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GVF, IRG Address Satellite Interference at China Satellite Summit

By Steve Schuster | August 19, 2013
China Satellite Conference 2012

Courtesy of China Satellite Conference

[Via Satellite 08-19-13] The satellite industry is taking its war against interference to Asia. A joint effort between the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) and the Satellite Interference Reduction Group (IRG) will launch an interference prevention summit at the China Satellite Summit on Sept. 4.

The “Improving Satellite Communications Through Interference Prevention” summit will provide China’s satellite communications industry with an opportunity to learn about the impact of satellite interference prevention measures on operational effectiveness and quality of service. The program will also offer a forum to discuss methods for improving satellite signal quality and earth station performance.
“The meeting will focus on a number of important topics, including testing and approval of Chinese antenna systems,” said David Hartshorn, GVF’s secretary general. “GVF runs a testing and approval initiative, which has proven extremely effective elsewhere in the world, and promises to make a huge impact for the Chinese satellite industry in combatting satellite interference.”
The satellite industry will also provide updates on the latest progress and join in an open-forum discussion on how satellite-industry programs can further improve its value proposition.
“Although satellite interference only affects a minor number of services, the effect on those services can be significant,” said Martin Coleman, executive director, IRG. “However, we are making a real impact across much of the globe, thanks to widespread industry support and a number of important initiatives. China is an important region with many satellite services, and we are keen to engage the industry on this important topic,” Coleman added.
Ron Busch, vice president of network engineering at Intelsat and chairman and executive director of the Space Data Association (SDA),previously toldSatelliteTODAY.com that interference incidents have created an opportunity for the association to build a database for operators to exchange information. “We want to share events of interference to help others,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to share data to improve our analysis from immediate data from operators instead of government agencies.” Busch noted the first part of the database is expected to be online before the end of 2013 and ultimately the data will provide assistance with geolocation services and will contain Carrier ID information.
At the September China Summit, IRG and GVF will also present a session on spectrum management and intentional interference on Sept. 5. The session is intended to “introduce the audience to the subject of spectrum management, its defense and intentional satellite interference and signal-piracy meeting agenda, which builds upon dialogue established during recent stakeholder meetings, where concerned participants called for continued cooperation to identify and implement solutions,” GVF said in a written statement.
“The terrestrial wireless industry has again identified satellite spectrum as a priority for their services, and they are lobbying governments now. This session will provide an update and an opportunity to coordinate with the Chinese communications sector on these important developments,” said Colin Robinson chairman of GVF’s MRA Working Group.
GVF, IRG, the World Broadcasting Unions – International Satellite Operators Group (WBU-ISOG) and the Radio Frequency Interference – End Users Initiative (RFI-EUI), have also partnered to host a series of interference prevention meetings throughout IBC, to be held in Amsterdam from Sept. 12 through 17.
The “Satellite Interference Mitigation Forum,” sponsored by Eutelsat, will aim to address recent developments, as well as discussing the next steps in interference prevention. It will cover a number of topics, including training, earth station testing, carrier identification, and geolocation techniques.

The groups will also collaborate on a series of breakout briefing meetings, sponsored by SES. These meetings are aimed at educating the industry and users about interference prevention techniques, technologies, and initiatives, providing them with the tools and information to ensure they can mitigate interference and its costly effects on business.