by Martin Jarrold
The SATELLITE 2023 in Washingotn, D.C. this month features two conference panel sessions brought to you by GVF. ‘How a Cell Tower in Space Connects to the Cell Phone in Your Pocket’ (Tuesday 14 March, 3:00-4:00 pm, room 146C) moderated by Secretary General David Meltzer, and ‘Why Your Business Needs Satellite IoT Services’ (Wednesday 15 March, 10:45-11:45 am, room 146 A/B) moderated by Brad Grady, Research Director with NSR. GVF is also exhibiting at booth #1657, along with our GVF Training partner, SatProf, Inc
Joining David Meltzer to discuss ‘How a Cell Tower in Space Connects to the Cell Phone in Your Pocket’ will be Christopher Boyd, Vice President of Product Management, Kratos; Whitney Lohmeyer, Faculty, Olin College of Engineering; Frank Patry, Chief Information Officer, Omnispace, LLC; Vagan Shakhgildian, President, Comtech Satellite Network Technologies Corporation; and, Tyghe Speidel, Co-founder & CTO, LYNK.
Despite significant advances in terrestrial network coverage, much of the world’s population remains out of range for mobile and internet access. While satellite phones have for some time offered an alternative, expensive hardware and costly service plans have been a barrier. Satellite systems have long complemented cellular/mobile communications in providing backhaul services, but now the emerging, practical realization of the cell/mobile tower in space concept has introduced a new communications paradigm, capturing the imagination of not only the broad telecommunications industry, but also that of a wider public familiar with such names as SpaceX/Starlink and Apple, and all at a time not long following the pandemic-delayed publication of the 3GPP Release 17 standard. Its identification of satellite Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) as a critical component for the world’s 5G networks is background to the excitement which has greeted the announcements of the launch of early-stage technologies to support satellite-to-device connectivity services. With NTN within the new 3GPP standard the objective is direct connectivity from satellites to smartphones for voice and data services, built on the seamless integration of NGSO constellations with terrestrial infrastructure.
Direct satellite-to-device technology is a transformative development, and in being translated into commercial reality brings the satellite services market to an inflexion point; entering into the mainstream and leveraging mass-market equipment production. It enhances MNOs access to new customer segments; it creates opportunity for satellite operators to secure connectivity for existing mobile customers when they roam beyond the range of terrestrial mobile signals; users can communicate directly with a satellite without the need for a terrestrial gateway.
This session will examine how direct space-to-cell connections work, examining solutions approaches to such issues as calculating the link budget from a satellite to a cellular/mobile phone, satellite spectrum sharing with terrestrial systems whilst avoiding interference, and allowing for the significant distance between orbit and devices on Earth.
For GVF’s second panel discussion on ‘Why Your Business Needs Satellite IoT Services’, Brad Grady will be joined by Jat Brainch, Chief Commercial & Digital Officer, Inmarsat Global; Jean-Philippe Gillet, Vice President & General Manager, Networks, Intelsat; Glenn Katz, Chief Commercial Officer, Telesat; Tim Last, Vice President & General Manager of IoT and Aviation, Iridium; and Jonny Spendlove, Senior Product Manager of Connectivity, John Deere. This panel will explore the benefits that satellites can provide in connecting b2b markets where rollout of 5G networks does not extend. For businesses located in areas not served by terrestrial networks, e.g., mining, farming, and energy, satcoms can provide vital links needed to connect employees and machines. Satellite IoT services save lives, time, and money for businesses running complex logistics, operating vehicle fleets, or managing mobile crews.
Away from the conference rooms and on the exhibition floor, GVF and its training partner, SatProf, Inc. can be visited at booth #1657. GVF’s training has a near two decades long history and in serving the technical training needs of some 27,000-plus students to date is recognized as the established global standard for satellite communications skills training and certifications. The training portfolio is based on realistic, online, interactive simulations of key skills covering operation, installation and maintenance of VSAT, marine, and mobile/SNG satellite terminals, in addition to general and specialized satcom theory.
As well as the well-established technical training portfolio, the booth personnel – joining David Meltzer from GVF will be Irina Petrov, Vice President for Marketing & Membership, and from SatProf, Ralph Brooker (President) and Greg Selzer (Vice President, Operations & Business Development) – will be available to answer questions about the latest training initiative from GVF and SatProf, and their partner, SSPI. Based on a combined 80 years of experience in space and satellite, and observing that the satellite industry is undergoing a uniquely fast ramp-up in human resource recruitment fueled by rapid innovation which is in turn powered by high levels of investment, rising pressure on available RF spectrum and falling cost of access to space.
The requirements of accelerated growth in the industry’s employment needs and changes in employment patterns were the challenges that the Space Business Qualified certification program was designed to meet. Traditionally, requisite skills and knowledge are acquired via on-the-job experience and/or in graduate programs. Whilst still of value these routes are slow and costly, whereas SBQ saves hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars with an online learning and certification program of online courses, taught through a mix of self-paced, interactive tutorials, videos, illustrations, and testing to validate understanding and reinforce learning, increasing the effectiveness of people working in every discipline, and enhances their ability to rise in their profession.
Delivered through efficient, effective self-paced learning SBQ offers a 360-degree view of the industry and the wide range of activities needed to successfully operate in a space-based business:
• People entering the industry will quickly gain a comprehensive understanding to accelerate their success, whether in finding a job or taking on new assignments.
• Long-time employees moving into new fields will fill gaps in their knowledge and be better able to apply experience to challenges in greater responsibilities.
• Employers will more effectively onboard new personnel and improve employee retention.
• Students specializing in a particular engineering, science, legal or regulatory disciplines will gain a broader grasp of the industry.
Space & satellite is a complex business at the intersection of technology, communications, surveillance, government and commercial markets and SBQ puts it into perspective:
• For engineering and technical staff, SBQ prepares them for transition to sales engineering or management positions.
• For people in sales, marketing and business development, SBQ gives new staff an understanding of industry capabilities, regulatory constraints and emerging opportunities.
• For finance, insurance, and legal staff, SBQ offers context on business models, customer needs, technologies, and regulatory matters.
• For employees in procurement, logistics and regulatory compliance, SBQ provides the background needed to turn an engineer’s request for purchase of a particular component into a disciplined procurement process.
• For staff on the management track, SBQ provides a view of the industry that enhances their ability to evaluate opportunities, identify potential partnerships, determine strategy and execute plans.
• For new graduates, SBQ is a convenient, low-cost program – and a valuable credential – that eases entry into the space and satellite industry.
Corollary to this column is a new editorial feature from GVF/SatProf/SSPI (see the sidebar). In each issue this feature will provide some brief analytical insights, identified by GVF and Lou Zacharilla at SSPI, to promote understanding of the business of space today, which follows:
Mastering the Business of Space
The Space Business Qualified (SBQ) portfolio currently features Fundamentals Courses providing a thorough grounding in getting into space, achieving orbit, spacecraft design, space communications and the business of space. Content is on the concept and business level rather than depending on in-depth knowledge of mathematics, physics or engineering, because it aims to equip students for success in the business of space and satellite. For a free audit of the courses visit https://www.spacebq.org/take-course.
Statistics tell the story behind the demand for SBQ:
Employment in the core U.S. space industry is at 10-year high – 18.4% increase over 2016-2020 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
U.S. private space sector employee average pay is US$125,214 over double the average for all U.S. private-sector jobs (US$62,247) & 27.3% more than the average salary of US$98,340 for STEM occupations
The Center for American Progress – Staff turnover costs U.S. organizations 16-213% of the lost employee’s salary
SHRM and Globoforce – Employee retention is the most significant concern for almost half of HR leaders
LinkedIn Talent Solutions – Companies rated highly on employee training saw 53% lower attrition
Online training is preferred as more people work from home
2021 statistics from a provider of compliance-based training courses and resources includes (‘39 Statistics that Prove the Value of Employee Training’, lorman.com)
-89% of employees want training available anywhere, anytime
-93% of employees want easy-to-complete training
-76% of employees believe their companies should provide more digital skills training
-44% said their employers currently do so
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Martin Jarrold is Vice-President of International Program Development of GVF. He can be reached at: martin.jarold@gvf.org
