ambition realised - SatellitePro Middle East

Transcription

ISSUE 27 | MARCH 2014
THE PIVOTAL LINK
MSS boost field effectiveness
for offshore operations, but what
about employee morale?
SIZE MATTERS
Miniaturisation helps broadcasters
satiate customers’ carnivorous
appetite for content everywhere
STAYING IN CONTROL
Managing localised content has
added weight to the challenges
facing content providers
AMBITION
REALISED
The launch of KhalifaSat will
beckon a new era in the
Middle East satellite industry
PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ
MORE SPACE
FOR YOUR
COMMUNICATIONS
EDITORIAL
Group Chairman and Founder
Dominic De Sousa
Group CEO
Nadeem Hood
Group COO
Gina O’Hara
Publishing Director
Raz Islam
[email protected]
+971 4 440 9129
Editorial Director
Vijaya Cherian
[email protected]
+971 55 105 3787
EDITORIAL
Editor
Adrienne Harebottle
[email protected]
+971 55 105 3776
ADVERTISING
Group Sales Manager
Sandip Virk
[email protected]
+44 7734 442526
Senior Sales Manager
Rodi Hennawi
[email protected]
+971 4 440 9106
DESIGN
Art Director
Simon Cobon
Designer
Jane Mathews
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jay Colina
Abdul Kader Pattambi
PRODUCTION
Production Manager
James P. Tharian
[email protected]
+971 4 440 9146
EUTELSAT, KEY PROVIDER OF BROADCAST AND BROADBAND SERVICES
IN THE MENA REGION AND BEYOND.
With Eutelsat you can reach audiences across the Middle East, Africa and beyond via our premium satellite neighbourhoods, including
the leading 7/8 degrees West orbital location with over 1000 TV channels and 75 in HD. We were the first satellite company to launch a
demonstration Ultra HD (4K) channel in the Middle East, which is designed to benefit you and all other actors in the broadcasting chain
wanting to acquire expertise in 4K. We can also provide you with tailored solutions to enable new data and video point-to-multipoint
DIGITAL SERVICES
Digital Services Manager
Tristan Troy Maagma
Web Developers
Joel Azcuna
Janice Fulgencio
Published by
Registered at IMPZ
PO Box 13700
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 4 440 9100
Fax: +971 4 447 2409
www.cpimediagroup.com
Printed by
Printwell Printing Press LLC
Office in Dubai:
EUTELSAT MIDDLE EAST FZ-LLC
Thuraya II tower 2003A - Dubai Media City
PO Box 502239
www.eutelsat.com
There are certain satellite-related projects that really interest me.
For one, I love learning about projects that help students in remote
locations gain access to proper educational instruction. On a similar
note, telemedicine applications also make me smile; these positively
affect the lives of people who often fall shy of anyone’s thoughts and concerns.
But one project I came across recently really got me going. It involves the use of satellites to
monitor the movements and behaviour of sharks. As an animal lover, I am appalled by the
brutality of and devastation caused by poachers and various other environmentally hazardous
types. Therefore, I am very happy to know of projects that help raise awareness of our wildlife. I
wish the people involved in such projects the best of luck and hope that the data gained proves
to be highly beneficial. I also hope that such groups secure the funding and support they need to
continue their valuable work!
As I’m always on the lookout for anything cool, I am excited about CABSAT 2014. I expect to learn
about numerous new companies, their offerings and interesting industry breakthroughs. Building
on past successes, I believe this year’s new features and highlights will prove again why this is one
of the region’s foremost events in content management and technology.
Finally, something else pleasant is the positive response we’ve seen to the Cyclist’s Satellite
Challenge. If by some bizarre chance you didn’t read the February issue, which provides all the
competition details, then please do get in touch and I’ll get you up to date – we want you to enter!
Adrienne Harebottle
Editor
CIRCULATION
Database Manager
Rajeesh M
[email protected]
+9714 440 9147
distribution, efficient cost-effective broadcast solutions and to transform your DTH audiences into fully interactive homes.
Join us at CABSAT 2014, 11–13 March: Stand no. E1-10
The cool side of satellites
© Copyright 2014 CPI. All rights reserved.
While the publishers have made every effort to
ensure the accuracy of all information in this
magazine, they will not be held responsible for
any errors therein.
In this edition:
“Deregulation in the Middle East is
enabling the creation of a veritable
flood of smaller channels to reach
smaller niche audiences”
Jean-Philippe Gillet, Vice-President,
EMEA Sales at Intelsat
Page 24
“HDTV in the MENA region has
developed at an impressive rate.
Over the last four years, the number
of HDTV channels has grown from a
handful to more than 170”
Ali Korur, Regional Vice-President
of MENA at Eutelsat
Page 24
“By the end of 2014, penetration for
navigation and information services
into the Russian navigation mass
market will reach USD 34 million”
Vladimir Klimov, Executive Director
of GLONASS/GNSS-Forum
Page 26
“Innovation needs inspiration,
motivation and leadership. With
today’s technologies and global knowhow, nobody has to be left behind”
Dr John B. Sheldon, expert on global
space activities
Page 40
CONTENTS
News
Issue 27 | March 2014
14
SatEvents
33
4
Strategic tie-ups
Exhibitors’ highlights
Capacity deals, connected trains, African
investments, new launches and more…
Manufacturers and services providers explain
why CABSAT attendees ought to visit them
SatLead
SatVertical: Broadcast
14
40
The launch of KhalifaSat will beckon a new
era in the Middle East satellite industry
The miniaturisation of technology is now at
pace with broadcasters’ need for access
Making history
Size matters
28
SatVoxPop
SatContent Management
24
44
Top Quotes
Staying in control
Industry players track the changes and
challenges of content management
Demand for compelling, localised content has
created new obstacles for providers
SatEvents
SatShowcase
26
48
Tapping the mass market
Russia’s navigation industry shifts its
focus from the government sector to the
mass consumer market
44
Head-turning tech
A look at some of the impressive solutions
on display at CABSAT 2014
SatVertical: Oil and Gas
SatGuest
28
56
Providing critical communications and
boosting employee morale, MMS can be
easier and more affordable than VSAT
While motivation is required for
innovative feats, it can be expected to fall
flat without good leadership
MMS’ pivotal role
in offshore operations
Where’s the inspiration
for space technologies?
SatNews
Arabsat, MICT sign capacity deal
Arabsat and Morgan
Company for Information and
Communications Technology (MICT)
have signed a capacity contract at 20
degrees East. Under the agreement,
Arabsat will provide Morgan with
capacity on the Arabsat 5-C satellite,
providing full coverage of the African
continent in addition to Arabsat’s
coverage of the Middle East and large
parts of Asia and Europe.
According to MICT, the first stage
of this contract will see the building
of two ground stations in Africa,
with plans for expansion in the
coming years.
“The orientation of Morgan
towards Africa, together with
the help of Arabsat as an Arab
organisation that has weight at
a regional and global level, give
this agreement a strategic level
which comes within the social
responsibility towards Africa,” says
Kazem Zain, CEO of MICT.
www.arabsat.com
The Satellite Interference Reduction
Group’s (IRG) newly formed advisory
committee, End Users Initiative
(EUI), has received the International
Telecommunication Union’s (ITU)
approval of recommendations for General
Access Procedures. The EUI, formerly
called RFI-EUI, has worked with the ITU
to advise on the technical requirements
of updated access procedures to ensure
reduced risk of issues such as satellite
radio frequency interference.
The recommendation provides access
procedures for fixed-satellite service
(FSS), occasional use and transmissions
to geostationary-satellite orbit space
stations, in the 4/6 GHz and 11-12/13/14
GHz FSS bands.
www.satirg.org
www.itu.int
Khalid Balkheyour, President and CEO of Arabsat
www.mictgroup.com
HERMES DATACOMMS, AVANTI
EXTEND CAPACITY IN IRAQ
Hermes Datacomms has acquired services
from Avanti Communications to boost its
satellite capacity in Iraq. The company will
initially deploy the capacity in remote fields
before launching a programme to up-weight
connectivity for enterprise customers in the
Middle East. Avanti will provide Ka-band
services to Hermes via its Hylas 2 satellite.
“Hermes requires high-quality, secure
coverage over some of the remotest parts of
the world. Powered by our Hylas 2 satellite,
the contract will extend Hermes’ connectivity
in Iraq. We look forward to working together
in partnership,” says Matthew O’Connor, COO
of Avanti.
www.hermes.uk.com
www.avantiplc.com
4 | SatellitePro | March 2014
ITU APPROVES IRG-EUI’S
GENERAL ACCESS PROCEDURES
RCS INCREASES EFFORTS
TO DRIVE BUSINESS IN REGION
Reality Check Systems (RCS), a
broadcast technology developer and
solutions provider, has launched its
first satellite office in West London,
UK. The new facility will serve as an
extension of the company’s Burbank
operations and act as a central hub
for business development, project
management and technology
innovation across Europe and the
Middle East.
Mike Ward, European Managing
Director, and Producer David
Peacock will oversee new business
development and ongoing projects
in the region. Both will head efforts
to extend the RCS offering, including
real-time graphics and broadcast
production tools to an expanded pool
of networks, federations and sports
leagues across the EMEA region.
www.realitychecksystems.com
KEY APPOINTMENTS
ANDREW PONS TO HEAD
GLOBAL SALES AT EXSET
Exset has appointed Andrew Pons as its
Global Director of Sales and Marketing.
Pons has been with Exset for nearly two
years as the company has established itself
and its Digital Monetisation System (DMS)
across emerging markets.
Pons’ new role will help push the
company across its next growth phase
as its DMS and CAS solutions continue
to be deployed across Asia, the Indian
Subcontinent, Africa and Eastern Europe.
www.exset.com
DAVID HERSHBERG RETIRES,
GLOBECOMM TAKES ON NEW CEO
Globecomm Systems has announced the
retirement of Founder David Hershberg, who
served as CEO since 1994. Keith Hall, COO
and President, will replace Hershberg as CEO.
Hall has been in the industry for more
than 20 years and has served Globecomm
in many roles in both the infrastructure
and service operations sectors for the
past 17 years. Recently, he helped lead the
planning and execution of Globecomm’s
corporate growth strategies and business
development. He has also acted as senior
vice-president and general manager of
the company’s service sector, helping to
drive growth and profitability through the
expansion of its managed service products.
www.globecommsystems.com
Afghanistan, Eutelsat sign MOU
for strategic partnership
Eutelsat and the Afghanistan Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
(MCIT) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), giving the country
satellite resources to enhance deployment of its national broadcasting and telecommunications
infrastructure as well as international connectivity.
From February, Eutelsat will deploy Afghanistan 1, an in-orbit satellite, delivering full national
coverage and extensive reach of Central Asia and the Middle East. The satellite is located at 48
degrees East.
“We are very happy to partner with Eutelsat on Afghanistan 1 which will provide access to ICT and
broadcast services to Afghans, especially in unserved areas, and support our vision of transforming
Afghanistan into an information society,” says Amirzai Sangin, Minister at MCIT.
Afghanistan 1 will support a wide range of services including broadcasting, mobile
telephony backhaul and IP connectivity. Eutelsat and the MCIT have also agreed on exploring
opportunities for longer-term co-operation.
www.eutelsat.com
ABS-2 SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED
FROM FRENCH GUIANA
The ABS-2 satellite was successfully launched
into space on an Ariane ECA launch vehicle from
the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French
Guiana, on February 6, 2014.
ABS-2, which was manufactured by Space
Systems/Loral (SSL) for ABS, is a multi-mission
satellite, featuring up to 89 active C-, Ku- and
Ka-band transponders across 10 different
beams. ABS-2 brings expansion capacity at ABS’
prime location of 75 degrees East, extending
communications and broadcast services to the
emerging markets of the world.
“The ABS-2 satellite will significantly
contribute towards our expansion plans and
is part of our growth strategy to increase
the ABS satellite fleet and become a global
satellite operator in the coming years,” says Tom
Choi, CEO of ABS.
www.absatellite.net
March 2014 | SatellitePro | 5
Market-changing
satellite uplinks
DriveForce®
uPak®60
ManPak 60
®
ManPak®100
DTH, VSAT networks to boost
India’s satcom steadily until 2023
According to Euroconsult, India’s
satellite communication sector has
experienced significant growth over the past
five years, driven by demand from directto-home (DTH) pay-TV platforms and the
continually growing telecommunication needs
in the country.
Satellite capacity demand from DTH
broadcasting grew at a compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of more than 7% from
2008-2013, now representing 32% of the
country’s total commercial satellite capacity
usage. TV distribution services to cable
operators and VSAT enterprise networks have
equally seen growing demand in recent years,
leading to an increasing number of players
now operating in the country’s teleport and
VSAT service market.
The cellular backhaul market has begun
to see strong take-up with the arrival of
HTS systems such as IpStar as well as government-backed networks connecting schools and
remote villages. Alongside satellite services, the annual satellite ground equipment market
has also seen growth, generating USD 40 million in equipment revenue in 2012, dominated by
international ground terminal manufacturers.
www.euroconsult-ec.com
COMTECH EF DATA WINS USD 3M ORDER FOR SATELLITE MODEMS
Comtech Telecommunications has
announced that its subsidiary Comtech EF
Data Corp was awarded a USD 3.1 million
order from a US Government systems
integrator for DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrierpowered DMD2050E satellite modems.
The equipment will be used to support
the US Government’s integrated satellite
terminal communications.
The satellite modems will use DoubleTalk
Carrier-in-Carrier bandwidth compression,
a technology based on Raytheon Applied
Signal Technology, known as “Adaptive
Cancellation”, that allows transmit and
receive carriers of a duplex link to share the
same transponder space.
www.comtechefdata.com
EXTERITY, HAMBISANA
OFFER IPTV SYSTEMS
TO SUB-SAHARAN COMPANIES
Exterity, a provider of enterprise IPTV
technologies, has launched a joint offering
with Hambisana, a technology and
services provider, to offer Sub-Saharan
companies flexible IPTV systems. The joint
offering includes IntuiTV, an IPTV and
VOD architecture, and DigiLant, a DVB
monitoring suite.
DigiLant, which is a configurable
software-based solution, comprises a
mosaic, DVB monitoring, TR 101-290,
advertising monitoring, EPG and loudness.
Both IntuiTV and DigiLant are based on the
Exterity AvediaStream range. AvediaStream
TV gateways take terrestrial, cable or
satellite video and audio and make it
available over an IP network as content
streams of any definition. AvediaStream
encoders are added to deliver channels
from fixed video sources such as Blu Ray
players, DVD or digital video capture devices.
Content is delivered to any screen using
AvediaPlayer receivers, or to PCs via Artio
Content Clients. AvediaServer, the multiuser IPTV management system, allows full
control of what content is available, where it
can be seen and by whom.
www.hambisana.com
www.exterity.com
ASC SIGNAL WINS CONTRACT TO PROVIDE GATEWAY EQUIPMENT FOR KUWAIT’S MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
See us at
stand F2-21
www.sislive.tv
ASC Signal Corporation has been awarded a contract by Kuwait-based Al-Rashed Holdings to provide gateway satellite antennae and equipment for
Kuwait’s Ministry of Information. The equipment will be used for the distribution of TV and radio content across the Middle East and Africa.
Under the agreement, ASC Signal will provide transmit and receive Earth stations to access Nilesat and Arabsat satellites.
The Ku- and DBS-band antennae include interchangeable feed systems that will allow the Ministry of Information to use the same antenna at
different frequency bands depending on the programme. This new equipment will allow the ministry to deliver content from its facilities in Kuwait City.
Al-Rashed will also provide ASC Signal’s Next Generation Controller (NGC), which will give users a single central device to control and operate multiple
antenna systems. Other features of the NGC include remote access and tracking as well as an internal spectrum analyser.
www.ascsignal.com
NEWTEC SIGNS MAJOR DEAL WITH
EBU FOR SATELLITE SOLUTIONS
Newtec and the European Broadcasting
Union (EBU) have signed a multimillion-dollar
contract to deploy Newtec’s satellite broadcast
solutions as part of EBU’s major pan-European
news exchange network. Newtec’s new
Multiservice Broadcast system will be developed
in partnership with the Eurovision network
engineering teams and implemented to
upgrade part of the EBU’s Eurovision network.
Eurovision is the operator of the world’s
largest satellite and fibre live video network
and is also a main distributor and producer
of live sport, news and entertainment for the
media industry.
The system provided by Newtec is an
end-to-end solution that complements the
full workflow automation in the newsroom
environment, with dedicated and flexible
network infrastructure.
www.ebu.ch
www.newtec.eu
Heirs Holdings invests in satellite
technology of Planet Labs
Heirs Holdings, the pan-African
proprietary investment company,
has announced its investment in US
start-up Planet Labs’ innovative satellite
manufacturing technology. Heirs Holdings is
the only African investor in the project, which
is based in San Francisco.
Planet Labs aims to transform the way
imaging of the Earth is carried out, through
the introduction of doves, ultra-small
satellites. These doves circle the planet in
low orbit and are significantly cheaper to
produce and deploy than existing technology.
Moreover, as they orbit closer to the Earth,
they are able to take higher-resolution images
than traditional satellites.
Planet Labs has already achieved some
significant milestones. In 2013, the company
launched four satellites on three rockets and
delivered their first fleet of 28 satellites, which
are scheduled for imminent launch.
www.planet-labs.com
SKYVISION TO PROVIDE VOICE,
DATA SOLUTIONS FOR SAPETRO
SkyVision Global Networks has announced the
implementation of its project with Sapetro
(South Atlantic Petroleum), one of Nigeria’s
major oil and gas companies that has new
operations in Benin. The five-year contract
includes the installation of a full suite of
SkyVision connectivity solutions in Benin, as
well as an end-to-end voice- and data-managed
solution based on multiple technologies,
integration and professional services.
The project includes mesh VSAT and
wireless point-to-multipoint connections for
Sapetro’s offices and operational sites, mobile
terrestrial units and vessels, including voice
and telephony over IP, two-way radios, mobile
satellite phones, a managed firewall and WiFi.
“We are thrilled to have engaged the
services of SkyVision for this important project,
which is geared towards providing robust hightech turnkey communication infrastructure to
support our operations in the Sèmè Field,” says
Martin Trachsel, Sapetro’s CEO.
www.skyvision.net
MEASAT ADDS OUTDOOR HD
TO VIDEO NEIGHBOURHOOD
MEASAT Satellite Systems has announced
a three-year agreement with Globecast
and Outdoor Channel for distribution
on the MEASAT-3 satellite. Under the
agreement, MEASAT will distribute
Outdoor HD via MEASAT-3’s global
C-band beam, covering 102 countries from
the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Outdoor Channel (Asia) is a
channel that features traditional and
contemporary outdoor sports and
activities such as fishing, off-road, water
sports and safari.
“MEASAT’s partnership with Globecast
continues to expand with the distribution
of the Outdoor Channel, which with
its premium adventurous lifestyle
programming, strengthens the variety
of content offered from MEASAT’s 91.5
degrees East video neighbourhood,” says
Raj Malik, Senior Vice-President of Sales
and Marketing at MEASAT.
www.measat.com
Eutelsat, MultiChoice recognise
students from Zambia, Ghana
MultiChoice and Eutelsat have
joined together to create the DStv
Eutelsat Star Awards, a pan-African student
competition created to raise awareness
and excitement for space technology in the
younger generation.
“With the fast-changing digital landscape,
we have an obligation to Africa’s youth to
ensure that they are empowered to adapt
and to use their educational system to make
meaningful change to their country and the
continent’s development agenda,” says Nana
Opoku-Agyeman, Ghana’s Minister
of Education.
“The government recognises that it cannot
single handedly tackle the challenges faced by
the sector and that public-private partnerships
can also accelerate progress.”
With more than 1,000 entries from 19
countries this year, two winners and two
runners-up were selected in essay and poster
categories. The students won trips to visit
either a launch site or the facilities of Eutelsat
or MultiChoice. The four winning schools
attended by the overall award winners and
runners-up were also rewarded with a DStv
installation, including dish, TV, state-of-theart PVR decoder and free access to the DStv
Education Bouquet.
Reaching the right audience comes down to a simple equation. Intelsat has
always been forward thinking when it comes to media. When we launched IntelsatOne SM ,
we built the satellite industry’s largest IP/MPLS fiber network to create flexible, hybrid
content delivery options for our customers. And now, we’re introducing Intelsat EpicNG,
our next generation satellite platform, which combines high-throughput spot beams, for
content regionalization and targeting, with wide beams, for total continent coverage.
That’s intelligent design. Good for your operations and your bottom line.
www.multichoice.co.za
www.eutelsat.com
Meet with Intelsat during CABSAT 2014 at Hall 1, Stand C1-10.
Learn how Intelsat can help you reach more viewers.
Visit www.intelsat.com/Forward-Thinking for details.
Designed for 2030. Launching in 2015.
SES’ ASTRA 2E SATELLITE GOES LIVE AT 28.2/28.5 DEGREES EAST
SES’ Astra 2E satellite entered into commercial service in the orbital arc of 28.2/28.5 degrees East
on February 1, 2014. The satellite was launched on board an ILS Proton launch vehicle from the
Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on September 30, 2013.
Extensive in-orbit tests have since then confirmed the satellite to be fully operational and
performing to specifications.
Astra 2E is co-positioned with Astra 2A, Astra 2F and Astra 1N. Over the coming weeks, BSkyB,
Channel4, ITV and BBC programming in the 28.2/28.5 degrees East arc will be transitioned to the
new satellite with its footprint over the British Isles.
The satellite was built for SES by Astrium of France. Based on the Eurostar E3000 platform, the
spacecraft carries 60 Ku-band transponders, including 12 incremental transponders for delivery
of services outside Europe, as well as four Ka-band transponders. Astra 2E enables the delivery of
next-generation broadcast and broadband services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
www.ses.com
EMC TO DELIVER VSAT MOBILITY
SERVICES ON TRAINS IN AFRICA
Emerging Markets Communications
(EMC) has enhanced its technology and
infrastructure to deliver VSAT mobility
services, currently active on trains across
Africa and Europe. The services use EMCowned SatLink VSAT technology and
include enhanced mobility features for
land, sea and aerospace deployments.
The upgrade uses high-performance,
low-profile mobile satellite antennae and
SatLink mobile VSATs to enable broadband
connectivity and a way to constantly
monitor GPS location data for enhanced
safety. The antennae automatically stay
locked to the satellite beam to provide
uninterrupted service.
Working with the corresponding
features in SatLink Hubs, the VSATs allow
for mobility at speeds up to 350km/h and
in constant motion in all directions. With
this new technology, passengers will be
able to access broadband IP connectivity
for public internet access and VPNs, VoIP,
content distribution and digital signage.
www.emc-corp.net
MEASAT, Telered partner
for video distribution
ADVANTECH WIRELESS RELEASES
NEWLY ENHANCED MCD
Advantech Wireless has released its enhanced
Advanced Multi-Carrier Demodulator (MCD)
with an aggregate throughput of up to 32Mbps.
The MCD is designed for multi-frequency time
division multiple access (MF-TDMA) networks
and can be configured to support up to 96
return link MF-TDMA carriers on a single card
while enabling terminal Capex to be minimised.
The MCD can support different
encapsulation formats and symbol rate on
each TDMA carrier simultaneously. This can
provide capacity optimisation by using longer
bursts for streaming traffic such as video,
while maintaining the dynamic response of
shorter bursts for more variable traffic such as
internet browsing.
www.advantechwireless.com
MEASAT and Telered Technologies and Services Corp have
signed an agreement for capacity on the MEASAT-3a satellite.
Under the terms of the agreement, Telered will utilise MEASAT-3a for
the distribution of the Viva TV and Pinoy Box Office (PBO) channels
across the Philippines.
The agreement also contains an option for additional capacity
to support Telered’s planned future expansion of video distribution
services in the Philippines market.
“With this capacity, we will be able to serve local and regional programmers for their local
distribution requirements. Our decision to enter into partnership with MEASAT was also on account
of its ability to provide a flexible working approach customised to our requirement,” says Redentor
Laset, President of Telered.
Raj Malik, MEASAT’s Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, adds: “MEASAT is pleased to
support Telered’s plans to provide new distribution channels and playout services to the Philippines
market. We look forward to continue supporting Telered’s expansion plans and carry exciting new
content to audiences across the Philippines.”
www.measat.com
Successfully Launched
Successfully Launched
Equipped with 89 C, Ku and Ka-band transponders,
ABS-2 will deliver increased capacity to the Middle East,
Africa, Europe, Asia Pacific, Russia and CIS countries.
Contact ABS for more information at: [email protected]
www.absatellite.com
IEC TELECOM UPS EXPANSION PLANS WITH SWEDEN SUBSIDIARY
GLOBALSTAR LAUNCHES TRACKING,
MONITORING TRANSMITTER
Globalstar has launched the STX3 simplex
satellite global transmitter, featuring low
power-consuming technology. Engineers have
shrunk the chip technology to be a third of the
size of its predecessor, the STX2.
The STX3 is designed to be easily integrated
into a range of M2M devices and applications
for cost-effective remote sensing, tracking
and monitoring of items as diverse as sheep,
ships and meters.
The STX3 can be used with hybrid GPRS/
GSM-based M2M tracking or monitoring
devices to provide satellite-based back-up
communications solutions for areas with patchy
or non-existent mobile network reception.
The STX3 module sends one-way data
messages via the Globalstar Simplex Network
when integrated into a tracking or monitoring
device. The module is easily integrated
into devices for fixed and mobile asset
management, remote sensing, data reporting
and data logging applications over a nearglobal network.
www.globalstar.com
Visit us at CABSAT 2014, booth F1-20, Hall 2
IEC Telecom Group
has opened a new
Scandinavian
subsidiary in
Stockholm, Sweden,
marking the next
step in the group’s
expansion plans.
Early in 2012, the
group acquired
Tradee Telecom,
a Norway-based
company, and began
to develop a presence
in Scandinavia.
The opening of IEC
Telecom Sweden is
a step towards consolidation of its business
development strategy in Northern Europe.
IEC Telecom will be supplying mobile and
fixed-satellite communications solutions,
products and value-added services to the
Swedish market. The Sweden team is
expected to capitalise on know-how gained
by other IEC Telecom Group subsidiaries as
well as from the group’s proprietary valueadded service platforms and technologies
including: OptiSIM (online SIM lifecycle
management platform), Opticlooud (a set of
complementary services aimed at optimising
telecommunications ROI), Quicklink
(video broadcast technology) and Traksat
(geolocation and M2M platform).
With headquarters in Paris, IEC Telecom
operates worldwide with offices in Dubai, Abu
Dhabi, United Kingdom, Norway, Kazakhstan,
Afghanistan, Singapore and Sweden.
www.iec-telecom.com
SatLead
KHALIFASAT:
MAKING HISTORY
The first Arab-made satellite will mark a new era in the Middle East
space industry. But KhalifaSat will do more than signify the region’s
start to greater technological autonomy, it’s also expected to drive
interest in the advanced sciences, writes Adrienne Harebottle
Once again, Dubai has given media reason
to avert attention to the UAE. But this time,
it’s in the name of advanced sciences and
technology. The first “Arab-made” satellite
will be developed on UAE soil by a team of
Emirati engineers working in Dubai. It is a
milestone that stirs up national pride in the
UAE Nationals responsible for the satellite,
as well as for their fellow countrymen.
However, its significance transcends the UAE
borders; it marks a new era for the Middle
East’s satellite industry. The world’s first
Arab-built KhalifaSat will take to the skies
in 2017.
KhalifaSat follows DubaiSat 1 and
DubaiSat 2, the UAE’s Earth observation
satellites that were developed by the
Dubai-based Emirates Institution for
Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST)
and launched in 2009 and 2013, respectively.
EIAST joined forces with Satrec Initiative, a
satellite manufacturing company in South
Korea, for a knowledge-sharing partnership
for the build of the first two birds. Having
gained the technical experience required
for DubaiSat 1 and DubaiSat 2, EIAST is now
fully at the reins for the manufacture
of KhalifaSat.
The name reflects the regional
significance this satellite holds, says Salem
Humaid Al Marri, Director of the Space
Programme Department at EIAST. Shaikh
Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and
Ruler of Dubai, renamed it from DubaiSat 3
to KhalifaSat at the end of last year.
“Obviously, this means a lot to the
UAE and to the region as well. Shaikh
Mohammad’s renaming the satellite
to KhalifaSat reflects the satellite’s
importance. This is a big step for the
country; developing these kinds of projects
on UAE soil, and I believe this is the step
that will allow us to start our own satellite
industry, which is quite a strategic industry
to be involved in. From there, we plan
to grow into different avenues. We will
not necessarily stay in Earth observation
satellites, we can really grow to begin
serving different areas in the space field,”
says Al Marri.
KhalifaSat will be a very advanced
Earth observation satellite, extending the
capabilities of the other two birds. From its
orbital position at 600km above the Earth’s
surface, it will have a 70cm resolution,
representing a 30% improvement from
DubaiSat 2, which has a 1m resolution.
While the satellite will have significantly
better mapping, pointing and downlinking
capabilities, it will also be smaller.
The team working on KhalifaSat
SatLead
“Other countries, as they continue
growing, will start to place priority on
advanced science and technology because
they will realise that is really where they
start to develop manpower. Even if the
project doesn’t have a big return on the
investment, you’re still getting a return on
the investment in your people. And those
people can then go into various industries
and areas of government and start to grow
them. I believe once they realise the impact
is has on the people, then they will start
to implement and develop these kinds of
projects. This has been the case in the UAE
and at EIAST.”
“There is a misconception
regarding satellite
capabilities; many people
expect satellites to do
much more than they
actually can do. When
you see some of these
Hollywood films, it
seems that satellites are
just imaging anywhere,
anytime, capable of
doing anything. But in
reality though, this is
rather far-out”
Beyond Earth observation
As the launch of KhalifaSat beckons a new
era in the Middle East satellite industry,
where greater technological autonomy is
at its core, doors to new sectors will open
for the UAE, explains Al Marri. It is EIAST’s
strategic ambition to go beyond developing
comprises 45 Emirati engineers from across
the country. While EIAST claims this team to
be the “top of the top”, the satellite’s build
remains a significant challenge.
“The team was picked between 2005 and
2006 and we’ve been developing it since
then, adding engineers to this as we’ve gone
along. Now, we have our full 45-member
team. Half the team is based here while the
other half is in South Korea, working on the
satellite. While we’re currently in Daejeon,
we’ve taken the complete lead in the project
and once our facilities are ready, we’ll move
to Dubai. The key challenge for us is to
develop KhalifaSat here.”
Wo-manpower
Top left and right: Part of a model of DubaiSat
2 and some of members of the team of Emirati
engineers that will work on KhalifaSat
Al Marri expects the high-tech facilities to
be ready by the beginning of 2015, adding
that while this development goes on,
EIAST will continue to search for additional
engineers to join the institution. According
to Al Marri, finding qualified and skilled
manpower remains a challenge, however,
women are playing a significant role in
reducing this gap, as the volume of female
graduates is on the rise.
“Finding skilled and qualified people is a
major challenge for us. The majority of our
staff is from leading UAE universities but
when they first arrive, we have to invest in
a lot of training and initial development.
They’re still generally high quality, though.
At present, we have 45 engineers, but we’ll
want to hire another 45 and this is quite
difficult. Many of the graduates we take in
are the highest in their class, and we then
put them through a stringent training and
development programme. This leads to
them becoming the top of the top and we’re
now looking to expand this. We intend for
our top-tier engineers to start training the
new engineers.
“We also have a lot of women working in
our team. I think this sends a bold message:
men need to watch out. Women are better
engineers now. There is also an increasing
number of female graduates, where it is
becoming easier to find female engineers. In
the last four or five years, we’re been hiring
an increasing number of women.”
A good percentage of engineers approach
EIAST, says Al Marri, while other prospective
employees are found at career fairs and
through visits to universities. While some
know about EIAST and its accomplishments,
he says the development and launch of
KhalifaSat is another pull factor, helping to
bring in new manpower to the field.
“I think KhalifaSat will have quite a strong
pull factor. Since the announcement of
KhalifaSat, we’ve seen quite a lot of interest
with a good amount of people inquiring
about it. I think it will give us a boost.”
Al Marri also sees other countries in the
region promoting advanced sciences and
technology in coming years, as he expects
them to see that it will lead to improved
manpower capabilities, which will help these
countries to continue developing. This, in
turn, will also boost the Middle East satellite
industry. In the meantime, he says, the
region has good examples to follow in Egypt
and Saudi Arabia in addition to the UAE.
“There are countries in the region, such
as Saudi Arabia and Egypt that are quite
advanced in satellite systems engineering.
They’ve launched a lot of advanced
communications satellites and they also
have a lot of university programmes
complemented by many local development
programmes. I think countries such as
these, together with the UAE are leaders in
this field.
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“There are so many
different applications
for satellite imagery and
the potential is massive.
People are becoming more
aware of the role that
satellites play in society
as well as the array of
benefits they afford. A
good example is Google
Earth and the weather
forecasts it offers. People
are now more aware that
these services and data
are from satellites”
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and operating Earth observation satellites;
the company intends to expand its offering
of services across numerous areas in the
space field, he says.
“Our ambition is to develop satellites
that can satisfy the needs of the UAE
Government and, of course, the private
sector as well. If there is any need in terms
of imagery or data analysis, for example,
then we can provide that through our space
assets. This is what we hope to achieve and
our three satellites can be a big contributor
to this.”
So far, EIAST’s images captured by
DubaiSat 1 and DubaiSat2 have been used
extensively by the UAE’s municipalities
and numerous government departments.
Looking to enhance this usage, Al Marri says
the institution aims to have its imagery as
the “default, go-to” option and the basis
for mapping in the UAE – something the
company is working on at present. Entities
that require imagery from a reliable source
are the target customer base, he says,
while there will, however, still be a group
of satellite imagery users that don’t care
where their pictures and data come from.
This indifference is on the back of
demand for satellite imagery spilling over
into the consumer market, a demand rise
that indicates awareness of this business
in on the incline. However, while numerous
groups are well aware of the benefits of
satellite imagery and its complementing
data, misconceptions about satellites still
exist, says Al Marri.
“At present, various companies that use
satellite data do utilise our images. As for
those that aren’t already using our images,
we’ll start targeting them to do so. Those in
a relevant field, from environmental remote
sensing to universities on associated
projects, are very aware of this business.
But then there is also the customer
that uses satellite imagery but doesn’t
care where it’s from. While this type of
consumer uses satellite data, they don’t do
any analysis on it – they just want the end
product. An example is the user of Google
Images; so long as they can see a map or
the features they want, then they’re not
interested in anything else. However, the
Dubai Municipality or the Dubai Roads and
Transport Authority, as an example, are
very concerned about the type of imagery
and its details.
“There are so many different applications
for satellite imagery and the potential is
massive. People are becoming more aware
of the role that satellites play in society as
well as the array of benefits they afford.
A good example is Google Earth and the
A model of a technical component from DubaiSat1,
the UAE’s first Earth observation satellite built by EIAST
Is proud to introduce Es’hail 1 Satellite, now
“If 10 years ago you said
we are going to develop
a satellite in the UAE, it
would have seemed like
an unrealistic challenge.
But we’re doing it. We’ve
launched two satellites
and now we’re working
on KhalifaSat. The
impressive thing is that no
matter the engineering
background, at EIAST
we’re able to push the
limits and overcome many
obstacles.”
Es’hailSat is a new satellite operator
based in Doha, Qatar and will own and
operate satellites to provide television,
internet, corporate and government
services across the Middle East, North
Africa and beyond.
Es’hailSat Key services include:
TV Broadcasting
• News gathering
• Business Communications and Corporate News
• Trunking Service and other Telecommunication Services.
•
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Our First Satellite, Es’hail 1, was succesfully launched on 29 August 2013
and our second satellite, Es’hail 2, will be launched in 2017. Both Satellites
will be colocated at the 26ºE hotspot neighbourhood.
weather forecasts it offers. People are now
more aware that these services and data are
from satellites.
“But there is still a misconception
regarding satellite capabilities; many people
expect satellites to do much more than they
actually can do. When you see some of these
Hollywood films, it seems that satellites are
just imaging anywhere, anytime, capable of
doing anything. In reality, though, a satellite
comes over Dubai twice a day, it takes an
image and then it takes a couple of hours to
downlink that image before you can start
looking over the data. So the idea of the
Hollywood movies, where they get instant
imagery at the blink of any eye, is rather
far-out, especially in the case of one or two
space assets. This idea is only more tangible
when you have numerous satellites and
ground stations to downlink the data.”
However, there should be no
misconceptions regarding the capabilities of
the people behind KhalifaSat. Real examples
of meeting and exceeding expectations
can be found within this engineering team,
says Al Marri. The boundaries are constantly
pushed and new limits are set and exceeded
repeatedly, he adds, explaining that it is
because of this drive that the UAE is able to
produce the first Arab-built satellite.
“If 10 years ago you said we are going
to develop a satellite here, it would have
seemed like an unrealistic challenge. But
here we go; we’re doing it. We’ve launched
two satellites and now we’re working on
KhalifaSat, and the impressive thing is that
no matter the engineering background,
we’re able to push the limits and overcome
many obstacles. It’s been a long road, but
we’re doing it. We’re reaching that stage
and we’ll get there. This is a big highlight.”
While this road to greater technological
autonomy has had its fair share of
highlights, says Al Marri, the team has taken
everything in stride, with a work-as-usual
attitude. There is still a lot of development
that needs to take place, he says, and with
this comes significant challenges. But
overcoming these will make the 2017 launch
celebrations all the better.
“EIAST is proud that we can bring this
technology through the UAE Nationals in
order to develop KhalifaSat. But at the end
of the day, it’s still our day-to-day work.
From a broader perspective, though, I think
the first Arab-built satellite being built by
Emiratis on Emirati soil is a national pride.
EIAST is also very proud to have been given
the chance to work on this project. A lot of
other institutions could have been chosen to
work on it, so we feel fortunate that we were
selected, something we are proud of. PRO March 2014 | SatellitePro | 21
Our
Ourworld.
world.Welcoming
Welcoming
you
youon
onboard.
board.Your
Yourworld.
world.
Visit
Visit
us:us:
HallHall
1, Stand
1, Stand
D1-10
D1-10
www.arabsat.com
www.arabsat.com
SatEvents
TOP
QUOTES
In the lead up to CABSAT, SatellitePro caught up with several
industry players to discuss the changes seen in content
management over the years, as well as the challenges and
emerging technological trends
IAN HILDITCH, CEO of ETL Systems“ETL’s
design engineers are constantly impressed
by the knowledge and new ideas of teleport
RF engineers around the world. They are
at the forefront of helping us to redesign
our RF equipment to meet the changing
demands for live traffic. Equipment needs
to remain as high density as possible,
as pressures on rack space continue. RF
engineers need to understand that good
designs and reliability come at a price.”
ALI KORUR, Regional Vice-President of
MENA at Eutelsat “With the advent of
larger HD screens, now at affordable
prices, HDTV has developed in the
MENA region at an impressive rate.
Over the last four years, the number
of HDTV channels has grown from a
handful to more than 170. From the 7/8
degrees West orbital location, we have
seen the number of HDTV channels
broadcast explode in just three years,
reaching over 70 at the end of 2013
against 12 in 2010.”
SAFIA RANA, Head of Sales and
Marketing at ViewSat “Growing
internet stability has opened up the
opportunity for our customers to
remotely access their servers and
manage their own content from around
the world. This has led to our clients
having greater autonomy over their
own programming. In addition, the
storage of content on digital platforms
instead of physical tapes has also led to
a significant cost-saving for clients”
JEAN-PHILIPPE GILLET, Vice President of EMEA
Sales at Intelsat “As consumers have become
more demanding, broadcasters’ requirements
have evolved, leading to an increase in the
demand for satellite capacity over the last
20 years. Many trends have contributed to
this evolution. One is deregulation, which
is enabling the creation of a veritable flood
of smaller channels to reach smaller niche
audiences. Today, viewers in the region can
choose among 650 free-to-air TV channels, up
from just 100 in January 2004.”
VOLKER JARSCH, Director of Satcom
Solutions at ND SatCom GmbH “The speed at
which new communications and recording
media were introduced into an otherwise
technically conservative world has been
impressive. Interviews are nowadays done
with smartphones instead of high-quality
cameras and audio equipment. However,
the pure volume of contributions is not yet
a sign of quality and relevance. Striving for
maximum hits on websites encourages
‘loudness’ instead of relevance.
ELEUTERIO FERNANDES, Middle East
Sales Director at Exterity “A major
trend in the region is the explosion
of international visitors, which has
led to demand for access to local and
international content. Enterprise
IPTV systems need to adapt to
local requirements if they are to be
successfully selected. It is particularly
crucial for head-ends used in IPTV
delivery to be able to handle all types
of broadcast signal, whether terrestrial,
satellite, cable, online or any other video
sources, without picture or quality of
service degradation.”
STEVEN SOENENS, Vice-President
of Product Management at Newtec
“The number of direct-to-home (DTH)
platforms has tripled over the last ten
years and this has, in turn, established
the need for more satellites and
satellite capacity. Today there are 4,000
transponders for video broadcast and
contribution, which is more than double
compared to 10 years ago, and within
just seven years this will grow by another
1,000. The technology to support this has
also improved, and both high-throughput
satellite and Ka-band technology can
be used for DTH. At present, there are
about 30,000 TV broadcast channels on
satellite, and this is set to grow to 50,000
in the next 10 years.”
ANDY NOBBS, CMO at Civolution “Content providers face the increasingly easy propagation
of unauthorised content online: piracy starts with an ‘index case’ and spreads rapidly
outwards. As a show is aired, a pirate makes the first copy, which can then be shared
multiple times, potentially leading to millions of downloads or live streams propagated
over the internet. Disrupting this piracy chain at its source is crucial, and can be achieved by
embedding a watermark. With forensic watermarking, each copy carries a unique identifier.
This forensic watermark is an imperceptible unique identifier that is embedded into the
video or audio signal. It makes every viewer accountable and enables content owners to
trace back the source of illegal copies.”
SatEvents
TAPPING THE
MARKET
Russia’s navigation industry has long served government bodies
but after prolonged double-digit growth, the industry is shifting its
focus to mass consumers. The eighth edition of the International
Satellite Navigation Forum will highlight the rising demand and
shed light on the path steering navigation to new horizons
Since 2011, Russia’s domestic navigation
technology market has grown by 20-25%
annually. The bulk volume of GLONASSbased technologies deployed in automobile
transport was around USD 510 million in
2013, a figure that is expected to grow to
USD 570 million in 2014, according to Russian
industry experts. GLONASS is the Global
Navigation Satellite System operated by the
Russian Aerospace Defence Forces.
Driving this year’s growth will be
the implementation of large-scale
infrastructure projects such as ERAGLONASS, predicts Vladimir Klimov,
Executive Director of GLONASS/GNSSForum. ERA-GLONASS is the national system
created by the Russian Government for
emergency response to accidents (ERA)
which uses the GLONASS system.
“The mass consumer market will also
drive growth in navigation technologies,
equipment and services in 2014. By the
end of the year, the level of penetration for
navigation and information services into
the Russian navigation mass market will be
around 10% of the total volume of provided
telematic services, reaching USD 34 million
in monetary terms,” adds Klimov.
Addressing this expected growth, the
eighth International Satellite Navigation
Forum, taking place this April in Moscow,
will focus on developing services for end
users and highlight the need to provide
the mass consumer market with webaccessed services that afford consumers
mobile control. There is demand, say the
experts, for real-time information via
mobile devices about locations and the
movement of people, animals and personal
vehicles, as well as about different
emergency situations.
While navigation and information services
for mass consumers in Russia is just starting
to be developed, the experts agree that this
market is one of the most promising and will
continue to drive the industry as a whole
over the next several years.
“Market players are shifting their focus to
the mass sector. Most of them are preparing
to present new navigation products that
will undoubtedly be in demand among
end users,” says Valentina Kartashyeva,
Executive Director of Professional Conferences, the
organiser of the International Navigation Forum.
“As forum organisers, we keep track of market
developments and we can’t help notice the
increasing call for navigation and information
services. We see navigation going far beyond
GLONASS technology’s traditional limitation to B2B
usage. We’ve picked up a number of interesting
solutions that will be demonstrated at the forum
and coinciding NAVITECH exhibition in April.”
Navigation market growth will also spur the
automobile transport segment, say the experts.
According to the Non-commercial Partnership
GLONASS (NP GLONASS), the system’s sole federal
navigation network operator, the motor transport
segment, which includes equipment, systems,
solutions and services, will grow 20-fold, reaching
USD 9 billion by 2020.
“Now, Russian navigation market players are
increasing the number of technology tools and
developing brand new concepts including ones for
the mass market. For example, just a few years ago,
our technology platform was aimed at producing
navigation and communication equipment to help
address the business challenges of monitoring
vehicle fleets. However, now they are also offering
miniature portable devices weighing less than
120gm, with low power consumption, long
battery life and high positioning accuracy. These
new-generation devices create new ways to use
navigation and information services. Recently, we
demonstrated a GLONASS schoolbag prototype
which was fitted with a miniature device, and the
product received great interest. People
were ready to buy early prototypes
right from the exhibition stand.
And this shows the high demand
for navigation and information
services in the mass market,”
says Svetlana Khadonova,
Marketing Director of
SpaceTeam Holding.
The final factor boosting
mass consumer demand
is the reduced cost of
navigation devices.
As devices are now
priced across the board
at a quarter of the amount seen in
earlier years, industry players forecast
increasing demand continuing robustly for the
next several years. PRO March 2014 | SatellitePro | 27
SatVertical: Oil and Gas
MSS’ PIVOTAL
ROLE IN OFFSHORE
OPERATIONS
Satellite technology links offshore workers and head offices
while also boosting employee morale. Fahad Kahoor, Thuraya’s
Director of Market Development for Energy, addresses the
trends that are enabled by mobile satellite innovations
With assets worth millions of dollars at stake,
oil and gas operators demand advanced
communications equipment to boost field
effectiveness, enable asset tracking and
coordination, and keep employees connected
during emergency situations.
As such, satellite communications have
a pivotal role to play in ensuring a high
level of operational efficiency at offshore
exploration and production facilities. This is
especially evident in cases where companies
are required to expand their exploration and
production activities further into remote
regions, where satellite networks are often
the only viable option for delivering reliable,
“always on” connectivity.
Besides establishing vital
communications links between offshore
workers and head offices, satellite
technology can make a key difference in
maintaining morale among employees
who are required to operate in remote
environments for extended periods, by
allowing them to stay connected with
their family and loved ones. The growing
demand for applications such as video
conferencing, email communications
and data transfer has further driven up
bandwidth requirements.
Another key trend is the emergence
of machine-to-machine (M2M)
communications to support remote
facility monitoring and real-time asset
management across the energy sector.
From facilitating oil pipeline monitoring
at remote, unmanned sites to tracking
operational assets that are constantly on
the move, the widespread adoption of M2M
applications will, in turn, lead to growing
demand for more bandwidth and higher
throughput speeds.
“The widespread adoption
of M2M applications
will, in turn, lead to
growing demand for more
bandwidth and higher
throughput speeds”
Fuelling demand
It is for these reasons that mobile satellite
services (MSS) have become a mainstay
in the oil and gas community, particularly
in addressing the gap between the
communications capabilities enabled by
GSM backhaul services and VSAT networks.
Service reliability is the foremost
requirement for successful offshore
operations. L-band satellite technology
is not affected by rain fade, and has long
been an attractive option for oil and
gas operators in maintaining offshore
communications. For geographically
remote locations that are not served by
GSM networks, offshore workers can
leverage the strength and capacity of
L-band networks to enjoy uninterrupted
connectivity — even when operating under
adverse weather conditions.
FAHAD KAHOOR, DIRECTOR OF
MARKET DEVELOPMENT FOR ENERGY
AT THURAYA
The cost and complexity associated
with offshore exploration — where the
search for energy resources often takes
operators deep into the world’s most
remote environments — present another
key operational challenge.
Besides being less expensive to install
than VSAT offerings, MSS products are also
relatively easier to deploy and manage.
For instance, operators can easily set
up L-band terminals to establish highspeed internet broadband access — in a
matter of seconds, and without technical
assistance. By contrast, VSAT systems often
require trained personnel to handle the
installation process.
To ensure users gain the maximum value
from their communications expenditure,
Thuraya takes a highly tailored approach
of working with its customers that are
engaged in oil and gas exploration by
delivering customised MSS solutions that
offer reliable performance over Thuraya’s
congestion-free network to accommodate a
wide range of offshore activities.
Satellite phones remain an important
part of the communications mix for oil
and gas operators, serving as the most
fundamental means of connecting onshore
offices to remote facilities. To this end, it’s
paramount that handsets are comprised
of ruggedised material that are proven
to withstand the toughest operating
conditions. It is also essential that satellite
telephony solutions providers offer flexible
and cost-competitive choices across their
www.nstt.net
“Operators can easily set up L-band MSS terminals to establish high-speed internet
broadband access while VSAT systems often require trained personnel to handle the
installation process”
FASTEST
SATELLITE SERVICES
NETWORK SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TRADING
NSTT is one of the very few companies that provide World-class Communication Networking Satellite-Related Services, Internet Access Solutions
and Satellite Media Broadcasting.
YAHSAT-1A
We provide reliable high-speed,
voice, video and data communication in real time among onshore
and offshore through multiple
satellites.
We offer our services to Government, Oil & Gas, Telecoms
providers, Maritime, Health,
AFRICASAT-1A
Financial and Aircraft sectors.
VSAT SERVICES
• Satellite Internet Services
• SCPC/DVB-S2 Services
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• Point to Point Services
• Point to Multi-point Services
• Broadcasting and Media
• Virtual Private Networks
• VNO Solutions
INTELSAT-901
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geographic footprint. Low latency is
also a crucial factor as operators need to
minimise voice call drop-out.
Broadband data terminals also play
an important role in meeting increasing
bandwidth demands and the need for
secure data transmission. While oil and
gas operators are looking to tap into
innovative capabilities, they also require
ease of use. Therefore, a broadband data
terminal must offer simplicity in its set-up
and operation. It is all the better if no
specialised training is required to use and
manage the device.
In addition to users wanting a device
that is ready for connection in any location
at any given time, broadband speeds,
depending on the intended usage, can be
as important as the reliability of the offered
capabilities. Being robust and portable
enables the terminal to be deployed on
short notice for the transmission of critical
operational data, to support remote
monitoring processes and to facilitate crew
calling via VoIP solutions.
Thuraya is working closely with
an ecosystem of product developers
and solution partners to drive future
technology developments that have
the potential to enhance operational
efficiency at offshore exploration sites.
This commitment to understanding
and addressing our customers’
requirements is at the core of Thuraya’s
innovation strategy. Going forward,
Thuraya seeks to
continue delivering
mobile satellite
products that meet
the energy sector’s
evolving demands
for reliable voice
connectivity and
optimised data speeds
at cost-competitive
rates. PRO ADDRESSING THE
NEEDS FOR DATA
COMMUNICATIONS
IP Terminal
To address increased bandwidth
demands and the need for secure
data transmission, the Thuraya
IP+ was developed. The terminal
offers simplicity in its set-up and
operation, and requires no specialised
training to establish fast and secure
communications.
The Thuraya IP+ currently offers
broadband speeds of up to 444kbps
on standard IP and 384kbps on
streaming IP with an integrated
antenna — ready for connection
in any location. The streaming
capabilities of the Thuraya IP+ helps
users manage costs by controlling
their upload and download speeds
based on specific usage requirements.
Satellite phone adaptor
Understanding the impact and
importance of satellite phones for oil
and gas operators, Thuraya introduced
the world’s first satellite adaptor for
the iPhone and android-based Samsung
smartphone. The Thuraya SatSleeve
makes satellite technology more
accessible and intuitive for end users by
converting your handheld device into a
satellite phone by simply slipping it into
the adaptor. It facilitates vital business
communications and allows offshore
crews to stay connected using familiar
smartphones while stationed outside
the coverage of terrestrial networks.
SatEvents
EXHIBITORS’
HIGHLIGHTS
A plethora of experts, decision makers and industry movers will amass for this year’s edition of
CABSAT, one of the region’s foremost events in content management. With a line-up of new features
punctuating its busy agenda, the exhibition is expected to have a lot on offer. SatellitePro caught up
with several industry players to find out why attendees should visit their stands
SatEvents
Come see our
“game-changing
solutions”
Newtec is embracing change
Newtec is unveiling its Dialog platform, which will be on exhibition together with its
modem portfolio for low- and high-speed applications. Newtec will also be showcasing its
other solutions for the broadcast, military and government, cellular backhaul, trunking, and
consumer and enterprise markets.
“Our customers are in a continued race to deliver different services, reduce overall
transponder cost and deploy infrastructure that grows with their business. To meet that
demand, we have created the Newtec Dialog platform, a scalable and flexible multiservice
platform that allows operators to build and adapt their infrastructure easily as their
business and the satellite market grow. Newtec Dialog offers the industry a brand-new
platform that always runs using an optimal modulation and bandwidth allocation,” says
Didier Tymen, Vice-President of EMEIA Sales at Newtec.
The company’s key innovations that reportedly increase efficiency are being showcased,
including the new return link technology Mx-DMA with HighResCoding (HRC), which results
in MF-TDMA flexibility and on-demand variable bandwidth allocation at SCPC efficiencies.
Visit Newtec at hall 1, stand B1-21
At this year’s exhibition,
Safa Telecom is joining
forces with Quicklink to
showcase the new Merlin
backpack along with the full
power of Quicklink Media
Manager (QMM).
“Quicklink is showcasing
the new powerhouse version
of the Merlin backpack for
the first time at Cabsat 2014.
The new Merlin will include
advanced hardware that
can take the strain of any
demanding situation and
a software upgrade that
really makes a difference.
The enhancements include
a much higher achievable
data rate even in the
worst 3G areas, a massive
improvement of stability
in highly congested urban
areas as well as increased
resilience, full bonding of
multiple connections and an
improved user experience,”
says Dominique Audion,
Managing Director at
Safa Telecom.
“Quicklink will be
demonstrating the
awesome power of the
QMM and proving how it
is a game-changer for live
IP distribution, as well as
the enhanced performance
of the LNG software and
3008 encoder, both carrying
optimisations parallel
with new technological
advancements in satellite
connectivity.”
Safa Telecom is exhibiting at
hall 2, stand 201
A regional first
Showcasing epic satellite solutions
Intelsat is presenting the IntelsatOne terrestrial network and EpicNG high-throughput
satellite platform at this year’s CABSAT exhibition.
“The IntelsatOne terrestrial network, which consists of eight strategically located
teleports and more than 36,000 miles of leased fibre, operates seamlessly with our
fleet of more than 50 satellites. It offers one simple, reliable source for multiple highbandwidth services. The network continues to be expanded, with the addition of a Miami
Point of Presence (PoP) as well as a peering agreement with BT’s Media PoP in Rio de
Janeiro. This should be of particular interest for media organisations in the Middle East
seeking access to Latin America for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics,” says JeanPhilippe Gillet, Vice-President of EMEA Sales at Intelsat.
“Intelsat EpicNG is an important part of the company’s plans for this region, both for
meeting the challenges of media, mobility, broadband and oil and gas organisations and
addressing growing demand for bandwidth. The backwards compatible platform allows
customers to expand and improve network performance using existing hardware. It also
allows network design flexibility through the use of ‘best-fit’ spectrum. This means that
end users will have the unique capability to choose and use the right frequency band
based on application needs,” says Gillet.
Intelsat will be at the show to discuss the current and future needs of media
organisations and provide them with a solution that reflects these conversations, he adds.
“In today’s competitive environment, they need a technology solution that ensures
optimal results and a provider that listens to them and develops solutions that are
best fit for their current and future needs.
Intelsat’s expertise and experience, as well as
its knowledge of the region, makes it the ideal
partner to provide media organisations robust
and flexible satellite solutions.”
Meet with Intelsat at
hall 1, stand C1-10
At this year’s CABSAT, Broadpeak
is showcasing its content delivery
network (CDN) technologies as
well as live and video-on-demand
(VOD) server technologies that are
especially designed for content
providers and network service
providers deploying IPTV, cable and
over-the-top (OTT) services.
Broadpeak’s key demonstrations
will involve its nanoCDN,
umbrellaCDN and streaming
servers as well as CDN equipment.
“For the first time in the region,
Broadpeak is demonstrating a
new video transparent caching
application for nanoCDN that allows
operators to efficiently handle the
growing volume of unmanaged
video content on their backbones.
The innovative application reduces
peering costs for ISPs while
optimising an operator’s network
resources,” says Jacques Le Mancq,
CEO of Broadpeak.
NanoCDN is a video delivery
technology that leverages
home gateways to make them
an extension of the CDN.
Broadpeak will demonstrate the
first application of nanoCDN,
which reportedly eliminates
live multiscreen consumption
peak issues by turning millions
of broadband gateways or
set-top-boxes (STB) into active
components of an operator’s
content delivery infrastructure.
Broadpeak’s solutions are on
exhibition at hall 6, stand A6-33
meet newtec Dialog
the platform that
embraceS change
Newtec Dialog allows you to
adapt your infrastructure easily
as your business changes.
that’S flexiBility
Newtec Dialog offers you a
platform to build your business
to the size you need it.
that’S ScalaBility
Newtec Dialog enables the
most optimal modulation and
bandwidth allocation.
that’S efficiency
launching
at caBSat 2014, March 11-14, hall 1, B1-21
www.newtec.eu
Portable satellite
uplink units man up
SIS Live is exhibiting a selection of portable
satellite uplink units, including the firstever showing of the new ManPak 100, a
light-weight, manually-operated tripod
VSAT unit. The showcase also includes
the ManPak 60, a portable 60cm terminal
with no loose parts, and uPak 60, a fullyautomated compact VSAT terminal.
“The innovative ManPak 100 leads
the way in the next generation of VSAT
terminals. This 1m and 1.2m tripod-style
antenna comes with a revolutionary control
case that makes the manual acquisition
of satellites simple, even for non-technical
users, through the use of two simple
wheels controlling the azimuth and
elevation, and a graphical user interface
(GUI). ManPak 100 is low cost, incredibly
quick to deploy, and can be out of the
bag and on a satellite in less than three
minutes,” says David Meynell, Managing
Director at SIS Live.
The ManPak 100 is lightweight, IATA
compliant and packs into two robust
cases which lock together, making one
trolley case for easy transportation. The
completely waterproof and rugged design
allows for operation in even the most
challenging conditions, from a war zone
for military communications to capturing
breaking news stories from the front line or
distributing CCTV from remote locations on
international borders.
Find out more about SIS Live’s products
at hall 2, stand F2-21
Rugged security
Civolution is focussing on the robustness of its solutions at this year’s exhibtion.
Its product line-up includes NexGuard-PayTV for content protection, SyncNow
for content interaction, which includes synchronising content or advertisements
between the first and second screen, and Teletrax for content tracking. The
company’s demonstrations will also inlcude the latest developments in
watermarking and fingerprinting.
“The Middle Eastern media landscape is rapidly changing, with PayTV services
requiring more security and advertisers looking for synchronised campaigns
that maximise reach by communicating with audiences across every screen. Our
demonstrations at CABSAT will show broadcasters and content owners how to utilise
robust tools that secure content. We’ve also extended our ACR solution SyncNow to
provide the missing link between TV and online advertising that brands and agencies
are increasingly requesting. We believe brands in the Middle East would benefit from
simulscreen advertising and advanced solutions for content protection,” says Andy
Nobbs, CMO at Civolution.
Find out more about Civolution’s products at hall 7, stand CD-10
Solutions tailored to the Middle East
Exterity is demonstrating its extended
portfolio that has been tailored to the
needs of Middle Eastern broadcasters
and pro-AV installers.
“New developments include full
HDCPv2 compliance across our entire
solutions portfolio, SDI and HD encoding
capability, dual tuners in TVgateways
and enhanced system management in
AvediaServer 6,” says Eleuterio Fernandes,
Middle East Sales Director at Exterity.
“Visitors to our booth will see how the
entire IPTV system adapts to demand in
the region while also ensuring that the
content industry’s security requirements
are met fully. We are also showcasing
enhanced system management and
features designed specifically for the
hospitality market, which demonstrates
our increased focus on the region.”
The latest version of AvediaServer
reportedly enables system
administrators to manage IPTV devices
and software clients, as well as monitor
the end-user access and content libraries.
“We also have the latest version
of Artio portal, which facilitates the
creation and management of customised
TV, VOD and interactive pages, and
offers a consistent user interface across
multiple end points.”
Discover Exterity’s products at
hall 4, stand G4-22
Shaping the future of Satellite communicationS
SatEvents
assess your Satcom requirements, whether you’re
building a new facility, expanding a current one, relocating to an
existing building, or just revamping the existing facility. We’ll discuss with you
all of your options and help you finalise your requirements. We’ll guide you
as you upgrade your network to achieve faster, more secure
and cost-effective results.
FGC will
Recognising the value
of the MENA region
ViewSat will showcase its portfolio
of services including an enhanced
OTT offering and live broadcast
solutions. With over 70 clients
already working with ViewSat across
the MENA region, the company is
looking to expand its pressence and
expects the exhibition to be an ideal
platform to connect with new and
existing contacts.
“We are planning further
investment in the region in the
year ahead, including setting up a
standalone office in Dubai, designed
to support our existing MENA
clients,” says Awaes Jaswal, CEO
of ViewSat.
“This year is going to be an
eventful year for us, as we continue
to grow our client base in this
important area, whilst undertaking
a brand refresh to segment our
position in the market and highlight
our offering to the direct-to-home
industry. From accessing content
on the go to streaming our clients
programming live, we are keen to
stay at the forefront of our sector
and provide our clients with a quality
and reliable distribution service.”
ViewSat will be exhibiting
at hall 2, stand H2-20
Handling larger RF routing systems
“Visitors stopping by the ETL stand will be able to enjoy a first look at Stingray – ETL’s
new fibre product. Building on existing RF expertise, the new range has superior RF
specs and provides a unique design for high isolation applications. The compact design
incorporates single-mode fibre links and enables remote control and monitoring
of temperature, fan status and power supply status via web browser interface and
SNMP,” says Ian Hilditch, CEO of ETL Systems.
ETL’s 128x128 compact Vulcan matrix and new Scorpion components mounting
system will also be on display.
“The Vulcan matrix is extremely compact with impressive RF performance. It’s
typically used for distribution of multiple L-band signals in a broadcast environment,
through large satellite teleports with a high volume of satcoms traffic.
“The new Scorpion components mounting system has a compact 1U high shelf,
which can hold mixed-size and functionality passive splitter and combiner modules. It
offers a cost-effective solution to mounting passive components in a 19-inch chassis,
eliminating the need to mount passives in mid air on the back and side of racks,”
explains Hilditch.
FGC offers the most advanced and reliable solutions on the
market. Our satellite-based broadcast solutions are being
deployed by leading DTH platform providers to deliver a vast
array of DTH services across the Gulf region. The modulators
that we deliver demonstrate optimal performance in both
DVB-S and DVB-S2, also enabling HDTV services at a cost
widely accepted by the industry.
As we move away from one-way, single-screen viewing
into an interactive, multiscreen environment, the need for
multiple architectures, platforms and processes gains clarity.
So do the benefits of streamlining technology, expertise, and
consumer and business insights that allow you to focus on
the bigger picture.
We believe that TV has a bright future – and with good reason.
The global market for ‘anytime, anywhere’ media consumption
has only just begun – and the visual medium is at the heart of an
increasingly personalised consumer experience.
A complete TV solution, strategic collaboration, unmatched
insights and adaptable pricing models support a new vision
of multimedia. It brings our unique range of cross-segment
expertise – combined with award-winning technology and
solutions – to help you thrive in this new business landscape.
www.fgcltd.com
P.O.Box 25560, Riyadh 11476, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 1 219 0888, Fax: +966 1 219 1888
Email: [email protected]
ETL Systems will be exhibiting
at hall 2, stand G2-23
SIZE MATTERS
In a highly competitive broadcast environment, small but powerful broadcast
technology benefits from customer-driven requirements. Stuart Brown, Broadcast
Systems Director at Cobham Broadcast, discusses the advantages of miniaturisation
In a “see it now” world, you have to figure
out how to get there first. The carnivorous
appetite for content by consumers
worldwide is driving broadcast technology
designers and manufacturers to look at
every opportunity to make their devices
and processes smaller, faster and more
efficient – right from the ability to replace
an OB truck with a single flight case to HD
transmitters that can disappear in the palm
of your hand. It’s not quite “magic”, but only
a few years ago it certainly would have been
seen as such.
For example, there has been a significant
move to produce lightweight, compact SNG
systems that can be operated by one person.
No need for an engineer to establish the
uplink. A reporter, doubling as a cameraman
(or vice versa) can now jump on a plane or
dash off in a vehicle, arrive at a scene and
begin reporting in minutes. The fluency of
such an undertaking would have been all
but unthinkable without a full-blown crew
only a few short years ago. The fact is, in a
ratings-driven, I-want-it-yesterday, multiplatform world, being second equates to
being first in the unemployment line.
Broadcasters are under unprecedented
pressure to transmit footage from a scene
as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The challenge is that those scenes are
increasingly remote and difficult to access,
but the consumer doesn’t care about that.
Fortunately, for content consumers and
for broadcasters that need to provide it,
the miniaturisation of technology is now
keeping pace with the need for access, if you
know where to look.
Put simply, miniaturisation provides
freedom, more specifically, the freedom “to
boldly go where no man has gone before.”
If you’ll excuse the dated pop culture
reference, it’s actually a highly relevant
phrase today. Audiences want to experience
news and events, not just from places
they’ve never been before, but from a point
of view that they’ve never seen before.
Static camera positions still have their place,
but to excite and compel viewers, news,
drama, sport and cultural events need to
be captured from new vantage points,
new angles, new frames of reference, and
modern technology manufacturers are
responding with the enablers.
Cameras and their transmitters are
getting smaller and smaller. The trend
towards lighter, smaller and increasingly
robust wireless transmission systems is
having a major impact on the ability of
broadcasters around the world to cover
news, events and sport. The desire to
get as close to the action as possible and
transmit reliable HD signals from camera
to studio is ushering in a new world of
creative possibilities for those who want,
indeed need, to differentiate themselves
with compelling content. Solid wireless
transmission links are vital to achieve this,
but how do you get an SD or even HD signal
out of a matchbox-sized transmitter, and
do it wirelessly? Going wireless is, after all,
a major contributor to the ability to extend
a broadcaster’s untethered reach, the
operative word being “untethered”.
Compression and connectivity are
the keys. In fact, they’re vital, using one
example, for newsgathering. Current and
rapid changes in satellite technology such
as the development and deployment of a
number of large, multi-transponder Kaband satellites and Ka-band networks is
increasingly offering a viable and economic
alternative to heavily used and frequently
oversubscribed Ku band.
Inmarsat’s new Ka band-based Global
Xpress service, which will start delivering,
“Miniaturisation provides freedom, more specifically,
the freedom to boldly go where no man has gone before”
STUART BROWN, BROADCAST SYSTEMS DIRECTOR AT COBHAM BROADCAST
BROADCASTING
“Broadcasters are under
unprecedented pressure
to transmit footage from
a scene as quickly and
efficiently as possible”
via its next-generation Inmarsat-5s satellite
system, higher transmission speeds through
more compact terminals at a lower cost
than existing VSAT services, using far
less congested spectrum. When the full
service starts, production teams will be
able to capture events at distances never
before possible and transmit bandwidthintensive, high-quality video from anywhere.
Production teams with modern wireless
transmission systems that include IPconnectivity will also be able to make video
calls, watch their home team score a goal,
read the news, shop or even use social media
if they want to.
Additionally, it is IP-connectivity that is
changing the game, so long as it includes
connectivity via 3G, 4G and LAN. The ability
to utilise 3G is particularly important at the
moment, as it ensures access to super-fast,
wireless 3G internet connections from even
the most remote locations.
There has also recently been a lot of
discussion about a number of advanced
video compression standards such as HEVC
H.265, which I believe will undoubtedly
augment the space-saving benefits of
wireless systems. Why? Because at the
moment, all wireless systems have to trade
range for bit rate. It’s just the way it works
in the wireless world. The higher the picture
quality you want, the lower a wireless
system’s achievable range will be.
However, by adopting improvements in
compression that come with new standards
such as HEVC H.265 and no doubt others
on the horizon, high-picture quality can be
attained but at ever-lower bit rates, which,
in turn, extends the range of the system
to achieve, and maintain, the expected
quality – importantly, without failure.
Production teams stand to benefit the
most from increased range at current
picture quality thresholds, but improved
compression will extend that reach ever
further, and the results will be dramatic,
both in terms of quality and content for
the viewer.
Let’s pause for a moment and consider
the ultimate space saver; that is, no space
at all. Wireless transmission links require
no cumbersome cable. Anyone involved
at the business end of outside broadcast
of any type is very familiar with the thick
lattice of heavy cables strewn across the
ground. Broadcast professionals scarcely
take notice, but still have to negotiate
paths around, through or over them. Less
experienced field producers, or members
of the public, can easily get tripped up or
entangled in the maze.
Of more direct, practical importance to
broadcasters is that implementing wireless
transmission systems vastly reduces onsite
rigging times. I’ve already mentioned that
the ability to get to a site and to be first to
air within minutes, even seconds, is critical.
Cables are heavy, large and – for coax –
limited in effective range. Going wireless
means that those set-up times are slashed,
with the added benefit of not having to
transport and deploy large spools of copper
coax. The reduction in production costs is
noticeable, which pleases the accountants.
We’ve talked quite a lot about the
ever-decreasing size and mobility of
wireless transmission systems, new
compression standards and Ka-band
satellite availability, but there are many
other initiatives that will continue to
make newsgathering, event coverage
and production techniques better, faster
and smoother, not to mention more
financially viable. The bottom line is that
the ability to get to a location, capture
images and link to a satellite to get that
information back to base as quickly as
possible is now a requirement, not an
option, and the diminishing size, coupled
with vastly improved functionality, of new
technology are heralding a new age in
broadcast production. PRO
Fix & Mobile Satellite
Service Provider
MVSAT
Broadband
INTERNET via Satellite
New TV hotspot over the region
Satellite Segment
42
Welcome to NorthTelecom Booth
at CABSAT 2014, 11-13 March
Hall 2 ,A2-20
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T: +971 44529993
F: +97144584662
www.northtelecom.com
[email protected]
North Telecom L.L.C | P.O. Box 113483|Office # 2001
Grosvenor Business Tower / Tecom | Dubai/ U.A.E.
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STAYING
IN CONTROL
TV viewers are used to having compelling, localised content
at the touch of a button while usually no consideration is
given to the difficulties facing the content providers enabling
this luxury. Roger Franklin, CEO of Crystal Solutions, explores
the challenges of today’s entertainment environment
and how these are overcome
The world of TV has evolved dramatically
in recent years, with consumers across
the globe having access to a wide range
of compelling content localised for their
region. For those providing the content, it
means a need to keep up with demands
and a delivery network much more complex
than ever before.
The lives of programming providers have
become severely more complicated in the
past decade. It used to be the case that
they only needed to provide a single, linear
programme. But recent years have seen
this change drastically, with the world now
demanding much more regionalisation and
personalisation, meaning where one version
was once enough, now numerous versions
of the same programme need to be created.
This comes with a rather unique set of
challenges for the content provider.
There are numerous ways that this
content can now been altered for multiple
regions, but the main complicating issues
we are currently witnessing include
multiple languages, graphics insertion and
web streaming.
Arguably, the most crucial part of
localising any content is ensuring it is in
the local language. With an estimated
7,000 languages in the world, even
when translating only a small fraction
of those, it is no mean feat. As well as
finding the right experts to ensure an
accurate translation of content, from a
technical perspective, it means there will
be numerous versions of each programme
and some regions may even need several
of those to allow for different languages
within the region. Naturally, the content
provider will need to ensure the right
version is delivered to the right region at
the right time.
Graphics insertion is a great way of
localising content with a wide range of
compelling functions, such as up-tothe minute local sports scores or local
advertising information. Again, this
means that each piece of content will
need different versions depending on
the graphics inserted, and again this may
potentially go right down to a local level.
Web streaming of content is also
becoming more and more popular, with an
estimated 46 billion online viewers as of
September 2013, an increase of 210% from
January 2009 (according to comScore).
The same report from comScore also
demonstrated that viewers are spending
more time watching online videos, with
an increase of 300% in the same time
period to 21 hours per month. For content
providers, it means access to a large,
otherwise often inaccessible customer
base. However, it again requires another
version optimised for web viewing, and
often several versions optimised depending
on the availability of bandwidth.
Of course, the other challenge with
localised segments, regardless of how
the content is localised, is that the
various programmes will all change in
different ways. For some, it may be a
graphic insert, others perhaps will have a
different language version, and for another
percentage, there may even be no change
at all. Therefore, the broadcaster also needs
to keep track on which programme needs
to perform what action in order to add the
appropriate overlay or other information at
a given time.
“Localisation is an extremely useful way to make
content relevant to any given region, but it also greatly
complicates distribution downstream, leading to a chain
involving multiple third-party control systems and user
interfaces that all still need to be controlled centrally”
ROGER FRANKLIN, CEO OF CRYSTAL SOLUTIONS
Maintaining control
“Web streaming of
content is also becoming
more and more popular,
with an estimated 46
billion online viewers as
of September 2013, an
increase of 210% from
January 2009”
Whilst localisation is an extremely useful
way to make content relevant to any
given region, it also greatly complicates
distribution downstream, leading to a
chain involving multiple third-party control
systems and multiple third-party user
interfaces that all still need to be controlled
centrally. Each vendor will likely have a
control system to control their equipment,
but the content provider still needs to access
each vendor’s user interface, remember
the syntax and particulars of each one, and
carefully direct all their actions at critical
times, such as the beginning or ending of a
live sporting event.
Naturally, that leads to a complicated
scenario seemingly impossible to manage.
Therefore, the content providers really
need a tool to control and manage multiple
versions and functionality automatically.
By automating the collection of stimulus
from various sources, such as automation
systems or real-time touch screens in control
rooms, interpreting the received codes and
then commanding the appropriate uplink- or
downlink-based equipment as necessary,
the entire process can become much simpler
for the operators.
In a real-time broadcast control room,
operators are dealing with a number of
tasks all at once, and ensuring the content
is displayed correctly and at the right time
is key. Therefore, simplicity and ease of use
is paramount. Having multiple third-party
user interface screens is extremely confusing
and likely to be an issue for those faced with
that task. Therefore, being able to pull all
of the control systems and user interfaces
into one overarching and simple-to-use
user interface will make that much more
efficient, enabling the control room to easily
keep track of all those systems and, crucially,
the content.
In order to address the challenges of
this demand for localised content and the
subsequent plethora of programme versions
being supplied by content providers, a
content substitution tool for multiple
distribution paths greatly helps. Providing
such a tool, Crystal Solutions launched
Connect, which turns easy-to-identify textbased command names of the operator’s
choosing into one or more directives for
other third-party equipment – and in
a fraction of a second. Using a single,
programmable touch screen, the operator
is presented with a series of buttons whose
legends identify, in simple language, what
major events may be required for that
programming segment. When a button is
pressed, the touch screen sends the button
stimulus to Connect, which then interprets
the code and sends all the resultant codes
to the third-party control systems (or
directly to uplink-based equipment, such
as ASI switches or video routers). The
button uses a series of colour codes to give
the operator immediate feedback such as
if the command was received by Connect,
and if the resultant codes were received
and acknowledged by the respective thirdparty systems.
All commands to downlink equipment
(IRDs, splicers, graphics overlays, etc) are
addressable to the programme to which
they are associated. Therefore, events
may be configured to only direct a certain
programme to perform an action, while
those in another programme perform a
different action, or do nothing at all.
The Connect system is fully redundant.
The back-up system is always kept up
to date “on the fly” with changes to the
primary system (such as which control
file is currently active), so switching over
from the primary to the back-up system
does not require manual reconfiguration
by the operator.
Staying in control
As the broadcast and content provision
environments continues to evolve, with
more and more need for numerous
versions of any given content, providing
and managing that content is becoming
increasingly complicated. It would be
unfeasible for any content provider to
manage that without a certain level
of automation and control. However,
with so many solutions on the market,
managing those control systems is
evolving into a complicated process. It
is essential to solve that complexity by
automating the management of all of
those systems, and ultimately helping
the content provider concentrate on
providing content. PRO
System Integrators and Ground Operators
Regional Resellers and Authorized Distributors
Installation, Maintenance, Training and Turnkey
Voice - Video - Data - Internet - GSM Backhaul - Broadcast
Mena nets provides 4 activities to the Mena region:
i. System integration where we design and provide solutions over satellite
ii. Supply hardware as resellers and authorized distributors of many
manufacturers like ASC Signal, Skyware Global, Cobham, Xicom/Comtech,
Anacom, Codan/CPI, NJR, SMW, iDirect, Thomson, etc.
iii. Ground operations which includes installation, technical support,
maintenance repairs, etc
iv. Training and consulting such as the GVF HOST.
these 4 activities are delivered through 6 product lines:
i. Earth station antennae (3.5 meter to 9.4 meter) from ASC Signal
ii. VSAT antennae (75 cm to 2.4 meter) form Skyware Global
iii. Mobile satcom (on the move and on the pause) from Cobham
iv. Outdoor electronics: TWTs, BUCs, LNBs, Feeds, etc from Xicom/
Comtech, NJR, Anacom, Codan/CPI, SMW, etc
v. Indoor electronics: broadcast encoders, decoders, multiplexers, video servers,
power supplies, combiners, splitters, routers, satellite modems, redundancy controllers etc from Thomson, Paradise/Teledyne, iDirect hubs/modems and others.
vi. Installation, maintenance, support, logistics and training (GVF) and
turnkey solutions involving system integration of all activities and product lines to provide customers with a complete end-to-end product. The
objective is simple: meets customer needs with the latest technologies at
the best price/quality mix delivered through experience.
www.menanets.com
MENA NETS FZE
Building Jafza 15, Unit 15-419, Jebel Ali Free Zone, POB 261670, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Office: +971-4-887 6606, Fax: +971-4-8876605
Email: [email protected]
SatShowcase
Visit
WORK
Microwave at
CABSAT: hall 2,
stand C2-30
Working to achieve
greater throughput
Designed to optimise bandwidth, improve
signal quality and reduce operating
expenses, WORK Microwave’s product
line-up offers several enhancements. DVB-S2 Broadcast Modulator
Powered by a combination of video and IP
technologies, WORK Microwave’s DVB-S2
Broadcast Modulator provides operators
with an ideal solution for IP network links
and TV contribution. The modulator’s
advanced feature set helps operators
get the most out of expensive satellite
bandwidth, optimise data transport and
improve satellite signal quality. New Carrier
ID support defines the modulation, channel
coding and signalling protocol intended
for the identification of the host carrier,
enabling operators to eliminate or reduce
radio frequency interference between
satellite signals. Other innovative features
include DVB-S2 multistream, TSoIP and
wideband (up to 80Mbaud).
HEAD-TURNING
TECH
From simplifying numerous broadcasting roles and workflows to hiking up efficiencies and greater
optimisation of bandwidth, these products and solutions deserve their time in the spotlight. These,
together with a myriad other impressive technologies, will be on display at CABSAT 2014
DVB-S2 IP-Modem SK-IP
The DVB-S2 IP-Modem SK-IP harnesses
XipLink traffic shaping and WORK
Microwave OptiACM functionalities to
optimise throughput and increase network
bandwidth for service providers, corporate
networks and telcos.
Focusing on efficiencies, cost savings
Harmonic’s product offerings reportedly bring increased
operational efficiencies and cost savings to broadcast and
multiscreen production and delivery, while ensuring video
quality on any screen. Harmonic
is exhibiting
at CABSAT: hall
7, stand E7-12
multiscreen preparation solution
Harmonic’s ProMedia offers support for HEVC encoding and 4K video format,
increased synergy with the Harmonic MediaGrid shared storage system for the
delivery of time-shifted TV services, and support for closed captioning, regional
blackouts and local ad insertion.
Proview family
Harmonic has enhanced its ProView integrated receiver-decoder (IRD). ProView is
the industry’s first 1-RU, scalable, multiformat IRD, transcoder and MPEG stream
processor. The platform performs broadcast-quality SD/HD MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC
decoding and video transcoding, giving content providers, broadcasters, cable MSOs
and telcos the ability to easily and cost-effectively streamline their workflows and
decrease operating costs. This solution also supports AVC HD 4:2:2 10-bit decoding up
to 1080p.
Ellipse contribution encoder
The new Ellipse 3000 employs MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC 4:2:0/4:2:2 8- and10-bit
compression technologies to enable transmission of real-time video over satellite and
broadband contribution networks. By encoding the highest picture quality at the front
end of the broadcast chain, the Ellipse 3000 offers broad codec support and simple
in-field firmware upgradability.
Spectrum ChannelPort
Harmonic’s Spectrum media server features new channel-in-a-box capabilities, such
as dual DVEs with independent branding. The Spectrum ChannelPort platform speeds
the cost-effective deployment of new SD and HD TV channels by integrating branding
and master control switching with clip playback on the media server platform.
Showcasing improvements
WORK Microwave has made a range of
improvements to its Fixed Frequency
Block Converter Series, including Ka-band
support for uplink and downlink services,
superior phase noise and adjustable slope
compensation. The new enhancements
optimise the performance and bandwidth
of satellite communications links, enabling
operators to cost-effectively deliver a
superior signal quality.
The 25th International Communications and Information Technology
Exhibition & Conference
www.CommunicAsia.com
The 11th International Information Technology Exhibition & Conference
for the Enterprise
Keeping it simple
www.goto-enterpriseIT.com
Bridging Communication Borders,
Optimising Business Opportunities
Migrating, managing
and monetising content
Front Porch Digital focuses on flexible and scalable media
workflows, offering purpose-built technologies that operate
on site and in the cloud. Its solutions are said to be able to
manage large and complex media files and workflows while
ensuring optimal performance and security. 17- 20 June 2014
Head in the cloud
LYNX is reportedly the industry’s first enterprise-scale cloud
implementation of content storage management (CSM). LYNX
delivers adaptable, on-demand scalability, reduces capital
and operational costs, and revolutionises the way media
organisations manage assets. LYNX leverages the latest cloud
and web technologies to provide a range of networked and
distributed solutions.
Basement 2, Level 1 & 3
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
What’s
, a part of CommunicAsia and
EnterpriseIT2014, brings together a congregation of satellite companies
from around the world. Learn about the latest satellite services /
technologies from the impressive showcase from exhibitors such as
APT Satellite, Asia Broadcast Satellite, iDirect, Intelsat, KNS,
MEASAT Global, SES, THAICOM Public Company and many others.
Visit www.CommunicAsia.com/satcomm2014 for more information.
?
New elements in 2014!
Network with over 1,300 exhibitors and witness relevant technological
innovations at CommunicAsia and EnterpriseIT2014
Find out more
by scanning
the QR Code.
Pre-register your visit to the exhibition at
www.CommunicAsia.com/pre-registration NOW!
Organised by:
Worldwide Associate:
See
Front
Porch Digital at
CABSAT: hall 6,
stand B6-20
Incorporating:
Held concurrently with:
Efficient media asset management
DIVAdirector V5.2 is the latest version of Front Porch Digital’s
DIVAdirector media asset management (MAM) system, a
permission-based web application that enables complete access
to file-based content stored by DIVArchive content storage
CSMs. DIVAdirector’s latest enhancements make the MAM more
stable and versatile. With support for multiple audio channels
for different language tracks, users can
provide multiple language options for a
given video file.
Upping the applications
The DIVArchive V7.1 CSM system offers new
features and capabilities, enabling a broader
array of applications. The new AXF Explorer
offers an intuitive interface for parsing
Archive eXchange Format (AXF) objects,
with straightforward operations that are
performed using drag-and-drop procedures
just as with the Windows operating system.
DIVArchive V7.1 enables a complete range
of video transcoding and workflows, and is
directly integrated with Telestream’s Vantage
Transcode and Vantage Transcode Pro.
Globecast provides media
management and playout
solutions as well as global
content delivery via fibre, satellite
and IP. Through its fleet of SNG
vehicles and production partners,
the company also provides coverage
of news, sports and special events
around the globe.
Globecast
is showcasing
its services and
solutions at CABSAT:
hall 2, stand E2-20
OTT Managed Services
From content preparation to delivery, Globecast offers
end-to-end OTT solutions, including monetisation tools,
to help broadcasters make the most of their content. The
company’s service proposition removes the technical
complexities associated with providing content to multiple
platforms, in multiple formats, across multiple territories
with associated rights issues from the broadcaster.
Through a managed solution, broadcasters can deliver OTT
services to market rapidly without having to make a capital
outlay for hardware and software, keeping operating
expenses under control and predictable.
Playout solutions
Globecast provides a range of its scalable playout
solutions that align with broadcasters’ strategies and
budgets. Whereas it used to be broadcasters delivering
content in the form of a linear channel to a single or
perhaps a small multiple of handover points for onwards
distribution to consumers, now that can be hundreds of
handover points and a mixture of linear feeds and nonlinear packages for catch-up and on demand. Globecast
technical centres offer a wide range of tailored broadcast
management services such as the graphical integration
and regionalisation of content, which broadcasters can
take advantage of wherever they are in the world.
Teaming up
Globecast will be co-exhibiting NETIA, a provider of
software solutions that enable efficient management
and delivery of content to a full array of media
platforms. NETIA solutions allow content producers
and owners to manage content from ingest to delivery,
targeting multiplatform outlets including the internet,
VOD, IPTV services and mobile devices.
Microwave solutions to heat up CABSAT
Integrated Microwave Technologies (IMT) is a business unit within the Vitec Group’s
Videocom Division and an innovator of advanced digital microwave systems for the
broadcast, sports and entertainment markets. It offers digital microwave video systems
for portable and fixed-link applications from its Nucomm and RF Central brands.
Discover
IMT’s
products at
CABSAT: hall 8,
stand B8-21
Speed chaser
The Nucomm CPTx-II (compact portable transmitter) is a lightweight RF video transmitter
that delivers HD/SD output at up to eight watts in 2k DVB-T (coded orthogonal frequency
division multiplexing) COFDM mode. Ideal for covering motorcycle and bicycle races,
marathons, triathlons and other fast-paced, high-speed electronic newsgathering (ENG) or
OB events, it supports video/audio/data/telemetry with selectable modulation bandwidths
of 6, 7, and 8MHz. In addition to its small size, the unit has very low latency and power
consumption. Weighing around 3kg, it comes with a variety of mounts, including special
mounts for motorcycles.
Boosting bandwidth
IMT’s Nucomm CamPac2 Plus HD/SD COFDM Microwave Transmitter is intended
for wireless camera applications, such as sports coverage and ENG. It offers efficient
encoding/decoding, high-quality HD and low power consumption. It is available in
licensed bands along with other bands upon request. Its rugged machined housing
provides durability and good thermal characteristics for operation in the harshest of
conditions. The CamPac2 Plus offers the same quality transmission as its predecessor
in half the amount of bandwidth, utilising MPEG-4. It also allows more video paths in
the same amount of bandwidth, attractive to stations in markets with high amounts of
RF congestion.
Video on the go
Nucomm’s Newscaster DR2 is a split-box HD/SD COFDM diversity microwave receiver
intended for outside broadcast and other mobile video applications. It has four RF inputs
that communicate directly with the system’s external intelligent receivers in the 1.99 to
2.70GHz and 6.40 to 7.75GHz bands, with other bands also available. The use of external
intelligent receivers allows the receive antennae to be remotely mounted.
RAI Amsterdam
Conference 11-15 September | Exhibition 12-16 September
SatShowcase
Find out
more about
Newtec’s products at
CABSAT: hall1,
stand B1-21
Keeping up with
business changes
Audacious automation
Mosart Medialab is a specialist in developing automation systems for news, sports,
weather and live broadcasting applications. Its tools target control room crew and
large broadcasters with multiple studios.
New Mosart Newscast Automation 3.6
This upgrade has enhanced the GUI, enabling more flexibility at the director’s fingertips.
It provides access to a customisable pool of content and enables direct playout, regardless
of the rundown location. Content and sources from any point of the rundown can be sent
to studio walls, both directly and through preprogrammed salvos taken to air at a single
click. These innovations help improve nonlinear news production by giving directors instant
content access and further enhance the Mosart automation system’s capability to perform
in breaking news situations, during deviations from the newsroom computer systems (NRCS)
rundown, and when directors are making on-the-fly decisions about which content and
assets to use.
Mosart Multi-Studio Solution
This is a software package for larger broadcasters with
multiple studios. Combining Mosart Media Router and
Mosart Template Sharing, the package enables sharing
of resources and coordination across several control
rooms. New functionality added to the Mosart Media
Router enables the sharing of video wall, lighting and
camera resources.
A range of
Mosart solutions
will be on display at
CABSAT: hall 8,
stand D8-10
Newtec Dialog is a new scalable,
flexible and bandwidth-efficient
multiservice platform that allows
operators to build and adapt
their infrastructure easily as their
business grows and in tandem
with industry changes.
Dialog gives operators the
power to offer a variety of
services on a single platform
while assuring the most optimal
modulation and bandwidth
allocation. In addition to
supporting SCPC or MFTDMA, it now includes a third
revolutionary patent pending
return link technology called
Mx-DMA. Together with the new
HighResCoding, it combines the
best of both worlds and enables
services to run more efficiently
than ever before over satellite.
The Dialog platform consists
of hubs and terminals. The hubs
are modular (scalable) and can be
configured in different sizes fitting
the varrying needs of customers.
IBC2014
Discover More
IBC stands at the forefront of innovation, drawing more than 52,000+
creative, technical and business professionals from over 170 countries.
It couples a comprehensive exhibition covering all facets of today’s
industry with a highly respected peer reviewed conference that helps to
shape the way the industry will develop.
Also, take advantage of a variety of extra special features included as part of your registration at no
extra cost:
• IBC Content Everywhere
IBC Content Everywhere Europe is the first
in a series of exciting new events focussing
on rich media production, devices, apps,
digital marketing, social media, content
personalisation, big data, cloud services,
second screens, investment and much more
• IBC Big Screen Experience
providing the perfect platform for manufacturer
demonstrations, ground breaking screenings
and insightful, free to attend conference
sessions focusing on the latest developments in
digital cinema
www.ibc.org
IBC Third Floor, 10 Fetter Lane, London, EC4A 1BR, UK
t. +44 (0) 20 7832 4100 f. +44 (0) 20 7832 4130 e. [email protected]
• IBCWorkflowSolutions
dedicated to file-based technologies and
provides attendees with the opportunity to track
the creation management journey
• IBC Awards
celebrating the personalities and the
organisations best demonstrating creativity,
innovation and collaboration in our industry
• Future Zone
a tantalising glimpse into the future of
tomorrow’s electronic media
SatGuest
WHERE’S THE INSPIRATION
FOR SPACE TECHNOLOGIES?
Motivation is paramount when it comes to innovation and its follow-up developments, but its effects
fall short without sound leadership, writes Torsten Kriening
A few years back it was predicted that a new
wave of countries would be reaching for the
stars by starting their own space programmes
and activities. Today, this trend seems to be
declining. Why is this?
The activities of countries with existing
space programmes are ongoing, but the
expected growth in developing countries
entering space is slow to materialise. Also,
where are the indigenous scientific and
engineering talents to fulfill the space
ambitions of these countries? Various
universities in the Middle East offer courses
for space engineering, Earth observation and
communication, but it seems these topics are
not in vogue anymore. How can this resource
and inspiration gap be filled?
Dr John B. Sheldon, Fellow at the George
C. Marshal Institute and expert on global
space activities, provided one answer in a
roundtable discussion on the topic.
“Any innovation needs inspiration,
motivation – and leadership. With today’s
technologies and global know-how, nobody
has to be left behind. A good example could
be for universities to start their own space
projects using CubeSats, NanoSats or other
small scale units.”
Starting from less than USD 1 million, a
CubeSat can be built and launched within
a year or two. These kinds of initiatives are
popular around the world and are supported
by international specialists and expert
communities. Sheldon spoke of the benefits
of these projects, saying that experience
from building and orbiting a CubeSat is
unique and creates a sustainable opportunity
to build on for the individuals involved and
their country.
“The theory and the principles are
similar to building large, more expensive
satellites for communication, observation
or exploration. If you plant the seeds today,
you build your own indigenous capacity
for tomorrow. The analysis of programme
benefits and the decision process to start
a programme can be supported by various
analytic tools and technologies, taking
account of any value next to cost.”
Inspiration and motivation for
developing a viable and substantial space
programme does not have to come with
a big price tag, explains Sheldon. Today,
space programmes can be scaled from very
small but outstanding projects, to large and
expensive undertakings. Either way, the key
element is the vision and the passion at the
leadership level. PRO
Torsten Kriening is the Managing Director of
Kriening International and a business development
consultant. He holds an executive MBA in Space
Business and Management from the International
Space University in Strasbourg, France
Have you worked on these kinds of projects? Share your experience and thoughts with us. Write to the editor at:
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.wiseband.net

ambition realised - SatellitePro Middle East

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