Course Overview
Satellites have become a crucial part of the modern telecommunications infrastructure. They play an increasing role alongside terrestrial networks to provide broadband services to end-users and are increasingly being used as backhaul links inside data centers. With continued technology advancement and falling launch costs, space is emerging as a key option for operators seeking to provide high-capacity services at affordable prices.
This course will help you understand the increasing role that satellites play alongside terrestrial networks in supporting 4G/5G communications. It will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to plan, design and optimize satellite networks for mobile backhaul or provide wireless access to subscribers over a large area, sometimes entire countries.
The basics of satellite communications will first be covered for foundational understanding of satellite systems, followed by a discussion on frequency bands, LEO, MEO and GEO satellites, typical examples of satellite use cases for 5G, as well as the 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.
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
Course Objectives
This course aims to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to plan, design, and optimize satellite networks for 4G/5G. At the end of the course, participants will learn the following:
- Fundamentals of satellite communications with reference to mobile communications
- Satellite use cases for 4G/5G
- Satellite benefits that can be exploited for 4G/5G
- Internet of Things (IoT), cloud-based models, remote-controlled vehicles, and other applications of 4G/5G that can exploit LEO satellites
- Link power budget for 4G/5G applications
- Technical and regulatory challenges
Duration & Training Format
[Classroom: 3 days / LIVE Virtual*: 21 hours]
- 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 Outline
1. 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
2. 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
3. VSAT Applications: PDH, SDH, DVB and Ethernet
- Evolution of DVB Standards
- Interfaces on Satellite Modem
- PDH vs SDH
- TDM vs Ethernet Interfaces
- OAM
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 5G and 3GPP Releases for Satellite
- Role of 3GPP
- 3GPP Partners
- Specification Groups
- Standardization Process
- Prominent Releases
- Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)
- Cellular Backhaul via Satellites
- Releases 17 and 18
8. ITU Regulations and Spectrum Management
- International Spectrum Management
- ITU’s Contribution: Coordination and Harmonization
- International Allocation of Radio Frequencies
- Managing Cooperative Access
- Jurisdiction, Frequency Assignments, and Milestones
- Coordinating the Space Ecosystem
- Economic Aspects of Spectrum Management
- Methods for determining National Long-term Strategies for Spectrum Utilization
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 4G/5G
- Some background in wireless would be preferred
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