Page 91 - SAMENA Trends - October 2019

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Russia Embraces New Satellite Tech for the Digital Economy

Moving into a digital economy with
satellite at the forefront was one of the
key themes to come out of SatComRus
2019, which was held in Saint Petersburg.
One of the morning speakers was Igor
Chursin, Deputy Head of Russia’s Federal
Communications Agency, who gave the
Russian government perspective on
the changing environment for satellite
communications in Russia. Chursin said
Russia stood at the threshold of digital
convergence and a digital economy. He
called it a “top priority” for the government
and said the development of satellite
communications in IT infrastructure was
seen as “very important.” He set out plans revenues from international market, rather of satellites being provided faster and
to improve satellite communications than the domestic market, which is a major cheaper, there is no miracle. If you try to
throughout Russia. “We have developed change. The company, which provides create a cheaper Ferrari, it will ultimately
the business plan for highly elliptical more than 60 percent of TV broadcasting in become more expensive than creating a
satellites. So, in the next year, we will start Russia, has been aggressively growing its normal Ferrari. Of course, all manufacturers
producing and building satellites for highly international base. The company’s highly want to have reconfigurable satellites,” he
elliptical orbits to be launched in 2023. elliptical satellite plans will be funded by said. Vincent Guermonprez, Telecom Sales
We will not achieve high throughput in the government. “We have an opportunity Director of Russia and North America,
places such as the Arctic Circle without to provide good communications to any Airbus Defense and Space, spoke of the
these kinds of satellites. In five years, the moving object,” he said. Interestingly, trends from a manufacturing point of view.
sunrise will start in the Antarctic (new the way RSCC is talking to suppliers is He added, “Digitalization is not only for
services via satellite). We see high quality changing. “Normally, (when we go to the product but for the industrial process.
communication needs to be provided. meetings with satellite manufacturers) I don’t know if it will be a Ferrari, but we
We are seeing the growth of high-tech we described our vision of the future, but will offer cheap, quick products to get to
communications. Old technologies are in the last meeting with Thales, the theme market. We have presented these new
gradually leaving the scene.” Chursin added of the meeting was reversed, we asked products to RSCC. We hope what we are
that over the next four years, connection to Thales their vision of the future,” said thinking will be useful for a lot of operators
moving objects and broadband access will Prokhorov. However, while the operator tomorrow.” Nicolas Tenaud, Sales Director
see a lot of growth. “We are on the verge of has plans to develop highly elliptical orbits, Russia and CIS, Thales Alenia Space, also
a technological revolution as we move all Geostationary Orbit (GEO) will remain spoke of the need for more flexibility and
the way to 5G. We have things like Artificial fundamental to its business plans with highlighted Thales Alenia Space’s recent
Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR). Prokhorov admitting that RSCC plans to launch of Space Inspire product range of
I am sure satellite communications will commission 12 new spacecraft over the mid-sized satellites as a way of getting
find an important place in the future.” next 10 years in GEO. In terms of the 5G more business from the likes of RSCC going
However, while this was positive, Chursin opportunity for RSCC, Prokhorov added, forward. With 5G on the horizon, speakers
also struck a cautionary note adding that “5G will be the standard for Internet of tackled the future video market in Russia.
the government was not seeing enough Things (IoT). For satellite communications, Nikolay Orlov, Tricolor, one of Russia’s
breakthroughs in terms of costs of user the creation of new standards is important main pay-TV providers, admitted that that
equipment. “The satellite communications around 5G. The possibility of providing the modern world of communications and
industry will be on the rise over the next broadband access and delivery of media media consumption is changing before our
seven years. We believe the market will content are great products (for us).” Given eyes. He added, “A decision was arrived
change dramatically. Operators such as that a lot of SatComRus was tackling the that an ecosystem should be put in place,
RSCC and Gazprom are in the front line question of Russia’s satellite future, some and the user should be able to receive
of advances in the industry. 5G is making were predicting that the move to small as many possible services from us. We
inroads into the system with lots of satellites many not happen as quickly as are losing ground to terrestrial operators
debates surrounding it, particularly with some think. Nikolay Testoedov, Director because we cannot provide access to
the allocation of frequencies.” One of the General, ISS Reshetnev Company wasn’t the internet. Our ecosystem will definitely
other main speakers was Yuri Prokhorov, so sure that small satellites would be the develop (as we look to cater to different
director general of RSCC. Significantly, next big thing. He said, “GEO satellites are customer needs).”
RSCC now generates over half of its in a difficult situation. However, in terms

91 OCTOBER 2019