IPSTAR White Paper

IPSTAR Disaster Recovery

and Emergency
Communications

March 2009

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Empowering Asia-Pacific

Content

Introduction 3

Advantages 4

Applications 5

Equipment 6-7
IPSTAR Enterprise Series
IPSTAR Mobile VSAT Vehicle

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Introduction
Communication outages caused by severe weather conditions, unexpected disasters
and other telecommunication disruptions can occur in short notice and oftentimes
without warning. The time it takes to restore damaged telecommunication lines
may require days or even weeks, leaving first responders crippled without access to
reliable communications. The lack of operable terrestrial infrastructure severely
impedes the command and control functions, the situational awareness, and most
importantly, the relief and recovery efforts of the first responders.

Satellite platforms, like IPSTAR, can step-in to fill the communication, command
and control gaps as a result of crippled terrestrial networks. IPSTAR can provide
rapid, flexible disaster recovery and emergency communications in times of
communication outages. The IPSTAR product and solution portfolio is designed to
meet the precise needs of first responder teams in putting communication
networks back on line in the event of man-made or natural disasters.

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Advantages
Since the launch of the satellite in August 2005,
IPSTAR has become synonymous with cost-effective
broadband services and solutions aimed at helping the
community at large, especially in disaster-affected
areas where no telecommunication infrastructure is
able to support broadband access. The satellite's
massive 45 Gbps bandwidth capacity, 20 times higher
than conventional satellites, satisfies the enormous
demand for broadband for millions of users -
consumers, administrations, corporate customers and
telecommunication service providers.

For first responders, communications are vital to

effectively assist the situation of a disaster-affected
area. Broadband satellites, like IPSTAR, can provide
the highest bit rates in the industry and secure
network connectivity for search and rescue
operations.

In times of disasters, IPSTAR is capable of:

Delivering last mile broadband Internet Photo: Tsunami Emergency Communications in Khao Lak, Thailand, December 2004
connectivity
Interconnecting widely distributed systems and
networks
Broadcasting on-the-spot news
Delivering two-way, mobile telephone
communications
Allocating additional bandwidth to divert the
traffic from heavily congested networks
Providing flexible, short-term solutions for getting
the necessary information in and out of the
disaster area
Allowing rapid ground network deployment and
flexible service locations anywhere, anytime under
its extensive footprint
Providing nationwide coverage and consistent
Quality of Service (QoS), regardless of location

IPSTAR is the only geostationary satellite designed for

high speed communications over an Internet Protocol
platform. IPSTAR delivers two-way, cost-effective
satellite broadband solutions for any community
lacking access to wired infrastructures and provides
instant coverage for blind spot areas.

Photo: Tsunami Emergency Communications in Khao Lak, Thailand, December 2004

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Applications
Communication satellites play a vital role in the search and rescue operations of the first responders. IPSTAR
can deliver immediate, reliable communications to calamity-affected communities, regardless of location.

The IPSTAR satellite platform provides video, voice and data services for recovery and emergency
communications, such as:
Cellular backhaul
Wide Area Network (WAN) restoration
Mobile Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Vehicle
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) backhaul
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Video conferencing
Satellite News Gathering (SNG)

Photo: Tsunami Emergency Communications in Khao Lak, Thailand, December 2004

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Equipment
All IPSTAR products are designed in compliance with the IPSTAR system specifications. Fully IP compatible, the
IPSTAR platform is capable of interfacing with a wide range of existing network applications, utilities and
hardware. In addition, it enables cost-effective and rapidly deployable point-to-point and point-to-multipoint
satellite communications. The IPSTAR network enables seamless broadband communication for hospitals, command
posts, and search and rescue operation centers.

Energy-Efficient On-Ground Technology

In disaster areas where terrestrial infrastructures are mostly damaged, first responder teams also face the added
challenge of having no power line in place. Any emergency communication network requires electrical power to
operate, calling for a reliable power source to avoid service interruptions. The IPSTAR disaster recovery and
emergency communication solution employs a small-sized antenna and an IPX-9200 user terminal, making it
possible for first responders to use solar panels as the main power source and a battery system for backup. The
IPSTAR network can also use a generator as the power source to keep the system running during lengthy outages.

Using solar panels as an alternative power source provides significant savings for first responder teams. In addition,
generating electricity from the solar panels reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emission - an eco-friendly
alternative technology that can be used for delivering disaster recovery and emergency communication solution to
any affected area with damaged power infrastructure.

IPSTAR Enterprise Series

Specially designed for rugged environments, the Enterprise Series is suitable for continuous, heavy-duty and
unmanned operation in the field. The IPSTAR User Terminal has a rugged enclosure to withstand harsh
environments, and comes with air ventilation and anti-dust features. With compact and robust design, it can be
easily deployed in devastated areas, either for indoor or outdoor use.

The user terminal also supports Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) for seamless, reliable operation under
the most severe weather conditions - especially for heavy rains and snow. In combination of advanced power
adjustment and bandwidth-efficient waveforms, ACM automatically adjusts modulation, coding and gain in
response to changing link conditions.

Enterprise Series Technical Specifications

Protocol UDP/TCP/IP including

TCP enhancements
Operating System Windows XP/2000/ME/NT,
Linux, Mac
Transmit Data Rate Up to 2 Mbps
Suitable for continuous, heavy-duty and Receive Data Rate Up to 4 Mbps
unmanned operations
Modulation QPSK, 8-PSK, 8-PAH
Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) for
seamless, reliable operation under the most DLL Support Yes
severe weather conditions Dimension/Weight 160 x 460 x 55 mm/6.0 Kg
Low-cost and energy-efficient user terminal
that can be operated by a solar panel, Form Factor 19" standard industrial rack
battery, or generator for lengthy electric Network Interface 10/100 Mbps Ethernet (RJ-45)
outages
Two-way broadband capacity for voice, AC Power Supply 90-360 V
video and data applications with up to DC Power Supply 12V
4 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload speeds (optional)

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Mobile VSAT Vehicle (MVV)

The IPSTAR MVV can provide voice, video and data services while on the move. It is a rugged and easy-to-deploy
technology that can deliver disaster recovery and emergency applications such as SNG, nano-Base Transceiver
Station (BTS), video conferencing and TV backhaul.

Advantages of IPSTAR MVV

Mobile command post while in-route
to disaster-affected areas
Two-way broadband capacity for
voice, video and data applications
with up to 4 Mbps download and
2 Mbps upload speeds
802.11x wireless access support
MPEG-4 streaming with up to 2 Mbps
maximum speed
Rapid deployment within minutes

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