Potential Markets for Optical Communications SkyLight Workshop ESTEC, 08/02/2017 D. Mignolo, P. Haines

Potential Markets for Optical Communications SkyLight Workshop ESTEC, 08/02/2017 D. Mignolo, P. Haines

What Users Want Today Security Always be connected User needs Highly integrated user terminals Any device, Anytime, Anywhere From low to high data rate High Q.o.S Low cost solution D Mignolo, Ph Haines 08/02/2017 Slide 2

Can Optical Comms Answer the Market Needs? Huge amounts of satellite capacity coming to market Optical could provide an efficient solution D Mignolo, Ph Haines 08/02/2017 Slide 3

Impact of Changing Market Environment: 4 Technology Pillars The Satcom Value chain is under pressure to: ü deliver low cost solutions: e.g. user terminal, cost per Mbps ü increase quality of service: e.g. data rate, security, availability, ü develop highly integrated equipment and systems ü offer connectivity @anytime, anywhere ü Reduce time to deliver Four disruptive technology/ product domains have been identified as key enablers to to capture emerging opportunities Low Cost Self Scanning Antenna High Frequency Bands /Optical Additive Manufacturing Highly Integrated Systems D Mignolo, Ph Haines 08/02/2017 Slide 4

Why Shift to Higher frequency and Optical? Demand The telecommunication trend of offering higher peak rate together with growing connectivity penetration rates is dramatically increasing the demand for bandwidth resources. Objective The challenge for future Satcom fixed systems to remain competitive is to offer 10 times more aggregate capacity with flexible allocation while lowering cost per capacity unit. Today s Limits Innovate Today s available Satcom technologies and spectrum availability would limit Satcom fixed systems to meet user expectations by the 2020 time frame. As already happened with Ku and Ka band in the past, a shift to high frequency (Q/V, W, Optics) is expected. Exploitation requires innovation at both system and product level. Operators already request it and co-funded activities in ARTES are growing to develop new solutions.

Area of Application of Optical Technologies ü Optical Payload (GEO, LEO, MEO, HAPS) ü Inter satellite Links ü Broadband Feeder Link ü Data Relay Services ü High Data Rate Trunking ü UAV / RPAS communication D Mignolo, Ph Haines 08/02/2017 Slide 6

OPTICAL technology: PROs and CONs More bandwidth available Increased Capacity by freeing up Ka Band for user link for High Throughput Systems (HTS) Reduction of the number of GW s for HTS Additional broadband service orbital positions Compact equipment for high data rates Limited external system interference sources, Anti-jamming, Security Higher atmospheric losses Less mature technologies Lower HPA efficiency RF conversion losses Tighter Tolerances Accurate pointing and tracking Geo Location: political, regulatory, network infrastructure D Mignolo, Ph Haines 08/02/2017 Slide 7

HTS, LEO require large number of Gateways. Optic ISL will reduce number of HUBs Operator Orbit Number of Satellites SpaceX Ku-band LEO 4,425 Boeing Q/V-band LEO 2,956 OneWeb Ku-band LEO 648 Kepler LEO 140 Telesat Ka-band LEO 117 Theia LEO 112 LEOSat LEO 108 O3b MEO 60 Boeing Ka-band LEO 60 ViaSat Ka-band MEO 24 D Mignolo, Ph Haines 08/02/2017 Slide 8

Where to place the Gateways? Atacama desert, middle-eastern desert Blue sky region offer higher system availability BUT Lack of Infrastructure to deliver broadband connection, power, skilled manpower Political constrains Fragmented Regulatory Aspects D Mignolo, Ph Haines 08/02/2017 Slide 9

How ARTES is supporting the Optical Technology Investigation of technology in different domains and study propagation just started. Some technology de-risking activities are already supported in ARTES. Space: ü Photonic integrated technology ü Microwave photonics e.g antenna beam forming network/ RF generation ü High speed interconnects/switches ü Photonic Phased array ü Small optical terminal Ground/System ü Optical feeder links ü Adaptive optics ü Optimized Communication link EDRS: successful optical communication D Mignolo, Ph Haines 08/02/2017 Slide 10

Earth Observation (EO) data backhaul ESA s EDRS/GlobeNet Europe is leading D Mignolo, Ph Haines 08/02/2017 Slide 11

Optical Communications Future Evolutions ESA MS Industry is leading on the Optical technology, however technology and products still need to mature: Space: ü Compact and efficient optical terminal ü Optical frequency generation and signal distribution ü High bandwidth modulator for analog/microwave applications ü high order cross-connect switch and interconnect of DSP ü Photonic RF filter Ground ü Optical feeder links ü Adaptive optics ü High power laser sources System ü ü ü Optimized and Standardized Communication Air Interface and system Architecture Smart gateways diversity Potential Spin-off in other market segments and applications D Mignolo, Ph Haines 08/02/2017 Slide 12

Conclusions ü Optical Technology is considered a key enabler for Satcom to capture future opportunities ü Industrial heritage and capabilities are present in all ESA MS ü However the technology maturity is at low TRL and market risk is high ü ARTES Core Competitiveness and ScyLight are the programmatic tools to support ESA MS Industry to develop Optical technology and capability and be at the forefront of innovation to capture future opportunities D Mignolo, Ph Haines 08/02/2017 Slide 13