Description
By 2020 and beyond, new satellite communication networks will serve increasingly bandwidth-intensive applications in the area of security (security supported by satellite networks). The demand of the users is also evolving towards a more secure infrastructure (security of satellite networks). Beyond the procurement of dedicated ad hoc infrastructures for critical and strategic communication links, the U.S. government is a customer of importance for commercial satellite operators, with several hundreds of millions of USD of transponder capacity leased each and every year. This acknowledged dependence of the U.S. government on commercial SATCOM leads this administration to require impose improved network security from all commercial SATCOM operators, including European ones, both in space and ground. A number of European governmental users will progressively become more and more dependent on commercial and governmental satellite communication assets, be they operated by European or non European actors; while some civil and military technologies - both on ground (terminals) and space (TT&C encryption) segments - are currently being driven by the U.S. industry. Therecent European Space Policy recommends âto work towards a secure and guaranteed access to commercial and governmental satellite communications for crisis response and crisis management actors. Therefore, the European industry should be supported in answering tothe requirements of future secure satellite networks in all areas (space/ground/user segment, operations, regulations, etc.). Studiesrelated to government and secure satellite communications within the European Defence Agency have concluded that a large number of technologies are missing in Europe, though some technologies might be supported by current commercial satellite communication trendsand can be considered of dual-use. The purpose of this activity is thus to support the European industry in understanding which technologies will be required, and which ones could be developed in a dual use context, and explore general synergies with activities that might be initiated by other European entities (public and private) for guaranteed access to satellite communication services. The approach that shall be followed shall include as a minimum the following steps:
(1) Define reference scenarios for future commercial and governmental satellite telecommunication networks
(2) Translate operational requirements for independent access to satellitecommunication services into technical ones
(3) Map technical requirements for independence on reference scenarios
(4) Identify technologies supporting independent access to space (ground and space segment)
(5) Define a roadmap in an ESA and in an European Unioncontext, including schedules, costs, potential industrial players, member states to be involved. It is proposed to implement this study in synchronisation with the European Defence Agency.
Tender Specifics