Satellite Communication

VERY SMALL APERTURE

TERMINAL (VSAT)

Group :
Amaruddin Isa GS12350
Zulkeflee Kusin GS12317
Siti Istianah Mahdzur GS12287
Introduction
• Satellite Communication
is a technology of data transmission whether one-way data
broadcasting or two-way interactive using frequency
as a medium.

Consist of :
• Space Segment or Satellite ( eg. Measat, Intelsat, Inmarsat )
• Ground Segment or earth station which includes Antenna, Outdoor
Unit, Inter Facility Link, Indoor Unit and Customer Premises
Equipment.

• VSAT
is a satellite-based communications service that offers flexible and
reliable communications solutions including Enterprise Wide
Networking with high reliability and a wide reach that extend even
to remote sites.
Why VSAT?
VSAT networks provides:
• Reliability in transmission of data (data, voice, video)
• Allocation of resources to different users (bandwidth,
amplification power)
• Fixed network solutions at reasonable price (eg. voice
channel at 3-15 cents/min.)
• Provide point-to-multipoint (broadcast), multipoint-to-
point (data collection), point-to-point communications
and broadband multimedia services.
• Serviced in land area which are difficult to install
(remote locations ,water areas).
• An ability to have direct access to users and user
premises.
Type of satellite service
• International Telephony – using Public Switched
Telephone Network (PSTN)
– Intermediate Data Rate (IDR)
– Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
• Broadcasting
– TV Uplink
– Television Receive Only (TVRO)
– Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG)
• VSAT
– Personal Earth Station (PES-TDMA)
– Telephony Earth Station (TES-TDMA)
– Domestic IDR/Single Channel Per Carrier (SCPC)
– FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access)
Satellite Communication Concept
C Band – 6/4GHz
Ku Band -14/12GHz
Ka Band – 30/20GHz

Uplink Downlink
HPA 6 GHz 4 GHz LNA

Up Converter Down Converter

Satellite Modem Satellite Modem

CPE PSTN CPE PSTN

Transmitting Earth Receiving Earth

Station Station

Note :
HPA – High Power Amplifier (Earth station equipment that amplifies the transmit
RF signal. )
CPE – customer premises equipment ( eg. Telephone, PABX, Ethernet hub, host
server, etc.)
VSAT specification
Antenna diameter : 0.6m – 3.8m
Traffic Capacity : 9.6Kbps – 2Mbps
Frequency Bands : C-band (4-6Ghz),
Ku-Band (12-14Ghz),
Ka-Band (20-30Ghz)
Use of satellite : Geo-stationary satellite
(36,000km above equator)
Network : Point-to-point
Configuration : Point-to-multipoint
Equipment List :
– Antenna;
– Outdoor Unit (High Power Amplifier (HPA), Low Noise Amplifier
(LNA), Solid-State Power Amplifier (SSPA))
– Indoor Unit (chassis)
Note :
• Antenna size is used to describe the ability of the antenna to amplify
the signal strength;
• Outdoor unit (ODU) is connected through a low-loss coaxial cable to
the indoor unit (IDU) called IFL (Interfacility Link).
Typical VSAT system

• Up- converters and High Powered

• antenna
Amplifiers
varies - antenna size describe the
• Radio Frequency Terminal (RFT) is mounted on the
(HPA) used for converting and amplifying theantenna to amplify the signal
ability of the
antenna frame and interconnected to the feed-horn +
signal before transmitting to thestrength
feed-horn.
Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA) + down-converters.
• Extended C band, down converter
• feed-horn
• LNAs receives the transmitted power to
directs
– minimize signal noise. Noise temperature is
signal at 4.5 to 4.8GHz and theantenna
up converter
dish or collects the received
parameter used to describe the performance of an LNA.
converts it to 6.725 to 7.025GHz.power from it.
VSAT Services
• Interactive real time application:
– Point of Sale/retail/Banking (eg. ATM)
– Corporate data
• Telephony
– Rural : individual subscribers
– Corporate Telephony
• Intranet, Internet and IP infrastructure
– Multimedia delivery (eg. video streaming)
– Interactive distance learning/ training
• Direct-to-home
– Broadband Internet access for consumers and
businesses
VSAT Topology
• STAR - the hub station controls and monitors can
communicates with a large number of dispersed VSATs.
Generally, the Data Terminal Equipment and 3 hub
antenna is in the range of 6-11m in diameter. Since all
VSATs communicate with the central hub station only,
this network is more suitable for centralized data
applications.

• MESH - a group of VSATs communicate directly with any

other VSAT in the network without going through a
central hub. A hub station in a mesh network performs
only the monitoring and control functions. These
networks are more suitable for telephony applications.

• HYBRID Network - In practice usually using hybrid

networks, where a part of the network operates on a
star topology while some sites operate on a mesh
topology, thereby accruing benefits of both topologies.
What is VSAT Accessing Scheme?
The objective of VSAT networks:
- is to maximize the use of common
satellite and other resources amongst all
VSAT sites.
The method:
- by optimizing the use of satellite capacity,
and spectrum utilization in a flexible and
cost-effective manner ( referred as
satellite access schemes.)
- or we can call as VSAT technology.
Type of VSAT technology
TDMA (time-division multiple access)
• When numerous remote sites communicate with
one central hub, this design is similar to packet-
switched networks.
• Because of competition with one another for
access to the central hub, it restrict the
maximum bandwidth to most cases is about
19.2 kbps.
• all VSATs share satellite resource on a time-slot
basis.
• Usually used in STAR topology as a transmission
technique.
• Offered to domestic needs.
 TDMA (time-division multiple access)

Copyright Maxis

The VSAT Hub communicates with all dispersed VSATs (typically a 1.8-meter
diameter parabolic-shaped dish) on an outgoing channel of up to 512kbps based on
the TDM scheme. The incoming or return channel from the dispersed VSATs uses
the TDMA channel technology that enables a large number of the respective VSATs
to share this single return channel. The incoming routes typically operate at
128kbps, and can go up to a maximum bandwidth of 256kbps.
 TDMA (time-division multiple access)

Copyright Maxis

Petrol stations, information providers, retail chains, financial institutions and any
large corporation that requires transfers of low to medium rate data applications
between its head office and, local and outstation branch offices. Example of Point of
Sales (POS transactions), Credit Card Verification, Reservations Systems
Financial and Banking applications (teller, loans, ATM) etc.
SCDC (single-carrier per channel)
• SCPC-based design provides a point-to-
point technology, making VSAT equivalent
to conventional leased lines.
• dedicated bandwidth of up to 2 Mbps
• Usually use in an international VSAT
services in Asia-Pacific.
 SCDC (single-carrier per channel)

Copyright Maxis

In the Hub-to-Remote configuration, one end of the VSAT link (normally the
customer's HQ) is connected to the 11-meter VSAT Hub (Earth Station) via a
terrestrial leased line. A VSAT antenna at the remote end or the distant end
(normally the branch office) of the VSAT link is then interconnected to the VSAT
hub via the satellite.
SCDC (single-carrier per channel)

Copyright Maxis

VSAT links with a Remote-to-Remote configuration bypass the VSAT

Hub and has a stand-alone VSAT antenna at both ends of the link.
Typical VSAT antenna size ranges from 1.8m to 2.4m.
FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access)
• oldest method for channel allocation
• the satellite channel bandwidth is broken into
frequency bands for different earth stations
• the earth stations must be carefully power-
controlled to prevent the microwave power
spilling into the bands for the other channels.
Here, all VSATs share the satellite resource on
the frequency domain only.

3 type:
• PAMA (Pre-Assigned Multiple Access);
• DAMA (Demand Assigned Multiple Access); and
• CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access).
PAMA (Pre-Assigned Multiple Access);
• the VSATs are pre-allocated a designated
frequency. Equivalent of the terrestrial
(land based) leased line solutions.
• PAMA solutions use the satellite resources
constantly. Therefore, no call-up delay in
the interactive data applications or high
traffic volumes.
• PAMA connects high data traffic sites
within an organization.
DAMA (Demand Assigned Multiple Access);
• The network uses a pool of satellite channels, which are
available for use by any station in that network.
• On demand, a pair of available channels is assigned, so
that a call can be established. Once the call is
completed, the channels are returned to the pool for an
assignment to another call.
• Since the satellite resource is used only in pro-portion to
the active circuits and their holding times, this is ideally
suited for voice traffic and data traffic in batch mode.
• DAMA offers point-to-point voice, fax, data requirements
and supports video-conferencing. Satellite connections
are established and dropped only when traffic demands
them.
CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)
• Under this, a central network monitoring system
allocates a unique code to each of the VSATs. Enabling
multiple VSATs to transmit simultaneously and share a
common frequency band.
• The data signal is combined with a high bit rate code
signal which is independent of the data.
• Reception at the end of the link is accomplished by
mixing the incoming composite data/code signal with a
locally generated and correctly synchronized replica of
the code.
• Since this network requires that the central network
management system co-ordinates code management
and clock synchronization of all remote VSATs, STAR
topology is the best one.
• Mainly used for interference rejection or for security
reasons in military systems.
VSAT Characteristic and Advantage
• Reliability: reliable satellite transmission of data, voice and video
between an unlimited number of geographically dispersed sites or
from these sites to headquarters

• Flexibility: The VSAT networks offer enormous expansion

capabilities; On the other hand, VSATs offer unrestricted and
unlimited reach. Additional VSATs can be rapidly installed to support
the network expansion to any site, no matter however remote.

• Network Management: Network monitoring and control of the entire

VSAT network is much simpler than a network of leased lines, easily
integrates end-to-end monitoring and configuration control for all
network subsystems.

• A low mean-time to repair - few hours, compare to leased lines

which extends up to a few days. Essentially, lesser elements imply
lower MTTR. Uptime of up to 99.5 percent is achievable on a VSAT
network. This is significantly higher than the typical leased line
uptime of approximately 80-85%.
VSAT Characteristic and Advantage
• Cost: VSAT network offers significant savings over 2-3
years timeframe. The service charges depend on the
bandwidth which is allocated to the network in line with
customer requirements.

• Link Budgets: RF equipment would cater to the

requirements of the network topology and satellite
modems in use. The link Budget estimates the ground
station and satellite EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated
Power) required. Calculations of signal levels through the
system to ensure the quality of service should normally
be done, prior to the establishment of a satellite link.
Opportunities in VSAT technology
• Voice over IP (VoIP) via satellite
• Frame Relay via satellite
• ATM via satellite
• Video-on-demand via satellite
• Multimedia application
– Internet/e-mail connection
– Telemedicine
– Distance learning
Implementation VSAT in Malaysia
• Rural Communities (E-Bario, schools) –
telephone and internet
• Esso Malaysia, Shell Trading, Caltex – data
application
• Bernama
• Felda Palm and Transport
• Petronas Carigali & Dagangan
• Ericsson, Motorola
• Standard & Chartered Bank
• Min. of Education & Min. of Health
Thank you