ESA Scalable Multimedia System [SMM]

Objectives

SMM proposes the launch of one or more small-class geostationary satellites, featuring Ka-band spot beam payloads, in order to reduce satellite broadband service costs by an order of magnitude and bring them into line with terrestrial offerings. The system is intended to serve markets that do not have access to existing terrestrial infrastructure, providing considerably more capacity at lower cost than current systems.

By launching a low cost, lower capacity satellite to stimulate the market, initial capital expenditure costs can be kept to a minimum while capability is matched to demand. As the speed of market growth increases, further spacecraft can be added to the constellation, culminating in the launch of one or more large spacecraft later in the mission. This gives operators time to grow their business, test market predictions with low risk, not have expensive satellite capacity sitting idle in early years and to develop more complex and technically capable large satellites over a longer period of time. By taking this approach, the operator can quickly reach profitability, even during the initial low growth period expected when starting such a service.

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Challenges

Broadband internet access in Europe today is a case of “haves” and “have-nots” the so-called “digital divide”. In the west, many rural areas or fringe coverage areas can get no broadband or only limited speeds. In the east and south of Europe, large areas of both rural and urban populations cannot get any broadband access.

Satellite offers the means to deliver such services, however current offerings are far too expensive for the majority of consumers and are not popular. All current services are delivered via continent-wide beams, through limited transponders and do not offer economies of scale.

Operators need a different approach, in order to test the market and minimise the amount of capital that has to be tied up in on-orbit hardware. The typical growth pattern for this type of service is the “S curve”, starting slowly the growing rapidly during the middle phase of the project and finally tailing off again as the market becomes saturated. Large satellites are ideal for the middle high-growth phase, but are vastly over specified for the expected first two or three years when growth is slow.

Small satellites, such as SMM, provide a means to exploit cheap launches and lower costs, in order to provide a more affordable solution that will reduce costs to the operator and consumer. This will finally reduce service costs to a point where we get mass market take-up, breaking the stalemate of high prices and low economies of scale present in today’s two-way satellite broadband market.

Plan

The SMM study is investigating many key issues relating to today’s high cost of satellite broadband internet access. The study has addressed service types, key markets, reduction in the cost of the space segment, reductions in the cost of launch, requirements for the ground segment and commercial viability of the project.

Current Status

The SMM partners have to date investigated all areas concerning market research, commercial viability, ground segment design, space segment design, launch vehicle availability and mission operations.

Draft reports have been written for all work packages and delivered to ESA. Most recently, a development strategy, case for commercial viability and recommendations have been delivered by all the partners. Final reports are to be delivered by June and a final presentation at ESTEC will take place later this year.

Preliminary results have been promising in showing that the system can provide the social benefits described with minimal additional funding. Technically, the group is confident of the solution and hope to get the opportunity to refine the design at the next stage.