It was a busy two days at Madley, where members and speakers descending for our annual European Workshop. Hosted by RF distribution equipment manufacturer and SIG member, ETL Systems, the event saw approximately 50 satcom technical professionals attend a lively workshop which enabled honest and complex debates regarding satcom operations.
The satcom landscape is advancing at a rapid pace thanks to the aspirations of NewSpace, as well as evolving consumer demand for connectivity. The shake-up being experienced within the industry is delivering fresh opportunities and, in parallel, new technical challenges to all stakeholders within space. As we see finite resources such as space and spectrum being utilised by an increasing number of users, new industries exploring the power of satcom and the resulting need to shift to cloud and for interoperability, old challenges such as RFI rearing their head, and difficulties in recruiting talent within the field, it is clear to see why so many travelled to attend the workshop.
Digital IF
First up on the agenda was a discussion surrounding virtualisation and Digital IF. Panellists explained that, for most, there is an expectation of virtualisation. Interoperability must be prioritised as we see the rollout of digitisation to prevent vendor lock in and to ensure that entire networks can communicate within themselves. Many predict that within the next 5 years the industry will see fully digitised gateways, allowing satcom to be utilised for applications such as 5G NTN, for the delivery of backhaul. Panellists were mindful that latency remained an important factor within virtualisation and that users did not want to sacrifice low latency within processes. Intelligent cyber security positioning could mitigate the risk of increasing latency. It was also noted that reviewing and minimising data at the ground segment prior to sending and processing data in the cloud would promote both operational and cost efficiency.
Flat Panel Antennas
The next discussion centred around Flat Panel Antennas, a topic which had previously been broached at a SIG Session at SATELLITE and was now up for discussion again. Concerns were raised regarding the capabilities of some of the FPAs on the market and there was a clear call for verifiable testing through an independent entity. There are concerns that there is a lack of transparency in antenna performance – there is a worry that customers are implementing a product based on the capabilities detailed on the specification sheet which may not represent actual antenna performance. It was raised that, when test results of antenna performance had been requested, some FPA manufacturers were providing simulation results as opposed to results acquired from actual testing performed on the antenna. It has been observed that this is causing a misalignment in the performance being seen in the field vs. what is being expected of the antenna. There are concerns that this is increasing the chances of customers having a negative perception of satcom.
It was agreed that there is a need to assemble a working group consisting of high integrity FPA manufacturers to develop a system to prove appropriate testing of antennas. Additionally, there is a need to develop a method to process and translate the data obtained during testing into a tangible overview of antenna performance.
The evolution of ground satcom
Reflecting the changes in-orbit, the ground segment is experiencing its own transformation. The first discussion centred around the challenge of operating multi-layered orbits. It was observed that customers are asking for multi-orbit, multi-network solutions due to its flexibility. A lot of money has been invested into satellite networks, and the ground infrastructure is catching up. However, the rollout of multi-orbit at the ground is driving an increase complexity which, in turn, runs the risk of dramatically increasing the cost of infrastructure. The business case for multi-orbit networks could be restricted if the cost of hardware and software at the teleport isn’t driven down. The latest hardware solutions must be designed to evolve and support digitisation in order to allow a cost-effective switch to virtualisation.
Education and talent
With references to the topic plentiful throughout the previous day, the discussion surrounding the skills gap within satcom was enthusiastic. Panellists stressed that the responsibility lies with all businesses within the industry. Engaging with schools, parents, and governments has a role to play in changing how the industry communicates itself to young talent. There is still a lack of diversity within the industry, and this is leaving huge pools of talent unengaged. Accidental exclusion is still happening within STEM subjects, and it is important that this is addressed. There is an overwhelming choice available to students within engineering and the wider science and technologies landscapes. Providing students with hands on experience of roles translates into an increased success rate. It is important to demonstrate the roles available within satcom, as many do not know how varied these can be. It was noted that there is a buzz surrounding space at the moment, and that the industry would do well to utilise this in order to demonstrate how young people could have a career within satcom.
It is also important to enable professionals with transferable skills to gain access to the industry, for example ex-military personnel. Technical courses such as those provided by GVF were highlighted as being important in improving access to industry careers.
It was agreed that there is a clear skills gap at present, with too few technical professionals for the roles available. The message was clear: it is the responsibility of all businesses within satcom to engage with potential entrants.
Space Situational Awareness
Sustainability within space continues to be a talking point, with its commercial use at a high. Panellists drew attention to the fact that there could be 191,000 spacecraft in orbit by 2034, a huge increase to current figures which are at approximately 9800. This significant increase in space traffic demands more urgency in the management of Space Situational Awareness. Data sharing must be a priority within the industry, with a need for a centralised system which can securely collect and process data in order to provide conjunction assessments to prevent in-orbit collision. There are limitations to data sharing as a solution, as some organisations and nations are unwilling to submit data due to political differences. To address this, sensors can be utilised to track objects within orbit and provide a picture of those satellites which do not feed data centrally. Another use for sensors is the monitoring of space debris which continues to increase risk of in-orbit collision. It was suggested that there is a need for the rollout of in-orbit sensors to gain a true insight into the number of debris pieces circulating earth. Space Traffic Management must be prioritised to ensure the sustainability of space and it must be prioritised by governmental bodies as well as individual stakeholders.
Onto the next
It was brilliant to see so many technical professionals gathering from all corners of satcom to discuss the future of the industry. We would like to extend our thanks to ETL Systems for hosting our guests with hospitality which was meticulously coordinated throughout both days.
We now look ahead to Riyadh, where, alongside Arabsat, we will be hosting our Middle Eastern workshop in November. Registrations are open and we look forward to seeing you there!