Supporting policy public practices - Ground user segment
From INVESaTWIKI
Ground user segment
The widespread use of digital technology and the MPEG standard for digital satellite broadcasting
have given rise to tremendous potential for a much wider range of services and applications. These
already extend to interactive services using terrestrial means for the return channel, and there is now
considerable emphasis being placed on the deployment of satellite interactive services both in the Ka and
Ku-bands. In this context, there are in our view three main impediments to the rapid expansion of
such services in the medium-term.
Firstly, current industrial capability in Europe for low-cost mass production of satellite interactive
terminals seems rather restricted. There is the need for multi-sourcing of terminals and interoperability
in order to realize the potential that satellites are capable of offering. Clearly the
deployment of broadband services, including high-speed Internet access, is essential to the fulfilment
of the vision for the European e-society and the economics of terminal deployment are key to the
success of satellite in being able to provide consumers with such access independent of location and
terrestrial infrastructure.
Secondly, although ESOA recognizes the need to simplify and optimize the DVB-RCS standard in
order to reach more reliable and cheaper terminals, this might not be sufficient if we want satellite
broadband services to reach the consumer market. In order to hit this market, this will require having
in a very short time, one or two years, low-cost interactive terminals (in the order of 200-300Euros).
Thirdly, although ESOA fully recognises the competitive distinctions between the plans of the
different operators, we also consider that there is an effort required into studying future generation
interactive satellite systems which will mean consideration also for example, of on-board processing
elements, as well as multi-spot beams and also standardisation of advanced system hardware and
modulation and coding techniques for the terminals themselves. [1]
References
[1] European Satellite Operators Association
"ESOA General Comments on the European Space Policy and Research and Development Policy in the field of Satellite Telecommunications".
