PAGE CONTENTS
Objectives
This project demonstrates the feasibility of a software hub implementation scalable to support handling of 5 GHz RF bandwidth based on cloud technology and general processing hardware. The DVB-S2/S2X/DVB-RCS2 modulation and demodulation is performed by processing of digitized I&Q samples on general x86 CPU hardware supporting AVX 512. The hub and test bed developed under the project demonstrates a symmetric duplex 250 MHz RF bandwidth in each direction, compatible deployment in the cloud. The forward link carrier is a single 250 MHz DVB-S2X, while the return link capacity of 250 MHz is divided across DVB-RCS2 TDMA channels and DVB-S2/S2X SCPC channels.
Challenges
The key challenges in this project are:
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Demonstration of modulation and demodulation executed on general x86 for DVB-S2/S2X
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Implementation of the hub with scalable cloud technology capable of supporting 5 GHz RF bandwidth
System Architecture
The System architecture is shown in the Figure. The VSAT hub and terminal functions are implemented as VNFs (Virtual Network Functions) in cloud compatible modules. The architecture applies microservices and containers, scalable to support a large RF segment (5 GHz).
The RF output is generated by a digitizer while the software modulator provides the digital RF output as a baseband I&Q stream. The receiver chain has a digitizer that digitizes the received RF stream as I&Q samples before the I&Q stream is passed to general processing hardware where the demodulation and decoding is performed in cloud compatible environment.
The implementation applies industry standards such as DVB-RCS2, DVB-S2X and Vita-49.2
Plan
March 2020: Kick-off
May 2020: System Requirements Review
August 2020: Critical Design Review
March 2022: Test Readiness Review
June 2022: Factory Acceptance Test Review
November 2022: Acceptance Review
Current Status
The project is completed.
