Piloting "satXpress", two way high speed asymmetric secure IP-services (Internet access for CATVs, LAN's and local ISPs; Intranet/VPN for distributed companies/ organizations; and IP-multicast/ -broad- cast services) via satellite using DVB-andactual VSAT technology.

ESA ESTEC Contract No. 14520/00/NL/ DS: Multimedia Satellite Services Pilot Operations Duration: July 2000 – May 2001.Based upon recent research results of GMD satNET group and supported by GMD´s "Seamless-Innovation-Policy", a new company for Internet carrier services via satellite has been created in January 2000 to enter a new market: vsatnet.com AG. This new company has developed a basic ADSL-like Internet access service via satellite with brand name: satXpress.

satXpress service family

First and central product of GMD-spinoff Company vsatnet.com AG is a two-way high speed and asymmetric Internet access service via satellite named satXpress. In its basic form satXpress is an Internet access service with a DVB-based shared forward channel of 8 Mbps and FDMA/QPSK/DAMA- based reverse channels with 64-256 Kbps. As a business to business service satXpress bridges the gap between a major Internet node (Point of Presence) and remote IP- based networks like CATV-networks, company LANs and regional ISP networks.

A second product derived from satXpress will be a secure VPN or Intranet service with brand name intra-satXpress, which is based upon satXpress characteristics and supports company wide Intranets. There is an extremely high demand and considerably higher margins for secure Intranet/VPN services that can also be used inaddition to already existed terrestrial Intranets.

The third facet of satXpress service family will be satXpress-multicast resp. satXpress broadcast. This service extension will finally and considerably increase the efficiency of satellite based IP-multimedia services. It will work on top of stXpress Internet access services as a common platform for the distribution of multimedia contents (e.g. specialized IP-based TV channels, software and MM-content distribution and special Internet caching services).  

Expanding the technical and operational basis

- Adaptation of different remote terminals
- DAMA based remote stations
- Simultaneous use of different ISP backbones
- Alternative terrestrial back channel solutions
-VoIP integration

Equipment

Version A) 

-Remote Gateway 240, consist of:
-TX/RX Antenna 240cm, outlast approved
-Indoor Unit Tx/Rx
-PC processor with supporting software
-M&C software
-Return path data rate: up to 384 Kbps, FEC=3/4
-L-band IF
-Data Interface: Ethernet
-10 MHz reference source
-BUC power supply
-DVB-S receive card, LAN environment
-Transmitter with Modulation: QPSK, FEC:1/2 ,3/4
-RNMA Network Management software
-Outdoor Unit
-Block Up Converter 2 W (Ku-Band) and LNB DRO, 11.2-11.7 GHz

Version B)

-Remote Gateway 180, consist of:
-TX/RX Antenna 180cm, outlsat approved
-Indoor Unit Tx/Rx
-PC processor with supporting software
-M&C software
-Return path data rate: up to 384 Kbps, FEC=3/4
-L-band IF
-Data Interface: Ethernet
-10 MHz reference source
-BUC power supply
-DVB-S receive card, LAN environment
-Transmitter with Modulation: QPSK, FEC:1/2 ,3/4 -RNMA Network Management software
-Outdoor Unit
-Block Up Converter 2 W (Ku-Band) and LNB DRO, 11.2-11.7 GHz