In most cases, the network technology utilizes the DVB-RCS standard, an open standard for two-way transmission of digital data. Development and promotion of DVB-RCS has been funded by ESA Telecom as part of its Advanced Research in Telecommunications (ARTES) programme.
The IAEA is well known for its mission of monitoring the world-wide flow of nuclear materials. Out of its headquarters in Vienna, the IAEA safeguards many nuclear facilities in many countries on several continents.
To support the online monitoring of nuclear facilities, the IAEA has a remote monitoring data centre, which downloads data from over 140 systems worldwide. Fifty radiation detection systems and 90 surveillance systems (including 340 cameras producing 150,000 images per day) generate to up to two gigabytes per day of global data traffic. Online monitoring depends on reliable communications between the remote sites, IAEA headquarters and its regional offices in Tokyo & Toronto.
For the IAEA, connectivity via satellite to reach the locations of geographic interest is an important step forward. Reaching all corners of the world with a single hop via satellite makes IAEA communications independent of terrestrial networks. The advantage of DVB-RCS is that it can be deployed within a short time anywhere within the service coverage, compared to dedicated terrestrial network connections which may be unavailable at remote sites.
Under ESA and IAEA supervision, the deployment of a pilot network used to identify and evaluate interoperability and network design issues has begun with a relatively small number of sites. The plan is to extend the network when needed. The central hub of the network in the IAEA building is connected to four countries on three continents; Brazil, Hungary, Armenia and the Chernobyl facility in the Ukraine. Further sites can be connected at any time in the future.
The technology involved allows spot beams to be used in the respective regions instead of large hemispheric or global beams. These spot beams are cross-connected within the satellite transponder to respective spot beams in Europe. This helps to keep the remote site equipment compact and to benefit from the power of the respective satellite beam. It is even possible to serve the sites in once such area in C-band and sites in other areas in Ku-band, while the central site is completely served in Ku-band.
Furthermore, the new system allows the simultaneous carrying of all types of services at the same time via one network. Telephony, written reports, images and data can all be sent, along with live videoconferencing.
This project plays a very important role in assisting the IAEA perform a thorough assessment to obtain evidence of the performance and benefits of a space-based communications infrastructure.
The DVB-RCS standard has matured over the past two years, with worldwide deployments of more than 50,000 terminals and 160 networks. Large equipment suppliers sell DVB-RCS products and prices are competitive. DVB-RCS is now mandated by the US DoD and many governments/institutions around the globe. It has gained a significant share of enterprise and vertical markets.
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