The Satcom Innovation Group’s (SIG) long history mirrors the industry’s journey in addressing interference. When SIG was founded in 1997, interference was the primary industry challenge needing to be addressed, and so the group started life as the Satellite Users Interference Reduction Group. The group remained solely focused on interference until 2018, by which time, the industry had got better at understanding and mitigating interference. At that point, the group shifted its focus from interference to wider issues of improving efficiencies and facilitating innovation. It was renamed the Satcoms Innovation Group, as it is now known, in line with its wider focus.
Over the years, SIG has been responsible for many of the key developments that have helped the industry better identify and resolve interference. Its achievements include the Carrier ID initiative in 2011 which involves inserting a unique identifier into a carrier to accelerate identification of satellite interference. This development actually helped operators deliver interference free coverage at the 2012 Olympics held in London. In 2017, after much perseverance, the group was successful in getting the FCC to require all satellite signals and transmissions to contain Carrier ID information. This was one just one of many of the group’s achievements.
Throughout SIG’s 26-year history, the Satellite conference has long been a highlight in the calendar. That time of year has come round again so we’re heading back to Washington for Satellite 2023. This year, we’ll be holding a breakfast session, hosted by Kratos, on Monday 13th March at 10am. At the session, we’ll consider the biggest transformations currently shaping the satellite industry, so it’s one not to miss.
In addition, SIG Managing Director, Helen Weedon will be moderating a panel session on March 16th at 10.15am, that will explore the tools, technology, and the will needed to combat RF Interference. The panellists will discuss the technologies and anti-jamming techniques that are currently at the industry’s disposal, and will consider which tools we’ll need to develop as space gets more crowded. The panellists will also discuss whether the industry is ready to combat interference with the same energy it uses to pursue growth.
Technical workshop
Don’t forget that during the same week as the conference, we’ll also be holding a SIG technical workshop, which will start on Thursday afternoon, 16th March and continue all day Friday 17th March. This year, the workshop will be held at Intelsat’s headquarters in Washington.
Although the workshop will cover a range of topics including multi-orbit, virtualisation, 5G spectrum management, FPAs and AI, SIG is staying true to its roots and interference remains the central topic for discussion. At the workshop, we’ll discuss the current state of RF interference and present some technical case studies that show real-life joint efforts to tackle instances of interference.
Meet with us
The Satellite 2023 show and ensuing SIG technical workshop are both shaping up to be really exciting events, and certainly not to be missed.
We’re available for meetings during Satellite 2023 so if you’d like to arrange a meeting with either Helen Weedon or a member of the SIG team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
To register for the workshop, visit the SIG events page, or for more information, contact info@satig.space.
We hope to see you there.