Intelsat INSIDER - October 2012    Tech Focus: Is Inclined Orbit the Right Solution for You? Most of Intelsat's satellites are operated in such a way that they never drift more than 0.05° along their north-south axis or east-west axis. Communications network providers, including wireless operators, are challenged to deliver a faster and more reliable infrastructure across wider regions while meeting aggressive cost goals.  Inclined orbit operation (IOO) capacity is often overlooked when companies design their networks. However, Intelsat has determined that for some applications, this solution can be a cost-effective element of a comprehensive network - particularly for cellular backhaul, Internet trunking and mobility applications.    What are some of the key factors for considering an inclined orbit satellite solution? Is the application point-to-point or with a few nodes? Is the application high bandwidth – in excess of 10 Mbps of throughput? Are you currently using tracking antennas for your solution? Could this application be provided by fiber if it were available and/or reliable? Does this application connect mobile points, such as ships or aircraft? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Intelsat’s IOO capacity is a potential solution for you that also delivers carrier-grade reliability at a lower total cost of ownership. Background Most of Intelsat’s fleet of more than 50 satellites are “station-kept”, which means they are never more than 0.05° away from their assigned position on the geosynchronous belt. This ensures the satellite’s service footprint remains steady, and users maintain a lock on the satellite signal with fixed terminals.    Communications satellites are usually designed to operate station-kept for 15 years or more. As a satellite approaches the end of its service life, Intelsat decides whether to continue operating it in a station-kept fashion, or to extend the life by allowing the satellite to drift beyond the imaginary station-kept box. The latter option, known as inclined orbit operation, can add years to a satellite’s life by allowing it to drift in what is ultimately a figure-eight motion relative to the Earth.    “IOO capacity is a cost-effective and reliable option for Internet and voice trunking customers needing to move large amounts of traffic,” said Intelsat VP of Network Services Product Management Steve Good. “Maritime customers are also well served by this solution, and IOO capacity is an exceptional back-up option for disaster recovery and business continuity services.” Customers can achieve the same service availability with IOO capacity as with fixed capacity.  Working with Intelsat’s engineers, your operations team will be given the tools to track the path of motion and maintain consistent signal strength. Operational flexibility is preserved, as the same hardware used to access IOO capacity can be used for station-kept capacity.    To learn more about whether IOO capacity can play a role in your communications network, contact your sales representative or visit www.intelsat.com/network.    In This Issue... › An Update from North America › Tech Focus: Is Inclined Orbit the Right Solution for You? › Leading the Way – Best Practices on Global Video Distribution › IntelsatOne Expands Reach as Sports Fans Shift Focus to Brazil for 2014 World Cup › Test at 2012 Summer Olympics Helps Move Carrier ID Closer to Reality › Bringing Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) to Bulgaria with Intelsat 12 › NASA Shuttle, Savior of Intelsat 603, Flies into Retirement › Intelsat RVPs Share Their Insights from IBC › Don't Miss Intelsat's Next Quarterly Webinar › Panasonic Releases Whitepaper on High Throughput Ku-band for Aero Applications     www.intelsat.com  intelsatinsider@intelsat.com  contact us