Description
(*) On Delegation Request (formerly called Priority 2)
Objective: The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test a broadband aeronautical terminal using Q band in the forward link and V-band in the return link.
Targeted Improvements: Improving thethroughput of aeronautical/RPAS terminals by more than 50% in comparison to the current state of art, targeting data rates in excessof 1Gbit/s.
Description: There is a strong market demand for providing broadband connectivity for the aviation sector. Current service roll-outs show the need for very high data rates. In this respect the exploitation of Q/V bands have the potential to significantly increase the throughput and to reduce the terminal antenna size given also the more relaxed regulatory constraints in terms ofemissions to and from adjacent satellites. Overall, there is a need to prove that Q/V bands can be successfully used for broadband aeronautical communications as a means to provide higher throughput and more compact terminals. Moreover it is key to prove that theDVB-S2x air interface is suitable to support the extra challenges of these high frequencies including high phase noise and channel attenuation when also using very compact antennas. The present activity will analyse the requirements of future in-flight broadband access and derive the specifications of next generation high throughput aeronautical terminals. The relevant regulatory constraints shall also be analysed in detail. An architectural design of the system targeting 1 Gbps throughput will follow using Q/V bands and assuming realistic future satellite assets. The aeronautical terminal shall be designed in more details including all IF and digitalbaseband parts. A prototype shall then be developed targeting either the in-flight broadband interactive services, or the Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) application. The prototype shall be tested and its performance shall be demonstrated within a laboratory test-bed, which will emulate the channel as well as the satellite and the Gateway. The high-speed service of the terminal shall be demonstrated during the different channel propagation conditions encountered on a typical flight route.
(*) On Delegation Request (formerly called Priority 2) activities will only be initiated on the explicit request of at least one National Delegation.
Procurement Policy: C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to EMITS news "Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and RD entities in ESA programmes".