Got the power to run 24x7? - Globecomm Systems systems - Company Business and Marketing

Communications News, Nov, 1999

Satellite ground stations must run continuously in the new millennium.

Global access to the U.S. Internet by satellite has become an increasingly important commodity in emerging economies. In many cases where the terrestrial communications infrastructure has not yet been developed or is unable to support Internet communication at an adequate data rate, satellite connectivity provides the only feasible, cost-effective way of completing the link.

In addition, growth in wireless local loop access systems continues. These fixed wireless communications solutions provide telephone voice, high-speed data, and Internet services. Typically used to provide a full range of high-quality services in areas where the wireline telephone infrastructure is either overburdened, damaged, or absent, wireless local loop access systems can also be the last-mile connection for a satellite network. As such, they can connect even the most remote regions of the world to the global switched telephone network.

Globecomm Systems, Inc. is a global provider of turnkey satellite communications, ground systems, and networks, while its subsidiary, NetSat Express, Inc. provides Internet access via satellite with the capability of offering Internet protocol (IP) multicast data broadcasting services. This combination of satellite communications engineering and IP engineering expertise provides Internet connectivity, intranet extension, digital media distribution, and other end-to-end global network solutions required by enterprises worldwide.

In the past five years, Globecomm Systems has installed hundreds of ground segment systems of all sizes and types, as well as satellite-based networks of all types, in more than 50 countries. Typical Globecomm Systems satellite ground segment systems consist of an earth station, which is an integrated system designed to transmit and receive signals to and from satellites, together with ancillary equipment. Customers include prime communications infrastructure contractors; government-owned postal, telephone, and telegraph providers; other telecommunications carriers; producers and distributors of news and entertainment content; and other corporations, military organizations, and Internet service providers.

DRIVING MARKET FACTORS

Steve Yablonski, Globecomm Systems vice president, explains some of the reasons for the growth in demand for satellite and wireless communications and the factors that company engineers consider when building reliability into their satellite networks and systems. "Among the factors that have spurred the growth of satellite communications is the absence of terrestrial telecommunication lines in many parts of the world," he says. "Today, as many emerging nations demand access to the Internet, as well as to the global switched telephone network, they are challenged by both the enormous expense and huge geographic problems associated with implementing a terrestrial-based wire or cable communications infrastructure. In situations such as these," Yablonski says, "satellite communications and wireless `last miles' are a cost-effective, efficient, and reliable alternative to land lines."

Dr. Boris Davidson was instrumental in implementing Globecomm's wireless local loop access systems around the world. "Installing radio base units and the other components of wireless local loop access systems in the most remote regions of the world provides economical telephony and data services, including high-speed Internet, to people who have never before had even rudimentary telephone service," he says. "However, this leap into the 21st century often requires the availability of reliable electrical power in areas where local power generation is the most unreliable."

Another factor driving satellite growth is the ubiquity of IP, which supports the simultaneous high-speed broadcast of large amounts of information. Satellite multicast is fast becoming the method of choice for disseminating both public: Internet and private corporate intranet information around the world.

PROTECTING VITAL TRAFFIC

With all indicators pointing to the continued explosive growth of the Internet and an increasing demand for satellite solutions for all types of communications, both ground stations and wireless networks have to provide virtually fail-safe 24x7x365 availability. While earth stations are made up of a wide variety of different systems and components, their common denominator is the need for reliable electrical power.

Again, unfortunately, in many places in the world, electrical power is either inadequate, unreliable, or absent. Very often these are the exact locations where an earth station is required to complete a specific mission.

"The selection of a site to build an earth station is mostly determined by the availability and profile of our customer's premises," says Glenn Capwell, Globecomm Systems engineer. "Usually they own or lease a facility or land and want their earth station on this site. Of course, the area must provide a line of sight to the targeted satellite, and it must be reasonably free of radio interference. We can alter the antenna position and location slightly, but--to a large extent--we must make do with what is available--and optimize it."