Network Management and Control or PMC
(Payload Monitoring Control)
Carries out functions at the Network Operations Centre, managing space capacity of satellites, permanent customer support and service, carrier alignment, signal monitoring, interference detection, peak and pol, and problem solving. These tasks are done according to the technical and commercial requirements for space capacity agreed to by clients and HISPASAT.
To do so, PMC relies on a system of 24/7 assistance that controls capacity assignments for clients, transmissions and satellite configuration, and solves customer service problems. PMC has 24/7 operating centres in Arganda del Rey (Madrid) and in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and remote measuring stations (CMS) located in different coverage beams in Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and the United States. Likewise, they have baseband analysis systems and tools to allocate space and transmission capacity (SIGO).
They have an office for occasional use (booking) for space capacity, and they also provide support for digital platform broadband services.
The entry into service of the Amazonas 4A satellite at 61º West and the change in orbital positions of Hispasat 1C and Amazonas 1 led to an increase in available space capacity and in related operating activities.
The FIFA World Cup in Brazil in June and July of 2014 required an extra push in internal coordination and customer service, which was carried out successfully. Implementing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and the call centre in 2014, as new tools for customer service and for managing service incidents, required a large effort by PMC, since they had to do so without interruptions and with minimal impact on permanent operations and customer service.
The agreements reached in the periodic operational meetings with clients, the preventive action in the HISPASAT control centre and the correct use of space capacity by clients have made it possible for the company fleet to continue to offer high-quality services.
With regard to interferences, in 2014 six viability analyses were requested for geolocation in exceptional cases where solutions were difficult to find. Of the six inquiries to the service provider, it was feasible on two occasions and under operational and technical conditions for each scenario.
Additionally, the radio-frequency measuring service was initiated, with remote stations located in Bogotá (Colombia) and Hauppage (United States) for new orbital positions. Two remote stations are currently being set up as Ka-band spots in Chile and the United States.
At PMC, HISPASAT continues to participate actively as a member of SIRG (Satellite Interference Reduction Group), a cooperative organisation in which different satellite companies and operators propose solutions and actions focused on fighting diverse problems related to interference to satellite communications on a global level.
HISPASAT maintains operational relationships with satellite operators Intelsat and Telesat, with the goal of monitoring Adjacent Satellite Interference (ASI), since they operate satellites in positions that are close to HISPASAT’s satellites.
