BIF: New Modernised Specifications a Giant Step towards Effective Satcom

Broadband India Forum, BIF, on Wednesday said that it welcomes Government's efforts to bring a new Standard for Interface Requirements. These specifications are for Communication & Broadcast Networks for satcom - FSS/Broadcasting-satellite service - BSS (Mandatory Technical Requirements).

BIF pointed out the government's move to promote privatization in Satcom. BIF said that the new specifications released by TEC - DoT's technical arm will give the industry a huge boost.

New Specs for Satcom

BIF said that the new technical specs were open and non-restrictive. Also, the think-tank added that these specifications can tap the full capabilities of the modern next-gen satcom. These new technologies include High Throughput Satellites (HTS), NGSO (Non-Geostationary Orbit) Satellites (LEO, MEO, HEO), among others.

These new specs are also as per NDPC 2018 recommendations. Furthemore, they also are consistent with the TRAI Recommendations made along these lines, the think-tank said. These specs will allow VSAT players the freedom and flexibility to fully exploit the capabilities of the Next-Gen Satcom.

The latest satcom technologies will also allow service providers to remove all artificial barriers that reduced carrier speeds, bandwidth, antenna sizes. These barriers only allowed use certain frequency bands.

Therefore, these new specs can enhance digital connectivity and provide high capacity cellular and Wi-Fi backhaul. Ahead of India's imminent 5G rollout, this becomes all the more relevant. Here, satellite backhaul will prove vital in ensuring connectivity across the country.

What all Changed?

Some of the notable changes brought about by the new standards/specifications are:

1. The TEC has removed the artificial barriers/caps on data rates at 2 Mbps in STAR Configuration and 4 Mbps in MESH Configuration. This move will allow true high-speed, high-capacity satellite broadband proliferation. This is available already from the flock of Next Generation Satellites, viz. HTS & NGSO Satellites. This move will further enable use of satellite-based broadband services such as Starlink and OneWeb.
2. Also, TEC has removed artificial caps on uplink data rates, which fixed antenna sizes. This allows for modern, high-capacity smaller antenna sizes to cater to huge data throughputs. Furthermore, this will bring down the space, power and cost requirements of the operators, making broadband through satellites more efficient.
3. Third, these guidelines also apply to broadcast, including DTH. In terms of frequency bands, besides the traditional C & Ku bands, the high capacity Ka bands have also been permitted for use in both broadband and broadcasting, along with flexible and higher power limits (PSD limits) at the satellite antenna. This will pave the way for high-capacity, high-speed broadband networks using Satellites, and better QoS.

TV Ramachandran, President, BIF, said, “BIF warmly welcomes this move by the Government which will help deliver significant benefits to the end consumer by way of high capacity, high speed broadband services, and better Quality of Service".

He further added that the new specifications are in line with the national goal of ‘Broadband for All’. Ramachandran also said that the new specs also take into consideration the recommendations put forth in the NDCP 2018. The BIF President said that these new specifications also took TRAI's recommendations into account as well.

Lastly, he said that to bring connectivity to the underserved and unserved areas of the country, satcom must become part of the mainstream.