Preface xi

Acknowledgments xiii

About the Author xv

1 Overview 1

1.1 Background 2

1.2 Industry Issues and Opportunities: Evolving Trends 6

1.2.1 Issues and Opportunities 6

1.2.2 Evolving Trends 9

1.3 Basic Satellite Primer 15

1.3.1 Satellite Orbits 15

1.3.2 Satellite Transmission Bands 22

1.3.3 Satellite Signal Regeneration 32

1.3.4 Satellite Communication Transmission Chain 34

1.4 Satellite Applications 38

1.5 Satellite Market View 42

1.6 Where is Fiber Optic Technology Going? 45

1.7 Innovation Needed 47

References 48

2 DVB-S2 Modulation Extensions and Other Advances 51

2.1 Part1: A Review of Modulation and FEC Principles 52

2.1.1 E_b/N_o Concepts 52

2.1.2 FEC Basics 56

2.1.3 Filters and Roll-Off Factors 63

2.2 Part2: DVB-S2 and DVB-S2 Extensions 71

2.2.1 DVB-S2 Modulation 71

2.2.2 DVB-S2 Extensions 77

2.3 Part3: Other Ground-Side Advances 84

2.3.1 Carrier ID 84

2.3.2 Intelligent Inverse Multiplexing 87

2.3.3 Implications of H.265 Coding 91

References 93

3 High Throughput Satellites (HTS) and KA/KU Spot Beam Technologies 95

3.1 Overview 98

3.2 Multiple Access Schemes and Frequency Reuse 101

3.3 Spot Beam Approach 105

3.4 Frequency Colors 109

3.5 Frequency Bands of Operation 114

3.6 Losses and Rain Considerations 122

3.7 HTS Applications 124

3.8 Comparison Between Approaches 128

3.9 A View of KU-Based HTS Systems 131

3.10 HTS Design Considerations 134

3.11 Spot Beam Antenna Design Basics (Satellite Antenna) 135

3.11.1 Single Feed per Beam Antennas 138

3.11.2 Multiple Feeds per Beam Antennas 140

3.12 Examples of HTS 142

3.12.1 ViaSat-1 and -2 143

3.12.2 EchoStar 145

3.12.3 Eutelsat KA-SAT 147

3.12.4 Intelsat EPIC 149

3.12.5 Global Xpress 151

3.12.6 Other Traditional HTS 151

3.12.7 O3b 153

3.12.8 Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) 156

References 157

4 Aeronautical Mobility Services 161

4.1 Overview of the Mobility Environment 162

4.2 Aeronautical Systems 166

4.2.1 Market Opportunities 166

4.2.2 Technology Approaches to Aeronautical Connectivity 168

4.2.3 Aeronautical Antenna Technology and Regulatory Matters 175

4.2.4 Terminal Technology 178

4.2.5 A Specific Example of Antenna Engineering (ViaSat) 178

4.2.6 Beamforming and Ground-Based Beam Forming (GBBF) Systems 188

4.3 Technology Players and Approaches 192

4.3.1 Satellite Infrastructure Providers 192

4.3.2 Vertical Service Providers to Airlines 198

References 205

5 Maritime and Other Mobility Services 207

5.1 Approaches to Maritime Communication 207

5.2 Key Players 212

5.2.1 Inmarsat 212

5.2.2 ViaSat/KVH 212

5.2.3 Intelsat 213

5.2.4 O3b 213

5.3 Comms-On-The-Move Applications 216

5.4 HTS/Ka-Band Transportable Systems 217

References 219

6 M2M Developments and Satellite Applications 221

6.1 A General Overview of the Internet of Things and M2M 222

6.2 M2M Frameworks 233

6.3 M2M Applications Examples and Satellite Support 241

6.3.1 Examples of General Applications 242

6.3.2 Satellite Roles Context and Applications 254

6.3.3 Antennas for Satellite M2M Applications 255

6.3.4 M2M Market Opportunities for Satellite Operators 256

6.3.5 Key Satellite Industry Players and Approaches 263

6.4 Competitive Wireless Technologies 282

6.4.1 Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) 291

6.4.2 Long-Term Evolution (LTE) 291

References 294

7 Ultra HD Video/TV and Satellite Implications 297

7.1 H.265 in the Ultra HD Context 298

7.2 Bandwidth/Transmission Requirements 313

7.3 Terrestrial Distribution 315

7.4 Satellite Distribution 316

7.5 Hybrid Distribution 317

7.6 Deployment Challenges Costs Acceptance 319

References 319

8 Satellite Technology Advances: Electric Propulsion and Launch Platforms 321

8.1 Basic Technology and Approach for Electric Propulsion 322

8.2 EP Engines 328

8.2.1 Ion Engines 330

8.2.2 Hall Effect Thrusters 330

8.2.3 MagnetoPlasma Dynamic Thruster 333

8.3 Advantages and Disadvantages of all-EP 335

8.4 Basics About Station-Keeping 337

8.5 Industry Approaches 340

8.6 New Approaches and Players for Launch Platforms 342

8.6.1 Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) 342

8.6.2 Sea Launch 344

8.6.3 Traditional Launchers 344

References 345

Appendix 8A Transponder Costs 347

8A.1 Typical SG&A and EBITDA for the General Commercial World and Satellite Firms 347

8A.2 Transponder Costs 354

References 356

Appendix A Partial Listing of System-Level US Patents for Spot-Beam/Multi-Beam Satellites 357

Appendix B Glossary of Key Satellite Concepts and Terms 367

Index 413