Using TETRA over satellite for disaster relief in HAITI Peter Clemons, Board Member, TETRA Association Director of Communications, Teltronic TETRA Congress Middle East Abu Dhabi, January 25 th 2011 1/27/2011 1
Main themes Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT) VSAT links for TETRA Haiti facts & earthquake TETRA over satellite for disaster relief in Haiti 1/27/2011 2
VERY SMALL APERTURE TERMINALS (VSAT) 1/27/2011 3
Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT): VSAT networks are private data satellite communications networks for exchanging information. Working frequency bands for VSAT technology are: C: (3,7 4,2 GHz & 5,9 6,4GHz) Ku: (12 18 GHz, the most common) Ka: (18 31GHz) Others Geo stationary satellite (35.786 km high). Satélite VSAT Equipo Terrestre VSAT Low cost terminals. Earth transceivers do not need to track satellites; just point their antennas at a fixed position. Earth equipment requires small dish antennas, which are normally 1.3m in diameter. 1/27/2011 5 DID_REP100128 Teltronic 5
Qué es VSAT (II) Types of connections available with VSAT: Traffic density is normally managed by way of: Earth HUB (more common). Delays of approx. 500ms. Direct link from VSAT VSAT. Delays of approx. 250ms. VSAT-VSAT HUB A range of connections allow different topologies offering bandwidths ranging from 56Kbps up to 4 Mbps. Some of these are: Point to point Point tomulti point (Broadcast) Interactive (everyone communicates with everyone else) 1/27/2011 6 DID_REP100128 Teltronic 6
What does a VSAT connection offer the Public Safety & Emergencies sector? Possibility of centralised management of communications in places where no terrestrial links with Nodes exist. Border posts between countries Catastrophe scenarios, where existing links have been destroyed Military actions Aid to foreign countries (without own forms of transport) Forest brigades (Fires, Accidents or Catastrophes) DID_REP100128 Teltronic 7
VSAT LINKS FOR TETRA 1/27/2011 8
Requirements for interconnection of TETRA system zones via VSAT: The VSAT link introduces significant delays in communications between the Node and remote zones. This means that system design must take into account: Remote Zone Node Implementatión of the full TETRA layer 2 in the remote zone The connection between the remote zone and the Node must be asynchronous Bandwidth of communications must be optimised DID_REP100128 Teltronic 9
Asynchronous connection between SCN and SBS: Due to significant delays (> 500ms) and the non synchronous nature of transmissions, the communication between layers 2 and 3 between remote SBSs and the SCN must be asynchronous. NEBULA is designed to allow asynchronous links. It has been developed using a distributed packet based switching matrix to connect up the different elements of the system To manage these links, the following mechanisms are necessary: Management of the Service Quality of the information being transported Control of jitters between both ends of the synchronous links Management of the loss and recovery of data sent in packets DID_REP100128 Teltronic 10
Bandwidth optimisation: The bandwidth of information to be transported in TETRA is: TETRA Voice: 7.2 Kbps with 4.56 Kbps of ACELP code Different methods can be used to transport voice in data communications networks: Circuit data technology networks: G.711: 64 Kbps voice communications. Ethernet / IP technology networks: VoIP (ACELP): 17 Kbps VoIP with RTP & RTCP TUP: 12.2 Kbps Ethernet-based Compressed TUP: 9.7 Kbps Ethernet-based Used in NEBULA VoIP Format TUP Format DID_REP100128 Teltronic 11
What links are used in NEBULA over VSAT? VSAT links can be established in different points of the NEBULA topology. REMOTE SBS VSAT link SCN VSAT link LD LD REMOTE SBS SBS SCN links: To connect remote SBSs SCN LD links: To connect remote control centres DID_REP100128 Teltronic 12
Important considerations for VSAT connections: It is necessary to configure: Timing mechanisms in the system to allow transport delays of over 500ms. Service Quality of VSAT transport network, to prioritise NEBULA traffic VOICE communications. It is necessary to contemplate: Communications will be less fluid, due to response times above 1 second in Call set up and PTTs. Users must adapt usage habits, due to effects of delays, both for control signalling and voice communications. DID_REP100128 Teltronic 13
HAITI 1/27/2011 14
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Haiti facts Population: 10 million (in 27,750 sq.km) GDP per capita: US$660 (World Bank 2008) Life expectancy: 61 years 108,000 main lines; 3.2 million mobiles Poorest nation in Americas Chronic unemployment; severe deforestation UN peacekeeping forces; international aid (already before earthquake) 1/27/2011 16
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Haiti earthquake facts 7.0 7.3 (Richter Scale) earthquake (most intense for 200 years) Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 16:53 local time Epicentre 25km to west of capital, Port au Prince 52 aftershocks by January 24 3 million people affected (30% of total pop.) 100,000 230,000 fatalities (impossible to know real figure) 300,000 injured & 1m. Homeless Immediate international response to the crisis 1/27/2011 18
Using TETRA over satellite for disaster relief in HAITI Venezuelan Govt. responds on morning of Jan. 13 with first aid plane Aid team sent consisting of doctors, engineers, search + rescue & Civil Protection Solution developed by Teltronic allowing TETRA radios to be used by Venezuelan aid team in Port au Prince Transportable BTS sent to Port au Prince and connected via satellite to SCN in Caracas Successful trials conducted, with fluid communications taking place over the link by early February
Thank You For Your Attention Any questions? 1/27/2011 25