As I write this column on a sunny Saturday afternoon in late-May in the south of the UK I reflect that, just as I approach the 20th anniversay of my joining GVF, it’s still going to be some time until my GVF duties will require me to take a flight departing from London Gatwick, my nearest international airport, or London Heathrow, some one-hour away by motorway. As the impact of the pandemic in many parts of the world not only continues but becomes yet more serious, some parts of the UK are affected by the Covid-19 strain offically designated B.1.617.2, and commonly known as the “Indian variant”. Also, as I write, I am eagerly anticipating the second of my Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccinations…This, at least, will be a step in the right direction, though the watch word will remain one of caution.
Indeed, this caution has been illustrated in the news of the past week or so with yet further adjustments to the calendar of forthcoming industry events. One major European event now having being pushed from its usual September schedule to December 2021; and, Asia’s major show, until just recently known as ConnecTechAsia, going entirely virtual over the period 14-16 July as Asia Tech X Singapore 2021 (https://gvf.org/event/asia-tech-x-singapore/) bringing BroadcastAsia, CommunicAsia and SatelliteAsia to a new online platform presence with streaming live content and online networking.
As GVF and Satellite Evolution Group (SEG) continues its webinar series – so far capturing the attention of now well over 11,000 live and archived recording views – with such recent and current titles and themes as Partnerships for Connectivity Enable a Brighter Tomorrow in Africa; Connectivity in Latin America: The Satellite Solution; Satellite Solutions for Enterprises in EMEA; and, Antennas in the Goldilocks Zone, we will also be preparing our content for the Asia Tech X Singapore 2021 virtual program.
GVF’s day, or rather afternoon, in Singapore is on 14 July, between 2:00 and 5:00 pm when we will feature three webinars – [1] Bridging the Divide: Enabling Affordable Business & Community Digital Connectivity; [2] Natural Disasters: Preparation & Response via Satellite; and, [3] Planes, Trains, Automobiles & Ships: Satcoms-on-the-Move.
Bridging the Divide: Enabling Affordable Business and Community Digital Connectivity
The Digital Divide is the product of many factors but two are of great significance: 1. Connectivity; and 2. Affordability. Once characterized as primarily a developing world issue for low- and middle-income, the COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the degree to which access to affordable broadband is also a need felt by people in other, wealthier and better infrastructurally developed, countries.
Satellite has long been correctly seen a means of solving the “connectivity” problem as satellite can be deployed anywhere, and its coverage is ubiquitous. The emergence of High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) technology has already changed the capabilities of the satellite industry, transforming the economics of satellite-based connectivity, and thereby addressing the “affordability” problem. Further radical change has come with expansion of more powerful HTS coverage across the globe, with increased capabilities in existing MEO satellite systems and with the new wave of LEO mega-constellations. However, orbiting infrastructure is only part of the solution. We must consider the ground segment: the satellite terminal, or Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), and its affordability for both consumer-oriented solutions and business focused solutions. By the very definition of discussing the digital divide, satellite will continue to serve wherever broadband networks are needed to change the underserved into the well-served. There are many fundamental questions to be answered during the panel discussion, and just some of these questions are:
• ‘What are the principal barriers to serving those on the wrong side of any digital divide?’
• ‘How exactly is satellite now fulfilling the urgent need to bridge the digital divide?’
• ‘What is the ongoing role of Universal Service Funds?’
• ‘What is the role of satellite Community Wi-Fi in providing broadband internet access?’
• ‘For how much longer will we still be discussing the search for affordable solutions to the digital divide?’
Natural Disasters: Preparation & Response via Satellite
Disaster response has taken on a new connotation since the word “pandemic” has become more familiar to us all, and whilst disasters of various types are rarely out of the news, the current pandemic has brought into even finer focus the critical role of satellite following catasphrophic events. While COVID-19 continues, other disasters do not stop. Typhoons continue to destroy coastal areas, earthquakes continue to devastate communities, and wildfires destroy homes and businesses. Many disasters – both natural and man-made – destroy infrastructure which includes the telecommunications infrastructure upon which disaster response and recovery greatly depend. Most tragically, disasters like COVID-19 continue to kill people with those most vulnerable often disproportionately impacted.
When disasters strike and telecommunications infrastructure is destroyed or taxed by increase needs arising from the disaster, satellite communications networks are vital tools in the arsenal of the first responder. Whether it be a new satellite-enabled network to assist responders, or an expanded network to meet increased needs for tele-health and distance education as arose following the pandemic, communications satellites provide ubiquitous and robust services to responders. However, the ability of satellites circling hundreds or thousands of kilometers above the disaster zone to provide life-saving assistance is only made possible by the existence of satellite communications terminals which are lightweight, rugged, easy to operate, and affordable for the humanitarian sector.
This combination of ground and space segment capabilities means that satellite provides quickly available, quickly deployable, rugged, self-contained, in-field, user-friendly global communications links for disaster-affected regions. This panel will explore the role played by communications satellites following disasters and the often-under-appreciated role played by satellite networks in preparing for disasters.
Planes, Trains, Automobiles & Ships: Satcoms-on-the-Move
Consumers expect no limitation on exactly where to get access to the Internet – including in planes, trains, automobiles, and ships. Satcoms-on-the-Move, or SOTM, fulfils these expectations.
• In aircraft, passengers want high-speed, uninterrupted Wi-Fi capable of supporting streaming movies, social media and messaging, and bandwidth hungry work applications. Airlines want a robust platform to launch innovative connected services, including lucrative ancillary revenue generators, and broadband connectivity to the cockpit. SOTM terminals, or Earth stations in motion (ESIMs), provide broadband connectivity solutions.
• High-speed rail networks are an expanding potential market for internet connectivity, and rail travellers’ demand for always-on connectivity is particularly high where cellular connectivity solutions are absent. Through rural/remote areas without terrestrial networks coverage, or where there is coverage high-speed trains move between cellular base stations faster than networks can handle location transitions, the solution is satellite communications based on low-profile, high gain antennas and network utilization optimisation to overcome satellite delay and enable signal reacquisition when exiting tunnels.
• The modern automobile is a sensor-laden mobile IoT device, with considerable on-board computing power and communication systems. All of these systems use cellular technology, amongst others. With growth of 5G-connected IoT solutions in the automotive space, the automotive industry will be a major market opportunity for 5G IoT solutions, solutions that we know will have a degree of satellite network inter-dependency for which the satellite industry is quickly gearing up.
• Ship owners and operators are increasingly embracing digitalization, enhancing use of information and operational technology, and of satellite as the broadband connectivity enabling technology. Satellite’s role at the core of maritime safety has been established for over 40 years. Satellite is also at the core of crew welfare, more so now with pandemic disruption necessitating fast, reliable and secure connectivity between ships and shore. For the cruise industry, passengers expecting connectivity throughout their cruise have their expectations met by satellites.
This session will explore a wide scope, reflecting the potential exponential growth of a new era in satellite communications where the emphasis is on unrestricted mobility over transportation networks whilst the user migrates around the digital world.
I anticipate moderating at least one of these July sessions… So see you then on Zoom or a similar platform, or perhaps before that in the GVF Zoom slot on 8 June for the Satellite Solutions for Enterprises in EMEA Roundtable and on 24 June for the Antennas in the Goldilocks Zone event. For all of the GVF-SEG online events (webinars, Roundtables and Spotlight sessions) during the months ahead you can keep up to date with the schedule by regularly visiting https://gvf.org/webinars/. Meanwhile, wherever you are while reading these words…
Keep well, stay safe.
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Martin Jarrold is Vice-President of International Program Development of GVF. He can be reached at: martin.jarold@gvf.org
