Marcus Vilaça Manager, Systems Engineering Advanced Systems Division USING THE NEW L BAND MSS ALLOCATIONS - Study Group 8 Seminar on Tomorrow’s Technological Innovations Geneva, 9 September 2004 Marcus Vilaça Manager, Systems Engineering Advanced Systems Division

Inmarsat Background Established in 1979 as an international co-operative Privatised in April 1999 Owns and operates 9 satellites : 4 x Inmarsat 2 5 x Inmarsat 3 Contract for 3 x Inmarsat 4 satellites signed in May 2000 Firmly established in maritime, aeronautical and land markets Customer base of over 320,000 users Current services include messaging, voice and data Global presence & network of suppliers of services and equipment GMDSS

Inmarsat 1st Generation Space Segment Marecs Marisat 33 dBW EIRP 30 dBW EIRP 2 x 5 MHz bandwidth 2 x 5 MHz bandwidth 580 kg dry mass 360 kg dry mass 13.5 m solar array 2.2 m (w) x 3.8 m (h) Launch : A – 20/12/81 (22/08/96) Launch : 1 – 19/02/76 B – 09/09/82 (F) 2 – 10/06/76 B2 – 10/11/84 (23/01/02) 3 – 14/10/76

Inmarsat 2 39 dBW EIRP 2 x 20 MHz Processed Bandwidth 700kg Dry Mass 14.5 m Solar Array Span Launch: F1 – 30/10/90 F2 – 08/03/91 F3 – 16/12/91 F4 – 15/04/92

Inmarsat 3 49 dBW EIRP 2 x 60 MHz Processed Bandwidth 1000kg Dry Mass 20.5 m Solar Array Span Launch: F1 – 03/04/96 F2 – 06/09/96 F3 – 18/12/96 F4 – 03/06/97 F5 – 04/02/98

Inmarsat 4 67 dBW EIRP 10 dB/K G/T 2 x 126 MHz Processed Bandwidth 9 m deployable reflector 3000 kg Dry Mass 6000 kg Launch Mass 12 kW spacecraft power 10 kW payload power 48 m Solar Array Span Astrium’s Eurostar 3000 bus Major Subcontractors TRW Astro EMS Alcatel Boeing Launch : F1 – February 2005 F2 – July 2005

Inmarsat 4 Characteristics Frequency Bands Mobile Link @ L Band and Feeder Link @ C band Transponders Transparent bent-pipe, C/L, L/C, L/L, C/C & Navigational Digital Channeliser/Beamformer 630 x 200 kHz channels, dynamically allocated to beams 256 beams Mobile Link (RHCP, digital beam former) 228 narrow spot beams for BGAN service (1.1 degree grid) 19 wide spot beams for E&E service (4.05 degree grid) 1 global beam Feeder Link (RHCP & LHCP) 1 global beam, dual polarisation

Inmarsat 4 Coverage

The MSS L Band Extension

Amethyst Programme Part of the ESA’s Artes 3 Line 4 study programme Feasibility study focused on the changes required to the I4 payload design, to enable utilisation of the L band extension Study lead by Astrium, supported by Inmarsat Scenario 1 : Modification of I4 flight model 3 (“FM3”) 1A - Minimum Changes 1B - New DSP Scenario 2 : Procurement a fourth spacecraft (“FM4”) 2A - New DSP 2B - Enhanced SSPA’s Main Outputs: Design Solutions, ROM Cost & Development Plan

I4 Payload Block Diagram

I4 Frequency Plan

Baseline I4 L Band Pre-processor & DSP

Scenario 1 - L Band Pre-processor & DSP Changes

Scenario 1 – Other Equipment Changes L Band Feed New diplexers Feed element retuning ONet’s New output filters

Scenario 2 - L Band Pre-processor & DSP Changes

Scenario 2 – Other Equipment Changes L Band Feed New diplexers Feed element retuning ONet’s New output filters New SSPA’s Increased output power

Summary of Spectrum Issues

Planned Spectrum Activities Studies into the use of the new bands and related sharing studies Participation in the work being carried out by WP8D. Regulatory study of the new bands Assess the use of the new bands by existing terrestrial services, and the possibility of utilization of those bands for the provision of MSS in various countries, concentrating in Region 1 and Region 3. Satellite antenna discrimination Analyse the impact of PFD limits on the service coverage area by taking into account satellite antenna discrimination performance.

Conclusion The MSS L Band extensions offer a great opportunity to significantly increase the capacity of MSS satellites. The modifications required to the baseline Inmarsat 4 satellites to allow service provision in the new bands are significant, but can be kept within limits that allow reduced risk and lower cost and schedule impact. A comprehensive study on the utilisation of the extended L band by existing services will be carried out, to provide an accurate picture of the current situation and of any possible constraints.