The growth in the use of data in cellular networks has continued to be key in the development of the Information Society in recent years. With the arrival of 4G, networks are experiencing massive growth, which requires the operators to optimize the efficiency in roll outs. Likewise, the coverage of these networks needs to grow to reach users that until now did not enjoy a high capacity connection.

Hispasat offers high throughput from all its orbital positions, covering areas left unattended by other communications systems, which makes it an excellent option for mobile network operators who want to extend their cellular network service.

Hispasat’s satellite fleet offers mobile telephone network operators the flexibility needed to deploy or expand their networks in time- and cost-efficient ways, when connecting remote or inaccessible locations via satellite. The number of base stations that can be connected is easily scalable, which allows the solution to be adapted to the different network needs of each customer.

As a complement to this service, Hispasat is able to offer its customers a global solution for the deployment of their networks, including backbone network connections and IP access, based on the needs for each project.

Hispasat currently features more than 2,400 BTS connected through its satellite fleet, which makes it one of the main operators in its regions of interest for these types of services. This service is mainly provided by Hispasat in the Americas, particularly in countries such as Peru, Brazil and the United States.

Hispasat provides backhaul services in the main modes of this service:

  • Fixed stations: this is the main satellite backhaul market and it will experience major growth in upcoming years.
  • Video Offloading: this uses the satellite as an element to distribute audiovisual content to cellular networks to reduce the load in terrestrial network use.
  • Small Cells: they provide connectivity to small 3G and 4G communications nodes, especially in rural and isolated zones.
  • Mobility: 3G and 4G backhaul services for the aerial, terrestrial and maritime sectors.

5G

The satellite industry is working to integrate itself in the 5G environment to form hybrid networks that will provide connectivity services through the combination of the most efficient terrestrial and spatial technologies in each specific case. In this environment, satellites also provide its multicast capacity in broadband to facilitate mass software updates to millions of users at the same time or to broadcast high-quality video content, for example. The industry also allows for high-availability networks to be created, providing the 5G ecosystem with an infrastructure independent of any incident or disaster that may affect terrestrial networks.

Hispasat is working on several projects and initiatives with regard to 5G:

5G Barcelona

5G Barcelona is a public-private initiative that works to transform the Barcelona metropolitan area into an open and neutral urban laboratory to validate and adopt 5G technologies and applications in a real environment. 5G Barcelona is an innovative project that is being promoted by the Catalan Government, the Barcelona City Government, the Mobile World Capital Barcelona, 2CAT, CTTC, Atos and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Hispasat participates in the project to test the importance of satellite services in specific tests and pilot projects, such as the connected ambulance demo that 5G Barcelona carried out during the 2019 Mobile World Congress.

R+D+I Projects on 5G

Hispasat is also actively participating in European projects focused on the development of the next generation of 5G mobile services, the so-called NRG5, which aims, among other things, for predictive maintenance of the power lines and gas plants through the use of drones. In this case of use, Hispasat will provide connectivity to link the remote base stations with the control and operations center, where the data collected by drones will be sent, and it will analyze the requirements and the precise network architecture for this service.

On the other hand, Hispasat forms part of the group of 16 large companies from the satellite industry that signed a joint declaration with the ESA in 2017 to collaborate in the Satellite for 5G project, in the framework of the Paris Air and Space Show. As part of this initiative, whose development is scheduled for 2018-2020, the ESA will work together with satellite operators, service providers and manufacturers on 5G tests, cross-cutting activities and the scope of 5G.

HYBRID CELLULAR BACKHAUL

The growth of mobile networks and the corresponding technological migration from 2G and 3G to 4G demand major capacity for these types of networks. In this context the Ka band HTS is an attractive alternative for operators. However, the high availability requirements for certain backhauling services (especially voice services) make it difficult to implement solutions based solely on Ka technology in regions with high levels of precipitation.

Moreover, in those regions where Hispasat has Ku and Ka band capacity available, the company is promoting hybrid cellular backhaul solutions to leverage the intrinsic characteristics of each frequency band. This solution allows operators to enjoy efficient use of the space capacity while maintaining quality levels.

Hispasat is a pioneer in these types of solutions and has capacity in the Ka and Ku bands in areas of great interest for Telco operators, such as Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Chile.

IP TRUNKING SERVICES

Communications systems often share large volumes of information between isolated or distant points, which is common for trunk networks.

Hispasat satellites offer network operators the option to create high-capacity trunk links via satellite both as the principal network or as a back-up solution. The back-up solutions are able to guarantee the maximum availability of their communications networks.

Hispasat is promoting a satellite solution that can share capacity between various nodes and connect far removed populations, as well as facilitate the roll out of networks in difficult-to-access places and complete a primary network with a back-up in case of a failure in the principal network.

MARKETING MODELS

Permanent space capacity:

  • Resource sharing: all the nodes of the terrestrial network share the dedicated space capacity, which is assigned dynamically to the centers that need it.
  • Dynamic broadband management: automatic reconfiguration of the space capacity based on the network traffic demand.
  • Modular and adaptive growth: expansion and reduction of hotspots, reconfiguration of hotspots, etc.

Temporary Space Capacity

  • The service is for temporary use, with guaranteed broadband on demand.
  • The customer pays a recurring fee that ensures that they have the use of the capacity when required.
  • The use of space capacity is priced at temporary capacity prices.

This mode is subject to Hispasat's availability of space capacity, with permanent service prioritized over temporary services.