Report: Satellite Broadband Services Industry Has Enormous Growth Potential

Dublin, Ireland -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of "Impact Analysis - Satellite Transmission Standards" to its offering.

The Frost & Sullivan research service titled "Impact Analysis- Satellite Transmission Standards" provides an insight into the impact of standards based on the two-way satellite broadband VSAT systems. The aim is to identify the need, evaluate the benefits, and analyze the current and future trends as well as key development activities carried out by institutes, universities, and organizations across the globe in the field of satellite broadband VSAT systems. This research services extensively describes technologies such as S-DOCSIS, DVB-RCS, and IPoS, which are aiming to be standards in this industry. In addition, the adoption factors for the satellite broadband communications industry are discussed.

The following technologies are covered in this research:

• Digital Video Broadcasting-return Channel via Satellite (DVB-RCS): DVB-RCS is an open standard for two-way satellite broadband VSAT systems that was designed by DVB project in order to cater to the high demand in the provisioning of broadband wireless access. This standard is published by European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) as EN 301 790. The main purpose of DVB-RCS is establishing a cost-effective VSAT solution and opening an opportunity for network provider to embark on large-scale deployment by avoiding proprietary standards being controlled by a single vendor.

• Internet Protocol over Satellite (IPoS): IPoS is ratified as TIA-1008 by the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) in December 2003. IPoS was created by Hughes Network Systems (HNS), Maryland, U.S to deliver an ‘always on' IP services target at residential, SOHO, and enterprise markets. It is projected as an industry standard optimized for delivery of IP broadband services over two-way satellite channels by HNS. The main objectives of developing IPoS were to create an industry standard satellite system and spur the growth of satellite services.

• Satellite-data over Cable Service Interface Specifications (S-DOCSIS): S-DOCSIS, a modified version of DOCSIS for the physical layer attributes of satellite transmission, was introduced upon the beginning of contract with WildBlue. It operates in Ka-band spectrum. Compared to DOCSIS, S-DOCSIS implements more advanced modulation and coding such as turbo coding and MF-TDMA. Turbo coding is combined with advanced dynamic fade mitigation techniques to enhance the system performance. S-DOCSIS also incorporates moving Picture Expert group (MPEG) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) encapsulation standard.

• Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT): VSAT is a small fixed earth station, which is widely used for satellite-based communication networking. It consists of two units--outdoor and indoor. The outdoor unit (ODU) comprises an antenna and a radio frequency transceiver, and an indoor unit (IDU) serves as a modem connecting end-user device. The VSAT antenna includes a reflector, a feedhorn, and a mount and its size is usually in the range of 0.8 m to 3.8 m in diameter. The ODU of the VSAT could be wall mounted or fixed on the ground while the IDU could be fixed close to the end-user terminals that suits the user's convenience.

SOURCE: Research and Markets