An Issue of Identity
Another crucial issue in the fight against radio frequency interference is the concept of carrier identification (ID). In its basic form, the idea is quite a simple one: to embed uplinker location or contact information in the uplink signal to facilitate troubleshooting by operators. Its implementation, however, is rather more complicated, as it involves the participation of actors from the entire satellite chain: from equipment manufacturers to operators and integrators.
On Nov. 18, an industry-wide meeting hosted by Intelsat took place to endorse the adoption of carrier ID technology by equipment manufacturers. “Three sub-committees looking respectively at video, data and VSAT communications were formed with operators and equipment manufacturers,” says Guillemin. The video initiative is reported to be proceeding speedily due to fact that since 2008, the World Broadcasting Union’s International Satellite Operations Group has been making recommendations on carrier ID initiatives. Industry members seem to have been taking this onboard. On the data and VSAT side of the satellite family, the carrier ID initiative is not as advanced, though progress is being made.
Training the Human Factor
Given the importance of the human factor, it is no surprise that training of technical personnel is seen as a decisive area for combating this problem. “The Schlumberger Global Connectivity Services (GCS) group has long recognized the importance of having their field staff properly trained,” says Andrew Rope, Schlumberger’s remote connectivity training manager. “Our field engineers work to avoid allowing a GCS installation to be the source of interference. All GCS VSAT field engineers are required to participate in a fixed-step, three-year training program, pertaining to both technical and business practices. “For the past three years, we have worked closely with the Global VSAT Forum to integrate the GVF VSAT installer’s certifications into the technical curriculum of our fixed-step program to align our training with industry standards.”
Training personnel is a paramount component of the initiative that involves the education of personnel in a wider sense. Intelsat, for example, is offering a training incentive for technicians employed by its customers. “We endorsed a training and certification program with two industry-leading vendors: the Global VSAT Forum and BeaconSeek. We offer training to our satellite newsgathering customers through BeaconSeek’s SlingPath and through GVF’s program to educate VSAT technicians on proper equipment installation and operational parameters,” says Guillemin. “Our goal is to provide training to 1,200 engineers from our customer base within the next three years. We expect that this and other efforts will create an industry momentum for other operators to join in the training effort and that industry awareness of this problem will be raised.”
Giovanni Verlini is a communication executive and freelance journalist based in Europe. Email: giovanniverlini@hotmail.
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