3G ON THE MOVE

Above : The 3Way DBX-m military UMTS product, this will use the TriaGnoSys satellite optimisation software to carry secure military mobile comms over satellite.
Europe : 3G technology is set to be made available for the first time in remote parts of the world and on ships and aeroplanes. TriaGnoSys, the satellite communications specialist, and 3Way Networks, the UMTS equipment specialist, have joined forces to produce the first integrated 3G mobile network using satellite communications, which will enable cost-effective and robust satellite telephony from anywhere in the world.
The system, which will be available from April 2006, consists of a picocell, which is a mini mobile phone base station that has a range of 200 metres. It takes signals from mobile devices and transmits them to and from a satellite, which in turn transmits the signals to the public network. The picocell is small, weighing only a few hundred grams, making it highly portable; the software that enables the satellite communication is highly resilient and supports the high transmission rates associated with 3G.
The 3Way Networks/ TriaGnoSys solution provides full 3G operability, based on UMTS – as well as high quality multimedia, transmission rates are many times faster than older technologies, and it includes access to a high-speed data connection. It also allows point to point communications within the site without going over the satellite, providing further cost savings.
The new solution offers huge advantages over current satellite telephony: it is effectively creating a secure network which can support up to 100 devices at any one time; it uses UMTS – the most up-to-date mobile technology available; and it is cost effective: a picocell costs around the same as a current satellite telephony equipment while allowing many more users, and the bandwidth costs are low.
Prof. Giovanni E. Corazza, Chairman of the Task Force on Advanced Satellite Mobile Systems (ASMS-TF), said, "The time is ripe for 3G over satellite to become a reality, to enable the provision of advanced mobile services exploiting the satellite assets to provide wide coverage and flexible connectivity. The entire satellite communications community is moving strongly in this direction."
Simon Albury, 3Way Networks Sales and Marketing VP, said, “Initially, we anticipate that the main users will be the military, aid NGOs, private ships and business jets. Indeed, we will shortly be starting trials with a number of NATO forces. The solution will allow the rapid deployment of a secure 3G infrastructure virtually anywhere in the world, providing a local communications centre which will be invaluable in remote areas, for example during conflicts or when administering aid. The low per minute call costs and the high call quality make the solution a good option not only for ‘business’ use, but for the first time it will also be viable for the important morale-boosting personal calls and emails.”
Axel Jahn, Director of TriaGnoSys, said, “The solution will provide a sophisticated onboard communications system for the air transport and maritime markets. It can be used both for passengers and crew to remain in touch with the outside world, as well as communicating onboard. The combination of 3Way Network’s world-leading UMTS technology expertise and TriaGnoSys’ experience of optimising cellular backhauling over satellites makes this a unique market proposition that modernises satellite telephony.”