Advanced Satellite Communications

Course Overview
The following course is designed for professionals who possess a working knowledge of satellite communications and desire to acquire greater knowledge in the areas of Network Planning, satellite use cases, and technical and regulatory challenges.
The course will provide a comprehensive explanation of satellite communications, frequency bands, LEO, MEO and GEO satellites, followed by typical examples of satellite use cases for 5G and technical and regulatory challenges that need to be resolved before satellites can be used for 5G. Participants will also be exposed to advanced topics like link power budget, propagation delays, free space loss, multiple access techniques, small satellite business cases, regulatory challenges, and more.
During the course, the trainer will also conduct live demonstrations on satellite radio link planning so that the participants can get hands-on experience on the tools and techniques used in satellite communications.
Target Audience
- 3G/4G/5G Mobile Network Operators
- Broadcasting Companies that utilize satellite links
- Telecommunications companies (PTTs, Carriers)
- Satellite operators
- Internet Service Providers
- IT and System Integration Companies
- Multinational companies that rely on satellites
Duration & Training Format
- Classroom: 4 days
- LIVE Virtual*: 25 hours
*Note:
- A minimum of 6 or more participants are required for a company-based LIVE Virtual course to commence
- LIVE Virtual courses can be conducted for 5 hours or 7 hours daily. Please note that the number of training days will be extended if you opt for 5 hours daily.
Upcoming Course Dates
Course Objectives
This course aims to impart participants with the advanced knowledge and skills required to plan, design, and optimize satellite networks. At the end of the course, participants will learn the following:
- Fundamentals of satellite communications, earth stations and VSATs
- Frequency spectrum and satellite bands
- Satellite use cases for 3G/4G/5G
- Satellite radio link planning
- Internet of Things (IoT), cloud-based models, remote-controlled vehicles, and other applications of 5G that can exploit LEO satellites
- Orbital mechanics, ground operations, space operations, etc.
- Technical and regulatory challenges
- Multiple access techniques
- Free space loss and atmospheric impairments
- Antenna design and its impact on beam shaping and coverage area
- Analysis of GEO operators (Intelsat, SES, etc.), and LEO/MEO Operators (Iridium, SpaceX, One Web, etc.)
Course Outline
- Satellite Communications Fundamentals
- Transmission Equation
- Advantages of Satellites
- Disadvantages of Satellites
- Types of Satellites
- Types of Orbits
- LEO vs MEO vs GEO
- Satellite Launching
- Satellite Subsystems
- Basic Terminology: Inroute vs Outroute, Uplink vs Downlink
- Satellite Transponder
- Spot Beams
- Satellite Footprints EIRP
- Beam Shaping
- Polarization
- Modulation
- Frequency Bands
- Examples
- Link Budget
- Rain Margin
- Coverage Angle and Area
- VSAT Components
- ODU vs IDU
- Uplink and Downlink Chains
- LNB and BUC
- Noise Figure
- Feed Horn
- Examples of LEO and GEO Satellites
- Global, Wide and Narrow Spot Beams
- Astronomical and Navigation Satellites
- Reconnaissance and Weather Satellites
- Communication Satellites
- Fixed Service Satellites
- Mobile Service Satellites
- Direct Broadcast Satellites
- Satellite Phone, Radio and TV
- Star and Mesh Topology
- Link Budget Calculations
- Installing Satellite Dish
- Modulation and Multiple Access
- Need for Modulation
- ASK, FSK and PSK
- QAM, APSK and M-PSK: 8QAM, 16QAM, 32QAM, 64QAM, etc
- Multiple Access Systems: FDMA, TDMA, CDMA
- DAMA, SCPC, MCPC
- Forward Error Correction (FEC)
- Adaptive Coding Modulation
- Block Codes, Convolutional Codes
- Typical FEC Rates
- MODCODs Variation with Environment
- Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
- Spectral Efficiency
- Security Issues and Performance Monitoring in Satellite Communication Networks
- Security Key Features
- Major Security Issues: Scanning, Spoofing, Jamming, Mis-Provisioning, DDoS Attacks
- TCP and Security Protocols
- TCP Acceleration and Performance Enhancing Proxies
- Major KPIs
- Radio Layer Parameters
- Link Layer Parameters
- Network Layer Parameters
- Capacity Parameters
- Service Parameters
- Satellite Radio Link Planning Workshop
- Software Tool
- Design Parameters
- Link Budget Design
- Case Study: Detail Design via Software
- Antenna Gain and Beamwidth
- Factors Affecting Antenna Gain
- Calculating Antenna Gain and Beamwidth via Software
- Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP)
- Path Loss Calculations
- Look Angles: Elevation and Azimuth Angle
- Transponder: Antenna, LNA, BPF, Down-Converter, HPA
- Adjacent Channel Interference
- Input and Output Back Off
- Uplink Power Control (UPC)
- LNB Noise Figure
- Designing via Software: Uplink/Downlink, ASI, Rain Model, Satellite, and Carrier-related Parameters
- Figure of Merit (G/T) and Energy per Bit (Eb/No)
- Transponder Types
- ITU Rain Regions
- FEC Code Rate, Carrier Spacing, Roll-off Factor, Implementation Loss
- Generating Final Report/Design
- More Design Exercises
- Orbital Math: Gravitation vs Centripetal Force
- Calculating Geosynchronous Radius
- Calculating Geosynchronous Velocity
- More Exercises
- Satellite Regulations: Case Study
- Why Regulate?
- Artificial Satellite Collisions
- Role of ITU, OFCOM and UK Space Agency
- ITU Structure
- Role of ITU-R
- Radio Regulations
- UN Outer Space Treaties
- ITU Constitution
- ITU-R Processes
- Satellite Interference
- ITU Regions
- Master International Frequency Register (MIFR)
- US Frequency Spectrum
- UK Frequency Allocation Table (FAT)
- Radio Regulation Mechanisms – Control of Interference
- Small and Nano-Satellites
- World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC)
- Satellite Filings
- Licensing of a Satellite Earth Station
- Case Study: A study into an Operator’s Transformation of VSAT Network
- Fiji Islands – Geography
- Fiji – Telecom Statistics
- Transmission Layout
- VSAT Network
- Telecom Operators in Fiji
- Earth Station and Satellite Beam
- VSAT Remote Setup
- Transformation Journey
- Project Challenges
- Benefits
- Learnings
- Mobile Wireless Technologies and Satellite Solutions for 5G
- 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G
- Comparison of Mobile Generations
- Evolution of Mobile Generations
- 3GPP Release Timeline
- Satellite Mobile Backhaul
- Traditional Backhaul Technologies
- Role of Satellites in 5G
- ROI Case Study and TCO Comparison
- 5G Standardization Process
- IMT-2020 High Level Vision
- Satellite Mobile Backhaul
- Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Backhaul Traffic
- 5G Roll Outs – Global
- Types of Satellite Backhaul
- Satellite Benefits for 5G
- Role of High Throughput Satellites (HTS) in 5G
- Bandwidth and Latency Requirements for 5G Use Cases
- 5G Use Cases: eMBB, mMTC, URLLC
- Technical and Standardization Issues
- Emerging Trends in the Satellite Industry
- Beam Hopping
- Docking
- StarLink and OneWeb
- Hubble and James Webb Space Telescope
- Second Gen Galileo Navigation Satellites
- Anti-Satellite (ASAT) and Direct Ascent Anti- Satellite (DA-ASAT) Technologies
- Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD)
- Next-generation Interceptor
- Project Kuiper – $10 Billion Venture
Note: A Certificate of Completion will only be issued upon achieving at least 75% attendance for the course.
Pre-requisites
- Participants should have a basic understanding of Telecommunications and some knowledge of satellite communications and 5G.
- Some background in wireless technologies would be beneficial too.