VSAT Latin America to Examine the Demand Drivers for VSAT Services in Latin America

From Virtual-Strategy Magazine

Informa Telecoms & Media in partnership with telecommunications consultancy company COMSYS have announced the agenda for the first-ever VSAT Latin America event, taking place from 2–3 July 2013 at The Grand Hyatt Hotel, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The show is expected to attract hundreds of satellite and telecoms professionals from across Latin America and beyond with two days of discussion and debate around the VSAT industry.

Support has already been confirmed from ANATEL, who will be Institutional Partner at the event alongside the GVF, who are the Official Endorsing Association for the show. Advantech Wireless, Hughes, iDirect, Intelsat and Newtec have all confirmed their participation as Major Supporting Sponsors of the show.

Speakers confirmed so far for the two-day conference include Simon Bull, Senior Consultant at COMSYS; Jorge Villarreal, CEO at Elara Comunicaciones; and Alexis Aguirre, Sales Engineering Manager for LATAM, British Telecom. Alexis will be presenting a case study on BT VSAT deployments in Latin America, examining the large-scale VSAT deployments for CAIXA & CORREIOS. Day 2 speakers include Rafael Guimaraes, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Hughes do Brasil, and Martin Jarrold, Chief of International Programme Management at the GVF, both of whom will be focusing on public policy and regulation within the region and how this impacts upon the growth of VSAT services. Continue>

Posted on May 21, 2013 by idirect. | Leave a comment

Variety – A Very Large Array of Data

Denis SutherlandBy Denis Sutherland, Sr. Manager, Sales System Engineering

In my last blog we talked about volumes of data posing a problem, but a large variety of data from various sources can also make for a “Big Data” problem. Some say it’s a bigger problem.

A great example of this is in a radio frequency fade; this could result in an alarm as the carrier signal strength drops. This leads to the loss of contact alarms, then the site recovers and produces positive status messages, iVantage could produce 20 alarms for one remote in minutes. In reality all this activity is related, correlated, and it is one incident.  There are many types of data being produced in different structures which makes it difficult to process.  RF is analog, this is the difference, and it’s really the reason SatManage is unique. No terrestrial management system can understand or care about the large variety of alarms created in such an environment, not least could they correlate related alarms together into a single incident.

But what happens when you experience a network wide outage, maybe hundreds or thousands of remotes that could generate many alarms at the same time? How will you know remotes with high SLAs are impacted? Remember this blog I wrote: What is data Visualization? You can SEE this complexity in action!  You can visualize a large variety of different metrics. Read More

Posted on May 20, 2013 by idirect. | Leave a comment

Satellite and the Smart Grid – New Infographic

Utility operators are powering up VSAT networks to extend the Smart Grid to 100% of their network coverage area. VSAT networks enable utility companies to run multiple applications, such as monitoring power generation, substation automation, distribution automation, backhauling smart meter data, aiding in mobility and disaster operations, and serving as a back-up network to sustain business continuity. Marketing and technology research team, Navigant, projects the utility market will cumulatively generate $2.1 billion in VSAT and BGAN equipment and services between 2012 and 2020.

Here is an information graphic that shows how satellite communications is enhancing the Smart Grid. Are you ready to switch to satellite? Contact us today!

Satellite-and-the-Smart-Grid-Infographic-May-2013-blog2

Click to view larger image

Posted on May 15, 2013 by idirect. | Leave a comment

UTC: What to expect for iDirect – Q&A with Global Marketing Strategist Michelle Larsen

Michelle LarsenUtilities Telecom Council celebrates its 65th annual UTC telecom conference in Houston. iDirect will participate as a gold sponsor for the wireless track sessions as well as offer presentations at the conference. Global Marketing Strategist, Michelle Larsen, speaks on what to expect from UTC and what iDirect is exhibiting this year.

Q: Can you explain your partnership with UTC?

A: This is iDirect’s fourth year having a booth at the annual UTC Expo. We greatly value our partnership with UTC and continue to work with them in a variety of ways. We work very closely with them to educate the utilities industry on satellite technology. We worked together to complete both primary and secondary research. We’ve sponsored webinars, spoken at regional events and hosted special events. Ultimately this event gives us a platform to explain what the best ways to leverage satellite are, as well as what iDirect solutions offers to communications professionals and their companies.

Q:  What are you most excited about this year?

A:  We are very excited to be speaking Wednesday in the “Grid Automation and the Power of Satellite” session with our Utility partner Southern California Edison. They will be explaining how they use satellite in their smart grid and the benefits they are experiencing. Read More

Posted on May 13, 2013 by idirect. | Leave a comment

iDirect To Participate At 65th UTC Telecom Conference In Houston

Direct to provide insight on role of satellite in the smart grid; hosts discussion on future implications of satellite in utilities industry

Herndon, Va., May 13, 2013 – VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of VT Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), will exhibit and offer presentations at UTC Telecom 2013 from May 13-17, 2013, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. This event brings together utility communication professionals to discuss in-depth analysis on current trends, technology innovations and best practices in the utilities market. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

iDirect’s senior systems engineer, Kris Jarrett, will speak on two panel discussions at the conference. He will share how implementing VSAT helps energy companies extend the smart grid to anywhere it is needed by monitoring power generation, providing communication to remote substations, backhauling smart meter data and serving as a back-up network. Read More

Posted on May 13, 2013 by idirect. | Leave a comment

Getting More Bandwidth – iDirect’s David Nemeth Discusses 3 Key Takeaways to Increase Spectral Efficiency and Bandwidth Optimization

While the satellite industry talks about the need for higher data rates, bandwidth efficiency is still a critical network requirement. When the price of bandwidth remains a large obstacle in any market, getting the most out of bandwidth is a huge priority for service providers. iDirect’s senior systems architect, David Nemeth, shares three key insights to boost spectral efficiency and bandwidth optimization.

Method 1: Make a more efficient waveform 

The first approach is to simply make a better waveform, or using more advanced error correction codes and better demodulation techniques. With the same link budget you get more bits through the pipe.

For example, at iDirect we have improved our error correction codes from older TPC, to the more advanced 2D 16-State in iDX 2.1. We also enhanced our demodulation techniques (going from a preamble approach to a distributed pilot approach in our upcoming iDX 3.2 release.)  Combined, these improvements give impressive gains. Now a channel supporting 1 Mbps could improve to 1.5 Mbps when these two enhancements are combined, without any change to the link budget. We’ve achieved a 50% increase in the number of bits for the exact same amount of bandwidth and power.

However there is a fundamental limit to how much you can improve the raw spectral efficiency. Eventually, you run into the Shannon limit, which determines the maximum number of bits you get through a channel with a given bandwidth and carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N). While we’re not done until we are operating at the Shannon limit, we are close enough that future gains will be limited. Read More

Posted on May 7, 2013 by idirect. | 1 Comment

Addressing The Insatiable Demand For Bandwidth

Toni KousiafesFrom Satellite Pro

Toni Kousiafes, Product Manager, iDirect, in conversation with SatellitePro ME, explains the company’s approach to innovation and product development.

The approach we take to product development is two-fold – one is about understanding the end-user needs within different vertical markets and clearly defining the use case.

“The approach we take to product development is two-fold – one is about understanding the end-user needs within different vertical markets and clearly defining the use case. It is about understanding the applications that they are running and what we need to do to ensure that satellite is a mainstream connectivity option for them.

Then we look at our partners, the ones offering the service to the end-users. We develop our system in a manner that provides them the flexibility to offer a service that delivers the same level of quality of and user experience as a terrestrial network. Continue>

Posted on May 1, 2013 by idirect. | Leave a comment

RigNet Launches iDirect Network In Australia For Onshore Energy, Mining And Maritime Applications

Leading onshore provider in U.S. continues to extend land initiatives abroad to capitalize on global market opportunities

Herndon, Va., April 30, 2013 – VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of VT Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), today announced that RigNet, Inc. (NASDAQ:RNET), a leading global provider of managed remote communications solutions to the oil and gas industry, has installed an iDirect Series 15100 Universal Satellite Hub in Adelaide, Australia, to extend its services to Australia and the Asia Pacific region. The business expansion will enable RigNet to tap into growing market segments, including onshore natural gas and oil exploration, energy, mining and maritime. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

The hub addition enables RigNet to expand its global presence and offer a managed service for land-based drilling applications and remote connectivity in the greater Asia Pacific region. The investment follows RigNet’s installation of a hub in the Middle East to extend RigNet’s VSAT coverage in the region and enhance the company’s satellite service portfolio for customers in the oil and gas sector. Read More

Posted on April 30, 2013 by idirect. | Leave a comment

Inside the Hot Zone

DaveDave Davis, Sr. Systems Engineer, iDirect

I recently attended the Security and Policing (S&P) exhibition in Farnborough, UK, to speak about satellite connectivity to the Security and Policing community.

When the going gets tough and response teams rely on reliable, effective, secure communications where are they going to look? The answer is “to the sky.”

When a serious incident occurs, the epicentre is known as the Hot Zone. In this inner cordon every little thing counts and the glue in the multi-agency response is effective communications.

In my last post I looked at the five common themes that came across at the S&P exhibition as the key areas to be able to deal effectively with an emergency situation. These were:

  • Reliability
  • Security
  • Speed of deployment
  • Scalability
  • Best value

Everyone agreed that satellite connectivity is the go-to technology in such situations. In the last blog I spoke about the reliability, security issues and budget; in this blog I’ll take a closer look at the speed of deployment and the scalability of using satellites. Read More

Posted on April 25, 2013 by idirect. | Leave a comment

iDirect And Partners To Convene At Annual Global Partner Summit In Istanbul

Industry leaders from around the world to share market insights and best practices, discuss emerging trends

Istanbul, Turkey, April 23, 2013 – VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of VT Systems, Inc.

(VT Systems), will host its third annual Global Partner Summit from May 6-8, 2013, at the Grand Hyatt in Istanbul, Turkey. The annual event draws satellite industry leaders from around the world to share the latest market insights and discuss business opportunities. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

This event will focus on industry trends and best practices for partners, based on utilizing iDirect’s platform to expand their businesses with today’s ever-growing market opportunities. Speakers at the Summit will discuss future technology innovations, which includes the 2013 product strategy roadmap, innovations to iDirect’s Evolution® platform, a new complementary product line, and a look at its next-generation Network Management System. Key industry leaders from around the world have been invited to speak in a “Partner Perspectives” panel, where they will share their knowledge and growth strategies, as well as discuss how iDirect’s technology is used within key verticals such as Oil and Gas, Maritime, Education, Government and Cellular Backhaul.

“Over the past few years, we’ve collaborated with our partners to make our Global Summit one of the premier exclusive events in the satellite industry. Our goal this year is that our partners will leave the event inspired by new insights on iDirect and satellite industry trends that they can implement to make their business stronger.”

Dean GRIFFLER

Senior Vice President of Global Sales, iDirect

For more information about the 2013 Global Partner Summit and more detail about each session, visit the event Website at iDirect.net/GPS2013.

Posted on April 23, 2013 by idirect. | Leave a comment