VSAT TECHNOLOGY

&
NIC VSAT NETWORK

Gyan Ranjan Nanda

Scientist - D
E-mail- gyan@nic.in

SATCOM Group
National Informatics Centre
New Delhi

VSAT & VSAT NETWORK

VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal):
A small terminal that can be used for one-way and/or interactive
(two way) communications using satellite link.

VSAT NETWORK :
Most VSAT Network operate in STAR topology, with a large high
performance hub earth station at the centre which of monitors
and controls the communication of a large number of VSATs.
Some VSAT network work in MESH topology, where VSATs can
directly communicate with each other.
There also exist a Hybrid topology , where the VSATs can
operate both in STAR as well as MESH.

TYPICAL VSAT NETWORK

SATELLITE
VSAT

VSAT HUB
STATION

VSAT

VSAT

VSAT NETWORK TECHNOLOGY

TDM(DVB-S)/TDMA:

The most common VSAT

network configuration.
One high bit rate Outbound
Carrier (DVB-S/S2) and one or
more lower bit rate inbound
carriers (TDMA/MF-TDMA)

SCPC :

Dedicated point to point links.

Links can be demand based
(DAMA) or Permanent (PAMA).

VSAT TECHNOLOGY
ADVANTAGES

Network is available almost everywhere, Remote

areas can be served.
Uniform service levels for all location.
More reliable, independent of terrestrial disruptions.
Excellent solution for communication backups for
terrestrial networks.
Can be rolled out quickly.
Useful for disaster recovery and quick-deploy
solutions, enabling communication services to be
quickly restored.
Satellite networks are more secure and private due to
fewer access points.

VSAT TECHNOLOGY
ADVANTAGES

Connectivity on Move:

Till recently Satellite communication was the only

communication method available while on move.
Used on Trains, Ships, Ministerial Convoys and for news
gathering.

VSAT TECHNOLOGY CONCERNS

Latency (Propagation Delay):

Bandwidth Cost:

Developing, launching and maintaining a satellite is

extremely expensive which reflects on Bandwidth cost.

Frequency Availability:

Time taken from the source earth station to the satellite

(36,000km) and down to a destination earth station
(Single Hop)~ 300ms.

Satellites of similar frequency can be as close as 2

degrees apart without causing interference.
This means 180 satellites of a specific frequency can be
placed in GEO orbits.

Atmospheric effect:

Ku and Ka band signals are affected by rain

VSAT TECHNOLOGY
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Minimizing Latency:

TCP spoofing (Ack reduction)

Data transmitted by a remote is processed at satellite
(on board processing) and sent back to destination.
VSATs are capable of operating both in STAR and MESH
topology simultaneously.(Hybrid topology, STAR/MESH)

Enhancing Throughput:

Advanced Modulation techniques (8 PSK,16 APSK) gives

more bits per symbol.(DVB-S2)
Better coding mechanism (LDPC/BCH, Turbo) allows
efficient FEC to be used.
Data compression

VSAT TECHNOLOGY
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Frequency Re-use

Satellites with multiple

narrow spot beams of
where same frequency is
used in different spots.
(IPSTAR, , Wild Blue)

Carrier
in
carrier
technology
where
Outbound and Inbounds
use
same
spectrum,
separated
by
their
Power.

VSAT TECHNOLOGY
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Reducing Rain Fade:

Adaptive Code Modulation

(ACM)
technique
dynamically changes the
modulation and coding to
minimize raid fade.

Dynamic
uplink
power
enhances the VSAT power
dynamically during rain,
also
changes
the
modulation and coding.

NIC/NICSI VSAT NETWORK

NIC is one of the pioneer of VSAT technology

in India which commissioned its first nation
wide VSAT network, NICNET, way back in
1985-86.
PRESENT NETWORKS:
HN system Network (DVB-S2/MF-TDMA)

SkyEdge-II Network (DVB-S2/MF-TDMA)

Providing connectivity to NDRF

SkyBlaster Network(DVB-S/FTDMA)

Providing connectivity to CSCs (Common Service

Centers) and State Govt. projects

Providing Connectivity to NIC sites

SCPC (DAMA/PAMA)

Providing Connectivity to NIC sites

CURRENT VSAT PROJECTS

(OPERATIONAL ON NIC/NICSI NETWORK)
VSAT HUB

HN system
(formerly
Direcway)

Skyedge-II

Project/
User

State(s)

VSATS
Proposed

VSATs
Commissioned
As on 01.05.2014

CSC

NE states,
Uttarakhand,
Rajasthan, J&K,
Jharkhand

2500

1431

Treasury
Dept.

Uttarakhand

86

85

Commercial
tax

Uttarakhand,
Meghalaya,

43

36

C&RD

Meghalaya

39

35

NRHM

Sikkim,
Meghalaya

45

30

Apex Bank

Meghalaya

47

45

Food&CS

Sikkim

27

Lakshadweep
Admin

Lakshadweep

42

NDRF

NDRF Battalions

70

70

Q &A
THANKS