MBI and S-band-based Satellite Communication
MBI is involved in European projects for the development of new S-band-based services
Next year S-band-based satellite services will be distributed on a large scale for the first time in Europe. The new satellite W2A will be launched in early 2009 and will operate in a geostationary orbit at 10 degrees east. This joint venture between Eutelsat and SES-Astra, two of the major satellite operators in Europe, will offer S-band capacity all over Europe.
S-band (2-4 GHz) means much more than an extension of the transmission frequencies, as it opens the way to innovative applications for content distribution and in particular for two-way satellite communication services on small mobile devices which can operate on board any type of vehicle.
MBI's Role
MBI is playing an active role in innovative European Framework Projects for the development of the new S-band-based services. In the first project J-ORTIGIA MBI is responsible for the co-ordination of the first Italian trial on DVB-SH services with high-power transmitters, which will take place in Tuscany. This project is co-financed by the European Space Agency. In the second project MIRESYS MBI is carrying out research on the characteristics of the services that can be provided over a CDMA return channel combined with S-band.
The Partners
MBI is a member of some of the most important European consortiums for Research and Development in this field. Other partners are major companies and research centres, including Eutelsat, SES-Astra, DLR, Fraunhofer Institut, Space Engineering.