Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - HTSEmpower (The High Throughput Satellite Enabler Instrument: HTSInstrument)

Teaser

The satellite industry has dramatically advanced over recent years, both in terms of capability and competitiveness. The satellite “facelift” mainly culminates around High Throughput Satellite (HTS). The technology will enable more people to access digital services via...

Summary

The satellite industry has dramatically advanced over recent years, both in terms of capability and competitiveness. The satellite “facelift” mainly culminates around High Throughput Satellite (HTS). The technology will enable more people to access digital services via satellite than ever before, but, perhaps more importantly, it means that satellite is becoming a viable alternative to other types of communication technologies, especially in those hard to reach areas. Then, satellite broadband services are offered to rural areas at a much cheaper rate and better quality than ever before, so consumers are beginning to see the value in turning to these services for a better (or in some cases any) connection.
However many customers are complaining about the complexity compared to fiber, especially in the deployment face. HTS is based on economy of scale where the operators have to provide larger networks to cope with the extra demand, which often need to be deployed in a short time frame.
The installation is usually costly and the margin for error is high. It is quite often to misaligned the antenna causing a multitude of problems, including interference in other satellites and services. Many VSAT networks are also mobile. Take the maritime, for example, it can have been perfectly well installed and pointed, but then every time it moves, you risk all those same misalign problems again. Often the personnel accompanying the unit won’t be highly trained in satellite communications, but even when they are, it means a constant job of realigning to ensure the equipment is always working at its optimum and without satellite interference. In most cases, the network will factor in extra cost.

For the end user, HTSEMPOWER aims to (i) To make VSAT and Satellite Technology a more attractive proposition to the end customer by drastically simplifying the task of installing and commissioning VSAT-based satellite services, ensuring the required technical quality and reducing the cost of VSAT deployment, and (ii) Open the door to accurate self-customer installation with easy-to-use technology by simplifying the installation process through intuitive tools and allowing the VSAT installers to self-check critical parameters in real time.

The overall objective is to develop this tool for the main manufacturers of infrastructure of VSATs, in such a way, that our solution will be available worldwide for most of the VSAT networks technologies that are leading this market.

As a results, the project has been running during 22 months, with full achievements of the objectives and complete execution of the performed task.

Work performed

During the execution of the project, Integrasys has performed the following activities:

- To support new types of HTS technologies thanks to customization of our solution to main manufacturers with higher market share: During the project execution, we manage to involve support nine platforms from seven manufacturers. It exceeds the initial objectives (6 platforms)

-The installation of demonstration is part of the strategy for the future commercialization of HTSInstrument. Given that our customers will be the resellers of the solution, they need the means to showcase. The criteria for installing demo station is maximizing the awareness of HTSInstrument and the market penetration. Finally, 20 demo stations has been installed, which five of them, are in our office, so we can directly interact with the customer of our resellers

- We have drastically reduce time-to-market for market-specific or customer-specific. Commercial version for the platform is ready and Purchase Orders are coming in 2019. The technical work, continuous and fluent customer interaction, the intensive dissemination activities coordinated with IPR protection are the key activities to reduce the time to market.

- Our participation on Industrial Association has helped to internationalization of the solution this objective. Being the auto-commissioning method for the network manufacturers that cover around 80% of the market, make our solution to be in a excellent position for being the de-facto standard for VSAT commissioning.

-Integrasys has acquired a remarkable knowledge and synergies with stakeholder that is opening new opportunities. A example of product based on market needs is Alusat, a new functionality of HTSInstrument featuring remote commissioning and maintenance of VSAT. This new solution has been already presented and awarded in two prestigious forums: VSAT Global Forum in London and at World Teleport Association Satellite Show 2018. Additonally, based on the knowledge acquired, new products/project will be developed according to customer needs.

- At the end of the project a detailed commercialization plan has been delivered. The commercialization plan includes (i) Exploitable results, (ii) Market analysis, (iii) A Business Canvas Model, (iv) SWOT analysis , (v)Human resources plan, (vi)Marketing plan for the next years, (vi) Financial Forecast, (vii) IPR management, (vii) Production infrastructure

Final results

The HTSEMPOWER brings the following benefits to user and markets:
- Reduction of physical and economic barriers to deploy satellite broadband services, especially in very isolated areas. Automation Network Deployment: as VSAT market tends to grow, service providers are requesting ease of use and auto-deployment capabilities from modem manufacturers.
- OPEX Cost saving in deployment: Faster installation, it enables the service provider to save time and resources on the deployment: (i) automated deployment process, (ii) avoid the need of coming back to reinstall, HUB and NOC personnel, (iii) No more Calls to the NOC and (iv) allow multiple installation in geographically disperse sites at the same time. This is explained in more detail in the following interview at Cabsat tradeshow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9tTkGIZtMM
- Mitigation of satellite interference:Our product is a unique auto-commissioning system able to minimize Cross Pol and ASI (Adjacent Satellite Interference), which in turn allows more reliable communications and helps to avoid penalties due to interference. Interference has long been a problem in the VSAT industry.
- Usability for installers: The installer just needs a mobile handheld to carry out the installation. Other equipment, such as an on-site spectrum analyser, is not needed in the field.


The unique selling point of the solution are:
- Minimizes the calls to the Network Operation Center and Reduces Human Factor issues.
- It minimizes Adjacent Satellite (ASI) and Cross Polar (XPOL) Interference.
- No more Telephone connection required. No more expensive Spectrum Analyser required in the field.
- Easy to use for installers. Available in Laptop and Smartphone
- Immediate Return on Investment (ROI) is less than three months, even one month in extreme cases.
- It allows Simultaneous Installers in different locations at the same time.

Given that typical network are around 1000 VSATs, the ROI is estimated in less than six months.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.integrasys-space.com.