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www.satellite-evolution.com | January/February 2019 1

View From The Top

The post-Christmas blues is a well-documented phenomenon, making its presencefelt in that time between Christmas and New Years when most people are off work,and no one is really sure what to do next. The excitement of Christmas has worn off, and the only thing to look forward to islosing those extra pounds gained during the festive season, and the arrival of the Christmas shopping credit card bill. Thisseasonal malaise is felt well into January and February, with spirits typically not lifting until the first signs of Spring are seen.

However, now we can blame our post-Christmas blues on something far more sinister: Climate change. Towards the endof 2018, a landmark report from the United Nations revealed that catastrophic events induced by climate change couldbecome regular occurrences as soon as 2040, should greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase at their current rate.In the report, the previously-held global warming threshold of 2°C, at which point severe consequences would ensue, waslowered to 1.5°C. And, according to the ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of sciences’ journal, short-term exposure toextreme weather, multi-year warming, and tropical cyclone exposure (all resulting from global warming) are all associatedwith worsened mental health.

These were the findings of a team from MIT Media Lab, who claim that climate change may impact everyday humanmoods to severe outcomes, including suicide. In 2002-2012, around two million participants reported on their mental healthfor 30 days through the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System. Theresponses were charted against meteorological data by the research team, who found that, on average, monthly temperatureshotter than 30°C were associated with more reports of mental health challenges compared with temperatures in the 10-15°Crange. The team also discovered that months with more precipitation days (a common result of climate warming) increasedthe chances of low mental health reports.

After so many years of climate change arguments, of the back-and-forth between the deniers and harbingers of doom,it’s good to hear about some fresh research looking beyond the environmental and socioeconomic impacts. And let’s notforget that, while the satellite sector can’t make any notable impact on global climate change, we can help collect data andinform on the latest changes to oceans, atmospherics, wind patterns and temperature variations through the use of today’spowerful new Earth observation satellites. That data can be used by governments, NGOs and associations the world over indeciding on the next steps in tackling climate change – and according to recent research, we’ll be all the happier for it.

Editor - Amy Saunders

Measuring cyclones - Aeolus

Feeling blue? It might be down to climatechange, not Christmas

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www.satellite-evolution.com | January/February 20192

Contents

No part of this publication may betransmitted, reproduced or electronicallystored without the written permissionfrom the publisher.

DS Air Publications does not give anywarranty as to the content of the materialappearing in the magazine, its accuracy,timeliness or fitness for any particularpurpose. DS Air Publications disclaims allresponsibility for any damages or losses inthe use and dissemination of theinformation.

All editorial contentsCopyright © 2019 DS Air PublicationsAll rights reservedISSN: 1745-5502

Printed by:Times PrintingSingapore

DS Air Publications1 Langhurstwood RoadHorshamWest Sussex, RH12 4QDUnited KingdomT: +44 1403 273973F: +44 1403 273972Email: [email protected]

EditorAmy [email protected]

Contributing EditorsBert Sadtler, Mark Williamson

Sales DirectorChristopher [email protected]: +44 1778 441165

Sales DirectorSam [email protected]: +44 1883 715697

Circulation ManagerElizabeth George

[email protected]

PublisherRichard [email protected]

Managing DirectorDavid [email protected]

1 EditorialFeeling blue?

January/February 2019 - Vol.16. - No1.4 Satellite news

News and Views

Q&A ND SatCom - page 10 Tactical communications - page 14

DTH - page 22

Q&A CPI Satcom - page 26 Illegal fishing - page 30

Maximizing efficiency - page 18

Front cover photo courtesy ofShutterstock

Q&A Earth-i - page 34 IoT - page 40

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News Review & Analysis

NovelSat introduces a compact multi-receiver for satelliteIP data hubs offering up to 2Gbps per unitNovelSat has announced the availability of the new Multi-RxSatellite IP Demodulator, the NovelSat NS HUB4000. TheNS HUB4000 is a multi-receiver satellite transmission IP unitdesigned for mobile backhauling and enterprise satellite datatransmission network operators, who want to optimize theirhub CAPEX and achieve high transfer rates for inbound datatraffic.

The NS-HUB4000 houses four internal Rx cards, eachwith eight satellite receivers, packing up to 32 high-efficiencyreceivers into a single 1U rack-mounted unit. The compactNovelSat NS-HUB44000 is the ideal choice for Point-to-Multipoint satellite network data applications in which a singleNS-HUB4000 hub unit can receive data at an aggregateinbound rate of up to 2Gbps. Each of the 32 NS-HUB4000carriers can simultaneously receive at up to 120Msps percarrier, saving rack space and reducing equipment andoperating expenses.

The NS-HUB4000 supports automated hot-standbyredundancy plans that eliminate any single point of failurewithout any external equipment. In addition to multiplereceivers, the NS-HUB4000 is equipped with dual power unitsand dual external interfaces.

The cost-effective NS-HUB4000 includes built-in IPprocessing features to improve data transmission efficiency.NS HUB4000 interfaces include Ethernet 1G/10G, dual powersupply ports, and M&C interfaces such as USB ports and anSD card slot for data import/export, software upgrade andmany other uses.

The NS-HUB4000 is a member of the NovelSatProfessional Satellite Demodulator family. It is a majorelement in the NovelSat line of Point-to-Multipoint networksolutions. Combined with the NovelSat NS300X or NS3000modem series, the NovelNet NMS (Network ManagementSystem), and NovelSat LIBRA (Dynamic Resource AllocationSolution), the NS-HUB4000 contributes to an optimized andhighly efficient Point-to-Multipoint network.

According to Ronen Sadan, NovelSat AVP Marketing,“The one thing we hear most from our customers is, ‘Howcan we optimize satellite hub costs?’. “Between superiorbandwidth efficiency and the many signal optimizationfeatures offered by NovelSat, and now up to 32 receivers ina single box, the NS HUB4000 is a perfect space saving,cost saving satellite transmission solution for enterprisesatellite IP data service providers.”

Orbex unveils Prime rocket at new facility in ScotlandOrbex has publicly unveiled its Prime rocket for the first timeat the opening of its new headquarters and rocket designfacility in Forres in the Scottish Highlands. Designed to deliver

small satellites into Earth’s orbit, the rocket was unveiled atan opening ceremony attended by VIPs from the UK andEuropean space community as well as local communitystakeholders.

The completed engineering prototype of the Stage 2rocket (the stage that will transit into orbital flight after launch)is made from a specially-formulated lightweight carbon fibreand aluminium composite and includes the world’s largest3-D printed rocket engine. Orbex Prime is a completely re-thought and re-engineered two-stage rocket, designed byOrbex aerospace engineers with professional experiencefrom organisations including NASA, ESA and Ariane, as wellas other commercial spaceflight companies.

Thanks to its novel architecture, Prime launchers are upto 30 percent lighter and 20 percent more efficient than anyother vehicle in the small launcher category, packing morepower per cubic litre than many heavy launchers. Seen forthe first time, the 3-D printed rocket engine was uniquelymanufactured in a single piece without joins in partnershipwith additive manufacturer SLM Solutions. Given the extremetemperature and pressure fluctuations involved in space flight,this gives the engine an advantage over other rocket engines,which can suffer from weaknesses associated with joiningand welding.

It is also the first commercial rocket engine designed towork with biopropane, a clean-burning, renewable fuel sourcethat cuts carbon emissions by 90 percent compared to fossilhydrocarbon fuels, supplied by Orbex’s new exclusive BioLPGfuel partner Calor.

Orbex first came into the public eye in July of 2018, when

Multi-Rx Satellite IP Demodulator, the NovelSat NS HUB4000

Prime rocket

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the UK Space Agency announced that Orbex had beenchosen to launch from the proposed spaceport in Sutherlandin the Scottish Highlands, as part of the main consortium. Atthat time, the company announced that it had already won£30 million ($40 million) in private and public backing for theproject, making it Europe’s best-funded private launchcompany, straight out of stealth mode.

The company revealed the identities of more customersthat would be among the first to launch their satellites fromthe Sutherland spaceport.

On Orbex Prime’s maiden flight from Scotland in 2021,the rocket will carry an experimental payload from UK-basedSurrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL), the world’s leadingmanufacturer of small satellites. This launch will representan important first for the UK commercial space industry,demonstrating the UK’s end-to-end launch capability with aUK rocket launching a UK satellite from a UK spaceport.

Orbex also announced that Swiss-based Astrocast SA,has selected Orbex to launch multiple nanosatellites for thedevelopment of a planet-wide Internet of Things (IoT) network.Astrocast’s satellite-based IoT network will eventually include64 nanosatellites, spread across eight strata above the Earthto deliver IoT connectivity across the planet, including regionscurrently considered remote or inaccessible.

One of the leading companies in the European spacesector and strategic investor in Orbex, Elecnor Deimos, hasalso confirmed that it has contracted with Orbex for up totwenty satellite launches.

The new Headquarters building at Forres is a 2,000square metre facility. It will combine a rocket design andintegration facility, an operations centre as well as executiveoffices.

It is expected that the facility will help bring over 130 jobsto the Scottish Highlands region, with an intense recruitmentdrive for the company already underway.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “The plans for aspaceport in Sutherland have already attracted significantinvestment, and Orbex’s rocket design facility will bring morethan 100 new jobs to the Scottish Highlands region – this isour modern Industrial Strategy in action. The space sector is

a great British success story and we are working closely withindustry to ensure we thrive in the commercial space age.New innovations, capabilities and expertise are drivingsignificant growth, with the sector generating close to £15billion in income each year.”

Graham Turnock, Chief Executive, UK Space Agency said:“Orbex’s new rocket design facility brings Britain one stepcloser to having its own domestic commercial launchcapability and firmly positions the UK as Europe’s frontrunnerfor those looking to Earth’s orbit and beyond for newopportunities. The new facility and future spaceportoperations will help unlock vast economic and societalbenefits not just in Scotland but right across the UK.”

“Since the announcement in July 2018 that we had beenchosen to launch from the Sutherland spaceport, Orbex hasbeen on an incredible journey, largely behind-the scenes,”said Chris Larmour, Orbex CEO. “That is changing today, aswe publicly reveal the company’s technical and commercialmomentum. Not only do we have a full engineering prototypeof the complete Stage 2 of the Prime rocket, but also a growingroster of customers hoping to be among the first to launchsatellites from Scotland.”

Larmour continued: “Today Orbex has taken some bigstrides forward, creating something unique in Europe – a well-funded, private micro-launch solution supported by excellentfacilities, strong industrial partners and an expanding line-up of commercial customers. There are only a handful ofprivate launcher companies globally that have practicalexperience in the design and production of micro-launchvehicles, and even fewer that have combined those skills withsufficient funding and the commercial contracts to executeon their plans. We are looking forward to the next steps inour development from our new home in Scotland.”

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Gilat demonstrates exceptional maritime connectivityover Telesat’s Phase 1 LEO satelliteGilat Satellite Networks has completed a successful test witha tier-1 maritime service provider for maritime communicationover Telesat’s low earth orbit Phase 1 LEO satellite. Thisindustry-first milestone exemplified exceptionally low latencyand high bit-rate essential for multiple maritime applications.

The remarkable performance with latency as low as 16msec was achieved in the tier-1 maritime service provider’steleport in Northern Europe.

The test was performed with Gilat’s LEO modem and aone-metre small maritime Ka-band antenna, demonstratingdirect real-time communication. Outstanding performancewas achieved in testing video conferencing, over-the-top(OTT) video such as YouTube and massive datacommunication on a symmetric link.

“Telesat is pleased to be collaborating with innovativecompanies such as Gilat that recognize the potential ofTelesat’s LEO system to transform the maritime broadbandcommunication experience, delivering very high bit-rateservices for large leisure vessels and supporting applicationswith critical latency requirements,” said Michel Forest, Directorof Engineering, Telesat. “This demonstration confirms thatTelesat’s state-of-the-art LEO architecture delivers on tier-1maritime service provider’s requirements and opens the doorfor latency sensitive and high bit rate applications.”

“Gilat is proud to demonstrate outstanding results for nextgeneration maritime communication over Telesat’s phase 1LEO Satellite,” said Amir Yafe, Head of Global Accounts atGilat. “This maritime test further strengthens Gilat’s strategicpartnership with Telesat and follows the recent collaborationon the industry’s first inflight communication over LEOsatellite.”

Terrasat ramps up presence worldwide with new EMEADirectorWith the new year comes new changes within TerrasatCommunications. To jump-start the 2019 year, the companyrecently surpassed shipping of 20K IBUCs worldwide, and itcontinues to charge forward by expanding its sales team.

Terrasat welcomes Paul Gorton to the team as Directorof Sales, EMEA who will be combining forces with Ron Merritt,Regional VP of EMEA. Paul Gorton arrives primed from

Comtech Xicom Technology and brings with him over 20+years of combined experience in both application engineering& sales. Paul’s extensive knowledge will enable TerrasatCommunications to be even more responsive to the needsof the ever-diversifying Satcom market.

Bob Hansen, Global Sales & Marketing, said: “What hasendeared customers to Paul is his broad reaching knowledgeand empathy towards their requirements, this matchesperfectly with Terrasat Communications’ customer focusedapproach.” Gorton commented on his role saying, “It is anexciting time to be working in the industry with SatelliteCommunications playing such a huge role in Aero, Maritime,Government & Military as well as the more traditional VSATand Broadcast verticals.”

Paul Gorton will be attending CABSAT 2019 in Dubaialong with Ron Merritt & Bob Hansen this March.

Hughes engineering executive, Dr. Lin-Nan Lee, honouredwith distinguished service award for contributions tosatellite communicationsHughes Network Systems has announced that the IEEE hashonoured Dr. Lin-Nan Lee, Vice President of AdvancedDevelopment at Hughes and Life Fellow at IEEE, with its“Distinguished Contributions to Satellite Communications”award. The IEEE, the world’s largest professional organizationfor the advancement of technology, presents this prestigiousaward to commend one industry leader for outstandingcontributions to the advancement of science, technology andapplications in communications.

“Dr. Lin-Nan Lee has had a profound impact on the fieldof satellite communications for many years,” said Dr. MatthewValenti, IEEE Fellow and Professor in the Lane Departmentof Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at WestVirginia University. “He has been a pioneer in the use ofseveral ground-breaking technologies, including turbo andlow-density parity-check (LDPC) coding, interferencecancellation, adaptive modulation and faster-than-Nyquistsignalling. Dr. Lee’s work has shaped many of the mostcommonly used satellite and cellular standards we use today.”

In his over 25-year career at Hughes, Dr. Lee has playeda prominent role at both a company and an industry level indeveloping international satellite communications standards.He contributed to over 30 published journal and conferencepapers, while helping secure more than 60 US patents of the300+ held by Hughes, including development of the DVB-S2and DVB-S2X global satellite standards.

O3b satellites arrive at Kourou for March launchFour new O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites havearrived safely at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, FrenchGuiana, in preparation for launch by a Soyuz rocket fromArianespace in late March 2019, SES announced.

The new Ka-band satellites will join SES’s existingconstellation of 16 MEO satellites manufactured by ThalesAlenia Space, orbiting at approximately 8,000 km from Earthand serving customers based in more than 40 countries. Byincreasing the size of the constellation from 16 to 20 satellites,SES Networks will offer enhanced coverage while providinggreater service availability and reliability to cater to theincreasing demand for bandwidth in the government, telecom,cloud, maritime and energy markets.

The O3b fleet of MEO satellites is the only proven non-geostationary (NGSO) constellation to provide carrier-gradecommercial broadband services today. O3b is the only

Artist rendering of Telesat’s Phase 1 LEO satellite. Photocourtesy of SSTL




satellite-based system capable of delivering MEF CarrierEthernet 2.0 (CE2.0) certified services, which meet the samestringent functional and performance requirements of CE2.0-certified terrestrial fibre services. The combination of O3b’sfibre-equivalent performance and massive geographic reachmeans the system can deliver high-performance datasolutions – including cloud services and applications – across

the globe. Enabled by the O3b system, SES Networks is theonly satellite-based provider to be certified as an IBM CloudDirect Link Service Provider.

With these four new satellites, SES completes the firstgeneration of a unique high-power, high-throughput fleet of20 satellites operating in MEO. Each satellite has a mass ofapproximately 700 kilograms at lift-off and provides capacityof more than 10 Gigabits per second. Additionally, the MEOsystem’s next generation, O3b mPOWER, is the only fully-funded NGSO broadband system in development and willbe fully-integrated and backward compatible with the existingO3b system starting in 2021.

“Since becoming operational in 2014, the unique offeringof the O3b MEO system has transformed communities anddisrupted industries by empowering people with newopportunities,” said Ruy Pinto, Chief Technology Officer atSES. “Expanding the O3b constellation enables us to continueelevating the connectivity experience, driving digitaltransformation and increasing cloud-scale adoption, byseamlessly integrating satellite-based services into thebroader global terrestrial network.”

Ukraine’s first 4K channel on AMOS-7Spacecom has announced its AMOS-7 communicationsatellite is broadcasting the Ukraine’s first ever 4K TV channel.Nashe Media Group’s #NASHE HDR channel is beingbroadcast throughout the entire country by Ukrainian operatorUkrKosmos. Following on the new channel’s success, Nashe

Four new O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites havearrived safely at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou

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is planning a Spring 2019 launch of a second 4K channel,ETNO.

According to Andriy Verkholyak, Director Nashe MediaGroup, “The success and positive reception by consumersof our 4K channel #NASHE HDR is exciting. As a relativelynew player in the Ukrainian market, we are here to provethat we are market movers and by investing in 4K TV, wehave proved that viewers are ready for this new technology.Working together with UkrKosmos and Spacecom is thecorrect decision and we are already planning for more 4Kchannels. We look forward to more growth with Spacecomas our satellite communications partner.”

Jehuda Amir, VP Sales CIS at Spacecom: “4K televisionis a growth point for TV business and a must-have feature inthe premium segment. I am very pleased that the firstUkrainian 4K channel is now broadcasting from our satellite.One factor holding back 4K growth is that they require largecapacity, which has been expensive. Spacecom’s intensifiedefforts in developing satellite technologies to provide TVchannels with sufficient capacity at a reasonable price havesucceeded. Nashe Media Group’s channel on AMOS-7proves this.”

Newtec partners with Paradigm to host new high-throughput modem boardNewtec, a specialist in the design, development andmanufacture of equipment for satellite communications, haspartnered with satellite communications solution providerParadigm, which has become the first company to host itsNewtec Dialog® SMB3310 high-throughput modem board.

The two-way, high-throughput SMB3310 satellite modemboard is now successfully embedded into Paradigm’s field-proven Paradigm Interface Module (PIM) terminal controller,which provides a common terminal interface for fixed andquick deploy terminals operating on all major satellitenetworks. Through the PIM, the Newtec SMB3310 caninteroperate with on-the-pause and on-the-move satcomterminals for Government, Defense, Broadcast and Mobilitymarkets. The PIM is renowned for being easy-to-use andworking seamlessly with compliant antennas and has a longtrack record in integrating a range of terminals.

“The SMB3310-based PIM combines the efficiency andflexibility of the Newtec Dialog platform with the versatilityand reliability of the PIM,” said Bart Baekelandt, ProductManager at Newtec. “The range of PIM-based terminals willallow Newtec Dialog users to roll-out a multitude of high-throughput fast-deploy applications on their Newtec Dialogplatform, achieving the highest efficiency over satellite,wherever they may be.”

The integration of SMB3310 and the PIM instantly givescustomers access to the Newtec Dialog VSAT platform viaParadigm’s range of high-performance multiband terminalsincluding the lightweight, rugged and ultra-portable SWARM,the HORNET flyaway terminal, the Communications on theMove (COTM) solution MANTA, and the cost-effectiveCONNECT100T tripod terminal.

The Newtec Dialog VSAT platform provides robust andresilient links which are both efficient and affordable thanksto the wideband DVB-S2X forward and the government-gradefrequency hopping waveform Newtec Mx-DMA®, whichincludes features such as spread spectrum andrandomization of carriers.

“As an established provider of end-to-end solutions toaddress the evolving requirements of network providers, we

are always looking to form new partnerships with other industryleaders,” said Ulf Sandberg, Managing Director at Paradigm.“Newtec’s new modem board is not only innovative, but flexibleenough to provide tailored services to our customers, poweringa range of applications from mobile Internet access, cellularbackhauling and disaster recovery right through to newsgathering and video/audio streaming.”

YahClick to showcase one-stop-shop satellite enabledsolutions at CABSATOn 12-14th March, industries will converge beneath one roofat the Dubai World Trade Center, where YahClick will hostlive demonstrations of its e-Learning and e–Health solutions.These technologies are unlocking human potential byfacilitating access to education and health services in severalunserved and underserved communities across Africa, MiddleEast, Central and South West Asia.

YahClick, the recently formed joint venture betweenYahsat, the UAE-based global satellite operator, and HughesNetwork Systems, utilizes the Ka-band satellite frequencyand powered by High Throughput Satellite (HTS) spot beamtechnology, to deliver its broadband internet service. By usingthe latest technology currently available in satellitecommunications, YahClick, has been able to providedependable, affordable and high-performance satellitebroadband services across its growing footprint.

The satellite broadband provider will be showcasing itsservices alongside two key partners: Integrated TechnologyGroup (ITG) and Tech4Life.

The ITG partnership offers a full ecosystem of digitallearning tools and resources to schools and educationministries across YahClick’s serviced markets. ITG will bepresent alongside YahClick at the event to showcase livedemos of the platform. E-Learning is a critical social andeconomic enabler given that more than 57 million childrenremain out of school in developing nations, without accessto quality education.

Tech4Life will also exhibit with YahClick, bringing its e-Health and telemedicine services to the event floor. The e-Health provider’s primary objective of improving access tothe healthcare services in remote areas of the world alignsperfectly with some of the event’s key themes, as well asYahClick’s broader vision. By teaming with YahClick, Tech4Lifeis able to provide consistent, affordable and stable broadbandlinks between major hospitals and remote villages that requireprofessional consultation and diagnosis.

YahClick e-learning demo during AfricaCom

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Q&A ND SatCom

Premier supplier andintegratorND SatCom has more than 30 years of experience as a premiersupplier of and integrator for innovative satellite communicationequipment systems, supporting critical operations throughoutthe world. ND SatCom has customers in more than 130countries and delivers efficient and secure turnkey and customcommunications solutions from its base in Immenstaad,Germany. Bernd Lehr, Director of Sales, outlines ND SatCom’srecent achievements and outlook for the future.

Bernd Lehr, Director of SalesND SatCom

Ten video news vehicles for SABC. Photo courtesy of ND SatCom

Q&A ND SatCom

Q&

A Question: 2018 was a busy year forND SatCom. What can you tell usabout the highlights and keymilestones achieved over the year?Bernd Lehr: We’ve achieved a lot in allthree of our business sections. We arevery active in the defence market, thebroadcast sector, and the governmentand enterprise market.

In the defence market, we finalisedthe modification of terminals for theGerman armed forces, and we’ve beenawarded a contract for the Polish Army.In the government market, we’ve rolledout two significant Air Traffic Control(ATC) networks, one in Bolivia viaThales, and one with Atech/Brazil. In the

broadcast sector, meanwhile, we’vebeen happy to deliver our satcom on-the-move system to ten video newsvehicles for SABC, which aretransmitting all types of services.

Question: The satellite industry is ina major state of change; we’removing from high throughputsatellites (HTS) to extremethroughput satellites (XTS), andsmall satellites and mega-constellations. What kind ofopportunities does all this changeprovide ND SatCom?Bernd Lehr: There is a closecooperation with the Intelsatengineering team for the EpicNG

satellites with SKYWAN. We’ve doneintensive testing with par tners atdifferent ground stations, utilisingdifferent flyaway, land, and maritimeterminals.

The unique features of ourSKYWAN technology can be used inany operation. Regarding the XTSdevelopments, this is under investig-ation by ND SatCom for futuretechnologies.

One of the challenges is that wemust always be ready for these newtechnologies and be prepared for thefuture. We’ve increased our sales staffin reaction to the changing markets, aswell as our engineering personnel inAfr ica and in Asia. We see gooddemand in our core markets, defence,broadcast and governmental, whilethese changes are going on. Satcomon-the-move, which is required by allthree of our markets, is growingstrongly.

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Q&A ND SatCom

Question: In a rapidly-changingindustry, geographic and end usermarkets are being impactedsignificantly. How have ND SatCom’skey markets been developing?Bernd Lehr: We think there is bigdemand for mobile satell itecommunications, especially in Africaand Latin America. The reason for thatdemand is that they have poor terrestrialconnectivity. It’s different in Europe,where we need to concentrate more onthe broadcast market, which is alsorapidly changing, and where we’reseeing more Ka-band transmissions.We’re still building our SNG trucks, sothis is something we need to react to.We’re also now trying to focus on theAsian market.

We have a lot of capability in thebroadcast market, such as our Ka2Goterminal, which is very well-known in themarket. There’s still a very strongdemand for SNG and uplink stations,and we’re establishing better pick-upstations for the broadcast marketswhich increases reliability and signalavailability. The newer IP and OTTmarkets are bringing in a great deal ofchange for broadcasters, and we’rereacting to that with our SKYWAN 5Gmodem, which transmits any serviceover IP in one hop to the destination.We clearly see that DTH is falling andOTT is going up.

Defence is our strongest businesssector where we have long-termcontracts with different militaryinstitutions, including the Germanarmed forces and much of the rest ofEurope.

Our reach in the governmentalmarkets is mostly around ATC networks,but we also see now through the satcomon-the-move business possibilities inthe first responder and police market.We’ve been performing demonstrationsfor this market; we did one in April inSouth Africa, where we have welcomedseveral companies and institutions,including the police and military police,to witness a live demonstration. Theattendees were convinced that oursystem is excellent for their needs,especially in situations where reliableservice is a must.

Question: We hear you have a newsatcom on the move solution, whichis already being used by SABC inSouth Africa. What can you tell usabout the solution, and how itcompares with others on the market?Bernd Lehr: The solution comprisesour SOTM enhanced SKYWAN satellitemodem, a low-profile antenna, and ourmedia fleet manager software. Thesatcom on-the-move vehicles are beingoperated assuming that everyone isusing video traffic only, but in parallel,

voice calls, Internet and email traffic isalso supported. Data can be sent, whichis required by all the different types ofcustomers, including defence,broadcasters, and governmentalagencies.

Broadcasters have bandwidthdemands up to 7Mbps for HD video thatour News-on-the-Move solution cantransmit.

The defence customers, on theother hand require maximum bandwidthtoo but the antenna to be much smallerrendering it invisible to the enemy. That’svery important for those customers.With our solution, all customers canchoose proper antenna and transmitfrom the very first second; our SKYWANmodem interfaces to all these SOTMantenna and ultra-fast re-establishesthe link after shadowing or tunnelsavoiding frozen video images or cut offvoice calls. Nothing needs to beadjusted; it’s all done automatically withSKYWAN.

What only SKYWAN modems do toreduce OpEx is bandwidth sharing: Abandwidth pool can be used for peaktraffic by all the remote sites in a satellitenetwork while enforcing lowest jitter andreal-time services. This helps lower thecosts for our customers.

Question: Let’s talk about otherproduct development. Does NDSatCom have anything else new inthe pipeline?Bernd Lehr: There are new featuresand capabilities of our SKYWAN 5Gmodem that we are developing withrespect to mobile and the mobility area.We already released LTE enhance-ments and encryption modules forSKYWAN. Now, beam switching formobile terminals in meshed networksusing HTS satell ites is underdevelopment for first responders, policeforces, special forces and homelandsecurity customers that bring their ownmobile cells.

Question: What’s on the horizon forND SatCom in 2019 and beyond?Bernd Lehr: We are mainly focusing oncontinuation and extension of our currentareas. We’re also strengthening ourregional sales, and enhancing ourproduct portfolio as an independent groupwith verified solutions of mobile terminalsfor mobile cells – we have branded itSMART MOBILE2 NETWORKS.Photo courtesy of ND SatCom

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Tactical Communications

AEHF satellite. Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin

Tactical satellite-basedcommunicationsDelivering secure, timely and effective tactical communications is one of the big challenges in thesatellite sector today, as congestion, contestation and competition make the space environmentand increasingly difficult place to navigate. However, these communications capabilities areabsolutely paramount for the efficient operation of government and military groups the world over.In recent years, the satellite sector has established innovative solutions to meet demand.

Communications have played a vital role in our world sincethe dawn of time. Over the centuries, communicationscapabilities and preferences have evolved, with human andanimal messengers, telegrams, hand and smoke signals, andlater, letter-writing and faxes, being replaced with faster, moreinstantaneous, options. Communications in any form areimportant, but it’s become clear in recent decades that thepriority for consumers, governments, non-governmentalorganisations and military forces alike, is on-demand, real-time communications.

Delivering real-time communications was once a trickyfeat. However, since the advent of Smartphones and satellitecommunications systems, the ability to communicate via text,image or voice whenever, wherever, has becomecommonplace, and taken for granted. We can call relativeson the other side of the world with the click of a button,become registered to vote with our local authorities within acouple of minutes on our Smartphones, and send photos ofmeals instantly across a variety of platforms with no extracharge, using WiFi or data packages.

For government and military groups, on the other hand,

there is a wide array of data that needs to be communicatedacross the world at any one time, including voice and video,situational awareness, battlefield management, etc. Satelliteplays a key role in delivering that connectivity, whether it’sserving rural areas unserved or underserved by fibre,providing back-up connectivity to terrestrial options, ordelivering connectivity on the move for manned or unmannedmissions on land, in the air, or at sea. The other advantageof satellite over terrestrial options is, of course, security; whenit comes to government and military data, securetransmissions are absolutely vital. This has become ever-more important in recent years as the three Cs becomeincreasingly commonplace in the battlefield environment;never before has space been so contested, congested andcompetitive.

Lockheed Martin launches fourth AEHF satelliteThe world’s most affluent governments and defence forceshave been launching their own satellites for decades now,reasoning that wholly-owned assets are a better solution thanthe hosted payloads model. The Advanced Extremely High

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Redefining connectivity. Photo courtesy of Viasat

Frequency (AEHF) series of communications satellites is onesuch group of wholly-owned satellites, operated by the UnitedStates Air Force Space Command. AEHF provides survivable,global, secure and jam-resistant communications for theArmed Forces of the USA, the UK, Canada, and theNetherlands, on land, in air, or at sea.

Once complete, the series will consist of six satellites inGEO, all backwards compatible with the Milstar system,operating at 44GHz up (the extremely high frequency - EHF- band) and 20GHz down (the super high frequency - SHF -band). AEHF will ultimately replace the Milstar constellation,since user data rates are increased five-fold, enabling vastlyimproved tactical communications, including real-time video,battlefield maps and targeting data.

The AEHF satellites utilise narrow spot beams tocommunicate with Earth, and crosslinks between thesatellites, enabling space-based relay, which is more securethan hopping via ground hubs. With frequency-hopping radiotechnology and phased array antennas utilising adaptiveradiation patterns, many potential sources of jamming arelocked out.

Lockheed Martin is under contract to deliver the six AEHFsatellites and the mission control segment, with NorthropGrumman Aerospace Systems providing the payload. InOctober 2018, the fourth AEHF protected communicationsatellite was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral AirForce Station on board a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551

vehicle. The fourth satellite reportedly completes thegeostationary ring, providing full global coverage.

“It’s good to return with our mission partners to see theculmination of expertise, skill and partnership that we haveworked diligently toward to make this AEHF launch asuccess,” said Mike Cacheiro, Vice President of ProtectedCommunication Systems at Lockheed Martin. “This is asubstantial milestone for AEHF, and as we look ahead, wecontinue to improve and upgrade this mission to deliver thesevital communications capabilities to the Air Force.”

The fifth and sixth AEHF satellites are well underway, aswell as the upgraded mission planning ground system.

Viasat brings artificial intelligence to the stageArtificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning may also havea role to play in the tactical communications systems of thefuture. Indeed, back in 2017, the US DoD described AI as‘the most disruptive technology of our time,’ in a study in theoperational environment and the changing character of futurewarfare.

In October 2018, Viasat announced the availability ofsecure cloud-enabled AI and machine learning applications

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over its global satellite communications architecture and theline of sight (LOS) tactical network technologies forwarfighters on the move. According to Viasat, by offering asecure, integrated network of cloud-enabled solutions, thecompany can reduce warfighters’ cognitive loads in order tomake more accurate, informed, life-saving decisions, faster,across the battlespace.

Viasat has completed a successful connectivitydemonstration focused on bringing access to advanced cloudcapabilities to the tactical edge. The demonstration showedhow Viasat’s satellite communications architecture and LOStactical network can provide a holistic communicationssolution by integrating Link 16, mobile ad-hoc networking,Wi-Fi and LTE technologies to significantly enhancesituational awareness at the tactical edge and fulfil emergingUS Government concepts of operation. Throughout thedemonstration, Viasat’s satell ite network and LOStechnologies provided a secure, high-speed, resilientbackbone connection to link connected devices to media-rich AI and machine learning-based applications offered bya number of today’s cloud technology providers.

“Viasat is partnering with global cloud computing leadersto bring advanced AI and machine learning-based operationalcapabilities to the warfighter—from predictive analytics andmedia rich intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance datato prescriptive outputs,” said Ken Peterman, President ofGovernment Systems at Viasat. “Through Viasat’smodernized end-to-end communications network, we willempower warfighters with advanced data-driven insights andoperational capabilities that will allow them to make the mostinformed decisions possible - even in the fog of war. Today’sdemonstration shows the power of our SATCOM network andLOS innovations to deliver the next-generation Internet ofBattlefield Things (IoBT) to significantly improve militaryreadiness and mission effectiveness.”

Viasat will provide ubiquitous and secure satellitecommunications required to access cloud-enabled militaryapplications via its Hybrid Adaptive Network (HAN) concept.The HAN provides access to Viasat’s end-to-end satelliteinnovations such as active cyber-defence, layered resiliencyand elite satellite capacity to support a range of operationsrequiring IoBT and cloud-based applications. The HAN allowsusers to seamlessly operate across different networks (bothgovernment and private sector), creating an end-to-endlayered, resilient network that is unique to Viasat and notoffered by any other provider today.

Evolving waveformsSatellite technologies have come on in leaps and bounds inrecent years, with incredible new capabilities being broughtto fruition. However, when it comes to the future of tacticalcommunications, the satellites themselves are not the be alland end all. We’ve been hearing about protected tacticalwaveforms (PTWs) for some time now, which will protect vitalbattlefield communications from adversarial jammers thatintend to interfere with US satellite communications.

Towards the end of 2018, it was announced that the USAir Force was pressing forwards with the development of amore resilient PTW which enables anti-jamming capabilitieswithin a protected tactical satellite communications system.The Air Force is reportedly expecting responses very soon

to its request for information from the satellite sector forprotected satellite communications for use in benign andcontested environments alike. As satellite plays anincreasingly vital role throughout government and militarysectors the world over, disruption of those capabilities hasbeen on the rise.

“Tactical satellite communications are vital to worldwidemilitary operations,” the US Air Force told C4ISR net. “Ouradversaries know this and desire to disrupt US satellitecommunications. The Air Force is fielding Protected TacticalSATCOM capabilities to … ensure warfighters around theglobe have access to secure and reliable communications.”

We can expect to hear a lot more in the years to come asindustry works in partnership with the US Air Force and othergovernment agencies in order to bring this project, and otherslike it, to fruition. According to recent reports, early-stage trialsfor PTW capabilities in-flight have proven extremelypromising.

Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin

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Monitoring and Control

Sébastien Couvet, EMEA Sales Manager, Integrasys

Getting satellite communications right is an involvedprocess. Firstly, you need the right equipment in place tofacilitate communication, keep the signal on-air, and watchfor anomalies. Secondly, you need well-trained satelliteengineers to operate the vast majority of that equipment. Thisis critical especially when it comes to error resolution as tothe untrained eye, it can be nearly impossible to troubleshootissues.

While satellite operators by their very nature have a largeresource of satellite engineers, the business is changing andwith it the profile of people within the company is movingtowards more IT focused employees. Meanwhile satellite hasa real challenge attracting new engineers and there is a gapbetween experienced satellite engineers close to retirementand potential new recruits fresh out of school or university.

Maximizing efficiency in satellitecommunicationsThe satellite communications industry is one ofthe most complex industries, with huge levelsof expertise needed throughout the chain. Withan ageing workforce and increasingcompetition from other communicationsmethods, it is clear that the industry needs tomake itself more accessible and more efficientto retain customers and maximize return oninvestment. Sébastien Couvet, EMEA SalesManager, Integrasys explains.

This is going to cause real skills shortage in the coming years.It becomes even more challenging when it comes to

customers. Satellite users will very rarely have satelliteengineers on hand. Even if they bring someone in to helpwith setup, it is unlikely full-time staff will be trained satelliteengineers, which makes it much more likely errors will bemade and difficult to solve in-house. This puts even morepressure on the satellite operators drafted in to solve networkissues which are often easily avoidable.

Making satellite more accessibleWe are on a mission to make satellite more accessible andthere are several areas of the satcoms workflow whereautomated tools can have a massive impact.

Buying/sellingCurrently when a customer needs to buy satellite capacity,they have to undergo extremely complex link budgetcalculations. These are really crucial in determining whethera specific satellite will be able to deliver the service needed.Even once that is determined, it is important to know exactlywhat gains and losses a signal will be subject to so that theright equipment can be put in place to allow for that.

Even with existing systems, this means inputting at least50 different highly technical parameters. What’s more oncethose have been collated and entered, the results are spewedout in such a format that they can only be read by someoneskilled in understanding link budgets. If a company doesn’thave anyone in house or has limited resource, this meansthat these calculations can take a long time to get done. Theconsequence of them not being done or being doneincorrectly can be very detrimental to any ensuing service.Equally if a customer cannot do link budgets effectively,

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Monitoring and Control

Controlsat. Photo courtesy of Integrasys

perhaps they will simply look at other communicationsinfrastructures if satellite is not the only alternative.

We have developed a tool that simplifies and democratizeslink budgets called Beam Budget. It is so easy both to useand to understand the reports generated that literally anyonecan do it. Being highly accurate it ensures that the rightsatellite capacity is selected and will be able to deliver theresults needed by the customer.

SetupWhen it comes to setting up a terminal on a satellite network,there are a myriad of things that can go wrong and causeloss or degradation of signal. The biggest mistake often ispointing to the wrong satellite. For someone setting up,especially of not a trained satellite engineer, it is verychallenging to be sure the pointing is accurate. However, therepercussions of getting it wrong are huge because you aresuddenly sharing frequency and causing satell iteinterference. This in turn means your signal won’t be as goodas it should be, and you will also affect others on that satellite.Of course, at some point after setup this is normallydiscovered due to the poor quality but if the terminal is remote,the cost of getting someone to get out there and correct itcan be huge.

One of the first tools we brought to this market was ourSatmotion Pocket tool and it is still one of the most popular. Itis a really simple way of using an app on your mobile phoneto make sure the antenna is pointing to the correct satellite.It makes commissioning so simple that literally anyone cando it, while ensuring perfect accuracy.

Following its huge success, we introduced Satmotion SNGwhich enables automated and quick line-up for thoseoccasional use services, such as Satellite Newsgathering.

MonitoringEven once the correct satellite capacity is purchased andthe antenna setup accurately, it is all too easy for things togo wrong with satellite transmissions which in turn can leadto satellite interference or a degradation of signal. This canbe caused by a number of varying factors, such as:

• Your terminal is on the move and loses the satellite as ittravels;

• Someone else points to your satellite by mistake andcauses interference on your service;

• Extremes of weather affect your signal; and• Someone mistakenly alters parameters at the terminal.

All too often satellite antennas are setup then left to theirown devices with errors only spotted when the servicebecomes affected. Decent monitoring however means thatthose errors can be spotted before they have any significantimpact meaning that for a consumer watching a TV channelor using a broadband service, for example, they will nevereven know there was a problem. This only works with continualautomated monitoring of all networks, either for the satelliteoperator monitoring all sites on the network or for the uplinkerneeding to monitor their own terminals and installations.

Our Controlsat solution enables efficient management andoperation of NOCs worldwide in real-time. Using Controlsatmeans fully automated monitoring for multiple satellites and

beams remotely from the main NOC. It has an easy-to-useinterface and has proven to save our customers OPEX.

For VSAT terminals, we have Alusat which enablescontinual monitoring of a VSAT site after installation. It reducesthe cost of service failures and site re-visits by allowing avirtual visit to every site on the network.

We even have a separate tool to detect, record, and solveany possible satellite interference. Vectorsat is again fullyautomated and able to detect and solve interference in real-time.

Efficient satellitesUltimately, the more we can automate satellite operations, theless room for error, which in turn saves both time and moneyfor satellite operators and their customers. In a world wheresatellite is under threat from a myriad of other connectionpossibilities and consumers have no patience for degradationor loss of service, it is more important than ever that wemaximise the efficiency and ensure consistent quality insatellite communications. We are continually innovating to findnew ways to do just that for the entire satellite industry.

Alusat. Photo courtesy of Integrasys

SatMotion Pocket. Photo courtesy of Integrasys

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Broadcast via Satellite

Azerspace 2. Photo courtesy of Azercosmos

Broadcast via satellite: The end ofan era?Satellite TV, whether free or paid for, is one of the oldest and most well-established markets forthe satellite sector the world over. This traditional stronghold in an otherwise rapidly-changingenvironment has, in recent years, seen a great deal of change, as consumer demands change,and linear TV loses out in the popularity battle with video on demand (VoD) services.

The direct to home (DTH) television market, which seescontent beamed into individual homes by means of a satelliteantenna installed on the house, is one of the most traditionaland well-established satellite markets in the world. The firstpublic satellite TV signal moving content from Europe to NorthAmerica over the Telstar satellite was recorded in 1962, butthe industry didn’t really take off until the 1970s. Early systemswere pretty pricey and came complete with large antennas,but both prices and antenna sizes have fallen over the yearsto reach today’s affordable packages.

Anecdotally, some of us even receive free satellite TV. Itwasn’t until I had already moved into my current propertythat I was informed that the previous owner had cut all thetraditional broadcast TV cables and replaced them with aFreesat antenna; all the same free HD broadcast TV channelsavailable in the UK, but via satellite.

The DTH market has been great for the satellite sectorover the years. TV has become commonplace in the vastmajority of homes in the Western World, with many of ushaving anywhere up to four TVs in our house, spread betweenthe living room, bedrooms, kitchens, and even bathrooms.With consumers lapping up free to air and paid for satellite

TV packages alike, each additional channel being broadcastrequires more satellite capacity. The move from SD to HDand even 4K, too, has seen a staggering increase in capacitydemand for DTH TV, which has only been somewhat mitigatedby new compression technologies.

Down, but not outWe all know that with the advent of over the top (OTT), IPTVand VoD, the TV sector has seen a great deal of change overthe last decade. Free-to-air or paid-for broadcast televisionprogramming, an essential lifestyle staple in hundreds ofmillions of homes the world over, has slowly lost market shareto incumbent technologies which offer more in the way ofchoice. The ability to choose from more content than everbefore, at a time that is convenient to the individual, ratherthan scheduled, and on any device of choice, be it laptop,tablet or Smartphone, has proven hugely popular amongviewing audiences everywhere. It’s said that we’re consumingmore content than ever before in history, but in newer, moreconvenient ways.

In a report published in September 2018, Euroconsultstated that it expects satellite operator revenues to move away

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from DTH towards telco and data-driven traffic, with telecomapplications surpassing video applications by 2021 – justtwo years away from now. This change has been attributedto the growth of broadband services on NGSO and highthroughput satellite (HTS) systems, and the influx of low-costcapacity that has accompanied this. Indeed, total satellitecapacity is expected to grow eight-fold from 1.3Tbps in 2017to almost 10Tbps in 2022.

“Innovations in technology, services and in the ecosystemwill make satellite connectivity relevant in the context of the

communication sector of the 2020s, that will see the spreadof terrestrial 5G and the rollout of a wider range ofcommunication services, either between humans or drivenby IoT exchanges,” said Pacôme Révillon, CEO ofEuroconsult. “In the short term, the impact on legacy servicesand the related pressure on the economic performance ofoperators could be unfortunately described as a necessarypain and is certainly no different from the cycles observed inother industries navigating a breakthrough innovation period.”

So, it’s not necessarily bad news for DTH providers, moreof a shift of focus to newer and more exciting applications,such as 5G, IoT and bridging the digital divide. Indeed, there’sstill a lot of room for expansion in the DTH sector; there remainsignificantly underserved markets in much of Asia, Africa andthe Americas; booming expat communities in many parts ofthe world desperate for programming from back home; inmany areas, the shift from SD to HD, and the accompanyingincrease in satellite capacity demands, has only just begun,let alone the next move to 4K/UHD and, ultimately, 16K.

Other market reports have also supported this notion.ResearchAndMarkets.com’s ‘Global Pay TV and SVODMarket 2018-2023’ report expects pay-TV and subscriptionvideo on demand (SVOD) subscriptions to grow from 1,372million at the end of 2017 to 1,877 million by 2023, a 37percent increase. SVOD subscriptions are expected to morethan double during this period, while pay-TV subscriptionsare only expected to grow by 94 million subscribers. However,in the current age of OTT, IPTV, VoD and the ability to all too

Eutelsat QUANTUM - the future of satellites

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easily gain access to pirated content, 94 million more pay-TV subscribers must be seen as a win.

Regionally, the USA’s pay-TV and SVOD subscriptionswill grow from 222 million to 289 million during 2018-2023,with pay-TV subscriptions falling by 10 million to 80 million,and SVOD subscriptions growing from 132 million to 208million.

During the period, China is expected to add 171 millionsubscriptions, including 32 million pay-TV and 138 millionSVOD. Meanwhile, India is forecast to gain 49 million pay-TVsubscribers between 2018 and 2023.

The evolution of broadcast satellitesFor satellite operators, there’s still a lot of value in thetraditional free to air and pay-TV DTH sectors, with newsatellites with payloads dedicated to these markets still beingregularly launched. However, due to the market changes, andthe drop-off of traditional broadcast TV growth, satelliteoperators are increasingly looking to hedge their bets.

Some operators are going for mixed application satellitedesigns that cater to both the broadcast andtelecommunications sector, for example, back in September2018, the Azerspace-2/Intelsat 38 satellite was launched from

The DTH market has been great for the satellite sector over the years

French Guiana on board an Ariane 5 launch vehicle.Azerbaijan’s third satellite, manufactured by SSL, providescoverage over Europe, Central and South-west Asia, theMiddle East and Tropical Africa, and will offer enhancedcapabilities, specifically for growing demand in the region forDTH services, as well as government and network services.The US$190 million satellite is expected to bring aroundUS$400 million in revenues to Azerbaijan’s economy.

On the other hand, other operators are opting for flexiblesatellites with software-defined payloads that can be re-shaped throughout the lifetime of the satellite, from downhere on Earth. Eutelsat QUANTUM is one such satellite;created in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space andthe European Space Agency (ESA) and due for launch inthe second half of 2019, the ‘chameleon satellite’ marks arevolutionary step forwards with unprecedentedcustomisation and flexibility. While Eutelsat QUANTUM willprimarily address markets, which are highly changeable andmobile, such as communications on the move, data networksand government users, with the amount of change we’reseeing in the broadcast sector right now, software-definedsatellites may soon come into play in the DTH markets aswell.

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Q&A CPI Satcom

Staying at the leadingedgeThe Satcom & Medical Products Division of Communications &Power Industries (CPI Satcom) is a world leader in uplinkamplifier products and systems for satellite communications.The company has played a vital role in the satellite industrysince its inception, having supported the first satellite projects,INTELSAT and CONUS. To date, CPI Satcom has shipped morethan 50,000 high power amplifiers (HPAs) to more than 150countries. Andy Tafler, President of CPI’s Satcom & MedicalProducts Division, opines on recent developments in thesatellite sector and the company’s position looking ahead.

Andy Tafler, President of CPI’sSatcom & Medical ProductsDivision

CPI TWTAs come with advanced graphical user interface. Photo courtesy of CPISatcom

Q&A CPI Satcom

Q&

A

Question: 2018 was a busy year forCPI Satcom. What can you tell usabout the company’s key achieve-ments during the year?Andy Tafler: During 2018 we continuedto work hard to stay at the leading edgeof both solid state and VED-basedsatell ite amplifiers. This includedproducts at the new V-band frequencies,expanding our portfolio of IFEC KFRUsand transceivers, and expanding andupdating our now extensive solid-stateproduct line with GaN technology.

Question: There’s a lot of change inthe satellite sector right now, withhigh throughput satellites (HTS)moving on to extreme throughput

satellites (XTS), and new trends insmall satellites and mega-constellations. What are theemerging opportunities for CPISatcom in all of this?Andy Tafler: New systems, such asthose necessitated by the advancementof XTS, small satellites and mega-constellations, often require from theiruplink HPAs higher frequencies, highervolume production, more output power,more compact size, less weight, orsome combination of the above. Inaddition, these systems may demandnew interfaces and monitor and controlcapability. While the basic principleremains the same with the new systemsas with the existing systems – for HPAmanufacturers such as CPI to amplifya signal at a certain frequency foruplinking to a satellite – these stringentrequirements for new systems can offerboth considerable opportunities andchallenges for HPA manufacturers.

CPI Satcom is working diligently inall these areas to take advantage of theopportunities, and we believe we arewell-positioned to help our customerssucceed. We also benefit from being theonly HPA manufacturer able to utilizeboth GaN solid state and travelling wavetube technologies to fulfil our customers’needs in existing and new marketopportunities.

Question: With so much change inthe satellite sector, what can you tellus about the impact on CPI Satcom’sexisting markets?

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Q&A CPI Satcom

Andy Tafler: As we have all seen, theamount of change that is going on inthe industry has simultaneously createda bit of paralysis in the industry. Thereare so many divergent newopportunities for transmitting data, thatno one opportunity has emerged as awinner yet. We believe that thisuncer tainty has created pent updemand for satellite communicationsproducts, and it seems that the industryis creating an enormous amount ofsupply, with the reasonable hope thatdemand will catch up. How quicklydemand catches up might depend onthe price of transmission, which couldpotentially drop considerably asinvestors look for the new constellationsto realize their promised revenue. Wetherefore expect a steady increase indemand for satellite communicationsproducts, especially as long as worldeconomies continue to grow.

Question: The antenna market ismoving on in leaps and bounds aselectronically steerable and phasedarray antennas enter production.What’s your take on thesedevelopments?Andy Tafler: The GEO satellite Direct-to-Home TV and Internet services, forexample, became successful becausethe customer premises equipment(CPE), including earth station antennasand RF electronics, could be producedvery cheaply. This was necessary to

ensure that households could easilyafford to absorb the amortized value oftheir CPE.

The advent of LEO and MEOsystems has generated a similar needfor low cost user terminals in order toensure high subscriber penetrationlevels. However, unlike the GEOscenar io, current LEO and MEOsystems are in dynamic orbits andrequire stringent pointing and trackingcharacteristics for the subscriberterminals. Mechanically steeredantennas, such as the antennasproduced by CPI, excel at both of theserequirements, thus making them verysuitable for professional, high capacityuse.

That sophistication, however, doesnot come at a price point that could beconsidered affordable for consumerofferings. Phased array antennas offerthe promise of eliminating themechanical steering, thus simplifyingpointing and tracking challenges, andpossibly extending the useful life of CPEsystems. While this technology ispromising, it is still not fully mature andwill likely be unable to match thecurrently desired price points. However,for niche applications such as in-flight-connectivity (IFC) where the low-profilecharacteristics and electronicsteerability of phased array antennasmay offer benefits, these antennas maysee significant growth as they continueto mature.

Question: We’re hearing more andmore about higher frequencydevices, with new V and Q-bandproducts already hitting the shelves.Will CPI Satcom be getting in on thisaction?Andy Tafler: Of course. In order to thriveas a company, we must keep up withthe latest technology demands so thatour customers can retain theirtechnological edge, as well. Althoughwe cannot publicly provide much detailat this time, let me just say that we arealready fielding inquiries for theseproducts and are working on solutions.CPI Satcom is well-versed in both solidstate and TWT amplifier technology, andwe expect both technologies to be inhigh demand at the new frequenciesvery soon.

Question: In terms of new products,what is CPI Satcom working on rightnow?Andy Tafler: CPI Satcom is continuingto build out our GaN-based solid stateproduct l ine, with high power intraditional frequencies, as well as ourpreviously-mentioned forays into Q andV-band for both TWTAs and SSPAs. Astechnology continues to advance, weare always looking for ways to improveour existing product lines, such as wedid when we debuted our patentedLifeExtender/LifePredictor technology.

CPI Satcom also continues to lookat opportunities for adding value to ouramplifier product l ines with theincorporation of block upconverters intoour HPAs, as well as optional interfacessuch as fibre optics for higher frequencyapplications.

Question: What’s on the cards for CPISatcom in 2019 and beyond?Andy Tafler: Industry-wide, the race ison to be the first HPA manufacturer tooffer proven, field-tested products in thehigher frequency bands, and then to beable to reach high-capacitymanufacturing to meet the schedules ofthe new, large constellations. This maybe a daunting task for some companieswho are used to job-shop typeproduction, but this is a familiar andwelcome challenge for CPI. We haveshipped hundreds of SSPAs and TWTAsto individual programs withoutsacrificing quality, and we know we willbe able to continue to do this in thefuture. Success is in sight.

Orbital Systems LLC, a unit of the Antenna Systems Division ofCommunications & Power Industries LLC (CPI), designs and manufactures highperformance antenna systems ranging in size

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Illegal Fishing

IUU fishing threatens the food and income supply of roughly 2.6 billion people, particularly those living in coastal communities,and is one of the primary drivers of global overfishing. Photo courtesy of Hexagon Geospacial

Tackling illegal fishing withanalytics and geospatial dataIllegal fishing is a major problem in many parts of the world, significantly impacting both theenvironment and those of us reliant on the fishing industry as a source of income andsustainment. Earth observation satellite data is currently being utilized by a number of companiesto tackle this problem, with interesting results. Nele Coghe, Product Marketing Manager atHexagon Geospatial, outlines the Capgemini solution as a proof of concept for tackling illegalfishing.

All around the world, governments are facing issuesaround illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.Regulations already exist to combat IUU fishing, butauthorities have not historically been able to quickly identifyinstances of the practice. In the age of satellites and theavailability of extensive maritime data, regulations andauthorities are starting to actually pose a challenge.

Capgemini has created a conceptual solution that couldbe used to help monitor and combat IUU fishing, but beforelooking at these detection technologies, it’s worth examiningthe real-world effect of illegal fishing to understand just howseriously the issue should be taken.

The human, environmental and economic costs of IUUfishingAccording to the Food and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations (FAO), the livelihoods of 12 percent of theworld’s population depend directly or indirectly on fisheriesand aquaculture. That amounts to roughly 2.6 billion peoplewho depend on fish as an important part of their diet or as a

key source of income. IUU fishing threatens the food andincome supply of all these people, particularly those living incoastal communities. For a sense of just how much illegalpractices take away from the industry, it is estimated thatIUU fishing costs up to US$36.4 billion each year.

A main reason why this threat is so pressing for largecommunities around the world is because IUU fishing is oneof the primary drivers of global overfishing. Overfishingthreatens marine ecosystems along with putting food andregional stability at risk. IUU fishing has also been identifiedas going hand-in-hand with organized crime in several partsof the world such as Indonesia. In addition to those factors,IUU fishing has well-known ties to human trafficking and otherhuman rights violations. Charities, such as Human Rights AtSea, have been set up in an attempt to raise awareness,implementation and accountability of human rights provisionsin the fisheries sector.

The environmental impact of IUU fishing is just asdevastating. One example is the Gulf of California, whichaccounts for nearly 75 percent of Mexico’s total annual fish

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Illegal Fishing

The Capgemini solution was created to fight abusive fishingpractices and quota bypass when ships transfer fish from oneto another before going back to port, a practice known astranshipment. Photo courtesy of Hexagon Geospacial

catch. Illegal overfishing is being blamed for severe declinesin the number of wildlife such as sharks, rays and other fishin this area. Equally, illegal fishing also includes inhumanemethods by which fish are caught and how fish are handledafter they are caught. Destructive fishing methods – illegaland heavily regulated in most parts of the world – are stillwidely practiced. Methods including cyanide poisoning anddynamite fishing make fish easy to catch but destroys theirhabitats and contributes towards global warming.

These damaging fishing methods are often combined withthe transhipment of catch at sea from fishing vessels torefrigerated cargo vessels, which is used to obscure the originof a catch in order to mask illicit fishing practices. Identifyingtranshipment is therefore key to tackling IUU fishing.Transhipment can take place anywhere, although recentresearch suggests that most transhipment events take placeon the high seas (35 percent) or in the Russian ExclusiveEconomic Zone (39 percent).

Countering transshipmentThere may be laws and regulations in place that outlaw IUUfishing practices but given the size of the maritime industryand international fishing fleets, identifying and disruptingillegal fishing practices appears to be an insurmountablechallenge.

Due to the overabundance of data, regulatory control and

monitoring of transhipment is difficult for authorities.Automatic Identification System (AIS) data services

provide access to information on the movements andpositions of hundreds of thousands of commercial maritimevessels, especially when supplemented with Satellite AISdata (S-AIS), which can identify vessels without active AIStransponders. At the same time, the rapid growth in satelliteimagery coverage, both from traditional and microsatoperators, means that a vast amounts of imagery data is nowavailable. When data on national and international fishingpolicies, navigation rules and past transhipment behaviouris added into the mix, it can become almost impossible foranalysts to spot suspicious behaviour unaided.

This overabundance of data is the reason why Capgeminideveloped a demonstrator solution which deploys algorithmicanalysis to help analysts spot suspicious activity. This solutionwas created to show a European country fishing agency howto fight abusive fishing practices and quota bypass whenships transfer fish from one to another before going back to

‘Capgemini has created a conceptualsolution that could be used to help monitorand combat IUU fishing, but before lookingat these detection technologies, it’s worthexamining the real-world effect of illegal

fishing to understand just how seriously theissue should be taken.’

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Illegal Fishing

port. The solution uses Hexagon Geospatial’s LuciadLightspeed desktop software to provide a base capable ofvisualizing global AIS data while also providing an interfacethat allows analysts to navigate through this dataset bymoving back and forth in space and time.

The algorithms are rule-based, and can see abnormalbehavior based on the distance between ships and theamount of time spent by ships in any one location. Parsingmillions of individual positions, the algorithms are able to pointout where two ships have been close to one another (lessthan ‘x’ km) for an extended period of time (more than ‘y’minutes). As commercial ships rarely spend extended periodsof time near or alongside each other, these kinds of anomaliesare often indicators of transhipment. Additional layers of datacan then be used to filter and refine the analysis of suspiciousbehaviours, such as vessel traffic navigation rules, andnational and international fisheries policy zones.

Analysts are then able to add satellite imagery layersthrough the application to investigate further and provide moredetail on the vessels involved. This can have the added benefitof showing if any ships without active AIS transponders areinvolved in areas without S-AIS coverage. The AIS data,weather data and images are gathered via image providereither as raw files or live web services. Capgemini uses openlyavailable data; however, the solution can use any type ofcommon satellite picture.

Data in actionModern analytical tools should mean that IUU fishing ispredictable and preventable, however achieving thissuccessfully still relies on a multitude of human factors. First,authorities need to engage with local fishermen to become atrusted and reliable source of information on suspiciousactivities. Second and perhaps more challenging, is theinteraction between individual states, vessel masters andship-owners. It is no one individual’s sole responsibility forimplementing these processes and systems, and all partiesmust play their part in reporting each incident that occurs.Authorities are unable to predict, counter and prevent crimeif they don’t know about the crimes that are taking place.

Utilizing technology to combat IUU fishing has a proven

record of effectiveness. As highlighted in a paper entitled‘Ending hide and seek at sea,’ published in the March 11,2016 edition of Science, researchers from the University ofCalifornia at Santa Barbara used AIS data to watch fishingactivity in the Phoenix Island Protected Area. The Republicof Kirbati closed the area on January 1 2015, and as fishingvessels fled the sanctuary, the researchers reported oneincursion to officials who arrested and fined the vessel.Bearing in mind that these researchers were at a university4,326 miles away from the site, highlights just how powerfulthese tools can be when properly optimized. The Capgeminidemonstrator works on the same principle, but it pushes theidea globally and adds abnormal behaviour analysis to themix.

IUU fishing poses a serious threat to the economy,environment and livelihoods of fishermen around the world.When data and algorithms are employed appropriately,alongside efforts to engage all parties involved in the fishingsupply chain, there is a greater possibility that IUU fishingcould be neutralized.

‘This overabundance of data is the reasonwhy Capgemini developed a demonstratorsolution which deploys algorithmic analysis

to help analysts spot suspicious activity.This solution was created to show a

European country fishing agency how tofight abusive fishing practices and quotabypass when ships transfer fish from one

to another before going back to port.’

The robust and powerful LuciadLightspeed interface allowsusers to navigate through complex data sets moving backand forth in space and time. Photo courtesy of HexagonGeospacial

Algorithms are applied taking into account parameters suchas distance between ships and operation time intervals.Photo courtesy of Hexagon Geospacial

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Q&A Earth-i

Observing the EarthEarth-i is one of Europe’s most prominent NewSpacecompanies supplying high resolution image data and analyticsservices to clients across the globe. The company’s vision is toprovide Earth Observation based analytics and insights tounlock answers to the most challenging questions - and drivedecisions about how we manage our world. Richard Blain, CEOat Earth-i, discusses EO applications in a NewSpace era.

Las Vegas. Photo courtesy ofEarth-i

Richard Blain: CEO, Earth-i

Q&A Earth-i

Q&

AQuestion: Can you provide anoverview of Earth-i’s currentcapabilities and expertise?Richard Blain: Earth-i is a NewSpacecompany at the forefront of thecommercialisation of space. We providean end-to-end service that encom-passes data acquisition andprocessing, and the advanced analyticsthat deliver meaningful and actionableinsights to our clients in government andindustry.

The company was set up in 2015as a leading distributer of very high-resolution data from the DMC3Constellation. Since then, we’ve addedseveral other constellations to ourportfolio of Earth observation satellites,including KompSat and SuperView, todeliver very high and ultra-highresolution optical and radar data fromspace.

We work with a wide range ofcustomers worldwide to acquire,process and analyse the image datafrom these satell ites, applying

advanced algorithms, machine learning(ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) toderive the critical insights and solutionsthat enable better policy and decisionmaking.

From 2020, we will deploy the firstbatch of satell ites of our ownconstellation called Vivid-i – the firstcommercial constellation to provide stillimagery and full-colour HD videoimagery. This steady stream of highspatial and temporal image data willpower even more powerful insights intothe impact of human life on planet Earth.

Question: Earth-i has long-standingplans to deploy its own constellationof small Earth observation satellites,starting in 2020. What can you tell usabout this constellation, plans forlaunch, and how the imagery will beused?Richard Blain: The view we take is thatto fulfil the needs of our clients, it’s vitallyimportant we have our own source ofhigh-quality data. That doesn’t mean wewon’t continue using third party sourcesof data, but, by having our own assuredsupply of very high-resolution Earthobservation data, we can provide levelsof assurance in terms of answers to ourclients that are valuable to them.

January 2018 saw the successfullaunch of our VividX2 satellite, a servicedemonstrator for our constellation,Vivid-i. This new constellation will be thefirst of its kind to provide full-colour HDvideo; and the first European-ownedconstellation able to provide both videoand still images.

Vivid-i will be a major leap forwardfor the Earth observation industry,significantly increasing the ability ofcompanies and institutions to monitor,track and analyze activities, patterns oflife and changes at any location onEarth. It will provide a number of

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Q&A Earth-i

innovative capabilities, including:

• The provision of high-frame rateimages with resolutions better thanone metre for any location on Earth.

• The ability to film moving objectssuch as vehicles, vessels andaircraft in Ultra High Definitioncolour video.

• Revisiting the same locationmultiple times per day with agilesatellites that can be pointed toimage specific areas of interest.

• Rapid tasking of satellites to takeimages or video, and fast datadownload within minutes ofacquisition.

Footage will be available for analysiswithin minutes of being captured andwill improve decision-making andresponse times in a wide variety ofscenarios from change detection toobject identification, from disasterresponse to infrastructure monitoring.

Ear th-i will initially launch 15satellites in batches of five in threedifferent polar orbits. Once theconstellation is complete, we will beable to visit any location on Earth atthree different times of the day, everyday. Further batches of five satellitescan then be added according tocustomer demand.

Question: Earth-i delivered its firstfull-colour video of Earth from spaceback in April 2018. What are thechallenges in delivering full-colourvideo from space?Richard Blain: Capturing video fromspace isn’t easy, otherwise many othercompanies would probably already bedoing it. It is difficult, it is challenging,and I think sometimes we have to pinchourselves a bit that we are doingsomething that is truly ground-breaking.

Just considering the physicsinvolved is mind-boggling. VividX2orbits the Earth at around 7km/s whilethe planet is rotating 500km below. Thesatellite needs to constantly adjust itsposition to stay focussed on the samearea to record HD video and transmit itback to mission control over a two-minute period. However, we’ve got avery precise attitude control system –unusual in a satellite this size – that letsthe camera stare very precisely at atarget on the ground as it’s flying over.This means we’ve been able to acquire

very stable video sequences of quiteprecise target areas of interest.

As well as the satellites themselves,Ear th-i is also par tnering withcompanies like KSAT to provide groundstations to download our data, and wewill be building a new operations centre.The aim is to make the whole systemas client-focussed as possible,delivering images of anywhere on Earthon-demand and within minutes of beingtaken.

Question: Planetary Big Data isbecoming increasingly important theworld over. What’s your assessmentof the market potential, and futureapplications?Richard Blain: Earth observation datais becoming a major driver in the so-called ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ –the era of Big Data analytics. Given thateverything happens somewhere,location data is the foundation on whichmany Big Data solutions are being builtto drive better decision-making andpolicy thinking the world over.

We can integrate many, and diverse,data sources with satellite image andvideo data, from social media analyticsto climate data, traffic and trade data,and the plethora of public datasetsavailable on economic and humanactivities. But the mix of data utilised tocreate an insightful solution reallydepends on the customer question –

what kind of third-party data is mosthelpful in deriving the insights thatanswers a specific question for ourcustomers?

Utilising ML and AI is fast becominga critical part of the solution given thepotentially enormous size andcomplexity of the Big Data cloud wehave access to. In addition to our ownsatellite datasets and fast-growing baseof free Earth observation data providedby Europe’s Copernicus programmeand the US Landsat satellites, ML andAI helps us to analyse these Gigabytes(and sometimes Petabytes!) of datawithin a tight timeframe and usingalgorithms to organize and analyse thecomplex datasets to an extent that isnot possible by conventional methods.We can train the software with customerspecific interests and target the desiredinsights very specifically to clientsneeds.

Digital elevation models are oftenrequired in analysing the context of theobserved landscape/targets in anyearth observation data sets. A fly-through is a virtual pathway through alandscape or built-up area where theelevation information is created from adigital elevation model and the colourof the landscape taken from a satelliteimage. Moving through this digitallandscape and seeing colour andelevation in context will help with better,more accurate decision-making and

Earth-i team in the clean room. Photo courtesy of Earth-i

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Q&A Earth-i

planning for applications as diverse asurban management, to securityplanning to disaster response.

Taking motion video from spaceactually means very high frame-rateacquisition: Multiple images of the samelocations from multiple angles as thesatellite passes over the target whilst‘star ing’ at it. From these videosequences we can create our own verydetailed digital elevation models (DEM)from the large amount of data, and fromthe many stereo image pairs (an imageof the same feature captured from twodifferent angles) we can collect. Thisallows us to calculate and model theelevations, depressions and contourswithin the landscape and height andshape of objects and features - a bit likehumans see in 3D by having two images- left and right eye and looking at theobjects from two angles.

Question: In July 2018, an Earth-i ledconsortium has received a grantfrom the Centre for EarthObservation Instrumentation (CEOI),funded by the UK Space Agency.What can you tell us about thetechnologies you plan to developwith the grant?Richard Blain: This £2.7 million grantwill enable us to implement ourACCORD product in Kenya andRwanda, helping smallholder farmersaddress the challenges of climatechange.

Coffee is the second most tradedcommodity globally and vitally importantto many economies in the developingworld. ACCORD was specificallydeveloped to help smallholder coffeefarmers in Africa improve crop qualityand yield and drive up their incomes asa consequence. It combines satelliteimagery with our partner WeatherSafe’slocal climate forecasting platform toprovide alerts of changes in the weatherthat might then increase the danger ofdisease or pest occurring in the coffeetrees. The alerts are sent directly to localagronomists and farmers via a mobileapp.

This information helps farmers toidentify the optimal time to applyagr icultural inputs (for example,fer ti l iser, mulch, fungicides orpesticides) based on highly localisedclimate forecasts. Such timelyinformation can make a cr it icaldifference to crop success given the

new levels of unpredictability in the localclimate, and the potential impact of arange of consequences such asweather damage, pests, diseases,nutrient depletion or other factors whichreduce coffee quality and quantity.

Agriculture is just one of a multitudeof sectors where our imagery – and theinsights drawn from those images – isimproving lives on Earth.

Question: This isn’t the first moveEarth-i has made towards developingnew technologies in partnership withother companies; there’s also theproject with commodities broker andresearch house Marex Spectron, todevelop and distribute a range ofunique analytical tools. What can youtell us about this project, andprogress made to date?Richard Blain: Earth-i’s SAVANT is aninformation product for commoditytraders, developed in collaboration withour partners at Marex Spectron. Veryhigh-resolution satellite data mappingkey copper mines around the world isacquired on a regular basis. Usingadvanced 3D modelling, volumetricanalysis and mine activity monitoring,the algorithms unique to SAVANTproduce regularly updated indicesabout the levels of production at eachmine.

The results are correlated with othersources of production data to create anaccurate measure of outputs andactivity ahead of published productiondata. The goal is to provide traders withtimely information and insights to informcritical trading decisions. It’s a good

example of how the fusion of advancedimage analytics with other data sources,can deliver new insights to helpbusinesses improve decision-making incritical supply chains or strategiclocations, anywhere on Earth.

The prototype product is live and inend-user testing phase with ourpartners Marex Spectron, and a groupof other interested companies in thesector.

Question: Where do you think Earth-i will be this time next year?Richard Blain: We are now incountdown to the launch of our firstbatch of the constellation in early 2020.In the meantime, we continue to developour analytics and insights capabilitiesand services, targeting a range ofdifferent market sectors, or respondingto market demand for Ear thobservation-based big data analyticsand information solutions.

As we can literally monitor orinvestigate any location on Earth on adaily basis, the possibilities are limitless.The challenge is to focus our energiesand development on the sectors whereEarth observation-based analytics andinsights can truly unlock real value forour customers. With the growingrecognition of the value of insights fromdata from space, there is no shortageof interested parties.

We’re a well-funded, capable andconfident business pioneering newtechnologies and solutions. The futureis extremely bright as we cement ourposition at the forefront of thecommercialization of space.

January 2018 saw the successful launch of our VividX2 satellite Photo courtesyof Earth-i

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Internet of Things

Internet of Things tightens onshipping’s environmental agendaThe Internet of Things (IoT) is fast rolling out the world over, with greater connectivity enablingnew efficiencies in a whole host of areas. Indeed, recent research finds that the IoT may bewinning over shipping’s trenchant conservatism on new technology by delivering new solutionsthat ease rather than complicate compliance, as reported by Stefano Poli, VP, BusinessDevelopment, Inmarsat Maritime.

Photo by Sascha Hormel from Pexels

With environmental imperatives mounting, shipping’scustomary schizophrenia concerning new technology hasbeen laid bare in an Inmarsat Research Programme reportthat includes hard data on how far the industry sees Internetof Things (IoT)-based solutions as a gateway to sustainability.

In late 2018, shipping faces the need to comply with IMO’s2020 fuel sulphur cap, but also the target set out at theMaritime Environment Protection Committee in April to halveGHG ship emissions by 2050. In customary fashion, in facingthe fuel sulphur cap, the industry has appeared split betweenthose seeing advantage in developing an environmental edgeand those driven largely by compliance.

Compliance driversAs far as 2020 is concerned, compliance is becoming theimperative. Recently-published International Chamber ofShipping (ICS) guidance, ‘Compliance with the 2020 GlobalSulphur Cap,’ suggests that companies running ships withoutExhaust Gas Recovery (scrubbers) will need to ordercompliant fuels (0.5 percent sulphur content) from mid-2019.ICS also strongly recommends developing ship-specific

Implementation Plans as soon as possible.Shipping’s opinion divide on the environment as

technology driver is very evident among 750 respondents tothe Inmarsat research report ‘Industrial IoT on land and atsea’ (2018), which also drew on agriculture, energy, mining,transport and logistics, and fishing industry professionals.The data behind the exhaustive study has been re-visited toisolate prevailing attitudes towards the role of the IoT inachieving environmental goals.

Among shipping respondents, the report shows thatenvironmental monitoring is seen by 46 percent of shippingparticipants as one of the most important drivers for deployingIoT-based solutions. The figure exactly matches the proportionestablished for all 750 respondents.

Around 34 percent of organisations across the supplychain already see improvements in sustainability through theiruse of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and 43 percentexpect to do so in future. At first sight, then, experience andoutlook of shipping respondents is moderately behind thecurve, with 30 percent characterising their organisations asachieving sustainability benefits by deploying IoT-based

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Internet of Things

Stefano Poli, VP, Business Development,Inmarsat Maritime

solutions, and 42 percent expecting to do so.However, dig a little deeper, and shipping’s unremarkable

level of recognition of the IoT as an enabler for sustainabilityoverall is exposed as disguising its notorious divide betweentechnology ‘progressives’ and ‘laggards.’ The ‘progressives’are already showing themselves attuned to using IoT-basedsolutions as strategic tools to improve efficiency andenhancing energy usage. However, the new research shows

that the maritime industry – like no other constituency –includes a 14 percent rump of respondents who say thatsustainability is not even one of their organisation’s aims forIIoT deployment.

In the cost-conscious world of shipping, it is surely morethan coincidence that 14 percent of maritime respondentsalso believe that, even five years out, there will be no savingsat all resulting from the adoption of IoT-based solutions. Byway of comparison, some 54 percent of peers in the masstransit and inland distribution industries identify improvingresource efficiency as a primary driver for IoT adoption.

In fact, left to their own devices, shipping respondentsoverall cite health and safety more often as an IoT deploymentdriver (in 54 percent of cases), and they do so in greaternumbers than the wider transport group (50 percent) orrespondents overall (46 percent).

However, as one of the world’s most heavily regulatedindustries and as outlined above, shipping is seldom if everleft to its own devices. Perhaps one of the most interestingfindings in the new report, therefore, is that it showsenvironmental regulation working strongly in favour of IoTdeployment. Where only 19 percent of respondents overallcategorised meeting regulations as a main driver for IoTdeployment, shipping respondents cited it as a main motivatorin 39 percent of cases – the highest proportion given by anygroup.

The IIoT at Land and Sea report establishes that, despiteits foot draggers, 47 percent of shipping respondents arecollecting data for the purpose of environmental monitoring:

Photo by Kai Pilger from Pexels

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Internet of Things

This compares to 40 percent of respondents across thesupply chain, and the same figure (40 percent) among widertransport industry respondents.

A focus on sustainabilityWith 69 percent of maritime respondents in the current surveycounting themselves as reliant on satellite connectivity tosupport their IIoT-based solutions, Inmarsat has alreadyshown itself as a willing and proactive partner in addressingfuel efficiency.

Notably, the satellite group has been working with Rolls-Royce to make the latter’s Energy Management systemavailable via Fleet Xpress. Recently, the satellite group alsointroduced Fleet Data, whose connectivity via the ship’s VDRwill enable real-time data analysis and decision-making,addressing a key point of resistance to IoT-based solutionsidentified in the Inmarsat report.

Nevertheless, shipping’s distinctly average enthusiasmoverall for sustainability as a driver for IoT deployment

contrasts strongly with the regulatory impetus to monitor fuelconsumption that sees 65 percent reporting that they alreadyuse IoT-based solutions. An additional nine percent say theywill do so within a year while, in an apparent commitment tomeet regulatory obligations, deployment is projected asreaching 100 percent by 2023.

The preparedness no doubt reflects the fact that shippingis already required to meet the EU MRV (Monitoring,Reporting and Verification) scheme, while Fuel ConsumptionRepor ting within the IMO Ship Energy EfficiencyManagement Plan is not far behind.

By April 2019, and by the same month in subsequentyears, for example, verified annual emission reports must besubmitted for every ship above 5,000 gt to the EC and therelevant flag state.

Given that shipping’s place in the public consciousnessis often limited to criticisms made after things go wrong, IoTtools that the industry itself identifies as easing complianceshould be given priority by regulators.

Photo by Julius Silver from Pexels

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