CPqD

CPqD Delivers Brazilian Geostationary Satellite Technical Specifications

Last December, CPqD and Atech delivered to CTA a report on the elaboration of the Brazilian Geostationary Satellite technical specifications. The project started in 2003 and was ordered by the Brazilian Ministry of Defense and the Brazilian Ministry of Communications. In its first stage, in 2001, experts conducted economic feasibility and orbital space studies. According to Decival Antonio Werner Scavasin, one of CPqD?s project coordinators, the deployment of SGB satellites is aimed at providing voice and data communication services for air traffic management, supporting air navigation and fixed and mobile communication via satellite. It also provides support for handling the traffic of government classified information and, national defense and security affairs, thus reducing the dependence on foreign meteorology forecast services, training staff for the space and telecommunication areas and offering opportunities for the Brazilian industries, universities and research centers. "SGB is an issue of strategic interest for the country. As of 2009, three geostationary satellites are planned to be launched," said Scavasin. In the first phase of the project, CPqD was responsible for: The elaboration of specifications for transponders, the allocation of satellites in C and Ku bands, the identification of services that generate demand for communication via satellite, measurement of satellite?s antenna coverage beams, assessment of orbital positions for proper positioning of the satellites, participation, along with CTA and Atech, in the interaction with satellite foreign manufacturers and in the creation of a reference document (RFI) for potential foreign suppliers, gathering subsidies for the elaboration of the technical specifications. "The company was also responsible for the creation of terrestrial communication network requirements, which involves terrestrial stations and control centers, as well as the elaboration of documents to be sent to Anatel and to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in order to initiate the process of reserving orbital positions", said Marcos Guimarães Castello Branco, another coordinator of this project. The team is awaiting definitions from government and financial institutions about the next stage of the project, which comprises the publication of information about the international coordination of orbital positions for the use of SGB satellites. This activity includes technical follow-up and consultancy to authorities responsible for the networks that comprise the SGB in international coordination of orbital positions.