ISSUE 42 | JULY–AUGUST 2015 Think Tank Industry heads discuss HTS and evolution of ground terminals mobile medicine Doctors in rural areas use satellite to boost healthcare initiatives UP in The aiR Patrick Brannelly of Emirates on providing uninterrupted on-board connectivity to passengers on their mobile devices SatEditorial Group Chairman and Founder Dominic De Sousa Group CEO Nadeem Hood BYOD in the Air Publishing Director Satellite connectivity on-board airlines has been the norm for quite Raz Islam a while, but in recent years, some airlines took it on themselves to [email protected] +971 4 375 5471 allow passengers to connect to the internet and make phone calls, using their own devices. Emirates was the first airline in the world Editorial Director Vijaya Cherian to introduce this feature on its fleet in 2008. The technology has [email protected] improved significantly since then and even though speeds are not +971 55 105 3787 on par with terrestrial fibre, for an aeroplane travelling at 40,000 Editor feet and nearly 1000km/h, its rather impressive. Clayton Aldo Vallabhan [email protected] Other airlines, that are more product focused, have followed suit, and +971 4 375 5479 are playing, catch-up to the trend. Fitting aircraft with broadband terminals, however, takes some ADVERTISING time, and it’s only carriers with a large fleet that can afford to fit equipment, and allow for the Group Sales Manager Sandip Virk downtime of the aircraft between flights. In the case of carriers buying new aircraft, the technology [email protected] can be fitted prior to taking delivery of the aircraft. For now, this is quite novel, however, in time, +971 4 375 5483 just like inflight entertainment, using your device to browse the web and chat with friends will +971 50 929 1845 be the norm in commercial air travel. With continuous improvements in technology, it won’t be Sales Executive long before speeds akin to what we are used to in our homes, will come into effect. Read more Natasa Glisovic [email protected] about it in our exclusive interview with Patrick Brannelly, the Divisional Vice President of customer +971 56 394 7706 experience, inflight entertainment and connectivity at Emirates. MARKETING Marketing Manager In other news, IBC is just around the corner, and I’m eagerly waiting to connect with all our friends Lisa Justice in the industry. Amsterdam always manages to put on a show, and I’m sure this year won’t be any [email protected] different. Please get in touch with me so we can fix up some time to catch up during the exhibition. +971 4 375 5498 DESIGN As always, I’d love to hear your feedback and comments on this issue of the magazine. Please send Art Director Simon Cobon Designer Lucy McMurray me an email or call on the number in the panel to your left. DISTRIbuTIoN Distribution Manager Sunil Kumar Clayton Vallabhan [email protected] Editor +971 4 3755470 PRoDuCTIoN Production Manager Vipin V Vijay [email protected] In this edition: +971 4 375 5713 “Thuraya’s 75MB bundle plans are “You’re not going to get a good DIGITAL SERVICES Web Developer Mohammad Awais designed for those whose only YouTube experience. Frankly, that Web Developer Umair Shamim previous options have been to buy is going to use so much bandwidth Published by a low-end plan.” and would upset other passengers.” Keith Murray, Product Manager, Patrick Brannelly, Divisional Vice Marine, Thuraya President, Emirates Registered at IMPZ Page 6 Page 10 PO Box 13700 Dubai, UAE “4K, HEVC and linear vs non-linear “Further identifying C-band for Tel: +971 4 440 9100 Fax: +971 4 447 2409 content, dynamic SCPC technology IMT would mean even more www.cpimediagroup.com called MX-DMA and S2X are all disruption to all these vital Printed by buzzwords that the market is services which would have a huge Printwell Printing Press LLC flooded with right now.” impact on the socio-economic Thomas Van den Driessche, Chief development of many countries.” © Copyright 2015 CPI. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to Commercial Officer, Newtec Vicky Wong, Senior Engineer, Asiasat ensure the accuracy of all information in this Page 22 Page 40 magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein. July-August 2015 | SatellitePro | 1 SatContents Issue 42 | July-August 2015 SatNews SatEvents 4 26 Collaboration in Space All set for IBC MBRSC, UKSA and Deimos Space UK IBC2015 will take place from September 10-15, announce collaboration; STN announces and will cover fourteen halls across the RAI in reorganisation; YahClick launches satellite Amsterdam. Read on for a preview of what broadband services in Pakistan some exhibitors will have on display SatLead 4 SatStudy 10 32 Up in the Air Relief Operations With the introduction of satellite connectivity A look at how NGOs and relief organisations, on-board its fleet of aircraft, Emirates now engaged in humanitarian and peace- allows passengers to use their own personal keeping missions, rely on satellite-powered devices on-board to browse the Internet communications technology SatTechnology SatTechnology 16 37 Essential Satcom Mobile Medicine A look at how satcom is a necessity Innovation in satellite technology is helping for military personnel, aid workers doctors in remote areas use e-health during disaster recovery, healthcare 26 services to communicate and share medical professionals and rural populations expertise with colleagues SatTrends SatGuest 22 40 Trends and Challenges Protecting C-band networks In conversation with industry gurus Vicky Wong, Senior Communications on some of the recent trends in the Systems Engineer at Asiasat, speaks satellite industry, and the subsequent about how sharing C-band with challenges that these might present, to terrestrial applications can be detrimental operators and end-users, in the future to operators in the long run 40 July-August 2015 | SatellitePro | 3 SatNews MBRSC, UKSA and Deimos Space UK announce collaboration Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and Deimos Space UK Ltd announced that they plan to proceed with a project co-funded by MBRSC, DEIMOS Space and the UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Space Programme (IPSP). Based on this announcement the UK space agency signed an agreement with Deimos Space UK Ltd with the MBRSC as their International Partnership Space Programme (IPSP) Partner. The project named ‘SAFIY’ (Smart Application for Feature extraction & 3D modelling using high resolution satellite Imagery) will use Earth Observation (EO) data to monitor, and detect changes in vegetation, water, road networks and buildings in support of the Dubai “smart government” initiative. This project will develop mapping applications that utilise DubaiSat-2 and Deimos-2 high resolution optical data. Chris Lee from the www.mbrsc.ae UKSA and Salem Humaid Al Marri, www.deimos-space.com from MBRSC. STN aNNouNceS ReoRgaNiSaTioN Yahclick lauNcheS SaTelliTe bRoadbaNd SeRviceS iN PakiSTaN STN has announced the first steps of YahClick has been officially launched Pakistan is a significant milestone for a major internal reorganisation. at an event in Islamabad, Pakistan. YahClick. Regulatory approval by the Over the coming months the company is Customers across Pakistan will now Pakistani authorities for consumer use, planned to complete a designed transition be able to connect to satellite broadband paves the way for us to continue our global both internally and externally. These via a small satellite dish and modem, growth strategy in this promising market.” new appointments are the first of many including places where terrestrial “The exceptional demand in the rural which will change the face of STN. infrastructure is currently not yet available. and underserved communities across Together with the current leadership, this Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, CEO at Afghanistan and the whole of Africa has led new management structure will enhance Yahsat said: “Our consumer launch in to YahClick’s rapid growth to become the the company’s driving force giving way to largest satellite internet provider in Africa advanced client services and the future and a dominant player in the Afghan market. strategic development of the company. We are confident that with this launch of our STN has appointed Martina Knific as its service in Pakistan, we will attract even more CFO. Knific is responsible for the annual business and home users who are striving reporting of the company’s financial, to for better connectivity and access to accounting and tax reports, which are global online, social, cultural and knowledge consistent with all applicable laws and communities,” continued Mahmood. regulations. In addition to this Knific prepares Mahmood added: “YahClick will help details of forecast vs actual analysis as Pakistan accelerate its economic growth well as leading the accounting team. and social development by improving access STN has also appointed Sazo Hauzer as to information and reducing operational its new Director of sales and Jurij Blazin costs for internet access in the most has been promoted to Technical Director. Masood M. remote and currently underserved areas.” Sharif Mahmood, www.stn.eu CEO at Yahsat. www.yahsat.ae 4 | SatellitePro | July-August 2015 SatNews RAI Amsterdam Conference 10-14 September : Exhibition 11-15 September Thuraya launches affordable 75MB maritime bundle plan Thuraya has developed a 75MB bundle them a real choice. Our new bundles will plan adding to its list of flexible, help companies save money from the value-for-money voice and data bundles offset without compromising on quality. and zero up-front fees on hardware. Thuraya’s 75MB bundle plans are designed With the maritime sector enduring for those whose only previous options have financial pressures, end-users can been to buy a low-end plan, while having now take advantage of Thuraya’s to use expensive out-of-bundle data.” tailor-made communication packages The three bundles range from without the worry of over-spending SIM-only, to Orion IP and SF2500 on company budgets – thanks to hardware bundles – available on the new 75MB data bundles which both 12 and 24-month contracts.