Telecom
Current and New Dimensions for SATCOM Network Services Driving IoT & IoE for 5G
By Andrew Aroh
- Today Access to the Satellite resources is as simple as pointing the dish and transmitting/receiving: This is because Satellite Coverage is Ubiquitous, the bandwidth is instantly available and it can be directed /redirected without any last mile issues.
- Satellite communications enhances economic, educational and health standards more than any other form of technology. In turn, higher economic and social standards are attracting foreign investment, which creates employment opportunities which leads to increased exports, which yields stronger hard currency earnings.
- Increasingly, there is a recognition by regulators, operators and service providers that new job opportunities, foreign investment, and digital economic strength are counted among the many advantages of permitting the provision of effective broadband communications.
- In SATCOM digital realization, we are looking at payload with high-speed and low power characteristics, whilst having radiation hardness.
- The frequency spectrum for broadband (Ka-band/V-band) has higher power and therefore will be used for high-bandwidth interactive services such as high-speed internet, video conferencing and multimedia applications.
- Note that NGN is expected to integrate wired/cabled and wireless networks into an all-IP network. Based on the above, a rejoinder to WRC-19 has shown that the following characteristics are vital for essential communications operation of NGNs:
- Coverage
- Capacity/throughput
- Flexibility/scalability
- Interoperability
- Access & control
- Quality-of-service
- Protection/Security
- The required increases in spectrum will provide the following:
- Continuous connection
- Greater capacity
- More data
- More users
- Faster speed
- Faster response time (latency) for connections.
- 5G is accompanied with development of Architectures leveraging Network Function virtualization (NFV) and software defined networking (SDN) both at the core and edge of the network providing:
- Increased computing power
- Scalability
- Reduced operating cost
- Business models to enable differentiation
- 5G will push the boundaries of throughput and capacity further beyond that of 4G to enable newer types of applications and services in the domain of:
- Health
- Transport
- Entertainment
- Machine-to-machine communications
- Security etc.
- 5G is virtually instantaneous opening up a new world of connected applications/devices (IoTs) leading to a huge shift towards a landscape dominated by WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY
- ITU SATELLITE CORE DESIGN PRINCIPLES (Development philosophy) which drives innovation in ICT:
- Make it simple, efficient, scalable, work anyplace, anytime no matter what the connectivity requirements
- The Technology is developed to a universal set of requirements (outlined below) to enable service providers to meet any customer need no matter the application, bandwidth, or satellite network topology:
- Everything is integrated
- Efficiency rules
- Scalability pays
- Flexibility matters
- Intuitive management prevails
- How do you prorate a new ICT device/product:
- Allows customers to generate new revenues
- Enhance Network performance
- Reduce Operating Cost
- Can operate with multiple carriers of different bandwidths.
- A new dimension in efficient satellite network solution:
- Features:
- Multi-frequency TDMA (MF-TDMA)
- Full mesh, star or hybrid (virtual network)
- Bandwidth on demand through DAMA
- Based on IP suite for internet
- Delivers cost-effective VoIP, Data, Video, DVB/DVB-S/DNB-S2/Extension
- From 105Mbps to 50Mbps or more to the Gbps range
- Multimedia
- True Broadband Triple-play:
- The emerging true broadband services are a combination of:
- Voice (making calls)
- Data (social media; email, browsing)
- Video (news, sports, entertainment, TV and broadcast; training, movies.)
- Most of these streaming and file-transfer based services have converged towards IP. Through a multiservice platform the different service over IP can be combined either in the Hub or the remote into a single carrier for efficient transfer at optimal service availability over a combination of fiber + terrestrial wireless + space wireless using ochestrantion.
- For true broadband (broadband 2.0) experience over satellite, the satellite MODEMs and terminals in the network implement the most efficient technologies:
- Adaptive code modulation (ACM) in the forward link.
- Adaptive return technologies using automatic in-route-selection (AIS)
- Embedded IP traffic enhancement software (aka cross-layer-optimization) through
- TCP acceleration
- Pre-fetching
- Compression/decompression
- The emerging true broadband services are a combination of:
- SEAMLESS INTEGRATION TO CREATE TRANSPARENT LAN SERVICES (TLS)
- With convergance in ICT we need integrated BROADBAND ACCESS & NETWORK PLANNING which provides high-speed data service that allows for the inter connection of different LANs across an extended campus, metropolitan area or nation network.
- Using VLANs Gigobit range LAN interface (such as 11011000Mbps Ethernet), TLS provides a much simpler solution to the customer for connection of disperate sites than other forms of WAN, such as frame relay or ATM.
- We need products and solutions that enable:
- Information exchange
- Accelerate information flow
- Ensure information delivery
- To make data communications systems:
- Faster
- More reliable
- More interoperable
- Standards-Based Satellite & Terrestrial RF Network Gateway Applications include:
- IP-over-Satellite Links
- IP over tactical/terrestrial wireless links
- IP over wired/cabled terrestrial links
- End-to-end communications over wireless links, with mobile nodes implementing space communications protocol standards by extending TCP/IP to maximize throughput and link utilization in the lossy, high-latency, asymmetric bandwidth environment typical of space and tactical/terrestrial RF communications links.
- Seamless integration with existing IP and Satellite/wireless RF network infrastructure transparent to most network functions.
- Support for BGP routing protocol for integration with existing IP network infrastructure and migration to IPV6.
INTERNET OF THINGS:
- The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to machine-to-machine communications.
- The IoT continues to grow as devices proliferate.
- Cisco estimates that 50 billion devices will be connected to the internet by 2020 and those connections will communicate data to analyze, plan, manage and make intelligent decisions autonomously.
- Connected IoT device like UAS sensors will keep soldiers and commanders connected to data needed to respond to the ever-changing battle field.
- When combined with collaboration and analytics, IoT data becomes part of a broader IoE (Internet of Everything) environment that promises to create a real-time information advantage.
- As the multitude of CONNECTED SENSORS and DEVICES grows while at the same time video surveillance and applications leverage the internet, the importance of physical and network security becomes even more critical.
THE INTERNET OF EVERYTHING
- The internet of everything (IoE) is a catalyst to take IoT to the next level by combining people, processes and technology with connected devices, sensors and other machines. This integration of IoT with human communications collaboration and analytical elements enables real-time decision advantages.
- The opportunity with IoE comes from its ability to link components via intelligent, programmable network.
- IoT is a critical part of this evolution, in which physical objects like vehicles, weapons and unmanned vehicles are connected to secure networks to create information dominance.
- The IoE is serving as a catalyst to change the landscape of the IT industry while transforming how to leverage network-based solutions.
- For defense, IoE holds the power to connect the battlefield with the digital world in ways that promise to fundamentally change military operations.
- An integrated architecture for IoE creates interconnected physical and virtual environments that combine IoT devices with secure virtualization, mobility, unified communications and other advanced technologies.
- The proliferation of unstructured imager and video data from a variety of sensors is creating new:
- Capture
- Storage
- Computing
- Exploitation opportunities
- To accommodate an influx of new devices without sacrificing security, they must be managed as part of an integrated architecture for IoE.
- The framework should leverage commercial product to avoid unnecessary government-modified devices that are more expensive to field manage and support.
- Security measures will be critical for protecting data on classified networks.
- Architecture suited to support IoE will include:
- Compute
- Storage
- Virtualization assets in the data center
- Secure network fabric for connectivity
- Voice and video-enabled secure mobile infrastructure
- Battlefield sensors
- Virtualization combined with advanced security from the network to application levels are essential to allowing high secure access to sensitive and classified information on multiple networks while lowering the risk of vulnerabilities.
- When properly designed and deployed, IoE will help to realize the vision of net-centric warfare while proving technology advantage for our connected war fighters.
- INTERNET OF EVERYTHING COULD TRANSFORM THE BATTLEFIELD: EVERYTHING CONNECTED.
- Today’s military is adapting to asymmetrical warfare and an evolving real-time threat matrix that require new approaches to military operations.
- In the midst of a technological shift from the fixed location work models of the PC era to the mobile, social, virtual and collaborative models of today, information advantage has become more important than overwhelming force.
- To address those needs the military is taking a leap forward by adopting new technologies and incorporating them into existing environment – all without sacrificing security and the ability to manage complex systems.
- The integration of military technology also unification of computing, storage and networks with sensors, devices and collaborative application.
- Security concerns surrounding IoE will be particularly important for military operators connecting to classified networks. Hence, network-aware intelligence and end-to-end physical security for video and all networked sensors must be at the heart of any military IoE solution.
- Today’s missions require ongoing, untethered interactions between soldiers, decision makers, subject matter experts and machines.
- Unification of sensors, video, voice, data collaboration and secure mobile computing is delivering next-generation battlefield capabilities.
- The potential exists to combine IoE technologies with big data analytics, trusted multilevel security capabilities, software-defined networks and virtualization – aware network infrastructure to deliver an integrated architecture for the battlefield.
- THE PROMISE AND CHALLENGE OF THE NEW CENTURY HIGH OVERHEADS.
- Advanced Satellite systems make vital contributions every day to:
- Science
- Connecting citizens and business for Internet of Things (IoT) as well as Internet of Everything (IoE).
- Gathering weather data for aviation, weather forecasting & climate change.
- Sending navigational signals for tracking, monitoring & control.
- Mapping earth, the planets and deep space & sea for information and security
- Defense
- Etc
- Advanced Satellite systems make vital contributions every day to:
- CURRENT AND NEW GENERATION SATELLITE NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY INCLUDES:
- Data networking constellations using LEOs & MEOs.
- New Generation Commercial Satellites with onboard processing (OBP) systems.
- New Military Satellites, such as SBIRS
- Next Generation Smaller Terminals
- CONCLUDING REMARKS: MAJOR TECHNICAL TRENDS COMMON TO COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY USERS:
- More powerful satellites are emerging
- More bps per Hertz
- Larger antennas onboard the Satellites
- More power are produced from the satellites
- Use of Ka-band, V-band and mmW increases bandwidth availability for mass market broadband
- Adaptive coding and Modulation to get even more bps per hertz (most of the time!)
- Standards are reducing the size and cost of earth station baseband equipment
- Continued move towards use of IP networking over satellite.
- More powerful satellites are emerging
- Andrew Aroh is President of SSPI Nigeria
Federal government has abolished the five per cent excise duty on telecommunications services, a levy that had long sparked public concern over rising costs for subscribers.
Pic credit… Itedgenews
Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), announced the development during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.
Maida explained that the duty, which was earlier suspended, had now been completely removed by President Bola Tinubu under the new tax legislation.
“The excise duty, it was the 5 per cent or so, that is no longer there. Before it was suspended, but now the president has been magnanimous to remove it entirely. I was in a room when it was raised, and he said, No, no, no, we cannot put this on Nigerians. I was very pleased when the bills came out and we saw his words were followed through,” he disclosed.
Maida stressed that eliminating the charge would ease cost pressures on subscribers and enable wider industry growth.
He added that reforms within the sector were now guided by principles of transparency, accountability, and stronger consumer protection.
The EVC revealed that the regulator was moving beyond traditional rule-based supervision to incorporate behavioural economics, which includes providing more information for consumers and operators to make informed choices.
According to him, one key initiative is a nationwide public map of network performance, expected in September, that will provide independent data on download speeds, latency, and other service indicators.
“There will also be a quarterly network performance report based on user data. It extends accountability beyond mobile operators to also include infrastructure providers who play a critical role in reliability,” he said.
The NCC boss further emphasised the importance of corporate governance as a tool to attract investment and improve industry efficiency. He noted that the ultimate goal is to nurture a telecom company that is wholly Nigerian-owned, well-structured, and globally competitive.
He listed some of the NCC’s recent achievements, including the conclusion of the NIN-SIM audit, settlement of USSD debt disputes, transition to end-user billing, and the launch of a Major Incident Reporting Portal.
On call tariffs, he pointed out that competition had helped keep rates low, with the highest in the market today at about N18 or N19 per minute, compared to N50 per minute two decades ago.
Addressing frequent consumer complaints, he disclosed that the NCC and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had developed a new framework to standardise electronic recharge processes. In addition, Tier-1 audit firms were hired to investigate billing systems after reports of unexplained data depletion.
The results, he said, showed no systemic manipulation. Instead, factors such as background applications, device settings, and complex tariff plans contributed to user dissatisfaction.
“We are not trying to punish anyone. We want the industry to grow, so consumers are happier, operators perform better, and the government benefits from a broader tax base,” Maida added.
In a strategic move to propel the Nigerian blockchain ecosystem, Roqqu, a prominent digital finance and blockchain solutions provider, has officially partnered with the Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria (SiBAN).
This new alliance will leverage the combined expertise and resources of both organizations to foster innovation, drive development, and accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology across Nigeria.
The partnership comes shortly after Roqqu was welcomed into the SiBAN network as a corporate member, solidifying a joint commitment to building a more credible, transparent, and sustainable digital asset ecosystem.
The collaboration is designed to bridge the gap between rapid technological innovation and responsible adoption, while prioritizing user protection and ethical standards.
In a statement, the organizations detailed a range of initiatives to be launched as part of this collaboration, all aimed at promoting financial inclusion and responsible innovation.
Key initiatives to be carried out by the two organisations include jointly hosting events to educate both the public and industry professionals on blockchain technology, developing training programs to equip developers and the public with the skills needed to thrive in the blockchain space and actively engaging with regulators and policymakers to help shape a more informed and compliant blockchain community in Nigeria.
“We are delighted to have this collaboration. Our collective strength lies in the diversity and commitment that we both bring to the table and ultimately, contribute to the growth of the blockchain ecosystem,” said Obinna Iwuno, President of SiBAN in the statement.
Roqqu has seen remarkable growth in recent years, establishing itself as a leading force in making cryptocurrency and digital finance accessible. With a focus on providing fast, reliable, and user-friendly services, the company has expanded its footprint beyond Nigeria into other key African markets, including Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. This expansion, along with a virtual currency license to operate in the European Economic Area (EEA), positions Roqqu as a truly international fintech company.
Reacting to the partnership, the Chief Compliance Officer of Roqqu, Roimot Ajiboye-Ibitoye, said partnering with SiBAN is a natural step to make blockchain technology and digital finance accessible, safe, and beneficial for everyone, insisting that together, the two organisations are not just talking about blockchain adoption. Rather, actively building the frameworks, trust, and education needed for it to thrive responsibly in Nigeria.
“This collaboration represents a united front between innovators and industry advocates to create a credible, transparent, and sustainable digital asset ecosystem. By combining our expertise with SiBAN’s strong advocacy and regulatory engagement, we are setting the stage for a future where blockchain becomes a trusted driver of financial inclusion and economic growth across the globe,” he said.
This partnership highlights a shared vision between Roqqu and associations like SiBAN that play a crucial role in bridging the gap between industry innovation and responsible adoption to ensure the benefits of blockchain are accessible to a wider audience, creating a safer and more robust future for digital finance in Nigeria.
SiBAN as a body provides a platform where stakeholders can share knowledge and experiences, where companies can engage in constructive policy discussions with regulators, where communities can learn about safe, responsible participation in the blockchain space and where businesses can collaborate on solutions that serve both economic and social development goals.
Industry watchers believe that this partnership highlights a shared vision of creating a credible, transparent, and sustainable digital asset ecosystem. By working together, Roqqu and SiBAN aim to bridge the gap between rapid technological innovation and responsible adoption, ensuring that the benefits of blockchain are accessible to a wider audience while prioritizing user protection and ethical standards.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that it has successfully eliminated users of unregistered subscriber identity modules (SIM), from the Nigerian telecommunication network, a development that can boost national and cyber security.
Eng. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of NCC,
Eng. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of NCC, who disclosed the information at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, said, however, that it was beyond the scope of the agency to control the names with which some customers used in registered their SIMs.
The NCC CEO pointed out that while the commission had successfully removed unregistered SIMs from its network, some strange names being attached to some of the subscribers reflect what the owners used while registering with their operators.
“No unregistered SIM is operating on the network as of today, but there may be people using names they did not register with, apparently to mask their identities. We cannot control the names attached to each SIM, as they reflect what the owners used at the time of registration with their respective operators,” the EVC said.
“While NCC cannot control that behaviour, it is to be noted that it is an offence to use fake names to make or receive calls in Nigeria,” Maida warned.
The EVC, however, said that the commission has put necessary measures in place to ensure sanity and stability in the industry so that every user can determine the best network operator to patronise based on performance, service delivery and charges.
He said the commission would, in September this year, launch a public map to show subscribers which of the telecoms networks provides the best service and tariff plan to determine which to patronise based on their locations.
Mr. Maida said for the industry to make the required progress and serve the interests of the people, there is a need for a fresh injection of capital from outside the industry, adding that the commission had already revised a series of good governance guidelines to guide operators in the industry.
According to him, the guidelines are aimed at promoting transparency, accountability and boosting investors’ confidence and customers’ trust in the industry.
He said, “The need for good corporate governance guidelines requires that operators in the industry must provide audited reports to boost investors’ confidence and earn the trust and confidence of their customers”.
The ECV explained that the commission approved the recent tariff hike for the industry due to the fact that there had not been any cost-reflective tariff adjustment for a decade, adding that the commission was mindful of the need to protect the interests of both the operators and Nigerian subscribers.
On the issue of threats to telecoms infrastructure nationwide, the EVC announced that he would soon meet with governors to discuss the need for them to team up with NCC to protect telecoms infrastructure in their domains and to also eliminate multiple taxes on the operators so as to improve service delivery and ensure national security.
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