Advanced Satellite Communications

Teacher

Yunqi Ye

Category:

Hands-On Labs, Satellite Communications

Description
Reviews

Course Overview

This 5-day course is designed to provide professionals with in-depth knowledge and practical skills in satellite network planning, design, and optimization. As global demand for high-speed connectivity continues to grow, satellite communication (SATCOM) plays an increasingly critical role in expanding network coverage, especially in 5G backhaul, maritime, aviation, and remote enterprise applications.

Participants will begin with a recap of fundamental SATCOM concepts, followed by advanced topics such as link power budget calculations, parabolic reflector antenna gain, receiver sensitivity, noise power, and uplink power control (UPC). They will explore the principles behind Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP), Power Flux Density (PFD), and Gain-to-Noise Temperature (G/T), which are critical for ensuring efficient satellite link performance.

The course delves into the impact of thermal noise (kTB), rain depolarization, and ITU rain regions on satellite signals, along with strategies to mitigate these challenges. Participants will also gain insights into Adjacent Channel Interference (ACI), Adjacent Satellite Interference (C/ASI), and uplink/downlink ASI, learning how to optimize network designs to minimize disruptions.

A key focus will be on earth station high-power amplifier (HPA) output back-off (ES HPA OBO), input back-off (IBO), and output back-off (OBO), as well as transponder amplifier technologies, including LTWTA, TWTA vs SSPA. The course will also cover automatic level control (ALC), transponder IBO/OBO, saturation flux density (SFD), and processing gain (spreading gain) to ensure effective bandwidth utilization.

Hands-on sessions will include live demonstrations on antenna gain calculator usage, link budget planning, and flux control attenuator (FCA) settings. Through interactive case studies and practical exercises, participants will learn how to enhance satellite efficiency, optimize downlink budgets, and configure low-noise block (LNB) noise figures for improved signal reception.

Target Audience

This course is ideal for those with a foundational understanding of SATCOM who wish to deepen their expertise in link budget analysis, satellite capacity planning, interference mitigation, and network security.

3G/4G/5G Mobile Network Operators
Broadcasting Companies that utilize satellite links
Telecommunications Companies (PTTs, carriers)
Satellite Operators
Internet Service Providers
IT & System Integrators

Duration & Training Format

Instructor-led Training

Classroom: 5 days
LIVE Virtual: 35 hours

*Note:

A minimum of 8 or more participants is required for a Classroom session to commence.
A minimum of 6 or more participants is required for a LIVE Virtual session to commence.
LIVE Virtual courses can be conducted for 5 hours or 7 hours daily. Please note that the number of training days will be extended if you opt for 5 hours daily.

Upcoming Course Dates

21 – 25 Apr 2025 (Mon – Fri), GMT +08:00
19 – 23 May 2025 (Mon – Fri), GMT +08:00
If you are keen on attending the above scheduled courses, please register your interest via our course enquiry form.

Course Objectives

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of SATCOM, including frequency spectrum and satellite bands
Utilize satellite network planning, design, and optimization
Analyze and evaluate satellite use cases for 3G/4G/5G
Ensure efficient satellite link performance by understanding Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP), Power Flux Density (PFD), and Gain-to-Noise Temperature (G/T)
Conduct satellite radio link planning using SatMaster Pro
Apply knowledge of various parameters considered in satellite link design to optimize SATCOM systems
Identify and mitigate the impact of free space loss and atmospheric impairments on SATCOM
Apply knowledge related with Link power budget calculations, parabolic reflector antenna gain, receiver sensitivity, noise power, and uplink power control (UPC)
Understand Thermal noise (kTB), rain depolarization, and ITU rain regions
Evaluate cybersecurity challenges related to the satellite industry and implement appropriate measures to mitigate them
Apply knowledge of VSAT applications from legacy to modern systems
Utilize 5G backhaul, maritime, aviation, and remote enterprise applications
Demonstrate expertise in the VSAT procurement cycle, including RFP/RFQ/RFI and SLAs
Implement VoIP and IPLC over Satellite for efficient communication
Understand earth station high-power amplifier (HPA) output back-off (ES HPA OBO), input back-off (IBO), and output back-off (OBO), as well as transponder amplifier technologies, including LTWTA, TWTA vs SSPA
Deliver carrier ethernet services over satellite to improve network performance
Utilize satellites in position, timing, and navigation systems

Course Outline

Recap of SATCOM Fundamentals

Characteristics of LEO, MEO, GEO Satellites and their Pros and Cons
Satellite Frequency Bands and their Pros and Cons
Multiplex Schemes: FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, SCPC, MCPC, etc.
Linear and Circular Polarization
Satellite Beams: Global, Regional, Spot Beams, Steerable Beams
EIRP and G/T
Link Planning: Transmit Power, Antenna Gains, Free Space Loss, Receive Power, etc.
Transponder: Carriers, Channel Assignments, Bent Pipe, Regenerative Type

System Design and Engineering

Link Path Calculations
Link Budget Parameters
Isotropic vs Directional Antenna
Design Calculations for Antenna Gain and Beamwidth
Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) and Power Flux Density (PFD)
Solar Outrage Calculations
Atmospheric Attenuation

Satellite Radio Link Planning Workshop

Introduction to Software Tool

Core Design Parameters and Link Budgeting

Design Parameters
Link Budget Design
Detail Design via Software

Case Study

Design Parameters
Selecting Locations
Antenna Parameters
Uplink and Downlink Characteristics
Design Calculations
Generating Results and Final Report

Antenna Characteristics and Gain

Antenna Gain and Beamwidth
Factors affecting Antenna Gain
Calculating Antenna Gain and Beamwidth via Software

Key System Parameters and Performance Metrics

Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP)
Receiver Sensitivity and Noise Power
Gain-to-Noise Temperature (G/T)
Path Loss Calculations
Look Angles: Elevation and Azimuth Angle

Satellite System Components

Transponder: Antenna, LNA, BPF, Down-Converter, HPA
Transponder Types
Transponder Amplifier Technologies, including LTWTA, TWTA vs SSPA

Interference and Capacity Planning

Adjacent Channel Interference
Satellite Capacity Planning
Input and Output Back Off
Uplink Power Control (UPC)
Adjacent Channel Interference (ACI), Adjacent Satellite Interference (C/ASI), and Uplink/Downlink ASI

Noise, Fading, and Atmospheric Effects

LNB Noise Figure
Thermal Noise (kTB)
Rain Depolarization
ITU Rain Regions

Advanced Link Design and Simulation

Designing via Software: Uplink/Downlink, ASI, Rain Model, Satellite, and Carrier-related Parameters
Figure of Merit (G/T) and Energy per Bit (E_b/N_o)
FEC Code Rate, Carrier Spacing, Roll-off Factor, Implementation Loss

Final Report and Additional Exercises

Generating Final Report/Design
More Design Exercises

Orbital Mechanics and Calculations

Orbital Math: Gravitation vs Centripetal Force
Calculating Geosynchronous Radius
Calculating Geosynchronous Velocity
More Exercises

Transponder Bandwidth Calculations

Transponder Bandwidth Equivalent
Bandwidth-Limited vs Power-Limited
Factors that affect Bandwidth and Power
Relationship of Modulation, FEC, and BER
Symbol Rate and Roll Off Factor

Additional Link Planning Exercises

More Case Studies
Computation of Look Angles
Bent Pipe vs Advanced Transponder
Analysis of Design Output Results
Optimization of Design
Examples and Exercises
Antenna Gain Calculator Usage
Link Budget Planning, and Flux Control Attenuator (FCA) Settings
Interactive and Practical Case Studies
Enhance Satellite Efficiency
Optimize Downlink Budgets
Configure Low-Noise Block (LNB) Noise Figures

VSAT Applications – PDH, SDH, DVB and Ethernet

Evolution of DVB Standards
Interfaces on Satellite Modem
Legacy Interfaces: PDH and SDH
TDM vs Ethernet Interfaces
OAM
Mobile Backhaul
Satellite News Gathering
5G backhaul, Maritime, Aviation, and Remote Enterprise Applications

Security in Space

Increasingly Sophisticated Threats
Cybersecurity for tomorrow’s Space Industry
Satellite Industry Leadership in Cybersecurity Collaboration
ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Agenda
Core Principles for Cybersecurity
Major Security Issues
Classification of the Major Scientific Contributions dealing with Security in SATCOM
Integration of NTN with TN and New Security Environment
Security Challenges in Space and Ground Segments
IPSec Architecture
Potential Security Solutions
Security Key Management

VSAT Equipment and Bandwidth Procurement

SATCOM Market Structure and Ecosystem
Defining the Needs
Procuring End-to-end vs Component Services
Technical Considerations
Shared Vs Committed Bandwidth
Bursting Capacity
Selecting a Partner Provider
RFP, RFQ, RFI
Evaluating Proposals
Signing the SLA

Carrier Ethernet Overview

Role of MEF, ITU and IEEE
Standardized Services
Services Operations, Administration and Management (SOAM)
Reliability
Point to Point and Multipoint Services in SATCOM
Quality of Service and Class of Service
Performance Management

Satellite Solutions for 4G/5G

Satellite Benefits for 5G
Bandwidth and Latency Requirements of 5G Use Cases
5G Use Cases: eMBB, uRLLC, mMTC
Technical and Standardization Issues

VoIP and IPLC Over Satellite

Characteristics of VoIP
Challenges of VoIP over Satellite
QoS and Traffic Prioritization
Comparison Techniques
Bandwidth Requirement
Bit Rate Calculations
Transponder Management
VoIP Protocols
International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC)
International Ethernet Private Line (IEPL)
Features of IPLC and IEPL
VPN Via Satellite
Satellite E-Line and EVPL

Navigation Systems and Synchronization

GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, etc.
GNSS-1 vs GNSS-2
Global Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems
Comparison of Systems
GPS Frequencies and Orbits
Positioning, Navigation and Timing
Network Synchronization in Communication Networks
Clock Stratum
Translation of Time from GPS
GPS Signal Concerns and Security Issues
NTP vs PTP (IEEE 1588 v2)

Note: A Certificate of Completion will only be issued upon achieving at least 75% attendance for the course.

Pre-requisites

Participants must have completed the ‘An Overview of Satellite Communications‘ course before taking this course. This course assumes and builds on participants’ foundational understanding of SATCOM.