Projects

The SMART Project targets the development and demonstration of a low cost satellite access provision service using GEO satellite parked in inclined orbit on both Single Channel per Carrier and Multi Channel per Carrier access schemes.

The objectives of the project are the
integration and trial of a communications system that
exploits the unique features of two wireless
technologies, namely DVB-RCS and terrestrial wireless
802.11x. The system is expected to be particularly
relevant to some rural communities, which are suffering,
when compared with urban communities, from a lack of
broadband communications. The new system will
provide a broadband system that is easy and quick to
install. The system can be shared by end users making
it cost effective.

VideoSat for Distance Learning (V4DL) aims to exploit satellite broadband and broadcast
capabilities, providing Value Added Services for
Continuing Medical Education and Medical Scientific TV
via Satellite. V4DL carries two major innovations: a
distance learning methodology that binds emotional and
narrative learning theory with video simulation
technology (Edufiction), and an optimised user
experience thanks to a specific Set Top Box capable of
executing the specific eLearning application, managing
the GUI and all data transmission functionalities.

The primary scope of activities to be undertaken within this project is service evaluation of a combined TDMA/DVB satellite network for Internet/Intranet services.

SENSIBLE (Satellite Enhanced Network System for flexIBLE bandwidth management) is a project aimed at the creation of a system to optimise the satellite bandwidth usage and, at the same time, to guarantee user's critical services such as VOIP, tele-conference, GSM, etc.
The core of the system is the detection of the users´ active services and the dynamic bandwidth allocation to the terminals included in the same administrative domain.

The project " Broadband Satellite
Information and e-Learning Channel for Manufacturers
and Service Companies (SiLC)", intends to deploy
broadband IP services via satellite to provide a new type
of high quality and professional service channel. It will
enable the electronic-hardware manufacturing industry
as well as the consumer electronics industry to
introduce their products to the trade and market
professionals and also to the end consumer.

SatElections is a pilot project dedicated to
the realisation of a satellite based system and
associated applications of E-Training and voting data
transmission in support of the programme of effective
electoral assistance sponsored by the task force on
electoral assistance set up by UNDP, the EC and the
international organisation IDEA. The project is executed
in partnership with the Independent Electoral
Commission of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The MUTIS (Multimodal Traffic Information
Services) project is aiming at the attraction of the
Danube waterway through the introduction of new
advanced telematic applications. The work contains two
parts, the first part is the demonstration of the
integration of new communication concepts for the
generation of Traffic Information in the Eastern
European countries, and the second part is the
integration of the generated traffic information in a
MUTIS database.

TEMOS' objective is to establish a globally
active satellite based competence network which will
optimise the medical care of humans (tourists and
business travellers) in today's mobile society. This
network will be open for all interested hospitals and
medical institutions such as general practitioners or
assistance companies who agree to accept and apply the
TEMOS quality criteria as developed within the
framework of the project.

The Workflow and Broadcast Tools product allows broadcasters to improve efficiency and reduce costs by digitising content and providing a number of significant production benefits, before the transmission process.

This project aims to set-up and
demonstrate the "modus operandi" for designing and
providing effective distance learning applications that
exploit the SkyPlexNet satellite technology available,
integrate satellite and terrestrial telecom infrastructures
and prepare for commercial sustainability.

This project is aimed at designing, implementing and validating a mobile VSAT system at Ku-band for providing passengers of high speed trains with broadband access to internet.

ABARIS enables consumers to order a
wide range of music products from an easily accessible
World Wide Website. Following payment and copyright
clearance these products are multicast to consumers,
using the ASTRA-NET satellite communications service.
ABARIS multicasts music products to customers who are
equipped with a computer connected to a standard
satellite TV dish. Following reception, each track may be
played using a multimedia PC or written to a CD for use
in a standard home or car hi-fi system. The music
encryption scheme employed by ABARIS will protect
artists' and composers' rights by preventing
unauthorised performances or recordings.

DISaV's objective is the design of a
platform to deliver multimedia content to a distributed
audience and to manage the whole content lifecycle.
DISaV meets the requirements of the new advertising
market allowing the distribution of rich multimedia
messages (with videos, audios and images) to a wide
territory. The added-value of the platform is the
possibility of sending audio-video material and data to
screens distributed throughout the territory so as to
have a dynamic grouping of the reception points.

A DVB-RCS platform with shared hub for multiple service providers.

SkyNurse intends to develop an operating
centre for the delivery of distance education and
residential courses directed at nursing personnel in non-
EU countries in order to employ the trained personnel in
EU hospitals and health care centres. SkyNurse also
aims to improve nursing practice throughout the EU
developing standard distance learning models suitable
for national and international use and preparing learning
materials that will offer uniform education, cultivate a
harmonious professional background and promote
standardized nursing procedures. The project has been
piloted with an actual group of nursing staff in Romania
prior to their recruitment in the Italian healthcare
system.

The objective of the project was to develop Forsway´s one-way Internet over satellite gateway, Mímir, into a carrier grade solution for operators of all sized.

The project objective is to design an
integrated service for civil protection departments which
will be based on EO data, GIS technologies and satellite
telecommunications. This project will act as a start-up
for similar service provisions in the case of natural or
man-made hazards or telemedicine applications.

EUROMEDNET provides tele-medicine
services co-ordinated by the Tele-medicine Operational Centre (TOC). The development of EuroMedNet is aimed to create: the physical facilities used to collect, distribute, store, process, and display voice, data and medical images; the applications and data engineering tools, methods, and processes to build and maintain the software that allows the Telemedicine Operations Centre and the Telemedicine Users Client to access and manipulate, organize clinical and medical information; the people and assets which provide the integrating design, management and operation of the EuroMedNet, develop the applications and services, and train others in EuroMedNet capabilities and use.

The COTV (Community TV Content Making) project aims at implementing a 'Community TV' where the TV viewers collaborate with TV producers for generating mixed 'user' and 'professional' content via TV blogs.

The REACH project aims to create a cost
effective, commercially viable, medical home care
solution which will include videoconference, remote vital
sign monitoring, and satellite telecommunications
technologies applied to the field of Tele-Psychiatry. The
project makes available a solution that meets the
treatment needs of Assertive Community Treatment
(ACT) teams in Canada and their patients/clients,
determines whether the solution can substantially
reduce the treatment costs of ACT teams by enabling
the teams to substitute many "travel visits" by "virtual
visits". The project aims to assess the solution by
establishing a pilot project that treats 20 real patients.

The Peruse Project will develop a Wireless
Personal Alarm (WPA) solution which will be carried by
or worn on a person and allows the user to signal for
help at the touch of a button. Upon activation of an SOS
alarm, the WPA will be capable of transmitting a low
power signal to a satellite communications handset,
which will forward a message to an authorised number,
including the identity of the person in distress, as well
as their current location. The WPA will also have the
potential to transmit the user's current state of health
and local environmental parameters.

The Millennium Development Goals, together with the World Summit on the Information Society have paved the way to a number of Capacity Building projects related to ICT in developing countries. The goal of this project is to define and validate a reference model for CB projects using satellite communications (Satcom).

ESMEE provides a satellite based
eLearning multimedia platform providing real-time audio
and video streaming of university lessons and Internet
based synchronous interaction.

TRACKS provides an extension of a GSM
cellular network using satellite links in combination with
a transportable Base Stations for developing countries
and crisis management. A GSM micro switch is
interfaced to the EADS Astrium telephone network (and
thereby to the Public Switched Telephone Network) by
the transportable VSAT terminal through the
multiservices router functions.

The TESEO project is dedicated to
realising a system of multimedia narrow casting via
satellite. The different multimedia elements (video,
audio, graphics and text) are distributed to receiving
sites situated in different geographical areas and
assembled to form a local information channel branded
for the specific user group. In the pilot phase of TESEO,
the channel is used by hotel facilities to realise a local
information channel distributed via the analogue cable
TV system into each room, providing the hotel's guests
with geographically tailored information.

The aim of the Fusion Studio project is to explore the creation and enablement of compelling and commercially attractive content for Multimedia TV.

The SCOUT (SkyWAN Carry-On User Terminal) is a system for satellite communications which includes
an antenna, indoor-unit and outdoor-unit.
SCOUT will provide data connectivity of SkyWAN networks to customers with high requirements regarding mobility.

The AeroFleet system is a solution for
operators of small and medium sized aircraft and
helicopter fleets providing digital air-to-ground
communication for efficient fleet management. The
AeroFleet system consists of a cockpit display allowing
the creation of messages over the satellite
communication link and the presentation of data sent
from ground to the crew in a graphical way (e.g.
weather information, mission dependent area of
operation) and associated dispatch software. The display
will interface with the airborne part of the Satcom
equipment to provide further communication functions
without flight crew involvement.

The main purpose of the SAVSI project is
to combine the aspects of several tested-and-affordable
technologies in order to provide a centralised video
surveillance service for locations where terrestrial DSL
connections are not available. These technologies are IP
video surveillance using MPEG compression, wireless
local network and DVB-RCS broadband Internet
connection. Two video-surveillance services are being
developed: surveillance of sensible sites, either as a
nominal surveillance capability or as a means of
redundancy (high-risk sites classified as "Seveso" e.g.
remote train crossings, hydroelectric dams, isolated ATM
machines), and surveillance of large and remote areas
(mountains, borders, jungles, volcanic areas) where
several risks are present (fires, smuggling, rains,
eruption, etc.).

SATWAYS aims to install remote site controllers equipped with radio and telephony interfaces at isolated heliports countrywide. They will relay radio and telephony communications over satellite connections using IP as the transport protocol.

The Webraska project aims to develop and deploy innovative wireless real-time navigation services in Europe using two different satcom networks and terminals.

A satellite based alarm and surveillance
system for security applications. The system is designed
to provide connectivity via satellite between alarm and
surveillance systems on one side and security centres
and other receivers, for example to protect the owners
of the property. The system will comply with the highest
performance classification of alarm transmission systems
in accordance with the relevant system directives, in
particular EN 50136 and VdS 2471 and will provide a
transparent link between any 3rd party alarm
transmitter and receiver systems conforming to EN
50131 (Intruder Alarm Systems) and EN 50132 (CCTV
Systems) and the applicable VdS directives.

By focusing on how to optimally create the best user experience for communicating highest quality images over bandwidth-limited communications systems, BEATLES targets key challenges in Mobile Satellite communications in general, and new Alphasat opportunities based on BGAN and GSPS in particular.

The RTI-TVS project will be the first demonstrator enabling viewers to immerse themselves
into an "Edutainment / Game TV Show" and to compete
in teams with the physical protagonists of the show. The
project intends to strengthen the use of advanced
satellite communication technology and facilities using
the new DVB-MHP iTV standard. An appropriate 2D/3D
authoring and rendering application for "Edutainment /
Game TV Shows" has been implemented using a
background 2D/3D engine generator for virtual spaces.

MeCA provides a cost-effective and flexible
technology and service model that will allow marine
service operators to deploy and operate a range of IP
enabled services on their vessels, and will actively
commercialise the service. MeCA will develop and
validate a range of services in the Canadian East Coast
environment, including High-speed Internet access,
Tourism services, Banking (ATM, debit and credit card
services), Remote data collection and management and
Distance Education for the crew.

The HOST programme focused on the
development of the Hellas Sat commercial offering in
end-to-end satellite telecommunication services for
supporting the delivery of bidirectional, broadband
applications in Greece, the Balkans, SE Europe, and the
Middle East. The project intends to trial end-to-end
satellite telecommunication service provision to a variety
of potential customers for applications and generic
services in the area of e-Government, e-Business, e-
Inclusion/Digital Divide.

The main objective of the SAET project is to define an engineered satellite-based network architecture for the provision of multimedia services on-board European trains.

Development and prototyping of a map-based news group service for laptops and tablet PC's via VSAT networks and Wi-Fi local access.

This project is dedicated to the production
of an application software suite for a multicast
management platform including an advanced Forward
Error Correction (FEC). One of the future applications of
this project is the distribution of digital assets such as
movies to the projection locations.