Page 64 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Data-Relay Satellite Beams at Light Speed

The most sophisticated laser communication network ever on 6 August 2019, EDRS-C is in geostationary orbit some 36
designed has gained its second satellite. The European Data Relay 000 kilometers above Earth. This geostationary position enables
System (EDRS) was built to accelerate the flow of information the communication satellite to maintain an almost constant
from Earth-observation satellites to people on the ground. The connection with Earth-observation satellites that are closer to the
second satellite in the network, EDRS-C, has now passed its user planet’s surface and circle the Earth every 90 minutes or so. The
commissioning review and entered into full service. Launched EDRS satellites use lasers to communicate with Earth-observation
satellites and beam their data back to Europe in almost real time.
Without them, there would be delays of up to 90 minutes. EDRS-C
has joined its sister satellite, EDRS-A, and can now be used by
its customers to relay information from all four Sentinel satellites
that watch over Earth, capturing day-and-night radar images
and multispectral high-resolution images of vegetation, soil and
water cover, inland waterways and coastal areas – as well as
information for emergency services. The Sentinel satellites form
part of the EU’s Copernicus program. EDRS is a new, independent
European satellite system, and is a Partnership Project between
ESA and operator Airbus as part of ESA’s efforts to federate
industry around large-scale programmes, stimulating technology
developments to achieve economic benefits. The EDRS-C
satellite platform was built by OHB System in Germany and the
laser terminals were developed by Tesat-Spacecom and the DLR
German Space Administration.

Inmarsat, CPN, MiniFarm Simplify LoRaWAN Satellite Connections

Inmarsat is working with CPN Satellite transmission over Inmarsat’s IDP service, proving to be hugely influential in enabling
Services and MinFarm Tech to simplify which Inmarsat said will enable additional effective remote operations across many
connecting Low Power Wide Area (LoRa) connectivity to IoT devices in remote different sectors, and we are continually
networks to satellite. The companies locations. Powered by a single 80 W solar focused on innovation with the objective
are launching the MF 400 IoT Satellite panel and with battery backup capacity of of making our services even better.
Bridge incorporating Inmarsat’s IsatData two to three days, the MF 400 IoT Satellite Backhauling LoRaWAN network data over
Pro (IDP) service. According to a release, Bridge uses protocol optimization to satellite utilizing the MF 400 IoT Satellite
the solution enables data from Internet forward sensor payload traffic over the Bridge is a major step forward in this
of Things (IoT) sensors operating on high-latency, non-IP packet data satellite regard,” commented Inmarsat President of
LoRaWAN networks to be optimized for services of the Inmarsat IDP. “IoT is already IoT, Enterprise, Tara Maclachlan.

Tuvalu Signs Satellite Deal with Kacific

The government of the Pacific island the agreement, Tuvalu – via the Ministry terminals; 60 VSAT terminals for schools,
nation of Tuvalu has signed a five- of Justice, Communication and Foreign medical clinics, government agencies and
year agreement with satellite operator Affairs – will take all available capacity small businesses; 40 outdoor Wi-Fi access
Kacific for the provision of nationwide – a total commitment of 150MHz – from points to support community connectivity;
connectivity, trunking, mobile backhaul, the dedicated high-throughput beam three maritime antennae to connect ferry
marine and back-up services. The Kacific has positioned over Tuvalu. services; and eleven Ka-band antennae to
bandwidth, supplied by the Kacific1 Under the agreement, Kacific will provide provide trunking and backhaul services for
satellite, will connect agencies, businesses a comprehensive turnkey service the mobile phone network.
and communities across Tuvalu’s nine comprising: 400Mbps to 600Mbps of
islands with high quality internet. Under satellite capacity depending on size of

64 AUGUST 2020