prise applications with an integrated VPN Anik F2 — a
product,” says Agnew. “The emergence Boeing-built,
of IPTV(Internet Protocol TV)playsinto three-band sat-Ka-band as an IP multicast service deliv- ellite equipped
ered over the same broadband pipe as the with 38 Ka-band
customer’s Internet service.” transponders,
However, despite considerable 32 Ku-band tran-enthusiasm for Ka-band in certain cir- sponders and 24
cles, some satellite operators remain C-band transpon-cautious. Intelsat Ltd., for example, ders — is used to
has invested in Wildblue and recently provide direct-to-launched a Ka-band payload aboard the home TV service,
Intelsat IA- 8 satellilte, but at this time, televoiceand data
Ka-band does not play a significant role services, private
in the company’s strategy. “Intelsat’s networks, IPTV,
investment in Wildblue is a very good and t wo- way,
augment to its North American business high-speed Inter-
— it gives Intelsat a strategic position in net services, and
the retail broadband market, allowing Telesat has more
us to contribute to and gain from the Ka-band capacity
business without being directly involved coming. Anik F3,
at this time,” says George Giagtzoglou, providing both
Intelsat’s senior director, strategy and Ku- and Ka-band
planning. “Intelsat will continue to look capacity, will be
at the opportunities for this frequency, launched in the
particularly in areas where constraints third quarter to
on Ku-band capacity exist, such as North 118.7° West. In
America and Europe, and potentially 2008, Nimiq 4 will be placed at 82° West.
in other rapid growth regions. The Ka- Both satellites are Eurostar E3000s built Spainsat carries 13 wideband, high-power Spainsat carries band configuration of IA- 8 is unique by EADS Astrium. An even more signifi- X-band transponders and a Ka-band payload
as it incorporates a multi-spot design, cant increase in Ka-band bandwidth is tailored to provide services to the Spanish
which is suitable for applications that planned in the future with the launch of Ministry of Defense. From its 30° West orbital
require high contribution bandwidth,” Telesat’s Anik G1, which will be located location, Spainsat covers a region extending
he says. at 118.7° West. from Denver in the United States to the South
PHOTO COURTESY OF LORAL SPACE & COMMUNICATIONS
Telesat’s expansive Ka-band satellite American and African continents and across
Telesat On Top network operations depend on an abil- the Atlantic Ocean to the Middle East.
Telesat quickly is becoming a Ka-band ity to manage carrier monitoring across
powerhouse, letting competitors and gateways. “Due to the nature of the spot
customers know that the right pieces beam design and the frequency reuse, the other vital ground components are
are falling into place, that this is not a satellitearchitecturedemandsa common seeing more reasons for optimism.
gamble and that Ka-band is a necessity ground system to be widely deployed in Ho wever, there is still a way to go
when it comes to the future success of gateways across the continent,” says before the volume of Ka-band sales
the satellite industry as a whole. “Telesat Lahey. “Ka-band is essential to the future i s s u b s t a n t i a l . “O u r K a - b a n d R F
has pioneered the introduction of new for broadband via satellite. Volume is the (radio frequency) product volumes
satellite spectrum and technologies in key to achievingthe economicsneeded to are still quite small today, and it does
North America and was the first to fully satisfy the consumer broadband market, not constitute a major part of our
commercialize the Ka-frequency band and the huge amounts of capacity avail- business yet, but we are seeing growth
with the launch of the Anik F2 satellite,” able with Ka-band spot beam satellites and expect this to continue,” says Ed
says Dave Lahey, vice president, business will enable those volumes,” he says. Kevork, vi ce president, RF product
development at Telesat, which owns and development at Advantech AMT. There
operates eight satellites. “Ka-band will More Optimism From is strong demand for solid-state high
play a key role as more subscribers and Hardware Providers po wer amplifiers (HPA) for po wers
features are introduced over the next As the number of Ka-band payloads up to 50 watts and 100 watts, he says.
several years,” he says. grows, the vendors of terminals and “Due to the high frequencies, almost
