Five leading satellite operators — AsiaSat, Eutelsat (Paris:ETL), Inmarsat, Intelsat and SES — have announced the requirements for minimum antenna performance for satellite ground stations.

The satellite industry has experienced an incredible expansion of the use of Comms-On-The-Move (COTM) products over the last decade. With this proliferation, the focus on antenna performance and the impact on the interference environment has increasingly become a higher priority among satellite operators.

The purpose of this initiative is to ensure an industry-wide antenna qualification framework through an agreed minimum testing regime for COTM products. The initiative also aims to achieve a clear and reliable understanding of the specifications and capabilities of antennas and antenna systems. This can further facilitate the introduction of enhanced antenna products.

This framework is intended to address the qualification of new antenna products that will be introduced to the market as of September 1, 2018, and will be complementary to the existing standards originating from ITU, FCC and ETSI and the existing minimum performance requirements of the individual operators. All participating satellite operators — including all others that are being invited to join the initiative — will be seeking the same level of information from antenna manufacturers.

David Hartshorn, Secretary General at GVF, related that the fact that the five satellite operators reached this agreement is a significant step in driving a higher standard of product quality, leading to the overall reliability of satellite communications to all. We are committed to promote collaboration on implementing these requirements in a consistent manner.

The Minimum Antenna Performance Specification can be viewed at www.gvf.org.