National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems

Dec 12th – 13th 2005

Austin ComertonManager, Business Development

acomerton@msvlp.com1 877 588 4288 x 4332

MSAT-2 MSAT-1

106.5°W101°W

Launched April 1995 Launched April 1996

Satellite Orbits

Type LEO MEO GEO

Description

Low Earth Orbit Medium Earth Orbit Geostationary Earth Orbit

Height 100-300 miles 6000-12000 miles 22,300 miles

Time in LOS

15 min 2-4 hrs 24 hrs

Merits

1.Lower launch costs 2.Very short round trip delays 3.Small path loss

1.Moderate launch cost 2.Small roundtrip delays

1.Covers 42.2% of the earth's surface 2.Constant view 3.No problems due to Doppler

Demerits

1.Short life2.Encounters radiation belts3.Short LOS

1.Round trip delays 2.Greater path loss

1.Larger round trip delays 2.Expensive equipment due to weak signal

BIG LEO

MEO

GEO & LEO

Satellites in LEO are just 200 - 500 miles above the earth.

Because they orbit so close to Earth, they must travel very fast so gravity won't pull them back into the atmosphere. Satellites in LEO speed along at 17,000 miles per hour . They can circle Earth in about 90 minutes.

Federal, State or Local

= Existing Customers

= No Customers

This coverage map is a computer-generated composite of RF coverage. Actual coverage and

service availability may vary depending upon the customer equipment, terrain, in-building conditions,

seasonal changes, weather and other factors.

Mississippi Terrestrial Coverage

Natural disasters recur..

Fire

Tornados

Ice Storms

High Winds

Hurricanes

Earthquakes

Flash Flooding

FCC View•FCC Chairman Touts Benefits of Satellite Phones in Disaster Zones

By MISSY FREDERICK Space News Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) told lawmakers Sept. 22 that satellite technology has a key role to play in disaster relief efforts due to the vulnerability of terrestrial communications infrastructure.

“If we learned anything from Hurricane Katrina, it is that we cannot rely solely on terrestrial communications,” Kevin Martin told members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. “When radio towers are knocked down, satellite communications are, in some instances, the most effective means of communicating.”

Mississippi MSV Satellite Coverage

= Coverage Area

= Non Coverage Area

Mississippi Customers

What are the options?

Utilize older VHF radios( Presumes availability of equipment )

Get a “COW” in place(Takes time and restricted to installed frequencies)

Bring in a command vehicle(Takes time and restricted to installed frequencies)

Switch over to back up communications(Best option but assumes back up communications strategy)

What are the back up options?

RADIODependant on terrestrial infrastructure

CELLULARDependant on terrestrial infrastructure

SATELLITENo terrestrial infrastructure

MEMA Comments Robert R. Latham Jr, Executive Director

Mississippi Emergency Management AgencyTestimony Before the House Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate

the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina, December 7,2005

The entire communication infrastructure of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast was destroyed and systems in many other parts of our state were rendered inoperable while systems that were operational were overloaded. 

While we have invested millions of dollars in communication inoperability, the issue after Katrina was operability.  The primary means of communication for MEMA and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is satellite, the only communication system that was operational during the days after landfall. 

Network Availability Nov ’04–Oct ‘05

100.00% 100.00% 99.99% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 99.87% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

Nov-04 Dec-04 Jan-05 Feb-05 Mar-05 Apr-05 May-05 Jun-05 Jul-05 Aug-05 Sep-05 Oct-05

MSV Satellite Two-Way Radio

• Push-to-Talk Voice Service– User initiated talk groups, in real time– Up to 10,000 users in a channel

• Key Features and Benefits– Point-to-Multi-Point Communication – Point-to-Point Communication– Interoperability between groups and customers– Scanning ( Channel Monitoring ) capability– Nation Wide Coverage– Priority Interrupt– Private Mode

Satellite Two-Way Radio

MSV Operations CenterMSV Operations Center

MSV Satellite Two-Way Radio

Call Processing

Signal ChannelVerificationValidationEstablish ChannelTransfer to Communications Channel

Communications ChannelDigitalL-Band

MSAT Frequency Bands

RF HUB

10 GHz

1.5 GHz

1.6 GHz13 GHz

Forward & Return

Propagation Issues

RF HUB

10 GHz1.5 GHz

1.6 GHz

13 GHz

Terrain & VegetationShadowing

Rain attenuation

(Uplink Power Control)

Ch1TG2

TG3

Channel Configuration

15 Channels per Mobile Radio

Emergency Management Model

MEMA

MDOT

MSDOHMDWFG

FEMA

Interoperability can be provided by configuring Talk Groups to communicate with other public safety organizations

Red Cross

National Guard

FEMA

Mutual Aid Talk GroupAllocation of one Talk Group as a Mutual Aid TG enables any MSV Two Way Radio user to be added by the TG Sponsor

Mutual Aid ChannelMEMA

MDOT

MSDOHMDWFG

Red Cross

National Guard

TN

FLNC

KYDHS

MS

The MSAT-G2 radio will transmit GPS location to the MSV hub, where it will be available to customers via the internet on a subscription

basis.

• Push-to-Talk GPS – Position is transmitted when user PTTs

• On Demand Polling – A dispatcher can “Poll” a radio at any time.

GPS Tracking Service

Interoperability

Communications is about the successful and efficient transmission of secure and relevant

information/data to required parties when needed.

INTEROPERABILITY

is about enabling such communications

Multiple Crossband Interface

Crossbanding as a solution

• Allows existing equipment to function

• Legacy equipment will continue for many years

• Enables speedy deployment

• Allows functional groups retain operational independence

• Enables interoperation between radio, cell and satellite

• Satellite enables connectivity from anywhere back to HQ

MSAT G2

Built in 16 Channel GPS

Receiver

9.8”

3.9”

Available Q1 2006

1.1”

6.5” 5.6”

6.8”

2.9” 1.4”

Telephone Service

• Real-time, full-duplex voice communication

• Direct dialing for all calls, including international

• Fixed and Mobile Voice• Call Management

Features– Call Waiting– Call Forward– Call Barring– Conference Calling

• Voice mail

Future Technology

Next Generation Network

Dense Urban Urban / Suburban Rural

• Terrestrial L-Band Network in metropolitan areas

• Cellular Wireless Network if required

• Digital Satellite L-Band Network for Ubiquitous Digital Coverage of NA

• Dispatch / Broadcast value-added services

Cellular NetworkTerrestrial L-Band Network

Maritime

Digital L-Band Satellite / Dispatch

Overlay

MSV’s Hybrid Vision for the Future

• To create an integrated, hybrid

wireless system that enables:

– Truly ubiquitous communications

services

– Through devices that are virtually

indistinguishable from other

wireless devices

– Using terrestrial and satellite

communications infrastructures

MSV is in the process of implementing thisvision

Satellite as Redundant Platform• If terrestrial infrastructure

is not available or in the

case of an emergency:

> Satellite capacity can

be dynamically

allocated to a specific

area

> Satellite system can be

preempted for

government use by

Public Safety Operator –

Priority Access

• Communication still

ensured throughout North

America

Emergency – Towers are Down

Central Points of Access/Control

Public Safety & Security Benefits

• An integrated hybrid wireless L-Band

network

• Device transparency, form factor and cost

• Service rates comparable to traditional

terrestrial services

• Seamless North American coverage

• True network interoperability

• Priority service capabilities

Austin ComertonManager, Business Development

acomerton@msvlp.com1 877 588 4288 x 4332

National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems

Dec 12th – 13th 2005