The benefits of integrating civilian satellite telecom infrastructure into military satellite telecom backbones

MillSatComs ? Empower the state by providing: Secure Robust Persistent High bandwidth Geographically invariant … access to information How does this compare with the needs of commercial telecoms?

MilSatCom vs. Commercial Military Commercial Secure Robust Persistent High Bandwidth Geo Invariant Secure Robust Persistent High Bandwidth Geo Invariant “increasingly the line between military-specific developed technology and commercial technology is blurred.” Don Wilcoxson - 2011

Available Options Satellites Ground based telecom GEO * MEO LEO Orbital positions Geo-Stationary (GEO) Telecoms Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Global Positioning Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Remote Sensing Ground based telecom GEO MEO LEO * Introduction to audience – Establish GEO satellite focal point GEO – Altitude 35786 km – Period 24hrs MEO – Altitude 2000-35786 km – Period 127min - 24hrs – Altitude 160-2000km – Period 88min -127 min * Source: Creative Commons

Geo-Stationary satellites Pros Broad Geographic Coverage Remote Access High Traffic Capacity Low Communication cost High Signal Quality Cons Unintended Coverage Latency Fading Security Vulnerabilities Broad Geographic Coverage - Cover a significant Remote Access High Traffic Capacity Low Communication cost High Signal Quality *(J. Katsoulis 2014)

Geo-Stationary satellites Addressing the CONS Multiple Access Transponders* Advanced Modulation* Multiple Spot Beams* High Throughput Satellites** * Multiple Access – Frequency Division Multiple Access shares the bandwidth between the users, with each user allocated a unique, narrower section of the available bandwidth. It works with analogue signals and all users have uninterrupted use of their own narrow frequency band or channel with all users occupying the available bandwidth simultaneously, each within their own narrow channel. The sender's signal, called the baseband signal, is frequency shifted into the allocated frequency band for transmission and the receiver restores it back to the baseband. *(Katsoulis, 2014) **(Ippolito, 2017)

South African Resources Orbital Resources Orbital Sub-orbital 12.2° E Namibia 71° E South Africa 21.2° E Botswana 19.3° W Lesotho

South African Resources Capacity Transponders and transfer rates 38 Transponders 24 Ku Band 14 C Band 36 MHz per transponder 2 – 10 megabit per second per user

South African Resources Footprint One technical footprint Covers approx. 30% of globe One smaller global/national

Case for South Africa One uncoordinated orbital position Potential global & national footprint Broadband and secure telecom capacity Hence: Sufficient resources to satisfy both Commercial and Military Secure Telecoms

Satellite Telecom Eco-System SPACE SEGMENT MISSION SEGMENT Launch Service Control Segment Satellite MillSat Payload Commercial Payload

Satellite Telecom Eco-System SPACE SEGMENT MISSION SEGMENT Launch Service Control Segment Satellite MillSat Payload Commercial Payload

Satellite Telecom Eco-System SPACE SEGMENT MISSION SEGMENT Launch Service Control Segment Satellite MillSat Payload Commercial Payload

Financials of Telecom Satellites Estimated operational cost Cost per annum before depreciation 25 Million EUR Estimated capital cost Satellite build cost Satellite launch cost Ground segment Several gateways 300 Million EUR

MzansiSat – Thinking outside the box Background Stellenbosch based startup Founded in 2013 CEO - Bart Cilliers 40+ years experience as MD in Military electronics Telecommunications systems, Satellite technology Primary focus Investigate, review and prove the feasibility of dual use SatCom projects for South Africa

MillSatCom – Conventional Angle Apply for orbital resource from ITU Acquire sufficient funding Acquire orbital resources beyond 2023 Launch Satellite Provide MillSatCom to MoD

MillSatCom – MzansiSat Angle Apply for orbital resource through MzansiSat Co-Finance combined orbital resource Fast track ITU process – ETA 2020 Launch Satellite Provide MillSatCom to MoD Run profitable Commercial operation

MillSatCom – MzansiSat Angle Co-Finance combined orbital resource Fast track ITU process – ETA 2020 Launch Satellite Provide MillSatCom to MoD Run profitable Commercial operation

Advantages - MzansiSat Angle National satellite Free of geo-political interference Foreign currency buffering Massive reduction in foreign currency denominated import of satellite services Fast track ITU regulatory process +/- 2 years vs. 5+ years Satellite bandwidth Combined orbital resource allows for 76 HDTS transponders Payload customizable to MoD specifications

Advantages - MzansiSat Angle Profitable commercial operation South African Strategic Partner at arms length of profitable commercial telecoms operation Net positive state impact Equates to: Net discounted value of 51% of Satellite net earnings (South African Strategic Partner) MINUS net discounted value of usage fees payed by MoD to (South African Strategic Partner) Stimulate Economic growth Force significant drop in broadband prices Boost demand for satellite services