Maximized Efficiency for IP Traffic over Inclined Orbit Satellites

Government agencies and service

providers are increasingly using

inclined orbit satellites for the

transmission of data for all of their

applications and services.

The driving factor behind the

transition towards inclined orbit

birds is an OPEX consideration. The inclined satellites provide a good

alternative to reduce the bandwidth cost by half. Another driver is the

need to source bandwidth over regions where satellite capacity is scarce.

In order to extend its life, some operators decide to put the satellite in an

inclined orbit. The switch to inclined orbit operation has repercussions

on the availability of the services as the satellite footprint shifts in a

predictable and continuous pattern.

Therefore it is more essential than ever to implement technology to

optimize the throughput over inclined orbit satellites. This is necessary

to increase margins, keep OPEX under control and to flexibly support

government missions independent of the location around the globe.www.newtec.eu

INCLINED ORBIT SATELLITES

Application Note Inclined Orbit Satellites

The Newtec FlexACM® implementation doubles

the data throughput over inclined orbit satellites at

optimal availability.

Rev.2 09/2014

Inclined orbit satellites can be defined by the fact that they

exhibit an angle other than zero degrees with the equatorial

plane. At the end of a satellite’s life, when station-keeping fuel is

running low there is the option to “go inclined”. Station-keeping

is performed in two directions, East-West and North-South.

Since the equator runs in an East-West direction, with many

adjacent satellites, East-West station-keeping is mandatory.

The North-South station-keeping can be abandoned with the

result that the inclined orbit satellites start to make a figure 8

pattern. On the ground this could be experienced by having

a weaker signal or less throughput during parts of the day

when it is off axis. Most inclined orbit satellites operate up to

6 degrees but in some extreme cases satellites can go up to

15 degrees.

Satellite operators have different drivers to put satellites into

and to keep inclined orbit:

• Extend the life of older satellites

• Opportunity to extend revenues

• Risk mitigation to keep orbital slot until replacement

For service providers and government agencies on the other

hand the inclined orbit satellites give the opportunity to drive

down bandwidth (OPEX) costs.

How it Works

Application Note Inclined Orbit Satellites

East South West

Satellite in fixed orbit

5 years0 years 10 years 15 years

Extending the life of a satellite

by putting it in inclined orbit

Fixed Orbit (10y)

Fixed Orbit (9y) Inclined Orbit (5y)

Figure 1: Inclined Orbit Satellites

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Newtec is a market leader in Trunking, Backhaul and Backbone

networks over satellite and has a track record of VSAT,

government & defense installations worldwide in Ku, Ka and

C-band. In these markets Newtec’s FlexACM platforms have

been the favorite technology of choice for communication

over inclined orbit satellites.

FlexACM is the unique and market proven end-to-end solution

combining DVB-S2/S2X and a set of cutting edge technologies

in order to optimise IP links over satellite at optimal availability.

FlexACM is available on Newtec’s entire product portfolio,

including the Newtec Dialog® platform, Newtec modems and

Network Optimization Software.

In the exercise of keeping OPEX

under control or increasing

margins and revenues, government

agencies and service providers

tend to migrate their services to

inclined orbit satellites. Due to

the link degrading conditions of

these satellites (resulting in less

throughput) the bandwidth is offered at up to a 70% lower

price than normal transponders over the same area.

Thanks to Newtec’s FlexACM the throughput of data, voice

and video can be doubled over inclined orbit satellites within

the same available bandwidth, giving the agencies and service

providers room for extra OPEX cuts.

In fact service providers and government agencies benefit

from two OPEX cut opportunities:

• Up to 70% lower bandwidth price by operating in

inclined orbit mode

• Increasing efficiency by more than 80% over inclined

orbit through Newtec’s FlexACM with possibility for

extra bandwidth cuts

Kings of Inclined OrbitCut Down OPEX Costs by More Than 70%

Application Note Inclined Orbit Satellites

Figure 2: Newtec Satellite Modem Portfolio

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Communication lines over

satellite need to be available at

all times to exchange mission

critical information and to

keep customer satisfaction

at a high level. However, the

footprint shift which comes

naturally with inclined orbit

satellites results in a periodic reduction of throughput and

could cause link losses and packet drops if the correct

technology is not implemented. Receiving conditions could

drop as much as 6 dB, which means that a low modulation

scheme and increased error correction has to be used.

Other effects that occur through inclined orbit operations

are degraded cross-polarization performance, an increased

range variation, range rate and Doppler shift.

FlexACM is the auto-adaptive technology that will switch to

robust modulation when the remote shifts into the fringe of the

satellite footprint. As soon as conditions improve, modulation

switches back to maximum efficiency.

Throughout this operation optimal availability is guaranteed

without link or packet drops. Moreover, through flexible

bandwidth management and Quality of Service management,

priority can be given to mission critical services in order to

keep SLA (Service Level Agreement) requirements.

Optimal Availability

Normal satellite operation in clear weather conditions Zero margin

Inclined Orbit Satellite6 dB

FlexACM

Legacy Modulation (Worst Case Scenario)

Throughput

06:00 12:00 18:00 00:00 06:00 12:00 Time

FlexACM provides optimal availability in order to ensure mission critical information and maintain Service Level Agreements.

INCLINED ORBIT SATELLITE

Application Note Inclined Orbit Satellites

Figure 4: Inclined orbit footprint shiftFigure 3: Double throughput over Inclined Orbit Satellites with Newtec FlexACM technology

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DataData

VoiceVoice

VideoVideo

Zero Margin Level

DVB-S2 CCM Capacity (Legacy)Adaptive Modulation

Variation

Newtec FlexACM+70% Throughput

Distortion

TH

RO

UG

HPU

T

TIME

UPLINK REMOTE

Maximize Throughput in Inclined OrbitIn highly competitive satellite markets with continuous pressure

on pricing and margins, maximum efficiency is key to boost

profitability. Other service providers or government agencies

seek means to increase the throughput in the allocated

bandwidth available to them without increasing capacity.

Newtec’s FlexACM is the communication technology of choice

for many operators and government agencies delivering

services over inclined orbit satellites. FlexACM combines

DVB-S2/S2X with different technologies to get as much data

through the same satellite bandwidth as possible.

FlexACM will auto-adaptively set modulation parameters to the

optimal point and overcomes distortion, noise and variation in

the satellite link. Newtec gets as close to the zero margin level

as possible allowing the full use of the satellite link.

Up until 3 degrees inclination FlexACM can cover for most

of the degradation. Beyond 3 degrees optimal efficiency can

be achieved in combination with third party auto-tracking

antennas. The tracking capabilities allow service providers,

news media and government users to utilize cost-effective

space segment on satellites in inclined orbits.

Application Note Inclined Orbit Satellites

Figure 5: Maximizing availability and throughput

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The fluctuating throughput that

comes along with inclined orbit

satellites tends to frighten away

providers that need to transport

Committed Information Rates (CIR)

services over these satellites.

Newtec is the only provider in

the market with FlexACM, the unique option to provide

both variable as fixed rate throughput in DVB-S2/S2X ACM

(Adaptive Modulation and Coding) to fulfill SLA requirements.

By bringing fixed rates and CIR to ACM, Newtec addresses

the service providers in point-to-multipoint configurations

providing constant throughput at optimal availability in the

most efficient way.

In comparison to legacy and DVB-S2 CCM (Constant Coding

and Modulation) networks, Newtec’s fixed ACM brings more

than 70% extra bandwidth for committed information rates.

The buffer (fluctuating) bandwidth can be used for occasional

services or non-critical information transport over satellite.

Fixed Throughput for Inclined Orbit

Newtec is the only provider in the market to provide CIR (Committed Information Rates) in ACM.

Additional Capacity for Additional Business

FlexACM at fixed rates

CCM VCM

Application Note Inclined Orbit Satellites

Figure 6: Committed information rates for inclined satellite orbits

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FlexACM is the technology of choice in the Newtec product

offering to get more efficiency over (inclined orbit) satellite.

Additional Newtec technologies such as Clean Channel

Technology®, Cross-Layer-Optimization and Bandwidth

Cancellation will additionally boost the performance and

increase the throughput.

• Newtec’s Bandwidth Cancellation also takes care of

inclined orbit operations increasing link efficiency up

to 30%.

• Newtec’s Clean Channel Technology improves links

even further by offering an advanced filter technology

allowing a low roll-off factor (0,05) and optimal carrier

spacing adding a 15% extra efficiency.

• Newtec’s Cross-Layer-Optimization is the combination

and interaction between satellite bandwidth manage-

ment, IP shaping and acceleration technologies in

order to allow maximum throughput at all time.

Above highly congested regions satellite capacity is not always

available. Service providers willing to start up business over

these areas, or government agencies desperately seeking

bandwidth over operational territories to support missions,

tend to consider inclined orbit satellites as an alternative

solution.

Newtec FlexACM technology on the Newtec Dialog platform

and all Newtec modems makes it possible to quickly activate

services over inclined orbit satellites at optimal efficiency and

migrate applications to other satellites as soon as capacity

becomes available.

Drive for More ThroughputFlexible Alternative for Bandwidth over Congested Regions

Dedicated technologies such as FlexACM, Bandwidth Cancellation,

Clean Channel Technology and Cross-Layer-Optimisation maximize

throughput over inclined orbit satellites.

Application Note Inclined Orbit Satellites

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SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

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