cover.pmd 1 10/20/2015, 6:56 PM Untitled-1 1 10/21/2015, 11:46 AM View from the top Helen Jameson Editor Bridging the communications gap for refugees Of all the humanitarian crises that are affecting the EMEA region at the moment, the one that is gathering most attention is that of the plight of Syrian, Iraqi and Afghan refugees sweeping across Europe. It is a human tragedy, and the footage we see on news reports and the images that are splashed across the newspapers day after day only serve to remind us of the hardship that is being endured by these men, women and children who, for the most part, are simply trying to seek a better life for their families. Life in their native countries has gradually become unsustainable. They cannot find work, cannot earn a wage, and cannot afford rent or enough food and basic needs. They are left with no choice but to leave their homeland, often war-torn, to look for something better. Communications are playing a critical role in the quest to help refugees find assistance, shelter and ultimately, a better life. Satellite and other technologies are helping humanitarian agencies to communicate effectively so that they are able to source the basic supplies that they need to treat, feed, clothe and house the refugees. Communications are absolutely critical to make sense of the chaos that ensues when such a vast amount of people flood an area. Whether those communications are mobile and keep those who are assessing the situation on the ground in touch with HQ, or whether they are fixed and providing a temporary office where people can be processed and pointed in the right direction for their needs. On a personal level, connections with loved ones are priceless for those who have fled their country. Many refugees do own mobile phones, but whether they can make calls on them is a different matter. Infrastructure can be very patchy, and top- ups may not be available so that basic need of making a phone call can be facilitated by humanitarian organisations such as Telecoms Sans Frontieres so that people can make that precious phone call to loved ones. Communications are also helping on an educational level, in refugee camps where Internet connections are made available so that children can learn and attempt to carry on with their education despite their situation. Temporary schools set up by humanitarian organisations give children hope and some relief from their troubles by providing educational activities and ICT equipment such as tablets and computers. For parents, access to a computer and the Internet offers a huge amount of hope and ways in which they can contact authorities and organisations for assistance. Vital information on steps that they may take to improve their situation can be found online, through many governmental portals and through other organisations geared up to help the refugee community such as the World Food Programme and the United Nations High Council for Refugees. So, communications really do help the refugee community. Mark Zuckerberg has pledged, along with the UN, that he will bring Internet connectivity to the refugee camps. Interestingly, Facebook has just partnered with Eutelsat on an initiative that will boost Internet access across Africa. Satellite is there to be used for the greater good, because it has proved that it can create communications from nowhere. Nothing else is required but a satellite antenna. It must be used to facilitate the communications that are so badly needed to not just help people to improve their lives, but to be able to say the words “Hello. I am ok” to their loved ones. www.satellite-evolution.com | September/October 2015 1 editorial.pmd 1 10/20/2015, 6:08 PM Contents September/October 2015 - Vol.12. - No.5. 1 Editorial 4 Satellite news Bridging the comms gap for refugees News and Views Photo courtesy of Shutterstock Editor 6 Five Compensation 10 Financial Services Helen Jameson [email protected] Nightmares Industry Circulation Manager Elizabeth George Global Sales Director Andrew Reynolds [email protected] Publisher Richard Hooper [email protected] 14 Video Surveillance 18 Interference Managing Director David Shortland [email protected] CEO CAMS Christopher Ayres [email protected] Whitehill Media Sam Baird [email protected] 24 Q&A Gazprom Space 28 UAE Mars Mission Systems No part of this publication may be transmitted, reproduced or electronically stored without the written permission from the publisher. DS Air Publications does not give any warranty as to the content of the material appearing in the magazine, its accuracy, timeliness or fitness for any particular purpose. DS Air Publications disclaims all responsibility for any damages or losses in the use and dissemination of the information. 32 Syrian Refugee Crisis 36 IS-34 Mission All editorial contents Copyright © 2015 DS Air Publications All rights reserved ISSN: 1745-5502 DS Air Publications 1 Langhurstwood Road Horsham West Sussex, RH12 4QD United Kingdom T: +44 1403 273973 42 Rosetta’s Philae lander F: +44 1403 273972 Email: [email protected] www.satellite-evolution.com Visit www.satellite-evolution.com now! FREE access to a wealth of industry in- Printed by: formation including: News; Events; Times Printing Launch Dates; Book Reviews; Magazines Singapore Articles; White Papers; and Magazine Is- sues. The site contains over 7,500 pages of satellite industry information. 2 www.satellite-evolution.com | September/October 2015 contents.pmd 2 10/21/2015, 10:00 AM Untitled-1 1 11/4/2015, 5:50 PM News Review VIASAT POISED TO TAKE WI-FI TO THE SKIES WITH industry awards in the past 12-months than any other BOEING system, including the Crystal Cabin Award, Excellence ViaSat has entered into a new technical agreement with in Avionics Award, and the APEX Avion Award. The the Boeing company that will eventually see the service operates on nearly 500 aircraft with unmatched installation of the ViaSat in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity in-flight Wi-Fi quality, performance and scale, allowing system on Boeing Commercial aeroplanes. The airlines to provide a highly-differentiated in-flight agreement is a milestone for ViaSat, and the system will experience that gives passengers and crew members be offered as an option when airlines place their orders access to high-speed web browsing, streaming media with Boeing. and productivity applications. Don Buchman, Vice President and General Manager, Commercial Mobility at ViaSat told Satellite Evolution: Expanded partnership, expanded global coverage “Boeing recognises that this product is in demand, so As announced in March 2015, ViaSat and Boeing also they want to make this product available for airlines to are working together to offer the ViaSat Flexible buy it when they order their aircraft, as a factory option.” Broadband System. This system couples ViaSat’s high- The agreement has now initiated an evaluation capacity ViaSat-2 satellite payload design with Boeing’s process that will take between six and twelve months. 702SP (Small Platform) satellite bus to lower barriers of This process enables both teams to work together on entry for regional satellite service providers to offer the technical points of installation. Buchman explains: affordable, flexible satellite broadband anywhere in the “The evaluation process takes into account all of the world. technical aspects of the project so that Boeing and our With the ViaSat Flexible Broadband System, service team know exactly where our equipment will fit onto the providers can focus capacity to match bandwidth demand plane and that the drawings are done. Our engineers and scale their infrastructure as expansion is needed. and their engineers will work closely together to make The vision of this smart global network would allow any sure that the installation and the wiring is completed ViaSat-enabled Boeing aircraft to stay connected across properly. We need to make sure that there are no issues a much more diverse, global Ka-band satellite network. in terms of installation so that as soon as a customer ViaSat has also indicated that other aircraft asks for the Wi-Fi on board, Boeing can fit it.” manufacturers are considering the ViaSat option as the ViaSat offers the fastest in-flight internet speeds – in-flight connectivity solution for their aircraft. typically 8 to 10 times faster – than any other in-flight Wi- The first Boeing aircraft fitted with the ViaSat in-flight Fi system available today. The system comprises a Ka- connectivity solution should roll-off production lines in band airborne satellite terminal. Once the aircraft is 2017. delivered to the customer, the ViaSat connectivity will be ready for immediate service. This will allow airlines to avoid costly down-time involved with taking planes out of service for post-production retrofits and ensures that from day one, each passenger and flight crew member gets a best-in-class in-flight internet experience with the industry’s only service level agreement, regardless of how many devices are connected on the plane or how many planes are on the network. Buchman continues: “The ViaSat service offers passengers and crew the ‘real’ Internet. A lot of our competitors don’t offer this. You often find that you are presented with a screen that lists the things you can’t do. With the ViaSat service, you can go and do whatever you usually do with the Internet. You can stream and you can get very high data rates. Airlines can offer this high quality service as an amenity that passengers don’t have to pay for. It will keep customers coming back. By selecting ViaSat in-flight communications for Boeing’s fleet, airlines now can differentiate their in-flight internet service with a flexible, sustainable business model that will continue to create value as more passengers use the service.” John Craig, Chief Engineer of Cabin and Network Systems for Boeing Commercial Airplanes continued, “In initiating the evaluation process with long-time partner ViaSat, we now look to add ViaSat airborne terminals to our line-fit factory options.