ViSAGE Feasibility Study

Competitiveness & Growth

Status

Ongoing
Status date

2024-10-18
Activity Code

6B.110

Objectives

Flexible support for communication system: Multi-purpose SATCOM with 5G integration.
Diverse use cases: Supporting small satellites and remote area connectivity.
Industry standards: Integrating DVB-S2, and emerging 5G NTN.
Hybrid SATCOM/5G solutions: Developing Satellite Access Network (SAN) architecture.
Proof-of-concept validation: Deployed on AWS (Amazon Web Services) with functional software modem.
Alignment with market needs: Ongoing refinement and customer feedback for future enhancements.

This feasibility study targeted the definition phase, raising TRL from 2 to 3.

Challenges

Since this feasibility study required multiple disciplines, including software development, SATCOM domain knowledge, signal processing, digitalization, and 5G/3GPP expertise etc., it presented many challenges.

Achieving optimal performance with high-throughput and low latency
Functional validation across different configurations while supporting different standards: DVB, CCSDS, 3GPP, etc
Deployment of the 5G Core on-the-cloud (e.g. Kubernetes)
Integration of the Software modem with the 5G Core network
Virtualization and resource isolation for VNFs and microservices
Monitoring and troubleshooting

Benefits

The value proposition of ViSAGE is:

No CAPEX – with software virtualization, the expense comes down to OPEX.
Ad-hoc – the station can be dynamically deployed/undeployed on different cloud facilities/locations as needed.
Optimization – based on mission requirements, cloud resources can be optimized (as well as OPEX).
Pay-as-you-go model – pay per minute, for the time you use the antenna/cloud.
Reusability – reuse the same modem for different missions - quick software reconfiguration.
Certification – use the same software modem while simulating and planning the mission, then certify it during the mission integration and testing phase (AIV), and finally use the certified modem in operations.
Time – fast deployment, configuration, and maintenance
Standardization – supports 3GPP standards for service management and orchestration, DVB-S2 for satcom waveform, DIFI for digitalized satcom communications.

Features

Compliance with 3GPP standards for service management and orchestration.
Compliance with DIFI for digitalized RF signal over the cloud.
Software-based modem compatible with DVB-S2.
Friendly web-based user interface (UI).
Platform-agnostic, without specific dependencies
Cloud and stand-alone applicable

System Architecture

ViSAGE System Overview is given above.

ViSAGE enables Ground Station, Teleport or Teleport/Ground Station Network customers to access 5G communication service markets with the following system elements:

Gateway ViSAGE Software Modem (VSM) (in Satellite Access Network, SAN) – Enables software based digital signal processing at the Gateway providing waveform flexibility on COTS hardware platforms or in the Cloud.
ViSAGE N3IWF (in SAN)– Enables user plane access to the 5G Core Network by making a Non-3GPP satellite network compatible with 5G Core providers.
ViSAGE 5CN (Core Network) – Enables 5G Core Network control plane functions by adapting and presenting Satellite specifics as 5G network elements. Implements management and orchestration over cloud virtulization infrastructure..
ViSAGE Portal 5SP (Service Provider) – Enables 5G communication service provision, implements 5G CSP interfaces so that the customer can define services that can be consumed or bundled in other communication services.

For testing and simulation purposes:

ViSAGE Channel Simulation – Enables simulation of the satellite channel.
ViSAGE UE (User Equipment) – Enables simulation and testing of remote User Equipment integrating into the 5G Core Network. Could evolve into an operational Terminal Modem.

Plan

User Need and State-of-the-art Analysis
System Requirements Review
Preliminary Design Review
Critical Design Review & Proof of Concept
Feasibility Phase Completion Review

Current status

This feasibility study goes beyond paperwork, involving a real-world implementation. Bidirectional end-to-end communication between 5G-UE and 5G-N3IWF through VSM (DVB-S2) has been validated, and the definition phase is complete. CCN approval to move forward with the technology phase preparation is awaited.