Homeland security case study

Shiron Satellite Communications InterSKY platform provide a government agency a

reliable and secured network.

As threats to national security and public safety have become more sophisticated,
more dangerous and more difficult to deal with, homeland security agencies need to
improve their communication networks and ability to handle crime and terror
prevention and handle national crisis. In recent years many government agencies
have invested in reliable effective and secure telecommunication networks as it
prove to play and will continue to play an ever-increasing role in providing
government agencies with intelligence data needed to help reduce the levels of
crime, terrorism and other threats to security.

A State Intelligence agency of one of Asia largest countries was looking for a new
satellite based networking solution in order to connect both fixed and mobile units to
a single reliable independent network that would replace the existing network. The
agency was using terrestrial communication links and also SCPC satellite links. The
terrestrial links had limited bandwidth capacity and often had service and quality
issues that affect the ability of the agency to maintain proper and reliable
communication between their branches across the country. The agency was using
SCPC satellite link between few of its branches, however the cost of the satellite
resources which were not wisely utilized have driven the agency to look for an
alternative that will also replace these expensive SCPC links. The agency came to
the conclusion that a private independent satellite IP network would be the best
solution for its needs. Such a network will allow it to establish a reliable and secure
communication between all its branches and at the same time to be able to
communicate with mobile units that are engage in surveillance and intelligence
collection activity. The State Intelligence agency then published a tender for a
complete turn key solution for providing voice, data and video over an all IP
broadband satellite network. Shiron Satellite Communications have demonstrated it
has the best solution and required experience to answer all the agency requirements
and was awarded with the contract to provide a full turn key solution.

Shiron Satellite Communications InterSKY two way broadband satellite

communication platform have been selected by the State Intelligence Agency. The
InterSKY platform provides an all IP network infrastructure for voice, data video and
other IP applications and services.

InterSKY uses DVB-S2 with Dynamic ACM on its outbound direction and MF-TDMA/BM-FDMA
with 8PSK modulation on its inbound direction and hence provides the most cost
effective bandwidth on demand VSAT platform.
With such a broadband satellite system the intelligence agency can now replace the
SCPC links it was using in some of its branches. With InterSKY platform it can use
the satellite bandwidth it is leasing from the satellite service provider much more
efficiently as this bandwidth is now shared and used by many more sites.

Each site receives the amount of bandwidth it needs in any given moment. InterSKY
sophisticated Bandwidth on Demand mechanism is responsible for the dynamic
bandwidth allocation for each remote site, according to the remote gateway priority
setting and its real bandwidth requirements.
InterSKY high-quality service, traffic shaping and jitter-free MF-TDMA/BM-FDMA technology
together with its ability to optimized real-time applications is the most appropriate
VSAT system for Video and voice transport over satellite these days. Unlike TDMA,
Shiron's multi access scheme, MF-TDMA/BM-FDMA is based on bandwidth processing. This
generates dedicated carriers of varying sizes on-the-fly, establishing temporary
direct communication links with remote gateways of the required bandwidth without
sacrificing link stability and quality.
Utilizing these InterSKY features the State Intelligence Agency have implemented a
state of the art video conferencing application between all it's branches and it's
mobile commend center Vehicles which are also been connected trough the
InterSKY system. This IP based Video conferencing system allows both point to
point and point to multipoint conferencing.
The IP videoconferencing network is managed, maintained, and administered from a
central location. Furthermore this IP video system is also been utilized by the
Intelligence Agency to deliver surveillance real time streaming video from the field.
The agency use man pack equipped with sophisticated audio and video equipment.
The streaming video and audio are then delivered over a wireless connection to a
mobile unit that is deployed near by. These transportable Satellite Communication
Fly Away units contains Shiron, InterSKY remote gateway(VSAT), a VSAT antenna
with auto tracking capability and the wireless base station that communicate with the
agents man pack radio devices.
These fly away systems rugged, compact design is modular, enabling quick and
easy movement to various mobile platforms as operational needs demand. They are
installed in a ruggedized enclosure that is carried by the agency vehicles and
helicopters. Shiron Satellite Communications InterSKY provide the agency
broadband on the move satellite communication that enables receiving real time
audio and video streaming from multiple mobile units in the field directly to the
agency central commend canter or to a front commend vehicle also equipped with
Shiron's remote gateway(VSAT).

The InterSKY system also allows the agency to use a single telephony network
trough the entire organization. A state of the art VoIP platform has been deployed at
the different branches in order to connect both VoIP phone sets, and regular legacy
phone set and PBXs to the central PBX located at the agency headquarter. While
previously some branches had to use low quality non secured PSTN lines, today all
voice calls between the agency branches and mobile and field units are been
transported over the InterSKY platform. InterSKY technology introduce very low jitter
in comparison to other TDMA based VSAT systems hence the agency now enjoins
toll voice quality at its remotes branches and in the field.
A Weather proof communication system
InterSKY supports DVB-S2 with Dynamic ACM (Adaptive Coding and Modulation)
on it's outbound direction and also ACM capabilities in it's inbound direction and
hence ensure outstanding service in all weather conditions.
InterSKY solution assures that when a remote gateway (VSAT) is experiencing
attenuation due to rain fade the system will automatically adjust the coding and
modulation to assure its continues availability and connectivity.
Each frame that is sent out of the DVB-S2 modulator towards a remote gateway may
have different coding and modulation based on the location condition as analyzed by
the ACM server.

On the return direction the system controls the transmission power level and traffic
rate of each individual remote gateway and uses it to composite for large rain fade in
order to maintain the link connectivity with high availability.

Since the country is located in a very rainy region this system characteristic is
extremely important to the State Intelligence agency that must ensure it's satellite
communication networks stays up and operational even during extreme weather
conditions.
 Managing the network
Shiron InterSKY platform includes a comprehensive network management system
called IS-NMS. The IS-NMS software provides total network control of both inbound
and outbound traffic and bandwidth resources. With IS-NMS you get a view of all
network elements and services and gain full management from a single screen. This
level of control is unparalleled and delivers the reliability and performance required for
critical network operations and superior decision-making.

Shiron InterSKY enables first responders in different government and state agencies,
police, fire, rescue, relief and military organizations to establish voice, video and data
connectivity via satellite - from any location - in less than 30 minutes, directly linking
them to a regional or national command center. With comprehensive communications
capabilities such as IP telephony, video teleconferencing, radio interoperability and
access to planning and response software applications, officials can quickly and easily
deploy a fully-functional field command and control center on short notice.

When disaster strikes, damage to terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure can be

severe and emergency resources can be overwhelmed. Shiron InterSKY solutions
allow emergency first responders to restore communications networks so they can
connect, communicate and coordinate during a disaster.

About Shiron Satellite Communications

Shiron Satellite Communications, a technology leader in the satellite broadband

communication market, was founded in 1996. The company’s unique broadband
satellite system, InterSKY™, is based on the DVB-S and DVB-S2 open standards
solution together with advanced patent-protected technologies.

Enjoying global coverage, Shiron has a customer base that includes major satellite
operators, Telcoms and Cellular operators, ISP’s and government agencies, as well
as public and private companies. Shiron Satellite Communications’ innovative
solutions are ideally suited for the growing interactive multimedia broadband satellite
market. The company’s InterSKY™ satellite communications system, economically
delivers reliable high-quality broadband satellite services to the remotest locations.
Significantly reducing satellite and network resources, InterSKY™ is the most cost-
effective solution on the market.

USA Office: Australia Office: Israel Office:

Shiron Satellite Communications Inc.
2813 Executive Park Drive
Weston, Fl 33331 USA
Office: +1 954 727 9162
efax: +1-305-847-0476
web: www.shiron.com
17 Kenlon Street, Bentleigh East, 3165 Shiron Satellite Communications (1996) Ltd.
Victoria, Australia 9 Bareket St., Petach Tikvah
Tel: +61 3 9017 4585 Israel, 49170
Tel:+972 3 9787000, Fax:+972 3 921 7972
Fax: +61 3 8080 1611
web: www.shiron.com
web: www.shiron.com