The project which has reached a successful conclusion is called CampNet. Prime contractors include IPcopter GmbH & Co. KG along with Newtec CY, Belgium and Joanneum Research, Austria.
CampNet is a broadband access service provided by IPcopter and tailored to the needs of caravan and motor caravan users, offering high speed internet access, voice communication and TV reception. Its major success factor is the Sat3Play technology developed by Newtec with support of ESA through the ARTES program. The network provides an efficient access to the internet via satellite. The bidirectional terminals have proved their reliability at a price level, which was not known for such equipment before.
Integrated in the @Mondo system from Alden, a company that designs high technology equipment for leisure vehicles, the Newtec Sat3Play components contribute to one of the first bidirectional autopointing terminals for a commercial market. The @Mondo system together with the IPcopter communication service is marketed throughout Alden's wide European network of dealers as an innovative and affordable solution.
“CampNet is an example of the great potential of satellite communication. It also shows that application projects can easily enable commercial exploitation of emerging communciation services,” explains Domenico Mignolo, the ESA technical manager of the project.
Newtec’s Sat3Play system provides the means to establish an "always-on" two-way connectivity between the end-user and the Internet or a private network, therefore remaining completely independent from any existing terrestrial networks. The Sat3Play terminal is designed to support Voice over IP communication, and can be used in conjunction with a standard DVB-S set-top box to provide triple play services: Voice, TV and Internet services.
Key features of CampNet-based services and terminals include: low cost terminals based on autopointing TVRO systems; plug and play operation; real triple play and homogeneous coverage of European vacation areas. Internet access is independent of terrestrial infrastructure like UMTS coverage. Even at very remote locations Internet access is possible. The Ku-Band system allows use of wide range of Ku-Band based space segments.
“CampNet opened a new market for satellite communication. IPcopter is proud to provide an internet access service, which together with the Alden @Mondo has already gained a high reputation in the camper community. The application programme from ESA helped substantially to realize this service” says Dr. Bernhard Neumeyer, Managing Director of IPcopter.
CampNet has been marketed commercially for the past six months. Since that time, several hundred terminals have been implemented in the field. Sales and marketing of the terminals is performed by Alden. Meanwhile the system is in catalogues of many camping equipment wholesalers.
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