Advanced Satellite Communications
Course Overview
This course aims to equip professionals with the advanced knowledge and skills required to plan, design, and optimize satellite networks. It is designed for professionals who possess a working knowledge of satellite communications (SATCOM) and who desire to deepen their knowledge in network planning and satellite use cases.
Participants will first be brought through a recap of SATCOM basics, and thereafter delve into advanced topics like link power budget, propagation delays, free space loss, satellite use cases for 5G, and more. Participants will also learn how to ensure security in satellite systems and how to leverage satellite services to increase network efficiency through more efficient use of bandwidth.
During the course, live demonstrations on satellite radio link planning will be conducted for participants to get hands-on experience on the tools and techniques used in SATCOM.
Target Audience
- 3G/4G/5G mobile network operators
- Broadcasting companies that utilize satellite links
- Telecommunications companies (PTTs, carriers)
- Satellite operators
- Internet service providers
- IT & system integration companies
- Multinational companies that rely on satellites
Duration & Training Format
- Classroom: 5 days
- LIVE Virtual*: 35 hours
- A minimum of 6 or more participants are required to commence a company-based LIVE Virtual course
- 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
10 – 14 Feb 2025 (Mon – Fri), GMT +08:00
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
- Analyze and evaluate satellite use cases for 3G/4G/5G
- 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
- 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
- Demonstrate expertise in the VSAT procurement cycle, including RFP/RFQ/RFI and SLAs
- Implement VoIP and IPLC over Satellite for efficient communication
- Deliver carrier ethernet services over satellite to improve network performance
- Utilize satellites in position, timing, and navigation systems
Course Outline
- Â 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
- Â 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
- Software Tool
- Design Parameters
- Link Budget Design
- Case Study: Detail Design via Software
- Antenna Gain and Beamwidth
- Factors Affecting Antenna Gain
- Calculating Antenna Gain and Beamwidth via Software
- Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP)
- Path Loss Calculations
- Look Angles: Elevation and Azimuth Angle
- Transponder: Antenna, LNA, BPF, Down-Converter, HPA
- Adjacent Channel Interference
- Input and Output Back Off
- Uplink Power Control (UPC)
- LNB Noise Figure
- Designing via Software: Uplink/Downlink, ASI, Rain Model, Satellite, and Carrier-related Parameters
- Figure of Merit (G/T) and Energy per BITÂ (Eb/No)
- Transponder TypesÂ
- ITU Rain Regions
- FEC Code Rate, Carrier Spacing, Roll-off Factor, Implementation Loss
- Generating Final Report/Design
- More Design Exercises
- Orbital Math: Gravitation vs Centripetal Force
- Calculating Geosynchronous Radius
- Calculating Geosynchronous Velocity
- More Exercises
- 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
- More Case Studies
- Computation of Look Angles
- Bent Pipe vs Advanced Transponder
- Analysis of Design Output Results
- Optimization of Design
- Examples and Exercises
- 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
- SATCOM Market Structure and Ecosystem
- Defining the Needs
- Procuring End-to-end vs Component Services
- Technical ConsiderationsÂ
- Shared Vs Committed Bandwidth
- Bursting Capacity
- Selecting a Partner Provider
- RFP, RFQ, RFI
- Evaluating Proposals
- Signing the SLA
- 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 Benefits for 5G
- Bandwidth and Latency Requirements of 5G Use Cases
- 5G Use Cases: eMBB, uRLLC, mMTC
- Technical and Standardization Issues
- Characteristics of VoIP
- Challenges of VoIP over Satellite
- QoS and Traffic Prioritization
- Comparison Techniques
- Bandwidth Requirement
- Bit Rate Calculations
- Transponder Management
- VoIP ProtocolsÂ
- International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC)
- International Ethernet Private Line (IEPL)
- Features of IPLC and IEPL
- VPN Via Satellite
- Satellite E-Line and EVPL
- Transponder Bandwidth Equilvalent
- Bandwidth-Limited vs Power-Limited
- Factors that affect Bandwidth and Power
- Relationship of Modulation, FEC, and BER
- Symbol Rate and Roll Off Factor
- 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 TimingÂ
- 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.