Digital Divide Satellite Solutions

IBC 2004 Amsterdam RAI M.Wittig [email protected]

The Richness-Reach Tradeoff (1)

• Richness: quality of information as defined by the user: Accuracy, bandwidth, cost, interactivity, relevance, security, etc…

•Reach: number of people who participate in the sharing of information

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The Richness-Reach Tradeoff (2) • Until recently, it has been possible to share very rich information only with small number of people, and conversely, much less rich information with a large number of people

•Communicating rich information has required proximity or dedicated channels. The cost of these channels have limited the number of people who can access rich information

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The Richness-Reach Tradeoff (3) • Internet has induced a blow-up of the richness/reach ratio • Broadband networks are now enabling very large communities of exchanging very rich information.

The initial curve moves upright. New levels of richness and reach are attainable for those who “have” access to the ICT (Information and Communication Technology)

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The Digital Divide

The Digital Divide refers to the gap between those who “have” access to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and those who “have not”

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The two aspects of the Digital Divide

“Technological Digital Divide” for example, the inequalities between countries in the number of connections to the Internet

“Socio-economic digital divide” inequalities in the conditions of access to ICT associated with disparities in ICT literacy and skills

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The four risks of the Digital Divide

•

Hamper the establishing of a knowledge-based Europe (partially preventing the take up of e-Commerce, e-Health, e-Administrations, eGovernment, e-Everything)

• Induce a disconnection between rural and urban part of Europe • Prevent reach of cohesion between new states with the rest of Europe • Miss the opportunities brought by ICT for the fast growing senior part of the European citizens (such as continuing education, outlet for new hobbies and experience, help in re-defining careers and roles in retirees, facilitate homecare in case of chronic diseases), inducing the so called “grey divide”

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Is the digital divide closing? The conflicting debate • YES Market forces in telecom infrastructure has significantly boosted Interent through reduction of prices for access and bandwith

• NO Convergence and catching up along one technology diffusion does not necessarily imply that the divide is closing. Access to and use of ICT is such an expanding phenomenon that as soon as a technology is adapted, new ones more performing and efficient emerge and contribute to at least maintain the divide

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Segmentation of access technologies

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ADSL penetration (31 March 2003)

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The national dimension: ADSL penetration in France in 2003

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The national dimension: Broadband access availability in UK in 2004

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The European Dimension: Household Density in Europe Benelux, Germany and the capitals are densely populated The other part of European landmass has A household density below 50 homes/km^2

Terrestrial broadband access cost increases at lower user density Satellite broadband access cost is independent of user density

Satellites are favourable to complement Terrestrial broadband infrastructure in Europe

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GROWTH OF INTERNET AND VSAT’s Until 1990 Internet and VSAT developed at the same pace. Reason: Corporate (Research) Users Since 1990 Internet growth much faster than VSAT’s Reason: Internet access became cheaper due to PSTN availability Cheap modems, cheap ISDN equipment, cheap ADSL There are up to now no cheap Two-Way VSAT’s Only TVRO’s are very cheap ( 100 Gbit/s September 04 - Digital Divide / M.Wittig

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Antenna S/C Configuration

Rx-Antenna Tower

Tx-Antenna

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Performance of 1st Satellite

Eurostar 3000/Spacebus 4000 Satellite Bus allows • Capacity of 20 Gbit/s • 15 Years Lifetime • Satellite Dry Mass < 3,054 kg • 5,500 kg < Launch Mass < 6,330 kg depending on Launcher • Solar Array Power < 13,700 W

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Coverage of second Satellite

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Performance of second Satellite

@Bus allows • Capacity of 120 Gbit/s • 15 Years Lifetime • Satellite Dry Mass < 4,284 kg • Launch Mass < 8,380 kg with Ariane 5 • Solar Array Power < 21,100 W

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DVB-RCS Terminal Developments Supported by ESA NERA

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EMS

Newtec

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Wi-Fi Access and Two-Way Satellite Links

Connection of up to 50 Wi-Fi Users per Satellite Terminals reduces Satellite Delivered Broadband Cost using existing Commercial Communication Satellites

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http://www.esa.int

http://telecom.esa.int/digitaldivide

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