manage. For example, the increased interoperability streamlines operations by supporting multiple waveforms that can be more easily managed in a single system.” Swift explains the important role standards have to play when manufacturing and sourcing equipment to create these networks: “Just as the L-band Intermediate Frequency (IF) made for inherent interoperability, the standardization brought by the Digital Intermediate Frequency Interoperability (DIFI) consortium plays a key role in ensuring that there is a wide ranging ecosystem of compatible digital products available to the customer, driving competition in the market.”

The mission of the DIFI consortium is to enable the digital transformation of space, satellite, and related industries by providing a simple, open, interoperable Digital IF/RF standard that replaces the natural interoperability of analogue IF signals and helps prevent vendor lock-in.

The Latest Innovation: The Latest Tools Enhancing Satcom

Innovative solutions have come from the technological surge caused by the digital transformation. This innovation demonstrates the advantages virtualized networks deliver to users, enabling flexibility and resilience to networks. Tobias shares: “The Kratos OpenSpace Platform is a fully virtualized, software-defined ground system that supports the Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite Second Generation Extension (DVB-S2X) waveform for satellite communications, enabling high-speed, flexible, and automated operations over GEO/MEO links. Kratos and partner Radisys announced the development of a satellite base station – a 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) gNodeB — delivered completely as cloud-native software, to be deployed as part of the OpenSpace system. This new solution is completely different from traditional hardware-based options for ground systems. It will enable open, highly scalable high-performance 5G service delivery through any 5G core network worldwide.”

Swift explains ETL Systems’ latest focus: “Until recently, the market has focused on gateway digitization.  ETL is in the process of releasing its latest digitizer, which brings all of the benefits of gateway digitization to the system edge, whether considering the edge as an individual terminal where there are significant benefits in SWaP, or as a small gateway.  These digitizers are initially available as a fully environmentally sealed Outdoor Unit (ODU), equipped to survive the rigors of field operation; and as an OEM embeddable module, which can be embedded either into antennas, or, with its low profile, into 1U 19” racks.”

Greilinger highlights: “Eviden has enhanced its Satellite Monitoring product SkyMon with a scalable automated system to monitor software defined radio satellites based on a future proofed microservice architecture. It continuously monitors bandwidth, modulation and coding variations across beams and generates alarms when deviations from operational plans occur, enabling customers for rapid corrective actions. Furthermore, it provides capabilities to verify if beam hopping sequences are executed by the satellite as planned to ensure that users receive the right capacity at the time when demanded. SkyMon ensures full transparency and operational confidence in this highly dynamic payload mode.”

The Future: Where Can We Expect Satcom to Sit in 5 Years?

With so much change having occurred in satcom in recent years, attention is turning to what the future communications network will look like. Greilinger believes that virtualization will be at the core of future satcom: “Virtualized ground segments will become standard. Teleports will be more distributed and centrally software controlled. AI will dynamically rout traffic based on user demands, latency and available data rates using GEO/MEO and LEO capacity. Satcom will be fully integrated with terrestrial networks. The type of communication channel (satcom or terrestrial) will be completely transparent to users.”

Tobias concurs, adding: “We see virtualization becoming much more mainstream in the satcom industry.  The approach has been adopted and proven in the EO industry by providers such as KSAT, AWS and Atlas Space Operations.  It is also being embraced by the government for a range of missions.  It is the path that is critical to making the satcom industry compete more effectively and to reach new markets by integrating with telecom networks natively.”

Swift adds: “Once a signal is in the digital domain, with a precise timestamp, many forms of additional processing can be undertaken.  Such signal processing may include signal enhancements through receive combining, interference cancellation, monitoring and geolocation.  Consider the iPhone when first launched.  The plethora of apps now available was unimaginable at the time.  In five years’ time, numerous digital building blocks will be available to further enhance signal quality and utility.”

Underpinning Satcom’s Potential

Virtualization is simplifying operations across the workflow and enabling the satcom industry to slot into the wider communications networks, opening it up to new customers and new use cases. This delivers real benefits to users; flexibility, scalability, and resilience, enabling users to develop comprehensive networks built upon the technology. By allowing users to holistically access the catalogue of satcom’s capabilities intelligently and easily, it is unlocking its potential and driving growth within the industry.

This growth is built upon its digital transformation; without it, multi-orbit, multi-networks capabilities would be impossible. Virtualization has unlocked satcom’s potential and is set to continue to drive its success.