Director of Vertical Solutions
iDirect Technologies

Mick focuses on solutions in the Broadcast Media and Cellular Backhaul marketplaces. We recently spoke with Mick regarding iDirect’s announcement regarding their intelligent platform having been tested and certified to be fully interoperable with Ericsson’s Abis over IP GSM satellite backhaul solution. An extremely valuable accomplishment!

SatMagazine
Why is GSM backhaul over satellite such an important issue today?

Mick Gardina
This is a technology that has the potential to dramatically improve quality of life for an enormous number of people. More than two billion people worldwide – almost a third of the population – live in areas without cellular connectivity. These are predominantly rural regions where it has been cost prohibitive for cellular operators to extend service.

Unfortunately, many of these regions are in developing countries that could benefit greatly from cellular communications. GSM backhaul over satellite has proven to be an effective technology for extending precious cellular connectivity into these hard to reach areas.

SatMagazine
Why isn’t satellite more widely adopted for GSM backhaul?

Mick Gardina
Cost issues have prohibited GSM backhaul over satellite from being deployed on a greater scale. Traditional satellite links, such as Single Channel Per Carrier (SCPC) or other dedicated links, are inefficient and therefore expensive for backhauling cellular traffic. They force operators to set peak-time bandwidth requirements for every base station, at all times, in order to handle periods of activity when cellular use is high. User experience can be compromised in this environment. Often, the inefficiencies of SCPC satellite links force end-users to limit their calling patterns to certain hours.

SatMagazine
How can network operators overcome SCPC inefficiencies?

Mick Gardina
One solution is for cellular operators to pool backhaul traffic onto a common network, replacing the previous standard SCPC links with a shared IP Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network. TDMA allows operators to allocate bandwidth according to the real-time, not busy-hour, requirements of each individual Base Tower System (BTS). The result is dramatically reduced bandwidth usage and lower costs.

SatMagazine
How does TDMA manage the demands of real-time voice applications?

Mick Gardina
In the past, TDMA has not supported voice applications adequately. This was problematic on a cellular network because, when voice calls are delayed, customers tend to hang up and try again. When this happens throughout a network the results can be disastrous. iDirect’s advanced Group QoS (Quality of Service) algorithms allow network operators to avoid these pitfalls by allocating bandwidth instantaneously, and ensuring that the integrity of the connection is maintained while reducing overall bandwidth requirements.

SatMagazine
You’ve recently announced that your technology is fully interoperable with Ericsson’s Abis over IP solution. Can you elaborate on the Ericsson solution?

Mick Gardina
Ericsson’s Abis over IP solution integrates IP routing capabilities into its cellular networking equipment. This delivers built-in IP traffic optimization, increasing transmission speed, which is a critical requirement for voice networks. The solution represents the first time a cellular networking equipment provider has integrated IP routing capabilities into its own hardware, signaling a growing demand for GSM satellite backhaul.

In addition, the Ericsson solution will deliver further bandwidth savings when the company introduces local switching later this year. This will allow calls on a local group of BTS to be directly connected via the BTS rather than over the satellite.

SatMagazine
What are the combined benefits of the joint solution?

Mick Gardina
The combination of Ericsson’s Abis over IP solution and iDirect’s satellite platform dramatically reduces backhaul transmission costs, clearing the way for providers to extend cellular networks across the globe.

SatMagazine
In which regions do you anticipate the most demand for GSM backhaul over satellite?

Mick Gardina
There is enormous potential for GSM backhaul over satellite in Africa and South America, where economies are developing more rapidly than communications infrastructure.

We’re also seeing tremendous demand in Asia – especially Southeast Asia – as well as in parts of the Middle East where we recently signed Nawras, our first joint customer with Ericsson. Nawras is a major cellular operator based in Oman. The company will be extending its GSM service to the country’s entire population and plans to leverage the satellite network to provide broadband connectivity to commercial enterprises and government organizations.