The satcom waveform and test tool specialists, GateHouse Telecom, is currently working on a new Software Defined Radio based technology that will enable use of multiple satellite systems on the same physical satcom terminal.
For decades, users of satcom terminals have had to operate with a separate satcom terminal for each satellite service. But soon, GateHouse Telecom will introduce a brand-new interface allowing satcom terminal users to use their applications on different satellite services utilizing the same satcom terminal hardware and interface.
According to Svend Holme Sørensen, the satcom industry is currently undergoing rapid change, and emerging technologies like GateHouse Telecom’s new software platform can potentially open for a much more practical and cost-efficient use of multiple satellite systems.
The satcom industry is historically quite segregated. This provides the service providers with a hold on the users ensuring loyalty by practicality. But, as history has proven time and time again, user experience will ultimately dictate who wins. In the race of connectivity, those who choose the route of standardization are more likely to gain favour of the users.
“The satcom business is hopefully on the same path as the telecommunication industry 10 to 15 years ago. At that time, new technologies within telecoms were increasingly introduced through standardization – and this is what we would like to see in the near future of the satcom industry,” says Svend Holme Sørensen,
“Because of the development in the satcom market, user terminals can soon be used globally and access a network of the individual user’s choice, “ he continues.
The future of satellite-based broadband solutions was also a hot topic at this year’s SmallSat Symposium in Silicon Valley. Here, the satcom industry discussed the biggest trends and latest technologies on the market and how they will pave the way for future development:
“There seems to be a general wish to run satellite constellations using network management functions, for example, Software Defined Networks. However, this kind of functionality goes beyond the existing protocol specifications used today,” says Svend Holme Sørensen.
“Developers and engineers want to bring down user terminal costs by increasing volumes to improve business cases. This could be achieved by using the same user terminal for several satellite systems. And this is the solution we are currently working on,” he concludes.
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