Advanced Satellite Communications

Teacher

Erica Lee

Category:

Satellite Communications

Course Overview

This course aims to equip professionals with the advanced knowledge and skills required to plan, design, and optimize satellite networks. It is designed for professionals who possess a working knowledge of satellite communications (SATCOM) and who desire to deepen their knowledge in network planning and satellite use cases.

Participants will first be brought through a recap of SATCOM basics, and thereafter delve into advanced topics like link power budget, propagation delays, free space loss, satellite use cases for 5G, and more. Participants will also learn how to ensure security in satellite systems and how to leverage satellite services to increase network efficiency through more efficient use of bandwidth.

During the course, live demonstrations on satellite radio link planning will be conducted for participants to get hands-on experience on the tools and techniques used in SATCOM.

Target Audience

3G/4G/5G mobile network operators
Broadcasting companies that utilize satellite links
Telecommunications companies (PTTs, carriers)
Satellite operators
Internet service providers
IT & system integration companies
Multinational companies that rely on satellites

Duration & Training Format

Instructor-led Training

Classroom: 5 days
LIVE Virtual*: 35 hours

*Note:

A minimum of 6 or more participants are required to commence a company-based LIVE Virtual course
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

30 Oct – 3 Nov 2023 (Mon – Fri), GMT +08:00
4 – 8 Dec 2023 (Mon – Fri) [Classroom Training in Fiji]
29 Jan – 2 Feb 2024 (Mon – Fri), GMT +08:00

If you are keen on attending any of the above scheduled courses, please register your interest via our course enquiry form.

Course Objectives

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of SATCOM, including frequency spectrum and satellite bands
Analyze and evaluate satellite use cases for 3G/4G/5G
Conduct satellite radio link planning using SatMaster Pro
Apply knowledge of various parameters considered in satellite link design to optimize SATCOM systems
Identify and mitigate the impact of free space loss and atmospheric impairments on SATCOM
Evaluate cybersecurity challenges related to the satellite industry and implement appropriate measures to mitigate them
Apply knowledge of VSAT applications from legacy to modern systems
Demonstrate expertise in the VSAT procurement cycle, including RFP/RFQ/RFI and SLAs
Implement VoIP and IPLC over Satellite for efficient communication
Deliver carrier ethernet services over satellite to improve network performance
Utilize satellites in position, timing, and navigation systems

Course Outline

Recap of SATCOM Fundamentals

Characteristics of LEO, MEO, GEO Satellites and their Pros and Cons
Satellite Frequency Bands and their Pros and Cons
Multiplex Schemes: FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, SCPC, MCPC, etc.
Linear and Circular Polarization
Satellite Beams: Global, Regional, Spot Beams, Steerable Beams
EIRP and G/T
Link Planning: Transmit Power, Antenna Gains, Free Space Loss, Receive Power, etc.
Transponder: Carriers, Channel Assignments, Bent Pipe, Regenerative Type

System Design and Engineering

Link Path Calculations
Link Budget Parameters
Isotropic vs Directional Antenna
Design Calculations for Antenna Gain and Beamwidth
Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) and Power Flux Density (PFD)
Solar Outrage Calculations
Atmospheric Attenuation

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

VSAT Applications – PDH, SDH, DVB and Ethernet

Evolution of DVB Standards
Interfaces on Satellite Modem
Legacy Interfaces: PDH and SDH
TDM vs Ethernet Interfaces
OAM
Mobile Backhaul
Satellite News Gathering

5. Additional Link Planning Exercises

More Case Studies
Computation of Look Angles
Bent Pipe vs Advanced Transponder
Analysis of Design Output Results
Optimization of Design
Examples and Exercises

6. Security in Space

Increasingly Sophisticated Threats
Cybersecurity for tomorrow’s Space Industry
Satellite Industry Leadership in Cybersecurity Collaboration
ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Agenda
Core Principles for Cybersecurity
Major Security Issues
Classification of the Major Scientific Contributions dealing with Security in SATCOM
Integration of NTN with TN and New Security Environment
Security Challenges in Space and Ground Segments
IPSec Architecture
Potential Security Solutions
Security Key Management

7. VSAT Equipment and Bandwidth Procurement

SATCOM Market Structure and Ecosystem
Defining the Needs
Procuring End-to-end vs Component Services
Technical Considerations
Shared Vs Committed Bandwidth
Bursting Capacity
Selecting a Partner Provider
RFP, RFQ, RFI
Evaluating Proposals
Signing the SLA

8. Carrier Ethernet Overview

Role of MEF, ITU and IEEE
Standardized Services
Services Operations, Administration and Management (SOAM)
Reliability
Point to Point and Multipoint Services in SATCOM
Quality of Service and Class of Service
Performance Management

9. Satellite Solutions for 4G/5G

Satellite Benefits for 5G
Bandwidth and Latency Requirements of 5G Use Cases
5G Use Cases: eMBB, uRLLC, mMTC
Technical and Standardization Issues

10. VoIP and IPLC Over Satellite

Characteristics of VoIP
Challenges of VoIP over Satellite
QoS and Traffic Prioritization
Comparison Techniques
Bandwidth Requirement
Bit Rate Calculations
Transponder Management
VoIP Protocols
International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC)
International Ethernet Private Line (IEPL)
Features of IPLC and IEPL
VPN Via Satellite
Satellite E-Line and EVPL

11. Transponder Bandwidth Calculations

Transponder Bandwidth Equilvalent
Bandwidth-Limited vs Power-Limited
Factors that affect Bandwidth and Power
Relationship of Modulation, FEC, and BER
Symbol Rate and Roll Off Factor

12. Navigation Systems and Synchronization

GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, etc.
GNSS-1 vs GNSS-2
Global Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems
Comparison of Systems
GPS Frequencies and Orbits
Positioning, Navigation and Timing
Network Synchronization in Communication Networks
Clock Stratum
Translation of Time from GPS
GPS Signal Concerns and Security Issues
NTP vs PTP (IEEE 1588 v2)

Note: A Certificate of Completion will only be issued upon achieving at least 75% attendance for the course.

Pre-requisites

Participants must have completed the ‘An Overview of Satellite Communications‘ course before taking this course. This course assumes and builds on participants’ foundational understanding of SATCOM.