But today’s modern satellite applications would not be made possible without their ground segment counterparts. Within the space and satellite industries, ground segments can sometimes be viewed as “unsung heroes,” and without the support of terrestrial networks on the ground, the critical services that both military and civilian agencies depend on for daily business would not exist.

To learn more about terrestrial networks and ground segments, as well as the role they play in supporting government and military missions, the Government Satellite Report sat down with Nikhil Junankar, Director of Network Engineering at SES Space & Defense.

Government Satellite Report (GSR): When we discuss satellite services, we often focus on the satellites, themselves. However, there is also a terrestrial network and ground segment that plays a role in these services. What role does the ground segment play in satellite communications? What is this ground segment composed of?

Nikhil Junankar: The ground segment is an integral component that often goes overlooked in favor of focusing solely on the satellites themselves. However, understanding the role of the ground segment is crucial to comprehending the full picture of end-to-end satellite solutions.

Comprised of a diverse range of elements, the ground segment plays a pivotal role in facilitating effective and reliable global satellite communications. The ground segment consists of ground stations, control centers, and Network Operations Centers (NOCs) that are all connected by a terrestrial fiber network.

Ground stations establish bidirectional communication with the satellites, and include teleports, satellite gateways, and deployed satellite terminals. Furthermore, teleports serve as centralized hubs, managing the routing and distribution of satellite traffic, while control centers monitor and manage satellite operations, ensuring optimal functionality and coordinating activities like orbit adjustments. NOCs, on the other hand, handle network operations, traffic routing, troubleshooting, and security, maintaining the integrity of the ground segment network.

“While satellites capture a lot of attention in the media and public, the ground segment plays an indispensable role.” -Nikhil Junankar

The ground segment encompasses terrestrial fiber networks, enabling connectivity between the teleports, gateways, and the broader network ecosystem. These terrestrial networks serve as the backbone for exchanging data between other ground segment elements, that include customer points of presence, the Internet, and the cloud. They facilitate the seamless transfer of information, supporting voice, data, and video services.

While satellites capture a lot of attention in the media and public, the ground segment plays an indispensable role. It enables the delivery of services, supports satellite operations and control, and ensures the reliability, efficiency, and widespread coverage of satellite communications.

GSR: Is the ground segment and terrestrial network something that satellite customers can design and build themselves, or are they reliant on their satellite service providers for this network?

Nikhil Junankar: Unlike many of our competitors, we offer a unique approach with our sovereign service offerings. We empower our customers by providing the flexibility to design and build their own ground segment and terrestrial network within our ecosystem. At SES Space & Defense, we understand that each customer may have specific requirements and preferences when it comes to their network infrastructure.

With our open approach, customers can take an active role in designing and implementing their ground segment and tailoring it to their specific needs. While certain essential functions, such as NOC operations and satellite control, remain under SES’s purview to ensure seamless integration and overall system reliability, customers have the freedom to shape their network architecture within our framework.

This approach allows our customers to have greater control and ownership over their satellite communication infrastructure while benefiting from the expertise and support provided by SES.

GSR: What are some of the key characteristics customers should be looking for in a satellite provider’s terrestrial network and ground segment? What considerations should they keep in mind when evaluating providers?

Nikhil Junankar: When evaluating a satellite provider’s terrestrial network and ground segment, customers should consider several key characteristics to ensure they choose a reliable and robust service. One crucial aspect to prioritize is availability. In today’s digital age, the internet has become a utility, and customers should seek a provider that can deliver a consistently available connection. This includes addressing redundancy and recovery measures at every level of the ground segment.

For a highly available ground segment, aspects such as power supply to ground stations, UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) design (such as N+1 or 1:1 redundancy), on-site generators, and the frequency of generator testing should be taken into account. Adequate redundancy in these areas ensures that power failures or other disruptions do not lead to service outages.

“Overall, customers should prioritize availability, redundancy, and disaster recovery measures when evaluating a satellite provider’s terrestrial network and ground segment.” -Nikhil Junankar

Another consideration is redundancy in antenna systems. Multiple antennas with failover capabilities provide backup options in case of antenna failures, ensuring uninterrupted satellite communication. This redundancy enhances the reliability of the overall system.

In terms of the terrestrial network, diverse circuit and fiber routes are important. By utilizing multiple routes, providers can mitigate the risk of service disruption. Diverse routing helps ensure that a single point of failure does not impact the entire network.

Overall, customers should prioritize availability, redundancy, and disaster recovery measures when evaluating a satellite provider’s terrestrial network and ground segment. By considering these factors and selecting a provider that demonstrates a commitment to these key characteristics, customers can ensure a reliable and uninterrupted satellite communication service.

GSR: What is SES Space & Defense’s GCN? What separates and differentiates the GCN from other satellite services and ground segments?

Nikhil Junankar: SES Space & Defense’s Global Communications Network (GCN) connects satellite services to the various ground segment elements with its carrier-grade MPLS network. With Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPN, high-speed Internet, and seamless cloud integration, the GCN empowers customers worldwide. What sets it apart is the active Authority to Operate (ATO) and Authority to Connect (ATC) from the U.S. government, ensuring robust security and compliance. Customers benefit from the GCN’s stringent security protocols and compliance with industry best practices. Their critical data and communication channels are protected by robust security measures, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability requirements are met.

The GCN is a transformative force in end-to-end satellite solutions. Its carrier-grade MPLS network, comprehensive services, and active ATO and ATC deliver secure, scalable, and reliable connectivity.

GSR: What different kinds of satellite services can customers get connected to through SES Space & Defense’s GCN? Can they only access services from SES’s satellite constellations?

Nikhil Junankar: The GCN goes beyond the SES satellite constellation by offering customers access to a variety of satellite services. As an agnostic network, the GCN provides terrestrial and backhaul connectivity from multiple operators.

We have peering arrangements with all major operators to deliver multi-orbit, multi-band solutions. Additionally, the GCN seamlessly supports SES’s upcoming O3b mPOWER satellite constellation. Customers can enjoy the flexibility to choose services that best suit their needs, leveraging the extensive reach and capabilities of the GCN.

While satellites often take centerstage, ground segments are the “unsung heroes” of government satellite ecosystems. Leveraging SES Space & Defense’s open approach and sovereign service offerings in conjunction with the GCN, enables customers to tailor their ground segments and terrestrial networks to their specific requirements while benefiting from robust security and reliable connectivity.

To view SES Space & Defense’s global network coverage, click the image below:

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On Wednesday, September 8, SATELLITE held the “Reducing Ground Infrastructure Costs in the New Space Supply-Chain” session, where Leaf Space, IT’s U.S. Managing Director, Jai Dialani, moderated a panel discussion that included:

• Assaf Cohen, Global Vice President Sales and Marketing, SpaceBridge Inc.
• Stuart Daughtridge, Vice President, Kratos
• Paul Mattear, Principal Business Development Manager, Amazon Web Services
• Sergy A. Mummert, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Americas, SES
• Richard Schgallis, Executive Vice President, Space and Communications USA, Safran Data Systems

There is always constant speculation about the “future” of the space economy, and how it will include increased demands for satellite services and capabilities, higher speeds, and ubiquitous access. But the experts on this panel explained that these high demands already exist and will only be growing larger in the coming years. But, there is one huge roadblock standing in the way to satisfying these needs.

Over the past decade, the technological improvements that have taken place in the space layer have been monumental. According to Daughtridge, these technological advancements have equipped software defined satellites with “unbelievable capabilities.” And the wide array of missions that the space layer can support are vast. Today’s satellites have the ability to enable orbital transport, Earth observation, IoT, broadband communications, and cislunar missions.

According to Schgallis, “We are rapidly approaching this point where systems will become multi-mission capable, with higher and higher data rates, and multi-band terminals…There’s this goal to make things as widely compatible for economies of scale as possible.”

“The ground segment needs to catch up to basically enable those capabilities that have been put in the spacecraft.” – Stuart Daughtridge

The issue that is preventing the deployment of these services is that the ground segment systems meant to direct and control these satellite missions are years behind in their own development, rendering a satellite’s potential capabilities untapped and unused.

And this untapped space layer potential can translate into major losses for satellite providers. “The ground segment’s behind,” said Daughtridge. “The ground segment needs to catch up to basically enable those capabilities that have been put in the spacecraft. Because right now, it’s really hard to monetize the capabilities that those satellites have.”

In other words, it doesn’t matter how great a satellite is if the ground segment can’t support it. So what can be done to catch these ground segments up?

According to Mattear, “One of the issues that we have with ground infrastructure is a lack of standards across the board.” As the satellite industry continues to move towards utilizing more partner-developed software defined systems, there must be a standard that they can develop towards. “Otherwise, you end up with a single stovepipe system,” said Mattear. “And that stovepipe system doesn’t let you monetize.”

The consequences from the lack of interoperability spread far beyond satellite providers. The U.S. military is working to embrace a combined MILSATCOM and COMSATCOM architecture that will deliver the increased satellite bandwidth they need for today’s network-enabled operations, and give them access to the innovation of the commercial satellite industry. However, the lack of interoperability in ground networks and hardware is making this combined architecture difficult to achieve.

“One of the issues that we have with ground infrastructure is a lack of standards across the board.” – Paul Mattear

According to Frank Backes, senior vice president for Federal Space at Kratos, “Unfortunately, multiple organizations independently pursuing their own mission needs have produced a number of ground-based proprietary satellite communication solutions, which have created a lack of interoperability between different commercial services and the armed forces. Those same proprietary solutions remain roadblocks to a dynamic SATCOM infrastructure supporting communication for an evolving military theater.”

Through standardization, satellite and ground system providers would be able to implement solutions and services that would reduce ground infrastructure costs, and, according to Mattear, “allow that to be monetized by other customers, help that symbiotic chain generate revenue across the board, and more importantly, support the end customer.”

But how does that standardization happen? All the panelists agreed that virtualization and digitization, like moving towards cloud technologies, are key.

According to Mummert digitization and virtualization are not only game changers in reducing ground infrastructure costs, but they also provide opportunities for new service models. “Having more infrastructure distributed across a global network, like AWS…is really a game changer for the satellite operators.”

With the promises of being able to move a lot of the work into cloud environments, and making the access compatible, no matter where the customer is, is “opening up a lot of doors” according to Schgallis. “I’m very excited about these opportunities, and our organization is actively working in this vein with as much virtualization and cloud processing as possible.”

Virtualization also accelerates the move from purpose-built hardware to mission unique software. “In software applications, especially in a cloud environment where you can spin up service chains and things like that, you can get the resiliency and the scalability that a cloud offers,” explained Daughtridge. “It allows you to have flexibilities for multiple different missions, with the same basic generic hardware, because you can change the personality of the infrastructure.”

Implementing these service models, through virtualization, means that satellite provider customers who are used to consuming cloud resources in the terrestrial world, can now have access to them via satellite. “The model makes sense to them,” said Mummert. “The interoperability is very important to them. It just enables a whole new ecosystem and economy.”

“We want standards. We want to drive scale for the industry. I think this is the right direction, but it needs more work. But we’ll get there.” – Sergy Mummert

But this does pose a challenge for ground segment developers, such as panelist Assaf Cohen. According to Cohen, “From the ground segment perspective…we have a lot of complexities. We have to deal with many new technologies with many orbits.” He explained that the challenges lie within developing the software to cope with all of the hardware challenges.

“We have to be interoperable,” explained Cohen. “To connect all these dots and implement the standards, we are an integral part and not just the one supporting the network.” He went on to say that the challenges get even more complicated because everything must become interoperable in real time.

To remedy these challenges, several groups have popped up within the industry to support a standardization dialogue. And Mummert happens to be on one of them. “We want standards,” said Mummert. “We want to drive scale for the industry. I think this is the right direction, but it needs more work. But we’ll get there.”

In the end, all of the issues of standardization and virtualization comes down to the partner ecosystem coming together to solve these immense challenges. According to Mummert, when industry partners cross-collaborate, “You open up these doors and create interoperability and opportunities for things to be created on your platform.”

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