For all of us at ST Engineering iDirect, 2021 was an inspiring year. It was a year when the satellite ground segment rose to prominence, with a heightened focus on the segment’s bold ideas, fresh innovation, and meaningful progress. This was a year of close collaboration with our partners as we ushered in new technological developments to help our customers capture significant market opportunities. Plus, it was a year of teamwork and celebration as we enabled greater connectivity around the world in so many rewarding ways.
Taking The Lead In Innovation
We were pleased to introduce an initiative called New Ground to raise the profile of the ground segment and shine a light on the innovation and excitement that is happening across our ecosystem.
New Ground promotes the empowerment and development of the ground technology and services that will enable the satellite industry to harness the promise of New Space and the move towards a 5G future in multi-orbit, multi-access environment.
The industry as a whole must focus on the adoption of the technology enablers that have already been taken on by the telco sector — the orchestration, standardization and virtualization that will be the foundation for a 5G future and the move to the cloud.
Our partnership with O3b mPOWER is true testimony to this dedication, and a New Ground milestone, with the selection of our high-performance ground segment for this new MEO constellation. Our ground technology is key to optimizing the end-toend capabilities of the satellites and the delivery of highly efficient networks with highly reliable services.
During 2021, we also introduced Mx-DMA MRC and have pushed our Mx-DMA return technology even further. Mx-DMA MRC adds ground-breaking scalability and service agility features, extending the availability of Mx-DMA to large-scale networks, all while expanding the applicability of the technology to include a full spectrum of use cases.
The all new MDM5010 VSAT modem also made its mark. The modem achieved an aggregate speed of 800 Mbps, making it the industry’s fastest satellite modem for shared bandwidth capacity networks. While these speeds have previously only been achieved with single channel per carrier (SCPC) point-to-point modems, bandwidth-sharing efficiencies can now be augmented to satisfy very high throughput requirements in markets such as cruise, trunking and cellular backhaul. Plus, the same MDM5010 can also achieve up to 1.6 Gbps throughput in SCPC mode making it a very versatile choice for the most demanding applications in those markets.
Our iHub also made its debut in Velocity in 2021 featuring proven, standards-based micro-TCA (Micro Telecommunications Computing Architecture) architecture providing high-performance in a high-density compact hub supporting hundreds of high-capacity beams in distributed HTS gateway architectures.
Also showcased in 2021 was our IoT solution that saw successful demonstrations with our partner, hiSky. The live demos proved that continuous satellite connectivity can empower applications such as telemetry and fleet tracking and many other IoT applications over satellite.
Our cost-effective, highly scalable IoT Solution leverages Evolution, Velocity and Dialog® hub infrastructures enabling connectivity with a portfolio of compact, lightweight terminals that feature a tightly integrated satellite modem and flatpanel antenna design in Ku- and Ka-band variants.
2021 saw industry players coming together with the formation of the Digital Interface Standards (DIS) Working Group to develop an open interoperability standard for the SATCOM industry. The standard will enable all manufacturers to build interoperable technologies that work in both open and closed network topologies, delivering the most advantages at the lowest cost.
Digitizing the interface between modem and RF components using the new open standard, the industry will be able to leverage the latest virtualization, cloud computing and network function virtualization technologies as well as greatly improve the performance and scale of satellite hub, gateway and modem equipment.
Supporting + Enabling Customers Across Verticals
This year we have helped MNOs (Mobile Network Operator) and Telcos to extend their reach in many different regions of the world. A tier 1 mobile network operator in Brazil deployed the Dialog® platform and state-of-the-art Mx-DMA return technology to deliver 3G, 4G and corporate internet services across the country. The network is now able to fulfill demand for cellular backhaul and corporate internet services to remote areas where terrestrial connectivity is limited or unavailable, easing business communications and access to mobile services.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gilat Telecom installed two Dialog hubs to power cellular backhaul services for Vodacom on our Dialog platform.
The solution enabled Vodacom to migrate its VSAT-based, 2G network to 3G across 150 Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites with the Base Station Controller, located in Kinshasa. The new deployment will replace traditional SCPC links and will deliver increased efficiency in order to facilitate 3G data traffic.
In Mexico, AXESS Networks deployed the first incountry Dialog XIF hub to deliver highly sought-after 4G mobile services to rural sites across the region. This effort helped connect the unconnected and bring solutions to those who had been left behind by the digital divide.
As 5G deployments began early stages of rollout, Athens-based satellite operator Hellas Sat successfully validated hybrid 5G backhauling use cases over satellite over the Evolution® platform. Showcasing a completely seamless transition between terrestrial and satellite-based networks, the demonstration not only confirms the critical role that satellite will play in the 5G ecosystem through its capability to broaden coverage to hard-to-reach areas, but further reinforces its cellular backhaul capabilities across Hellas Sat’s satellite coverage.
Vital satellite bandwidth was delivered to the Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands in the Indian Ocean for BSNL on Dialog. That means that 36 atolls and 38 islands will now have access to crucial economic and social tools through the connectivity we support.
In the Philippines, Intelsat selected the Evolution platform to grant broadband services to those who need them most across the archipelago of over 7,500 islands in Southeast Asia. Satellite technology provides a cost-effective and reliable solution for broadband delivery, which is seeing rising demand across the region.
Satellite operator Kacific was an early adopter of our Mx-DMA MRC technology which has enabled the company to provide high-speed, low-cost, ultrareliable broadband to rural and suburban areas of the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Kacific currently operates more than 8,000 terminals, including the new cost-effective MDM2010 modems in Mx-DMA MRC mode, spread across 56 beams. Kacific also used our Dialog platform to launch their first VNO-enabled cellular backhaul service for MNOs. The Ka-band mobile backhaul service is available to all ISPs, telecom operators, and government agencies across all the countries Kacific services throughout Asia and the Pacific.
Turksat became the first to deploy a new security feature on the SatHaul-XE solution that was developed in partnership with Xiplink. The feature supports IPsec encryption with CMPv2 digital certificate management, building upon the existing high levels of security while maintaining optimization and acceleration.
In the broadcast segment, we’re immensely proud of the delivery of the world’s first end-to-end demonstration of a B2C use case of Native IP, demonstrating origination, transport, reception and consumption of live OTT video over satellite.
We partnered with EKT, Broadpeak and EasyBroadcast. This demonstration proved that satellite can deliver OTT content anywhere and to any device. This has farreaching implications as its content delivery will not be limited to entertainment, but also will enable educational institutions to reach their students, healthcare providers to offer telemedicine services and reach households that may not have a computer but do have a television so that they can enjoy access to information and content.
Connecting Incredible Journeys
This year, we have been involved with two fascinating expeditions. Earlier this year, with our partners, Telenor Maritime and Eutelsat, we were given a golden opportunity to play a key role in heightening awareness of the key role that our oceans play in enabling a sustainable environment. Together, we are providing real-time connectivity for the ONE OCEAN expedition aboard the antique sailing ship, Statsraad Lehmkuhl, as it circumnavigates the globe to raise the oceans’ profile. Real-time connectivity is key to the success of the mission.
This immediate access to data, video and stories from the ship will serve to inspire and engage not only scientists but also citizens for ocean-based action towards sustainable development worldwide.
In October, we once again provided connectivity to the Belgian Agoria Solar Team as they embarked on a grueling solar race across the Moroccan Atlas Mountains. The race, which tests university students’ ability to design and build a solar car and then compete in a four-day race, was a replacement for the canceled Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, which usually takes place in Australia.
We were delighted, along with our partners Intelsat and Kymeta, to provide connectivity to the ‘brains’ car for the duration of the race, enabling the crew to access crucial connectivity and to broadcast daily Facebook Live shows to keeps fans posted on their progress. We’d like to congratulate the team on their fantastic achievement of second place.
Industry Recognition
We were honored by industry accolades with our Factory of the Future award which marks the third time we have achieved this level of excellence. The ST Engineering iDirect Manufacturing Competence Centre (MCC) was recognized for its best-in-class, future-proof and sustainable manufacturing technologies and processes.
We also cemented our leadership and commitment to the mobility sector with the Top Mobile User Experience Innovation Award from the Mobile Satellite Users Association’s (MSUA). This recognition reflects our dedication to the delivery of innovative solutions that enable its customers to offer seamless connectivity as new constellations, applications and markets emerge.
Our advanced SATCOM mobility solutions comprise a diverse, feature-rich set of capabilities and technologies to offer customers the utmost in choice and flexibility.
Looking Forward
When we look to the future, we aspire to build upon our heritage of innovation and excellence when it comes to all things satellite connectivity. This year has seen us thrive through challenging conditions and the solutions we have created are still at the forefront of what’s possible in the satellite space.
Tomorrow holds more promise than our industry has ever seen. We look forward to taking our next steps on this journey together with our customers and partners.
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