Description
The commercial introduction of High Throughput Satellite (HTS) capacity, designed around antennas generating narrow spot beams at the surface of the Earth is currently shaping the market: on the one hand, the cost of the delivered bit has reduced drastically for unicast (point-to-point) usage; on the other hand, the receiver sensitivity on-board the satellite has increased significantly allowing the transmission of higher data rates from more compact user terminals. These High Throughput Satellites can deliver unprecedented capacity (as high as 100 Gbps and more as of today, compared to few Gbps for standard architectures), and with the same space-borne infrastructure address the Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS) and Fixed-Satellite Service: such a service categorisation between MSSand FSS, from both platform point of view and market point of view, is becoming obsolete. The Broadcasting-Satellite Service (BSS) is also concerned by this approach: the distribution can be localised for some providers, or can be controlled at network feed level.There is thus a challenge for the satellite industry to offer solutions that will allow satellite operators to meet traffic patterns that will be less differentiated, but still demanding in terms of performance capabilities (including profitability). The objectives of this activity are (1) to assess the benefits and the constraints associated with the introduction of such multipurpose telecommunication satellite network solution and (2) to develop a roadmap of technologies and products for the ARTES participating statesin meeting these requirements when developing this approach. As a minimum, the following approach will be implemented: ·Step 1: (1) Define the requirements (economic, technical, ...) on multi-service telecommunication satellite networks (2) Design satellite networs), assessing its performance and financial elements (3) Assess the market segment(s) targeted by this type of infrastructure (nature of the investing operators) (4) Analyse the impacts on the value chain (and possible relationships with terrestrial operators, vertical integration, roles for the ARTES participating states industry) (5) Review critically the design and the selection of technologies (use of active antennas, digital OBP, transparent on board routing, ...). ·Step 2: Based on the results obtained in step 1, psibly through several iterations, (1) conclude on the system approach to be selected, in view of the main expected trends of the market and in view of the potential impacts for attracting operators (2) propose a technology and product roadmap for the ARTES participating states industry.