Satellite service provider offers standardized ground services in many regions of the world

Serving as sub-contractor to the satellite service provider, atrexx is currently completing installation works that include the setting up of redundant antennas at each site in Ku- and C-band.

The company has experienced a surge in demand for ground services that include all supporting services such as site survey, choice of antenna location, planning of installation, installation itself, commissioning, as well as preventive and corrective maintenance. As a response to this demand, atrexx has focused on standardizing its offerings and has developed specific products that can enable them to deliver best-in-class products to their clients.

Over the past few years, atrexx has placed great emphasis on recruiting and training many installers in Africa and Asia, with a special focus on the African Continent and the Middle East so that projects like the one above can be handled no matter where in the world they are required. Markus Schäfer, Managing Director of atrexx commented: “atrexx is pleased with the ongoing project. It shows that our installer network can handle the request with professionalism.”

Deployments such as these are not without their complications. Mr. Schäfer explained: “The security measures of the embassies and the safety regulations regarding the statics have sometimes been a challenge for our staff in the field, but we have overcome these challenges with professional project management and flexibility.”

atrexx’ near ten year experience in the VSAT market and knowledge of the provision of remote connectivity solutions gives the company a unique edge. Experience with regulatory and licensing issues in different regions is essential, as is a good degree of familiarity with the region where deployment is taking place. This coupled with a high level of technical expertise and a relationship with installers in different countries, enables atrexx to deliver the complete package so that the client can be sure of a high quality service.

Mr. Schäfer continued: “We recognize that the ground service element of VSAT communications is not necessarily the most attractive to satellite service providers. It is often viewed as the ‘dirty work’. However, without it there is no VSAT service. Good ground services are crucial to our clients in terms of winning large contracts, and we are proud to be able to offer these types of services at such a high standard. We plan to extend our standardized VSAT ground services further East to the Asian region in the near future.”

Ground-breaking High Throughput Satellite with record 70 Gbps capacity to serve users across Europe and Mediterranean Basin.

Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat CEO, commented after successful completion of the first satellite manoeuvres: “We are delighted to confirm that our KA-SAT satellite is now on its way to 9° East, and thank ILS and Khrunichev for this new launch success. KA-SAT will be the cornerstone of a breakthrough infrastructure deployed by Eutelsat for users across Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. By combining a satellite equipped with more than 80 spotbeams and a network of ground stations, this new programme will deliver more capacity than any other satellite programme deployed worldwide. These new resources will in particular benefit Internet Service Providers, enabling them to extend broadband to consumers and enterprises in areas unserved by terrestrial networks. KA-SAT will also consolidate Eutelsat’s Professional Data Network activity, which generates 15% of our revenues, with solutions for enterprises and public administrations that drive down costs of terminals and bandwidth. The launch of KA-SAT is further evidence of the sustained commitment to investment and innovation that Eutelsat has successfully pursued, with the objective of increasing the contribution of satellites to a booming digital economy.”

Built for Eutelsat by Astrium using the Eurostar E3000 platform, KA-SAT ushers in a new generation of multi-spotbeam satellites. Its revolutionary concept is based on a payload with 82 narrow spotbeams connected to 10 ground stations. This configuration enables frequencies to be reused 20 times and takes total throughput beyond 70 Gbps. The ground network will use ViaSat’s SurfBeam® technology, similar to the solution already powering broadband connectivity for almost 450,000 satellite homes in North America. The combination of KA-SAT’s exceptional capacity and ViaSat’s SurfBeam® technology will make it possible to deliver Internet connectivity for more than one million homes, at speeds comparable to ADSL.

KA-SAT will in particular boost to up to 10 Mbps the speeds of Eutelsat’s Tooway^TM consumer broadband service, which has been operated since 2008 by its Skylogic affiliate. Tooway^TM satellite antennas equipped with dual feeds will be able to benefit from broadband connectivity via KA-SAT and broadcast services delivered by satellites located up to 10 degrees from Ka-SAT’s 9° East location. By driving down terminal and transmissions costs, KA-SAT will also lower the barrier to entry for VSAT services for connecting enterprises, providing back-up for private networks, facilitating emergency communications and for transport markets. With each spotbeam delivering total capacity of 900 Mbps, shared between the forward and return paths, significant new resources will also be opened for services needing high throughput and quality that include regional television, newsgathering and connecting local networks to the Internet backbone.

The deployment of the KA-SAT programme, both in space and on the ground, will be pursued with three key phases prior to full entry into commercial service. The first phase comprises circularising the satellite’s orbit, with four firings of the apogee motor over the coming seven days. Once the satellite is on station at 9° East, it will undergo a series of in-orbit tests. This will be followed by the final phase of integrated validation of the satellite and ground stations before commercial entry into service, which is planned for end May 2011.

“KA-SAT’s multi-spotbeam design, use of Ka-band frequencies and proven systems deployed in North America by our technology partner, ViaSat, will transform the volume of bandwidth available through a single satellite and the scope and economics for new services,” said Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat’s CEO. “With this pan-European infrastructure complementing our Ku-band resources that will be progressively expanded and modernised with six new satellites, Eutelsat is uniquely positioned to further push back the boundaries of satellite-delivered services across the markets we serve.”

BGAN, Global Network, Internet Satellite Global

atrexx, a leading solutions provider for the telecommunication and broadcast industries, is offering customers that activate new SIM cards the opportunity to purchase pre-paid BGAN vouchers at discounted rates until 31 December 2010. Inmarsat’s BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) is a mobile satellite service that allows subscribers to access Internet at broadband speed and to make phone calls at the same time at almost any location on the planet, using a terminal of less than a notebook PC size.

Discounts offered on exclusive BGAN prepay service

Especially beneficial for occasional users, the BGAN vouchers from atrexx are available with a discount of 10 percent for 250 traffic units and up to 20 percent for 5000 units. One traffic unit represents a one-minute call to a fixed network worldwide. atrexx will also waive the fee for service and SIM card activation during the promotional period.

 ”This offer is a great opportunity for new BGAN users. The option to buy pre-paid units is extremely popular, especially in regions like Africa where 99 percent of traditional land mobile communications is estimated to be on a pre-paid basis” said Miriam Zude, Account Manager at atrexx. “We are giving our customers the chance to use BGAN with no monthly fee but we can also offer them the option of topping up their pre-paid account online at $0.90 per unit using a credit card. After they have bought their units, they can then have peace of mind by monitoring the account online making it easy to manage.”

BGAN is a perfect communications choice for anyone that works or travels to regions where the communications infrastructure is lacking or non-existent. Another main attraction of the BGAN system is the fact that no specialist technical knowledge is required to deploy it and it can therefore be used by a huge range of user groups such as journalists, military personnel, aid workers, civil engineers and researchers to name a few.

Valid for 24 months after activation or after the last top-up, the atrexx prepaid service package provides voice applications with unique rates for terrestrial fixed networks and for cellular networks worldwide, broadband Internet access and SMS services. The SIM card may be used in any BGAN hardware.

Ms. Zude continued: “There are very few BGAN providers that offer a prepaid service and atrexx is proud to be one of those. We also offer customer BGAN equipment rental options at just $8.90 per day. This, coupled with the prepaid option, is the perfect choice for users who only need the equipment for a limited time. Prepay BGAN services give the customer flexibility and control over how much they spend at a time where budgets are constrained.”

 Growing markets

Global Xpress will address the established growing markets for VSAT services in the maritime, energy and government sectors, with further growth potential in developing markets such as the aeronautical sector.  Inmarsat will target US$500 million of annual Ka-band revenues five years after the global service is launched. Under a separate arrangement, Boeing has agreed to become a distribution partner for Inmarsat;s Ka-band and L-band services, and has committed to capacity purchases representing more than 10 per cent of Inmarsat’s target Ka-band revenues in the first five years after launch.

 Unparalleled speeds

Inmarsat estimates the total cost of the I-5s and Global Xpress will be US$1.2 billion over four and a half years, incorporating the fixed cost of the satellites, as well as the cost of additional ground network infrastructure, product development, launch services and insurance.

 Chairman and chief executive of Inmarsat Andrew Sukawaty said: “This is a new investment for growth. With the Global Xpress network, we will be the first operator to offer global broadband coverage, offering unparalleled speeds and bandwidth to customers in remote locations around the world.

 ”Global Xpress will be faster and less expensive than current Ku-band market offerings, it will be delivered to smaller and cheaper terminals and be the first offered on a seamless, global, end-to-end basis with high-quality of service. Picture 50Mpbs services to a ship or aircraft, and 10Mbps to an antenna the size of an iPad (20cm).

 ”The Inmarsat-5s will also complement our existing global L-band services, allowing us to offer unique hybrid packages using both networks, giving users unprecedented levels of resilience and reliability in remote and harsh environments.”

Certification of Management System according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 confirmed

atrexx announced the results of the recent external audit of its Quality Management System (QMS) according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2008. The Company had initially achieved certification of its QMS in 2008. This certification is vital for atrexx to deliver quantifiable and continuous quality of service as a supplier and service provider for international building corporations, governmental institutions, military units, NATO and UN forces, as well as aid organizations in Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle EastAt the recently held second supportive system evaluation, the audit team noted that atrexx’ QMS continued to conform to the rules and regulations of the DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 standard and recommended the maintenance of the certificate.

With regard to the outcome of the customer satisfaction survey, Dipl.-Ing. Axel Laux, independent auditor with DQS stated: “atrexx identifies customer expectations and incorporates them directly into the Company’s performance development. Feedback from customers is processed promptly, and applicable steps are followed up to implementation. A high level of customer satisfaction is the result.”

Indeed, atrexx’ customer satisfaction survey, conducted online, revealed that 85% of atrexx’ customers have an excellent or good overall impression of the Company. The competence of atrexx’ staff was rated 88% excellent or good; the respective rating for friendliness in relation with customers hit 96%. Overall, in all of the five assessed criteria, results were very encouraging.

Alfred Hommes, atrexx quality management officer, emphasized: “We are delighted with the excellent result of the customer survey. This is an incentive for us to further increase the quality of our products and services. In the past 12 months we have evaluated our processes for effectiveness and efficiency and investigated potential causes of errors, using leading analytical methods. Furthermore, we have refined the criteria for the standardized assessment of our suppliers.”

Auditor Axel Laux commented on the identified strengths of the QMS: “atrexx has planned and developed processes that are vital for effective implementation of product and service requirements. Measurable objectives are defined and followed up. These objectives are put in place to ensure continued improvement of the management system’s effectiveness. Senior Management has demonstrated a personal and high commitment to maintaining a quality culture within the organization and ensuring that the standards set are communicated to employees. Internal audits and management reviews ensure the effectiveness of the system.”

Based on the audit report, Alfred Hommes explained the potential for developing the QMS over the next 12 months: “In order to facilitate the tracking of the implementation of documented measures to improve the existing QMS, established in regularly held internal quality audits, we will add deadlines to these measures. The newly introduced methods for error analysis, such as the Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), will be merged into the appropriate method statement. All quality system procedures will be reviewed systematically and periodically to keep them up-to-date.”

“During the Haiti disaster-recovery effort, UN aid agencies, NGOs, the military, private sector and other disaster-response and development stakeholders identified key areas where closer co-ordination would improve future operations,” said David Hartshorn, Secretary General, GVF. “This Summit will explore how more effective co-ordination can be applied.” “From hurricanes to earthquakes, and from civil wars to terrorist attacks, ICT holds great potential to address disaster-response and development requirements,” said Sula Bruce, Project Director for the Aid & International Development Forum (AIDF). “This Summit will provide an important opportunity for all participants to discuss how to unlock that potential.”

The Summit will explore two areas:

State of the Art ICT Solutions
The current ICT default for first responders’ disaster-preparedness capability is similar among most disaster-preparedness stakeholder groups, having been pre-configured with a range of portable sets that include satellite phones, data terminals, and other tools. These approaches enable first responders to quickly deploy at the disaster site and establish communications back to their respective home organizations, with needs assessments and logistical information.

However, there is little in the way of local communications between those based in the disaster zone. Further, for the most part, disaster-response stakeholders often do not have an ICT approach that addresses the more robust on-the-ground collective solution that can also be transitioned into a medium and longer term infrastructure with scale capabilities – or that can eventually be transitioned into a permanent, locally-operated, commercial enterprise. The Summit will explore the extent to which NGOs, UN aid agencies, the private sector, the military, and other stakeholders are applying complementary approaches that can more effectively satisfy these requirements.

Forging Closer Stakeholder Collaboration
To promote adoption of ICT for disaster preparedness and development, closer coordination is needed amongst relevant stakeholder groups. There is a growing recognition that creating a common communications culture – increasing trust and setting a foundation for collaboration and information sharing – can be achieved without undermining either the neutrality of civilian international organizations, inter-governmental organizations, and NGOs or the need for the military to safeguard operational security information. Many stakeholders agree that the creation of a collaborative information environment can be achieved if multiple stakeholder groups are sensitive to one another’s concerns. Resources can be more closely coordinated not only for preparedness and first-responder efforts, but also for mid- and long-term reconstruction. These options increasingly include “leave-behind” infrastructure for local partners, whether they be private, governmental, or non-governmental agencies. Depending on local regulations and capability constraints, leave-behind infrastructure can be used to jump-start host-nation ICT infrastructure recovery and reconstruction and provide commercial opportunities to seed economic revitalization through ICT infrastructure development.

Coordination challenges span differences in culture, language, organization, training and education, doctrine, planning and analysis, and communications and information systems. Unfortunately, old business models and restrictive policies continue to be applied to support what have become highly dynamic, collaborative needs and requirements in complex operations. In spite of multiple “lessons learned” reports from past experiences, many of the same issues continue to confound the response community in each deployment. This open-forum dialogue aims to address that challenge.

All delegates will be welcome to participate in the Summit discussions and to identify means by which preparedness and development can be further advanced through closer coordination amongst key stakeholder groups.

“The growing global appetite for natural resources is rapidly driving mining concerns into emerging markets,” said Martin Creamer, Publisher of Creamer Media and Editor of Mining Weekly. “The need for cost-effective communications to support remote operations has never been greater. This agreement aims to strengthen understanding of how satellite and other complementary communications tools are being used to address critical mining challenges.”

“From workforce development and safety to remote monitoring and logistics, there are an increasing number of mining applications being addressed by satellite-enabled network solutions,” said David Hartshorn, Secretary General of GVF. “Through this agreement, Creamer Media and GVF intend to heighten awareness of innovative approaches that are producing positive results in the mining sector.”

Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly publication and MiningWeekly.com, which receives 43,000 unique visitors per week, will begin co-ordinating with GVF on industry news, event information, and special reports that reveal the impact of communications trends on each stage of the mining project life cycle, both for the majors and for the juniors.

The order comprises a variety of Comtech EF Data products, including the CDM-625 Advanced Satellite Modem, companion redundancy switches and the CSAT-5060 C-Band Transceivers. The award-winning CDM-625 Advanced Satellite Modem combines advanced technologies for maximum bandwidth efficiency under all conditions, including DoubleTalk(R) Carrier-in-Carrier(R) bandwidth compression, patented VersaFEC(R) low latency LDPC forward error correction with Adaptive Coding and Modulation, patent pending ultra low overhead streamline encapsulation, header compression and payload compression. The CSAT-5060 C-Band Transceivers provide flexibility, ease of installation and RF performance typically available only with independent, solid-state power amplifier and frequency converter topologies.

Also included in the order is the CX-U Series cellular backhaul platform from Comtech EF Data’s subsidiary, Memotec, Inc. Memotec’s CX-U Series is a dedicated cellular backhaul platform delivering Radio Access Network optimization and A/E voice trunks compression. The CX-U reduces the bandwidth required to backhaul cellular traffic, therefore avoiding costly forklift network upgrades. The result is a significant reduction in operating and capital expenses.

Fred Kornberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comtech Telecommunications Corp., said, “Given the CAPEX and OPEX savings our technologies deliver, mobile operators are able to make compelling business cases to replace legacy networks with Comtech equipment.”

This next event in the Series – the 9th Oil & Gas Communications Conference – which is to be held in Aberdeen on 12th & 13th May 2010, will include a live satellite-link demonstration, the introduction of a series of mini-panel dialogues on key – and contentious – issues in the oil & gas communications sphere, and an extended geographical scope to include subjects related to the communications imperatives of oil & gas exploration and production in the Arctic Basin.

As in previous years, Schlumberger will be the lead sponsor for the 2010 Aberdeen conference, with Eutelsat, Hermes Datacomms, and IPX International Systems also featuring as key sponsors. Additional companies will be joining the sponsor line-up in due course. Commenting on the event, Paul Khayat, Marketing Manager, Schlumberger Global Connectivity Services, said “the GVF Oil & Gas Communications event serves as a platform for dialogue between the VSAT and oil and gas communities. This event should be an exciting opportunity to stimulate communication between the two industries.”

Nicholas Daly, Regional Director, UK & Ireland, Eutelsat added “We are pleased to be supporting this event once again – it provides is an excellent opportunity to meet with our customers and at the same time gain current perspectives on industry initiatives and future trends, which in turn drives our product developments for our satellite communications business lines.”

Hermes Datacomms will contribute one of this year’s conference programme innovations, an outdoor demonstration of a truck-mounted, self-deploy, ‘flyaway’ VSAT, which will provide the link for the delivery of a conference presentation covering the topics of: auto-Deploy VSAT; meshed private TDMA networks; use of robust wireless video equipment for visual collaboration from field locations; voice and video prioritisation on saturated links; monitoring; and, out-of-band management. Referencing the significance of the demonstration, Gary Steer, Technical Director, said “People expect more and more from their VSAT systems, not only in demanding offshore locations but also onshore environments where it is difficult or impossible to rely on common forms of communication, such as North Africa, Central Asia and the developing markets of Iraq and Afghanistan. The forum gives us a chance to showcase the full range of solutions we offer, in a rapid deployment package, and we are looking forward to presenting an exciting real world demonstration”.

Martin Jarrold, Chief of International Programme Development with GVF, and Chairman of both the Oil & Gas Communications Conference Series and the Broadband Maritime Conference Series, commented, “The vertical market conference event momentum of the GVF/UK-EMP partnership continues to go from strength to strength, as illustrated by the many indications of support we have received for the introduction of the mini-panel dialogues on certain specific oil & gas communications topics on the Aberdeen agenda.”
Amongst these mini-panel dialogues will be discussion on:

21st Century Oil & Gas ICT Networking: Development & Deployment Dynamics which will pose such questions as:

Technology & Topology in Networking Communications and the Digital Application – Which is the chicken? Which is the Egg?

Commercial Applications in the Satellite Environment – What do developers need to know beyond their fibre frame of reference?

North Sea Oil & Gas Field Maturity – What does this mean for satellite-based application functionality and cost-effectiveness?

The North Sea Experience – What lessons for new oil & gas exploration and production frontiers?

Next Generation Applications in Oil & Gas – What does it mean for satellite technology?

Advancing E&P Horizons: Evolving the Satellite Networking Requirement to the Arctic Frontier will examine such issues as:

Satellite Operators & the High Polar Latitudes – What are the current limitations and future prospects?

Elliptical & Inclined – Will there be a realistic, new market-driven business model for growth beyond GEO?

LEOs – Where will the existing constellations fit into the Arctic communications landscape?

How will earth station/terminal/antenna manufacturers and vendors position themselves for this new and important, but niche, market?

Will the limited market size reduce opportunities for competitive equipment pricing through the absence of economies of scale?

How will existing stabilized and tracking antenna technologies be adapted and deployed for the new Arctic communications market?

The Aberdeen programme will also feature the following elements:

Leveraging Digital Oilfield Advantages in the Lower Latitudes of the North Sea

Current & Future Generations of Communications Infrastructure: Realizing Access to the Digital Oilfield in Higher Latitudes

Narrowband SCADA & Asset Tracking Data in a Broadband Satellite Oil & Gas Environment

GVF Satellite Installation New Training Dynamics for Oil & Gas Communications in the North Sea

First Mile… Last Mile… for Oil & Gas: Networking Solutions & Technology Hybrids

Real-Time Data Monitoring, Data Management Remote Collaboration & Operations Support Centres

The Design & Ergonomics of the Collaborative Visualization Environment

Europe’s Oil & Gas Patch in the Greater Oil & Gas World: Global VSAT & Local Wireless Connectivity

Maintaining the Business Mission Critical Link: Oil & Gas Communications When Disaster Strikes

Redundancy Maximization: Extending Out-of-band Control & Monitoring.

GVF Secretary General, David Hartshorn, added “Two important, and closely related, questions will be tackled in the Aberdeen programme. Firstly, how is the latest generation of cutting-edge communications solutions and digital oilfield/gasfield applications – with their genesis in the hostile offshore environment of the North Sea, and now with their current and continuing development taking place in the context of offshore exploration and production in South East Asia, West Africa, etc – now being re-applied to the context of the depleting reserves of the North Sea? Secondly, how might the ICT-related lessons of this North Sea-to-currently-emergent energy regions history now be applied to the totally new prospects offered by an increasingly ice-free Arctic Ocean?”

Mission critical operational success in the oil & gas exploration and production environment has been dependent on access to the most efficient information and communications technologies, and to the wealth of sophisticated applications these technologies bring to the disposal of the teams of geologists, geophysicists, drilling engineers, seismic data analysts, etc., who not only locate new oil & gas reserves but assist in developing more effective and efficient techniques for yielding them from beneath the ocean floor. Satellite, satellite-wireless hybrid, and wireless platforms, have made, and continue to make, a vital contribution to this ICT access, providing essential connectivity to vital applications in a range of challenging geographic environments.

Added Paul Stahl, Managing Partner of UK-EMP, “The role of satellite in oil & gas is well developed, but still has potential to evolve and expand. Therefore, the Aberdeen conference will explore this future evolution and expansion, not only with reference to the later stages of North Sea exploration and production, but with reference to the emergence of the fresh energy-yielding potential of the high northern latitudes.”

For further information regarding the GVF 3rd Annual Oil & Gas Communications Europe Conference: ‘Digital Applications & Communications Dynamics from the North Sea to the Arctic Ocean’ please contact Martin Jarrold at martin.jarrold@gvf.org or Paul Stahl at paul.stahl@uk-emp.co.uk or visit the conference web page at www.uk-emp.co.uk/3rd.O&G.Europe.2010/. Conference sponsorship options to support the Aberdeen programme are still available, and details of the various benefits packages are available by email from Paul Stahl.

Following the 3rd Annual Oil & Gas Communications Europe Conference the GVF/UK-EMP Broadband Maritime Series will continue with GVF Broadband Maritime Europe 2010: ‘Innovation in Communications Solutions for the Sea Lanes’ in London on 1st & 2nd June (http://www.uk-emp.co.uk/BMEu.Ldn.2010/). Whilst maintaining a focus on the key elements of maritime satellite communications that are common to all ocean regions and seaways, the conference will introduce regionally-unique topics and themes, such as the opening to year-round navigation of arctic seaways affected by climate change and melting polar sea ice. The programme will also feature embedded topics relating to networking communications and ICT applications solutions surrounding the deployment of naval logistical resources when engaged in collaboration with International Organisations, and Non-Governmental Organisations, for emergency response, and development, situations, etc. More detail on the themes of ‘Communications Systems in Naval Dynamics 2010′ will be advised in future press releases.