This represents an important milestone in the promotion of DVB-RCS. Interoperability will play a key role in ensuring that all benefits of open standards are achieved.
Users and service providers will now be allowed to choose their supplier, encouraging competition between suppliers and developing economies of scale in the production of equipment.
The SatLabs Qualification Program is based on three pillars:
- The SatLabs Compliance / Interoperability Outline Test Plan, which describes the definition of the test cases and test profiles involved in the qualification process. (see under documentation on the right of this page)
- The SatLabs Common Test Bed, which is dedicated to DVB-RCS interoperability verification and independent from any DVB-RCS manufacturer.
- The SatLabs Qualification Laboratory, which provides independent test services and certification assessment using the SatLabs Test Bed.
The Qualification Program was launched after full validation of the Test Bed and its transfer to Cetecom ICT, the appointed Qualification Laboratory.
After a preliminary set up phase, access to the Test Bed will be open to SatLabs members requesting qualification by the end of April 2005.
Access to the qualification process will be provided directly by Cetecom. Nemko Comlab, the forerunner in the Qualification Laboratory selection process is being granted access to an additional Test Bed in order to gain experience with DVB-RCS testing. The main goal of this dual Test Bed approach is to increase competitiveness in the test service area in the future and/or provide additional qualification capacity.
Terminals that successfully pass all tests contained in the Test Plan will be granted the SatLabs Certificate and be allowed to carry the SatLabs Mark.
The SatLabs Qualification Program is only accessible by members of the SatLabs Group. Detailed documentation on the Qualification Program and usage of the SatLabs Mark is only accessible to members.
The SatLabs Group (see external links) is an international, not-for-profit association whose members are committed to bringing the deployment of the DVB-RCS standard to large-scale adoption. SatLabs membership is formed by service providers, satellite operators, system integrators, terminal manufacturers and technology providers with an interest in DVB-RCS.The main goal of the SatLabs Group is to ensure interoperability between DVB-RCS terminals and systems and to achieve low-cost solutions. The SatLabs Qualification Program was launched in April 2005 to achieve this goal by providing an independent certification process.
