esa bulletin 123 - august 2005 47

ARTES

T hroughout its 30-year existence, ESA has played a key role by providingtelecommunications infrastructures that

have allowed the in-orbit validation,qualification and demonstration of equipment,technology and services. In the past, this hasbeen achieved through the provision ofdedicated satellites like OTS, Marecs, Olympusand Artemis, as well as by the implementationof piggy-back payloads on other ESA orcommercial satellites. Today, due to theimportance of satellite telecommunications, ESAcontinues to support this sector mainly throughits ARTES – Advanced Research in Tele-communications – Programme.

IntroductionSatellite telecommunications has grown tobe the most important commercial spaceapplication. In terms of business volume,industrial activity and employmentgenerated, ‘satcom’ is by far the mostimportant segment of the industry. Theturnover generated in Europe from thespace activity involves some 2 billionEuros in industrial contracts, and nearly 3billion Euros in transponder leasing feesper year. In addition, the associatedground-segment activities and satellite-driven services generate a volume ofbusiness one order of magnitude greaterthan the space segment.

Telecommunications satellite knowhow,technologies and capabilities represent animportant asset for Europe. There areimportant synergies between security/

ARTES: The Future of SatelliteTelecommunications

ARTES: The Future of SatelliteTelecommunications

Angel González-Blázquez & Dominique DetainStrategy and Future Programmes Department,Directorate of EU and Industrial Programmes,ESA, Paris

esa bulletin 123 - august 2005 47

ARTES

T hroughout its 30-year existence, ESA has played a key role by providingtelecommunications infrastructures that

have allowed the in-orbit validation,qualification and demonstration of equipment,technology and services. In the past, this hasbeen achieved through the provision ofdedicated satellites like OTS, Marecs, Olympusand Artemis, as well as by the implementationof piggy-back payloads on other ESA orcommercial satellites. Today, due to theimportance of satellite telecommunications, ESAcontinues to support this sector mainly throughits ARTES – Advanced Research in Tele-communications – Programme.

IntroductionSatellite telecommunications has grown tobe the most important commercial spaceapplication. In terms of business volume,industrial activity and employmentgenerated, ‘satcom’ is by far the mostimportant segment of the industry. Theturnover generated in Europe from thespace activity involves some 2 billionEuros in industrial contracts, and nearly 3billion Euros in transponder leasing feesper year. In addition, the associatedground-segment activities and satellite-driven services generate a volume ofbusiness one order of magnitude greaterthan the space segment.

Telecommunications satellite knowhow,technologies and capabilities represent animportant asset for Europe. There areimportant synergies between security/

ARTES: The Future of SatelliteTelecommunications

ARTES: The Future of SatelliteTelecommunications

Angel González-Blázquez & Dominique DetainStrategy and Future Programmes Department,Directorate of EU and Industrial Programmes,ESA, Paris

esa bulletin 123 - august 2005www.esa.int 49

MobileThe mobility line has been dedicated tomaintaining European capabilities in thedesign and implementation of mobilesatellite systems. The Broadband GlobalArea Network system, developed forInmarsat, will provide services formaritime, aeronautical and land-mobileapplications. The AMETHYST project isdefining an advanced mobile systemconcept and new payload architectures formobile satellite systems. The Satellite DataLink System addresses the air-to-groundcommunications needs of civil aviation forair-traffic management.

EquipmentThe technology and equipment line isproviding significant support to Europeanindustry for the development of newconcepts, as well as for upgrading existingdesigns to meet current market demands.Equipment prices have fallen over the lastfew years, emphasising the need for furtherreductions in recurring costs, implyingfurther technology developments. Equip-ment items for existing satellite platformsare being updated and improved, and newpayloads and ground equipment are beingdeveloped. Significant developmentsunder this ARTES programme lineinclude: Li-Ion batteries, a 400 N engine,smaller and cheaper frequency convertersfor the C-, Ku- and Ka- bands, and solid-state power amplifiers for the next-generation L- and S-band systems.

ApplicationsThese activities relate to the needs of theusers, which may be commercial orinstitutional bodies such as the EuropeanUnion, government agencies, or otherinternational organizations. The marketforces normally address user needs butsatellite-based solutions are often beyondthe scope and capabilities, or evenawareness, of many of the potentialbeneficiaries of satellite communicationsystems. There are many applications ofsatellite communications that can benefituser communities but first requiredemonstration and promotion. ThereforeESA has reinforced the Applicationscomponent of its TelecommunicationsProgramme both to satisfy the needs ofsociety and further develop the demand forsatellite communications capacity,equipment and services.

Based on the experience acquired over thepast years, three main lines are beingfollowed:– ‘Exploratory Applications’ and

development of the associatedtechnology.

– Deployment of pilot ‘Solution Projects’.– Setting up of ad-hoc programmatic

frameworks to support the operationalphase.

Exploratory applicationsThe traditional ‘exploratory applications’activities play a crucial role in the

generation and validation of newopportunities, and constitute theinnovation engine for new applications interms of new ideas, new entrants and seedopportunities. Due to the relatively hightechnical and operational risks involved,these activities are kept within small-scaleprojects until the concept is fullydeveloped and validated.

Solution projectsThis application line is designed to providethe financial and legal framework in whichto execute, in partnership with theinterested parties, a number of ‘solutionprojects’. The main goal is to set up fullyfunctional systems, characterised byservice requirements derived by the users,which can be easily extended in terms ofscale and penetration, paving the way forsustainable services.

Ad-hoc programmatic frameworksA specific legal framework is required toregulate the participation of usercommunities in the management andfunding of the different phases of theprojects, to guarantee compliance withregulations on competition and state aidfor the pre-operational services, to verifythe possibility of establishing synergieswith regional/national/international develop-ment programmes with similar orcomplementary objectives, and to providea stable and appropriate funding schemefor the operational phase.

User needsThe areas specifically identified for thedevelopment of applications are:– Telemedicine– Internet on Public Transport– Broadband Access to Consumer

Applications– Interactive-TV Applications– Location-Based Applications– Automotive Applications – Civil-Protection Applications– Safety/Security Monitoring and Control– Support to Development and Capacity

Building.

ARTES

48 esa bulletin 123 - august 2005 www.esa.int

military and civil systems, and the criticaltechnologies overlap. In the USA, theresearch and development in thesecurity/military field allows the industryto transfer the resulting leadership edgeinto the civilian market.

Satellite telecommunications is vital tothe continuity and viability of theEuropean space industry. Not only thecontinued health of the communicationsindustry depends on Europe’s ability todesign and build efficient and competitivetelecommunications satellites, but alsothose of related industries such aslaunchers, where close to 90% of currentbusiness is generated by telecom-munications-satellite launches, and of theground-segment, applications and serviceproviders.

Technical Content The ARTES Programme was initiated in1993 to maintain and improve thecompetitiveness of European andCanadian industry in this importantsegment of space applications. Theactivities supported by ESA address theneeds of satellite operators, serviceproviders and users in a very competitivemarket calling for continuous innovation insatellite telecommunications technology.

The main objectives of the Programmeare to:– define, assess and develop systems for

advanced fixed, broadcast, multimediaand mobile communications, data relay,search and rescue, navigation, andaeronautical services

– promote the use of satellites, identifyingand experimenting with new services toenlarge the field of satellite applications

– undertake experimental and techno-logical missions identified as havinggood market potential.

Telecommunication Systems, Equipment andTechniquesESA's ARTES activities are focused onhelping industry to enhance its

competitiveness in the telecommunicationsmarket. This involves maintaining a well-structured and well-supported programmeto improve the commercial andtechnological capabilities of the industrythrough the development of the state-of-the-art equipment, subsystems andsystems required for each segment of thesatellite telecommunications market.

MultimediaThe interactive broadband line of themultimedia programme element of ARTESis providing an important degree ofsupport to European industry. Significantprojects like Domino, Euroskyway and

WeB/West are being developed to preparefor the emergence of a new generation ofinteractive satellite services.

A good example in this respect is theAmerHis system, developed under theDomino project and launched as a piggy-back payload onboard Hispasat’sAmazonas satellite in August 2004.AmerHis is the first ‘switchboard inspace’, providing connectivity betweenuser terminals located at any point withinthe areas served by Amazonas. Theinnovative feature of AmerHis is the node-switching capability that it providesalongside the conventional satellite-transmission function.

Telecommunications

The AmerHis payload: the first ‘switchboard in space’

Satellite telecommunications systems like AmerHis increase theconnectivity

Developing microprocessor technology

esa bulletin 123 - august 2005www.esa.int 49

MobileThe mobility line has been dedicated tomaintaining European capabilities in thedesign and implementation of mobilesatellite systems. The Broadband GlobalArea Network system, developed forInmarsat, will provide services formaritime, aeronautical and land-mobileapplications. The AMETHYST project isdefining an advanced mobile systemconcept and new payload architectures formobile satellite systems. The Satellite DataLink System addresses the air-to-groundcommunications needs of civil aviation forair-traffic management.

EquipmentThe technology and equipment line isproviding significant support to Europeanindustry for the development of newconcepts, as well as for upgrading existingdesigns to meet current market demands.Equipment prices have fallen over the lastfew years, emphasising the need for furtherreductions in recurring costs, implyingfurther technology developments. Equip-ment items for existing satellite platformsare being updated and improved, and newpayloads and ground equipment are beingdeveloped. Significant developmentsunder this ARTES programme lineinclude: Li-Ion batteries, a 400 N engine,smaller and cheaper frequency convertersfor the C-, Ku- and Ka- bands, and solid-state power amplifiers for the next-generation L- and S-band systems.

ApplicationsThese activities relate to the needs of theusers, which may be commercial orinstitutional bodies such as the EuropeanUnion, government agencies, or otherinternational organizations. The marketforces normally address user needs butsatellite-based solutions are often beyondthe scope and capabilities, or evenawareness, of many of the potentialbeneficiaries of satellite communicationsystems. There are many applications ofsatellite communications that can benefituser communities but first requiredemonstration and promotion. ThereforeESA has reinforced the Applicationscomponent of its TelecommunicationsProgramme both to satisfy the needs ofsociety and further develop the demand forsatellite communications capacity,equipment and services.

Based on the experience acquired over thepast years, three main lines are beingfollowed:– ‘Exploratory Applications’ and

development of the associatedtechnology.

– Deployment of pilot ‘Solution Projects’.– Setting up of ad-hoc programmatic

frameworks to support the operationalphase.

Exploratory applicationsThe traditional ‘exploratory applications’activities play a crucial role in the

generation and validation of newopportunities, and constitute theinnovation engine for new applications interms of new ideas, new entrants and seedopportunities. Due to the relatively hightechnical and operational risks involved,these activities are kept within small-scaleprojects until the concept is fullydeveloped and validated.

Solution projectsThis application line is designed to providethe financial and legal framework in whichto execute, in partnership with theinterested parties, a number of ‘solutionprojects’. The main goal is to set up fullyfunctional systems, characterised byservice requirements derived by the users,which can be easily extended in terms ofscale and penetration, paving the way forsustainable services.

Ad-hoc programmatic frameworksA specific legal framework is required toregulate the participation of usercommunities in the management andfunding of the different phases of theprojects, to guarantee compliance withregulations on competition and state aidfor the pre-operational services, to verifythe possibility of establishing synergieswith regional/national/international develop-ment programmes with similar orcomplementary objectives, and to providea stable and appropriate funding schemefor the operational phase.

User needsThe areas specifically identified for thedevelopment of applications are:– Telemedicine– Internet on Public Transport– Broadband Access to Consumer

Applications– Interactive-TV Applications– Location-Based Applications– Automotive Applications – Civil-Protection Applications– Safety/Security Monitoring and Control– Support to Development and Capacity

Building.

ARTES

48 esa bulletin 123 - august 2005 www.esa.int

military and civil systems, and the criticaltechnologies overlap. In the USA, theresearch and development in thesecurity/military field allows the industryto transfer the resulting leadership edgeinto the civilian market.

Satellite telecommunications is vital tothe continuity and viability of theEuropean space industry. Not only thecontinued health of the communicationsindustry depends on Europe’s ability todesign and build efficient and competitivetelecommunications satellites, but alsothose of related industries such aslaunchers, where close to 90% of currentbusiness is generated by telecom-munications-satellite launches, and of theground-segment, applications and serviceproviders.

Technical Content The ARTES Programme was initiated in1993 to maintain and improve thecompetitiveness of European andCanadian industry in this importantsegment of space applications. Theactivities supported by ESA address theneeds of satellite operators, serviceproviders and users in a very competitivemarket calling for continuous innovation insatellite telecommunications technology.

The main objectives of the Programmeare to:– define, assess and develop systems for

advanced fixed, broadcast, multimediaand mobile communications, data relay,search and rescue, navigation, andaeronautical services

– promote the use of satellites, identifyingand experimenting with new services toenlarge the field of satellite applications

– undertake experimental and techno-logical missions identified as havinggood market potential.

Telecommunication Systems, Equipment andTechniquesESA's ARTES activities are focused onhelping industry to enhance its

competitiveness in the telecommunicationsmarket. This involves maintaining a well-structured and well-supported programmeto improve the commercial andtechnological capabilities of the industrythrough the development of the state-of-the-art equipment, subsystems andsystems required for each segment of thesatellite telecommunications market.

MultimediaThe interactive broadband line of themultimedia programme element of ARTESis providing an important degree ofsupport to European industry. Significantprojects like Domino, Euroskyway and

WeB/West are being developed to preparefor the emergence of a new generation ofinteractive satellite services.

A good example in this respect is theAmerHis system, developed under theDomino project and launched as a piggy-back payload onboard Hispasat’sAmazonas satellite in August 2004.AmerHis is the first ‘switchboard inspace’, providing connectivity betweenuser terminals located at any point withinthe areas served by Amazonas. Theinnovative feature of AmerHis is the node-switching capability that it providesalongside the conventional satellite-transmission function.

Telecommunications

The AmerHis payload: the first ‘switchboard in space’

Satellite telecommunications systems like AmerHis increase theconnectivity

Developing microprocessor technology

50 esa bulletin 123 - august 2005 esa bulletin 123 - august 2005www.esa.int www.esa.int 51

Telemedicine: a test caseTelemedicine is an area that has been thesubject of a number of applicationsactivities in the past, and for which aspecific, coordinated effort is required tomove from the exploratory stage to theoperational phase. Telemedicine representsan important opportunity in the field ofsatellite-based applications: the healthsector recognizes that satellites can play akey role in several areas of telemedicine,and the large social benefits andimmediate perception of the value oftelemedicine by Europe’s citizens makes ita priority for ESA in its applicationdevelopment strategy.

A range of opportunities for coordinatedactions at European level has beenidentified and ESA’s role in facilitating thedevelopment of telemedicine via satelliteis well-recognised. Telemedicine viasatellite will therefore be used as a test-case for the development of applications

within the Agency’s telecommunicationsactivities. A strong link with the usercommunity will be established to helpESA in defining priorities and mech-anisms for the implementation phase.

Internet on trains: an exploratoryapplicationThe provision of Internet access on publictransport has been explored. Anencouraging demonstration conducted onEuropean trains is paving the way for anenvisaged ‘solution project’ in this domain.

Demonstration Missions The in-orbit-demonstration component is

a very important element of an overalltelecommunications programme throughits structuring effect on industry and itsability to focus efforts on a well-definedobjective, despite all the associatedmission considerations and constraints.Two lines of activity are being followed

within the ESA TelecommunicationsProgramme, the first dedicated toAlphabus/Alphasat, and the secondaddressing other opportunities includingpiggy-back and small-satellite missions.

AlphaBus/AlphaSatThe goal in developing the AlphaBusplatform is to ensure the competitivenessof European industry in the global marketfor telecommunications satellites in the 12 to 18 kW power range, therebycomplementing the existing Europeancommercial product lines in the low- andmedium-power range. AlphaBus willinitially be developed to protoflight-modellevel, but since the establishment ofcustomer confidence in the AlphaBusproduct requires the qualification of theplatform in orbit, a first operationalmission is essential to achieve the overallobjectives. The availability of theprotoflight model also represents a uniqueopportunity for the in-orbit demonstrationof new technologies, systems and services.Based on past experience with Olympusand Artemis, it is also especially importantfor such a high-capacity spacecraft todefine its operational use from the outsetto be consistent with the level ofinvestment available for missionimplementation.

The AlphaSat mission, based on theAlphaBus protoflight model, is thereforeenvisaged to consist of two maincomponents, a technology packagebenefiting from the flight opportunityoffered by the maiden flight of AlphaBus,and a core operational payload.

Piggy-back and small-satellite missionsIndustry has expressed a need to establishan in-orbit heritage for newly developedequipment. Today, satellite operators andinsurers are extremely cautious aboutaccepting equipment on new satellites thatdoes not have a proven track record. This iseven true for well-proven designs that haveundergone up-dating to replace obsoleteparts. The ideal way to establish the

ARTESTelecommunications

Telemedicine at work

Internet access on trains: connecting with the external world

Connecting with the medical centre

AlphaSat: demonstrating a new platform line

50 esa bulletin 123 - august 2005 esa bulletin 123 - august 2005www.esa.int www.esa.int 51

Telemedicine: a test caseTelemedicine is an area that has been thesubject of a number of applicationsactivities in the past, and for which aspecific, coordinated effort is required tomove from the exploratory stage to theoperational phase. Telemedicine representsan important opportunity in the field ofsatellite-based applications: the healthsector recognizes that satellites can play akey role in several areas of telemedicine,and the large social benefits andimmediate perception of the value oftelemedicine by Europe’s citizens makes ita priority for ESA in its applicationdevelopment strategy.

A range of opportunities for coordinatedactions at European level has beenidentified and ESA’s role in facilitating thedevelopment of telemedicine via satelliteis well-recognised. Telemedicine viasatellite will therefore be used as a test-case for the development of applications

within the Agency’s telecommunicationsactivities. A strong link with the usercommunity will be established to helpESA in defining priorities and mech-anisms for the implementation phase.

Internet on trains: an exploratoryapplicationThe provision of Internet access on publictransport has been explored. Anencouraging demonstration conducted onEuropean trains is paving the way for anenvisaged ‘solution project’ in this domain.

Demonstration Missions The in-orbit-demonstration component is

a very important element of an overalltelecommunications programme throughits structuring effect on industry and itsability to focus efforts on a well-definedobjective, despite all the associatedmission considerations and constraints.Two lines of activity are being followed

within the ESA TelecommunicationsProgramme, the first dedicated toAlphabus/Alphasat, and the secondaddressing other opportunities includingpiggy-back and small-satellite missions.

AlphaBus/AlphaSatThe goal in developing the AlphaBusplatform is to ensure the competitivenessof European industry in the global marketfor telecommunications satellites in the 12 to 18 kW power range, therebycomplementing the existing Europeancommercial product lines in the low- andmedium-power range. AlphaBus willinitially be developed to protoflight-modellevel, but since the establishment ofcustomer confidence in the AlphaBusproduct requires the qualification of theplatform in orbit, a first operationalmission is essential to achieve the overallobjectives. The availability of theprotoflight model also represents a uniqueopportunity for the in-orbit demonstrationof new technologies, systems and services.Based on past experience with Olympusand Artemis, it is also especially importantfor such a high-capacity spacecraft todefine its operational use from the outsetto be consistent with the level ofinvestment available for missionimplementation.

The AlphaSat mission, based on theAlphaBus protoflight model, is thereforeenvisaged to consist of two maincomponents, a technology packagebenefiting from the flight opportunityoffered by the maiden flight of AlphaBus,and a core operational payload.

Piggy-back and small-satellite missionsIndustry has expressed a need to establishan in-orbit heritage for newly developedequipment. Today, satellite operators andinsurers are extremely cautious aboutaccepting equipment on new satellites thatdoes not have a proven track record. This iseven true for well-proven designs that haveundergone up-dating to replace obsoleteparts. The ideal way to establish the

ARTESTelecommunications

Telemedicine at work

Internet access on trains: connecting with the external world

Connecting with the medical centre

AlphaSat: demonstrating a new platform line

52 esa bulletin 123 - august 2005 www.esa.int

trustworthiness of newly developed or up-graded equipment is via an in-orbitdemonstration immediately after com-pletion of its qualification campaign. Suchequipment has therefore been flown aspiggy-back payloads on ESA orcommercial satellites, for example EMSon Italsat, Skyplex on Eutelsat satellitesand, as mentioned earlier, AmerHis onAmazonas.

In the context of testing the market witha new or an existing service in an as yetuntried geographical area, establishedoperators are searching for a small satellitewith a limited capacity and, mostimportantly, low cost. New serviceproviders are also looking for small, low-cost satellites to gain entry into the market.Several concepts are under evaluation for

missions ranging from the in-orbitservicing of geostationary satellites, to thedevelopment of a small platform for thecommercial market.

ARTES, a Helpful Programmatic StructureIn tackling its ambitious task of supportingsatellite telecommunications R&D inEuropean industry, ESA is devotingparticular attention to applications that canbenefit user communities requiringdemonstration and promotion initiatives.Within this framework, financial help iscurrently being provided through thefollowing ARTES elements:– ARTES-1: Prospective/market studies

and new configurations fully funded byESA and contributions based on theGNP of Participating States.

– ARTES-3 : Multimedia and mobilesystems initiated by ESA and co-fundedby industry.

– ARTES-4 : ESA/industry partnershipelement, proposed and co-funded byindustry.

– ARTES-5: Advanced systems andequipment for the future, proposed on anannual basis and fully funded by ESA.

– ARTES-8: Large-platform product lineand mission, co-funded.

Several of these lines can ultimatelycontribute to a single project, dependingon its content. Activities deemed to be‘near-to-market’ are usually be co-funded,whilst those clearly paving the way forfuture telecommunications initiatives arefully covered by ESA. r

Telecommunications