PAGE 1
S a t M a g azi n eW o r l d w i d e S a t elli t e M a g azi n e April 2012 Maritime SATCOM Battle Royale Machine Mastery Delivering Bits Middle East Strides One Million By 2016 Pervasive Force Solomons Solutions Game-Changers Competing For Space Business Growth CommunicAsia
PAGE 2
2 SatMagazine April 2012 Authors Maxime Baudry Evelyn Boswell Mike Conschafter Jim Dodez Chris Forrester Patrick French Simen Frostad Alan Gottlieb Katia Gryadunova Brent Horwitz Hartley Lesser Roger Rusch Rick Simonian Johan Svanberg Pattie Waldt We reserve the right to edit all submitted materials to meet our content guidelines, as well as for grammar and spelling consistency. Articles may be moved to an alternative issue to accommodate publication space requirements or removed due to space restrictions. Submission of content does not constitute acceptance of said material by SatNews Publishers. Edited materials may, or may not, be returned to author and/or company for review prior to publication. The views expressed in our various opinions of SatNews Publishers. All rights reserved. All included imagery is courtesy of, and copyright to, the respective companies. Published monthly by Satnews Publishers Sonoma, CA 95476 USA Phone: (707) 939-9306 Fax: (707) 838-9235 2012 Satnews Publishers Publishing Operations Silvano Payne .................................... Publisher + Writer Hartley G. Lesser ................................. Editorial Director Pattie Waldt ......................................... Executive Editor Jill Durfee ................. Sales Director, Editorial Assistant Donald McGree ............................... Production Manager Simon Payne ............................... Development Manager Mike Antonovich ........................ SatBroadcasting Editor Maxime Baudry ................................ Contributing Editor Chriss Forrester .................................... European Editor Alan Gottlieb .............................. Global Maritime Editor Bob Gough ......................................... Richard Dutchik ............................... Contributing Editor Jos Heyman ...................................... Contributing Editor Dan Makinster .................................... Technical Advisor Giles Peeters .................................... MILSATCOM Editor Bert Sadtler ...................................... Contributing Editor InfoBeam A WISE Release (NASA) ........................................ Page 08 Montana State Goes For Launch ........................... Page 10 Shakin It Up (Brel & Kjr) ................................. Page 11 New Spatial Capabilities For Chile (Astrium) ........ Page 12 Loopy Lightning, So Far, Far Away (NASA) ........... Page 12 Satellite Services Rule (SES) ................................. Page 12 Transponder + Revenues (NSR) ............................ Page 14 The Terminal-ator (Hughes Network Systems) .... Page 14 An Atmospheric Amazement (ATREX) .................. Page 15 Speaking Of Those Sounding Rockets(Kratos) ..... Page 16 An Enabler For The U.S.A.F. (Orbital) ................. Page 16 Weather Works (ESA + Eumetsat) ........................ Page 17 SatMagazine April 2012 Vol. 5, #1
PAGE 4
SatMagazine April 2012 Vol. 5, #1 Gottlieb On Maritime: A Battle RoyaleDistribution Partners + Customers Vs. Inmarsat Singapore March 15th: Here at the ACi Maritime Communications Conference, the clouds of war are gathering. Inmarsats Distribution Partners (DPs) and customers are rising up in unprecedented fury in response to Inmarsats recently announced price hikes. Driven by an ill-advised telephone company-like strategy, the communications giant has instituted unexpected dramatic and crippling price increases to its Standard, low use plans. By Alan Gottlieb Gottlieb International Group Page 18 Baudry On M2M: A Fast Growth MarketMachine Mastery M2M is a growing segment for the satellite industry, although satellite still has only a small share of the machine-to-machine market which is largely dominated by cellular systems: around 2 percent in terms of very much a niche market, but everything points to real growth potential for these applications. By Maxime Baudry iDATE Page 22 The annual Dubai CabSat show was another humdinger and bigger than eversome major players were in as important to them as North America, Europe, or the Asian region. Indeed, while Arabsats giant booth dominated the satellite end of the hall (Sony and the likes of Panasonic were at the other end), it was SES Chris Forrester Broadgate Publishing Page 26 The installed base of container tracking systems will reach one million by 2016. According to a new deployed on intermodal shipping containers was 77,000 in Q4-2011. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 66.9 percent, this number is expected to reach one million by 2016. By Johan Svanberg Berg Insight Page 32 either in a remote location, or not so remote but too far from the cable infrastructure. Apart from access to the Internet, a satellite connection does, of course, enable the end user to receive broadcast media in just about any location. However, many providers of satellite broadcast content restrict their offerings by geographical region... By Simen Frostad Bridge Technologies Page 34 Prime: Competing For Space The U.S. space industry currently faces dual threats; major reductions in federal aerospace spending and overly restrictive satellite technology export policies. If we continue on this path, without implementing the right reforms, our nation risks the scenario of a weakened space industrial base that is unable to fully meet U.S. national security needs or sustain our technological edge against foreign competitors. By Mike Conschafter Aerospace Industries Association Page 38 As one of the oldest forms of long-distance transportation, maritime vessels have been the backbone of commerce in nearly every region of the world for thousands of years. Approximately 90 percent of world trade is carried by the international shipping industry, nations defense and security efforts depend on navies and coast guards, millions of passengers every year go on cruise and ferry vessels, and there is a vast By Rick Simonian Harris CapRock Communications Page 54 4 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 6
6 SatMagazine April 2012 Advertiser Index Arabsat Satellite Page 07 C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. Page 29 Comtech EF Data Page 51 CPI, Inc. Page 49 GE-Satellite Page 35 GigaSat Limited Page 11 Global Link Productions, Inc. Page 55 Gottlieb International Group Page 21 Harris Corporation Page 13 NewSat Limited Page 05 Newtec CY Page 03 Singapore Exhibition Services Page 37 Space Foundation, NSS Page 31 SatMagazine April 2012 Vol. 5, #1 SatMagazine April 2012 Vol. 5, #1 I attended 14 sessions, typed up 48 pages of notes, and read all the articles published in the trade journals while attending Satellite 2012. The sessions were better attended than in past years and the conference added a cellular feedback system for polling. This was available to the 50 percent of the audience that carried the latest smart phones. Part of the polling was devoted to advertising for Proton and Baikonur. By Roger Rusch TelAstra, Inc. Page 58 Uplink: A New Power For Business Growth The HX System from Hughes is designed and optimized for small to medium-size networks, and employs the key features needed for a wide range of applications, such as Internet access, IP trunking, cellular backhaul, Virtual Network Operator (VNO) hosting, and communications on-the-move (COTM). A key feature of the HX System is the ability to cost-effectively scale to large networks, providing operators with an effective platform on which to start small and grow as their business grows. Page 62 Event: Offering Global Satellite Players Vast Opportunities For Global Expansion satellite companies, including GlobeCast, Inmarsat Global, Intelsat, MEASAT Satellite Systems, Newtec and Thaicom amongst others, assembling at CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia, Asias largest ICT and media communications event. As the Asian satellite market continues to grow, these industry players are using the event as a strategic platform to address the critical issues surrounding Asias marketplace, while accentuating their presence in the region. Page 66 The maritime market is a pervasive global force, consisting of six major segmentsshipping, offshore are more than 250,000 vessels in the maritime market that are good future prospects for broadband communications and they are enjoying an increasing range of options (and prices) for bringing this critical Jim Dodez KVH Industries, Inc. Page 68 Founded in 2003, Pactel International provides enhanced satellite communications solutions for a variety Katia Gryadunova Pactel International Pty Ltd. Page 70 Traditionally, cruising was all about getting away. Today, its still about getting away while staying connected. Does that sound paradoxical? Well, it is. And therein lies the challenge for communication companies serving cruise operators. By Brent Horwitz, MTN Satellite Communications Page 72
PAGE 8
8 SatMagazine April 2012 NASA unveiled a new atlas and catalog of the entire infrared sky today showing more than a half billion stars, galaxies and other WISE delivers the fruit of 14 years of effort to the astronomical community, said Edward Wright, WISE principal investigator at on the mission with other team members in 1998. WISE, built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies, launched on December 14, 2009, and mapped the entire better sensitivity than its predecessors. It collected more at four infrared wavelengths of light, capturing everything from nearby asteroids to distant galaxies. Since then, the team has been processing more than 15 trillion bytes of returned data. A preliminary release of made last April. The WISE the missions fundamental objective. The individual WISE exposures have been combined into an atlas of more than and a catalog listing the infrared properties of more than 560 million individual objects found in the images. Most of the objects are stars and galaxies, with roughly equal numbers of each. Many of them have never been seen before. WISE observations have led to numerous discoveries, including the elusive, coolest class of stars. Astronomers hunted for these failed stars, called Y-dwarfs, for more than a decade. Because they have been cooling since their formation, they dont shine in visible light and could not be spotted until WISE mapped objects than previously thought. It also determined NASA has found more than 90 percent of the largest nearEarth asteroids. Other discoveries were unexpected. WISE found the share the same orbital path around the sun as Earth. One of the images released today shows a surprising view of an echo of infrared light surrounding an exploded star. The echo was etched in the clouds of gas and dust when supernova explosion heated surrounding clouds. At least 100 papers on the results from the WISE survey already have been published. More discoveries are expected now that astronomers have seen by the spacecraft. The Company also shipped the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) to Goddard Space Flight Center for integration with NASAs Global Precipitation Measurement Mission spacecraft. The GMI instrument will play an essential role in the worldwide measurement of precipitation and the Earths environmental forecasting when it launches aboard the GPM space-borne Core Observatory in 2014. The GPM mission is a joint effort between NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and other international partners. The GPM mission will improve climate, weather and hydrological predictions by providing more accurate precipitation measurements from space. Ball Aerospaces role in the GPM program included the design, development and fabrication of the GMI. Roughly eight feet tall, the conical-scan microwave instrument is a powerhouse of radiometry. GMI is designed to improve on-orbit calibration and advanced space-borne radiometry by rotating at 32 revolutions per minute, using four very stable calibration points on each revolution to calibrate the data it has scanned. This allows for WISE captured this image of the immense Andromeda galaxy, also known as Messier 31 or simply M31. Work being completed at Ball Aerospace on the Companys GMI instrument. Photo courtesy of Ball Aerospace. InfoBeam
PAGE 10
10 SatMagazine April 2012 temporal sampling of rainfall accumulations as well as more frequent and higher quality data collection. GMIs design is based on successful microwave sensors built previously by Ball Aerospace including the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C (SIR-C), GEOSAT Follow-On (GFO) and the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS). Following launch, Ball Aerospace will provide postdelivery support at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and launch site as well as post launch support. Ball Aerospace & Technolo gies Corp. supports critical missions for national agen cies such as the Department of Defense, NASA, NOAA and other U.S. government and commercial entities. Montana State Goes For Launch University satellite that rode into space on a NASA rocket has now gathered information longer than the historic U.S. satellite it was built to honor, said the director of MSUs Space Science and Engineering Laboratory (SSEL). Almost four months after the October 28th launch, and shortly after learning that NASA had selected another MSU satellite for possible launch on Director David Klumpar cheered Montanas only satellite had collected data for 111 days as of February 15th. Since then, the satellite has well surpassed the entire 111-day mission of great, Klumpar said. On February 15, we surpassed our goal. HRBE, pronounced the tiny student-built satellite that was originally called Explorer-1 [Prime] and is now Belt Explorer, or HRBE. The satellite was renamed in November to honor the late physics professor who headed the Montana Space Grant Consortium and the MSU physics department. MSU students and faculty were thrilled when ham radio successively in France, The Netherlands and England, reported hearing from the satellite within three hours of its launch from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. HRBE later passed through an intense band of energetic electrons that was bombarding Earths upper atmosphere Since then, HRBE has been monitoring variations in location and intensity of the Van Allen Radiation Belts, which were discovered around the Earth by the original Explorer-1, Klumpar said. MSUs satellite could orbit for 12 more years before its batteries die or it burns up in the atmosphere, Klumpar before then, MSU students will continue to communicate with the satellite two or three times a day as it passes within range of their antenna on top of Cobleigh Hall. The satellite can be as far east as the Great California coast and still emit a signal strong enough for MSU to receive. The computers allowed him to see that the satellite was straight south of Mexico City and 305 miles above Earth. It was traveling at 18,000 miles an hour. About six minutes later, beep that indicated HRBE was close enough to download data. Handley directed the satellite to send the information it had gathered since its last report. That information accompanied by loud squeals numbers scrolling onto the computer screen. Actually, they were codes that gave the status of the satellites electrical systems, levels of radiation above the atmosphere, and more. About 15 minutes later, Handley lost touch with HRBE as it neared the north coast of other side of the Earth. Ham radio operators play an important part in the mission as they contact MSU whenever they hear HRBEs heartbeat, a beep that occurs every 15 seconds, Klumpar said. A map in the Space Operations Center They live in Germany, Australia, Sudan, Japan, all over the United States and the rest of the world. HRBEs February 15th milestone wasnt the only reason Klumpar and the students of the SSEL had to celebrate. That same day, they learned that NASA had selected an MSU satellite as one of 33 small research 2013 and 2014. The SSEL will build the satellite with partners from Colorado, Maryland, Klumpar shared. Its really a great endorsement of the fantastic NASA selected us to participate in another NASA launch, Klumpar said. We are training students who will be the next generation of space scientists and engineers. HRBE, are cubes that generally measure about four inches on each side and weigh 2.2 satellites, called CubeSats, to MSU freshman Matthew Handley, left, and SSEL Director David Klumpar watch as information is downloaded from MSUs orbiting satellite. (MSU photo by Kelly Gorham). The path of MSUs orbiting satellite appears on screen in the universitys Space Operations Center. (MSU photo by Kelly Gorham).
PAGE 11
11 SatMagazine April 2012 called a P-POD and ride on a MSUs new satellite will Klumpar said. It could launch early as 2013. The mission may last a little over seven years before the satellite reenters and burns up in Earths atmosphere. satellite will be built out of nano-carbon-impregnated plastic instead of aluminum, Klumpar said. As it will be built with an unusual technique using technologies that grew out of the printing industry, the mission will be called PrintSat. Members of The PrintSat Team will design the satellite on computers. Then, instead of sending their plans to a machine shop for fabrication, they will push a button. Computers will guide lasers as they build the satellite one layer at a time. The process, called 3D printing or additive manufacturing, is used in building Formula 1 race car components and in the sport of motorcycle racingthe PrintSat Team want to show that its a viable, affordable process for satellites, Klumpar said. Successful demonstration of the technology used in PrintSat will further lower the costs and speed the development of very small satellites, enabling future formation, Klumpar said. Jim White, president of Colorado Satellite Services, one of Klumpars partners, said, Additive manufacturing (also called 3-D printing) has evolved in the past few years to be a very inexpensive and fast way With PrintSat, the entire structure of the small satellite of additive manufacturing for a satellite, we plan to show its not only cheaper and parts that cannot be made in traditional ways. This also opens up new parts and for creating entire can do things single satellites cant, White said. Story by Evelyn Boswell for MSU News Service Shakin It Up vibration shaker system for mechanical vibration and shock testing of satellites. Built within the scope of satellite project, the system is for the new satellite Assembly, Integration and Test Complex (AITC). Brel & Kjr will provide a Head Expander and equipped with a large auxiliary slip tableand a special, extra bearing positioning. As part of the mechanical testing operating in three axes was required. ASTRIUMan EADS companyhas been selected as prime contractor from KGS (the JSC National Company reporting to the national space agency of Republic of satellite system. InfoBeam The LDS V994 Shaker being prepped for a project.
PAGE 12
12 SatMagazine April 2012 The agreement covers the supply of Earth observation satellites equipped with a highresolution optical sensor, an Assembly, Integration and Test Centreand the entire ground segment of the system, which will carry out in-orbit operation, data acquisition and processing. ASTRIUM will also provide all satellite launch and test services. New Spatial Capabilities For Chile Astriums teams have successfully completed the in-orbit delivery of the SSOT satellite system, which launched from the European spaceport in French Guiana on December 16, 2011. In accepting delivery, the Chilean Air Force (FACh) for the handover of the satellite, FASat Charlie, have been met in full within three its exceptional performance. The SSOT program comprises a satellite and an operational ground segment based in Santiago, Chile. The satellite has a panchromatic resolution of 1.45m, representing unprecedented performance for a satellite Chilean engineers operating it were trained at the Astrium site in Toulouse, where the system and satellite were developed and built. SSOT is the latest satel lite system to be exported by Astrium. Astrium is playing an active role at FIDAE 2012, in Santiago, participating in conferences on space that have brought together, under the auspices of the Chilean Air Force, representatives from space agencies across Latin America. Loopy Lighting So Far, Far Away Of The Day Gallery, we can observe the wispy tendrils of hot dust and gas glowing brightly in this ultraviolet image of the Cygnus Loop Galaxy Evolution Explorer. The nebula lies about 1,500 light-years away and is a supernova remnant left over from a massive stellar explosion that occurred 5,000 to 8,000 years ago. The Cygnus Loop extends more than three times the to one of the swans wings in the constellation of Cygnus. visible here in ultraviolet light from the supernova, which is still spreading outward from the original explosion. The original supernova would have been bright enough to be seen clearly eye. (Image credit: NASA/ JPL-Caltech) Satellite Services Rule SES announced that satellite has become the Europe, ahead of terrestrial and cable reception. Approximately 84 million European households have satellite DTH as their primary TV reception mode, an increase of 22 percent over the last four years. In the same period, terrestrial TV lost nearly 16 million homes, while cable lost over 2 million. IPTV, the TV distribution over teleIP format, has grown from a very low level to some 16 million households. These are the results of the year-end Satellite Monitor that SES presents annually and that is based on primary research in 35 European and North African countries. The study is based on more than 62,000 interviews, conducted institutes under the lead of TNS Infratest, Germany. for satellite in 2011 were the and Italy. The main growth drivers are the development of digital reception and HD. Currently, satellite is the leading digital infrastructure, reaching nearly 44 percent of all 186 million digital TV homes rate of satellite is 97 percent, compared to 70 percent in terrestrial reception and 48 percent in cable. The entire report and stats are available here. The new study that SES presented in London also reveals that ASTRA is extending its position in the 142 million TV households are served by ASTRA, 7 million more than the year before and 25 million more than four years ago. More than half of the European TV homes (57 percent) receive their signals from ASTRA. 73 percent of all European satellite homes are ASTRA households, a total of 62 million. and HD, ASTRA is also the leading HD platform in Europe. More than 23 million of the total 29 million satellite HD households in Europe are ASTRA households. The ASTRA Satellite System transmits 267 HD channels. Worldwide, SES broadcasts more than 1200 50 satellites and reaches 258 million TV households. view that satellite reception is the most attractive and futureproof mode for households to watch TV, said Norbert Commercial Europe, in London. The trend in Germany, as in Europe overall, where satellite outgrew the other reception modes. The number and variety of channels, the quality of the broadcast, and the large reach of satellite remain compelling arguments for households to decide for a satellite dish. The factual growth of satellite and ASTRA their leading role. It puts us in a strong position to compete with our strengths with DSL and broadband reception. The
PAGE 14
14 SatMagazine April 2012 InfoBeam combination of both in the connected TV will be the best of all possible worlds for the TV viewer. NSR (Northern Sky Research) recently systematic assessment of FSS satellite operators. This new study, Satellite Operator Financial Analysis, metrics including overall expenditure requirements, debt levels, and return on satellite investments. Beyond a detailed assessment of the top publicly reporting FSS operators, this by each metric based on their 2010 score as well as metrics in order to establish in terms of general, average values for these metrics as well as the typical distribution of the metric values. One particularly pertinent metric for FSS operators is average annual revenues per leased transponder, which was determined by dividing an operators total annual revenues by its number of leased transponders as of the While this should not be treated literally as transponder pricing because FSS operators often obtain revenues from other sources besides capacity leasing, the average annual revenues per leased transponder still provides considerable insight into trends among operators and by region. As a whole, the FSS industry tends to average US$2.1 million per year in revenues per leased transponder. More telling, though, was that there was a very large standard deviation associated with average annual revenues per leased transponder of about US$1.5 million. This was primarily driven by a small number of operators who could generate well in excess of this mean value, in terms of average revenues per leased transponder. Conversely, the median value for average annual revenues per leased transponder actually fell under the average at US$1.7 million. This indicates that the majority of operators actually earned less than the average. This last point is best illustrated by assessing this metric based on where each FSS operator obtains the majority of its revenues. For FSS operators dominant in Western Europe, they typically averaged nearly US$2.8 million per year from each leased transponder, while those with most revenues coming from the Americas actually averaged the least per leased transponder at just under US$1.8 million. For FSS operators seeing most of their revenues coming from Asia, they actually came in just above the Americas averaging just over US$1.8 million per year from each leased transponder. However, the variability in average revenues per leased transponder in Asia was more than twice that of the Americas indicating that parts of Asia were much more lucrative than the Americas (e.g., Japan), while other parts of Asia were much less so. This trend is illustrated by the fact that the median value of annual revenues per leased transponder in the Americas was higher than in Asia. For FSS operators deriving most of their revenues from Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, these players averaged nearly US$2.2 million per year from each leased transponder, but, again, the range of values was nearly as large as Asia indicating substantial variability in pricing in this region. Average annual revenues per leased transponder, even if not exactly corresponding to average transponder prices, is nonetheless a very useful FSS sector. On one side, it allows easy comparison to be drawn between individual operators as well as illustrating different regional trends. From the other point which is statistically derived from more than 150 data revenue estimates for business planning either on a per satellite basis or for estimating revenue generation potential for individual operators. Analysis by Patrick French, Strategic Analyst, Satellite Communications Group A 2K Expansion Hughes Network Systems has announced that its long-time customer, Skyband of Saudi Arabia, is expanding its broadband satellite services business with an order for more than 2,000 additional HX satellite terminals. purchased a multi-satellite HX Gateway, which is designed value from high-quality, applications such as mobility. to expand broadband services across virtually all multi-satellite coverage situations, while maintaining management, extensive diagnostics and scalability of the proven HX System. in using satellite bandwidth is at the core of the HX
PAGE 15
15 SatMagazine April 2012 InfoBeam System design. Based on the industry-leading Internet Protocol over Satellite (IPoS) standard, approved by ETSI, ITU, and TIA, the HX System a particular terminal, enabling operators to provide services bandwidth allocation scheme is employed which mitigates cost of space segment, whereby idle terminals release their bandwidth assignments to a shared pool. HX remote terminals use FDMA/TDMA channels to communicate with the HX Gateway in star mode, or simultaneously to other terminals in mesh mode, with each channel supporting highspeed data rates. VSAT (very small aperture terminal) service providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. of communications solutions and broadband IP applications to a variety of enterprise and government sectors. The HX System is ideal for these and (VNO) hosting and Communi cation-On-The-Move (COTM) for airborne/maritime/land, including defense and Intelli gence, Surveillance, and Recon naissance (ISR) solutions. An Atmospheric Amazement Five sounding rockets streaked into the pre-dawn sky on March 27, 2012, leaving trails of milky white clouds in a little understood part of the atmosphere. launched to the cusp of space at 4:58 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time and the subsequent launches occurred at 80 second intervals. The goal of the Anomalous (ATREX) was to improve understanding of the process that drives fast-moving winds high in the thermosphere. Fiery trails from four of clearly visible in this timelapse photograph (top) of the launch. The second image shows two of the clouds left in
PAGE 16
16 SatMagazine April 2012 aluminum, a substance that burns spontaneously in the presence of oxygen. The harmless by-products of this glowing reaction were far south as Wilmington, and north to Buffalo, New NASAs Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Throughout the experiment, cameras in North Carolina, Virginia, and New Jerseyas well as temperature and pressure instruments on two of the clouds move away from each other and integrating that information into atmospheric models, they hope to improve their understanding of the 320 to winds in the thermosphere. First noticed by scientists in the 1960s, the winds are thought to be part of a high-altitude jet stream thats distinct from the one lower in the troposphere, where commercial aircraft produced by these winds determine whats driving them. An improved understanding of the upper jet stream will electromagnetic regions of space that can damage satellites and disrupt communications systems. The experiment will also help explain how the effects of atmospheric disturbances in one part of the globe can be transported to other parts of the globe in a mere day or two. The launches are part of program at NASA that conducts approximately 20 around the world. Sounding Rockets... Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. was totally involved with the successful launch by NASA of the sounding previous news story. in that launch was produced Services (RSS) business unit located in Glen Burnie, NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia, over a six minute period as part of a study of the upper carried payloads which released chemical tracers that created the edge of space that were visible throughout the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. As noted by NASA, the mission, dubbed the Experiment (ATREX), was performed to gather information needed to better understand the process responsible for the highaltitude jet stream located 60 to 65 miles above the Earths surface. NASA has initially purchased six Oriole support the program. Dave Carter, President of Kratos Defense Engineering Solutions division, said, We are very pleased with the successful inaugural Oriole forward to a long and fruitful relationship providing Oriole system is very versatile and was developed to support technology research and missile defense target programs, in addition to Eric DeMarco, Kratos President and Chief Execu a long and enviable history supporting upper atmospheric research. Kratos is proud to provide the Oriole to augment NASAs family of suborbital An Enabler to do to something so well that folk keep coming back for more...even rockets! Orbital Sciences Corporation has announced that the U.S. Air Force has exercised an option order for a Minotaur I space launch vehicle to support the ORS-3 Enabler mission for the Operationally of the Department of Defense. This most recent Minotaur I space launch vehicle ordered by the Air Force will be launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) facility at NASAs Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Virginia in 2013. We are very pleased to continue to provide costeffective military space missions for the U.S. Air Force, said Mr. Ron Grabe, Orbitals Executive Vice President and General Manager of its Launch Systems Group. For the past 15 years, the Minotaur program has provided highly reliable and affordable launchers that combine government-owned propulsion systems with to support Department of Defense and other U.S. government space missions. The Minotaur I is a four-stage solid fuel space reusing government-owned motors that have been decommissioned as a result of arms reduction treaties. To date, Minotaur I has conducted 10 missions with a 100 percent success rate, delivering 32 satellites into orbit, while the entire Minotaur product line (see description below) has established a perfect 23-for-23 mission record. The Enabler mission will to be launched from the MARS facility, following the TacSat-2, NFIRE, TacSat-3 and ORS-1 missions that were conducted from the Eastern Virginia launch site in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011, respectfully. Orbitals Minotaur-1 vehicle on a launch pad.
PAGE 17
17 SatMagazine April 2012 Following the safe arrival of the MetOp-B weather sophisticated craft is now being carefully assembled and tested before launch on May 23rd. MetOp-B will provide essential data for weather forecasting and climate monitoring. Developed as a and Eumetsat, the MetOp program comprises a series of three identical satellites for continuous observations until year 2020. MetOp-A, was launched in in operational meteorologyit satellite to orbit Earth from pole to pole. The satellites carry a host of sensitive instruments to wide range of variables such as temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction other atmospheric gases for numerical weather prediction and climate monitoring. With MetOp-A still in service, the two satellites will orbit in tandem, increasing the wealth of data even further. MetOp-B arrived at the March after being transported from Toulouse, France on an Antonov cargo aircraft. carried the satellites solar array and the supporting equipment that is being used to prepare the satellite for launch. MetOp-B will be launched Fregat upper stage. Now that the satellite and support equipment has been sure that it wasnt damaged in transit, it will spend the next before being encapsulated in the We are extremely pleased to see MetOp-B arrive safely at the launch facilities, said Luciano Di Napoli, ESAs project manager. sure this advanced satellite is in perfect condition for launch. The MetOp satellites are built by a European consortium led by EADS Astrium. The MetOp program is Europes contribution to a cooperative venture with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The satellites conjunction with the NOAA complementary orbits to offer maximum coverage. MetOp-B being readied for testing after arriving at the launch facilities at Baikonur. Credits: ESA The MetOp-B satellite payload module being lowered onto the trolley for its first inspection after arrival at the launch facilities in Baikonur. Credit: ESA
PAGE 18
Gottlieb On Maritime... A Battle RoyaleDistribution Partners + Customers Vs. Inmarsat By Alan Gottlieb, Managing Director, Gottlieb International Group, Inc., and Contributing Editor S ingapore March 15th: Here at the ACi Maritime Communications Conference the clouds of war are gathering. Inmarsats Distribution Partners (DPs) and customers are rising up in unprecedented fury in response to Inmarsats recently announced price hikes. Driven by an ill-advised telephone companylike strategy, the communications giant has instituted unexpected dramatic is almost upas discontent mounts into open revolt, Inmarsat terminals could soon be sinking into the sea. Led by Adonis Violaris, Director of Telaccount Overseas Ltd., member of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, shipping companies at the Conference broadsided Inmarsats Michael their business to Iridium and KVH if the price increases are not boots are on the ground. Cyprus Shipping Chamber and the German and Hong Kong Ship Owners association have been directed by their member the strategic errors that have led to the huge recent decline in Strategies That Failed Such blunders are not new to Inmarsat. After spending billions to launch the i4 the Global Xpress project, all due to the entrenched monopolys wholesale migration to VSAT systems hitting their bottom line. Now, this team of managers has placed the Company on a path toward war with the very distribution partners Inmarsat so desperately needs to sustain and grow its business. To 18 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 19
19 SatMagazine April 2012 needs to examine how Inmarsats new strategy evolved and how it affects their Distribution Partners and customers. Initiated as a move to shield its distribution from purchase was introduced with the purchase of Stratos and, later, Segovia DPs, infuriated by what appeared to be a thinly veiled effort to priced broadband, countered with their own VSAT offerings. During the same period, the availability of over-ocean Ku-band VSAT increased, and to this day, continues to increase. By 2014, nearly 95 percent of the worlds shipping routes will have KuGlobal Mobility Network Despite the proliferation of Ku-, Inmarsat still held one card: where there ships need to travel, communications coverage must be global, and VSAT systems occasionally fail. Therefore, the new price increase announcement, Fleet Broadband ( FB ) was the ideal solution. In the meantime, VSATs continued pressure on the Inmarsat revenue stream mounted and Inmarsat desperately sought a competitive solution to VSAT. Enter... Global Xpress Why Not Ku-Band? After years of deriding KuVSAT as an unreliable substitute for Fleet Broadband due to its Rain Fade characteristics, Inmarsat found itself needing to deploy the very same Kutechnology that it had vigorously opposed. But now, that option was no longer available. The FSS operators had already appropriated the necessary orbital slots. While it may have been possible to negotiate a deal with the FSS operators for Ku-band transponder space or a Hosted Payload arrangement, Inmarsat management decided that, new, Ka-band constellation. Never mind the fact that Kais much more sensitive to Rain Fade than Ku-band and requires an even more precise and expensive antenna than Fleet Broadband. With this new strategy, Inmarsat management could position Since the introduction of the visionary inspired Global Xpress service, doubts have begun to emerge among satellite engineering experts as to the viability of Kafor the mission critical maritime applications now being adopted in the rain intensive maritime environment. Given the questionable viability of Global Xpress and the fact that it is unproven, Inmarsat needed a way to assure a distribution path for its new service. This Ship Equip an aggressive cleverly rode the trend up to $55 Million in Revenue and 1,000+ VSAT installationsall while the managers at Inmarsat were touting the narrow-band virtues of the i4 service and deriding VSAT as unreliable. Buying A Distribution Channel the uncharacteristically high demand for VSAT in the Norwegian region, Ship Equips insightful managers and investors rise was becoming saturated. The low hanging fruit had been services. It was time to cash out. To do it they needed a buyer a company who so desperately needed a channel to launch its Global Xpress service that it was prepared to pay far more than end to rapidly accelerating growth. After spending nearly $159 million for the Company, channel might not be enough to assure success. Inmarsat developed a new tactic to strong arm its distributors and customers to purchase Global Xpress: a new hybrid Kuand L-band service called Xpress Link, featuring an upgrade path to Global Xpress and combined with a dramatic price rise on its low usage Standard Plan Fleet Broadband products. charged extra. and then giving that service away as part of the new Xpress that might never upgrade to a VSAT service. To understand the effect of this move on the DPs, one needs to understand how the wholesale pricing structure of the service has been altered by the price increases. While the end-users seldom pay the suggested retail price, up from $35 to $100. This slashes dealer margins on long term especially delicate situation inasmuch as distributors have many pass along the price rises to clients are facing an unprecedented level of resistance from those customers. Adding to the furor over the increases was the effective date of the price rises. The changes go into effect May 1st, right in the middle of the shipping industrys budget year, thereby confronting the shipping community with an unbudgeted and dramatic price rise. Inmarsats i5 satellite
PAGE 20
Rupert Pearce Inmarsats CEO, summed up his new strategy, Because VSAT isnt global, VSAT isnt resilient, VSAT does crash when in adverse weather conditions. And VSAT above all was not ship owners have to have Fleet Broadband alongside it. Well guess what, its just become uneconomic for VSAT operators to do that. Pearces tirade rhetoric as well as his ill-informed understanding not relying on the edge of Kusatellite beamsthe major ocean routes are now completely covered by Kuthe higher frequency of his proposed Global Xpress is much more vulnerable to adverse weather conditions than proven Ku-band VSAT. Furthermore, his CEO of a large, publicly held company, as well as his outrageously misleading commentary, will, no doubt, further contribute to the vast rift forming between Inmarsat and its once loyal and supportive for Company as well as personal futures. DPs In Revolt assault on their businesses for the following reasons: 1. As provider of KuVSAT services, most of the DPs buy and they become only commissioned sales agents 2. We understand from our sources that Inmarsat intends to provide the complete service potentially eliminating between the providers including installation, repair, software and support thereby eliminating the opportunity for DPs to increase their margins by selling these services. This renders obsolete any third party value-adds, including software that, in some cases, has 3. They are rumored to demand that DPs must agree to 4. 5. Inmarsat will compete directly with its DPs with both channels under Frank Coles the new president of maritime, a dubious distinction that gives little comfort to the DP Community that the channels will be 6. Finally, we hear that Inmarsat is now offering to install the customera desperation based practice further 7. All of this is in addition to the dramatic wholesale price rises discussed previously. The net affect of such policies can only cause a stampede of DPs moving away KVH Industries ultimate alternative for VSAT communication, the V11 a service that does not use, or need, Inmarsat. The KVH V11Inmarsat Not Needed response features a unique 1m antenna that combines Cand high speed broadband at up to 1 Megabits per second speeds (or metered, if desired), and will be available this summer. Due to the fact that both services are on a single antenna, In our view, this service is a major advance over the V7 offering and purposes, as rain immune as Inmarsats Fleet Broadband. DPs will be aggressively pushing OpenPort services and in parallel resellers will rush to KVH. We also believe that this potentially For the end users that already have FB terminals, the affect of the price changes is far reaching. Slamming The Shipping Customers While Inmarsat has lowered its prices slightly on the SCAP offerings in a further effort to compete against VSAT, its management has i.e., Carriers and some Container Vessels and Fishing Vessels) does not For these, and other small vessel segments, reeling from low freight rates and struggling to survive, the effect of the 40 prices to users in a time of economic trouble is astounding. In response, and in addition to the actions underway by the in Europe are starting to build up an alliance against Inmarsat pricing. the Greek Association of Maritime Managers in Information Technology & Communications is actively abound that anti-competitive legal action is under consideration Given the fact that Inmarsat has sold thousands of Fleet F77 and FB terminals based on the data and voice rates available at the time of purchase, ship owners not protected by long term contracts with DPs are now faced with the choice of either pushing the same service, or purchasing OpenPort terminals, or heading around the world. In Conclusion Inmarsat is under enormous pressure. Its go direct strategy has infuriated its once loyal distribution partners and is pushing them to alternative suppliers and competitive technologies. The viability of its highly touted Global Xpress for maritime applications is being questioned. A new wave of Kacompetitors threatens to create over capacity in the lucrative revenue stream from LightSquared is ending. Gottlieb On Maritime... 20 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 21
Ultimately, we believe that shareholders and the Inmarsat Board its customers has submerged the communications giant in a toxic brew ultimately threatens the long term viability of Inmarsat. About the author Mr. Gottlieb is Managing Director of Gottlieb International Group recognized global authority on the use of VSAT on Commercial Vessels. Training in Maritime and Oil & Gas Satellite Communication Markets. Major clients include Satellite Operators, Equipment Manufacturers, VSAT, The First Independent Guide, and numerous articles published in SatMagazine, Digital Ship and other publications. He is a frequent speaker at Digital Ship, ACi Conferences, Riviera Marine maritime satellite conferences and Orange Business Live. Editors Note The Battle of the Saintes painted by Thomas Mitchell was fought naval engagements took place, starting on April 9th, with the decisive action fought on April 12th. The name Saintes comes from a group of islands located between Guadeloupe and Dominica in the West Indies. (Image courtesy of the History of the Sailing Warship in the Marine Art website at ). 21 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 22
Baudry On M2M... A Fast Growth MarketMachine Mastery By Maxime Baudry, IDATE, and Contributing Editor M 2M is a growing segment for the satellite industry, although satellite still has only a small share of the machine-to-machine market which is largely dominated by cellular systems: around 2 percent in terms of volume and 6 percent of revenue in 2011, points to real growth potential for these applications. While it is sectors such as fleet management and maritime security that have driven the sectors development up to homeland security/military arena. 22 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 23
Satellite M2M: A Fast-Growing Market There are several factors driving the growth of satellite M2M applications, starting with: Clear assets in terms of coverage: once classic and lowavailablesatellite becomes the only possible solution for M2M applications. This is especially true of vast desert areas, and of oceans where demand for M2M solutions is toring offshore wind farms, etc. Tremendous increase in applications requiring M2M. Examples here include smarts grids in the area of energy, and for the military which are heavy users of M2M appli in addition to having the means to pay for very high-end and so very expensive products. Complementary nature of terrestrial and satellite have been innovating over the past several years by rolling out hybrid equipment which is being used more and more by operators. Orbcomm was a pioneer in this and Inmarsat. Stricter regulation. Recent developments in maritime regulation, notably the adoption of stricter regulations to satellite which is the only possible solution for this type of application outside of coastal areas. is expected to grow to 2.3 billion EUR by 2016. The region developments in countries such as China, Indonesia, Vietnam and India. Core Markets Are Niche Markets Fleet management, industrial security and maritime security are sectors that operators have been targeting for some time, and ones where they are starting to earn a solid return on their investments. Examples include the energy sector, through the deployment of (solar plants), which will be a major source of growth. This is also true of the homeland security/military sector which has initiated application being considered, such as the need for miniaturised by now become commonplace for any type of solution: High enough bitrates (in the several Kbps) to support the transmission of a more or less large volume of data due to the use of a growing number of sensors. 23 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 24
Two-way transmission capabilities, especially to be able to Lowest possible latency and the ability to have virtually real-time transmissions (currently, 15 ms for the most powerful systems). Lowest possible energy consumption. Satellite Operators Adopting Various Positions to terrestrial technologies, and especially cellular, satellite operators have several strengths they can capitalise on, but It is by focusing on these strengths that satellite companies new generation satellite systems, these players will be able ability to deliver photo and video M2M content. For the most high-end solutions, bitrates will soon be in the neighborhood of 100 Kbps, which is ten times what they are today. Editors Note This article is an extract from the latest market report from IDATE Satellite M2M, the satellite M2M market 2012-2016 published in February 2012. For more information, please contact Maxime Baudry at m.baudry@idate.fr About the author Maxime joined IDATE as a senior consultant in April of 2006. His main area of endeavour is monitoring the satellite industry, the telecommunications services market and operator strategies. Before coming to IDATE, Maxime worked for two years for a major strategy focused primarily on industrial analysis of satellite telecommunications for space agencies and the sectors equipment providers. Mr. Baudry holds a Masters degree in Technology & Management (Ecole Centrale de Paris), and is a graduate of the Ecole Multinationale des Affaires/ Bordeaux Business School (E.S.C Bordeaux & Fachhochschule Mnsters ERASMUS program). Figure 1. Growth of the satellite M2M market, in volume* (Million modules) SatMagazine April 2012 Baudry On M2M...
PAGE 26
The Middle East Continues To Make Strides By Chris Forrester, Editorial Director, Broadgate Publishing + SatNews Publishers European Editor 26 SatMagazine April 2012 The SES Stand At CABSAT The Arabsat Stand At CABSAT
PAGE 27
There were a slew of YahSat / YahLive stories issued, not the least includes the signatures on a Newtec deal (with YahSat) and strong statements from YahLive as to the HDTV contracts they were securing. The only dilemma, and perfectly normal at the start of any new venture, was the near-silence as to what the value in transponder rental leases represented in the short term. Eutelsat were not to be outdone, and as large as Arabsats (or that of SES) again it was noted that CEO Michel de Rosen with Jacques Dutronc (Eutelsats Chief Andrew Wallace (CCO) amongst many other Paris-based visitors. plenty to discuss. Topmost was peoples curiosity whether Eutelsat and Arabsat would solve their 25.5 degrees East squabble which directly affects Eutelsats EsHail 1 craft that is due to launch later next year. Despite smiles all aroundand suggestions from some of the parties directly involved that an agreement is extremely closethere The pressure, however, is on for a Eshail 1 is in build, and a large slice of its Ku-/Ka-band capacity already sold just waiting for a successful launch, for Company was NOT present at CabSat as far as square footage was concerned, they were very much in evidence at the Doha Arabsat was busy with a constant stream of visitors. Their team were enthusiastic about the growth of HDTV, promising 40+ channels would be on air by the end of this year. There was also optimism about their planned expansion to the East, and the possibilities about acquiring Malaysias Measat (see separate story). Arabsats arch-rivals Nilesat had a smaller booth at CabSat, and without Salah Hamza who, despite just gaining Dubai... where size matters 27 SatMagazine April 2012 he annual Dubai CabSat show was another humdinger to show their flags and make heavyweight statements to them as North America, Europe, or the Asian region. Indeed, while Arabsats giant booth dominated the satellite end of the hall (Sony and the likes of Panasonic were at the other end), it was SES which had a significant presence, both in terms of booth size and staffing, especially when you include to see SES Platform Services present and busy.
PAGE 28
28 SatMagazine April 2012 Dubai predicts 7,000 media/ IT-related companies Dr. Amina Al Rustamani heads up Dubais Media City and related business parks, already home to some 4,500 businesses in the various City Free Zone enterprises scattered up and down the Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. Speaking at the Dubai CabSat show she says that, at least as far as Dubai is concerned, the recession is over, and declared that 2012 is the year where she expects more growth. However, even in the past year or two when Dubai was undoubtedly still suffering from the global recession, Dubai managed to attract 654 new companies to one or other of its business parks. Of course, some businesses closed during the downturn, but now Dr. Al Rustamani says it is time to be positive again. She is cautiously optimistic that Dubais relentless growth should continue, telling journalists that adding another 7,000 IT-related companies over the next 10 years is quite possible. Its not that people just get amazed with what they see physicallythe first thing they look at is the legal framework, not just the real estate... What made these projects successful is two factorsthe Dubai factor, and the second is the commitment of the government to make this a free zone and really operate as a free zone, she told Arabian Business. She says that despite ample talk of doom and gloom these past few years, and global stories reporting the 60 percent fall in Dubai real estate prices, the Emirate is back on a growth curve. Dubais five core City Free Zone real-estate schemes are currently 82.1 percent filled, and between them employ almost 70,000 people, not the least including some of the Gulfs major broadcasters. Qatar Makes FTTH Commitment The gas-rich state of Qatar used QitCOM, its annual high-tech fair and conference, to announce that it would be funding the deployment of FTTH to all business premises and 95 percent of households by 2015. The deployment will be under the control of Qatars National Broadband Network Company. The Minister of Business and Trade, Sheikh Jassim al-Thani, is Q.NBNs board chairman. The establishment of Qatar National Broadband Network Company with the mandate to build a nationwide high-speed fibre optics network is crucial to the development of business, economic growth, innovation and enhanced services to all citizens and residents. It should transform the way we live and work. And I am confident that we will receive the utmost co-operation possible from all parties concerned to achieve the network rollout as planned, Sheikh Jassim said. Engineer previously), had too much on his plate in Cairo to travel to Dubai. Nevertheless, the numbersin terms of channelsare simply staggering, and weed. s 7 degrees West hot spot neighbourhood (and not forgetting Noorsat, which also has a slice of this action via its virtual satellite operation using Eutelsat capacity) is now carrying a massive 822 channels, and growing day by day (and up 35 percent in 2011). Arabsat not to be outdone, claimed 450+ free-to-air TV channels on its system, 35+ HDTV (and a 3D channel) just at the moment, and the fruits of three is more than validated by its GlobeCast the Asian/Australia reach where the GlobeCast Global Arab Bouquet delivers. It is worth remembering that despite three years of doom and gloom, and where the Gulf economyand in particular in Arab circles) exhibited by Dubai is just enormous. The tallest building on the planet at the Burg Khalifa, the biggest is building a brand new airport, spending US$34 billion on a brand-new facility that will be the biggest and busiest on the planet when it opens in 2027. OK, I hear you say, theyve plenty of also got the visiona vision that will Nilesat 201 is the third telecommunications satellite Nilesat has placed into orbit since 1998. provide in various Gulf locations 10 new shopping malls (and the one beneath the Burg Khalifa is truly enormous) on the basis, it seems, that if we build it, they will come. Broadcasting shares this same optimism. The suggestions locally are 28 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 29
that the Arab Spring, as well as creating a clutch of new governments will unleash plenty of private cash some of which will percolate into new privatelyfunded TV channels where previously they were forbidden. Indeed, as a proof of this trend, even ultra-conservative Saudi Arabias deputy minister for culture and information, Dr. Riyadh Najm channels would be allowed to domicile themselves in Saudi Arabia, a nearIn other words, this region will continue to provide growth for satellite operators and the industrys broadcasting equipment vendors. Which is why so many players were busy at CabSat. The future And, speaking of the Middle East, as we were, Israels AMOS 5 satellite is ready to work Spacecom s Amos5, launched on December 11, 2011, by ILS from January 25th. Some C-band clients have recently been relocating from Spacecoms temporary leased capacity (the former AsiaSat-2 ) to the new satellite at 17 degrees East. However, there are also further considerable expansion plans afoot with rumours that a new satellite order for Amos-6 can be expected in the next equipped with Ku-band and extra capacity from Ka-band. Gil Ilany said the in-orbit tests had all wrapped, be as high as planned for both its C-and Ku-band deployments. Amos-5 was built to focus on Africa, and has, says Ilany, a wide portfolio of customers now signing up for service. The potential deals are most attractive, although most customers were waiting until all was well. Those people are includes clients in Europe. Amos 4 + 6 Together with Amos 5, two new satellites (Amos 4 and 6) will greatly expand Spacecoms capacity. Extra capacity is coming on stream covering Central and Eastern Europe, and the Baltic regions, as well the Middle East generally and Africa in particular. This expansion in capacity will drive Spacecoms revenues forward dramatically, and some reports suggest that the overall aim is to see a tripling of revenues within about five years. The diversification is necessary. Some 35 percent of Spacecoms current revenues flow from the Yes DTH operator over Israel. Thankfully, Yes has expanded, both in the number of channels on offer and with its shift to HDTV (and even 3D). Amos 4 will go to 65 degrees East, and is now scheduled for a 2013 launch, perhaps using a SpaceX rocket with which it has a launch option. Amos 6 will go to 4 degrees West, scheduled for launch in 2014 and will replace Amos 2. 29 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 30
from telcos and similar service providers. Now the extra capacity can come into play and Amos although not alone sees considerable business coming from services. Ilany says that they are seeing good, solid business being done at attractive transponder rates. The growth in demand meant potential revenues were not subject to over-supply of bandwidth, said Ilany, and that prices/transponder are holding up very well. Ilany is sensitive about what that terms, and with Spacecom being a quoted without his CFOs approval. However, he rate. We are experiencing much greater demand than we anticipated, he added. Amos-5 additionally has a powerful C-band footprint with concentrations on Nigeria and another that connects one powerful beam across Central Africa (include the former French territories which also enjoy a Ku-band focus) through to East Africa. Its Africa Ku-band coverage also includes a Southern Africa beam, with beams also hitting Nigeria and Kenya/East Africa. Elevation angles are excellent, which in Africa are less enforced than Europe and thus teleports always have to worry about interference. Ilany added that all of its existing teleport clients were on board with the new satellite, and gearing up for new services. Ilany recognises that Ku-band, and its rain fade problems, represents a harder sell than C-band, but says Spacecom is seeing more and more interest in Ku-band for its DTH potential. And this also in discussions with a major player who for mobile operators in these regions. Its usage is booming. There is some satellite sector is growing in importance. availabilityand its more cost effective. Amos-5 has a powerful C-band beam but both providing great coverage over Central Africa including the Francophone territories and stretching to East Africa. We also have a lot of aspirations for DTH in the region. A European investor is for example. We are also in contact with major DTH entrepreneurs in West Africa, and the same in East Africa. Many of the pay-TV projects start, or depend, on DTH for their core infrastructure and then roll out a terrestrial service on DTT. We are to be able to announce deals before the end of the year. DTH is the best quality, and the lowest costs for consumers. Ilany added that most of the embryonic and would-be DTH broadcasters planning for Africa national or regional coverage need to carve out new customer niches while recognising that sport might not be part of their offering. This assumes that Multichoice / SuperSport continues to dominate sports-based pay-TV transmissions over the region, although there could be more interest as and when the current TV rights come up for renewal. One current change to Spacecoms portfolio of clients (at 4 degrees West) was caused by the USAs withdrawal of the military from Iraq just before the Christmas holiday. This reduced the demand from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and governmental demand, generally. Amos was supplying capacity for troop entertainment and home contact. This has freed up some much-needed capacity, says Ilany. He said that Spacecoms aim orbital slots within the next 3 years. Amos 5: technical specs C and Ku-band frequencies Gil Ilany, V.P., Marketing, Spacecom Amos-5: Pan-African C-Band Beam 30 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 32
32 SatMagazine April 2012 Insight One Million By 2016Container Tracking Systems, That Is... By Johan Svanberg, Senior Analyst, Berg Insight he installed base of container tracking systems will reach one million by 2016. According to a new research report from the analyst firm Berg Insight, the number of active remote container tracking units deployed on Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 66.9 percent, this number systems in the total population of containers is estimated to increase from 0.4 percent in 2011 to Orbcomm has after recent acquisitions of Startrak and PAR LMS emerged as the largest vendor of refrigerated containers. ID Systems and are prominent vendors focusing on inland transportation in North Honeywell Global EPSa and Kirsen Global Security are examples of companies offering dedicated solutions targeting the global end-to-end container transport chain. Ever since the events of 9/11, there have been a lot of said Johan Svanberg senior analyst, Berg Insight He adds that regulations and meet the high demands on security, information supply chains, said Mr. Svanberg
PAGE 33
33 SatMagazine April 2012 Adoption Acceleration is a system that incorporates data logging, satellite positioning and monitoring of shipping containers came in focus after 9/11. Many companies saw an opportunity and started ambitious a reasonable cost and mobile computing and sensor technology delivers high performance, as well as excellent usability. All of these components combined enable the delivery of supply chain management, security management and operations management Intermodal shipping containers are standardised, reusable containers used in intermodal transport systems worldwide. Container trade is the fastest growing segment in seaborne trade, having grown nearly 10 percent annually since the 1980s. Maritime transportation and the increased containerisation of goods are carried by sea. At the end of 2011, there were approximately 20 million cargo containers worldwide, the equivalent of 30 million TEUs. systems with GPRS or satellite communication for intermodal containers in active use is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 66.9 percent from 77,000 units at the end of 2011 to 1.0 million by 2016. The penetration rate of remote is estimated to increase from 0.4 percent in 2011 to 3.6 percent The U.S. satellite communication provider Orbcomm has, with GPRS or satellite communication. The company had achieved third largest providers having 10,000 and 7,000 systems installed is the fourth largest system provider after the acquisition of EMS Telular and Cubic GTS from the U.S., Pointer Telocation from CSB Technology, Kirsen Global Security and Starcom Systems intermodal shipping containers. There has been a consolidation trend in the container activities. Francisco Partners acquired Cybit in January 2010 in a deal worth about 28 million euros. This deal was later followed by the acquisition of Masternaut in April 2011. ID Systems further acquired GEs Asset Intelligence division, a leading international acquisition of PAR LMS in December 2011 in a deal worth about in August 2011, which formed the new business unit Honeywell US$ 42 million. Berg insight anticipates that there will be a continued strong focus on container transport security and increased supply chain visibility in the coming years which will favour the container and bringing down hardware to increase the adoption rate for container About the author Johan Svanberg is a Senior Analyst with a Masters degree from Chalmers University of Technology. He joined areas of expertise include embedded connectivity, wireless M2M markets and mobile applications. Further information is available at:
PAGE 34
SatBroadcasting Remaining Afloat With OTT Via Satellite By Simen Frostad, Chairman and Co-Founder, Bridge Technologies S atellite has played the key role over the past five years or so in bringing connectivity to users who are either in a remote location, or not so remote but too far from the cable infrastructure. Apart from access to the Internet, a satellite connection does, of course, enable the end user to receive content restrict their offerings by geographical regionwhat do viewers do if they want to watch a Scandinavian channel in Alexandria, Greece, or content broadcast from Australia for viewing in Hawaii? Cruise ship cabin photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line 34 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 35
The promise, and increasingly the reality, is that ( OverThe-Top ) services will enable any viewer with access to a broadband connection to view content in any locationwithout restriction. OTT services, providing broadcast-style content as an IP stream, are potentially available to anyone, wherever they are located. media consumers who are coming to believe in the anything more mundane level to the family at home wanting to watch their own culture. in Alexandria and Honolulu, viewers in most centers of population will be able to view OTT services via a cable-based connection. that will help illustrate some of the issues involved in delivering and receiving OTT content by satellite. include in this sector crews of ocean-going cargo ships, oil rig crews, and cruise ships. Cruise passengers spend a lot of money cruise companies want to provide them with all the toys. Just because they are on vacation on the high seas doesnt stop them range of media content. They will also want WiFi in their cabins and outside their cabins, too, if they have mobile devices such smartphones and iPads. In addition to the equipment needed onboard for receiving the satellite signal and uploading to the to supply each cabin, and the set top box (STB) and WiFi router for each cabin. Depending on the way the media services are rolling premium passengers to have access to services that are not available to those cruising in economy class. In other words, dissimilar to a typical land-based set up. However, all this has to be provided to several thousand users aboard a ship hundreds of miles from the nearest cable, and possibly thousands of miles from specialist technicians who would normally be providing maintenance to land-based customers. As the quality of OTT services are going to be judged by all on land, no high-end cruise operator can afford to provide OTT or Internet access that fails to measure up. And theres the rub: of IP based services up and running smoothly? The answer, quite simply, is that they dont. They simply cant However there is a solution to this conundrum. Its the same solution that is available to any land-based supplier of cablebased digital media servicesthe only difference being that for these suppliers its still an option (although a very expensive and SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 36
The same two-way connection via satellite that allows passengers to browse the web, send emails, view the gameshow this same connection can also be relaying a continuous stream of monitoring centre. At this centre, a technician with digital media A cruise operator can monitor and maintain the services for alternatively, the monitoring and maintenance service may be operated by a third-party provider. The point is that all of the information required to diagnose center. In many cases, any service interruption or quality issue crew technicians on board to do is swap out a component if the fault is caused by hardware failuretheres no need for them to compelling economic sense to install this capability for remote diagnosis and remedy, even if they are using cable, and have maintenance staff on the road 24/7. Its far more cost-effective, cruise operator, its not only more cost-effective, its completely and connectivity could not function without it. About the author Simen K. Frostad is Chairman and co-founder of Bridge Technologies. With 22 years of industry experience, Simen founded Bridge contribution network for Scandinavian sports coverage. Simen had editing facility during the 1994 Winter Olympics. Cruise ship cabin photo courtesy of Crystal Cruises On-board infrastructure: how to maintain digital media services thousands of miles from home. As with any digital media delivery chain, the key to a watertight service on board ship is a true-end-to-end monitoring capability. This means monitoring analysis technology needs to be installed at every point where the signal undergoes change or processing. On a ship, the entry point of the network is the satellite dish and receiver, and the first task for any monitoring system is to check at this point that the signals are being received as expected. The VB270 probe provides the RF functionality here, validating the measurements, and verifying the presence and integrity of the content. For the ships headend, a VB330 will provide the capacity to monitor the heavy traffic volumes likely. The 10 gigabit architecture is a necessity with up to a possible 2,500 concurrent users in a typical cruise ship today. Even if only 250 cabins are accessing HD VOD at the same time, with each stream requiring between six and 12 mbits/s, thats a lot of packets to monitor. Then for the true end-to-end capability that will allow a remote monitoring centre to identify and resolve any problem at any point in the network, each cabins home network can be fitted with the microAnalytics system, which comprises a miniature hardware probe at the STB, reporting data on the viewers quality of experience, together with software clients that provide the same stream of information from any mobile devices used by the passengers. This software client can be made available by the cruise operator and downloaded to each device the cabins occupants will be using during the cruise, as part of the app used to view digital content. Back at the remote shore-based monitoring center, the technicians will see continuous live data and analysis of the networks performance, from ingest from the satellite, right through to the viewers screens. 36 SatMagazine April 2012 SatBroadcasting
PAGE 38
Prime Competing For Space By Mike Conschafter, Director, Space Systems, Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) he U.S. space industry currently faces dual threats; federal aerospace spending and overly restrictive satellite technology export policies. If we continue on this path, without implementing the right reforms, our nation risks the scenario of a weakened space industrial base that is unable to fully meet U.S. national security needs or sustain our technological edge against foreign competitors. Competing for Space: Satellite Export Policy and U.S. National Security clearly details the impact that inap propriate export controls and inade quate trade policies have had on the U.S. satellite industry. It also offers U.S. firms more competitive in the the same time protecting our national secu rity. The Aerospace Industries Asso ciation (AIA) believes that actions to system and enhance space trade among our allies are long overdue and will build a stronger, more robust U.S. satellite industry and supplier base that are able to meet the challenges associ ated with budget-constrained govern ment customers. 38 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 39
We surveyed AIA members this year on the topic of export regulations and the message was clear: outdated export controls are hurting U.S. companies. Data supports this view. The U.S. held 73 percent of the worldwide share of satellite exports in 1995this fell to a staggering 25 percent by 2005. Clearly, its time for a change. compete and win their fair share of international commercial space businessnothing more, nothing less. nations export control system will result in a healthier space industrial base allowing the United States to better focus on sensitive technologies and safeguard national security while creating high economy, reinforcing U.S. preeminence in space and ensuring our aerospace industrial base remains second to none. Marion C. Blakey President and Chief Executive Officer, AIA The Foundation 1999 shifted export control jurisdiction of all satellites including commercial communications satellites and their parts and componentsfrom the Commerce Department, the agency responsible for licensing dual-use exports, to the State Department, the agency that monitors the licensing of munitions exports. The Section 1513(a) restrictions for satellite exports were put in place after the 1998 Cox Commission investigation that addressed concerns about Chinese access to U.S. high technology. The shift, intended to protect sensitive space technologies and preserve U.S. preeminence, has since contributed to the loss of U.S. and capabilities of U.S. competitors abroad. Simply put, we have legislated away our nations dominance in space. The companies that comprise the domestic space industrial base developed the capabilities and services that have fueled the nations economy and ensured U.S. technological dominance for generations. U.S. economic and technological leadership enabled the country to prevail in the Cold War and set the stage for U.S. global leadership in the 21st century. As we enter a new era of budget austerity and the threat of draconian sequestration cuts loom, failure to revise export controls could result in an ongoing loss of critical industrial base suppliers and pose an increasing In 2011, AIA conducted a survey of its membership to assess the space industrys most recent concerns with current export regulations. Twenty member companies provided detailed responses to the survey, and this resulting report was reviewed and approved by AIAs Space and International Councils. These very comprehensive group accounting for over 75 percent of total 2010 sales by U.S. satellite and component manufacturers as and Services 2011 Reporttotaling more than $30 billion in 2010 sales. Key results include: More than 90 percent of respondents indicated a connection between export controls and eroding space industrial base capabilities. Respondents reported that U.S. export controls stand as barriers to domestic companies and create an advantage for foreign competitors major overhaul of U.S. export controls. Section 1248 of the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) tasked the Departments of Defense and State with considering the prospect of moving appropriate space components from the United States Munitions List (USML) to the Commerce Control List (CCL). More than 70 percent of AIA survey respondents voiced concern that the it resulted in Congress authorizing the President to make substantial revisions to USML Category XV (space vehicles) 100 percent of respondents said that current export control restrictions have at least some adverse impact on their businesses Respondents noted that current policies have created the unintended consequence of fueling foreign competition for U.S.-dominated market share. The result: a dampening of sales opportuni ties to boost U.S. space technology innovation More than 70 percent of respondents blamed ITAR for lost sales, with many small businesses charac 39 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 40
40 SatMagazine April 2012 The U.S. government should expeditiously complete and release its review of space systems and compo nents under consideration for removal from the United States Munitions List (USML) Congress should return authority to the administra tion for determining the export control jurisdiction of space system technologies The U.S. government should exercise this renewed authority to remove low/no risk tech nologies from the USML and designate them for inclusion on the CCL, which allows for greater nology transfer safeguards AIA Recommendation: Promote U.S. Space Industry Exports Selected space systems should receive support under the administrations National Export Initiative, which set the goal of doubling U.S. The Export-Import Bank should develop a greater focus on support for the U.S. satellite manufac turing sector. The use of credit guarantees should be considered for domestic projects if international competitors are backed by government guarantees Additional resources should be provided for the Commerce Department to develop and support space export strategies. With adequate funding, the Commerce Department can help level the playing global marketplace International military sales have for decades strengthened the U.S. aerospace industry and enabled allies to cost-effectively acquire new capa bilities. The Defense Department should encourage our allies to acquire U.S.-built spacecraft and systems. See the Appendix at the close of this article. Introduction The U.S. space industry currently faces major funding reductions from its core customer the federal governmentand at the same time current export policies limit it from conducting effective commercial business abroad. As small businesses and suppliers respond to this scenario by closing their doors, without reform, national security needs or sustain its technological edge against international competitors. export controls and the absence of export-focused trade policies on the strength and competitiveness of the U.S. space sector will now be offered. It is AIAs position that addressing both areas will enhance space trade among U.S. allies and lead to a stronger U.S. space industry and supplier base that is better equipped to meet the challenges of budget-constrained government customers. Representing more than 90 percent of the U.S. aerospace regarding issues critical to the countrys economic strength, technological competitiveness and defense readiness. Prepared by AIAs Space and International Councils this AIA survey that provides new insight regarding the impact of current export restrictions on space industry manufacturers of recommendations on ways to improve the U.S. space industrys competitiveness. ( A list of relevant studies and a brief summary of each can be found later in this presentation. ) In particular, a February 2008 study from the Center for Strategic and International Studies ( CSIS ) found that current the 2nd and 3rd tierand their ability to compete for foreign space business. Today, the call for reform should be urgent. With federal space budgets under pressure and satellite export policies that remain inappropriate, U.S. industryincluding many small to involvement in the space sector. This scenario, described in the AIAs 2010 report Tipping Point, could lead to a devastating loss of space capabilities essential to national security. While some commercial satellite prime contractors have found ways to mitigate the impact of current policies, lower tier suppliers remain threatened, along with the overall competitiveness of the U.S. space industry. I remain concerned that our own civil and commercial space enterprise, which is essential to the military space industrial base, may be unnecessarily constrained by export control legislation and regulation.Gen. Kevin Chilton, former commander of U.S. Strategic Command and former space shuttle commander, during a 2009 hearing before the House Armed Services Committee. Gen. Kevin Chilton, former commander of U.S. Strategic Command and former space shuttle commander. 1 Prime
PAGE 41
SatMagazine April 2012 An August 2011 Futron analysis of the space industry in 10 countries stated: Only the United States has shown four straight years of competitiveness declines By contrast, Russia, China and Japan have improved their own space competitiveness by 12 percent, 27 percent and 45 percent, respectively. 2 Stable domestic federal budgets are critical to the U.S. budgets, developing effective export promotion strategies and faces the real and daunting possibility of losing its preeminence in space. The goal of this report is to convey the urgency to we believe will strengthen the U.S. space industrial base and enhance national security. Outdated Export Controls: Dulling Our Security Edge U.S. defense technology can be a providing our troops with an edge over their opponents. Effective export controls can sharpen that most advanced technologies, weapons and equipment out of the hands of our adversaries. Unfortunately, the current U.S. export control system sensitive technologies while international trade. International technology trade helps U.S. aerospace and defense companies create jobs and fuel economic growth. The industry supports more than one million American jobs and according to AIA estimates, created a $51.2 billion aerospace trade surplus in 2010. Global trade also strengthens U.S. alliances and improves our security posture by providing allies and friendly nations with jointly or unilaterally in support of shared security goals. The current U.S. export control system was designed decades ago to meet the demands of a Cold War-era, bipolar security environment. According to a 2009 report, Beyond Fortress America, prepared by the National Research Council of the National Academies, the U.S. export control system has not been conditions. The current system closes off business opportunities with foreign customers and increases costs for U.S. industry and small businesses. This the nations security and economic interests. Worldwide Share of Satellite Exports 1995 2005 These challenges are particularly acute in the space sector. Numerous studies have highlighted the negative impact of excessive export controls on the American space industrial base. These studies focus on the impact of Section 1513(a) of the Year 1999. This legislation shifted export control jurisdiction of all satellitesincluding commercial communications satellites and their parts and componentsfrom the Commerce Department, the agency responsible for licensing dual-use
PAGE 42
42 SatMagazine April 2012 exports, to the State Department, the agency that monitors the licensing of munitions exports through the U.S. Munitions List ( USML ). 4 This move placed satellites under the International ( ), government regulations that control the export of defense-related articles. The Section 1513(a) restrictions for satellites export were put in place after the 1998 Cox Commission investigation of Chinese access to high technology. While the move was intended to protect sensitive space technologies and preserve American preeminence, what resulted among U.S. manufacturers as illustrated by a 2008 report by CSIS ( see the chart on this page ). During a 2009 hearing before the House Armed Services Committee, General Kevin Chilton, former commander of U.S. Strategic Command and NASA astronaut stated, I remain concerned that our own civil and commercial space enterprise, which is essential to the military space industrial base, may be unnecessarily constrained by export control legislation and regulation. 5 National ( NRO ), the U.S. agency that operates many of Americas most sensitive satellites, found that smaller second and third-tier satellite vendors have businesslikely due in part to current export restrictions. The NRO study found that such a limited market impacts the supplier base most severely, ultimately with a negative impact on U.S. limited supplier base may compromise long-term availability of some critical components and can negatively affect current program schedules. 6 found by reviewing the Defense Production Act ( DPA ) Title III Program ( ), a program that provides funding streams in order to preserve domestic military supply chain capability. It is worrisome to note that at least 13 out of 20 current DPA Title III projects are aimed at supply chain materials necessary for the U.S. space program. 7 Current Title III programs related to the space sector include: readout integrated circuits that support sensitive Ion batteries required for satellite power. 8 Figure 1. Worldwide Share Of Satellite Exports The (current export control) system has the effect of discouraging exporters from approaching the process as intended. Multinational companies can move production offshore, eroding our defense industrial base, undermining our control regimes in the process, not to mention losing American jobs. Some European satellite manufacturers even market their products as being not subject to U.S. export controls, thus drawing overseas not only potential customers, but some of the best scientists and engineers as well. Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Speech on Export Control Reform before Business Executives for National Security. April 20, 2010. 9 Prime
PAGE 43
SatMagazine April 2012 Supporting The Industrial Base The U.S. space and defense industrial basea collection businessesis responsible for the design and development of space systems and components for commercial customers and the U.S. government. These companies are unique: their major customers are agencies of the U.S. government such as NASA, the Defense Department and those in the intelligence community. With relatively few opportunities to compete on contracts that development paradigm has been referred to as betting the ranch on winning in Vegas. 10 But as government spending on space and security programs decreases, contraction within industry is inevitable. The result will mean less competition and innovation, and reduced capabilities to produce systems needed by the government. Ultimately, this trend by removing existing barriers to new commercial opportunities for American space and defense manufacturers. In the process of protecting technology, the United States has created an incentive for foreign suppliers of space systems hardware to develop competing technology. In addition, other space agencies are motivated to develop their own technologies, rather than buying U.S. technology, when their source for technology in the United States is not always available due to ITAR licensing issues. One major barrier to U.S. export competitiveness is the presence of all satellites and related components (however innocuous) on the USML, which forces industry and its suppliers to rely more and more on diminishing domestic federal programs in order to remain alive. Foreign competitors have used our of U.S. parts and components ITAR Free . Meanwhile, efforts to promote exports within the Obama administration, such as the National Export Initiative support exports of commercial U.S. satellite technology. AIA Survey Results The 2011 AIA member survey referenced in the Executive Summary offers new insights about the challenges associated with the current export regime. The survey provides a valuable snapshot regarding the cost of the status quo for the industry, U.S. jobs and our security and economic interests. Do you see a connection between export controls and space industrial base capabilities? More than 90 percent of respondents saw some connection between export controls and eroding space industrial base capabilities. Respondents reported that export controls present barriers to U.S. companies, which our foreign competitors do not face. One small U.S. space business stated that due to ITAR controls are hurting the competitiveness of U.S. suppliers in areas where there is similar technology available in other parts of the world. One business cited ITAR controls builders and also added that foreign market protection exacerbates the challenge. investment environment that encourages U.S. companies to research and develop new capabilities. How would the U.S. governments interim report on NDAA Section 1248 help your business? The Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA )signed into law in 2009included Section 1248 removing space components from the USML. An interim report was released in 2011. More than 70 percent of respondents voiced concern that the 1248 report would only help if it results in Congress with the USML Category XV ( space vehicles ). Among space system suppliers, the predominant interest was to address inappropriate restrictions on and accessories. there is a danger here that export controls, if not reviewed and refined, can in fact create the opposite kind of a situation here, where our industry is no longer competitive; therefore our industry is declining; therefore their ability to provide for us is also declining. General C. Robert Bob Kehler, Commander, United States Strategic Command 11
PAGE 44
44 SatMagazine April 2012 The current export regime small components with the same level of scrutiny as the completed full assembly of a space system. For example, the full extent of export control scrutiny must be applied to items such as special fasteners, composite molds and other components. Although unique for space, these items are not critical technologies and their export does not warrant USML level pre-and post-shipment compliance measures. Do current ITAR regulations adversely impact your business? All respondents mentioned that current export control restrictions had some adverse impact on their businesses. One AIA member noted The impact of the ITAR upon business operations is ever-present. Nearly all program data provided to nearly any country requires some ITAR thousands of exchanges/exports necessary in the course of an average satellite program must be conducted under a license or agreement. Even routine, non-sensitive low level exchanges with the closest allies, because they relate as technical data. ITAR licenses, record keeping requirements, and increased potential for delays magnify the risk and cost of competition for U.S. businesses. Ultimately, these circumstances damage the reputation of U.S. industry, exporter, thus threatening the health of the domestic space industrial base. communications satellite components to the CCL would provide welcome relief to the U.S. commercial satellite marketing advantage of being able to offer ITAR-Free satellites free of U.S. components . satellite, component restrictions and the cost of compliance, they made the decision to avoid certain non-U.S. markets. Do you see a connection between foreign competition and the current state of U.S. space industrial base capabilities? Respondents noted that current policy clearly had the unintended consequence of fueling the development of foreign competition for what had previously been U.S.dominated market share. European Space Agency (ESA) has attempted to develop effort has yet to be successful, the motivation for ESA still exists as long as the United States restricts exports of its own mesh antenna technology. Has your company lost sales due to ITAR-free marketing by foreign competitors? Could you quantify the value of the lost sale? More than 70 percent of respondents described lost Canada, Asia and other parts of the world were described. annually to the current export control regime. While most agreed that the current export regime was hurting their competitive posture. They also stated that they are compliance that would otherwise go toward reinvestment. positioning of potential customers in Europe and Israel for their components results in lost revenue of between manufactured. Their customers are also beginning to identify ITAR control in writing as a negative consideration in the bid and proposal process. opportunity of satellite componentsnon-sensitive components available on the global market where ITAR to do business with a non-U.S. competitor. Recommendations Revise Satellite Export Controls Instead of preventing other countries from developing space capabilities, barriers to export for U.S. satellite products have prompted numerous countries to create indigenous space share declines, many domestic companies particularly second and third-tier suppliers are increasingly reliant on sales to the U.S. government, or are considering abandoning their space business altogether. In the absence of a healthy, cutting-edge, space industrial base in the United States, our government may components. enhance space trade among our allies, the United States faces a real and daunting possibility of losing its preeminence in space, along with its ability to compete in the global space industry. In order to prevent the loss of space industrial capabilities needed for U.S. security, AIA urges the Departments of Defense and moving satellite and space-related items off the USML. In the process of protecting technology, the United States has created an incentive for foreign suppliers of space systems hardware to develop competing technology. In addition, other space agencies are motivated to develop their own technologies, rather than buying U.S. technology, when their source for technology in the United States is not always available due to ITAR licensing issues. AIA Member Prime
PAGE 45
SatMagazine April 2012 AIA strongly urges Congress to pass legislation that would return discretion to the President for the removal of satellites and related components from the USMLsubject to restrictions, Congressional oversight and other measures appropriate for safeguarding U.S. national security. AIA Recommendations Promptly complete and release the U.S. govern ment review of the space systems and components considered for removal from the USML. Congress should return authority to the President for determining the appropriate U.S. agency for export control jurisdiction over satellite and space technologies. The U.S. government should use this renewed authority to review and approve the movement of low/no-risk technologies from the USML to the Commerce Control List (CCL). The CCL, maintained by the U.S. Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security, is the more appropriate regu lator for low-risk commercial technology exports. Support the U.S. Space Industry By Promoting Exports While the Obama administrations 2010 National Space Policy of international space on the space and satellite industries that contribute to an increased transparency and stability among nations and provide a vital communications path for avoiding potential 13 AIA believes that a stronger partnership between the industry and government would create new opportunities for U.S. exporters. During an AIA-sponsored government and industry forum in 2011, one of the most repeated requests from industry was for reform of the U.S. export control system. There were also calls from industry for the U.S. government to advocate more aggressively in support of American space industry exports, toward the goal of a International competitors today can count on government resources and advocacy for critical business pursuits. In Thales Alenia Space won a $2 billion contract to build more than 60 satellites for U.S.based Iridium after aggressive action from the French export credit agency, COFACE. COFACE agreed to cover 95 percent of a $1.8 billion facility that would ensure for the project. 14 It was reported that because the U.S. manufacturer competing against Thales domestic sale, it was ineligible credit guarantees. foreign government industry have advocated the development of a U.S. government-wide strategic plan for federal export promotion and for space systems. This type of plan would encourage international space cooperation in a way that sustains U.S. giving international customers access to the best technology at the best available price. The Wideband Global SATCOM ( ) is a useful model for understanding communications system planned for use in partnership by the U.S. Defense Department and the Australian Department of Defence. The Australian government is currently funding a sixth WGS satellite in return for a portion of the satellites bandwidth. Additional cooperation of this type can support a robust U.S. space industrial base, strengthen the capacity of our global partners and is ultimately a win-win for both the United States and its allies. AIA Recommendations Selected space systems should receive atten tion under the administrations National Export Initiative, which set the goal of doubling U.S. The Export-Import Bank should be activated to support more effectively the U.S. space manufacturing sector. The use of credit guarantees should be considered for domestic projects if international competitors are backed by government guarantees. Additional resources should be provided for the Commerce Department. With adequate funding, the Commerce Department can help level the playing compete and win in the global marketplace. Opportunites Lost To Non-U.S. Competitors: operates TerraSAR-X, a commercial Earth observation radar satellite for which there is no U.S. equivalent. According to a 2009 Space News report, the U.S. National GeospatialIntelligence Agency (NGA) awarded contracts to three companies to provide commercial radar satellite data, each of which will rely on foreign-owned satellites because no U.S. firm operates spacecraft collecting the imagery sought by the NGA. limits commercial Earth imagery sales to those offering a resolution of no less than 0.5m Ground Sample Distance, while foreign competitors are developing the commercial capability to exceed that resolution for systems that will be offered to the global marketplace. According to the Kyodo news agency, in early 2011 the Japanese government was considering the purchase of a U.S. missile warning satellite. This capability would be useful to monitor missile launches from North Korea as well as for disaster monitoring purposes. With the right export reforms and U.S. government backing, such a move would bolster both U.S. and Japanese security while also supporting a healthy U.S. industrial base. Associated Press, Japan mulling purchase of defense satellite from U.S., July 9, 2011. 12
PAGE 46
46 SatMagazine April 2012 International military sales have for decades strengthened the U.S. aerospace industry and enabled allies to acquire new capabilities costeffectively. The U.S. Defense Department should encourage our allies to utilize U.S. spacecraft and systems. Conclusion The U.S. space industry and its supplier base, which provides our nation with critical national security capabilities, survive in large part because of U.S. government programs. In light of there is a renewed sense of urgency that the United States should reevaluate its export control system and trade promotion strategies in order to strengthen both our space industrial base and national security. Numerous government, industry and research institutions have found that current export control policies negatively impact our U.S. businesses and national security. While many members of Congress remain rightly concerned about ensuring sensitive U.S. satellite technology not fall into the in the current system that hamstrings the U.S. space industrial base. Members of Congress including long-time champion of Howard Berman (D-Calif.), approach that balances technology protection while also allowing As Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) put it during a 2009 House Armed Services Committee Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing, I hope, in a bipartisan way, our committee can work together on a pragmatic approach that strikes a balance between protecting our unique, advanced space technology and capabilities and promoting a viable defense industry that competes in the global marketplace . 16 Other members of Congress have called for changes as well. Rep. C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has that Now our American manufacturers are limited in what they can sell anywhere, and its really become a huge business in Europe to circumvent ITAR And consequently were at a great disadvantage. We cant sell what we need to, and right now Europe is taking advantage of this and its hurting us. 17 Rep. Dana Rohrabacher in support of satellite ITAR reform, has said, America needs a vibrant aerospace and space technology industry. Everyone agrees ITAR reform needs to happen. We need to make sure that our high tech exports arent strangled by regulations. 19 In addition, in an August 2011 op-ed in the Washington Examiner James Jay Carafano of the conservative Heritage Foundation argued that America was forfeiting its leadership in space due to excessive export controls. Carafano states that when satellites were moved to the USML, In one stroke, Congress had managed to boost both our foreign satellite manufacturing competitors and Chinas commercial space industry. American satellite manufacturers produce some of the most advanced technologies and highest quality products on the planet. Unfortunately, superior products alone will not enable ability to compete is constrained by inappropriate regulations and is not supported by U.S. trade policies. It is the recommendation of AIA and many others that removing inappropriate market restrictions and providing critical U.S. government export promotion will position our satellite and space sector manufacturers to once again be second to none. Appendix Background and current status of export reform efforts As former Defense Secretary Robert Gates an April 2010 speech, The problem we face is that the since the end of the Cold Waroriginated and evolved in a very different era, with a very different array of concerns in mind. 20 During his 2011 Senate Armed Services Committee Leon Panetta also expressed similar views on export controls. 21 landscape of export control policies, it is important to review what led us to this point. The current export control system was designed in the Cold War era when the United States was ramping up spending Boeing technicians prepare a GPS satellite for mass properties testing at the companys facility in El Segundo. Mass properties testing ensures that a satellite meets weight, center of gravity, dynamic balance, and moment of inertia requirements in preparation for launch and operation. Boeing GPS testing uses a robust spin rate of 40 rpm. Two GPS IIF satellites are currently in service, two are complete and await launch, and eight are in various stages of manufacture. Photo courtesy of Boeing. Prime
PAGE 47
SatMagazine April 2012 in order to become the global leader in innovation and high technology. During this period, from 1961 to 1989, U.S. spending on national security space alone rose from under $10 billion annually to over $40 billion. 22 For much of this time it was a bi-polar worldthe United States and the Soviet Union had the only major space programs, and stringent controls were essential to preventing our innovation. U.S. industry did not require exports for their survival as government spending provided ample business With the end of the Cold War near, U.S. leaders representing Republican and Democratic administrations had dominated the post-war era. Presidents Ronald Reagan George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton to facilitate the export of U.S. commercial satellites, providing growth opportunities for the U.S. space industry. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan lifted a ban on the use of Chinese launch vehicles for U.S. commercial communications satellites. In 1992, during the administration of George H.W. Bush, the State Department transferred jurisdiction of some commercial communications satellites to the Commerce Department. From 1989 through 1996 Presidents Bush and Clinton made multiple national interest determinations allowing launches of commercial communications satellites on launch vehicles. 23 1998 Cox Commission Investigation After a series of scandals related to allegations of Chinese access to U.S. high technology were uncovered in the mid-1990s, Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the Peoples Republic of China commonly referred to as the Cox Commission in reference to its chairman, Rep. Christopher Cox The Cox Commission was responsible for investigating these incidents and ultimately produced a bipartisan report ( a ). The report detailed instances of Chinese espionage and attempts to obtain information on U.S. nuclear weapons. The report also examined Chinese launch failures during the Bush and Clinton administrations. In these instances, Chinese control systems that could have been used to strengthen Chinese investigation led to the inclusion of a provision Section 1513 in ATKs ORS-1 satellite It is time we undo the damage this restriction has unintentionally created for U.S. business, U.S. competitiveness, and U.S. national security. It is critical that we resolve this matter and U.S. satellite manufacturers. Im colleagues on both sides of the aisle to develop this common sense solution Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) 15
PAGE 48
48 SatMagazine April 2012 the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 Section 1513 moved control of all satellites and related technologies to the State Departments United States Munitions List ( USML more stringent controls as required under section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act 24 The report details that after the 1996 Chinese launch failure with the Intelsat 708 satellite on board, the commercial communications satellites electronic encryption boards were not recovered. It concludes that these boards were mounted the National Security Agency remains convinced that there is no risk to other satellite systems, now or in the future, resulting from having not recovering the FAC-3R boards from the PRC.382 . 25 sought to ensure that U.S. space business activity not harm national security and most of its provisions related to the Cox Commission aimed to restrict the proliferation of missile technology to China. While the intent of those involved in the Cox Commission was to prevent export of missile and militarily sensitive technologies to China, the result was that all satellites even commercial communications satellites and their component partsare now part of an outdated system of export controls that hampers export even to close alliesa system that former Defense Secretary Gates has described as failing at the critical task of preventing harmful exports while facilitating useful ones. 26 For FY 1999 Not long after all satellite technologies were placed on the USML, dropped precipitously. 27 Many began to argue that changes in the law had gone too far. The Cox Commission was largely concerned about the transfer of sensitive high technology to China. However the resulting legislation ended up severely restricting the transfer of commercial satellite information and technologies abroad even to U.S. allies. components indistinguishable from their commercial counterparts now require a State Department export license that prohibits retransfer to any party not accounted for in the original license how innocuous. In contrast, foreign competitors are able to ship parts and components under minimal or no scrutiny because their governments treat them as commercial commodities. This that affect the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers without Such drastic measures may have even been unintentional to many in Congress responding to the Cox Commission. In fact, a review of the Congressional Record during the passage of that Congress was mainly concerned about protecting sensitive nuclear, missile and intelligence satellite technology. Yet, by placing commercial satellite technology on the USML, Congress inadvertently put a clamp on the ability of U.S. industry to compete overseas for non-sensitive commercial satellite sales. Today, such outdated restrictions have unintentionally damaged U.S. security by impairing the vitality of the U.S. space industrial base. In 2008, after years of concern voiced by the space industry that the law required unnecessary regulation of benign technology, the Center for Strategic and International Studies ( CSIS ) released a report that laid out how U.S. regulations. According to the report, the United States is the satellites as munitions. Further, outdated export controls were In the report CSIS shows that the United States held 73 percent of the worldwide share of satellite exports in 1995this fell to a staggering 25 percent by 2005. was that export controls are particularly suffocating to the 2nd and 3rd tier of the space industry. The study detailed hundreds of millions of dollars in lost sales attributed to ITAR licensing. Multiple reports and other public statements on satellite export restrictions paint a clear and comprehensive picture that too far ( for a comprehensive guide to these studies, see the appendix section of this article ). thereby limiting available funds to invest in new commercial systems. At the same time, European space investments actually increased to develop new commercial satellite systems. According to the Commerce Department, there has been little innovation in satellite busses by U.S. manufacturers after the change in export controls in 1999 . 28 While some of this data possible to argue a relationship between changes in the law and due to a post-9/11 increase in government funding for space programs that sustained much of the industrial base. However, satellite sector while maintaining stable investments in federal space programs could not be greater. action. In 2010, Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) introduced H.R. 2410 satellites and related components under the USML. In 2011, Rep. Berman also introduced H.R. 3288 Safeguarding United States Satellite Leadership and Security Act of 2011 to continue efforts U.S. satellite communications ground station, courtesy of the DoD Prime
PAGE 49
SatMagazine April 2012 Export Reform In The Obama Administration Calls to reform the export control system are made not just by the space industry, but by a broad range of technology sectors. 2009, directed an interagency review of the U.S. export control at weapons and dual-use technologies. The administrations goal was to determine how to strengthen national security and by focusing on current threats, as well as adapting to the changing economic and technological landscape that provides security, The administrations review determined that the current U.S. export control systemfor all technology sectorsis overly complicated, contains too many redundancies, and, in trying to protect too much, diminishes our ability to focus our efforts on the most critical national security priorities. As a result, the Export Control Reform Initiative ( ECR ). This ongoing effort will review the designed to enhance U.S. national security and strengthen the United States ability to counter threats such as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. 30 The U.S. government currently maintains two different primary control lists, the Commerce Control List ( CCL ) and the United States Munitions List ( USML ). The lists are administered by two different departments and hold different structures, notably offers varying levels of control requirements while the USML has a what is captured on it. The administration plans to conduct the ECR Initiative in three phases. Phase I new control lists that are positive lists , which describe controlled items using objective criteria (horsepower, speed, accuracy, or other precise descriptions). In phase II the administration will restructure the USML and CCL into lists that apply varying degrees of control depending on the item. A new section of the CCL will be established to hold essentially commercial/dual-use formerly USML items. A bright line process will end jurisdictional disputes over an item by clearly identifying whether that item should be on the USML or CCL. These initial phases will be conducted by the Executive branch with Congressional consultation. As part of phase III both the USML and the CCL will be combined into one list falling under the jurisdiction of a Single Licensing Agency ( SLA ). An SLA will streamline the review and transparent. the administration, the aim is to build higher fences around fewer items . 31 In addition, as part of these reviews, U.S. government USML to determine which items should be subject to USML or CCL control. Spacecraft systems and associated equipment are part of USML Category XV every other category on the USML, will require legislative action Act and return discretion to determine the jurisdiction of this technology to the administration. Largely due to the growing chorus of concern that overly restrictive export controls were impacting U.S. security, the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act signed into law in 2009included Section 1248
PAGE 50
50 SatMagazine April 2012 removing space components from the USML. The report will better inform Congress regarding the commercial space technologies that would be appropriately controlled under the CCL. The 1248 report will be incorporated into the Obama administrations National Space Policy. The that departments and agencies should seek to enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. space industrial base consistent with the results of the ECR Initiative. Security Council staff were deferring to the ECR Initiative for Former National Security Council director of space policy, Peter Marquez stated that When that export policy gets announced, it will supersede the portions of this space policy dealing with export control. 32 When this AIA article went to publication, the results from the ECR Initiatives Category XV review or the 1248 report had not yet been publicly released. What the interim 1248 report does provide is an initial conservative assessment of satellite systems and components that commercial communications satellites, along with most of their components, could be appropriately moved from the USML In addition, the interim study concluded that the President of the United States should be provided with the authority and and related components . 33 It is important to note that in the preliminary 1248 report and in proposed rules supporting the ECR Initiative, the administration is not advocating any changes to current technology transfer policies with respect to China. National Export Initiative On March 11, 2010, President Obama signed an executive order creating the National Export Initiative (NEI) . 34 This initiative bolstering the private sectors ability to export, with the goal of business abroad. The administrations NEI represents a potential opportunity have not been a prominent component of the NEI due largely to the export restrictions that remain in place. However, if the right reforms were made to the current export control system, a variety of small space industry suppliers would be better able to Some aspects of the NEI may even be appropriate to advance issues, tools that could be used by some small space supplier A Synopsis Of Major Studies Calling For Satellite Export Reform export restrictions on the U.S. space industrial base. Since the Year 1999 moved satellites to the USML, the following reports and groups have either captured the disastrous consequences of ITAR licensing on commercial satellites or have recommended changes to satellite export control regulations: 2000Booz Allen & Hamilton Report; U.S. Defense Industry Under SiegeAn Agenda for Change: We estimate that this particular U.S. industry (commu nications satellite manufacturers) could lose up to $1 billion of sales annually if the export controls 2007Institute for Defense Analysis Study; Export Controls and the U.S. Defense Industrial Base: In companies are already being constrained in supply chain choices by export control restrictions. In some cases export control measures are actually encouraging R&D and capital investment overseas, as well as discouraging R&D partnerships with case of Canadian TELESAT as an example of a major customer permanently moving away from U.S. manufacturers after the change in export jurisdic tion from CCL to ITAR. 2007U.S. Air Force and Commerce Department Defense Industrial Base AssessmentU.S. Space Industry: the U.S. share of satellite manufac turing has decreased 20 recent for all commercial communication satellites (COMMSATs) sales and 10 percent for geosynchronous orbit (GEO) COMMSATs restrictions and limits are a major impediment to be able to respond to proposal requests and subse refusal of some foreign customers to procure equip survey by the Defense Departments National companies found that 70 percent of those compa nies surveyed stated that ITAR restrictions inhibited their ability to compete for foreign business. More than 40 percent of companies cited ITAR restric ment funding and compliance burdens. 2008Report to Congress of the Independent Assessment Panel on the Organization and Management of National Security Space: A crit ical factor in the developing threat to U.S. space supremacy is the accelerating proliferation of space technology. The growth in international space design, production, and operations spurred in part by U.S. restrictions on the export of space tech Prime
PAGE 51
SatMagazine April 2012 that many nations now compete with the United 2008Space Foundation Paper on ITAR and the U.S. Space Industry: ITAR restricts the ability of do not operate under equal restrictions. Technology remains on the USML, even when it is commercially available in other countries, because lists of critical 40 2008House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Report on Overhead Architecture: Government and industry participants described how ITAR has motivated European companies to establish an international (non-U.S) collaborative R&D environment where ITAR-banned technologies are produced indigenously, thereby defeating the 41 2008Center for Strategic and International Studies Study on the Space Industrial Base and Export Controls: Export controls are adversely affecting U.S. companies ability to compete for foreign space business, particularly the 2nd and industry that is the source of much innovation, and is normally the most engaged in the global market 42 2009House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade; Hearing on Export Controls on Satellite Technology: Now, the space industry has made in Arms Regulations, known as ITAR, has hurt business and the space industrial base. This claim is echoed in private at least by the Intelligence America Report: the export control system enforced in the United States today has failed to evolve with changing global conditions, and now bility, to homeland security, and to the nations 44 2010Annual DOD Industrial Capabilities Report To Congress: In the vacuum left by U.S. companies might prevent exporting to third countries. The 45
PAGE 52
52 SatMagazine April 2012 2010Aerospace Industries Association Report, Tipping Point: At a time when the U.S. government should be encouraging growth across all sectors of the economy, export controls are limiting growth in the space sector, especially among component suppliers. In the absence of a healthy, cutting-edge U.S. space industrial base our government may be forced into reliance on foreign suppliers for key components, accelerating the loss of U.S. leadership 2011Joint Defense Department and Director of National Intelligence National Security Space Strategy: Export controls, however, can also affect the health and welfare of the industrial base, in particular secondand third-tier suppliers. ability to compete to become providers-of-choice in the international marketplace for capabilities that are, or will soon become, widely available globally, while strengthening our ability to protect the most 2011Heritage Foundation Report Chinas Space Program: A Growing Factor in U.S. Security export controls and the International Trade in Arms Regulations, which have harmed the international competitiveness of American satellite manufac turers. These efforts, as long as they continue to the continued need to protect key American tech nology advantages, deserve support from Congress Endnotes 1 http://integrator.hanscom.af.mil/2009/July/07162009/07162009.htm 2 http://www.futron.com/SCI_2011.xml 3 4 http://www.ogc.doc.gov/ogc/contracts/cld/hi/105-261.html 5 http://www.spacenews.com/resource-center/ sn_pdfs/SPN_20090323_Mar_2009.pdf 6 http://www.nro.gov/news/articles/2010/2010-02.pdf 7 8 9 http://www.defense.gov/dodcmsshare/newsphoto/2010-06/ hires_100617-N-0696M-051.jpg 10 11 http://www.stratcom.mil/speeches/2011/67House_ ArmedServices_Subcommittee_Strategic_Forces_Testimony/ 12 http://www.breitbart.com/article. php?id=D9OCEPTO2&show_article=1 13 National Space Policy of the United States of America,June 28, 2010, p. 1 http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/ 14 articlePrint.jsp?storyID=news/awst/2010/06/07/ AW_06_07_2010_p34-231779.xml&headLine=French%20 Guarantee%20Assures%20Iridium%20Next%20Future 15 http://democrats.foreignaffairs.house.gov/press_display.asp?id=888 16 2009 House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces hearing on the space industrial base: http://www.gpo.gov/ 17 Malenic, Marina Congressman Calls For Satellite Acquisition Overhaul, Looser ExportControls,Defense Daily, Nov. 19, 2008 18 http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists 19 http://rohrabacher.house.gov/NewsDocumentSingle. aspx?DocumentID=112628 20 http://www.bens.org/mis_support%2Gates%2Export%20 Speech%204-20-10.pdf (site appears to be down) 21 http://armed-services.senate.gov/ 22 http://www.aia-aerospace.org/assets/aia_report_tipping_point.pdf 23 http://www.house.gov/coxreport/pdf/ch9.pdf 24 25 http://www.house.gov/coxreport/chapfs/ch6.html 26 http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=58830 27 28 U.S. Air Force and U.S. Department of Commerce, Defense Industrial Base Assessment:U.S. Space Industry Final Report, August 31, 2007, p. 31 http://www.bis.doc.gov/ 29 http://www.export.gov/ecr/index.asp 30 http://www.export.gov/ecr/index.asp 31 http://www.aia-aerospace.org/assets/Sec_1248_Report.pdf 32 http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1660/1 33 http://www.aia-aerospace.org/assets/Sec_1248_Report.pdf 34 executive-order-national-export-initiative 35 36 http://www.acq.osd.mil/mibp/docs/ ida_study-export_controls_%20us_def_ib.pdf 37 http://www.bis.doc.gov/defenseindustrialbaseprograms/osies/ 38 Sustainability in the U.S. Space Industry, 2008 39 http://www.armyspace.army.mil/ASJ/Images/ National_Security_Space_Study_Final_Sept_16.pdf 40 http://www.spacefoundation.org/docs SpaceFoundation_ITAR.pdf 41 http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2008_rpt/hrpt110-914.pdf 42 43 http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/111/48443.pdf 44 45 http://www.acq.osd.mil/mibp/docs/annual_ ind_cap_rpt_to_congress-2010.pdf 46 http://www.aia-aerospace.org/assets/aia_report_tipping_point.pdf 47 http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2011/0111_nsss/docs/ 48 http://www.heritage.org/research/ all-research.aspx?categories=report About the Aerospace Industries Association Prime
PAGE 53
The Aerospace Industries Association was founded in 1919, only a more than 150 leading aerospace and defense manufacturers, along with a supplier base close to 200 associate members. AIA represents the nations leading designers, manufacturers and providers of: Civil, military and business aircraft Homeland and cybersecurity systems Helicopters Materiel and related components Unmanned aerial systems Equipment services Space Systems Missiles Aircraft engines Information technology About the author Mike Conschafter is Director, Space Systems at the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). In this capacity, Mike coordinates space policy issues related to the Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force, Missile Defense Agency and other government organizations. Before joining AIA, Mike advised U.S. Congressman Doc Hastings (R-WA) on defense, science, and energy affairs. In addition to his role as a policy advisor, he managed security and science appropriations for Mr. Hastings district in Washington state where he was instrumental in securing funding for critical DOD, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security and National Science Foundation programs. Northwest National Laboratory, and organized an annual series programs. Prior to his work in the House of Representatives, Mike supported the senators commitment to defense and science issues, other state research organizations. During his tenure Mike led the creation of the Senate Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus. Mike holds a B.A. in history and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed post-graduate coursework at the National Defense University at Ft. McNair. Satellite Export Reform: Myths & Facts MYTH : A recent uptick in U.S. satellite manufacturing revenue is a trend that clearly shows that the current export control system does not need to be changed. FACT : The U.S. space industryfrom top tier firms to suppliers remains competitively disadvantaged by the current satellite export regime. The overall trend is clearthe United States held 73 percent of the worldwide share of satellite exports in 1995this fell to a staggering 25 percent by 2005. This study and a myriad of others have shown that the current system is not optimized to allow U.S. firms to compete against their international counterparts. A 2011 review of the U.S. space industry by Futron clearly showed that the United States is falling behind in space competitiveness. As the space industrys main customerthe U.S. governmentreassesses its spending priorities, many space and defense firms will require stronger international and commercial sales in order to survive. It is more important than ever for national leaders to address export control modernization. MYTH : Removing satellites and related components from the USML will harm U.S. national security. FACT : Sensitive satellite and launch technologies will certainly need to remain under strict export control of the USML. However, there are a variety of low/no risk commercial satellite systems and componentsmany of which are already available on the international marketthat should be considered for control under the less restrictive CCL. As the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 moved all satellites and components to the USML, even commercial communications satellites and widely available subcomponents remain under munitions list export control. Preventing export of nonsensitive technologies actually results in damage to the U.S. industrial base, making our small businesses less competitive and potentially less able to meet the national security needs of the U.S. government. Clearly, we need a more nuanced export system for todays space technologies. MYTH : Why modernize export controls for satellites now? The Europeans have developed their own capabilities and would not buy U.S. space products even if export controls were changed. FACT : There are a variety of U.S. manufacturers that currently do business with European countries. These firms have unequivocally stated that the correct changes to the current export control system would benefit their business in Europe. Other companies are looking elsewhere for businessespecially in the Middle East, where many countries budgets remain stable and interest in technology is increasing. In South America, the Chinese have been reported to be aggressively pursuing satellite sales to Brazil, a country in which U.S. companies lack a substantial presence. MYTH : Why should we be concerned about satellite export control modernization? Wont it just help large companies who win billions of dollars in U.S. government contracts anyway? FACT : The large and small U.S. companies that comprise our space and defense industrial base are critical to U.S. national and economic security. Without these companies, we would not be able to lead the world in technology and would be unable to produce the systems needed to provide our warfighters with an edge on the battlefield. It is imperative that we protect sensitive technology from export, but it is similarly important for our security that we provide these firms with the tools needed to win export business against their foreign competitors. Export control modernization could arguably help U.S. secondand third-tier suppliers the most. These small businesses often lack the resources to manage the complicated and challenging export control regime. This causes many small firms to make the decision to stay out of the space market entirely or can cause significant sales losses among small firms that remain in space markets. A reinvigorated export control system would have immense benefits for the U.S. space industry, especially secondand third-tier small businesses. 53 SatMagazine April 2012 Poster credit: ULA
PAGE 54
Global Maritime Communications: Delivering Bits Through The Confusion By Rick Simonian, President, Maritime Solutions, Harris CapRock Communications Focus A s one of the oldest forms of long-distance transportation, maritime vessels have been the backbone of commerce in nearly every region of the world for thousands of years. Approximately 90 percent of world trade is carried by the international shipping industry, nations defense and security efforts depend on navies and coast guards, millions of passengers every year go on cruise and ferry vessels, and there is a vast armada of service, supply and scientific vessels worldwide. Most of the landmasses around the world have experienced a dramatic increase in connectivity wave and satellite coverage. Although communications to ships have improved during this period, the connections at sea as their home enterprise solutions. But the IP revolution has also driven an explosion of new products and services, with it. Although the technology exists to produce an at-sea communications experience similar to that experienced by services that address their needs most efficiently and cost effectively. 54 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 55
Bringing The Sea Home growth and evolution quite as rapidly as maritime SATCOM. Even now this connection is becoming an expectation of passengers and crew. Satellite communications have become the standard for many offshore operations, and the capacity of satellite technology has expanded to include hardware, software and capabilities that didnt previously exist. Not only has this growth expanded our ability to connect to virtually every ocean region, they just want more! functional and more reliable than they have been in the past. This translates into less-intrusive hardware, requiring far less time and maintenance from crew members and technicians, with lower to operate on multiple satellite bands and to automatically switch satellite footprint. After 20 years of this technology being used for government In short, users can get a lot more function out of the same amount of hardware, which substantially cuts equipment costs and maintenance requirements. Baseband technology, which is basically how digital information is carried between the satellite, the ship and the Land Earth Station, has also improved the such as CDMA and dSCPC bits that can be sent over the scarce satellite spectrum. With widening hardware capabilities, SATCOM users have also developed higher expectations of service. Whether users are for business and passenger information, seafarers require more Harris CapRock, we have seen our typical users monthly data consumption double over the past two years, and the demand is not abating. Given the rate at which these developments have progressed, its safe to predict that the landscape of satellite technology set of capabilities and user demands, as maritime operations developments, we can undoubtedly expect to see new problems and confusions arise. In fact, technological developments have already created quite a many different technologies to address varied needs, choosing the most appropriate solution from a laundry list of signals and (proprietary) system? C-, Ku-, Lor Ka-band? What about hybrid GSM or ? What type of antenna? Its not easy to decide what will suit the needs of extensive operations when there are so many technologies available. 55 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 56
Sometimes buying decisions are made just on cost, or on a hype of a solution is not matched by real-world performance which can leave a bitter taste in the buyers mouth. The decision department. On top of that, changes to industry regulations and several years from now will be met by the same solution they are committing to today? Even beyond the pace of technology changes, the industry consolidated through mergers and acquisitions. Operators are trying to become service providers. Telecommunications channels and pricing models are changing radically. The multitude How much bandwidth is needed and how should it be managed? Are bundled services necessary? Is a global or regional provider needed? How long should a contract last? Should the costs be treated as capital or operational expenses? Are applications bundled with the service or should those be separate contracts? The good news for the buyers is that competition and innovation Partnering To Allow Focus On Customer Missions The truth is that many users really arent interested in the types of signals available or choosing an antenna. Theyre more reliable coverage beyond their current geographic regions. They need the administrative capabilities to monitor assets, resource availability, crew and guest usage, and security. They want it future-proof. And they need it to be affordable. The customer basically wants an Ethernet cable connected from the mainland to the ship! This is what has driven many companies to consider using a communications partner to help select and deliver the right combination of services and technologies to meet their needs. By managing the entire system, communication service providers with a capable global service provider, users can focus more on their core missions and less on worrying about the complexity of the communications solution. In addition, a communications service provider can build a service plan that will grow alongside its customers operations. served by a cost-effective 60 cm antenna with C-band service to performance or additional applications, we can lead the transition and upgrade process. 56 SatMagazine April 2012 Focus
PAGE 57
On the other hand, some of our sites are better served by a At the high end, we can now deliver more than 100 mbps of service to a single vessel nearly anywhere in the world, a level of service not practical just two years ago! Maritime communications customers ought to be focused on how they serve their own customers, how Maritime technology has progressed rapidly to support the that progress is far from over. We can expect to see many more a combination of technologies to suit each companys needs, an end-to-end service provider allows crew and passengers across About the author Rick Simonian is president of Maritime Solutions at Harris CapRock Communications, a premier global provider of managed satellite and environments serving the energy, government and maritime markets. Harris CapRock owns and operates a robust global infrastructure centers, AssuredCare customer service and network management service personnel supporting customer locations across North America, Central and South America, Europe, West Africa and Harris CapRock offers a variety of end-to-end solutions supporting maritime operations for cruise, commercial shipping, marine systems, service and supply applications. Harris CapRocks Global Teleport Infrastructure Newton Road infrastructure in Aberdeen, Scotland 57 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 58
Ten Points For Your Consideration By Roger Rusch, President, TelAstra, Inc. Industry View First, and most importantly, the satellite communications that it may be slowing down a bit. Some of the new satellite launches have been stretched out. The number of commercial GEO satellites ordered dropped from 28 in 2010 to 17 in 2011. Most operators are expecting a larger fraction of unused capacity as new, higher-capacity satellites are launched. said and have discussed such with various investors. It seems that we are in the midst of some majoreven revolutionary changes to the satellite industry. Here is a summary of the 10 1. Good News Ka-band is now mainstream and will conventional technology today and no longer to be feared. has been broadcasting in Ka-band with great success for nearly a decade. Eutelsat reports good results with KASAT. ViaSat has introduced Excede service, which is comparable to most terrestrial alternatives and praised by users and reviewers. Big Ka-band satellites have 10 times throughput of the ordinary Cand Ku-band satel of information. I attended 14 sessions, typed up 48 pages of notes, and read all the articles Satellite 2012 were better attended than in past years and the conference added a cellular audience that carried the latest smart phones. Part of the polling was devoted to advertising for Proton and Baikonur. Nonetheless, the polling provided a with approximately 280 exhibitors. 58 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 59
High Throughput Satellites ( ) are in operation over Europe, North America, and the Middle East, and most FSS satellites under construction now include some Ka-band transponders. These satellites represent a vast expan while to absorb. Not all of these innovative systems will be successful. The migration from Cand Ku-band to less As just one data point, ViaSat claims its ViaSat-1 satellite has 140 Gbps of capacity, which is more than all traditional Cand Ku-band capacity covering North America. ViaSat and V-band, so there may be even greater increases in Newtec and NovelSat have also made impressive gains in and are turning their attention to designing systems to better exploit the higher bandwidth Ka-band systems. 2. Good News All-electric satellites double satellite caught many off guard. This technology is a factor of two for improvement. Today, satellites are launched with 42 percent spacecraft and 58 percent fuel. In the future, that will be 83 percent payload and 17 percent fuel. This represents a huge difference in launch cost or a huge expansion on payload capability. Boeing has a contract to build four all-electric satellites and other satel systems. The down side is the four to six months neces sary to transfer a satellite to GEO. As 80 percent of satel lites are replacements, this delay may be acceptable in many cases. However, I understand Elwing has a plasma propulsion technology currently being tested at NASA that may reduce this wait to only two to three months. 3. Struggles MSS operators plan to use FSS bands and FSS operators are providing MSS services. Some call this convergence, but this is really about broadband service demand. The reality is trouble for everyone. Intelsat and Intelsat has no Ka-band capability and has decided to operators are experiencing interference, often from mispointing of mobile FSS terminals. To expand its high-speed data services, Inmarsat will use Ka-band satellites for Global Xpress service. MSS opera tors are also preparing for substantial expansion with the production of satellites for Globalstar 2 ORBCOMM 2 and Iridium NEXT operators competing in a business that produces only 10 to 15 percent of the FSS operator revenues. Artistic rendition of the ViaSat-1 satellite, courtesy of ViaSat Photo of the Elwing Thruster, courtesy of the Elwing Company 59 SatMagazine April 2012 Inmarsats Global Xpress program, including Ka-band satellite launch costs, will required the firm to invest some US$1.2B.
PAGE 60
4. Bad news drawals from global hot spots will reduce revenues for many operators. Many operators derive 10 to 25 percent of their revenue from government sources. New govern ment programs are drying up. Fewer troops on the battle of satellite services for surveillance, e.g. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ( UAV ). Unfortunately, there are indi cations that even funds for surveillance transmissions have been constrained. CFOs indicated that revenues would be impacted by tens of millions of dollars. One was expecting a 10 to 20 percent layoff necessity, the satellite industry growth. 5. Amazing Iridium is a fantastic successso far. Iridiums CEO Matthew Desch was the toast of the town as he received the Executive of the Year Award [His prede cessor, Robert Kinzie was selected as Executive of the Year Iridium Communications has been growing steadily with $384 million in revenues, up 10 percent in 2011. It added 35,000 voice subscribers in 2011 and 56,000 machineto-machine (M2M) subscribers, which produce far less revenue. Caveat Emptor reduction of revenues from reduced government spending. Its aging constellation operates with satellites that are almost 13 to 15 years old but continues to function effec years. Twenty-four percent of the original satellites have failed. There are holes in the coverage due to component failures. Service availability has suffered and the fragile satellites are facing a hostile space environment over the next three years until replacement satellites are launched at the end of 2015. Competitors are offering less expen sive services and user terminals. 6. Opportunity Everyone is headed for the Latin vacuum. Five years ago, Africa was the continent of satel lite opportunity. There was a scarcity of transponders and coastal areas of Africa. Several satellites have been built for dedicated service and there is ample unused capacity Latin America now has rapidly growing demand for commu nication services. Chile has wired the entire country with lites under construction and is studying Ka-band satellites. International operators from North America and Europe Eutelsat a company that focuses most of its attention on Europe, has won a license to serve South America. 7. Turmoil LightSquared is in deep trouble. The FCC has withdrawn its conditional waiver as well as its ATC service approval due to GPS interference issues. There was a great deal of discussion about how this could have happened. Inmarsats revenues were augmented by payments from LightSquared, which have now stopped. LightSquared is attempting to resolve the issues by intro ducing GPS receivers that are compatible with its terres trial transmissions. The FCC has initiated a proceeding to panel members estimated that the interference issues could be resolved within two to 30 years. My estimate is that a realistic estimate would be at least 10 years as there are millions of GPS receivers deployed today. The process could be shortened if someone would provide Matthew Desch, CEO, Iridium Communications 60 SatMagazine April 2012 A Raven UAV being hand-launched during the Iraqi conflict, photo courtesy of Army Times Industry View
PAGE 61
61 SatMagazine April 2012 8. Risks Astronomical events could disrupt satellite communications. Internet blogs by users reported that satellites for a time. Boeing incident in private discussions. Clearly, energetic particle bursts from the sun are causing anomalies on satellites, but there is very little public information that has been released satellite, ACE is now 12 years past its design life and its replacement is years away from deployment. 9. Financial Easing for many operators. In 2009, Coface agreed to guarantee loans for construction of the Globalstar 2 satellites. This was followed by a similar guarantee for Iridium NEXT. Both conventional sources. Subsequently, even the well-estab Export Credit Agency ( ECA satellite procurements. The U.S. Ex-Im Bank has also been quite active and expects its facility to continue to 10. Transition of satellites. Many of the questions and issues at the conference were the same as in the past, but some of the answers are changing. Seven years ago there was no interest in using anything but satellites for the distribution of video media content. Today, there is interest in consid decisions are changing. Another hot topic is the desire of many in the satellite industry on the pad. About the author counsels investors in satellite communications. He has 50 years experience in the industry and maintains extensive databases of satellite contracts, performance, and metrics. You can request a free set of complete notes from the Satellite 2012 conference by contacting RogerRusch@telastra.com Artistic rendition of the ACE satellite, image by Thomas Zurbuchen
PAGE 62
62 SatMagazine April 2012 Uplink A New Power For Business Growth he HX System from Hughes is designed and optimized for small to medium-size networks, and employs the key features needed for a wide range of applications, such as Internet access, IP trunking, cellular backhaul, Virtual Network Operator (VNO) hosting, and communications on-the-move large networks, providing operators with an effective platform on which to start small and grow as their business grows. An Overview HX System 4.0 brings a host of technology enhancements that and features will be released later in 2012. New HX Broadband Satellite Routers With HX System 4.0, Hughes introduces two new HX broadband satellite routers as well as a major enhancement to the HX2x0 series. HX50L is a replacement for the very popular HX50 and IPv6/IPv4 operation (see below for a description). HX9 0 is an all new HX satellite router designed with the high-thoughput performance of its HN System counter part, the HN9400 and is ideal for nextgeneration Ka-band satellite systems. HX2x0 series has undergone a performance boost that doubles throughput performance and is available via a software download to previously installed units. In addition, the HX200 now supports LDPC on the return channel (up to 2 Msps). The chart in Table 1 ( on the next page ) compares the functionality of the powerful family of HX broadband satellite terminals. performance close to theoretical optimum. LDPC was designed by Hughes and incorporated into the IPoS/ DVB-S2 standard in 2006. With HX System 4.0, LDPC coding is implemented on the return channel of HX routers for rates up to 2 Msps. inbound direction, Hughes is able to achieve an 8 percent systems as illustrated in Figure 1 ( on the next page ). Multiple coding, which enables burst-by-burst changes of the FEC rate, typically provides about 20 percent improvement on the that must accommodate rain fade. When coupled with the 8 percent gain provided by the sophisticated LDPC coding, a total of be achieved over Turbo Coded systems. directly over DVB-S2 generic streams. The HX System 4.0 implementation of GSE reduces encapsulation overhead and provides improvement in bandwidth the two encapsulation methods is shown in Figure 2 increased through the implementation of the Hughes OnDemand Streaming (ODS) feature. Previously available only on the HN enhancing feature that dynamically assigns Constant Bit Rate (CBR) transport services per application session. On-Demand Streaming enhances the performance of VoIP and video applications that are based on Session Initiated Protocol (SIP)
PAGE 63
63 SatMagazine April 2012 calls and allocate high-quality CBR bandwidth for the duration of the call. Once the call is complete, the bandwidth is deallocated so that it is available for other applications. IPv6/IPv4 Dual Operation evaporating. IPv6, the version of Internet Protocol to succeed for the worlds rapidly expanding population of IP addressable devices. IPv6 enables more than 3.4 undecillion (or 3.4 x 1038) IP addresses, enough addresses to enable connectivity to virtually any device. Supporting IPv6 is critical to the success of any telecom operator and HX System 4.0 provides a clear migration path with simultaneous operation of support IPv4 and IPv6. Internet Protocol version. This enables simultaneous support of both IPv4 and IPv6 devices on the same Ethernet segment at either the remote or gateway portion of the HX System 4.0. the HX50L, HX90, and all of the HX2x0 satellite routers are IPv6 ready. A simple software download to these devices will enable components may need to be upgraded. Table 1. HX Satellite Router Comparison Matrix Figure 1. LDPC vs. Turbo Return Link Efficiency
PAGE 64
64 SatMagazine April 2012 HX System 4.0 for Cellular Backhaul Included within HX System 4.0 is a set of features that other latency sensitive real-time applications. HX System 4.0 for real-time applications to achieve lower overall latency. For the return channel, the just in time burst feature ensures that desired jitter performance. With these features, the HX System 4.0 is able to deliver roundtrip latency performance of 600 to 650 ms (depending on the jitter setting) with one-way jitter performance of 20 ms achieveable. Enhanced VNO Capabilities Management System) has been upgraded to provide enhanced This new capability, which allows a VNO to monitor and control elements within their VNO domain, enables operators to to the private users of these partitions. Figure 4 illustrates some of the new HX ExpertNMS capabilities. Enhanced Mobility Features HX System 4.0 includes several new features that further enhance performance of Communications-On-The-Move (COTM), applications. Broadening the range of remote COTM Figure 2. GSE vs MPE Efficiency Table 2. Return Channel Spreading Rates Uplink
PAGE 65
65 SatMagazine April 2012 antennas supported, HX System 4.0 introduces return channel spreading of 8:1 in addition to the previously supported spreading rates of 2:1 and 4:1. This capability enables the implementation of return channels on very small antennas, a critical requirement for a number of mobile applications including video streaming from unmanned airborne vehicles. Return channel spreading allows the mobile antenna to conform to applicable international regulations regarding adjacent satellite interference. Table 2 illustrates the spreading options available for the return channel. Automatic Beam Switching (ABS) HX System 4.0 provides an automatic mechanism for remote terminals to determine the appropriate time to point to a different satellite and commence communications automatically over the new satellite path. This feature is critical for any mobile terminal travelling across wide geographic expanses including aircraft and ocean-going vessels. With the ABS feature, the algorithm that uses the latitude and longitude of the remote. Enhanced Doppler Compensation With very high-speed mobile terminals, such as onboard jet airliners, the Doppler effect must be compensated so that the return channel demodulation at the Gateway can maintain router performs this Doppler compensation itself thereby eliminating the need for external Doppler compensation. Wideband Global SATCOM Support The Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system is an important broadband satellite system used by defense and military agencies. With HX System 4.0, Hughes is introducing full to be used over the WGS around the world. Editors Note HUGHES and HX ExpertNMS are trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Figure 4. VNO HX ExpertNMS View
PAGE 66
Event Offering Global Satellite Players Vast Opportunities For Asian Expansion he Asia-Pacific region is earmarked for significant growth will see many of the worlds grow, these industry players are using the event as a strategic platform to address the critical issues surrounding Asias marketplace, while accentuating their presence in the region. With more than 85 percent of exhibition space already acquired by exhibitors, CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsiaheld from June 19th to 22nd, 2012, at the prestigious Marina Bay Sands and award-winning Suntec Singapore respectively 66 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 67
The Growing Asian Satellite Industry Technological developments have transformed the satellite and communication needs, to now possessing the ability to deliver home entertainment in the form of digital broadcasting. It has evolved from just providing bandwidth and enabling content delivery to now include data and video delivery solutions that encompass Internet, VoIP, and mobile communications. According to many Asian satellite providers, the Asian satellite industry will continue to experience future growth opportunities. With almost 3.8 billion people, Asia accounts for more than 60 percent of the worlds population. This, combined with strong growth in subscription numbers to Direct-To-Home/ Direct Broadcast Satellite ( ) services and advanced services such as HDTV and 3DTV, are fuelling the demand for satellite services in this region of the world. Furthermore, the huge popularity of television as an economical form of entertainment has helped payTV operators maintain revenue streams and offers promising prospects for satellite players. In fact, with 10,000 channels and 365 million for the futureaccording to Media Partners Asia a Hong Kongbased research consultancy, Asian payTV subscriptions will rise to 570 million by 2012, which will still only be 62 percent of homes with TVs. satellite services and equipment. Its population of 104 million and an economy that is one of the fastest growing in the world pushes it ahead of other countries as far as service acquisition is concerned. Mr. Drew Brandy Vice President, Industry, at Inmarsat Global event in our calendar. It explores the future of satellite while showcase our latest innovations. are beyond the reach of telecommunications infrastructures are becoming equally important for growth. Consumer broadband satellite growth is being boosted by continued rural broadband rollouts and the demand for Internet services in ( SOHO ) businesses. Within the government sector, satellites critical role in enabling safe and effective communications in disaster recovery, military operations and offshore setups also continue to be growth overall number of spacecrafts launched, this sector will continue to remain a driver for satellite. Providing The Right Platform CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia are the only truly international shows in Asia where business professionals in the satellite industry can meet to discuss and explore the evolving and endorsement from more than 20 leading trade associations, including ( APSCC ), ( ABU ), Telecommunity ( ) and the Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation ( ). Satellite communications provider Newtec has been involved with CommunicAsia for many years. Mr. Serge Van Herck CEO of Newtec, says the event has played a major role in the companys expansion in Asia. CommunicAsia represents a attend the conference and each year the ROI proves it to be an This year we will be launching a series of products into technology. What started out as a simple test of a number of Newtecs recently released and upcoming technologies ended up in a quite exceptional report. During the actual test, an Intelsat latest modem technology and a mere 4.5m antenna. The result use of the upcoming modulation and coding DVB-S2 extensions By bridging the wide spectrum of satellite technologies and applications to present operators with new and innovative ways to deliver data, video and voice content, CommunicAsia2012, together with BroadcastAsia2012, is well placed to play a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of Asias satellite industry. For show updates on CommunicAsia2012 and BroadcastAsia2012, please visit the following channels: : @CommunicAsia and @BroadcastAsia Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/ CommunicAsia and http://www.facebook.com/ LinkedIn : CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia Shows at a glance CommunicAsia2012/EnterpriseIT2012 Date: June 19-22, 2012 Venue: Basement 2, Levels 1, 3, 4 and 5 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Opening Hours June 19-21: 10:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m. June 22: 10:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Admission: Business and trade professionals only Registration: http://www.communicasia.com BroadcastAsia2012 Date: June 19-22, 2012 Venue: Levels 3 and 4, Suntec, Singapore Opening Hours June 19-21: 10:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m. June 22: 10:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Admission: Business and trade professionals only Registration: http://www.broadcast-asia.com 67 SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 68
68 SatMagazine April 2012 A Pervasive Global Force... Maritime SATCOM By Jim Dodez, Vice President, Marketing and Strategic Planning, KVH Industries, Inc. Insight segmentsshipping, offshore oil and gas, commercial fishing, passenger 250,000 vessels in the maritime market that are good future prospects for options (and prices) for bringing this critical benefit onboard. The demand for broadband at sea is really no different than that the cost of data communication at sea has been prohibitively expensive, causing mariners to avoid purchasing systems or to at sea, and ship owners and ship management companies are fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through better weather and route planning data, remotely monitoring onboard systems and providing access to shore-based experts to assist with repairs, improving crew morale by providing VoIP calling and internet caf services, and other programs to increase collaboration For example, real-time navigation information and weather opposed to being performed by personnel on board the vessel. Maintenance and support services for onboard equipment or onboard technician to show the problem to an onshore expert, offering the possibility of remote diagnostics and assuring that the appropriate repair parts are available when the ship reaches port. Hundreds of different aspects of a vessels performance can Security managers can monitor the real-time positions of deployed to protect commercial ships in volatile regions, and
PAGE 69
69 SatMagazine April 2012 recent reports of pirate or terrorist activity. Finally, requirements of maritime labor conventions for improving the communications and entertainment services offered to crew members can be older solutions. Applications of particular importance are those that support as well as IT systems, and affordable, always-on connectivity to KVH s mini-VSAT Broadband (sm) service can be easily integrated with a ship operators corporate IT structure to support these functions. Many and crew retention efforts, because offering a connection to home is crucial for attracting and maintaining the best crew members. Historically, the satellite communication solutions available for a large number of commercial mariners. The popular Inmarsat service was globally available and offered small, affordable hardware, but the service was limited to 432 Kbps, and it was very expensive. Maritime VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) responded with a service designed for use on land to provide fast, low-cost broadband connectivity at sea. Unfortunately, the equipment needed to deliver the VSAT service was very large and prohibitively expensive. with more than 75 providers offering service via a variety of hardware solutions. With low barriers for entry for virtual between the lowest-cost services available, with little to no hardware development. solutions even more valuable to mariners. For example, in the past year, KVH has added satellite coverage, upgraded better management of available bandwidth, and introduced versatile new products at both the entry level and the high end innovation by hardware and service providers ensures continuing value for maritime broadband users. the reliability, speed, and cost of the airtime, and whether or not the service covers the regions were vessels travel. While relatively compact hardware is becoming more readily available, the challenge of choosing a service that covers all the areas where a ship may travel remains for many mariners. Dual-antenna solutions, combining a VSAT system with an older Inmarsat system and connecting them via a middleware solution, are one way to ensure coverage. The combination system can area, switching automatically to the more expensive Inmarsat system only when travelling in remote areas where a VSAT signal is unavailable. Sophisticated software can help control costs by example) while using the more expensive service. A unique alternate choice recently became available, with an the introduction of its 1m TracPhone V11 antenna. KVH was which gives the TracPhone V11 near-global coverage (75 degrees North to 70 degrees South latitude) in one dome, and on one airtime rate plan. This service, available now, offers coverage online in the next few years. In the coming months and years, the maritime satellite communications industry will have access to great innovation, just as it has in preceding years. We can expect to see live service from Ka-band satellites currently being launched sometime in 2012. While capacity on these satellites is very high, most early solutions will offer a combination of new Ka-band services and established Ku-band services, ensuring reliability as the new services are adopted and put into use in real-world applications. We will also see development of value-added services for existing solutions. Least-cost routing, roaming crew accounts, additional security features and integration with critical onboard applications are all in development with the major service more out of the solutions they already have, and will support the increasing demand for maritime broadband. The world is getting smaller, and as it does, connectivity will only become more important, especially for the maritime industry. About the author Jim Dodez has served as KVHs vice president of marketing and over the past 20+ years has held the positions of marketing director, vice president of marketing and reseller sales, and vice president of marketing. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Dodez was the marketing director at Magratten Wooley, Inc., where he managed KVHs account with an emphasis in marketing from Miami University.
PAGE 70
Solomons Solutions 70 SatMagazine April 2012 F ounded in 2003, Pactel International provides enhanced satellite communications solutions for a variety of markets throughout the Asia-Pacific region. One of Pactels key advantages lies in its ability to leverage supplier relationships to create reliable, cost-efficient networks for remote sites and rural locations across Australia, Indonesia and Pacific Islands. Pacific region to provide a high-grade telecommunication system to 17 Government locations in the Solomon Islands. provide a high-grade telecommunication system to 17 Government locations in the Solomon Islands. This partnership allowed Pactel to supply a continuous, high quality of service to their customers by upgrading their By Katia Gryadunova, Pactel International Pty Ltd.
PAGE 71
Project Summary In October 2010, Pactel International was appointed by SPC to provide the aforementioned VSAT communications system for SIG PACRICS this ongoing project incorporates collaboration between six SIG communication throughout the provinces. The project was deployed through SPCs regional Rural Internet Connectivity System ( PACRICS ) program, funded by the Global Health Fund MHMS MPGIS MAL MEDCOM and RSIPF Spread over two phases, the SIG PACRICS project involves installing VSAT terminals at provincial and rural locations where terrestrial communication is not possible. The new satellite agriculture, DM, ICTSU and RSIPF ministries. Solution Together with Satellite Solutions, Pactel International developed a sustainable, satellite communications system deployed in the Using its industry-leading expertise in application to ensure a higher priority to mission-critical services, such as e-Learning and online data management applications. In addition, the system provides user management control that requires users to enter their user name and password to gain Internet access. User management control feature also administrators can monitor individual sites on a continuous basis. Results connection, the Pactel-Satellite Solutions partnership has government and effectiveness of its service delivery: their professional duties and development Improved reporting and information management of health services Improved agriculture outreach services Strengthened policing and law and order services More reliable disaster management services Improved communications between central government Satellite Solutions expertise assisted in installing the hardware, which is designed to survive in remote locations under harsh weather conditions. The new technology delivers reliable, weather to deliver their services at the highest quality. Supplier relationships are vital when it comes to providing sustainable solutions for our customers, said Andrew Taylor CEO at Pactel International. We congratulate Satellite Solutions quality of installations on site, which has allowed Pactel to supply quality services to SPC at highly competitive rates, Taylor added. Mining Projects To date, Pactel is leveraging its partnership with Satellite Solutions to supply enhanced telecommunications solutions to the mining expertise offers fresh potential to design, install, and support reliable VSAT-based communication systems. World-renowned exploration companies such as Porphyry Newmont and Axiom now have access to a reliable communication system, which provides voice and data services, All of these projects would not have been possible without the help of Pactel from top to bottom (including Management, Technicians, Purchasing, Administration, Finance, Warehousing and Shipping Staff, etc...). On all the jobs...each one is unique to us here, said Geoff Allan Operations manager at Satellite Solutions. About Satellite Solutions Founded in 1995, Satellite Solutions provides high-grade digital The Companys particular specialty is in installing VSAT broadband technology, and providing reliable VOIP, MATV and FFA networks. About Pactel International Pactel International delivers high quality, fully customized, VSAT, ToIP telecommunications requirements, from point-to-point links through to fully managed network connections. SatMagazine April 2012
PAGE 72
72 SatMagazine April 2012 Game-Changing Trend Drivers For The Cruise Industry By Brent Horwitz, Sr. Vice President + General Manager, Cruise + Ferry Services, MTN Satellite Communications Focus communication companies serving cruise operators. the following trends that are driving communications, not just satellite communications, for the cruise industry in 2012 and beyond. Without these falling far short of travelers expectations, disadvantage: Content is king. Its not enough to establish the connection. Cruise lines are Digital Natives that are demanding more and more content onboard. Because this gigabyte and terabyte world, providers content to meet the demands of our cruise customers international passengers and crew, but more importantly how to deliver it without impacting the customer experience or cost. At MTN, for example, we offer eight channels of television content globally, and a special events channel to broadcast live programming (including NFL football games, the World Cup and Premier League Soccer). In addition to that, cruise customers can integrate additional video and audio content such as shore excursions, ship and port information, and onboard vendor advertising for a comprehensive content to passengers and crew isnt just limited to cabins. The industry is adapting to passengers expectations for example, streaming broadcast quality video to their laptop or other mobile devices so that they can access news and entertainment information anywhere and anytime during their voyage. Needless to say, content is This future for content is to strategically leverage both satellite and content delivery and connections. Ubiquitous Wi-Fi. The rising sale of smartphones and tablets over the past few years has been a major contributor to the exponential increase in broadband demand. As indicated, passengers climb boot up their mobile devices and log in Lets not forget about the crew either, which also depends upon Wi-Fi to relay the engine room. The newer ships are designed with this in mind and we are seeing our partners this need. Because these ships have been around a while, the wealth of potential more prominently as a challenge. Lets face it: This is an imperfect science and each project presents its own individual Its all about bandwidth. This is the future. Cruise lines are faced with the challenge of delivering more to passengers return on investment that delivers to the overall business. conferences as an affordable and adventurous alternative to the standard hotel or convention center setting. Sure, people still want to get away. But they want, and sometimes need, to stay connected while at sea. Thus, the demand for bandwidth. Traditionally, a land-based resort will hold an inherent edge over ships in supplying Wi-Fi to guests, given the pure logistics. In the recent past, vessels often just supplied was that. But the mobile revolution has forced a transformation. A rapidly growing segment of travelers refuse to set sail if they cant replicate the same user experience they enjoy at home. This requires a greater investment in bandwidth to raise the bar for speed and overall user-interaction quality. But available budgeting remains a concern and the bandwidth crunch is prompting affordable and long-term ways to increase are increasing, and costs and margins in the interest of affordability without compromising customer service or a reliable connection. Thats why were advancing the way customers purchase from the pipe to the solutions that will The goal is to solve the capacity, price and performance constrains the industry delivering the highest quality of products and services customers want. This can be a game-changer for our industry where the ultimate goal is to give passengers and crew what they want, when they want it and in this instance, its impeccable communications. About the author Brent Horwitz is Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cruise & Ferry Services, MTN Satellite Communications.
xml version 1.0 encoding UTF-8
REPORT xmlns http:www.fcla.edudlsmddaitss xmlns:xsi http:www.w3.org2001XMLSchema-instance xsi:schemaLocation http:www.fcla.edudlsmddaitssdaitssReport.xsd
INGEST IEID EIVHXJBDM_77DMIW INGEST_TIME 2017-04-26T21:17:23Z PACKAGE AA00054427_00102
AGREEMENT_INFO ACCOUNT UF PROJECT UFDC
FILES
|