Written by / Compiled by KMI Media Group staff
MIT 2010 Volume: 14 Issue: 7 (August)
Ka-Band Constellation to Provide High Speed Broadband Service
Inmarsat has agreed to a contract with Boeing for the delivery of three state-of-the-art 702HP Ka-band satellites. The Inmarsat-5 constellation will enable Inmarsat to provide a unique global high speed mobile broadband service offering. With operations expected to start in 2014, Inmarsat-5 will support a next generation global service, Global Xpress, which will target a $1.4 billion incremental market opportunity in VSAT services. Global Xpress will address the established, growing markets for VSAT services in the maritime, energy and government sectors, with further growth potential in developing markets such as the aeronautical sector. Global Xpress will deliver seamless global coverage and unprecedented mobile broadband with speeds up to 50 mbps, to customer terminals from 20 cm to 60 cm in size. Inmarsat will target $500 million of annual Ka-band revenues five years after global service launch. Under a separate arrangement, Boeing has agreed to become a distribution partner for both Inmarsat’s Ka- and L-band services and has pre-committed to capacity purchases representing more than 10 percent of Inmarsat’s target Ka-band revenues in the first five years after global service launch. Inmarsat estimates that the total cost of Inmarsat-5 and Global Xpress will be $1.2 billion over 4.5 years, incorporating the fixed cost of the satellites, as well as the cost of additional ground network infrastructure, product development, launch services and insurance.
Converged IP Communications Solution is More Than a Softswitch
REDCOM has announced major enhancements to its Slice product line. Since its debut in 2005, the Slice has offered the telecommunications industry a powerful feature set in a slim (just 1U) single-unit solution. The REDCOM Slice 2100 is a converged IP communications solution that is much more than just a softswitch.
The Slice 2100 Version 4 offers enhanced SIP-based features and interoperability highlighted as follows: SIP based VoIP capabilities; SNMP monitoring; added Centrex business line groups; radio line interface module; media services circuit module; and secure device module. All REDCOM Slice 2100 modules in Version 4 are hot-swappable, allowing customization of the system according to network requirements. Existing Slice 2100 units can be easily upgraded with Version 4.0 software.
Depending on its configuration, the Slice 2100 now supports up to 2,000 SIP subscribers, up to 24 analog lines, 4 ISDN BRI lines, two field-configurable T1/E1 spans expandable up to 6 T1/E1s. Powered by REDCOM’s exclusive TRANSip IP technology suite, Slice 2100 offers a remarkable level of interoperability, including standard SIP telephones, T1, E1, ISDN (PRI/BRI), Euro ISDN (PRI/BRI), MF/ R1, MFC R2, GR-303, V5.2, C7/SS7, SIP, IPv4 and IPv6. Slice 2100 also supports the Modem over IP (V.150.1) and Fax over IP (T.38) protocols, permitting secure end instrument interoperability between VoIP and TDM.
High Definition Video Encoder Transmits Full Motion Video
ViaSat’s Enerdyne division, a supplier of advanced ISR data links, has announced the availability of a multichannel high definition video encoder that allows an IP-based data link to transmit standards-based H.264 compressed, high definition full motion video (HD-FMV). Designed to meet the environmental constraints of tactical unmanned systems, the EnerLinks HD Encoder is compatible with the industry’s most advanced ISR sensors and can simultaneously compress one to two streams of high definition video, or one to four streams of Standard Definition video. In addition, the HD encoder can transport KLV metadata that is time-aligned to each video frame in compliance with MISB Standard 0604.1. Integration with existing IP-compliant data links is low risk, as the compressed video and KLV metadata are output by the ViaSat HD Encoder as an MPEG-2 transport stream encapsulated in IP over Ethernet. Ground systems such as Rover, OSRVT and VideoScout can readily receive the CDL transmission and use an H.264 software decoder supporting an MPEG-2 transport stream to display or exploit the video content. Following in the EnerLinks legacy, the EnerLinks HD Encoder is I/O rich, with interfaces to provide metadata via TCP/IP or UDP/IP over Ethernet or via serial ports, two HD-SDI digital video ports, and four NTSC / PAL analog video ports. These interfaces provide the flexibility needed to interface with most HD or SD sensor systems.
Voice Over IP Solution Added to Satellite Portfolio
TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) has broadened its voice, video and data satellite solutions portfolio by offering a fixed-price Voice over IP (VoIP) solution to new and existing managed satellite services customers. Organizations can control costs by implementing a TCS VoS (Voice-over-Satellite) package that allows unlimited calling to up to 40 countries for one low, flat monthly fee. This makes the solution ideally suited for addressing continuity of operations, first responder and disaster recovery response requirements anywhere in the world. TCS VoS turnkey packages can be used in conjunction with TCS’ current managed satellite communications services or as a free-standing solution for existing clients. TCS VoS supports individual users with a direct dial U.S. number per phone and can scale to include full hosted virtual office solutions for organizations reaching 10,000 users, across both satellite and terrestrial networks, as required. This solution complements TCS’ ability to provide custom VoIP solutions to its existing client base by adding flat rate plans, hosted Internet Protocol private branch exchange, and managed call center solutions, as well as session initiation protocol trunking for private VoIP networks. ♦
