spot beam and a highcapacity Ka-band payload. “With our National Satellite Data Network, we will serve our customers with exceptional speeds and capacity throughout the Kingdom,” said H.E. Dr. Mohammed ibn Ibrahim Al-Suwaiyel, president of KACST. In selecting ViaSat, the KSA team including High Capabilities Technologies Co. Ltd (HICAP) and Modern Technology Co. Ltd (MOTECO), plan to expand global Ka-band coverage that includes service networks under the Exede brand by ViaSat in the U.S., Xplornet in Canada, and Eutelsat Tooway across Europe and the Mediterranean basin. www.viasat.com June 2012 | SatellitePro | 7
SatNews
Nigeria to commercialise satellite services
BGAN helps Sky News win award for Libya scoop
The newly-launched earth observation satellite, NigeriaSat-2, is now set for commercial activities, a top government official has said. Directorgeneral of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) Mohammed Seidu disclosed this in Abuja, adding that Nigeria’s first satellite in orbit, NigeriaSat-1, is to be decommissioned soon. Seidu, who was giving a rundown of the activities of NASRDA, said the testing of NigeriaSat-2, launched in August 2011, had been completed and commercial activities would take off soon. According to him, the satellite had finally come to the end of its life and needed to be decommissioned so that the fuel left in it could be used for the decommissioning. Seidu said there would be very minimal environmental impact as the satellite was small and most of it
Screenshot of Alex Crawford reporting from Libya
would have burnt out in orbit before it re-enters the earth. Nigeria become the third African country to have a presence in space after South Africa and Algeria with the launch of NigeriaSat- 1. www.nasrda.gov.ng
Satellite broadband in Africa boosted with Eutelsat’s ‘IP Easy’ Eutelsat Communications announced the entry into service of its new ‘IP-Easy’ broadband platform built to extend high-speed internet access to residential and home office users as well as small and medium-sized enterprises across subSaharan Africa. Combining the Ku-band capacity on the recentlylaunched Eutelsat 16A satellite with Newtec’s Sat3Play technology, IP Easy is reportedly available in a service area stretching from the Gulf of Guinea to Madagascar. The service 8 | SatellitePro | June 2012
delivers downlink speeds of up to 4Mbps and can be configured to support VOIP and satellite reception of TV channels in triple play mode. The selection of Newtec’s Sat3Play product which uses Point&Play selfinstallation also enables, the company claims, end users to autonomously install the complete system with no specific qualification needed or expensive tooling. The hub for IP Easy is located at Eutelsat’s teleport in Sardinia (Italy) which has been developed in particular to provide broadband
services for users in Africa owing to its location in the south of Europe. The teleport benefits from direct access to the internet backbone via key Points of Presence in Europe. www.eutelsat.com
Sky News’ coverage of the Libyan uprising beamed back via BGAN has won special correspondent Alex Crawford a second industry award. Alex was named broadcasting journalist of the year at the 2012 London Press Club Awards. Alex described how her news team used BGAN to capture a key moment during the unrest in Libya in 2010. Spotting a convoy heading for the capital from a recently liberated town, the journalist, her producer and two cameramen grabbed their Inmarsat kit and followed. They became the only news team in the world to transmit live footage of the fighters’ triumphant entry into the city. “We were live on air via satphone, telling the studio about the scenes of celebration we could see, but it was evident that nobody could quite believe what we were saying,” recalled Alex. “So we decided to rig up the BGAN and show them the pictures.” Producer Andy Marsh set up their BGAN terminal from the back of a pick-up truck, which was moving slowly through the gridlocked streets. “We had it attached to the cigarette lighter for power, connected to a laptop, and Andy synched it up with the Inmarsat satellite,” said Alex. “He was monitoring the connection, and as we crawled forward, he moved the unit ever so slightly to maintain the link. It was a genius move.” The connection was reportedly so reliable that the team was able to broadcast live and uninterrupted coverage for 40 minutes, as Alex answered questions from the studio in London. www.inmarsat.com
950 Satellite manufacturing faces slow down until 2016 The report from NSR (Northern Sky Research) titled: Global Satellite Manufacturing and Launch Markets, 2nd edition, finds the satellite manufacturing and launch markets facing both softening demand and increasing competition until 2016. However, in the second half of the next decade the manufacturing market will be back on an upward track, while the launch services market will see more years of stagnant growth. Driven by intense competition and soft demand in the GEO launch services segment, the greater launch services market is expected to exhibit a lowering cost per kilogram to orbit, amplifying the downward demand trend. Revenue levels from 2012 and 2013 are not expected again for at least five to six years. After a few difficult years, the manufacturing market is projected to be back on its feet by 2016 owing to increasing demand across every application. The manufacturing sector will see consequent design changes with smaller, high-performing satellites and bigger, more powerful systems that could weigh as much as 12 tons. “The satellite manufacturing market, led
by the Commercial GEO Communications vertical, will stabilise and start to grow again soon after the current replacement cycle is over thanks to solid and diverse demand,” according to Stephane Gounari, NSR Analyst and author of the report. Overall, NSR forecasts more than 950 satellites will be ordered between 2012 and 2021, creating US$ 145 billion of revenues for manufacturers. At an average rate of 108 satellites launched every year over the same period, these will bring more than US$ 52 billion to launch services providers and represent a total of 2,200 tons to lift into orbit. www.nsr.com
SatPoint secures maritime capacity to serve Middle East customers SatPoint, a provider of broadband satellite communications solutions for the maritime sector, has signed a three-year agreement with Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc), which will provide its iDirect maritime platform services using uplink facilities from SatPoint’s hosted teleport partner CYTA, located in Cyprus, for Middle East maritime requirements. The demand for maritime services within Europe and the Middle East continues to grow and SatPoint can now offer its customers additional capacity from 1° West, an orbital location which has a reportedly strong maritime tradition.
www.satpoint.se
Number of satellites that will be ordered berween 2012 and 2021
Air tickets to get cheaper in India with new navigation system
Flights in India are expected to get cheaper with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) switching over from a land-based navigation system to a satellite-based one as reported by The Times of India. Kolkata is one of the fifteen locations in the country where an Indian Reference Station (INRES) has been set up to collect measurement data and broadcast messages from all GPS and GEO satellites to the Indian Master Control Centre (INMCC) in Bengaluru. Gagan, short for GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation, is an indigenous system that is expected to become functional as soon as the third Gagan payload is launched into space. The timeline for the project is to end in June, 2013, but officials believe that Gagan will become operational before that. Once this happens, India will be the fourth country in the world to have a satellite-based system that will allow seamless navigation over Indian airspace. With Gagan, flights can fly directly from one point to the other. The system will also calculate parameters such as wind speed (from the opposite direction) that can reduce an aircraft’s speed and use up more fuel. The new system will allow correction of a flight path accordingly,” a source in ISRO said. “Airlines will save on fuel and time. The stress will be lower on flight crews and air traffic controllers. As Gagan will provide more accurate co-ordinates, the mandatory separation between two aircraft will also come down substantially (as it is in the US). This will add to capacity.” the source added. www.isro.org June 2012 | SatellitePro | 9
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The ILS Proton Breeze M launched from Pad 39 at the Cosmodrome at 4:18 a.m. local time, on 24 April (22:18 GMT). After a nine hour, 12-minute, 5-burn mission, the Breeze M successfully released the Y1B satellite, weighing more than six metric tons, into a geostationary transfer orbit
SatLead
Yahsat Y1B: THE PERFECT LIFT-OFF Six years in planning, two years in constructing the earth station, two weeks in final launch preparation, nine hours and 12 minutes for the separation of the Y1B satellite‌SatellitePro ME speaks to the team leaders of Yahsat and launch partners, International Launch Services, on the fast-track satellite programme and the challenges ahead
12 | SatellitePro | June 2012
Y
ahsat’s CEO, Tareq Al Hosani is enthused in equal measure, when talking about the precision space engineering that was required to launch 6000 kgs of Y1B into a geostationary orbit, as he is about the cycles and trucks needed to transport the solutions to the end-user in remote corners of Africa and the Middle East. With plans to accommodate an estimated half a million subscribers in three to five years, Al Hosani says his team has been preparing even as Y1B was being constructed at the EADS Astrium facilities in Toulouse, France. “We now have a network of service
providers on the ground and our team is geared to launch services in about 28 countries in a year and a half. We are hoping that by October 2012, we will launch our services commercially.” Speaking at a roundtable along with launch partners ILS, to celebrate the launch of Y1B, the overriding message was that phase 1 has just been completed with the launch of two satellites and the construction of the earth station, and the all-important commercial phase was about to begin.
“While we will look for growth opportunities, including launching more satellites, our priority number one is making sure our fleet of two satellites is 100% operational and they meet the business plan requirements, so that the shareholders’ expectations are met” - Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, vice chairman, Yahsat
The challenges of infrastructure Straddling the high-tech world of space June 2012 | SatellitePro | 13
SatLead
YahSat-1B Specifications Applications: Communications Orbit: GEO Orbital location: 47.5 deg East Operator: Al Yah satellite Communications Co. Coverage: Africa, the Middle East and SW Asia Contractors: EADS Astrium, Thales Alenia Space Platform: Eurostar E3000 Launch partners: International Launch Services Launch mass: 6,050 (approx.) Mission life: +15 years Satellite mission: Y1B will deliver communications in Ka-band for both commercial and governmental uses Payload: 46 Ka-band transponders, 60 spot beams Payload power (end of life): 14 kW
engineering and the rudimentary nature of infrastructure in many parts of Africa and the Middle East, Al Hosani’s team is aggressively redefining the hitherto staid world of operating satellites. “We are currently doing most of the ground work,” said Al Hosani about YahClick, the satellite broadband service for the Middle East, Africa, and South West Asia. “We will be managing and monitoring the network and investing in the gateways. The service provider will be responsible for the installation of the user terminal as well as the billing services and managing the help desk. Our service providers have invested considerably to achieve this on the ground. “We, on our part, are trying to ease the process by ensuring that we deploy our services in time. We will be operating in 28 different countries with service providers that currently number 30. With different regulations and varied levels of infrastructure in each of these countries, the deployment of services will be challenging. When you think of delivering terminals to the end user, you are probably thinking ships, trucks, trains… think also in terms of taxis and bicycles.” On May 13, at the roundtable, there was no mistaking the mood at the Yahsat premises, a mere 19 days after a successful launch. While acknowledging that as 14 | SatellitePro | June 2012
satellite operators, they would be looking at future launches, Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, vice chairman of Yahsat and Mubadala ICT director, commenting on priorities said: “We are now focused 100% on commercial delivery. While we will look for growth opportunities, including launching more satellites, our priority number one is making sure our fleet of two satellites is 100% operational and they meet the business plan requirements, so that the shareholders expectations are met. “Looking ahead our team will complete the final testing stage for Y1B to ensure that we are able to roll out satellite broadband connectivity successfully across the region through our YahClick service.”
YahClick to launch services in Nigeria As I write this, YahClick is stirring things up in Africa. The Yahclick service was launched in Nigeria, with a pledge to reduce the cost of internet by 50%. It will be fascinating to follow Yahclick’s Nigeria-based service provider, Coollink, as it deploys terminals across Nigeria, within and beyond the capital city Abuja. To tell the complete story however, we would need to glimpse briefly into Yahsat’s relatively rapid rise to prominence as a significant player in the satellite industry in the region. Frank McKenna, president of International Launch Services (ILS), brought us up to speed. “In 2006, Jassem invited me to visit him and he took the time to show me what the vision for the country was from a technological standpoint and what the potential accomplishments would be in five to ten years. We looked at not just the telecommunication sector, but the programme that was laid out for the UAE for the next 15 years. It is quite incredible that in a span of just six years, we have a state-of-the art earth station and two satellites in orbit.” Reel story of Yahsat A crisply edited film on YouTube titled A star is born will give the viewer a snapshot of the
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five years leading up to the launch of the first satellite Y1A, in early 2011. There are some telling moments that convey the sense of urgency that drove the project. With a seemingly impossible deadline of three-and-a-half years from design to delivery, contract negotiations with the Thales Alenia Space - EADS Astrium consortium were tough, admitted Al Zaabi. “We weren’t easy customers,” he recalled. “When we refused to negotiate the ‘when’, the emphasis shifted to the ‘how’, “added Al Hosani. The film depicts the frantic pace with which the headquarters and earth station of Yahsat, spread over 12,000 square metres, 40 kms away from Abu Dhabi, came up in just two years. From wanting to address
the Communications-on-the-move (COTM) needs of the army to potentially touching the lives of one billion people in more than 40 countries, the Yahsat management team in the words of vice chairman, Al Zaabi, was asking “for the moon”. The “most affordable launch proposition” As launch partners, ILS played its part by offering in McKenna’s words “the most affordable launch proposition in the industry”. He added: “Affordable space transportation is a critical issue in the industry and for projects such as Yahsat, what we have done over the last 15 years, is to improve the capability of the vehicle while maintaining an affordable value
Number of subscribers targeted for YahClick in 2012
Top to bottom: Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, Frank McKenna, Tareq Al Hosani
“On hearing the news that the spacecraft had separated, the degree of emotion and excitement and relief on Tareq’s face was memorable” - Frank McKenna, president of International Launch Services (ILS)
June 2012 | SatellitePro | 15
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Weight of Yahsat’s second satellite, Y1B
SatLead
proposition that allows for larger satellites such as the six metric tonne Yahsat 1B satellite to be launched.Secondly, we invested in a dual processing capability at the launch base so there is flexibility to launch satellites as and when they are ready. We have satellites coming from five major factories and they feed into our base, and we launch approximately every 45 days. This year, Proton will launch every month. “We are serving the heavy lift end of the market that is ideally suited for projects such as Yahsat and we are proud to have played a part in the successful launch that enables the Yahsat programme to move into the critical commercial phase.” This time round there was no earthquake to stall the production of Y1B, as it did the production of Y1A. There was also no dramatic aborting of the launch just 4/10ths of a second before the boosters would have fired, again as it did in the case of Yahsat’s first satellite, Y1A. Despite the overt absence of drama, there were some delays considered inevitable in the satellite launch industry. “Due to various factors, the launch date is a moving target,” observed Al Zaabi. “So transparency and teamwork is a priority when it comes to working towards a launch in a given window. “ A veteran of many such launches, McKenna added: “These are highly advanced technological processes. We are creating a space-based infrastructure. So in order to do what we do requires extreme amount of dedication and access to technical resources of the highest order. It is imperative to have open communication and trust with regard to problems that have to be resolved, schedules and so on. As a result of this teamwork, the launch on April 24 was a successful one. “ In April 2012, the launch of Yahsat’s second satellite, Y1B, was watched by a visibly moved Jassem Mohamed Al Zaabi, Tareq Al Hosani and the entire Yahsat team. “The moment I like to remember,” said McKenna when asked about the most anxious moment with Yahsat’s second satellite, Y1B, “ is the point in time when the spacecraft separated and was placed in a geo transfer orbit prior to being placed in its dedicated orbit space. Tareq and Jassem 16 | SatellitePro | June 2012
“We now have a network of service providers on the ground and our team is geared to launch services in about 28 countries in a year-and-a-half” - Tareq Al Hosani, CEO, Yahsat were there with the management team. On hearing the news that the spacecraft had successfully separated, the degree of emotion and excitement and relief on Tareq’s face was memorable. There is a great deal of stress related to a project like this and the launch is a critical enabler to the commercial success of Yahsat.” Commercialising Y1B With a reported initial commitment of 61,000 terminals, Al Hosani believes, that YahClick will reach maximum capacity in markets such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria and South Africa, within three years. The
consumer package will start at a tantalising price of US$ 20 a month. “Nigeria, are you ready?” – is the message on the website of Nigeria-based Coollink, one of the 30 service providers across the Middle East, Africa and South-Western Asia poised to sell affordable, high speed internet. Other partners include the mobile phone retailer Axiom, the Omani telecommunications company Nawras, and the South African operator Vox Telepreneur. While the hunger for connectivity is beyond doubt across the region, Al Hosani’s team and YahClick service providers will have to tackle real issues of security and regulatory hurdles, among other challenges. The satellite industry, on its part, will also watch keenly as the Ka-band satellite goes through its paces across the coverage area. For Al Hosani’s team, the stage has shifted from the cliff-hanger of a launch to the daunting task of supporting service providers as they offer affordable high-speed internet in some of the most challenging countries in the world. PRO
Es’hailSat: A Qatari star in the making As Qatar joins the space fray with Es’hail 1, a joint mission with Eutelsat, commercial and national strategic interests will be revisited across the region. SatellitePro ME visited the Qatari capital, Doha, and spoke exclusively to the CEO, Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, on Qatar’s momentous journey towards the launch of Es’hail 1 in Q2 2013
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t is difficult to gauge how excited average Qataris are about their space programme – but the apparent dearth of patriotic hoopla is more than compensated by way of a pragmatic approach to acquiring a foothold in space. “When the thinking began in 2009, the government formed a committee representing all the major stakeholders in the country. The stakeholders defined their requirements,” recalls Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, Es’hailSat’s CEO. Speaking to SatellitePro ME in Doha, Al Kuwari says, “What is important is we started from the end user. ictQATAR is the executor of this mission.” Armed with the requirements of the stakeholders, Al Kuwari’s team had the task to define the best way forward. “We had to
25.5 either take the Greenfield route or explore well-established orbital slots. We opted for the latter and chose Eutelsat, because they are a major operator in the MENA region. They have a presence in 7 West and in 25.5 East. At 7 West, they have partnered with Nilesat and we decided to partner with them at 25.5 East. It is our first satellite so we decided to have it in one of the most lucrative locations over the MENA region.“ Collaboration with Eutelsat With Eurobird 2 coming up for replacement, Eutelsat welcomed the opportunity to partner with Es’hailSat, according to Al Kuwari. On the nature of the collaboration between Es’hailSat and Eutelsat on Es’hail1, slated to enter into service in the second quarter of 2013, Al Kuwari explains: “The Qatar Satellite Company was established in 2010 and now we are operating under the name of Es’hailSat. Our first satellite is a joint venture with Eutelsat at one of the region’s hotspots – the orbital slot 25.5. deg East. As part of this agreement, we own 54.5% of the satellite and the satellite will be operated by Eutelsat owing to their expertise in the field. “In addition to securing Ku-band continuity for Eutelsat and additional Ku-band resources for Es’hailSat, it will initiate a Ka-band capability to open business opportunities for both parties. Marketing of the capacity will be done separately. We, on our part, are starting from scratch.” The marketing juggernaut has started rolling with a much-publicised signing of the launch partner at Satellite 2012 in Washington and the announcement that the company would take 60 sqm of space at the region’s premier satellite event – CABSAT 2013
Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, CEO, Es’hailSat
“In addition to securing Kuband continuity for Eutelsat and additional Ku-band resources for Es’hailSat, it will initiate a Ka-band capability to open business opportunities for both parties. Marketing of the capacity will be done separately. We, on our part, are starting from scratch”
East
Orbital slot for Qatar’s first satellite Es’hail 1
(read interview with CABSAT organiser David Roberts on page 42). “The signing of Arianespace as our launch partners was intentionally planned at a high-profile event such as Satellite 2012. Our sales efforts should get under way by the third quarter of 2012. In the meantime, we are moving to a standalone building and we are in the final stages of finalising a vendor for the NOC,” says Al Kuwari giving a glimpse of the clinical process of putting Qatar’s satellite programme on the world map. There is also an underlying sense of urgency. Was the urgency driven by the 2022 FIFA World Cup or by the need to have backup in the event of another undersea cable breakdown as it occurred off the coast of Fujairah (UAE) some years ago? These and more reasons have been cited. In response to the dispute over the orbital slot 26 degrees East, a spokesman from Es’hailSat stated: “The interested parties at 26 East are conducting frequency coordination discussions at the ITU. All parties are motivated to ensure that operations at 26 East are not subject to interference and the premier DTH neighbourhood at 26 East continues to develop from strength to strength.” Poised to serve national stakeholders With a lucrative hot spot and iconic stakeholders such as Al Jazeera, Al Kuwari’s team would have some readymade takers for the capacity. From the installed base of more than 13 million satellite homes equipped for DTH reception across the region to the growing demand for HDTV, Es’hail 1 has a captive market going forward.
Qatar’s ICT-2015 strategy Qatar has invested US$1.65bn in information technology and services as part of its ICT-2015 strategy. The country is planning to build digital networks, smart cities and venues and other technology-rich features to ensure that FIFA 2022 in Qatar will be the “most amazing
World Cup ever”, in the words of ictQATAR secretary general Dr Hessa al-Jaber. The country rolled out a National FTTH network through a recently-established broadband company. This network, called Q.NBN, will serve as Qatar’s link to the
internet world with Synchronous Transport Module level-1 (STM1) – levels reaching more than 1,400 by the year 2022. It will be augmented by the launch of Es’hail 1, Qatar’s first independent satellite, in 2013. Taken together, this network will deliver an ultra
high-speed, open, affordable and reliable network, reaching 95% of the nation by 2015. Qatar’s mobile penetration has reportedly reached more than 150%, the highest rate in the world, while internet penetration reached 84% in 2010.
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SatOperator
“The Es’hail 1 satellite has a lot of upgraded hardware and software that is designed to support superior and advanced services such as the latest on-board processor and advanced pointing accuracy systems to provide optimised coverage” - Thani Ali Al Malki, Es’hailSat engineer training at SSL’s Palo Alto facility
“Es’hail 1 satellite has the necessary capacity to enable its customers to substantially increase their communications capability such as broadcasting in HD and 3D” - Mohammed Al Delaimi, Es’hailSat engineer training at SSL’s Palo Alto facility
Right to left: Mohamed Waleed Alsayed Thani Ali Al Malki Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Delaimi Ibrahim Abdulla Al Haj 20 | SatellitePro | June 2012
Es’hailSat engineers at the SSL facility at Palo Alto
13 “Es’hail 1 is just the start of our mission to provide high quality, independent satellite services to meet Qatar’s national stakeholder’s interests and serve customers throughout the Middle East and North Africa. HDTV takes up three times the capacity of SDTV and one of our primary customers, Al Jazeera, is expanding and requires capacity, as do the growing number of radio and TV channels in the region,” affirms Al Kuwari. Advanced technology, better coverage Es’hail 1 is being built by Space Systems/ Loral (SSL) with a 15-year design life based on the SSL 1300 satellite bus that is a proven, modular platform with high power capability and flexibility for a broad range of applications including improved government and radio communications.
Number of homes equipped for DTH reception across the MENA region
capacity over the region. In addition, we have seven transponders for Ka-band that will be used for telecommunication and news gathering, among other uses. Our strategic objective remains securing capacity for our Qatari stakeholders. There is no question of special rates and other such privileges. Ultimately, we will be operating in a commercial environment and end-users are completely free to shop around for the best options available.” Qatar’s Es’hailSat selects Arianespace to launch first satellite. (From left to right) Es’hailSat CEO Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, Arianespace’s Jean-Yves Le Gall, and Michel de Rosen, CEO of Eutelsat
It is not about competition, reiterates Al Kuwari. “Along with Yahsat, Arabsat, Nilesat, Eutelsat and others, we are increasing
Es’hail 2 on the anvil Going forward, Al Kuwari reveals that there are plans for Es’hail 2. “We will soon announce a partner for Eshail 2. The business model will be different. We will be operating Es’hail 2 from Qatar and we will need to construct a teleport for that purpose.”
“A once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Es’hailSat engineers at Palo Alto in conversation with SatellitePro ME How and why did you join Es’hailSat?
How has the experience been for you at Palo Alto?
“I was honoured and excited when Es’hailSat offered me the chance to join the company and be one of Es’hail 1’s project members representing the company in Palo Alto at the Space Systems/ Loral facilities. This company has the potential to become a leader in the satellite industry in the Gulf region, and to be a major service provider in the field of satellite communications in the MENA region over the long term. In addition, this company will meet Qatar’s strategic needs. I’m glad to be part of it.” - Mohammed Al Delaimi
“Working with a satellite manufacturer and seeing every part of the satellite being assembled gives me an amazing insight into the knowledge and dedication that has allowed humans to conquer space. On the other hand, working closely with SSL engineers and technicians made me believe that following procedures, learning from our mistakes, and taking the onestep-at-a-time approach is the best way towards innovation. I think the challenging part is that we (Es’hailSat engineers) are required to study and understand the satellite manufacturing phases, test and certification, material science, workflow and procedures in a time frame of two years, So, we are utilising all the resources that we have (SSL engineers, Eutelsat engineers, and consultancy agents) to improve our learning curve and pass any difficulties that we face.” - Mohammed Al Delaimi
“I first heard about the programme when I was working with another company and was amazed at the opportunity that this will provide me as a communication engineer working in my field of expertise. I feel privileged and grateful.” - Thani Ali Al Malki
“I think that this experience is a once-ina-life-time opportunity that has influenced me both personally and professionally. Even though I have a communication degree
that covers satellite and communications fundamentals, there is still a gap between what you can learn in theory and in practice. In addition, the bigger challenge is to stay up-to-date with the new technologies that come into the satellite industry each year.” - Thani Ali Al Malki How will Es’hail 1 be superior to the satellite it is replacing – Eurobird 2? “Eurobird 2 or Eutelsat 25A as it’s called now is a shared mission with the Es’hail 1 satellite at orbital slot 25.5° East. Es’hail 1 satellite has the necessary capacity to enable its customers to substantially increase their communications capability such as broadcasting in HD and 3D. Also it has a resilient configuration to overcome natural component failures through built-in redundancy.” - Mohammed Al Delaimi “The Es’hail 1 satellite has a lot of upgraded hardware and software that is designed to support superior and advanced services such as the latest on-board processor and advance pointing accuracy systems to provide optimised coverage.” - Thani Ali Al Malki
June 2012 | SatellitePro | 21
SatOperator
“The NOC is at the heart of our customer experience. By removing a few layers of bureaucracy commonly found among satellite operators, we have streamlined various processes to bring the customer closer to us” - Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, CEO, Es’hailSat Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber, ictQATAR’s Secretary General and Romain Bausch, President and CEO of SES signing the MOU on the potential provision of joint satellite platforms, networks and/or sevices
In the meantime, the Qatari team with no legacy in the satellite sector is keeping the learning curve manageable. “We are going at this gradually and that is why the first satellite is being operated by Eutelsat,” says Al Kuwari. Al Kuwari’s own initiation into the world of transponders, payloads and bandwidths is reflective of Qatar’s step-by-step approach to the world of satellites. A finance person, and erstwhile finance director of ictQATAR, Al Kuwari had a ringside view of the brainstorming session from the outset and was
keenly involved in the design phase as well. “Personally it continues to be a thoroughly interesting journey. More importantly, the project is also about empowering local Qataris. We currently have four engineers training at the Palo Alto facilities.” The US$ 250 million Es’hail 1 story is another MENA satellite milestone in the making and while the sighting of the Es’hail star in Arabic tradition signifies a change from summer to winter, the Qatar Satellite Company is poised for more enduring change. PRO
“The NOC is at the heart of our customer experience” Brief to the integrator “We have taken a customer-centric approach. We carefully examined common practices and mapped the requirements of our customers to those practices. The results suggested that the common practices might work for the satellite operator, but not so much for the customer. By removing a few layers of bureaucracy commonly found among satellite operators, we have streamlined various processes to bring the customer closer to us. “The NOC is at the heart of our customer experience. Our approach to planning the NOC was to take on a holistic
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posture. Every component within the NOC is interconnected with each other. Vital information is provided to the NOC monitoring engineers to help them quickly ascertain any given situation and react appropriately with a sense of urgency. This information is collected from several sub-systems to ensure a high availability rate. That was the brief to our integrator.” Innovative features/technologies “The NOC will use the latest in terms of integrated monitoring and management equipment to allow us to provide a higher level of customer service. The NOC system is a modular system that can be
easily upgraded to accommodate new technologies and operations. “The concept is cradle-to-grave where the NOC supports every aspect of communication work flow from planning and approving new carriers to activating, modifying and deactivating carriers. Our staff will be equipped and trained to deal with interference issues and effectively mitigate problems to a controllable level. The NOC will accommodate end-to-end video solutions, occasional use booking and turnarounds, rapid satellite access for urgent requirements, and carrier management. The NOC will be available 24X7, 365 days a year.”
SatVertical: Broadcast
Noorsat control room: PlayBox Technology to date has supplied more than 120 channels of AirBox automation with integrated TitleBox, interactive CG and live 3D graphics, SafeBox automated content transfer tool and playout servers. Other items include ten CaptureBox ingest servers, a huge central storage facility, well in excess of 200TB, and QCBox that provides file verification and automatic loudness control during playout.
Playbox technology expands Noorsat’s Playout to 120 channels From 16 channels to the current 120 channels, the relationship between Playbox and the satellite service provider, Noorsat, has grown as the number of channels has expanded, writes Pavlin Rahnev – director, solution sales, PlayBox Technology. He describes the most recent installation that saw the commissioning of 15 new playout channels for Bahrainbased Noorsat 24 | SatellitePro | June 2012
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layBox has now been working with Noorsat for nearly five years. Over that time, the relationship between the two companies has grown as the number of channels has expanded. This all started back in early 2007 with a request from Noorsat to provide playout for 16 standard definition TV channels at its operations centre in Bahrain. Noorsat was very careful in its choice of supplier and this initial contract was only awarded after a one-and-a-half month on-site evaluation. Important factors in winning this business were reliability, stability, flexibility and cost-effectiveness as well as ease of use of the playout solutions. But that was not all; this was far from just a supply contract. Noorsat provided the DVB chain needed to broadcast the channels but apart from that there was
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only the empty equipment room, racks and power. So our wider breadth of knowledge and skills were also very important. Although our playout systems are based on IT technology and use COTS (commercial off-the-self) components, our company has many engineers and technicians with background in broadcast TV engineering. This has been a key factor in fulfilling Noorsat’s requirements. The installation team The installation team was made up of four of our technicians and engineers. When the team arrived on-site, there was just the room with racks. When they left three-and-a-half weeks later, the racks were starting to fill and there was a working teleport. The contract included the supply, installation, integration and commissioning of the whole system. This is the way we worked with Noorsat in 2007 and have continued to work in the same way since, as and when new contracts were awarded. The contracts included the provision of complete system designs, and PlayBox Technology is trusted to supply and build their complete playout infrastructure. Noorsat provides the DVB compression systems and uplink equipment to complete the NOC infrastructure. We delivered everything
Number of servers currently at Bahrainbased Noorsat
“When the team arrived on-site, there was just the room with racks. When they left three-anda-half weeks later, the racks were starting to fill and there was a working teleport”
Pavlin Rahnev, director, solution sales, PlayBox Technology
including third-party products, audio, video, IT, multiviewers, routers, cabling, installation, commissioning, training and support. Channel-in-a-box and other solutions Although we are now able to talk about the supply of 120 playout channels, there was never a single order for that. To date, there have been a number of major contracts adding between 10 to 20 new channels at a time, as Noorsat’s business has expanded.
Each contract has been won on business fundamentals including quality, reliability and price. It is also clear that scalability has been important. As we can supply single-channel units at a competitive price, we can add any number of channels at any time. Our channel-in-a-box package, that includes the automation along with a graphics package and the playout server hardware, fits the requirements well. This product has many options, for example at Noorsat the ‘Live in’ feature is often used so that live events can be included in the playout. Also our expertise in service support was another aspect that helped to keep us in line for consideration to supply the next tranche of channels. IT-based platform lends flexibility The equipment supplied by PlayBox June 2012 | SatellitePro | 25
SatVertical: Broadcast “The entire playout system runs on IT-based platforms and so there is potential for flexibility in the ways it is used”
Racks at Noorsat
Technology to date comprises more than just the 120 channels of AirBox automation with integrated TitleBox interactive CG and live 3D graphics, SafeBox automated content transfer tool and playout servers. Other items include ten CaptureBox ingest servers, a huge central storage facility, well in excess of 200TB, and QCBox that provides file verification and automatic loudness control during playout. The system design includes N:M redundancy but, when all the channels are busy and there is an urgent requirement, there is the flexibility for a redundant channel to be pressed into live service. The total number of servers installed at Noorsat now stands at 139. The entire playout system runs on ITbased platforms and so there is potential for flexibility in the ways it is used. In fact, Noorsat offers two different ways of operation. The majority of channels provide playout services for customers. In this case, the channels receive their content, along with the playlist that may be delivered on paper or via email, and Noorsat performs the required operations including ingest, QC, playout and uplink, in other words, they are running the entire channel for the customer. For some other channels, Noorsat provides remote connectivity to offer a service that is somewhat similar to that of the remote playout operation offered by the PlayBox Technology EdgeBox. In this case, Noorsat 26 | SatellitePro | June 2012
owns and runs the playout server and the customers remotely upload material and playlists via FTP. The customers themselves control the TV channel. The PlayBox Technology playout system helps Noorsat offer competitive prices for its services. Also, despite the scale of the business, all the equipment is standard and so, significantly, there has been no special development work. This means that there is nothing unique in Noorsat’s workflow and it uses only reliable triedand-tested standard products. Not only has this helped to keep the costs down but also, there are no special on-going support requirements. Our normal general support services are sufficient to handle any ongoing needs. Challenging move Although standard products from PlayBox Technology have met the needs of Noorsat, there was recently an exceptional requirement. It became necessary to somehow migrate the existing channels to a new room. This involved moving the entire playout equipment, which was running about 80 channels, without disturbing their transmission. For us, the real challenge was the size of the project and this required a great deal of cooperation with the existing technical and operational teams at Noorsat. The Noorsat team was very supportive and their assistance made a big contribution to the success of this migration. We were
“The majority of channels provide playout services for customers. In this case, the channels receive their content, along with the playlist that may be delivered on paper or via email, and Noorsat performs the required operations including ingest, QC, playout and uplink, in other words, they are running the entire channel for the customer” delighted that, for Noorsat’s customers, it just happened. They had no knowledge that their channel had moved from one rack room in the NOC to another. Noorsat is PlayBox Technology’s biggest customer and with projects of this magnitude, there are bound to be a few initial glitches. They have been kept to the minimum because only standard equipment is used throughout. When there has been a glitch, we work hard to resolve it in a timely manner. Our people working on site have the knowledge and experience to solve minor challenges there and then. Also, as the products are running on standard PC platforms, we can, if necessary, plug them into the internet for our R&D team to diagnose and repair remotely. PRO
Regulations respond to Satcom needs on the rig When ictQATAR awarded the VSAT licence to RigNet in 2011, it spurred an expansion drive that saw RigNet, which has its ME headquarters in Doha, invest in an iDirect hub. Morten Hagland Hansen, vice president, global engineering and operations, RigNet, speaks to SatellitePro ME 28 | SatellitePro | June 2012
SatVertical: Oil & gas
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n May 2011, RigNet Qatar WLL, a subsidiary of US-based RigNet, Inc., a provider of managed communications to the oil and gas industry, was awarded a licence to provide VSAT services within Qatar. “The award of the licence and a subsequent investment in an iDirect hub are significant for our operations,” says Morten Hagland Hansen, vice president, global engineering and operations, RigNet. He explains, “The iDirect hub allows us to service our customers on a shared network. This was not possible with our previous access solution. The Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA is now enabled and that will allow us to use bandwidth more efficiently and service a wider range of customers as compared to our legacy Single Channel Per Carrier (SCPC) connection.” iDirect’s TDMA utilises bursting time slots, from the remote to the hub, to send its data and allows multiple remotes to share the same bandwidth among each other. This solution, Hansen says, can provide considerable flexibility to service providers such as RigNet. It offers the service provider the flexibility to under or over subscribe a network depending on the type of service and the service level agreement they are offering to their customers, much as the phone companies do. TDMA allows for efficient, shared two-way satellite IP transmission. “TDMA allows us to respond to our customer needs more quickly, and it offers a cost-effective alternative for remote sites that have smaller scale communications requirements where there is a large number of sites able to share available bandwidth,” explains Hansen. From RigNet’s Middle East headquarters in Doha, Qatar, Chris C. Lambert, RigNet’s general manager for the Middle East, stated: “With the deregulation of Qatar’s fixed and mobile telecommunications market, ictQATAR has awarded RigNet a VSAT licence, that will enable us to continue our service to the oil and gas community and, potentially, other vertical markets within Qatar.” Having worked with iDirect solutions extensively since 2003, RigNet approached iDirect to install the new hub to respond to the increased opportunities arising from the award of the licence. Built on the nextgeneration DVB-S2 transmission standard
With VSAT licences in both Qatar and Oman, the company, Hansen believes, is poised to leverage the technical advantages of the new iDirect hub in Doha
“While the regulatory framework has traditionally focused on terrestrial networks, satellite-based communications are relatively neglected” - Morten Hagland Hansen, vice president, global
engineering and operations, RigNet
with Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM), the iDirect Evolution platform, according to the manufacturer, delivers bandwidth efficiency and increased service availability. Need for regulations for satellite-based networks in the MENA region Commenting on the Middle East in general, Hansen believes that the regulatory framework poses challenges for service
providers such as RigNet. “The oil and gas industry is a fast moving industry and our clients’ operations shift based on market demands and other factors. We, in turn, need to respond and provide highly reliable communications services wherever they are required. However, while the regulatory framework has traditionally focused on terrestrial networks, satellitebased communications are relatively neglected. Countries in the Middle East need to create an enabling commercial environment in tune with the needs of vital sectors such as oil and gas.” As a managed services provider, RigNet delivers turnkey solutions for installing and managing VSAT networks. “We have used iDirect’s platform since 2003 that has enabled us to support a wide range of applications such as broadband data, voice and video communications, as well as realtime data management.” The new iDirect hub can potentially extend RigNet’s VSAT coverage in the Middle East. However, regulatory progress towards a commercial, more open environment, as per Hansen, in the various countries in the region, will bridge the gap between the actual and potential coverage. With VSAT licences in both Qatar and Oman, the company, Hansen believes, is poised to leverage the technical advantages of the new iDirect hub in Doha. PRO June 2012 | SatellitePro | 29
SatVertical: Marine
MISSION CRITICAL at sea Marlink’s VSAT solution for a Dubai-based shipping company tests, in extreme conditions, the accuracy of the antenna, the on-board technology, the coverage solutions and teleport support, says Magne Remoy, director, Middle East, Africa and India for Marlink
T
he newbuild, high-performance vessels of a pioneering Dubai-based marine geophysical company, offered Magne Remoy’s team at Marlink, a global provider of Satcom solutions, the opportunity to deploy some of their most sophisticated mobile satellite-based solutions. The contract was signed more than three years ago for the delivery and installation of Marlink’s Sealink C-band VSAT services on board eight vessels being built at that time in Dubai Drydocks World. The ships have been built to provide highly specialised marine services worldwide to the oil and gas industry. “As early as 1976, we established the Eik teleport in Norway, designed to provide 30 | SatellitePro | June 2012
communications to the North Sea platforms. We are familiar with the challenges of providing coverage in the polar regions. In addition to the teleport in Norway, we have two teleports on either side of the USA that enable us to offer global coverage, critical for the marine industry,” says Remoy, the Dubai-based director, Middle East, Africa and India for Marlink. The brief The client needed a service which had full resilience coupled with the ability to operate out of normal trading routes as survey, subsea and research operations do not generally follow conventional maritime routes. These operations include routes
into the polar region where Ku-band is insufficient and a large antenna is therefore required to stabilise the satellite link. Evolution of the solutions The Sealink VSAT solution was selected for its high quality broadband connectivity and stability ensuring a reliable service, as per Remoy. Offering historical perspective, Remoy explains, “Sealink is a product of Telenor’s satellite division, a satellite provider of broadcast and data services with which Marlink has recently renewed and increased its capacity for the next three years. We were one of the first to put the stabilised VSAT on board a ship. Initially when we worked on rigs, the VSAT antenna systems were huge. It was fixed and so had to be manually adjusted every day. In the 1990’s, with the stabilised VSAT that points within 0.2 degrees of the satellite, which is considered very accurate, the quality of communication on-board vessels improved vastly. “Similarly in the area of multiplexers, there was great progress made in the 1990’s the allowed for the dynamic allocation of bandwidth. This ensured that when the phone lines were not used, the data can be used. This was fabulous for the oil and gas sector that had, at that time, only one external phone line. “While the oil industry grew as a result of more efficient communications, the ferry industry also saw this as a viable revenue model that allowed for verification of credit cards enabling on-board transactions, among other services. “By the year 2000, we had more than 100 vessels, and by 2004, we had about 650 vessels with the Sealink system installed. The special aspect about Sealink is that it is supported by our own infrastructure, by way of teleports. And with three teleports, global coverage using the C-band was easy for us to implement.” The Satcom solutions deployed As per Remoy, the solutions were customised to meet the technologically advanced requirements of the client’s fleet in terms of accuracy. “The Sealink VSAT system includes dual C-band antennas with automatic switchover,
“With our pre-paid cards, companies can actually cover all the expenses on communication. It is a win-win situation for both the crew and the ship owners” - Magne Remoy, director, Middle East, Africa and India for Marlink
dedicated full-duplex bandwidth through a Single Channel Per Carrier (SCPC) satellite link. The dual system also includes several LAN networks on-board, eight simultaneous voice lines and access to Marlink’s prepaid platform.” Elaborating on the system, Remoy says, “Our solution is based on the C-band because it is ideal for global coverage and not susceptible to rain-fade. On-board we have a combination of Cisco routers and multiplexers. We have the Cisco system to ensure ease of maintenance. If vessels have a brief stop on land and need maintenance, a Cisco engineer is available. We provide internal telephony, public telephony, GSM carrier services and administrative vesselto-shore LAN services, as well as email and internet services, to enable reliable, alwayson connection with shore operations. “In addition, the client may have dedicated lines to their own clients. The open internet we provide the crew has a filtering system. The client has opted for an SCPC connection and they have installed their own software on board the ship to monitor usage of bandwidth. We, on our part, have done the same in the teleport. “The client initially started with a requirement for 128 kbit/s per vessel. Today they have gone up to 512 kbit/s. And from time to time, we are instructed to provide one megabit for a month or so for a special project. Basically the solution we have provided is scalable and flexible. “While the phone lines have priority, based on the client needs, we have also prioritised data, crew connections and the interface they have with their clients.”
Meeting operational challenges With the client’s fleet operating for periods of time in the polar region, providing satellite communications can be particularly challenging. Remoy’s team provided the fleet with a low-orbit satellite system, Iridium OpenPort, which allowed for continued communications albeit on a lower bandwidth. Need for redundancy within congested areas With the client operating on occasion within a congested area, for example, within the vicinity of an oil rig, Marlink needed to guarantee the bandwidth. “We provided the client with a dedicated SCPC line with backup. The alternative services offered by many other providers would have meant using a shared bandwidth and this would have adversely affected their operations,” explains Remoy. Meeting critical contractual obligations “We have provided the client with a dual system for a couple of reasons,” explains Remoy. “In the polar areas, you get elevation which is much lower and there are a number of obstructions for the signal including parts of the vessel, funnels, bridges, antennas and so on. The antenna provided at the back of the vessel is offered as a backup in such cases. This is also helpful when navigating through ice-bergs.” Secondly there are contractual obligations that call for complete up-time, says Remoy. He explains, “There are complex undersea operations that require the vessel to be completely still and the positioning of instruments is based on a constant June 2012 | SatellitePro | 31
SatVertical: Marine
“The Sealink VSAT system includes dual C-band antennas with automatic switchover, dedicated full-duplex bandwidth through a Single Channel Per Carrier (SCPC) satellite link. The dual system also includes several LAN networks on-board, eight simultaneous voice lines and access to Marlink’s prepaid platform”
stream of communication that involves an advanced network on board that controls the engines with several reference points for positioning the vessel – and all this is satellite-based. In case of drift or any small error, the operations come to a complete standstill that could potentially result in huge losses for the client.” The Satcom solutions have also helped the client fulfill its environmental vision, which according to Remoy, is one of their “founding pillars”. “Should any technical difficulties arise,” says Remoy, “having the facility for remote diagnosis via internet through satellite reduces the need for costly call-outs and transportation from on-shore, including the related high fuel usage.” Importance of crew welfare and retention The new generation of internet-savvy seafarers expect connectivity wherever they are in order to communicate with the outside world. “Retaining the highskilled crew is crucial to our client and 32 | SatellitePro | June 2012
they provide high quality internet access through VSAT,” says Remoy who also believes that in this part of the world, shipping companies have yet to fully appreciate the importance of connectivity towards retaining crew. It can be a revenue model, says Remoy. “With our pre-paid cards, companies can actually cover all the expenses on communication. It is a win-win situation for both the crew and the ship owners.” A spokesman for the client stated: “Internet access for social media as well as online services such as personal banking, is perhaps becoming even more important than television. Obviously, during critical operations, priority is given to office online requirements and crew internet capacity is reduced but only temporarily. From an IT perspective, we are able to operate in essentially the same way as an onshore office – that’s the whole point really of paying for a quality service like VSAT.” PRO
SatTechnology
WEIGHING THE RISKs OF INNOVATION From risk mitigating to risk sharing, industry experts weigh in on collaborative approaches to innovation and they concur that the biggest risk is not to innovate and be outpaced by other industries. Dr Phillipe Francken of SES and Roger Franklin of Crystal Solutions weigh the pros and cons of innovation
“I
nsertion of new technologies in space systems is not a goal in itself, but needs to be viewed within the broader context of innovation – the ultimate objective of which is value creation,” says Dr. Phillipe Francken, vice president, risk management and innovation at SES. His responsibilities encompass various aspects of satellite and launch vehicle technical risk management, and space insurance. He has also been coordinating SES’ innovation programme since 2010. Dr. Francken believes that “successful management of innovation is a key risk management challenge”. With Crystal Solutions’ spectrum monitoring solution, Sentry, nominated as one of the World Teleport Association’s top technologies for 2012, CEO and owner, Roger Franklin, describes the time 34 | SatellitePro | June 2012
as exciting for his company. Speaking to SatellitePro ME, Franklin explains the company’s approach to innovation thus: “Crystal Solutions’ focus on innovation stems from the close relationships we have with our customers and the deep understanding of their businesses. “When interacting with customers, we really listen to them. We don’t stop with just what they ask about; we translate that into what they really need both now and in the future. We concentrate on building customer relationships to the point where they think of us as their problem solvers. We feel we are succeeding if they call us first when they have a problem that they don’t know how to solve. “Many of our customers, such as FOX, ESPN, and Turner, are extremely innovative organisations, so through
1985 working with them, innovation naturally occurs. When we get our employees out at customer sites, they better understand our customers’ businesses and innovation arises out of the exchange.” The recent spate of innovations from the US-based company is no accident, says Franklin.”There has been a specific emphasis on innovation,” affirms the erstwhile software engineer, now turned business owner and supplier of content control system technologies for the broadcast and satellite industries. “Internally, we value and reward action, and do not punish mistakes. That is a fundamental philosophy that I believe in and perpetuate throughout the organisation. Particularly in the recent history of the company, we have focused on innovation. We have released more new products in the last 20 months at Crystal than we have in the last 20 years. It is an exciting time for the company.” While the company gives a positive spin on mistakes, high-profile failures, according to SES’ Francken, “have durably reduced the industry’s risk appetite”. But he adds, “However, failing to innovate can also be a major risk.” In this damned if you don’t and a (high risk of) damned if you do, Francken outlines the basic questions companies should be asking themselves before embarking on innovation – “The questions we need to address are: Why do we need to innovate, what type of innovation is relevant and how to make the innovation successful and properly manage the risks.”
Roger Franklin, CEO and owner, Crystal Solutions
“When we get our employees out at customer sites, they better understand our customers’ businesses and innovation arises out of the exchange”
Year the first Ku-band VSAT was introduced in the oil and gas sector
Why do we need to innovate? The ‘why’ seems fairly obvious considering that customer needs are changing. Stressing that the space industry needs to evolve and adapt in order to remain competitive, Francken says, “The terrestrial telecommunication infrastructures are evolving at a much faster pace than space infrastructures. The exponential increase in performance and cost reduction of terrestrial technologies will continue, while the satellite industry might, at the most, evolve with linear performance increase.” The opportunity for the satellite industry according to Francken, is in the area of developing hybrid satellite-terrestrial systems. “There is a huge opportunity for satellites to be used for distribution of linear video content and/or for backhauling,” stresses Francken. In addition to the potential for growth, there are primary strategic imperatives driving innovation. “From the reduction of the total cost of ownership of space-based solutions and improving the flexibility of satellite payloads to face market uncertainties over a 15+ year mission life, the industry also needs to address new markets and confront the convergence between the video and data at a system level,” explains Francken. Innovations transform internal workings of an organisation Crystal Solutions’ Sentry was nominated in the category of Teleport Technology of the
Dr. Phillipe Francken outlines instances that demonstrate innovation relevant to the satellite industry Flexible payloads: • Flexible payload technologies at antenna and repeater levels, for instance DTPs (channelisers), on-board IP routers and phased array antennas. The extra cost and performance impacts of these technologies require a detailed study of end benefits at a system level in order to judge the worthiness of such investments. Addressing new markets and the video/data convergence:
• Development of system-level solutions for efficient spectrum utilisation and interference protection through smart antenna technologies (Cognitive Radio, MIMO…). • Development of system-level solutions for hybrid satellite/terrestrial networks, like an intelligent satellite IP-overlay. Reducing infrastructure costs: • Development of all-electric propulsion satellites (i.e. using electric propulsion for transfer orbit as well as station-
keeping), in combination with smaller, less expensive launch vehicles as a means to significantly decrease space infrastructure costs. New bus architectures could decrease costs to a point where small satellites become a more attractive option - with numerous advantages in terms of shorter manufacturing cycles, lower concentration of risk, and increased flexibility from an operator’s fleet management standpoint.
June 2012 | SatellitePro | 35
SatTechnology
“In my view, innovation must be viewed from a system standpoint, considering simultaneously the launch vehicle, the satellite business and payload, the ground network and user equipment aspects”
Dr. Phillipe Francken, vice president, risk management and innovation at SES
Year by WTA members for its innovative ability to make efficient use of teleport resources. While externally, the innovation is regarded as standalone initiative, Roger Franklin throws light on the need to make innovation transformative to ensure enduring success. “We have invested a great deal in corporate-wide information systems so that the deep understanding of the customers and their networks is captured and the knowledge is transferred throughout the organisation,” responds Franklin. He adds, “It is crucial that the knowledge is not confined to a sales or development silo; it must be well understood in production and service to ensure our customers have a positive experience with Crystal every time. Processes are also crucial to ensure consistent customer experiences and we focus on continual improvement of them. As more innovation enters the company, the processes must be monitored and frequently tuned to ensure that the organisation is keeping pace with the innovations. This is a challenge, and one that is well worth the effort to ensure that our customers are being well served.” The right sort of innovation While it is essential to innovate, with limited R&D budgets, innovation needs to focus on the right objectives. Leveraging the experience gained in SES with responsibilities in the areas of satellite and launch vehicle procurement, 36 | SatellitePro | June 2012
advanced technologies, reliability analysis and orbital mechanics, Dr. Francken outlines a blueprint of sorts for innovation. “A proposed innovation must address identified strategic needs. In my view, innovation must be viewed from a system standpoint, considering simultaneously the launch vehicle, the satellite business and payload, the ground network and user equipment aspects.” Describing the qualitative and quantitative parameters to innovation, Dr. Francken believes the purpose of innovation should be “to either allow for new features / capabilities not permitted by traditional technologies and from the quantitative point of view, there should be an improvement of at least 25% in a key parameter – cost, throughput, lifetime and so on.” Concurring with Roger Franklin on the need for innovation to be transformative, Dr. Phillipe Francken stresses that innovation should be more than normal product line evolutions. “Most product line evolutions address marginal improvements of performance parameters. Product line evolutions tend to concern aspects of little direct relevance to the customer, like improvement of product line commonalities or management of obsolescence issues. Innovations should be looked from a long-term perspective, not as a short term response to a need.” Collaborating with customers to innovate Being in tune with customers is critical to innovation, according to Franklin. He explains: “Marketability is key to the value of our solutions and our biggest successes have come from products that were developed as a collaborative effort with our customers. Conversely, our biggest product disappointments have come out of development without a clear indication of market need. Consequently, we check for relevancy from very early in the process. “Luckily that naturally occurs when we are working collaboratively with customers to create solutions to their real-world problems. What we have found through this innovative, collaborative effort is that although our customers have very unique networks, they tend to have problems that require similar solutions. So once we have solved a problem for one customer, the solution for others is similar.”
1994 How to manage the risks of innovation Dr. Francken admits that innovation conflicts with the space industry’s technically conservative culture coupled with the operators’ heritage requirements. “This dilemma calls for a sound understanding of real innovation, where new technologies are game-changers justifying the extra risk. A sound technical risk management approach is required to consider all aspects of design, qualification, manufacturing and testing. “The crucial criteria to evaluate risk in innovation includes looking at available alternatives – can similar performances be achieved with flight proven technologies? In addition, testability is critical – is ground qualification and testing fully representative of conditions in orbit, over the entire life and considering all interactions at system level?” Risks can be lowered, says Dr. Francken
“True innovation is not limited to technology developments, but involves a proper combination of technical, economic and market intelligence aspects leading to real value creation” - Dr. Phillipe Francken, vice president, risk management and innovation at SES
Year DTH satellite TV service was introduced
when “innovative solutions at system levels are based on heritage components that are combined and utilised in new ways. Moreover new risk sharing can be explored jointly by satellite operators, manufacturers, space agencies and the insurance community.” Despite the risks, Dr. Francken believes that “innovation is essential to the future of our industry, and not just to improve the competitiveness of one operator or manufacturer against its peers. True innovation is not limited to technology developments, but involves a proper combination of technical, economic and market intelligence aspects leading to real value creation.” Crystal Solutions’ Roger Franklin concurs and says, “The bigger risk is not to innovate. If we as a satellite industry are not innovating, then we will be outpaced by other industries.” PRO
Recipients of the 2012 Industry Innovators Awards instituted by The Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) “Our awards committee focused on innovations in areas that deserve the industry’s attention, and on innovations that open doors to vast new opportunities for the industry.” - Keith Buckley, chairman of SSPI’s Board and CEO of ASC Signal Corporation
Innovation in Ka-band services Launched in December 2010, Eutelsat’s KA-SAT satellite ushered in a new era of competitively priced satellite internet services in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. October 2011 saw the launch of ViaSat-1, the world’s highest capacity satellite offering 140 Gbps of total throughput over the USA. The high-capacity satellite system also includes next-generation ViaSat ground system technology, which includes the company’s advanced acceleration technology. The Exede broadband services introduced in January 2012 promise to provide a 10x increase in download speeds and 6x increase in upload speeds compared with satellite alternatives.
Innovation in industry collaboration on the safe use of space SSPI honoured an association formed by satellite operators to make operations in space safer for themselves and more reliable for their customers. The Space Data Association (SDA), incorporated in the Isle of Man, is the first organisation created specifically to share information previously considered confidential by commercial operators. Founded by Intelsat, SES and Inmarsat in 2009 to address the increased crowding of Earth orbit and the lack of reliable, industry-wide data on pending collisions, SDA has grown to 12 member organisations and has over 350 satellites in its database.
Innovation in identifying the source of interference Comtech EF Data was recognised for developing, a technology called MetaCarrier, that is reportedly readable regardless of any encryption of the signal and uses a format that can be universally adopted and adds minimal overhead to the transmission. Once it achieves widespread adoption, the solution will reportedly permit satellite operators and their customers to identify, in minutes, the equipment from which an interfering signal originates, which will be a major step on the long road to making satellite RFI a thing of the past.
June 2012 | SatellitePro | 37
SatTechnology
Eutelsat approves ProSat antenna systems Eutelsat, one of the three largest satellite operators in the world, has granted approval to ProSat Solutions GmbH and their D120M and D150M auto pointing antennae. These two products are now added into Eutelsat’s guide as, reportedly, part of the most appropriate earth station equipment to access Eutelsat capacity. The antenna systems have, according to the manufacturer, been thoroughly tested by Eutelsat for RF performance and its ability to auto-point and peak to the Eutelsat satellites without the need for expert operators and tools and have successfully passed the new Eutelsat Autopointing Verification Tests procedures. ProSat Solutions GmbH and its partner and SVS Telecom have reportedly been able to live up to the demands and have placed the 1.2 and 1.5 metre SNG antenna systems at the forefront of development. Interference caused by low quality reflectors and poor mechanics have historically been creating interference problems forcing satellite operators to set minimum standards and type approvals procedures to be applied to ground stations
accessing their space segment. To overcome this problem, Eutelsat has been taking the lead by establishing a procedure for the Autopointing Verification Test, the ESOG Vol. 1 Module 260. These tests and procedures aim at ensuring that autopointing systems will yield a high level of pointing accuracy and repeatability in any operational condition. Once validated, systems are given adequate visibility on the Eutelsat website listing the Eutelsat approved equipment. www.prosat-solutions.de
Craftwork launches SAT-over-IP range Craftwork, a developer of SATover-IP technology, launches off-the-shelf software solutions reportedly enabling device manufacturers to develop and launch new SATover-IP devices. Craftwork partners will reportedly gain access to cost efficient pre-developed server and client solutions, plus have the option to utilise Craftwork’s expertise in the integration and approval of SAT-over-IP products. Further facilitating the adoption of SAT-over-IP, 38 | SatellitePro | June 2012
Craftwork, according to a company spokesman, has a roadmap supporting leading SoC platforms and a range of enhanced features to deliver best-in-class SAT-
over-IP products. Craftwork partners will reportedly gain access to cost efficient pre-developed server and client solutions, plus have the option to utilise Craftwork’s expertise in the integration and approval of SAT-over-IP products Through its cooperation with prominent manufacturers Craftwork expects the first SAT-over-IP devices to reach the market in the second half of 2012. www.craftwork.dk
World’s smallest twoway satellite data transceiver from Iridium
Iridium Communications Inc. has unveiled, what the company claims, is the world’s smallest, commercial, two-way satellite data transceiver — the Iridium 9603. The Iridium 9603 is a data module designed for embedding into machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions for remote asset tracking, monitoring and alarming in defense, government, enterprise and consumer markets where existing larger transceivers cannot fit. “With the 9603, Iridium is disrupting the global M2M market by becoming relevant to new customer segments such as personnel tracking for consumers and governments as well as fleet, vehicle and heavy equipment tracking and monitoring,” said Joel Thompson, vice president, product management, Iridium. “ Iridium is the only telecommunications carrier in the world that can offer 100% pole-to-pole coverage through its meshed network of 66 Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites.” The Iridium 9603 is 70% smaller by volume, and half-the-board footprint of the Iridium 9602. The Iridium 9603 reportedly breaks down design barriers and enables Iridium’s 275 partners to embed global connectivity in hand-held personal tracking devices and even smaller vehicles, containers, devices for field monitoring, command and control applications, and unattended sensors. www.iridium.com
1 Newtec launches M6100 satellite modulator
The M6100 is the new generation DVB-S2, DVBDSNG and DVB-S modulator specifically designed for contribution of television and radio content, primary distribution of content and broadcast direct-tohome (DTH). It reportedly interoperates seamlessly with DVB set-top boxes, professional IRDs and satellite demodulators. Carrier-ID insertion is a new capability; a built-in
SkyWave introduces satellite-cellular M2M solution
MPEG transport stream analyser that offers fast trouble shooting; the sub-second redundancy switchover times are industry-leading; SMPTE 2022 Forward Error Correction (FEC) facilitates remote headend deployment, and a lot more. There are, reportedly, many innovations in Newtec’s new modulator that increase satellite transponder efficiency like the automated Equalink,
Clean Channel Technology and the opportunistic data insertion, i.e. Multi Protocol Encapsulation (MPE). The increased efficiency can be used, according to the manufacturer, to either lower the yearly operational expenses, to launch more services in the same transponder space or to provide a better quality of service. www.newtec.eu
Voyage Manager’S ‘VM Travel Tracker’ offers global coverage Voyage Manager Ltd. has teamed up with Iridium Communications Inc., to enable travellers and other customers with its GPS tracking service, “VM Travel Tracker,” to have, the company claims, global coverage anywhere on Earth, from poleto-pole, from the middle of the Sahara desert to the remote jungles of Asia and South America. “VM Locate” Voyage Manager’s device tracking service, uses the Iridium network as a key component in its device tracking suite that includes mobile phone tracking and GSM/GPRS-based device tracking. With its move into device and location tracking, Voyage Manager offers Iridiumbased tracking devices designed and built through the Iridium partner ecosystem. Voyage Manager integrates VM Travel
Number of in-service units for the land-mobile sector by 2021
Tracker with these Iridium-based devices to automatically track travellers without any user interaction, making VM Travel Tracker, according to the company, the only completely automated travel tracking system on the market. www.voyagemanager.com
SkyWave Mobile Communications, a global provider of wireless data communications for the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) market, has launched the IDP-780 series of terminals with dual mode satellite-cellular capability. Targeting land mobile applications, the IDP-780 reportedly offers the efficiency of cellular networks combined with the reliable, ubiquitous breadth of satellite networks. Building on SkyWave’s previous dualmode solution, the IDP-780 terminal offers an extended satellite pay-load and dual SIM capability. The IDP-780, according to the manufacturer, combines IsatData Pro satellite communication with cellular service, taking mobile asset tracking, logistics and security applications to the next level by providing cost-effective, global coverage. These terminals use cellular networks when and where available and are able to automatically switch to the IsatData Pro satellite service when cellular service is unavailable or unreliable, providing lowest cost communications without sacrificing coverage. More than a communication terminal, the manufacturer claims, the IDP-780 supports a flexible Lua programming environment that provides customers the ability to develop their own on-board applications. www.skywave.com June 2012 | SatellitePro | 39
SatTechnology
Beam to exhibit the latest satellite products at CommunicAsia in Singapore
Beam Communications Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Reach Limited will showcase a range of innovative satellite communications terminals and docking stations. Some product highlights on the show: Newly released docking stations for Iridium Extreme, reportedly the toughest satellite handset ever made. Beam, the company claims, is the first manufacturer in the world to receive certification from Iridium Communications Inc. for the docking solutions developed for the Iridium Extreme. Beam docking solutions reportedly extend the functionality of Iridium Extreme
satellite phones so they can be used for voice, data and tracking services in various applications indoors, in-vehicles, on vessels and in other remote locations where easy or enhanced access to satellite communications is required. Maritime satellite communication terminals, Oceana 400 and Oceana 800. The terminals are designed to be utilised in a wide variety of marine applications throughout the world. The Oceana terminals operate with the Inmarsat FleetPhone maritime satellite service. www.beamcomm.net
Paradise Datacom on the move The Paradise Datacom Q-Lite is a compact, singleboard SCPC satellite modem that the manufacturer claims is suitable for integration into custom enclosures for portable communications and comms-on-the-move. The Q-Lite has been designed for simple mechanical integration into 40 | SatellitePro | June 2012
OEM products, being small in physical size and with very low power consumption. It is reportedly compatible with the Quantum IP modems and inherits all of the core Quantum functions including modulations, FECs and bandwidth saving features. The monitoring and control of the modem is via Ethernet, with an option
to fit a keypad and LCD display for localised control. There are also options to fit one or two fans for cooling. www.paradisedata.com
DEV showcases RF transmission solutions at Anga Cable Show
DEV Systemtechnik demonstrates its spectrum of cable head end solutions for RF signal transmission between satellite antenna systems and receivers at the Anga Cable Show 2012 in Cologne Germany. Among the enhanced features DEV will unveil are distribution matrix features for its DEV 2190 managed L-band distribution system and DEV 7114 Intelligent Optribtion distribution system for RF-over-fibre. DEV offers customised solutions for virtually all types of professional RF applications in CATV head ends and satellite ground stations. Owing to the breadth of its product portfolio, as per the company spokesman, and unlike competing suppliers, DEV reportedly has the ability to meet nearly all RF signal handling requirements using exclusively its own products. DEV’s portfolio covers coaxial cable as well as fibre optic infrastructures, all frequency bands, and all common management systems. Continuous product improvement and innovation are, according to the company spokesman, core to DEV’s corporate philosophy, and DEV has enhanced two of its managed distribution systems: the DEV 7114 Intelligent Optribution Chassis, and the DEV 2190 “flagship” L-Band-overcoax distribution system. The full range of distribution matrix functions can reportedly now be integrated in both systems and used together with already existing software features such as variable gain and tilt and RF sensing. www.dev-systemtechnik.com
10.3 SES at home with IP SES together with industry partners, announced the launch of SAT-IP, an IP-based satellite reception technology that demodulates and converts satellite signals to IP for further in-home distribution to any IPenabled device. Unveiled at the annual SES Industry Days, the SAT-IP communications protocol is being touted as a new standard for satellite in-home distribution. A live demo of SAT-IP multiswitches showing the distribution of satellite programmes over various IPbased infrastructures (CAT5 Ethernet, Power Line, Plastic Optical Fibre and WiFi) was presented to more than 200 industry experts.
Boatracs becomes KVH service provider for mini-VSAT broadband
In a SAT-IP environment, IP-enabled devices such as tablets, PCs, laptops, smartphones, connected TVs, game consoles and media players will be able to receive satellite programming. This means that consumers will be able to enjoy the
benefits of watching TV programmes on different devices and screens. Current prototypes reportedly allow for the reception of up to eight programmes on eight different screen devices at home. www.ses.com
Thrane & Thrane Aviator to offer new Inmarsat multi-voice service Thrane & Thrane is to introduce the new Inmarsat Multi-Voice service across its entire Aviator SwiftBroadband range. As part of the service upgrade, Thrane & Thrane’s Aviator systems will reportedly support several simultaneous voice calls via SwiftBroadband, reportedly enabling more users to benefit from high quality and cost effective calling during the flight. The new Multi-Voice service is compatible with Thrane & Thrane’s Aviator wireless handset, which reportedly features best-inclass noise and echo cancellation capabilities to ensure excellent voice calling clarity. Passengers and crew can also use their own Wi-Fi enabled smartphones to access SwiftBroadband voice calling on Aviator. With Inmarsat Multi-Voice, each handset can, according to a company spokesman,
Revenues for global mobile satellite market by 2021
benefit from having its own number, making it straightforward to dial into a specific handset from the outside. It is of course also possible to dial out from any handset in the aircraft. SwiftBroadband Multi-Voice is reportedly made possible by an update of the current Aviator firmware, so no new internal hardware is required to activate the service. www.thrane.com
KVH Industries, Inc., has named Boatracs Inc., the first Value Added Service Provider (VASP) for its mini-VSAT Broadband service. This collaboration will reportedly deliver an end-to-end fleet management package for the commercial workboat and fishing markets, bringing Boatracs’ software applications to vessels via a reliable broadband connection in a single package. Sold under the name “Boatracs Broadband Fleet Management Solution”, this package includes a KVH TracPhone V3 and mini-VSAT Broadband service for global broadband connectivity as well as Boatracs maritime software platforms, Boatracs BTConnect and Boatracs BTForms. The TracPhone V3 is reportedly the world’s smallest maritime VSAT antenna, designed for vessels as small as 30 feet. With airtime rates 1/10th the cost of L-band systems, the TracPhone V3 offers downloads as fast as 2 Mbps at US$ 0.99 per MB and phone calls worldwide at only US$ 0.49 per minute. Boatracs BTConnect is a web-based solution that integrates message and mapping functionality, providing access to fleet-wide data from anywhere, on any device. With features such as route planning, custom landmarks, and global map layers, this solution reportedly ties together the critical functions of visually managing a fleet. www.kvh.com June 2012 | SatellitePro | 41
SatEvents
CABSAT 2013: Es’hailSat to debut CABSAT 2012 attracted 11.483 visitors from 110 countries and hosted 840 exhibitors from 55 countries. David Roberts, industry group manager, CABSAT, Dubai World Trade Centre, speaks to SatellitePro ME about the debut of Es’hailSat and road shows under way to promote the 2013 edition. What is the significance of Qatar-based Es’hailSat’s participation in the 2013 edition? I think it’s a big, bold statement from Es’hailSat in that they are about to enter the market in 2013 and want everyone to know about it. For CABSAT, it is another endorsement of the growing satellite section of the show from a major new player. It’s quite rare for a company to debut at the show with a big, 60 sqm self-built stand. In 2012, we had Paksat, and it’s great that we have another one next year from Es’hailSat. We are looking forward to receiving their stand designs so we can see what it will actually look like! How successful was the satellite section of CABSAT in the 2012 edition? In terms of exhibitors, it showed significant growth on the previous year, with some major brands such as Inmarsat and Paksat coming into the show. There were also some major new deals announced by the likes of Yahsat and others. It’s also becoming increasingly noticeable that satellite draws a different type of crowd to the show. There were a lot of government and military people in attendance this year, including the Minister of Information of the Republic of Sudan, who I gave a personal tour of the satellite section of the show, on the second afternoon. It clearly shows there are some serious projects out there in parts of Africa and elsewhere, involving massive investments to overhaul analogue technology, and establish new multimedia platforms. It’s great that CABSAT is the trade platform they choose to come and source all this technology, and often sign deals during the show. 42 | SatellitePro | June 2012
David Roberts, industry group manager, CABSAT
In terms of road shows and other promotions, what markets, regions and companies are you looking at for next year’s edition? We will continue to focus on Europe, North America and Asia in terms of exhibitors, but our real focus now is extending our reach for visitors into different parts of the globe. We are no longer just a GCC or even a Middle East show, with 110 countries represented among our visitors this year. In conjunction with our sister show, GITEX Technology Week, we are undertaking a series of road shows in North, and subSaharan Africa to promote both shows. We are very aware that many African countries are on the verge of upgrading their broadcast and telecommunications infrastructure, and so broadband via satellite is becoming the strongest option to achieve this quickly. We have also put in place a more robust and extensive network of sales agents and brand ambassadors for the show globally, which should help us take it up another notch for the 2013 edition, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors.
At a glance: Dates: 12 – 14 March 2013 Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Registration: www.cabsat.com
Eurosatory 2012 Eurosatory, the international “Land Security & Defence” exhibition, will be held from 11 to 15 June 2012 at the Paris-Nord-Villepinte exhibition centre. Eurosatory reportedly offers a unique opportunity for one week as professional visitors from 130 countries meet defence and security experts from all over the world. Eurosatory, according to the organisers, ranks as a worldwide focal point for technology and innovation, as is demonstrated by the 350 new defence and security products and systems unveiled at the previous edition. Live demonstrations provide dynamic presentations of vehicle and system performance. For its 2012 edition, Eurosatory is continuing flight demonstrations of drones and offers a specific evolution arena for the small-drones.
At a glance: Dates: 11 - 15 June 2012 Venue: Paris Norde Villepinte Exhibition Centre Registration: www.eurosatory.com
ANGA Cable Show ANGA Cable Show, reportedly Europe’s leading business platform for broadband and content will start with a record 440 exhibitors, on 12 June 2012. Key topics of the event are Smart TV, hybrid networks, Video on Demand, IPTV and Connected Home. Accordingly, this year’s motto is “Where Broadband meets Content“. The highlight of the international track is the new “International Technology Summit“ on the second day of the event. CEOs and CTOs will discuss strategies and technologies for the “Connected Home“.
At a glance: Dates: 12 - 14 June 2012 Venue: Cologne Fair Grounds, Cologne, Germany Registration: www.angacable.com
110 VSAT 2012: Innovative speaker presentations Keynote: The View From Jupiter: Pradman Kaul, Hughes, CEO, USA Consumer and enterprise markets present many similar challenges, yet also, each segment has its own unique demands and both have an influence over the overall Pradman Kaul direction of the industry. After three decades of pushing the envelope for the VSAT industry and constantly delivering innovations in hardware and services that stretch satellite technology to challenge and complement ever more capable and widespread terrestrial networks, what does Hughes believe the future holds? A Broader Frequency: Dave Bettinger, iDirect, CTO, USA Broadband is not defined by the band, but by the bandwidth. Despite growing use of Ka-band, other frequencies that have their strengths and physics ensures that these will always remain valid for a good number of customers – often defined by those with the highest value applications. Platforms need to be flexible and adaptable to fit in with new satellite architectures without neglecting specialised networking needs across the vast spectrum of customers that employ VSAT technology in many mission-critical applications. Padding the Envelope: Serge van Herck, Newtec, CEO, Belgium Is DVB-S2 truly the end of the line and the ultimate in bandwidth efficiency as was suggested when it was launched? Perhaps not. Already there have Serge Van Herck been some incremental improvements with new gains being added step-by-step over the
past year. The DVB Project is working on new designs and private companies, like Newtec, are also pushing the boundaries within the DVB standards process as well as on their own initiative. It is important for operators and users to understand what they can expect the technology to deliver long term and this presentation gives us a glimpse into the future. Behavioural Change: Riyadh Al Adely, SkyStream, CEO, UAE In almost every region, operators are facing the harsh reality that simple broadband services have little staying power against terrestrial solutions when available, and the onslaught of Ka-band consumer VSAT platforms are about to tilt the landscape even more. The move to value-added application support, niche segments and custom networking presents a new set of challenges, but SkyStream began this process a few years ago and is now able to describe the path, share the painful moments, speak of the benefits and showcase the results. Empires and Umpires: Nadeem Khoury, Hi Cap, Director, Saudi Arabia Spotbeam satellites bring their challenges and advantages, some of which are a natural fit for military customers, such as the segmented coverage and high power levels that makes interference much less of a threat than on conventional spacecraft. However, in a mixed use environment serving different branches of the military and civilian governments with fixed and mobile services, integrators and operators have to provide robust and secure partitioning to ensure both performance and network integrity.
At a glance: Dates: 11 – 14 September 2012 Venue: Lancaster Hotel, London Registration: www.comsys.co.uk
Number of countries represented at CABSAT 2012
The Caspian Oil & Gas Exhibition The event reportedly serves as a meeting place for regional and international oil and gas leaders and representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Energy of Azerbaijan. In 2011, the Caspian Oil & Gas exhibition attracted 5,166 visitors and featured 285 exhibitors, over a show space spanning 3,949 sq mt. The conference brought together 560 delegates from 30 countries, and featured 52 speakers. The conference is held alongside the exhibition, and is a hub for ministers and regulatory agents from around the world to discuss and debate important issues.
At a glance: Dates: June 6-7 2012 Venue: Hilton Hotel, Baku, Azerbaijan Registration: www.caspianoil-gas.com
CommunicAsia2012: highlighting emerging trends CommunicAsia2012 will, as per the organisers, feature breakthrough developments in NextGen Networks and satellite technology, as well as provide a sneak peek into the latest market-ready devices and mobile apps and solutions and dynamic industry deals set to alter ICT in Asia and beyond. Leading returning exhibitors include Falcon Interactive, FiberHome, Globecast, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Irdeto, Netop Technology, PCCW Global, Prysmian, Rosenberger, ST Electronics, Tektronix and Tata Communications; new participants include Anritsu, Aver Information, Hitachi Critical Facilities Protection and Novelsat.
At a glance: Date: 19 - 22 June 2012 Venue: Basement 2, Levels 1, 3, 4 & 5 Marina Bay Sands Singapore Registration: www.communicasia.com June 2012 | SatellitePro | 43
SatGuest
The risk of collision WAS not a severe worry for insurers until recently” Denis Bensoussan, senior underwriter for space risks at Hiscox Lloyd’s Syndicate, assesses the vulnerability of satellites to space debris
Striking image of earth taken by Russian weather satellite, Elektro-L No. 1
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peaking on the vulnerability of satellites to space debris risk, Denis Bensoussan says, “Satellites are a potential casualty of the rapidly altering environment of earth’s orbit. The question is – how much of the danger is stuff of myth and how much is the danger based on reality. There are two facts that are employed to assess the vulnerability of satellites to space debris. Firstly the impact probabilities for satellites and the assessment of damage caused by impact from space debris.” Referring to the Revus (Reducing the vulnerability of space systems) project that is led by Astrium SAS with eight additional partners, he says, “There were eight major impacts on LEO satellites since 1991, three involving active satellites. All the events were unavoidable and while there were no reported events in GEO, there was a recent increase in conjunction alerts. The average current risk of collision at GEO is one every 135 years and the risk for active satellites is one every 155 years. “For satellites in LEO, the probability that any given satellite at 800-900 kms will be hit by debris larger than one cm is approaching 3% over a five to 10-year lifetime (est. NASA). The probabilities of impact/damage remain very low for dangerous debris and the failure risk due to debris impact remains a substantially lower probability than risks of launcher or satellite mechanical failure.” The risk of collision was not a severe worry for insurers until recently, says Bensoussan. 44 | SatellitePro | June 2012
“However stakes are rising and if frequency of incidents increases, insurance premiums are likely to rise”
Denis Bensoussan, senior underwriter for space risks, Hiscox Lloyd’s Syndicate
“However stakes are rising and if frequency of incidents increases, insurance premiums are likely to rise. The Iridium collision, in 2009, revealed a worrying situation. The current scenarios do not monitor or measure this risk while damages and consequences might be catastrophic .The general risk of satellites’ loss of control related to debris impact or even space weather, needs to be considered.” PRO
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