More then 30 Years Expert Satellite Communications Experience

ATSI satellite communications expertise extends across technologies, projects, applications and organizations. Founder and satellite expert, Bruce Elbert, has over 30 years of experience and has worked as a designer, program manager, marketer, contract negotiator and testifying expert witness. Two cutting-edge uses of satellites are in digital content distribution and mobile and emergency communications. In addition to the depth of technical ability in satellite systems engineering, design and operation, we have assisted clients in areas such as program management and controls, organization design and development, specifications and contracts negotiation, operations planning, technology and market due diligence, outsourcing management and market development. We have fundamental knowledge of the technologies and processes involved and are able to review, identify and promote their proper evaluation and application to requirements in the private and public sectors.

Scroll down for details, or select one of these links to go directly to a topic:

• Satellite Communications – Space Segment, Ground Segment, Applications and Program Management
• Program Management in Satellite Communications
• Information Distribution Networks
• Technical expert reports and testimony related to satellite communications
• Our Company Bios and Client List
• Contact information
• Client list
• Software tools

Systems and Program Management Approach

We recommend and follow a systems approach and careful program management process in defining needs and converting them into viable and financially-attractive systems. Assuming that one starts from a position of zero, the challenge of creating and applying telecommunications and IT is a matter of figuring out:

• What is needed - content, data, or IT applications?
• Where is it needed - domestic, regional or international?
• What are the technology options - ground and space based?
• What is the appropriate architecture and design?
• How are requirements flowed-down to the overall satellite and to each of its subsystems?
• How will the satellite construction be managed to stay within its schedule and monetary constraints?
• How should the network be implemented and how should it be managed?

Added to this are other related questions, such as:

• What are the most attractive options in the space segment as to satellite design and operation?
• What’s the budget - capital and operating?
• Who will do the work - internal or external resources?
• How should the contract and supporting documentation be structured?
• How much should be outsourced and who can do it?
• How much excess capacity should be available for the future?
• What standards are available - user interface or internal to network?
• What steps are desirable to assure a reliable network or application?
• How will the network be managed - is the organization ready now?
• What risks are involved in the technology or operation plan?
• What is the appropriate level of security?

Specific application areas and the associated methodologies are reviewed below.

Satellite Communications – Systems, Applications and Program Management

The areas of our attention and expertise extend throughout the satellite system, comprised of the Space Segment and the Ground Segment. These are defined in the following figure and discussed in detail below.

Space Segment

Any communications satellite is composed of a communications payload (repeater and antenna system) and its supporting spacecraft bus (solar array and batteries, attitude and orbit control system, structure and thermal control system), and is placed in orbit by a launch vehicle. The Space Segment also includes the tracking, telemetry and command (TT&C) station or stations, and a satellite control center. We may refer to the business of the satellite operator as the Space Game. To be successful in the Space Game, you need the right orbit slots or constellation, and satellites that deliver effective power and bandwidth to desirable regions and markets (those with growing demand for space segment services).

Satellite System Engineering and Program Management. With over thirty years of experience in communications satellite program management, engineering and operations, we are in a unique position to assist buyers of satellites and satellite capacity. We know both sides of this equation (e.g., the buyer of the satellite and transponder and the seller of bandwidth) from having lived it ourselves; and we can therefore guide the program or business in the following areas:

• An architecture for the space segment, considering the capabilities of modern satellite systems and user terminals
• Communications payload requirements definition and detailed specification
• Spacecraft vehicle and bus subsystems and how these are meshed with the payload to meet mission requirements
• Overall satellite definition and technical specification (system and subsystem)
• Procurement and implementation management
• Negotiation of specifications, statement of work, and contractual terms and conditions
• Satellite capacity identification, planning and acquisition
• Satellite system design and management
• RF link analysis, transponder utilization, and throughput optimization
• Technology assessment and insertion
• Due diligence of a particular technology and acquisition target
• International frequency coordination and spectrum management

Download article on program management of satellite communications technology.

The overall design of the payload, satellite, ground segment and end-to-end system is a complex task, involving all of the areas cited above and several others of a highly technical nature. ATSI provides know-how relative to each of the primary contributors to the performance of the satellite and resulting service. Satellite communications payload design must be properly coupled with the capabilities and interaction with the spacecraft bus that provides power, stability and environmental support to the payload.

Ground Segment

Important factors for the Ground Game include:

• Understanding the market and what customers want to achieve in their business
• Offering a package of services that solve communications problems or deliver content to a hungry marketplace.
• Having a solid technical platform that extends services to users on a straightforward and economical basis.
• Delivering user equipment and service through effective channels of distribution and fulfillment.
• Implementing appropriate operation and administrative systems, including customer care, accounting and billing.
• Timely entry in domestic and international markets, taking account of regulatory, business and cultural barriers.

We are able to help define the ground segment architecture, organization structure, and management systems to address the Ground Game. This is an every-changing landscape of technology (hardware and software) and management methodology. Currently, the most popular satellite network technology is the VSAT, now reduced to a commercial and consumer product.

Fundamental to the proper specification of satellite communications is the performance of the radio frequency (RF) link between earth and space. The link budget process, reviewed under our Education and Training tab, provides the most basic understanding of the earth station-to-satellite path. In addition, the distortion characteristics of non-linear amplifiers (TWTA, SSPA and klystron) impact different signal types in different ways. Further complicating the study is the interaction of these properties on the ground and in space. The link budgeting process may have to be supplemented by computer simulation and hardware measurement in the laboratory or with a real satellite. The following article from RF Design magazine, co-authored with Dr. Maurice Schiff, provides realistic guidelines for this type of expanded effort.

Download RF Design Article, "Simulating the Performance of Communication Links with Satellite Transponders," by Bruce Elbert and Maurice Schiff.

Whether using video networks, VSATs or major gateways, the key to success is always to set the requirements early on, update those requirements as more is learned, and employ the right implementation methodology along a path of quick adaptation to evolving requirements, users and markets.

Examples of our services to space and ground segment clients

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Information Networks using Satellite Technology

Satellite delivery systems provide a unique capability for distributing multimedia content to remote locations. These content distribution networks are used to better support digital signage in retail applications and to support download of files and software to remote users. ATSI can assist in the definition of content requirements, network architecture and implementation using state-of-the-art processing, storage and display technology.

At ATSI, we understand the challenges in working at a distance and we have helped organizations evaluate and adopt a variety of solutions which employ systems that are familiar (PCs, local area networks, Internet web servers, VSATs and other wireless communications technologies) and those that have not reached any degree of mass appeal (synchronous meeting tools, document management systems, Internet-based video conferencing, and centralized project management).

Outsourcing and the Make-versus-Buy Decision. The process of creating an effective telecommunications and IT network begins with understanding who the players are (internal and external), where they are located, and what forms of information they must access and share. For this to be implemented properly, an architecture should be developed that builds upon what is in place already as well as what may need to be introduced. Moving effectively in this direction is neither easy nor without risk. We have helped organizations understand their needs and requirements in ways that they may be addressed by state-of-art IT systems and networks. Taking it to the next level would involve a thorough evaluation of alternatives, including the trade between internalizing the function (the "make" strategy) versus working with professional outsourcing suppliers (the "buy" decision, also known as outsourcing). An outsourcing strategy will consider how the requirements are divided among network systems and services, who are the most appropriate outsourcing organizations to be evaluated, and the manner in which the whole arrangement is to carried forward and managed on a day to day basis. An example of our methodology can be found in the book by Bruce Elbert, Networking Strategies for Information Technology (free download of chapter available).

IT Networks and Application Systems. Modern data processing systems are simple on the surface because of our reliance on standard servers, PCs, local and wide area networks. The role of the Internet suite of protocols (e.g., TCP/IP), Gigabit Ethernet, fiber optic networks and satellite systems has greatly reduced the barriers imposed by location and distance. However, the real complexity comes in when organizations need to introduce new enterprise applications that ride on top of this type of architecture.